As Song Qizheng stood up, Xie Liangchen’s face changed and she couldn’t help but step back two paces.
Chen Zigeng sensed sothing unusual about Xie Liangchen and instinctively called out: "Sister."
Before Song Qizheng could speak, it was as if the presence of this brother and sister pair had deflated his montum. His usual intimidation failed to materialize and instead evoked suspicion from Li You.
Song Qizheng missed the opportunity to speak, only to hear Li You continue to ask: "Besides the few herbs drawn here, do you recognize any other dicinal materials?"
Xie Liangchen nodded: "Sir can take this humble girl to the pharmacy, where I can identify the dicinal materials in public."
Upon hearing the words "identify in public," Song Min couldn’t help but grit his teeth. The first thing he did was to have this farm girl recognize the herbs, but the result was that she couldn’t tell them apart.
Now the farm girl herself suggested it, so confidently, clearly unafraid of Li You verifying it.
Was she just putting on an act earlier in the small courtyard?
Impossible, Song Min’s eyes squinted with a fierce glint. He could see through the girl at a glance; the Xie Family had no special qualities, always led forward by him. Perhaps Dong Jiang hadn’t told him the truth to deal with Song Xian?
"I will take you," Li You said, "without clarifying, this matter will always be criticized by others; you must understand this principle."
Xie Liangchen responded, her past life involved years of trading dicinal herbs. Taught by Old Master Su and her ntor, she was familiar with every herb from the North to the South, and even mariti imports. She stood there through her own rit, leaving her unshaken.
In Li You’s eyes, it made him more convinced that Xie Liangchen wasn’t lying.
Such a matter, if lied about, would be uncovered imdiately.
With this settled, Li You aid to resolve another issue. He turned to Song Qizheng: "National Guardian General, who brought Miss Xie to the mansion?"
Song Qizheng looked at Song Min: "Explain the origins to Mr. Li clearly, leave nothing hidden."
Song Min found himself in turmoil, unable to make sense of everything, forced to speak with gritted teeth: "A rchant nad Dong Jiang brought Miss Xie; the statent docunts were his. I believed them to be true upon seeing them.
Now... after hearing Miss Xie’s words, I’m also confused. Perhaps, sir, you should summon Dong Jiang."
As Song Min finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside, followed by several governnt officials dragging soone into the room.
Song Min turned and found the person on the floor was Dong Jiang.
Dong Jiang t Song Min’s gaze, his eyes evasive, fear rising on his face.
Song Min’s heart sank as if a mountain weighed down upon him, leaving him immobile.
Dong Jiang stamred: "Mr. Li... it was Mr. Song who told to do it, first to have Xie Shaoshan gather information at Chen Family Village, then capturing Miss Xie for questioning, leaving docunts as evidence.
He even persuaded Xie Shaoshan to report it to the governnt office; I acted under orders..."
Song Min’s eyes widened like knives, desperately wanting to flay Dong Jiang alive. He couldn’t contain himself before Dong Jiang finished speaking, and shouted: "Who told you to say that? Who’s manipulating you against ?"
Having been beaten and interrogated by Li You, Dong Jiang’s face was pale; this fear drove him to collapse onto the ground.
"Spare , Third Young Master," Dong Jiang trembled, "spare my life..."
Song Qizheng stood in a daze, never expecting Dong Jiang to speak thus, contradicting what Song Min had told him.
Song Qizheng glanced at the grim-faced Song Min, then addressed Dong Jiang: "Was it not you who brought the person to the Song Family?"
Dong Jiang dared not lie: "No, it was under the Third Young Master’s orders."
Song Qizheng maintained his turbulent emotions: "Then why did Song Min punish you?"
Cold sweat dripped from Dong Jiang’s forehead: "A ruse, to... to make the Great General believe, enabling the Great General to question the master."
With his assumptions proved, Song Qizheng still felt a jolt, as if struck hard in the chest.
Not only did Song Min deceive him, but sought to use his hand against Song Xian?
Song Qizheng turned to Song Min, his gaze filled with authority: "Is what he says true?"
"False," Song Min gritted his teeth to deny, "Soone is using him to harm ."
Upon hearing this, Song Qizheng instinctively avoided eye contact with Song Xian.
Li You, shrewd from years in office, grasped the situation with a glance. Song Qizheng trusted Song Min more than Song Xian, and, now with evidence clear, clung to the belief that this was Song Xian’s sche.
Song Xian, seated, remained unchanged in expression, seemingly accustod to such matters.
Li You couldn’t help but sigh internally—what had driven Song Qizheng and his eldest son to discord? After all, they guarded the Northern Border together, falling to this state for what reason?
Having fostered doubt, Li You asked Dong Jiang directly: "Was anyone directing you?"
Dong Jiang shook his head incessantly: "For four years, I’ve worked under both the Second and Third Young Masters. I’m also familiar with Steward Xu. Xie Shaoshan sought my aid to et Steward Xu, hoping to connect with both young masters..."
As Dong Jiang recounted how he t Xie Shaoshan and dealt with the Chen Family, any remaining doubts dissipated.
Song Qizheng looked at Song Min with disappointnt. Song Min had engaged in such deeds beneath his oversight.
Abducting a civilian girl, framing his brother, even involving Mr. Li, not only brought disgrace upon the National Guardian General Mansion, but implicated the Chen Family villagers, accusing them of oppressing commoners, endangering his Military Governor appointnt.
Song Qizheng was nearly overwheld with rage, regretting not investigating earlier before Li You’s arrival, which might have avoided this outco. He queried Miss Xie’s truthfulness; evidently, she hadn’t spoken honestly to him.
Was Miss Xie shocked and unable to respond or had she intentionally withheld information?
"Guards," Li You commanded, "take everyone involved in this case to the governnt office."
Li You ant everyone, naturally including Song Min.
Previously, Song Qizheng mitigated Song Yu’s punishnt, sparing him with minor flogging; now, he couldn’t intervene to keep Song Min.
"Father." Song Min pleaded with Song Qizheng.
"Silence," Song Qizheng replied, "The National Guardian General Mansion defends the Northern Border, devoted to the nation and people, tolerating no oppression of the populace."
Completing his statent, Song Qizheng saluted to Li You: "Mr. Li, this case involves the Song Family, and I should not interfere, but if any assistance from the Song Family is needed, please send word."
"Father... Father..."
Governnt officials stepped forward to seize Song Min, and Song Min cried out: "Dong Jiang falsely accuses , Father cannot trust one-sided words."
Song Qizheng ignored him, allowing Song Min to be dragged away.
Li You said: "I will head to the governnt office to handle the case, and will not further disturb the General."
Song Qizheng personally escorted Li You, a polite distance tinged with estrangent between them.
After a few steps, Li You beckoned to Chen Zigeng: "We’ve found your sister, co with to the governnt office for so tea."
Xie Liangchen naturally followed Li You.
As they passed by Song Xian, her eyes flickered, avoiding others, eting Song Xian’s gaze.
Song Xian said nothing, but Xie Liangchen could discern the debtor’s good mood.
Song Xian also knew Xie Liangchen was certainly elated; bringing out the dicinal herb diagram now was indeed the perfect opportunity to make a na for herself.
Everything was understood without words, no need for explanations to outsiders.
As Song Xian left the Song Family courtyard, Cheng Yanzhao imdiately approached with a aningful smile: "I heard a woman protected you earlier? Apart from your grandmother, that’s a first, isn’t it?"
Cheng Yanzhao winked and asked, "What to do? How will you repay her?"
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