Blossom

Song Yichun stood on the veranda of the main chamber, watching the guards scurrying about the courtyard, feeling a chill run through his entire body.

Song Mo had actually disappeared!

Where had he escaped from?

And who had rescued him?

If he had known this would happen, he should have stationed someone inside the room to keep watch.

But this son of his was not only resourceful but also silver-tongued. Even if he had posted guards inside, they might have been swayed by him.

Thinking of this, he felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

Chang Guard approached with a grim expression.

“Lord Duke,” he saluted with a fist-and-palm gesture, “we found nothing!”

“Nothing?” Song Yichun erupted in fury. “Could he have flown to the heavens?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, both men perked up, exchanging a glance before rushing into the inner chamber together.

On the ceiling of the inner chamber, several panels of the suspended ceiling showed clear signs of having been pried open.

“Call for help immediately!” Song Yichun’s face lit up with excitement.

Soon, Chang Guard led several men up to investigate.

“Lord Duke,” Chang Guard soon poked his head down from the ceiling, “the roof tiles have been removed, and there are marks left by iron claws—someone climbed in from the eastern alley and rescued the Young Lord.”

The eastern alley was right next to the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Song Yichun’s gaze sharpened as he said in a low voice, “Surround the Hall of Cultivating Will! Tear the place apart if you must, but find him!”

“Yes!” Chang Guard led the men to the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Song Yichun, however, slumped onto the heated brick bed by the window in the inner chamber.

What should he do now?

His original plan had been to beat Song Mo half to death, leave him in the inner chamber overnight, and then expel him from the family at the ancestral hall the next morning… There would surely be people pleading for leniency, but if he delayed for a few days, even if Song Mo were eventually brought back, his injuries would likely be fatal. There would be no need to petition the Emperor.

But if Song Mo had been rescued, this plan wouldn’t work.

The only reason he had managed to capture Song Mo in the first place was because he had caught him off guard. Once Song Mo recovered…

Song Mo had fought and killed pirates on the battlefield at the age of ten!

Song Yichun couldn’t help but shudder.

Damn Jiang Meisun! It was all his fault for turning his son into this!

This wasn’t Song Yichun’s son—he was practically Jiang Meisun’s son!

As he silently cursed his late brother-in-law, a guard timidly entered the room. “Lord Duke—”

Song Han!

Song Yichun was surprised but, after a moment’s thought, said, “Let him in!” Then he sighed softly.

Song Han rushed in with reddened eyes. Seeing his father alone in the room, he tugged at his sleeve. “Father, I want my elder brother! I’m scared staying alone with Mother!” he wailed loudly.

Song Yichun frowned deeply, scolding his younger son sharply. “How old are you? All you do is cry when something happens! Your brother was already helping me with tasks at your age—can’t you learn from him?” The mention of his eldest son only fueled his anger. “Your mother spoiled you rotten!” With that, he shoved his son aside. “If you keep crying, go kneel in the ancestral hall!” His tone was full of impatience.

Song Han stared at his father in shock, mouth agape, too stunned to even cry.In the past, Father would scold him, but never with such obvious disdain as today.

Song Yichun grew even more irritated and shouted for the guards, "Who brought the Second Young Master here?"

A guard hurriedly replied, "It was Li Bai from the Second Young Master's household."

"Bring her in!" Song Yichun's face darkened as he berated Li Bai, "If you can't keep an eye on the Second Young Master again, I'll break your legs!"

Li Bai was so terrified she couldn't speak, only kowtowing frantically to Song Yichun.

Song Yichun kicked her squarely in the chest, "Get out of my sight!"

Li Bai gasped in pain, cold sweat beading on her forehead as she helped the stunned Song Han flee the inner chamber.

Only then did Song Yichun feel slightly better.

He asked the guard, "Has there been any news from Chang Guard?"

The guard was quick-witted and immediately replied, "I'll go check right away!" He clasped his fists in salute and swiftly left the room.

Song Yichun exhaled deeply and sat down to take a sip of tea.

Song Mo must be hiding in the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Most of his capable men were either absent from the Capital or detained. Even those who remained loyal were insignificant figures, already under surveillance, and none had the ability to smuggle Song Mo out of the estate. And even if they did, where could they possibly hide him?

The thought struck him, and he abruptly straightened, a chill running down his spine.

How could he have forgotten about Gu Yu?

If Song Mo escaped, the most likely person he would turn to was Gu Yu—only that reckless fool would dare shelter him without hesitation.

"Someone!" he called, and a guard respectfully entered.

Song Yichun ordered, "Send someone immediately to keep watch on Gu Yu, the eldest son of the Yunyang Earl's family." Then, reconsidering, he amended, "No, send four men! Follow him discreetly, and if the Young Lord is spotted, report back at once."

The guard acknowledged and left.

Song Yichun felt slightly reassured but couldn't help dwelling on the matter.

Aside from Gu Yu, who else might take Song Mo in?

Zhang Xuming? The Lu Family? Or that deputy commander of the Divine Pivot Camp, Ma Youming? What kind of dubious friends had he made?

Song Yichun's heart burned with agitation.

