Ruan Shi stared at Shao Ping Bo's retreating figure. That fellow dared to threaten her so directly? He was ready to wipe out their entire family, just like that?
When Shao Ping Bo left, only then did Shao Wu Bo and Shao Fu Bo approach her.
Seeing their mother distraught, they asked:
— Mother, what's wrong?
Ruan Shi stood up:
— The poetry society will have to be disbanded. We couldn't hide everything from his sight.
Shao Fu Bo asked, "What did he say?"
Ruan Shi burst into tears and shook her head:
— You two are certainly not like him. And the letter to the society didn't work. The children's songs had no effect. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come directly to threaten me like this! Oh, well. Just thinking that you two are in mortal danger immediately fills me with terror! — she was drenched in hot tears, and her hands trembled.
The sons were crestfallen at the sight of their mother so consumed by grief.
Learning of Shao Ping Bo's threat and looking at his weeping mother, Shao Fu Bo, clad in armor, angrily declared:
— Bastard, I'll take him to Father and demand an explanation!
— Come back! — Shao Wu Bo pulled him back: "Since he found out about the poetry society, he must already know what's what. If you take him to Father, you'll be the one getting punished by Father!"
Shao Fu Bo pointed at his wailing mother. He was furious. Were they really supposed to sit idly by like this? He didn't know where to vent all his anger...
The Capital of the Yan Kingdom. The Song Residence.
All members of the family remained silent, feeling immense pressure.
Those who once held power in their hands, only to suddenly lose it, immediately feel a profound helplessness.
Ever since Wang Heng took his daughter away, the winds turned against the Song family. Though it wasn't cold, everyone trembled. In days past, people constantly came here, yet now silence reigned.
Even the guards and preceptors had been recalled by their sects. Fortunately, this was the capital, and Tong Mo had not yet allowed others to cause trouble for anyone directly within the Song family residence.
For this very reason, Song Chuan still held his official post. But he also felt how quickly his colleagues' attitudes towards him changed. Everyone began to treat him coldly, and some even started to mock him.
After work, the dejected Song Chuan returned to his father, and on the way, he encountered a subordinate. Normally, he wouldn't pay them any mind. But this time, for some reason, he noticed him and, strangely enough, remembered his name. For this was Cheng Gui Shuo, one of the few who hadn't abandoned the Song family!
The two men spoke with smiles and walked together.
In the inner courtyard, Song Jiu Ming sat, with Song Shu and Liu Lu standing by his sides.
The two men approached and greeted everyone. Song Jiu Ming, who took even laughter seriously, looked at Cheng Gui Shuo in surprise and, sighing, said:
— Some left, some fled, and among the preceptors in the Song family, only you remained. Such a sight is rare indeed! I never thought Song Yang Qing would manage to find a true friend. Now we have so few people. You must be having a difficult time.
Cheng Gui Shuo was speechless. He himself would have been glad to leave, but a promise to Niu You Dao kept him here. And until there was news from Niu You Dao, he dared not leave.
However, it was good that Niu You Dao had left him a path of retreat. If anything happened here, he at least had somewhere to go, because the Supreme Purity Sect would no longer accept him.
— The minister's words are paramount to me. My senior brother treated me well during his lifetime. I will not forget his kindness, so wherever uncle goes, there I shall go too. — Cheng Gui Shuo said, looking at Song Shu.
Song Shu smiled contentedly. He believed he had chosen a reliable person.
Song Jiu Ming nodded in admiration, yet secretly felt vexed. Indeed, a friend in need is a friend indeed. There are few such people in this world!
He waved a hand at Liu Lu.
Liu Lu pulled out ten thousand gold notes and slipped them into Cheng Gui Shuo's pocket.
Cheng Gui Shuo had never seen so much money in his life. He chuckled bitterly to himself. He never thought he would get rich here. This Song family was truly wealthy. Unusually rich. However, he said with feigned modesty:
— "No reward without effort." — and ostentatiously tried to return the money.
Song Shu shouted, "What do you think you're doing! Are you going against the minister's will? Take it when it's given."
Seeing the situation, Cheng Gui Shuo humbly accepted the money back.
Song Jiu Ming said, "From now on, you are no stranger. Now you are like a kinsman of the Song family. Once I rise again, you will no longer have to endure hardships!"
No sooner had he said this than a person appeared from outside with a sealed letter.
Liu Lu conversed with the person and took the letter. He unsealed it, then said to Song Jiu Ming:
— Master, this is from the provincial city of Beizhou.
Several people looked at Song Jiu Ming in surprise, and he, frowning, asked:
— A letter from Shao Deng Yun?
Liu Lu: "It doesn't say. Please take a look." — He handed him the letter.
Song Jiu Ming looked at the letter, thought for a moment, and already stood up, invigorated. He swept his gaze over everyone and said:
— There is hope for my recovery!
As soon as he said this, everyone looked at him with curiosity. And Song Chuan asked:
— How so?
Song Jiu Ming replied, "The letter says that Niu You Dao is in the Han Kingdom. Beizhou learned that he is heading to the Great Snow Mountain, to the Ice and Snow Palace. He needs the Red Yang Fruit for Hai Ru Yue's ailing son. As long as Niu You Dao is captured, we can atone for our wrongdoings. Then His Excellency will have a reason to help me!"
