A Mouth That Speaks Human Words Should Not Bark Like a Dog
“Madam Song, this servant also has a mouth, but I never bark wildly like a dog.”
Eunuch Chen’s fair face was tinged with faint anger, his sharp tongue startling everyone around him.
“Since you claim that Young Master Song was poisoned to death by the Jiang residence, then I shall investigate this matter right here in front of everyone to see if it is true or not!”
As soon as his words fell.
The procession behind Eunuch Chen parted, revealing three physicians dressed in light-colored robes and carrying medicine chests. Upon closer inspection, someone was immediately astonished.
They were actually three imperial physicians!
Xu Zhiyan bowed to them, and the imperial physicians turned to walk toward the bridal bed. Following their direction, Xu Zhiyan’s dark, deep-pool-like eyes fell upon a beautiful young woman as delicate as a willow swaying in the wind.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Shu Yun turned her head, her voice trembling, her body shaking. When the miss said to deliver the letter, she had rushed out to do so, completely unaware that such a major incident had occurred in the residence.
It was terrifying!
“I’m fine, don’t worry. Thank you both.”
Jiang Zhaoying stepped forward and gently grasped her and Shu Yu’s hands. The three of them, mistress and maids, looked at each other with reddened eyes and shared a faint smile.
Xu Zhiyan took in this scene, a faint ache stirring in his heart as his expression grew even colder and more detached. He addressed the crowd.
“Physicians Chen, Cao, and Chu are the Crown Prince’s personal imperial physicians. This matter has also been reported to the Crown Prince. None of you should have any doubts about their medical expertise.”
Clan Leader Song and Madam Song’s hearts sank into an icy abyss, cold sweat beginning to bead on their backs. With both The Emperor and the Crown Prince involved, they dared not interfere. They could only watch helplessly as the imperial physicians stepped forward, taking turns to check Song Chengyu’s pulse. Their faces turned almost deathly pale with fright.
After checking the pulse, the three exchanged glances, and Physician Chu turned around.
“Astronomical Officials Xu and Wei, Young Master Song is indeed without breath and shows signs of death. We are temporarily unable to determine the cause of death; perhaps an autopsy by a coroner would be needed to draw a conclusion. However, one thing is certain: there are no signs of poisoning in Young Master Song.”
The other imperial physicians nodded in agreement, then retreated behind Eunuch Chen, falling silent. The eunuchs moved forward again to take the body away. Madam Song panicked completely, throwing herself forward to desperately block their way, crying out urgently.
“No, I don’t believe that Heart’s Blood can save a person. You cannot treat human life so recklessly!”
No.
They absolutely must not let these people take Chengyu away. Otherwise, Chengyu’s feigned death would become real death, and he would truly be gone!
Xu Zhiyan took two steps forward, blocking Madam Song’s path.
“Madam Song, Chief Astronomer Jiang had long foreseen this calamity befalling the Song residence. With Marquis Song passing away early, he sympathized with your difficulties in managing the household and, considering your merit in saving The Emperor, specially purified himself with incense and performed an additional divination for you. The Divination Hexagram revealed that the Song residence was besieged by a baleful star, facing a disaster of extermination. It so happened that the Song residence came to propose marriage. My junior sister, out of kindness, was willing to enter your residence, intending to break this predicament and protect the Song family. Little did we expect that you would repay kindness with enmity, turning around to blame my junior sister for Song Chengyu’s death.”
Adjusting his long sleeves, Xu Zhiyan’s voice grew even colder and more aloof.
“Everyone should also consider this: since the Jiang clan entered the Imperial Astronomer’s Bureau a century ago, the position of Chief Astronomer has never been held by another clan. Chief Astronomer Jiang divines the world’s fortunes, determines the course of events, and is proficient in all matters between heaven and earth. Could he possibly fail to divine whether his own daughter bears the fate of bringing misfortune to her husband?”
“That’s right.”
At the mention of Chief Astronomer Jiang, the distinguished guests throughout the garden immediately adopted solemn expressions, nodding and discussing among themselves.
