Song Han was helped to a side, changed into a different outfit, and taken to his study next door.
The study was quiet.
Wu Yi was assisting Song Mo in writing large characters.
Song Han looked up and caught a glimpse of himself in the full-length mirror.
In the mirror, he appeared neat, with only a slightly pale complexion and a hint of listlessness in his expression, not much different from usual.
It was then that he truly understood what it meant to “leave no traces.”
If he had died just now, wouldn’t he have looked like someone who had drowned accidentally?
A chill ran through Song Han, and his teeth chattered, but he still lunged toward Song Mo. “Brother, brother, this isn’t your idea, is it? You just wanted to scare me, right?” He began to cry. “I didn’t want to keep it from you, but I was scared. I was afraid that if you found out, you would resent Father even more… I’m caught in the middle, torn in two… I didn’t mean to… Otherwise, I wouldn’t have told you that Father and Mother had quarreled… There were several times I wanted to tell you, but you were either with Gu Yu or in the palace, and I had no chance to speak with you… I could only hope you would discover it soon… I didn’t expect you really would find out… and now I don’t know how to tell you…”
Song Mo seemed not to hear him, not lifting his head as he let Song Han cry, diligently finishing the last stroke. After a moment of contemplation, he set down his brush, took the handkerchief Wu Yi offered to wipe his hands, and looked up with a smile at Song Han. “You’re here! Sit down and let’s talk.”
It was as if the earlier interrogation had been a dream.
Song Han trembled uncontrollably.
He had seen this side of Song Mo before—polite and distant, chatting with those he didn’t care about at all—but he never expected that one day he would become one of those people Song Mo didn’t care about.
Or perhaps he had thought about it before.
He had considered it when Jiang Yan was first brought back.
But when he saw that Song Mo didn’t pursue the matter, he had deceived himself into not thinking further in that direction.
Song Han stood dazed in front of the writing desk.
Lu Ming respectfully helped him sit in a grand chair not far from Song Mo, his face devoid of the coldness and brutality he had shown during the interrogation, resembling a humble servant.
Hypocritical!
So hypocritical!
All of them were just hypocritical!
As Song Han looked at Lu Ming’s face, a fire seemed to burn in his chest, ready to burst forth.
But he didn’t dare!
The suffocating pain still lingered vividly in his memory.
The person before him, outwardly polite and warm, was cold-hearted and ruthless at his core, no longer the brother who had once cared for him deeply.
He sat there, his legs weak.
Wu Yi served him a cup of hot tea.
He murmured a “thank you,” but received only a cold, disdainful smile from Song Mo.
In the past, the Second Master of Duke Ying’s residence was a figure of great prestige. Not to mention thanking a servant, even a mere smile of satisfaction from him would leave the servants in awe, feeling it was an unparalleled honor. Song Han had understood this from a young age, proud as a peacock, and rarely offered thanks to anyone.
But now, without the identity of the Second Master of Duke Ying’s residence, he was just a humble ordinary person.
Song Mo looked at him with increasing disgust.
How had he been so blinded by oil that he misjudged his father and misjudged him?
Song Mo sneered, “I never expected our Second Master would have a day of bowing his head. If I had known today would come, why bother with the past? Even if you are Li Tiao Niang’s son, you were just a swaddled infant back then. The mistakes made by adults have nothing to do with you. Don’t say you share the blood of the Song family; even if you were adopted by Father to spite Mother since you’ve been my brother for over a decade, I would still treat you as my brother. Who knew you wouldn’t cherish this bond, waiting until you were cast down to the dust before realizing how carefree and noble your past days were?”
His voice was like a mountain stream, clear yet tinged with a hint of coldness.
Song Han lowered his head, his face alternating between red and white.
If he had spoken the truth back then, would Song Mo have continued to treat him like a real brother?
He didn’t believe it, but the walls around his heart, as solid as a fortress, began to waver slightly.
Yet Song Mo no longer wanted to discuss this matter.
It would only remind him of how foolish he had been!
He cast aside all past thoughts and asked Song Han again, “What did Father and Mother say when they quarreled?”
Song Han raised his head, looking earnestly at Song Mo, and sincerely replied, “I don’t know. I know you don’t believe me, but I truly don’t know. I can’t just make up some nonsense to fool you, can I?”
“During those days, Mother wasn’t well and always seemed down. You were in Liaodong, and I was very anxious. Besides serving Mother her medicine every day, I would read the Lotus Sutra in front of the Buddha to pray for her.”
“Mother was very happy and praised me for being filial and understanding in front of Father.”
“I felt very proud and wanted to show off in front of Father, insisting on personally preparing medicine for Mother. But Mother disagreed, fearing I would burn myself. Father, however, said I had grown up and learned to care for others, which was a good thing, and let Zhu Jun accompany me to prepare the medicine.”
“But one day, the little cat Mother raised kept meowing around me, causing me to spill the medicine bowl.”
“Zhu Jun and the others laughed and comforted me, saying it was no big deal, and hurriedly prepared another dose of medicine on the stove.”
“I was furious and poured the remaining medicine down the little cat’s throat.”
“After drinking it, the little cat couldn’t get up anymore.”
“I was scared half to death.”
