The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Unable to Write the Word ’Song’ Twice with a Single Stroke

Once the family banquet ended, Song Zhicheng followed his elder brother into the study for a conversation. The two brothers each held a cup of tea as they sat in front of the desk, and before Song Zhiyuan lay a stack of documents, all collected and organized by Song Zhicheng.

”Elder brother, is mother really doing well? She seems to not remember things,” Song Zhicheng frowned as he looked at his older brother, his usual carefree demeanor in Chunhui Hall completely gone.

Song Zhiyuan, flipping through the stack of documents, looked up at these words and said, ”She’s had a stroke, causing memory loss. The longer it goes on, the more she’ll forget.”

Song Zhicheng’s expression changed.

”Elder brother, this...”

Song Zhiyuan pursed his lips and said, ”Lu Courtyard’s doctor says there’s nothing we can do about it. Forgetting things is still better than being bedridden and unable to care for herself, and more than...”

He didn’t finish, but how could Song Zhicheng not understand? Better than losing her entirely.

Yet, even so, he couldn’t help but feel heartache and sadness. His mother, who had suffered for most of her life and finally started to enjoy happiness in her later years, had to suffer such a fate.

His mother, what a hard life!

Song Zhicheng, a man in his thirties, felt such deep sorrow that his eyes turned red.

”Now, Mother has a medical maid attending to her. Her condition is also improving, and her complexion is much better compared to when she first fell ill. Aside from not remembering some things, her disposition has lightened significantly. We should be grateful for that.”

Song Zhicheng sniffed and said, ”I noticed that too. Mother even jokes now. But with her like this, elder brother, I feel even more anxious.”

When people change their temperament, it is usually after experiencing a change, and Song Ci’s transformation was due to a serious illness. At her age, the fear is that she knows her own condition and knows she doesn’t have much time left, which is why she’s changed like this.

Song Zhiyuan said, ”As long as you’re aware of that in your heart. Now that Mother is well, all is good in the Song Mansion. Second brother, to be honest, after taking this position, the tasks I face will be more numerous and more dangerous than before.”

Song Zhicheng’s heart trembled, ”Elder brother?”

”Fourth brother is young and hasn’t experienced much, whereas the third...,” Song Zhiyuan pursed his lips, ”Let’s not talk about the third for now. Second brother, we are blood brothers. Over these years, it has been hard on you to manage the household affairs and expand the business.”

Song Zhiyuan is not an official untouched by the secular world, nor can he be. Although the family does not engage in large businesses, the household affairs of various estates and partnerships are profitable. Otherwise, relying solely on his salary wouldn’t be enough to support such a large family.

Actually, Song Zhicheng had a dream of becoming a general since he was a child, so he practiced martial arts. But with the family having his elder brother as a high official, and later a third brother, Song Zhicheng didn’t take the imperial examination or join the military. He focused wholeheartedly on managing the household affairs, and for what? It was just to put his elder brother at ease.

Otherwise, if everyone in the family became officials and joined the military as great generals, what would they be trying to do? Change this land of the Chu surname to Song?

Song Zhiyuan felt guilty towards this brother, so he raised his brother’s son as if he were his own.

Song Zhicheng said, ”Elder brother, we share the same surname Song, if you say these things, aren’t you undermining me?”

”Alright, then I won’t say them,” Song Zhiyuan patted his shoulder and said, ”Second brother, it’s lonely at the top. The Song Mansion is already a thorn in the side of many, and perhaps in the future, it will be of someone in particular... We must ensure the Song Mansion remains stable, which means having a fallback to guard against what might come.”

These words, Song Zhiyuan spoke in a very low voice, nearly whispering into Song Zhicheng’s ear, ”Second brother, I can only trust you.”

Song Zhicheng’s body stiffened slightly, and he replied somberly, ”Elder brother, just say the word.”