Song Zining's refusal to participate in the elders' meeting caused an uproar, and almost every elder was angrily accusing Song Zining of being disrespectful, having no order of seniority, and having no way to teach at home.
The four words of teaching no way are undoubtedly aimed at Song Zhongnian. However, Song Zhongnian was neither angry nor angry, just listened quietly and let out a long sigh when there was no one around.
Different from the almost unanimous accusations of the elders, the guests who came to condolences, as well as the younger generation and side branches of the Song Clan, were all admiring. As soon as the old lady passed away, the guards at the head of the Song clan's family began to put on airs. None of them were stupid. Who could they hide from them? Only at this time did I see who really had a deep relationship with the old lady.
A few more days passed in the blink of an eye, and Song Zining still didn't eat or move, it seemed that he planned to stay for fourteen days. According to past practice, seven days of vigil would be enough, but Song Zining felt that adding another seven days would not be able to relieve the grief in his heart.
In the early morning, Song Zhongnian got up and washed up. After breakfast, he read a book and drank tea in the study. By this time, no new guests will come to the door, and those who should come have already arrived. Some important guests could not stay for long and began to leave one after another. There were fewer things to welcome and send, and he finally had some leisure.
Seeing that Song Zhongnian was free, the old butler said: "Master, the elders in other houses are talking a lot now, and someone is openly accusing you of being old and weak in public, and wants you to abdicate! They are so arrogant, you can't sit idly by." Reason!"
Song Zhongnian sat still, took a sip of tea, and asked, "What do they say about Zining?"
"Is there anything good to say? They say that the seventh young master has no respect for his elders, disrespects the elders, and doesn't know the rules of etiquette. They say that he is no longer a member of the Song family, so why come back?"
Song Zhongnian's face was ashen, and he let out a hey, and said: "These guys, for their own self-interest, don't even care about right and wrong. I don't think they will take it to heart even if the Song family falls!"
"That's the reason! Master, you have to think of a way! If this continues, the situation will not be right."
Song Zhongnian sighed, and said: "Zi Ning has Jiedi in his heart. And I don't know what he thinks now. It would be best if he is willing to take over the position of Patriarch. But he is still too young after all, so it doesn't matter if he is capable. When it arrives, I’m afraid it will be difficult to convince the public!”
The old butler was a little anxious, "Seventh Young Master can't convince the crowd, so will the others be fine? Which of the other sons in the house can compare to Seventh Young Master? Master, you are worrying a little too much."
As soon as the words came out, the old butler hurriedly knelt down and said, "I'm so confused, I said the wrong thing."
Song Zhongnian smiled wryly, shook his head, and said, "You're right. When the ancestor was still here, he felt that I was too soft-hearted, hesitant in situations, looking forward and backward, and unable to make a decision. This time I didn't argue much. In fact, I also felt that, I am not suitable for this position.”
The old housekeeper was anxious again, and wanted to persuade him again, Song Zhongnian said: "There is no need to say more, let's go, accompany me to see Zining. Whose filial piety is better than Zining? Unfortunately, only at this time If you really see people's hearts clearly, if your ancestors saw the situation today, they would have started to rectify the family tradition. Those people are ignorant of etiquette and respect for their ancestors! Alas, such a Song family, it's okay to disperse!"
When Song Zhongnian came to the mourning hall, Song Zining was still kneeling and sitting there, motionless.
Song Zhongnian looked at Mrs. An's portrait for a while, then said, "Can you still bear it?"
"For those of us who practice, what is it if we don't eat or move for more than ten days?"
"Thanks a lot."
"Not hard."
Song Zhongnian nodded, and said: "In the future, you have to worry more about the internal affairs. There is already a seat for you in the elders' council. Although you can only discuss matters now and cannot make decisions, but..."
Song Zining interrupted him, "The old ancestor is in person, so don't talk about the family affairs, she will be angry if she finds out."
Song Zhongnian was a little embarrassed, and said: "I know what happened back then, and you have a grudge in your heart. It's also my fault, I didn't do my best to protect you."
Song Zining shook his head and said, "What happened back then wasn't a bad thing, and I'm living a good life now. It's just that I didn't expect people in the clan to be so anxious, and they rushed to discuss matters even before the forty-ninth day of mourning gone."
Song Zhongnian blushed slightly, sighed, and said, "I can't do anything about it, every house and every family is pressing hard. Besides, the situation outside is also very urgent, so we can't delay. Arrangements, not even a word left, this made today's situation."
Song Zining said calmly: "Even if the ancestor left a message, if some people don't agree with her, they will say that she is old and foolish and can't do anything."
Song Zhongnian was furious: "Who dares?!"
"Why don't they dare?"
Song Zhongnian's anger gradually subsided, and finally he let out a long sigh.
Song Zining said: "If you want me to take care of this family and break this situation, think about it. My behavior is different from yours. If there is something you don't like, it will be too late to intervene."
Song Zhongnian was slightly startled, and said, "What do you want to do?"
Song Zining said, "I don't want to do anything. I'll leave as soon as the funeral is over."
