Song Yichun’s expression softened slightly before hardening again as he sternly rebuked, “Song Han, do you realize your mistakes?”
Song Han’s eyes bulged as he struggled violently, muffled grunts escaping his gagged mouth. His gaze fixed on Song Yichun, filled with hatred and resentment.
Song Yichun’s heart trembled as the scene of Madam Jiang’s death suddenly flashed through his mind.
Feeling uncomfortable, he cleared his throat softly before calling out loudly, “Bring in Madam Miao and that maid.”
Zeng Wu hurriedly stepped forward to lift the curtain of the side room. Miao Ansu and Qixia entered.
Song Han stared at Qixia in shock.
Qixia, however, ignored him completely as she followed behind Miao Ansu to the center of the hall. She knelt and curtsied to the assembled masters and young masters.
Song Yichun asked, “Madam Miao, tell me what happened when Prince Liao visited our home?”
Song Maochun and the others suddenly understood.
So that was it!
Song Han wasn’t brought before the ancestral hall for an affair with his stepmother, but for colluding with Prince Liao. If Prince Liao’s plot failed and the Emperor learned of Song Han’s involvement, it would spell disaster for Duke Ying’s household!
Not only would they lose their support, but they might even face exile and confiscation of property like Duke Ding’s family.
They had to expel Song Han from the family.
As Madam Miao spoke, Song Maochun and the others exchanged glances, having made their decision.
Song Qin felt ashamed and embarrassed.
He had wrongly doubted his second uncle’s fairness despite being the eldest brother.
It seemed he wasn’t even as perceptive as his younger brother Song Duo.
He couldn’t help but glance at Song Duo.
Song Duo was listening intently as Miao Ansu recounted the events of that day: “… Qixia had warned me, but I was too slow-witted to consider it. This allowed the Second Young Master to stray further and further, ultimately committing a grave mistake! All in all, it was my fault. I request punishment from the Duke.”
As she finished speaking, she knelt.
Song Yichun nodded slightly, satisfied with her account, and turned his gaze to Qixia.
Qixia dropped to her knees beside Miao Ansu and said softly, “Since being assigned to serve the Second Young Master, this servant has attended to him closely. The Second Young Master was very affectionate towards the young ladies from the Duke’s household, which I didn’t think much of at first. Later, when the Second Young Master was to be married, Miss Duruo became inexplicably unhappy, and he started spending more time around her. I sensed something was amiss, but everyone was busy with the wedding preparations at the time, so I didn’t pay special attention…”
Song Yichun listened, his teeth clenching in irritation.
What did she mean by “the Second Young Master was very affectionate towards the young ladies from the Duke’s household”? Were all the women in his household flirting with Song Han?
This Dou woman, what had she told this maid to say? How could she let her spout such nonsense?
Song Yichun felt as if a feather was tickling his throat. He coughed lightly again and said, “Alright, everyone knows what happened now. You don’t need to say anymore.”
This was like pulling up a radish with soil still clinging to it!
Those who knew better would realize Qixia’s words were inappropriate; those who didn’t might think Song Yichun was a cuckold!
Song Maochun nearly burst out laughing.
He quickly lowered his head, pretending to drink tea to suppress his amusement.
The Lu brothers, Chen and Shi, however, showed contempt in their eyes.
No wonder the Princess Royal favored Song Mo. Song Yichun couldn’t even manage a proper frame-up. If Duke Ying’s household relied on him, they likely wouldn’t have many good days ahead.
The brothers also lowered their heads to drink tea.
Song Han, pinned down in the middle of the hall, was filled with grief and indignation.
How could this be happening?
How could they frame him like this?
Accusing him of an affair with his stepmother—how could they even come up with such an idea?
Duruo had her maids serving her, and Xiyin Court was always bustling with people. She had never left the courtyard. If he had been involved with Duruo, how could they have kept it secret from all the maids, servants, and women in the entire courtyard?
Didn’t they even bother to think of a more plausible reason?
Song Han looked towards the Song family members.
They all wore expressionless faces as if shocked by this revelation.
He turned his gaze to the Lu family members.
They all maintained solemn expressions as if they had heard the most despicable thing in the world.
Song Han wanted to laugh.
So this was what it meant to be unjustly accused!
He glared at Song Mo with wide eyes.
Song Mo’s expression remained calm and detached as if watching a play.
Now that he had finally trampled Song Han underfoot, he must be very pleased with himself.
Song Han’s mind drifted to that summer morning.
Sunlight shone on his snow-white Hangzhou silk clothes, spotless and pristine.
Li Dasheng had hoisted him onto his shoulders, while another guard stood in the street helping him flag down a melon seller.
Suddenly, a young woman appeared, smiling as she said, “You must be the Second Young Master of Duke Ying? I am your birth mother!”
From that moment, his world seemed as if someone had spilled a bottle of ink over it.
He had thought about killing Li Xiaoniang, but his mother treasured him like a precious jewel. She would search for him frantically whenever he left her sight, giving him no opportunity to act. He had also considered marrying a girl from the Jiang family, thus becoming their son-in-law. As the saying goes, “A son-in-law is half a son.” He could then rightfully be his mother’s son. But before he could grow up, the Jiang family was stripped of their property. He had also thought about forever being Song Mo’s obedient and well-behaved younger brother, but his mother passed away. Song Yichun, fearing Song Mo would seek revenge if he learned the truth, tried to eliminate Song Mo. Not only did he fail, but he also made Song Mo suspicious about the circumstances of his mother’s death…
He had wanted to be a good son to his mother!
