Blossom

Chang Guard watched, suddenly wondering if he had chosen the wrong master.

Fortunately, after his outburst, Song Yichun regained some semblance of rationality. He ordered the guards, "Prepare the carriage and horses. I'll go find Gu Yu myself."

The guards scurried away as if their tails were on fire.

Then, a clueless maid came in to report, "My lord, the First Master, Third Master, Fourth Master, and the two young masters have arrived. They've been waiting in the Reception Hall for two hours now..."

Song Yichun hurled a teacup at her without hesitation. The maid stood frozen in shock, not daring to move until Song Yichun approached. Only then did tears well up in her eyes as she hurried off to inform Song Maochun and the others waiting in the Reception Hall.

Song Fengchun quickly shooed away the maids attending to him and leaned in close to Song Maochun, whispering, "Elder Brother, do you think something has happened?"

Song Maochun glanced at his two sons, Song Qin and Song Duo.

The elder son wore a stern expression, while the younger one’s brows remained furrowed the entire time.

He understood Song Yichun’s intentions.

The justification for expelling Song Mo from the Song family was flimsy at best. Last night, Song Yichun hadn’t summoned them to discuss the matter—he had simply demanded they toe the line during the ancestral hall ceremony to avoid any mishaps. The children of the Third and Fourth Masters were still too young to participate, leaving only his two sons of appropriate age. The responsibility weighed heavily on him—he had to ensure his sons didn’t speak out of turn. But when he explained the situation, both sons vehemently opposed it. The elder son argued they shouldn’t get involved: "...Though we don’t know why Second Uncle is doing this, he must have his reasons. But Tianci hasn’t done anything wrong—we can’t just slander him outright." The younger son was even more adamant: "Second Uncle is in the wrong here. You should have advised him against it!" It took all his paternal authority to barely suppress Song Qin and Song Duo’s objections, leaving him with little confidence they would support Song Yichun as he wished during the ceremony.

Hearing that Song Yichun had rushed out of the mansion, Song Maochun sighed in relief, answering Song Fengchun with noticeably less tension.

"Most likely, something unexpected happened regarding Tianci," he murmured. "We should send someone to investigate."

As soon as he said this, Song Tongchun sidled over. "Elder Brother, let me go check," he volunteered.

As the youngest and sharing a grandfather with Song Yichun, Song Tongchun always assumed he had a closer relationship with him than the others, often acting carelessly in the Duke of England's Mansion.

Naturally, Song Maochun and Song Fengchun were more than happy to let someone else take on this thankless task.

The group didn’t dare leave, anxiously awaiting news in the Reception Hall.

Then, a commotion erupted outside.

In such tense circumstances, even the slightest disturbance could set nerves on edge—let alone the growing clamor, which seemed to be heading straight for the Main chamber.

Song Maochun and Song Fengchun exchanged glances before bolting out of the Reception Hall in unison.

There, they saw Song Mo, his face as pale as snow, leading a group of guards through the central courtyard with an icy demeanor, heading straight for the Hanging Flower Gate."Tianci!" Song Maochun's face turned even paler than Song Mo's. "Didn't the Duke say Tianci had already been tied up by him?" His expression was utterly desolate.

"What happened?" Song Fengchun asked, his face full of panic.

Song Qin and Song Duo, who were following closely behind, also looked grave. Song Duo even said, "Could Tianci be going to settle accounts with Second Uncle?"

Hearing this, Song Qin grew anxious: "I'll go check—we can't let Tianci clash with Second Uncle. Otherwise, a single accusation of filial impiety would be enough to have him expelled from the family!"

Song Duo nodded repeatedly. "Elder Brother, I'll go with you."

"Is this something you can interfere with?" Song Maochun hurriedly stepped forward to block them, but his two sons had already broken into a run toward the Hanging Flower Gate.

Song Maochun stamped his foot and followed.

After a moment's thought, Song Fengchun also went after them.

But the group was stopped at the Hanging Flower Gate.

"The Young Lord has ordered that thieves have entered the residence," said four burly men who had entered with Song Mo, their swords already drawn as they guarded the entrance. "To avoid harming the innocent, no one is permitted beyond the Hanging Flower Gate."