“Chief Astronomer Jiang is formidable, and Miss Jiang is righteous. Their actions have saved the entire Song residence.”
…
Jiang Zhaoying lowered her curved lashes, a flicker of coldness flashing in her eyes. She walked up to Xu Zhiyan and Wei Zizhao, performed a bow, and then addressed them.
“Since I have entered the household, I can also take charge of matters within the residence. Senior Brother, please take my husband away.”
Xu Zhiyan nodded. Madam Song, choking back a surge of metallic sweetness in her throat, pushed Xu Zhiyan aside and rushed forward to block the eunuchs.
“You cannot take him away. You cannot take my son away.”
Once the Heart’s Blood is drawn, how could he possibly survive? This is clearly a death sentence for Song Chengyu.
She could not lose her son. Madam Song was frantic, her teeth clenched as if about to crack, her eyes wide and bloodshot as she turned to glare hatefully at Jiang Zhaoying. Her lips trembled so violently she could barely speak. She had carefully chosen the gentle and obedient Jiang Zhaoying, never expecting such a massive disaster to arise.
After all her scheming to plot against the Jiang family, she never imagined she would instead fall victim to the Jiang family’s own scheme!
In that moment.
Madam Song wanted to tear Jiang Zhaoying apart.
Jiang Zhaoying looked at her contorted, furious face, stepped forward to meet her venomous gaze, and stared at Madam Song as she spoke.
“Mother, think carefully. If my husband dies, the Marquis’s household will lose all hope of resurgence. But if we save The Emperor, we become his benefactors, the benefactors of the entire realm. At the very least, we could ensure the Song residence’s prosperity for three generations. When the time comes… I will select a few clever children from the clan to adopt as legitimate heirs, hire the finest tutors to educate them, and when they grow up, choose the most outstanding one to inherit the Marquis’s position. Then, our Marquis’s household will have hope.”
As soon as these words were spoken.
The eyes of several wives from the Song clan instantly lit up. Their previously fierce and menacing expressions vanished, replaced by affectionate gazes fixed on Jiang Zhaoying.
Soon after, someone bowed to Clan Leader Song and urged anxiously.
“Clan Leader, Zhaoying speaks sense. Let us follow her suggestion.”
“Yes, for the sake of the Song clan, this small sacrifice is nothing.”
“Zhaoying, I have three sons, each clever and handsome. You may choose any of them.”
Clan Leader Song stood frozen, his face pale, his heart aching as if bleeding. Yet, a fierce struggle erupted in his eyes. He looked at the weeping, panicked Madam Song, torn between conflicting choices.
Madam Song was startled by his gaze, her body swaying as she stared fixedly at Clan Leader Song.
Chengyu cannot enter the palace—he knows this, he knows this.
And whose son Chengyu is—he also knows this!
Back then.
The ones truly in love were the eldest brother, Clan Leader Song, and his younger brother’s wife, Madam Song. They had planned to marry once he inherited the Marquis’s position, but who could have expected that year, the second legitimate son of the Song family, Song Qingcheng, achieved the rank of Tanhua, and the Marquis’s position naturally went to him.
Clan Leader Song was furious. Unwilling to accept this, after some scheming, Madam Song seized an opportunity to pour a cup of wine down Marquis Song’s throat.
Soon after.
An eight-sedan chair carried Madam Song into the residence in grand style, and the management of the household was handed over to her. Life was exceedingly comfortable.
As time passed.
Madam Song missed Clan Leader Song more and more, and Clan Leader Song grew increasingly resentful. The two constantly created opportunities to meet, hiding away to engage in their illicit affair.
Within two months, she was pregnant with Clan Leader Song’s child. Overjoyed, they planned that with this son, they could reclaim the Marquis’s position in at most a dozen years.
By then.
Madam Song and Clan Leader Song would go public and be together openly and honorably.
For that day, she had already waited twenty years!
“Master.”
The gentle and dignified clan matriarch appeared quietly, holding her son and daughter by the hand. When her gaze swept over Madam Song, a tempest surged in the depths of her eyes. She clenched her son’s hand tightly, desperately restraining something within…