Song Chaoyu understood. It was for her that her aunt had forced herself to conceive Little Qing'er and then brought her back to the Song residence.
Song Chaoyu nodded and smiled softly, "Indeed, a parent's love for their child is always far-reaching. I merely wish to ask Madame Han, do you truly believe you have planned far ahead for your son? Now that things have reached this point, you and your maternal family can no longer remain detached. Even if that child bears the Han surname, can he truly escape all entanglement?"
She looked earnestly at Madame Han, "Let me be direct with you, Madame Han. His Highness is determined to investigate the Han family. You know how much of the disaster relief funds you have taken, and so do I. Since matters have progressed this far, even if you wish to protect the Han family, it is likely beyond your ability. We were resolved to deal with you from the start and have made thorough preparations."
Madame Han's eyes gradually darkened with her words.
Song Chaoyu continued, "I can also tell you how things will unfold. Even if you manage to protect Lord Han, we will pursue accountability to the end. We have already dealt with the matter of the disaster relief funds; is there anything else we cannot do? We have found Concubine Chun and that child. Do you know how much Lord Han gave Concubine Chun?"
Finding Concubine Chun was Pingjiang's achievement.
He had said he wanted to "atone for his mistakes." Upon hearing this, Song Chaoyu knew that Concubine Chun might be the "breakthrough" that could make Madame Han relent.
Even though Madame Han knew this was a trap set by Song Chaoyu, she couldn't help but frown and look up at Song Chaoyu, "He... what did he leave that lowly woman and her bastard?"
Song Chaoyu smiled and gestured a number to Han Fengrun, "Besides this much money, there is also the land by the water outside Yuezhou City, and three shops and two manors in the capital. As far as I know... the land by the water outside Yuezhou City and the shops in the capital were part of your dowry, weren't they, Madame Han?"
"Insolence! Insolence!"
Before Song Chaoyu could finish, Madame Han could no longer restrain herself and slammed her hand onto the stone table beside her, "No wonder I couldn't find those land deeds and business contracts! He actually gave them all to that lowly woman and her son?! What does he consider me, his legitimate wife, to be?! If he gave it all to that lowly woman, what will become of me and my son? My son has already been implicated by him; what will become of him in the future?"
Saying this, Madame Han could no longer maintain her former stubbornness and began to weep, covering her face.
Song Chaoyu knew that things were likely to be settled.
She stepped forward and handed Madame Han a clean handkerchief, "Madame is truly a pitiable soul!"
She gently stroked Madame Han's back and said with exceptional tenderness, "Perhaps Madame Han is not unaware of my intentions in saying all this. I will not hide it from you, Madame Han. I know you dote on your son. Young Master Han is likely unrelated to these matters and unaware of them. I cannot guarantee what future promotions or great wealth he may receive. But I can guarantee his safety in this world."
Song Chaoyu's words seemed to possess a captivating "magic."
Madame Han looked up at Song Chaoyu, her heart wavering, yet she still wanted to hold onto a final shred of resistance, "To live? My son has nothing to do with these matters; he should live well in the first place!"
Song Chaoyu smiled and shook her head, "Madame Han, you are not foolish, and neither am I. I know of the connections between your Han family and Prince Ning. If it truly comes to that point, when you can no longer protect Young Master Han, do you want him to be exploited for his last bit of value by Prince Ning? Sometimes, promotions and great wealth are not the best path in life. Living peacefully and contentedly is the most comfortable, wouldn't you agree?"
Yes.
Madame Han had to admit that Song Chaoyu was not wrong.
But she still maintained a last vestige of caution, "How do I know you are not another Prince Ning? Will you not deceive me?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, "If possible, I will do my best to plead with His Highness. To allow you to live and see your child live a stable life. In fact, as long as your son never enters officialdom and lives as an ordinary person, even if my husband and I wanted to use him for something, it would be difficult, wouldn't it?"
This matter was Song Chaoyu's unilateral decision, and she had not yet consulted Mu Changxi, so she could not directly give Madame Han any guarantees.
However, for Madame Han, this was already "tempting" enough.
Madame Han looked up and suddenly looked earnestly at Song Chaoyu, "Can you... truly do this? As long as you spare my child, I will do anything!"
Song Chaoyu knew that the matter was about to be concluded.
She nodded, her smile deepening, "If you are willing, I will take you to see our Prince. You can speak with him personally. I believe you have seen by now that my Prince's and my intentions were never for anything else."
"Alright, I agree!"
This time, Madame Han did not hesitate.
She knew this might be her only chance.
Song Chaoyu did not betray Madame Han's "trust" and brought her before Mu Changxi.
In front of Mu Changxi, Madame Han's last remaining stubbornness quickly "crumbled."
Before long, she revealed everything that Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu wanted to know.
Pingjiang, following Madame Han's confession, finally found all the assets that Lord Han had received over the years in an inconspicuous manor outside Yuezhou City.
At the end, Madame Han had one last request: to see Lord Han.
Mu Changxi naturally agreed to this request and took Madame Han to the prison.
The prison was dim, but Lord Han immediately saw Madame Han arrive.
He eagerly stood up and looked at Madame Han, "You've come? Is everything settled? Can I get out? Have your maternal family confessed? Are all these matters unrelated to me?"
His urgency chilled Madame Han's heart.
Madame Han did not reply to his questions. Instead, she retorted, "You sent Concubine Chun and that bastard away, didn't you? What did you give them? You gave them my dowry?"
Lord Han froze, a flicker of evasion in his eyes, "No... it's not what you think. I just wanted to leave something for the Han family."