In this peaceful age, under the clear heavens, right at the foot of the imperial city—how could anyone believe that thieves would dare to rob the first-rank hereditary Duke of England's Mansion?

It was as implausible as the claim that Song Mo would force himself upon a maidservant.

The expressions of Song Maochun and the others turned strange.

From the main chamber came the harsh clang of weapons clashing, mixed with screams and panicked shouts: "Who are you people? How dare you come to the inner courtyard of the Duke of England's Mansion to kill—"

Kill!

Things had escalated to murder!

Song Maochun and the others felt their legs go weak, their minds racing with panic as they wondered if they should flee this dangerous place immediately. Then, an extremely rough voice exploded like thunder in their ears:

"Who the hell are you, bastard? You dare ask me? Fine, listen well—I'm a guard under the Young Lord of the Duke of England's Mansion, here on his orders to capture thieves! You claim to be a guard of this mansion? The Young Lord doesn’t recognize you! How dare you impersonate the Duke’s men? Surrender now!"

As the voice faded, Song Maochun saw one of the guards at the Hanging Flower Gate grin silently.

Trembling, he grabbed his two sons and pulled them away. "This has nothing to do with us, nothing! Let’s go back, quickly!"

Song Qin and Song Duo no longer had the courage to resist their father and stumbled along as Song Maochun dragged them away from the gate.

Song Fengchun and Song Tongchun didn’t dare linger either, fleeing in panic after Song Maochun and his sons, leaving the Duke of England's Mansion behind.

Meanwhile, chaos reigned inside the Hanging Flower Gate.

Servants and maids trembled in hiding—behind secluded corners, within the hollows of rockeries, beneath the leaning rails... Of the guards left behind by Song Yichun, only a few particularly skilled ones were still putting up a desperate fight to break through. The rest either knelt on the ground, raising their swords and begging for mercy, or cried out in terror, "We’re not thieves! We really are the Duke’s guards!"

Guard Xie, locked in combat with Song Mo’s men, was even more horrified. "Who the hell are you?! Why are you using Mandarin Duck Blades?"

The Mandarin Duck Blades were a technique specifically devised by Duke Ding to counter the marauding coastal pirates.

The men surrounding Guard Xie only chuckled darkly, their strikes growing fiercer.Song Mo ignored the chaos around him and, followed closely by Chen He, walked straight into the easternmost room of the rear annex in the upper courtyard.

Xia Lian quickly bowed and stepped aside.

The two immediately saw the body in the center of the room, beaten beyond recognition.

Chen Tao...

Song Mo's eyes moistened, and his steps faltered slightly.

Chen He had already leaped past Song Mo in a single bound.

"Brother!" He threw himself onto Chen Tao's body, wailing uncontrollably.

Xia Lian couldn't bear to watch and turned his face away. After a long moment, he turned back and softly consoled Chen He, "Please, accept my condolences."

He was one of the guards who had accompanied Song Mo to Zhen Ding that time. This time, he had followed Song Mo to Liaodong. Because Song Mo was in a hurry to return, Yu Jian, whose martial skills were superior, had accompanied Song Mo back to the Capital, while Xia Lian led the remaining guards to follow closely behind. Just as they were galloping within twenty li of the Capital, he encountered someone sent by Chen Qushui to warn him, and later met Chen Xiaofeng, who carried a handwritten letter from Song Mo...

Song Mo's face was expressionless as he slowly walked forward.

The two guards originally stationed in the side room cowered on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.

Song Mo silently observed the Chen brothers, then softly asked Xia Lian, "Have you found Yu Jian?"

"We found him!" Xia Lian's voice carried hesitation and unconcealed sorrow. "But... his tendons in both hands and feet were severed..."

Song Mo nodded. Only a trace of moisture remained in the corners of his eyes, now devoid of warmth.

In a gentle voice, he said, "Kill them all."

Xia Lian was stunned. "All... all of them?"

The two guards widened their eyes at Song Mo, their faces filled with horror, momentarily forgetting to kowtow and beg for mercy.

