It was you! You all conspired to harm me!
Ah…
Her foot caught on something, and Madam Song stumbled violently, her body pitching forward. Her forehead slammed into a pillar with a loud thud, a large bump immediately swelling up. The dull pain sent waves of darkness swimming before her eyes.
Jiang Zhaoying, as if nothing had happened, swiftly retracted the foot she had just extended.
Knowing she had been tricked by Jiang Zhaoying, Madam Song let out a miserable shriek before collapsing to the ground, her eyes rolling back as she fainted.
“Mother! Mother!”
Song Mingji and Song Qinghuan cried out in terror, rushing forward together. Seeing their mother unconscious and their brother feigning death, their eyes darted rapidly. They turned and knelt before Clan Leader Song, weeping and pleading.
“Uncle… Uncle, we beg you to uphold justice for us. If this continues, Jiang Zhaoying will likely not only have brought death upon our elder brother but will cause our mother to perish here as well. We… we won’t be able to survive either.”
Clan Leader Song was their paternal uncle, the one who presided over all clan affairs. His expression was grim now. He had been observing the entire situation from the sidelines, but the more he watched, the more something felt amiss, and the more chilling it became.
With a flick of his sleeve.
He pointed a cold face at Jiang Zhaoying, Song Mingji, and Song Qinghuan, saying.
“Since ancient times, the elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Now that she has entered the household, she is akin to your mother. Naturally, she should take good care of you and dutifully serve your mother on behalf of Chengyu. Your elder brother has already passed; this is an unavoidable matter. No one wishes for such a thing to happen on a day of great celebration. Why not leave this to me to handle? I will take Chengyu away for burial. How about that?”
If Chengyu wasn’t taken out soon, and if Fu’er were to barge in, things could become troublesome!
Moreover, his earlier words had firmly pinned the blame on Jiang Zhaoying for bringing death upon her husband and mother-in-law, effectively placing her on a fiery spit, regardless of her willingness.
Listening to Clan Leader Song’s words, Jiang Zhaoying’s eyes nearly turned blood-red.
These people had set up such an elaborate trap, waiting for her to walk right into it, so they could drink her blood, devour her flesh,
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Seeing everyone’s attention easily diverted by Jiang Zhaoying’s words, the feigning Madam Song hurriedly shot a glance at Song Mingji and Song Qinghuan. The two immediately kowtowed heavily, pitifully pleading.
“What does being the daughter of the Imperial Astronomer’s Bureau matter? Fate is predetermined by heaven, and no one can escape it. My eldest brother died in her bed, and Mother fainted in her room. She must give an explanation for this.”
After speaking.
Song Qinghuan’s eyes burned with impatience. This damned wretch, if only she had agreed earlier!
Why must there be so much trouble? Sister Yuefu is still waiting outside.
“That’s right, she must give an explanation. How dare she even mention divorce? We can give her a letter of repudiation instead. Moreover, a life must be paid for a life—she must pay with her life for my eldest brother.”
“Surround her, don’t let her escape!”
Hearing this shout, the Song relatives immediately swaggered forward, encircling Jiang Zhaoying.
Seeing this, Shu Yun and Shu Yu immediately pulled out the hairpins from their heads, shielding their young mistress behind them, their eyes red with fury, ready to fight to the death at any moment.
Both sides stood poised for conflict, the killing intent soaring instantly.
“An imperial decree from His Majesty has arrived!”
A distant breeze carried a loud, clear voice over.
Everyone froze.
Instinctively, they glanced at Song Chengyu on the bed, feeling a sudden pang of regret.
Song Chengyu’s wedding today was surely known to the Emperor. Perhaps, taking advantage of the joyous occasion, the Emperor had drafted an edict to bestow the title of Marquis upon Song Chengyu. The Empress Dowager would likely have sent rewards as well.
Clan Leader Song’s eyes flickered with hidden thoughts as he hastily led Madam Song out of the crowd to greet the palace envoy.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhaoying hurriedly looked toward the brightly lit area, her heart pounding wildly. When the familiar figure was carried into her sight by the wind, tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
The newcomer wore the robes of the Imperial Astronomer’s Bureau, handsome and tall, emanating an oppressive aura from afar as he approached through the depths of the blooming flowers.
The crowd stared in awe, feeling as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm, an inexplicable reverence stirring in their hearts.
The cold-faced youth on the left, with star-bright brows and clear eyes, was Wei Jiuzhao. The handsome man on the right, with features as distant and elegant as mountain peaks, was Xu Zhiyan.
Both were personally trained by Jiang Zhengqian as his disciples and were highly sought-after marriage candidates among the young ladies of the capital.
Accompanying them was Eunuch Chen, the Emperor’s personal attendant, along with some other palace eunuchs. Eunuch Chen was notorious for his ruthless methods, and wherever his gaze fell, the guests immediately fell silent.
Xu Zhiyan and Wei Jiuzhao wore cold, aloof expressions, their demeanors distant. Only when their peripheral glances caught Jiang Zhaoying’s petite figure did a storm of emotion surge within them.
“Take him away.”
Xu Zhiyan glanced toward the wedding bed and issued a cold command. Upon hearing this, Eunuch Chen raised a hand, and the palace attendants behind him bowed before moving in unison toward the bed.
“Chengyu is already dead. May I ask where the two Astronomical Officials intend to take him?”
Clan Leader Song stepped forward to block their way, his eyes lingering on the attendants behind them.
Where is the imperial edict? Where are the rewards?
Instinctively, his heart filled with panic.
Wei Jiuzhao lifted his eyelids slightly, releasing a chilling aura that forced Clan Leader Song to take a step back.
“His Majesty has suffered from heart pain for a month, and medicine has proven useless. The Chief Astronomer long ago calculated that Song Chengyu would die today. He ordered us to bring his corpse back to the palace within two hours, extract his Heart’s Blood, and administer it to His Majesty. It is certain to cure His Majesty’s ailment.”
“What?”
Clan Leader Song was so frightened that his legs went weak. Song Mingji and Song Qinghuan also turned deathly pale, while Madam Song rushed in panic to stand before Wei Jiuzhao, blocking his way with both hands as she angrily shouted.
“No, I won’t allow it!”
What on earth was going on? How did The Emperor know? Could it really have been calculated by Chief Astronomer Jiang?
Their plan had been flawless, never revealed to outsiders. Besides, this concerned the life and death of the Marquis’s household, so Mingji and Qinghuan would never dare to speak of it.
In her mix of anger and panic, Madam Song could only point at Jiang Jianzheng.
“I understand now—this must be a scheme by the Jiang family. They plotted to poison my son, then take his Heart’s Blood to save The Emperor, claiming this great merit to rise swiftly in rank. This… this is clearly stepping on the blood of our Song household to climb higher. But… who has proven it? Who can prove that Heart’s Blood can save a life? And why must it be my son?”