Chang Guard arrived nervously, "Lord Duke, we found no trace of the Young Lord. However, one of the Hall of Cultivating Will's advisers, Chen Bo, is missing, and we discovered marks from iron claws on the eastern wall."

"What?" Song Yichun's face turned deathly pale as he shot to his feet, his voice cracking, "What did you say?"

Chang Guard was puzzled.

Why did the Duke seem afraid of the Young Lord?

He quickly repeated his report.

Song Yichun stood frozen, then collapsed onto the kang, muttering in a daze, "How could this happen? How could this happen?" His panicked, helpless demeanor left Chang Guard waiting in vain for further instructions.

Finally, Chang Guard lowered his voice, "Lord Duke, should we detain the two pages who served Chen Bo for questioning?"“Yes… yes, yes!” Chang Guard’s words snapped Song Yichun out of his daze. As if suddenly awakened, he hurriedly said, “Not only must we thoroughly interrogate those two pages, but everyone else in the Hall of Cultivating Will must also be questioned. Also, send people to investigate whether any suspicious individuals have been seen entering or leaving the alley.” He paused, then added, “And Chen Tao—we must look into him as well. Find out who Song Mo usually associates with. Those people should also be monitored closely. Song Mo might seek refuge with them…” Then, with a face full of regret, he muttered, “Never mind, don’t bother with Chen Tao. It’s useless to question him—it might even alert that brat and make him realize Song Mo has escaped. He’d just spout nonsense and lead us astray.”

Chang Guard thought of Chen Tao, who had been beaten half to death yet remained silent. A bitter taste rose in his throat as he acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Song Yichun began pacing in circles around the room.

At times, he clenched his hands together; at others, he balled them into fists. It wasn’t until dawn broke and the maids entered to prepare his morning wash that he realized the night had passed.

Flustered, Song Yichun called for Chang Guard. He barked at the maid, “Go find him for me at once!”

The maid, unaware of what had happened, nervously set down the washing utensils and informed the guards outside to summon Chang Guard.

“Well?” Song Yichun demanded impatiently. “What did those two pages say?”

Having gone a full day and night without sleep, Chang Guard’s face was shadowed with stubble, making him look especially haggard. “The two pages only said they were following Yan Chaoqing’s orders to serve Chen Bo. Chen Bo, just like yesterday, took a stroll in the courtyard after dinner and then said he wanted to see the commotion in the front courtyard, telling them not to follow. They stayed behind to clean and tidy the study. When Chen Bo still hadn’t returned by the hour of Hai, they searched the front and back courtyards but found no trace of him. Just as they were wondering where he’d gone, we arrived… They claim to know nothing!”

“How is that possible?” Song Yichun erupted in fury. “Apply torture—let’s see if they still refuse to talk!”

“We did,” Chang Guard replied, exhaustion seeping into his bones. The two pages had wailed and sobbed under torture, yet their answers remained the same—just a few repeated phrases. Though their reactions were the opposite of Chen Tao’s silence, the result was identical: nothing useful. “They insist they don’t know where Chen Bo went!”

With a loud crash, Song Yichun smashed his teacup to the ground. His handsome face twisted into something monstrous as he roared, “Beat them! Beat them mercilessly! If they still won’t talk, beat them to death! And that Chen Tao—if he still denies the jade pendant belongs to Song Mo, kill him too!”

Chang Guard murmured an acknowledgment and was about to leave when a guard assigned to monitor Gu Yu entered. “My lord, the Chen Shopkeeper from the antique store on West Street, acting on the Young Lord’s orders, just delivered a letter to Young Master Gu. It said the Young Lord wishes to see the Emperor and requests Young Master Gu’s assistance in securing an audience as soon as possible.”

The antique store on West Street was one of the Song family’s businesses.

Chang Guard instinctively halted his steps. Behind him, the Duke of Yingguo’s enraged bellow echoed through the room: “Are you all useless fools?! Go capture the Young Lord at once!”The guard whispered in defense, "We've already questioned Shopkeeper Chen. He said it was the stable boy He San from the estate who asked him to deliver the letter—he had no idea what was happening, and the Young Lord wasn't in his shop either."

"A bunch of idiots!" Song Yichun flew into a rage. "Why haven't you tied up that He San yet? What are you all standing around for?"

"Lord Duke!" The guard steeled himself and replied, "He San hasn't returned since leaving the estate."

"Good-for-nothings, all of you, utterly useless..." As Song Yichun was stomping and cursing, another guard sent to monitor Gu Yu returned. Seeing the scene inside, he cautiously reported, "Lord Duke, Young Master Gu has taken a sedan chair toward the palace."

Song Yichun glared at him furiously. "Then why haven't you stopped him yet!"

The two guards lowered their heads. Though they said nothing, they exchanged a glance.

What right did they have to stop Gu Yu's sedan chair?

Song Yichun also realized he had misspoken and redirected his anger toward Song Mo, cursing, "...only associates with demons and monsters!" Then he turned his ire on Song Han, "...does nothing but eat and drink!"

If only Song Han were a few years older, he could have helped intercept Gu Yu.

Everyone in the room shrank back, as if hoping to avoid the brunt of his fury.