Chapter 10: I Won’t Be Your Concubine!

Song Yuntang ignored him, placing the written prescription along with two qian of silver in front of Song Jinyuan.

“This prescription nourishes yin, clears heat, nourishes blood, and stabilizes the fetus. Take it three times a day for seven days. If there are no more symptoms of dizziness, you can stop the medicine and just continue to improve nutrition.”

Eating thin porridge with barely any rice was not sustainable; even a sturdy body could collapse under such conditions, especially for a pregnant woman with high nutritional needs.

But given the family’s circumstances, that was too high of an expectation.

She gathered the remaining pieces of paper and returned to her room.

The main room fell silent again. Zhuzi and Zhuangzi, who had spent little time with their sister due to being at the private school, were particularly curious.

“Is this because she felt guilty seeing Father and Eldest Brother beaten up over her marriage?”

Song Jinsheng stretched his neck to glance outside, seeing that Song Yuntang had entered her room. He turned back to his younger brothers and gestured for silence.

“Don’t speak recklessly; be careful she hears you!”

The two brothers pouted. “Are we not allowed to talk in our own home?”

After saying this, they each returned to their rooms, packed their bags, and set off for the private school.

Song Jinyuan didn’t delay either; he told Liu Shi and then ran to town with the prescription and silver.

Having delayed watering the fields due to going to the Huang family to break off the engagement yesterday, he needed to return early today to work in the fields. Otherwise, the rice that had finally grown would be wasted, and the months of work would be for nothing.

…

Song Yuntang put away her writing materials, grabbed the basket and small hoe from under the eaves, and headed outside. Seeing her, Song Jinsheng hurriedly followed.

“Tang’er, I’ll go with you.”

Song Yuntang didn’t look back. “I know the way; you should go with Father to water the fields.”

Song Jinsheng followed her out of the courtyard. “Father said I should go with you.”

Song Yuntang stopped and turned back. “Really, you don’t have to.”

The previous division of labor at home had been very clear: the three men watered the fields, the mother handled household chores, the sister-in-law gathered wild vegetables, and the two younger brothers studied while she was responsible for waiting to eat.

Now that the year was not good and there were no extra hands to work, the three men focused all their energy on the nine mu of land.

Yesterday had been wasted on the engagement issue, and Eldest Brother had gone to town early to get medicine, leaving their father alone to manage everything, which was impossible.

Seeing that Song Yuntang was insistent, Song Jinsheng stopped as well.

“Then be careful. We’ll be at the well by the river; don’t wander too far. If anything happens, just shout; we’ll hear you.”

“Okay.”

After saying this, Song Yuntang turned and walked toward the mountain.

The outskirts of the mountain, near the village, had already been visited yesterday afternoon. It was bare, with hardly any grass. She didn’t linger and walked straight ahead.

Unbeknownst to her, a figure quietly followed her into the mountain. After confirming which direction she went, it turned back toward Rongshu Village.

Once a little deeper into the forest, Song Yuntang walked while keeping an eye on her surroundings, hoping to find something to take back, even if it was just ordinary wild vegetables.

Drinking thin porridge with little rice was unbearable.

But now that summer had arrived, there were pitifully few edible wild vegetables. Finally, on a hillside, she found a small cluster of amaranth, making her smile like a blossoming pomegranate.

After picking the tender stems and leaves of the amaranth and placing them in her basket, Song Yuntang continued forward and unexpectedly discovered a well-grown cluster of mugwort.

“Lucky me.”

She cheerfully jogged over, cut the mugwort, and bundled it with some tied grass.

However, her hands, which had never done farm work, were quite delicate. The palm of her hand was cut by the grass, and the sting made her frown slightly.

If only she had some gloves.

After blowing on the wound in her palm, she took out a handkerchief from her bosom and wrapped it around her right hand before continuing on with the basket of mugwort.

Suddenly, a very faint cough came from her left front. If it weren’t for the relative quiet of the forest, she wouldn’t have noticed it.

Startled, Song Yuntang looked toward the source of the sound and saw a tall tree behind which was a glimpse of a dark green sleeve.

The color of the clothing was familiar to her.

The first time she met Xu Qingye at the private school, he had been wearing a dark green long robe.

“Mr. Xu?” Song Yuntang called out tentatively.

“Hmm.”

Hearing his response, she felt a sudden sense of relief.

Before she could approach Xu Qingye, she heard footsteps crunching on the leaves from another direction.

Song Yuntang turned cautiously, and a young man in a green satin outfit led a group of attendants toward her.

He wore a mischievous smile on his face. “Tang’er, it’s been a few days, and you’re looking even more beautiful.”

Song Yuntang’s expression turned cold.

“What do you want?”

There was no need to ask; bringing so many people to corner her in the mountains could not possibly be for anything good.

Huang Heyu waved his hand, and the attendants surrounded Song Yuntang.

“Is it that you don’t want to be my concubine because the bride price isn’t enough? If it’s not enough, you can tell me; I can increase it.”

If it weren’t for the fact that she had come from the Lin family, he wouldn’t have bothered to go through all this trouble; he could have simply carried her back.

Song Yuntang directly rejected him. “I will not be your concubine!”

“If you won’t be a concubine, do you want to be the young mistress of the Huang family?” Huang Heyu looked at her exquisite face and smiled, “That’s not out of the question. As long as you enter my Huang residence, I can give you that opportunity.”

Song Yuntang furrowed her brows. She truly didn’t want to say another word to this brainless person.

“Perhaps I haven’t made myself clear. I have no interest in Young Master Huang, whether as a concubine or a young mistress. I hope you won’t disturb my life.”

Huang Heyu wasn’t angry; his expression turned a bit gloomy.

“Little girl, don’t speak too definitively. Feelings can be cultivated.”

After saying this, he signaled to the attendants around him, and they began to encircle Song Yuntang further.

Song Yuntang slowly stepped back, clutching her belongings until her back hit the large tree, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.

At that moment, a figure emerged from behind the tree.

Xu Qingye sighed, “I came here to get some fresh air, but I didn’t expect it to be so lively.”

Seeing Xu Qingye, Huang Heyu immediately straightened up.

There was no other reason; although Xu Qingye came from a humble background, he was the only scholar in the area and had connections with the magistrate of Anyang County. Even Huang Heyu’s father showed him respect, so he had no capital to act recklessly in front of him.

Huang Heyu raised his hand in greeting. “Mr. Xu.”

Xu Qingye casually glanced at the surrounding attendants. “What’s going on here, Young Master Huang?”

Huang Heyu respectfully replied, “I’m dealing with some family matters; please excuse me, Mr. Xu.”