Song Shu: "Father, are they not deceiving us?"
Song Jiu Ming, looking at the letter, said:
— "Since it's from Beizhou, it's unlikely. Especially in our current predicament, what purpose would they have in setting us up? I was still wondering where that milk-drinker got his power from. It turns out it's all about the Red Yang Fruit!"
Song Chuan said, both overjoyed and disbelieving:
— What does Beizhou want?
Song Jiu Ming: "Beizhou is helping now. They truly provided charcoal in snowy weather. Most likely, they want me to be useful to them later. I will not forget this!"
Song Chuan: "By capturing Niu You Dao, will His Excellency then be able to help us?"
Song Jiu Ming: "I have been with him for so many years, everyone knows this. If I cannot atone for my wrongdoings, I can at least eliminate the ill intentions of others. As for my recovery, we can talk about that later! After all, having hope is better than having none!"
Song Chuan gritted his teeth and said:
— "That scoundrel has already caused us so much trouble. I will personally go and deal with him. I'll vent all my hatred on him!"
— "And what good will that do? Can you even capture him? Has his cunning not taught you a lesson yet? You don't need to move your body, you need to move your brain. For this matter, there are many people who can flex their muscles." — Song Jiu Ming scolded him, then turned to Liu Lu: "Contact the Liuxiang Sect. Let them capture Niu You Dao, then I can rise again!"
Song Chuan pointed outside and said, "Their people have already left. They are keeping their noses to the wind. Why ask them?"
Song Jiu Ming, scolding him again, said:
— "Is there a need for anger here? You give them nothing, why would they waste their time with you then? Do you want them to just work for you for free? Moreover, in this kind of situation, they themselves don't want to find trouble. They can be understood. Besides, whom else would you ask? If you turn to others, they won't just refuse to help; they might even use this information against us."
He turned his head and said to Liu Lu, "It just so happens they themselves can settle accounts with Niu You Dao. Also tell them that once I rise again, I will not forget their assistance. This time, we must give it our all. We cannot let him escape!"
— "Understood!" — Liu Lu went to carry out the order.
Cheng Gui Shuo stood at that moment, his eyes gleaming.
An hour later, Cheng Gui Shuo left the Song Residence and entered a nearby tavern. He sat at a table and ordered some wine. After drinking a few cups, when no one was paying attention to him, he passed a folded paper to the attendant wiping his table...
Completely beaten, with a bruised nose and swollen cheeks, Shang Chao Zong was being supported by people. Blood streamed down his face. At that moment, he looked at the enraged Feng Ru Nan.
There was nothing to be done, fire cannot be wrapped in paper. Feng Ru Nan had, after all, learned the truth that the 100,000-strong Crows army did not exist at all. And when she was speaking with him, she couldn't help but resort to using her hands. That, it seemed, was her preferred way of conversing.
And Shang Chao Zong was still no match for her. Bai Yao also stood nearby, only this time he did not hinder Feng Ru Nan. On the contrary, he didn't even allow others to interrupt the couple's 'conversation' and calmly watched the fight.
— "Quickly attend to the princess." — Lan Ruo Ting shouted to his subordinates.
Immediately, one of the bodyguards went to fetch Feng Ru Nan.
Yuan Fang, who had initially been watching the fight, approached and began to help the Prince. He had wanted to help earlier, but he had been prevented.
He checked the Prince, and then, turning to Shu Qing, said:
— "The Prince is fine. There are no fractures."
Shu Qing, who had just returned with medicine, began to administer it to her brother, when at that moment a bodyguard entered and reported:
— "Prince, the princess has taken people and left the city. She says she is returning to Kuangai!"
— "She's gone, let her go! Let her never return!" — Chao Zong shouted angrily. His lip was split, making it painful for him to shout.
And Shu Qing, wiping away the blood, persuaded him:
— "Brother, any girl in her position would be enraged. You should just bear with it! Order for her to be brought back."
Chao Zong slammed the tea table:
— "No one is to pursue her!"
Lan Ruo Ting waved his hand at Shu Qing:
— "Princess, the princess is enraged right now, and no one will be able to bring her back. Let her return home and calm down. Then we can send people!"
— "Ah!" — Shu Qing sighed and shook her head.
At that moment, another bodyguard arrived from outside and reported something to Lan Ruo Ting.
Lan Ruo Ting then said:
— "Prince, there's news from the capital. Yan Kingdom spies have been discovered and apprehended at the post stations of the six kingdoms. The imperial house suffered heavy losses!"
Yuan Fang, who was just helping the Prince wipe away the blood, as soon as he heard this news, immediately chuckled.
Several people looked at him, and Lan Ruo Ting asked, "It seems the preceptor already knows about this."
Yuan Fang replied with a smile, "These spies were deployed by the Yan Kingdom to capture Lord Dao. All along the way, they caused us trouble. First pursuits, then bribing someone to capture and kill us. They pushed us to the point where we couldn't even hide. In the end, Lord Dao was forced to respond in kind. Now he's caught them by their tails. Look, didn't they have a hard time in the end?!"