For some reason, Song Zhongnian breathed a sigh of relief amidst his disappointment. He also didn't understand what he wanted, so he got up and brushed his sleeves, and said: "There is still some time, let me think about it."
After leaving the mourning hall, the old housekeeper took a step closer, lowered his voice, and said, "Master, what else are you thinking about? The young master was finally relieved!"
Song Zhongnian smiled wryly and said: "Even if he agreed, if he wanted to help him to be the head of the family, he would have to put all his wealth in my house to make it possible. It's easy to find an elder, but with Zi Ning's heart, how can an elder be able to appease him ?”
"Master, didn't you plan to help the young master to be the head of the house? Why did you become appeasement again?"
Song Zhongnian coughed twice, and said, "This matter is really difficult, and Zi Ning doesn't seem to care much about it."
The old housekeeper wanted to say something, but Song Zhongnian gave him a sidelong glance, and he couldn't help but lower his head and said, "The old servant has overstepped."
Song Zhongnian sighed, shook his head again, and walked towards his residence. At this time, it was supposed to be the meeting time of the elders, but now the elders' meeting is held every day, and the content remains unchanged is that each house and family are arguing endlessly for their own interests. Every time an argument ends, it will basically end with the topic of family separation.
Thinking of the Presbyterian Church, Song Zhongnian felt a big headache, and many people were constantly acting overtly and secretly, openly contradicting each other was common, which also made Song Zhongnian very unhappy. Thinking that there would be no big event at the elder meeting, Song Zhongnian wanted to have a quiet afternoon and stop causing trouble.
At this moment, an attendant flew over and rushed all the way to Song Zhongnian, out of breath, and said: "Patriarch, something is wrong! There is a guest, a distinguished guest is here!"
Song Zhongnian was puzzled when he heard this, his face darkened, and he reprimanded: "What does it look like to be in a panic! Breathe evenly before speaking!"
"Yes, master! That's right, a guest has come outside the gate of the manor and wants to come in."
"What kind of guest?"
The attendant looked around and saw that there was no idler, so Fang lowered his voice and said, "That man calls himself Yeqian, and he wants to see the seventh son by name."
Song Zhongnian gasped suddenly, and said, "It's him? Did you make a mistake?"
"He was so young and handsome, he was nothing like an ordinary person. I had seen that man when I was on duty outside the land, and he was exactly the same, absolutely right!"
"Why is he here?" Song Zhongnian felt very troubled for a moment, and was at a loss for what to do.
"Patriarch, what should we do now? Should we send someone to take him down?"
"Nonsense! Without my order, no one is allowed to mess around! You take him to the side hall now, and you must not let the guests see it, and you must not let other people know. If the wind leaks, I will take you as a questioner." !"
The attendant hurriedly said: "I understand, let's do it now!" It was like flying away.
Song Zhongnian only felt chest tightness and shortness of breath. He collected himself and meditated for a while, but he was still at a loss. As the Patriarch of the Song Clan and the Duke of the Wei Kingdom of the Empire, he still knows some things that he should know at his level, no matter how weak he is. Qianye's brazen killing of Li Fengshui in the military headquarters was shocking enough, and a series of battles in neutral lands since then have been quietly circulated among the upper echelons of the empire. There is also a saying that Wei Lao, a senior official of the military department, secretly went to a neutral place, but never returned, and it seemed that he had something to do with Qianye.
What made Song Zhongnian even more troublesome was that Qianye had recently been involved with many important figures in the empire. The relationship was unclear, and even such important figures as King Zhiji were involved. And for some reason, it is rumored that Empress Li in the palace has also paid great attention to the neutral land recently. In this case, one should be extra cautious about how to treat Qianye, and even feel a little untouchable.
Besides, Qianye himself was definitely not someone to be trifled with. He has become famous since the bloody battle, and he often fights the strong with the weak, and the speed at which his cultivation base improves is unimaginable. How could such a person be easily offended? If one day and one thousand nights really set foot on the Realm, even if it was just to brush aside, then those who have offended him may not be able to sleep.
Qianye's own blood clan identity has been made known to the world, but now he openly ran to the gate of the Song clan, as long as he was allowed to enter the village, it would be a clue, and he would not be able to explain it clearly in the future.
Song Zhongnian couldn't help but secretly resent Qianye for being careless. He changed his name, but he didn't change his appearance! Besides, what is the difference between Ye Qian and Qian Ye
It's too late to say anything now, no matter how Song Zhongnian tries to cover it up, he probably won't be able to cover up the news, and with the current situation of the Song Clan spreading the wind everywhere, it won't be long before everyone knows about it. It is conceivable how many people will take advantage of this at the elders meeting.
Just when he was having a headache, the old housekeeper saw Song Zhongnian's embarrassment, and said: "Master, that man has always been on good terms with the seventh young master, why don't you leave this matter to the young master and let him handle it?"
It was a word that awakened the dreamer, Song Zhongnian suddenly realized, and said: "Very good! That's it."
The old housekeeper hurriedly turned back to the mourning hall, and told Song Zining about this matter. Song Zining's expression was complicated, angry and touched, he shook his head and said, "This guy is really afraid that the world will not be chaotic."