“Xing Fang said I had given the little cat the wrong medicine.”
“I was afraid Mother would blame me, thinking that she had been bedridden for so long and hadn’t had time to care for the little cat and the big cat, so I asked Xing Fang to help me hide the little cat. I planned to find Fifth Uncle to see if he could get me a cat that looked just like the little cat.”
“Xing Fang agreed.”
“But I was very anxious, fearing Mother would find out the little cat was missing.”
“So I went to find Xing Fang.”
“But I saw Xing Fang secretly burying the dregs of the medicine Mother had taken.”
“I was puzzled at the time. Even if she was burying the dregs, shouldn’t it be Qing Li and Zhu Jun who went to bury them? Why was it Xing Fang?”
“So I secretly grabbed a handful of the dregs of the medicine Mother had taken every day and sprinkled them in the pot of the black chrysanthemum in Mother’s room.”
“Not long after, that black chrysanthemum died.”
“I ran to tell Father.”
“But Father was admiring the chrysanthemums with Mother under the corridor.”
“I was afraid Mother would be sad, so I didn’t dare to tell her. I planned to quietly inform Father later.”
“But Mother kept holding my hand, asking if I was cold. I was afraid I would accidentally let it slip, so I ran to help Grandma Xie make osmanthus cakes.”
“You know what happened next.”
“When I returned, Father and Mother had stern faces and were ignoring each other. Mother had Li Bai take me down to change my clothes. When I returned, Mother and Father were arguing. I was held by Grandma Xie under the grape trellis and didn’t have time to hear clearly why Mother and Father were quarreling. Later, I was dragged back to the room by Li Bai, and when Qing Li came to call me, Mother was already in bad shape, lying by the bed and spitting blood. Father went forward but was pushed away by Mother…”
Song Mo’s expression remained calm, but the whiteness of his fingertips gripping the teacup betrayed his emotions.
He glanced at Song Han and said softly, “Song Han, you’re still lying! Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I wouldn’t dare to do anything to you, so you can act so recklessly?”
That gentle yet emotionless voice made Song Han’s hair stand on end.
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me,” he said, looking dejectedly at Song Mo, his dry voice betraying his nervousness.
Song Mo smiled slightly at him, stood up, and with a swift motion, grasped his neck.
“You may not know,” he said slowly, his grip tightening like a vice, “I wouldn’t mind getting my hands dirty myself.”
Song Han’s face immediately flushed.
He struggled desperately against Song Mo’s hand.
But how could he match Song Mo?
Once again, Song Han experienced the suffocating pain.
He stared wide-eyed at Song Mo.
Song Mo laughed mockingly.
A commotion erupted outside the door.
Song Han cried out.
Song Mo leisurely loosened his grip.
Outside, Song Yichun’s roar echoed, “This is outrageous! This is Duke Ying’s residence, and Yizhi Hall is also part of Duke Ying’s residence. You are the guards of Yizhi Hall and also the guards of my Duke Ying’s residence. How dare you stop me? Don’t blame me for being rude later!”
Song Han’s spirit lifted.
The upper courtyard couldn’t possibly lack his father’s people; Song Mo interrogating him in the upper courtyard was essentially a trap!
As long as he stayed alive until his father appeared, Song Mo would have no way to deal with him.
A glimmer of triumph flashed in Song Han’s eyes.
Song Mo chuckled silently.
He looked into Song Han’s eyes and gently instructed Lu Ming, “Let the Duke come in. I want him to see with his own eyes how I’m going to strangle his son to death!”
Lu Ming expressionlessly replied, “Yes,” and exited the inner chamber.
Song Han was horrified.
Song Mo’s grip tightened even more.
Song Han struggled with all his might.
But Song Mo merely looked down on him, as if he were a cockroach that could be crushed at any moment.
Song Yichun burst in, flanked by several guards.
The scene in the room left him stunned.
The guards were equally dumbfounded.
Song Mo leaned close to Song Han and whispered, “I’ll ask you one last time, what did Father and Mother say when they quarreled?”
Song Han’s eyes were red, his head unable to move, and he looked pitifully at Song Yichun, silently pleading for help.
Song Yichun snapped back to reality and strode toward Song Mo. “What are you doing? Are you trying to murder your brother?”
“Indeed!” Song Mo turned back, provocatively smiling at Song Yichun. “You should be asking me if I want to murder my brother!”
Song Yichun paused in his steps.
Song Mo’s grip suddenly tightened.
Song Han struggled to breathe, his tongue protruding.
Song Yichun furiously shouted, “Stop! You ungrateful wretch! Even if this goes to court, I will strip you of your title as heir!”
“Is that so?” Song Mo raised an eyebrow at Song Yichun and released his grip.
Song Han clutched his neck, collapsing to the ground.
Song Mo’s foot pressed down on Song Han’s head. “Father, I think it’s better if you don’t interfere in our brotherly matters!” As he spoke, a metallic clanging filled the room, and shadows of many people appeared, surrounding Song Yichun and the others.
Song Yichun, alarmed and furious, shouted, “What are you trying to do?”
The guards and Lu Ming drew their swords, standing in a standoff.
The room was thick with tension as if a storm was about to break.