Song Mo nodded without even glancing at the two guards and leisurely walked out of the side room as if strolling through a garden.

"Burglars broke into the house," he said indifferently. "It's not uncommon for a few people to be accidentally killed."

Xia Lian bowed his head and respectfully replied, "Yes."

Song Mo headed toward the side room where the maids, wives, and old women from the main chamber were being held.

Behind him came the sound of agonized screams.

Song Mo pushed open the door to the side room. The maids, wives, and old women all rushed toward him, weeping.

"Young Lord, save us!"

"Young Lord, you've finally returned!"

But the guards stationed in the room held them back, keeping them ten steps away from Song Mo.

Song Mo swept his gaze across the room.

They were all third-rate or lower-ranking maids and old women. None of Madam's personal attendants, like Matron Xie or her senior maids, were present.

Following Song Mo's earlier orders, one of the guards who had secured this side room immediately stepped forward to report, "Young Lord, after Madam passed away, Matron Xie fell ill within days and was sent by the Duke to the farmstead to recuperate. Of Madam's four senior maids, Mei Rui died by crashing into a pillar after Madam's death, while Xing Fang, Zhu Jun, and Qing Li were summoned by the Duke a few days ago and haven't been seen since..."

Song Mo lowered his eyes and, after a long pause, ordered the guard, "Send someone to bring Matron Xie back."

Perhaps it was already too late, but as long as there was a sliver of hope, he wouldn't give up.

As he left the side room, a guard hurried over. "Young Lord, we found two pages in the Hall of Cultivating Will who had been beaten severely. One is named Wuyi, the other Song Luo. They said they have urgent matters to report to you. I've had Wuyi brought here."Since Father intends to deal with him, he certainly won’t spare the people of the Hall of Cultivating Will, especially these two who served Chen Qushui. With Chen Qushui gone, their fate was predictable.

Hearing that the two were still alive, Song Mo felt a surge of excitement and quickly nodded.

Wuyi was helped over by someone.

"Young Master!" he cried, glancing nervously at the people around him.

Master Yan had instructed him that aside from himself and the Young Lord, no one else was to know about Mr. Chen’s affairs.

He had kept Master Yan’s warning firmly in mind.

Song Mo met with him alone.

"Mr. Chen is gone!" Wuyi was on the verge of tears. "That day, just before dusk, Mr. Chen said he wanted to take a walk in the courtyard. Song Luo was tidying up inside, and I was standing on the steps as usual, keeping watch. But in the blink of an eye, Mr. Chen disappeared. Song Luo and I searched all night but couldn’t find him..." As he spoke, he knelt down. "Young Lord..." He began to sob.

Song Mo couldn’t help but smile faintly. "If he’s gone, then so be it. As for the two of you, your loyalty is commendable. Go and rest well to recover from your injuries."

His gentle tone made Wuyi blink in confusion.

Mr. Chen was missing, yet the Young Lord seemed... happy?

Had his earlier guess been correct?

Mr. Chen was the Young Lord’s adversary. Though captured and brought back, he had refused to yield, leaving the Young Lord at a loss. Now, with the chaos in the estate, he had escaped—giving the Young Lord a convenient way out?

Baffled, Wuyi numbly followed the guards out.

A fine sweat broke out on Song Mo’s forehead.

He pulled out an ordinary-looking porcelain pill bottle, the kind used by traveling peddlers selling miracle cures, and shook out a blood-red pill the size of a lotus seed. "Fetch me a cup of water," he ordered the attendant nearby.

The guard, puzzled, brought him water.

After swallowing the pill, Song Mo felt noticeably better.

Xia Lian, who had just entered, paled at the sight and rushed forward anxiously. "Young Lord, should you rest for a while?"

"No need," Song Mo waved dismissively, his tone calm. "Have all the guards been dealt with?"

"A few escaped..." Xia Lian lowered his head guiltily. "I’ve already sent men after them—"

"Let them go," Song Mo chuckled. "We must leave my father a few men to command, no?" Then he added, "Pile all the bodies in the center of the main courtyard. We’ll await my father in the Hall of Cultivating Will." As he spoke, he brushed off his sleeves, revealing an unprecedented ease.