Looking at the neatly arranged corpses in the center of the main courtyard, Song Yichun felt a tightness in his chest and vomited everything he had eaten that morning.
The few men who had escaped with Guard Xie were now mixed among Song Yichun’s personal guards. Their faces were pale—some vomiting like Song Yichun, others standing there in shock, and some secretly regretting not finding a way to hide. Only Chang Guard appeared relatively composed.
But that was merely a facade.
His heart was ice-cold.
It’s over, it’s over!
No wonder Gu Yu had been so accommodating!
It was all the Young Lord’s plan to lure the tiger from the mountain!
By now, the Duke of England's Mansion must have fallen into the Young Lord’s hands!
What should they do now?
His gaze involuntarily fell upon Song Yichun, who was being supported by two guards as he continued to retch.
The Duke… was indecisive and hesitant. Nine times out of ten, he couldn’t be relied upon. Fortunately, the Duke of England's Mansion still belonged to the Duke. Even if these guards were dead, more could be recruited. They still had the Martial Retainers raised by the Duke’s household—they weren’t entirely without means to retaliate. But after all, the Duke and the Young Lord were father and son. The Duke couldn’t simply take the Young Lord’s life, nor could the Young Lord defy his father outright. If this matter escalated, the Duke would undoubtedly lose face, but the Young Lord wouldn’t escape the charge of filial impiety either. That was why the Young Lord had seized the opportunity while the Duke was away to kill all these guards loyal to him.
As long as the Young Lord still had some restraint, there was hope!
The Duke of England's Mansion still belonged to the Duke.
Chang Guard felt slightly reassured and stepped forward, clasping his fists in salute to Song Yichun. He lowered his voice and said, “Your Grace, perhaps we should dispose of these bodies as quickly as possible…”
Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing it was another. If outsiders caught sight of this scene, it would be disastrous.
“That unfilial wretch! That wretch!” Song Yichun cursed, his spirit broken. Though unwilling, he had to admit Chang Guard’s words made sense. He nodded and added, “You handle this—compensation for the families, whatever is needed.”
With this instruction, things would be easier.
Chang Guard exhaled in relief and respectfully replied, “Yes.” Then he cautiously asked, “And what about the Young Lord…?”
“That damned brat! What more does he want?” Song Yichun stamped his feet, though a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. “He’s killed so many people—I’d be justified in binding him and handing him over to Shuntian Prefecture! What more could he possibly want…?” Yet he offered no concrete plan for how to proceed.
Chang Guard couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
The Duke’s attitude toward the Young Lord… was nothing more than… bluster without substance!
He had no choice but to say, “Since the Young Lord dared to kill, he must have further plans. Your Grace, should we not prepare a countermeasure?”
“Countermeasure?” Song Yichun asked blankly. “What countermeasure?” Clearly, his mind was in turmoil.
Chang Guard whispered, “Should we summon Guard Meng with a few men? And as for the Young Lord… does Your Grace have any plans? Even a cornered rabbit will bite. If the Young Lord acts recklessly… Besides Gu Yu, the Third Princess frequently visits the palace. If the Young Lord uses their connections to lodge an imperial complaint before the Emperor… even if His Majesty dislikes the Young Lord’s defiance, he would surely inquire. How should we respond then? Your Grace must decide soon.”
Though his words were tactful, Song Yichun understood perfectly.Guard Meng was responsible for managing the Martial Retainers of The Duke of England's Mansion.
Now they were left with only a handful of defeated remnants. If they didn’t quickly mobilize the highly skilled men under Guard Meng’s command, Song Mo might use the excuse of thieves in the mansion to continue the slaughter—these people would be no match for him.
Then there was the question of how to resolve this matter.
If they decided to deal with Song Mo, he would surely be driven to desperation and go to the Emperor to plead his case. In that scenario, Song Yichun would have to present solid evidence to prove Song Mo’s misconduct. If he couldn’t produce convincing proof, he would have to find a way to suppress the matter as quickly as possible.
Thinking of this, Song Yichun couldn’t help but shudder.
After Empress Wan became the mother of the realm, there were once petty men who slandered the Crown Prince before the Emperor, accusing him of filial impiety. The Emperor flew into a rage and declared, "A father’s fault lies in failing to discipline his son, and a mother’s fault lies in failing to discipline her daughter. Are you implying that I am to blame?" He then had those who spoke these words dragged to the execution ground and beheaded. Later, he even said bitterly to Song Yichun, "...These people are merely taking advantage of the fact that the Crown Prince lost his mother at a young age. I despise such behavior the most!"
The Emperor held deep respect for Empress Shen. It was only five years after her death that he elevated the gentle and virtuous Consort Wan Shi to Empress.
Jiang Shi had just passed away.
If Song Mo went to the Emperor to lodge a complaint, and Song Yichun couldn’t provide a justifiable reason, he would likely have a hard time explaining himself before the Emperor!
"You’re right, you’re right!" Song Yichun wiped the sweat from his forehead and hastily ordered Chang Guard, "Quickly inform Guard Meng to bring his men over..." As for how to handle Song Mo, he pressed his lips together, his expression dark and unreadable.