He had wanted to be a good brother to Song Mo!
But heaven didn’t give him the chance, letting Song Yichun ruin everything!
Song Han cried out in anger, his eyes bloodshot.
Song Yichun, Song Yichun, it was all his fault!
If not for him, how would Song Han have met Prince Liao and thought of befriending him?
If not for him, how would Song Han have tried to frame Song Mo, only to be used by him in return?
If not for him, how would Song Han have risked everything by bringing Prince Liao’s men to capture Dou Zhao and the others, ultimately giving Song Mo leverage against him?
After causing so much trouble, not only did he refuse to help Song Han, but now he had convened the ancestral hall to expel him from the Song family, intending to ruin his reputation, leaving him with nowhere to go, effectively condemning him to death…
Song Han glared at Song Yichun.
Song Yichun was righteously listing Song Han’s various misdeeds.
Something in Song Han’s heart exploded, igniting a fire within him.
Song Han howled at Song Yichun.
Unfortunately, those howls turned into low whimpers.
Song Han struggled desperately.
Suddenly, the force restraining him disappeared, and he broke free from their grasp, stumbling forward before falling to the ground.
Everyone in the room was startled by this turn of events. Miao Ansu and Qixia screamed and hid behind Song Mo.
The man who had been holding Song Han was also stunned by the situation. He didn’t know why, but his elbow had suddenly gone numb, rendering his arm useless…
“My Lord!” he said anxiously, wanting to explain to Song Yichun, but his hand had mysteriously regained its strength. He could only suppress his confusion and stride forward to grab Song Han.
Song Han, however, was like a tiger released from its cage. With a ferocious expression, he lunged at Song Yichun.
Song Yichun was terrified, momentarily losing his composure as he watched Song Han pounce on him and grab his throat.
“I’ll teach you to spout nonsense and twist the truth!” Song Han muttered, his eyes unfocused.
Song Mo’s lips curled into a cold smile.
Let the dogs fight amongst themselves—what did it have to do with him?
The Lu family members also stood by, watching the spectacle.
Song Maochun wanted to step forward and separate the two, but seeing that Song Mo and the Lu family weren’t moving, he hesitated for a moment before turning away.
Song Fengchun and Song Tongchun had always followed Song Maochun’s lead, so they too remained seated.
Song Qin and the other younger generation members weren’t in a position to speak up, so they could only watch.
Zeng Wu had long since slipped away to who knows where.
Everyone in the room watched as Song Han choked Song Yichun until his face turned purple and his tongue lolled out.
It was only when the guards who had previously restrained Song Han realized that life might be lost if they didn’t intervene that they reluctantly stepped in to break up the fight.
To their surprise, the seemingly frail Song Han now possessed incredible strength, resisting their attempts to pull him away.
One guard tried to pry Song Han’s fingers loose.
Song Han yelped in pain and released one hand.
The guards breathed a sigh of relief.
But Song Han’s eyes reddened, and he suddenly bit down on Song Yichun’s throat.
Song Yichun cried out in pain, his face turning pale.
“Second Young Master, let go!” The guards panicked, circling him. Some tried to pull Song Han away, others slapped his head, and some even tickled him, but Song Han seemed to have gone mad, refusing to release his bite on Song Yichun’s throat.
Blood trickled from the corners of Song Han’s mouth, staining Song Yichun’s collar.
It was only then that Lu Chen’s expression changed slightly. He exchanged a glance with his cousin Lu Shi before standing up and shouting, “Stop! Song Han, release him at once! Do you intend to commit patricide?”
Song Han ignored him, his eyes as fierce as a wild beast’s.
Song Maochun and the others felt a chill in their hearts, sensing that the situation had spiraled out of control.
The three brothers exchanged glances, and Song Maochun grabbed a teapot, smashing it hard against Song Han’s head.
Song Han’s eyes glazed over, and after a moment, he collapsed limply to the ground.
Song Yichun clutched his throat, unable to speak as blood continued to gush between his fingers.
“Second Uncle! Second Uncle!” Song Qin cried, using his clothes to staunch Song Yichun’s wound. Song Maochun, his face pale, shouted, “Quickly, fetch a doctor!” The Lu brothers also approached solemnly. The room descended into chaos, with only Song Mo remaining seated, his expression cold and detached, while Miao Ansu and Qixia trembled behind him.
No one paid any attention to Song Han.
Blood slowly seeped from Song Han’s head, forming a dark stain on the bluestone floor.
The head steward of Duke Ying’s household, Huang Qing, burst in with a group of servants. They rushed about, calling for a stretcher and demanding to know when the doctor would arrive, hurriedly carrying Song Yichun out.
Song Yichun, in agony, clutched his throat. As he was lifted, his peripheral vision caught sight of Song Mo standing quietly, watching everything with an expressionless face.
For some reason, his mind drifted back to fifteen years ago.
He had been tricked by the Marquis of Guang’en. Madam Jiang, heavily pregnant, instead of staying home to rest, had gone to see Jiang Meisong. Not only did Jiang Meisong fail to help him, but he also reported the matter to his father. Madam Jiang had then put on an act of pleading for leniency on his behalf, causing him to be scolded by his father again and stripped of his household management duties…