I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Buming caught sight of a figure at the doorway from the corner of his eye, but he didn’t say anything, simply lowering his head and continuing to eat slowly.

Song Buchang looked up and saw the person as well. He called him in, saying with a smile, "Come and eat before the food gets cold."

Song Buchang himself was the son of a concubine. Although he was the older cousin, he never lorded his seniority over his legitimate-born cousin, always interacting with him with a degree of caution.

Song Bu Yue smiled at Song Buchang. "I’ve kept you waiting, Second Cousin."

"It’s nothing," Song Buchang said with a dismissive laugh.

Song Bu Yue looked at the silent Song Buming, and his thoughts drifted to the scoldings he had received from his father these past few days. His already pale complexion turned even more ashen.

Song Buchang raised his wine cup and clinked it against Song Bu Yue’s. "Bu Yue," he said with a smile, "the tutor our family hired is resigning after the new year. I imagine Third Uncle and Third Aunt have already told you?"

Song Bu Yue took a sip of wine, his brow slightly furrowed. After setting down his cup, he finally looked at Song Buchang. "They have."

This was precisely why Song Bu Yue had been growing more and more vexed. His eldest cousin had already been appointed to a post outside the city. With the tutor resigning, they wouldn’t be able to find a suitable replacement on such short notice, which meant he would have to attend an academy.

His mother wanted him to study with his cousins from the Cai Family, but he refused. The Cai Family was becoming more and more of a disgrace. When his mother visited her family home, her brother and sister-in-law naturally only showed her the good side of things. But he knew that his cousins were just fooling around at school.

Besides, his father also disagreed. His parents had argued over the matter because his mother insisted he study with the Cai family. Now, even his eldest sister had come back to persuade him.

The memory of his father’s angry words made him feel even more miserable.

’He and Yun Zhao had never been close, even as children. Her personality was just too abrasive; she could be utterly rebellious and disrespectful even to their own mother. How could he stand by and allow her to be so insolent?’

’Now that Yun Zhao was a Concubine, he had no intention of riding her coattails. They weren’t close before, and they probably never would be.’

’It seemed they were simply not fated to have a bond as brother and sister.’

’But with so much having happened in the family over the past year, and watching his Eldest Aunt handle affairs so decisively, he had a faint sense that some things were not as he had once thought.’

’Beneath the surface, there was a side to things he had never seen before. Or rather, it wasn’t that he hadn’t seen it, but that he had never bothered to look closely.’

’He had also disapproved of the marriage alliance with the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, but he was powerless. He had failed to dissuade his mother and sister. His father was very disappointed in him, and he knew why.’

’He was the eldest legitimate son of the family. In his father’s absence, he, as the eldest son, was supposed to be the pillar of the household, but he had failed.’

’The third sister he used to look down on had entered the palace and was now rising steadily through the ranks, as if she were a fish in water. And him? He had always been complacent because of his status, but only after trying to accomplish things seriously did he realize how difficult it all was.’

’His father had said he should go out and see the world.’

At this thought, Song Bu Yue looked at Song Buchang. "Second Cousin, what are your plans?"

Hearing this, the tips of Song Buming’s ears twitched, and he also looked up at Song Buchang.

Song Buchang looked at Song Bu Yue with a gentle expression. "Bo Ming and I were just talking about the tutor leaving. We plan to leave the Capital City to see the world, but it’s just a plan for now. We still need to report to our elders and ask for their permission."

’Hearing Song Buchang avoid mentioning the Yang Family, Song Buming felt a wave of relief. It wasn’t that he was afraid of Song Bu Yue knowing about it. Rather, his sister was not yet married. If the matriarch were to find out and become displeased with his sister, he feared it would cause complications for her marriage.’

Song Bu Yue’s eyes lit up at his words. "Cousin, you plan to travel?"

"We want to find an academy to study at. I’ve heard there are many famous academies in the south, quite different from those in the Capital City. I’ve longed to see them for some time," Song Buchang said with a laugh. He was happy to see that Song Bu Yue seemed tempted by the idea.

’Third Aunt was an elder, and it wasn’t his place as a junior to comment on her actions. However, she had been acting more and more abrasively lately, and the Third Branch of the family was in constant dispute. This was not a good thing for Song Bu Yue.’

’He had always been on good terms with this cousin. If he had the chance to help him, he was willing to extend a hand. But whether or not Song Bu Yue could achieve the outcome he desired would be up to him.’

’As for Song Buming, both he and himself were sons of concubines; they could only fight for their own futures. Even their eldest cousin, the proper, legitimate eldest son of the First Branch, had to study to enter officialdom.’

’If even the legitimate sons had to strive so hard, what right did the sons of concubines have not to?’

Song Bu Yue turned his head to look at Song Buming.

Song Buming’s heart tightened. He looked up at his legitimate cousin and said, "Elder Brother."