CWTGD Chapter 59 - Breaking off Relationship

Song Tangning's voice wasn't loud, yet it left everyone in stunned silence. No one had expected her to so decisively cut ties with the Song family, let alone sever all relations with the prestigious Duke Song’s household.

Xie Yin and Lu Zhinian were utterly shocked, and even Old Madam Lu stared wide-eyed at the unruly young woman in disbelief.

This Song Tangning—how could she dare?!

Song Jinxiu was taken aback by her words, his lips trembling as he stammered in disbelief, "Tangning, do you even know what you're saying?"

"Are you deaf, Song Langjun? I, Song Tangning, have expelled myself from this family. From now on, life, death, honor, and disgrace—none of it has anything to do with the Song household."

"You..."

Song Jinxiu opened his mouth, ready to dismiss her words as childish and to urge her not to be impulsive. He wanted to tell her that even if she was angry, she shouldn't treat such matters so lightly. But before he could utter a word, he suddenly realized that this person before him was no longer the obedient girl who once called him brother and quietly listened to his scolding.

Her brows resembled fresh snow in the mountains, her eyes cold and detached. Even though her face was partially hidden behind a veil, her disdain and loathing were impossible to miss.

As if knowing exactly what he wanted to say, Song Tangning cut in, "Are you going to tell me to stop being reckless? Or perhaps urge me to be more sensible?"

"I..."

Seeing his pupils contract, Tangning knew she had guessed right. She sneered, "Song Jinxiu, you are as self-righteous as ever."

"You've never understood what I truly want, nor have you ever taken my words to heart. I’ve long told you that I would never reconcile with the Song family. Yet you continue to do disgusting things, all while pretending to act in my best interest, preaching about propriety and forgiveness."

"You're always like this, so self-centered and hypocritical, yet in reality, you’re nothing but cold and selfish."

With that, she reached up and tore off her veil, revealing the patchwork of scars that marred her face.

Her slightly loose sleeve slipped down, exposing the horrific scars on her arm and wrist.

"Since I returned from the mountain, we’ve met three times. Yet all you've done is tell me to be obedient, to be sensible, to not make things difficult for Song Shulan. Not once have you asked about my injuries."

"Look at my face, my hands—look at all these wounds. This is all thanks to you and your family."

"I’ve already died once on that mountain because I tried to be the obedient, sensible person you wanted me to be. Do you think I’d let myself be shackled again by your disgusting hypocrisy?"

Song Jinxiu had seen her face before when it was covered in ointment, but the severity of her injuries was hard to gauge then. Now, with every scar exposed to him, they seemed to mock his so-called righteousness.

His face turned pale, his vision blurred, and his mind felt as if it had been struck by a heavy blow, splitting his thoughts in painful waves. The girl scolding him seemed to morph into another, a face marred by sores, with legs twisted beneath her on a bed, lit dimly by flickering candlelight.

The scent of rotting flesh filled the room, the smell so strong it made one want to gag. Her eyes, sunken and lifeless, stared back at him with a look of utter despair.

"Tangning, when did you become so willful?"

"Lan’er has done so much for you. She sought medicine everywhere for your wounds, cut her own flesh to make medicinal soup for you. She did everything she could, yet your injuries were too severe to heal completely. You scalded her with a bowl of medicine, even went so far as to deliberately scar her face."

"What's done is done. The incident on the mountain was over a year ago—why can’t you let go? Why must you cling to the past and lash out so viciously, with not a trace of gentleness befitting a lady?"

"Tangning, when did you become so cruel?"

Song Jinxiu staggered back, his face drained of all color.

Who was speaking those words...

And who was the one with the ruined face?

He called her Tangning, but how could Tangning have ended up like that?

Clutching his head, he tried to discern the figures in his mind, but they faded as quickly as they appeared, replaced by the pain that surged through him like crashing waves.

When he looked up, the only person before him was the cold and distant Song Tangning, her almond eyes identical to the ones he’d seen moments ago—except one pair was clear as snow, while the other had been stripped of life and hope.

Impossible. There was no way that could have been Tangning; she had returned, hadn’t she? How could she have become that person?

Muttering incoherently, he stumbled forward, “Tangning…”

But Song Tangning stepped back, avoiding him, leaving him standing there as pale as a ghost, unmoved by the trembling in his voice.

Xie Yin, who had remained silent until now, opened his mouth, "Tangning..."

"Does the young master have something to say?"

Facing Tangning’s gaze, Xie Yin suddenly remembered the two kicks he had received from her earlier. The pain throbbed in his leg, and he immediately shut his mouth. Tangning, however, turned to Lu Zhinian, who seemed ready to speak, her expression icy.

"A person who understands propriety knows not to meddle in others' affairs. This matter is between me and the Song family. Outsiders have no right to intervene."

"I have no desire to associate with the Song family anymore. I doubt anyone here, except those equally shameless and vile, would dare suggest that I reconcile with them. Isn’t that right?"

Lu Zhinian’s words were swallowed before they could escape, and the rest of the guests remained silent.

With her words leaving no room for argument, who would be willing to dirty their own reputation?

Seeing that she had successfully silenced the crowd, Song Tangning handed a jade pendant to Lingyin beside her. "I apologize for disrupting your gathering with my affairs. I’ll be leaving the spring banquet now. Aunt, could you accompany me to the Song estate to retrieve my mother’s belongings?" She then turned to Gu Helian, who was standing by the door. "Uncle Gu, could I trouble your men for assistance?"

Gu Helian hesitated, "What did you call me?"

Tangning frowned. Why was he asking the same thing as her aunt? "I heard from Aunt that you’re my grandfather's sworn son. Isn’t it proper for me to address you as Uncle?"

Gu Helian’s face shifted through various expressions before finally turning livid. He shot an angry glare at the Lady of Prince Cheng’s household. "Proper, you say? I’m surnamed Gu, you’re surnamed Song. I’m not your uncle, so stop calling me that."

He spun around in frustration and stormed out, but after taking a few steps, he noticed there was no movement behind him. He turned back, full of anger. "Didn’t you say you were leaving? Are you coming or not?"

“???”

Song Tangning stood there in bewilderment, staring at the now-enraged Gu Helian. Why was this man’s temper even worse than her brother’s? He changed moods faster than the clouds, more unpredictable than any storm.

Still, wanting to leave quickly, she suppressed her confusion and tugged on the Lady of Prince Cheng’s sleeve. "I’m leaving."

She turned to her aunt, "Aunt?"

The Lady of Prince Cheng handed the brocade box to Steward Jiang, then nodded, "Let’s go."