Chapter 1096: Chapter 1096
Chapter 1096: Chapter 1095: Ranking
Song Hong checked the time, knowing that at this moment, Song Chongjin and the others were likely still on the road. Once Song Chongjin returned to the residence, everyone would find out, so there was no need to hide it.
Previously, he had been too busy to mention it. But now that his son had asked, and especially since it was his youngest son, he was particularly patient: “Laowu, remember, the one coming back soon is your Eldest Brother, named Song Chongjin. His mother was someone close to your father before. She lost her footing and fell off a cliff while out offering incense, injuring her head and losing memories of the residence, which is why your Eldest Brother was raised outside.”
“Your Eldest Brother has endured many hardships over the years, unlike the good days you have had in the residence. Once he returns, you must respect him, understand? If I hear of anyone being disrespectful or provoking your Eldest Brother, you’ll be in big trouble!”
All five sons listened to these words, and no matter what they thought in their hearts, they all respectfully nodded in agreement.
Laosan, being the slyest, even added, “Father, rest assured, we will certainly treat Eldest Brother well!”
The others glanced at Laosan Song Chongyao with disdain, thinking he was a sycophant!
They all patted their chests, indicating their intention to get along well with this new Eldest Brother.
Only Laosi, who had always been at odds with the Eldest Brother, looked at the uneasy Song Chongjun with a smirk.
This Eldest Brother, relying on his status as the eldest son, usually loved to show off his elder brother status, always talking about his position as the eldest.
But now, it’s interesting because the newcomer is older, and he, the official eldest son, feels awkward.
Enjoying the Eldest Brother’s unease, Song Chongming asked, “Father, with the return of our Eldest Brother, will our sibling ranking change? From now on, won’t the Eldest Brother be the Second Brother?”
These words stabbed Song Chongjun’s heart like a knife, and he felt both annoyed and angry. Just yesterday, he was thinking of currying favor with this newly returned brother, but now it seemed the newcomer would overshadow him, and his rightful title as the oldest son would be gone.
One must know, in this world, legitimate birth comes first, followed by seniority.
He wasn’t born of the main wife, but because he was the oldest, he had the right to claim the title.
If suddenly the title of “eldest” was gone, what else did he have?
Already unhappy inside, Laosi’s bluntness made him glare at Song Chongming.
Song Chongming wasn’t afraid of him. Soon, he would be Second Brother, just like himself. Let’s see what he could boast about.
This comment reminded Song Hong, who patted Song Chongming appreciatively: “Laosi, you made a good point! From now on, your rankings are changed. Eldest Brother will be Second Brother, and so forth. Laowu will from now on be Sixth Young Master! Spread the word; everyone in the family will change the way they address you. Understood?”
This was a command to the Butler standing by.
The Butler nodded hurriedly and started spreading this order.
Soon, the entire residence knew that the one about to enter was the freshly minted Young Master.
Song Chongjun’s birth mother, Maternal Aunt Hou, was selected by County Monarch Rongyi from the Gao Family when Lady Gao could no longer have children, and sent to the Duke Weiguo Mansion as a concubine, to help Lady Gao secure her position as the main wife.
Her womb proved fruitful, and shortly after being brought into the household, she got pregnant before the trial maid Lady Yuan. The two gave birth one after the other.
Hou gave birth to a son, while Yuan had a daughter, which once again put her above Lady Yuan.
Because her firstborn was a son, her status in the Duke’s Mansion was second only to Lady Gao, especially two years later when she gave birth to Song Hong’s second son, Song Chongzhao.
That cemented her position, making her unprecedentedly influential.
In the house, aside from Lady Gao, she looked down on no one.
After giving birth to Song Chongjun, she planned to have this son raised alongside the main wife Lady Gao, hoping to have him registered under Lady Gao’s name, making him the legitimate eldest son.
In her mind, if the Duke’s Mansion didn’t belong to her son in the future, who else could claim it?
Unfortunately, after Lady Gao’s miscarriage, she was constantly glum, and not having a son herself, she refused others’ sons no matter what.
As more concubines in the residence bore sons, and herself not being as young and pretty as the newcomers, Song Hong visited her chamber less often. But she was confident because of her two sons.
Why? Because she had given birth to the eldest son of the Duke’s Mansion and had connections with the Gao Family, she believed this Duke’s Mansion would surely be her son’s in the future.
Despite the Duke’s favoritism towards Laowu, Laowu was still so young; by the time he grew up, there wouldn’t be anything left for him in the house.
Thus, Maternal Aunt Hou maintained a steady demeanor, treating the servants with a gentle attitude, as if competing with the main wife in kindness and amiability.
When she heard Lord Duke’s command delivered earlier by the Butler, Maternal Aunt Hou’s face changed abruptly: “What? Eldest Brother becomes Second Brother?”
The maid who came to deliver the message had never seen Maternal Aunt Hou so unsettled and was startled into stuttering: “Ye… yes… Lord… Lord Duke ordered it—”
Maternal Aunt Hou, both angry and anxious, smashed a tea set on the coffee table in front of her, yet her anger was not abated.
If the Eldest Brother was no longer the eldest, then what about the Duke’s Mansion in the future…
At this thought, Maternal Aunt Hou couldn’t sit still. She steadied her emotions and asked the message-delivering maid, “Was there any other message from the front to the back?”
The young maid shivered as she replied, “The Butler also mentioned that the Young Master, upon entering the mansion, along with his family, would directly visit the Madam in the rear courtyard—”
Maternal Aunt Hou gritted her teeth, stood up abruptly, and headed straight to Lady Gao’s main courtyard.
Upon reaching the main courtyard, Maternal Aunt Hou discovered that someone had arrived even earlier than she did, and behind her, other concubines also came one after the other with the daughters of the residence.
All five of Song Hong’s concubines, along with three daughters, were present.n
Before Maternal Aunt Hou could speak, Maternal Aunt Yuan couldn’t hold back. This woman had always been under Maternal Aunt Hou’s shadow since Maternal Aunt Hou gave birth to the eldest son of the Duke’s Mansion.
Knowing that the message delivered by Lord Duke earlier today meant Song Chongjun was no longer the eldest, she couldn’t help but laugh three times, feeling avenged.
Seeing Maternal Aunt Hou, she couldn’t resist jabbing, “The brothers’ ranking in the front has changed; Eldest Brother is now Second Brother. I wonder if there will be changes among us sisters as well?”
Wasn’t Maternal Aunt Hou always considering herself the first among the concubines under the Madam? I wonder if today’s new entrant might also bring a new sister along. Follow current novels on NoveI★Fire.net
Maternal Aunt Hou’s expression changed at this.
Just as Lady Gao was about to say something, an old woman came to report: “Madam, they have arrived and are here to pay respects to Madam—”
Upon hearing this, everyone knew that it was the Young Master’s family coming in, and they all held their breath, eyes on Lady Gao.
Lady Gao nodded faintly, “Let them in—”
The word “them” made Maternal Aunt Hou’s heart skip a beat.
Then they heard a voice outside: “Young Lady, please come in—”
Following that, the curtain was lifted, and two figures walked in, enveloped in the breath of snow and wind from outside.
Everyone fixed their gaze, seeing a woman around seventeen or eighteen with her hair done in a matronly style, helping an older, plainly-dressed woman stand steadily in front of them.