Song Xian stopped speaking, and Lu San also retreated.
Song Xian put down the brush in his hand and looked at the map again. Although the war in the North had subsided, the secret strife continued. The Emperor would be wary of the Song Family, not only because soone had accused them of colluding with the Liao people but also due to the unstable political situation of Daqi.
There had been rumors in the Imperial Hospital that the Emperor had a hidden ailnt, which was why his descendants were scarce. Consort had finally given birth to a son who was weak from birth, constantly dependent on dicine, and ultimately, he passed away last month.
There was no prince now; who would inherit the throne in the future?
The Emperor had two brothers, Prince Qi and Prince Jin, and there were Military Governors with heavy troops at the border. As ti went by, the Emperor would beco increasingly anxious and suspicious.
Song Xian knew what had happened in the past twelve years in Daqi. No offspring with the Emperor’s bloodline were born in the harem, and the Emperor’s health deteriorated, leading the Empress to raise her nephew at her side. Prince Qi and Prince Jin felt dissatisfied and took the opportunity to ally with the Military Governors to cause chaos.
Adding the remnants of the previous dynasty and the Liao people’s border harassnt, the whole of Daqi was plunged into war again.
Now that he was reliving these twelve years, Song Xian naturally wanted to plan ahead, first resolving the crisis in the North, and then thoroughly eliminating the hidden dangers of the previous dynasty.
Thinking of these matters, Song Xian inevitably rembered Xie Liangchen. No one would be willing to repeat what they had done before, especially since those were battles and sches.
Just as Song Xian was about to close the map in his hand, he heard Chang Yue’s voice from outside: "Master, I’m back."
Song Xian was sowhat surprised, as Chang Yue should have stayed by Xie Liangchen’s side.
"Co in."
Upon hearing Song Xian’s voice, Chang Yue pushed open the door.
Song Xian did not look up: "Why are you here?"
Chang Yue bowed and reported: "Miss Xie was taken to the Song Family by the Third Young Master." Since she was taken to the Song Family, naturally soone would be watching, so he ca to report to the master.
Song Xian was a bit shocked, but upon careful thought, it was all within reason. Song Min’s thods had always been like this. Rather than confronting it himself, it was better to hand over the evidence to Song Qizheng.
Song Xian did not hurry back to the Song Family, but simply asked, "How is she?"
Chang Yue and Chang An were brothers, but their personalities were different. Chang Yue was usually quiet and only spoke when Song Xian asked him.
"Miss Xie is capable," Chang Yue said, "Song Min will keep her as evidence, so she should be fine."
However, after saying that, Chang Yue felt that the master wasn’t asking about that, as the master could have figured it out on his own, so he added, "Miss Xie... she’s a slow-burning knife, quite capable of tornting people." He saw with his own eyes how Xie Er was tornted alive and dead, and teased those around Song Min.
Song Xian raised his eyebrows, and while others might not understand what Chang Yue was saying, the Chang Family brothers had been with him since childhood, and Song Xian knew them very well.
Was Chang Yue praising her for having so skill?
For other aspects he didn’t know, the concept of ’tornting people’ was sothing he understood very deeply.
Song Xian was a bit curious, wondering what Chang Yue had seen in the past few days by Xie Liangchen’s side? But this curiosity flashed away, and he didn’t ask further.
"Go," Song Xian said, "Tell those in the Song Family to keep an eye on things. You go and help Chang An."
Song Family.
Song Qizheng had just entered the door when he saw the steward with an unusual expression.
Song Qizheng asked: "What happened?"
The steward tried to conceal and his gaze dodged.
Song Qizheng frowned: "Speak." He had t Li You a few tis in recent days, but the etings were strictly business-like, making him very anxious. Upon returning ho to see this situation, his anger flared.
The steward then said: "The Third Young Master is having a temper in the courtyard; Madam went over to persuade him."
"Not a single one is letting have peace." Song Qizheng threw out a sentence, and without hesitation, he headed towards Song Min’s residence.
As he walked to the courtyard, Song Qizheng heard pleas for rcy: "Please, Third Young Master, spare us this ti. We resorted to this as a last option."
Right after ca Song Min’s voice: "Whoever asked you to stop? Keep hitting."
Song Qizheng stepped into the courtyard and saw a man being pinned to the ground, with blood seeping through his robe.
The crowd noticed Song Qizheng, and Madam Rong forcefully tugged at Song Min before looking towards Song Qizheng: "Master, what brings you back ho?"
Song Min’s fierce expression subdued a bit, and he stepped forward to greet Song Qizheng.
The Song Family mbers swinging sticks also ceased, and the cries halted abruptly.
"What is happening here?" Song Qizheng demanded sternly.
Song Min hesitated, and Madam Rong pursed her lips, glancing reproachfully at her son, not daring to speak.
Seeing the courtyard full of servants, Song Qizheng wanted to reprimand them but held back and strode into the house, sitting heavily on the master’s chair.
Song Qizheng gave Song Min no chance to catch his breath: "What are you doing?"
Song Min gritted his teeth and finally spoke: "The people below are unruly, so I gave them a long lesson."
Song Qizheng snorted coldly, clearly perceiving hidden reasons behind this.
"Bring the person here for questioning."
At Song Qizheng’s command, his attendants swiftly ca forward to fetch the man.
Soon, Mr. Dong, pale-faced, was tossed onto the ground.
"Speak." Song Qizheng suppressed his anger, looking down at the man.
Mr. Dong first kowtowed and then glancing at Song Min, said: "General, we had no other choice; we went to investigate Chen Family Village. If we just waited, Master would surely eliminate us completely."
Song Qizheng did not expect such words.
Song Qizheng’s voice was chilling: "Explain clearly."
Mr. Dong trembled: "Master instructed the Paper Workshop not to accept the dicinal materials rchants sent; intending to clear us out of Zhenzhou City."
Song Qizheng had heard of this matter: "Because the villagers offered a prescription, they were given ten days of grace to sell the dicine. This was to prevent rchants from competing for benefits with ordinary people."
Mr. Dong’s lips were cracked as he hurriedly defended: "At first, even we thought so. Even though Master arrested many people, they truly had been secretly dishonest, and we dared not complain. Until Second Master Xie told , the person who offered the prescription was his niece, and she had no knowledge of dicinal materials and was directed to the Paper Workshop.
I... I grew curious and went to investigate."
"You didn’t just investigate," Song Min finally couldn’t hold back and yelled angrily, "You privately took Miss Xie for questioning!"
Mr. Dong lowered his head, not daring to et Song Min’s gaze, and just listened to Song Min’s indignant cursing.
The Third Young Master would pretend not to know about this, handing them and the evidence to General Song. He was shocked hearing this plan from the Third Young Master, but to ensure the Third Young Master remained uninvolved, he had to endure physical suffering.
But knowing the Third Young Master’s temper, he could only comply.
Mr. Dong swallowed and said: "If it were ordinary people selling dicine, we wouldn’t have dared to act; we worried there was so arrangent, so we wanted to clarify. We’ve been in the North for many years, and can’t let it all go to waste."
Song Qizheng’s heart felt pierced; who arranged for soone to offer the prescription? Not allowing rchants to get involved was to nurture his own people? Now he couldn’t even accommodate rchants, treating the entire North as his own domain.
"Take him out for now." Song Min ordered, and the servants quickly dragged Mr. Dong away.
The room was left with only Song Qizheng, Madam Rong, and Song Min.
Song Min stepped forward to salute: "Father, it’s all my failure to properly discipline the subordinates, causing trouble. Punishing him was to make clear that no matter what happens at the Song Family, it’s not for them to ddle. After all, behind closed doors, we’re family.
Especially now that Lord Li You is in Zhenzhou, if we ss up ourselves, we’ll only be a laughing stock for outsiders."
Song Qizheng remained silent.
Song Min took a deep breath: "When I arrived it was too late; they not only questioned Miss Xie secretly but also had her write a confession to submit to the governnt office.
Even though I withheld the confession, I’m unsure how to account to Chen Family Village, fearing they’ll realize Miss Xie has disappeared."
Hearing this, Song Qizheng’s brows knitted tightly: "Where is she? Is she alright?"
Song Min shook his head: "She’s startled, but otherwise fine. After I saw Miss Xie, I was uncertain how to proceed, so I brought her back to the Song Family."
Song Qizheng had not anticipated that the prescription contributor, Miss Xie, was at ho?
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