Being one of Song Yichun’s trusted aides, Chang Guard naturally had his own exceptional qualities.
Some words could be spoken but not acted upon, while some actions could be taken but not spoken of.
The relationship between the Song father and son fell into the former category.
He could remind Song Yichun, but he couldn’t interfere in their father-son affairs.
Chang Guard bowed respectfully to Song Yichun, sent someone to notify Guard Meng, and then led a few guards to deal with the pile of corpses that were like a blatant declaration of war.
The bloodshed in the main courtyard made Song Yichun feel as though The Duke of England's Mansion had turned into a battlefield of carnage. Escorted by several guards, he rested in a side room near the sedan chair hall, originally used by sedan carriers and grooms to dust themselves off.
By the time the lanterns were lit, Guard Meng arrived with over twenty guards.
These guards were clearly more experienced in handling corpses than Chang Guard and the others. With their help, by the time the third watch drum sounded—"dong, dong-dong"—if one ignored the faint traces of blood in the puddles of water and the terrified expressions of the maidservants, The Duke of England's Mansion could barely be considered restored to normal.
※※※※※
Lying on his stomach in bed, dressed in thin sleepwear and covered with a quilt, Song Mo smiled as he looked at Song Han, who was crouched beside his bed. "It’s so late—why aren’t you asleep yet?"
Song Han squirmed beside his brother. "Brother, I want to sleep with you!"
"No!" Song Mo chuckled. "I’m in so much pain right now. What if you accidentally bump into my wounds in the middle of the night?"
Hearing this, Song Han carefully touched his brother’s hand and said, "Next time Father hits you, I’ll beg him to stop!"
"Good!" Song Mo’s smile was tender as he repeated, "Go and rest now."
Li Bai, who had accompanied Song Han, stepped forward with a smile and took his hand. "Second Young Master, let’s not delay the Young Lord from resting and recovering."Li Bai was once a senior maid by Jiang Shi's side. Because of her gentle and steady nature, she was assigned to be Song Han's senior maid.
Early in the morning, she accompanied Song Han in the mourning hall located east of the main chamber.
When Song Mo stormed in, he immediately stationed capable men around the mourning hall.
Knowing something major had happened, she coaxed Song Han into staying inside the mourning hall the entire time.
After clearing out the Hall of Cultivating Will, Song Mo promptly sent Li Bai to bring Song Han over, merely explaining that he had angered Father and was beaten, and that his guards had clashed with the mansion’s guards.
Song Han was skeptical but didn’t press further.
When Li Bai mentioned that Song Mo also needed to rest, he obediently nodded and followed her out.
Xia Lian brought in a bowl of pitch-black medicinal brew.
All the attendants who had previously served Song Mo closely in the Hall of Cultivating Will had been beaten to the point of immobility. Those still able to move were only third or fourth-rate servants, so Xia Lian dared not entrust such an important task as brewing medicine to anyone else and had to do it himself.
Song Mo took the bowl and drank it all in one go, then asked Xia Lian, “Have Father’s men cleaned up outside?”
“Yes!” Xia Lian replied just as Chen He entered, his eyes swollen and his expression haggard.
He was carrying a bowl of porridge.
Song Mo sighed and said, “Didn’t I tell you to go back and spend time with your wet nurse? Why are you still here? Others can handle these things…”
“Young Lord,” Chen He didn’t argue. He simply placed the porridge on a nearby stool and said softly, “Wuyi and Song Luo are both doing well. Once their injuries heal, I’ll go see my mother. It won’t be too late.” He added, “You’ve barely eaten anything today. I added some yam to the porridge, just the way you like it. Please try it!” His expression carried a hint of stubbornness.
Everyone had their own convictions.
Song Mo said nothing more and leaned over the bedside to eat the porridge.
The guard sent to find Matron Xie returned.
“Young Lord,” he said with his head lowered, “Matron Xie passed away ten days ago… They say she accidentally missed a step on the stairs, broke her neck, and died on the spot…”
Song Mo froze.
Expressionless, he stared at the spoonful of white porridge, letting the faint steam brush against his face.
After a long silence, he quietly finished the porridge and instructed Xia Lian, “No matter what, find a way to locate the senior maids who served my mother!”
They still hadn’t found those maids.
Xia Lian solemnly acknowledged the order, entrusted Song Mo to Chen He’s care, and withdrew.
Song Mo began writing letters again.
Meanwhile, Song Yichun paced restlessly in his room.
This was an opportunity.
Once lost, it would be hard to come by again.
But if he persisted, how would he explain it to the Emperor?
As he agonized over this, Chang Guard arrived.
“Duke,” he whispered, “Second Young Master is now in the Hall of Cultivating Will.”
The two brothers had always been close. It was natural for Song Mo to take Song Han there to shield him from further distress.
Song Yichun didn’t immediately grasp Chang Guard’s implication.
Chang Guard stepped closer and murmured, “Duke, if the Young Lord were to harm Second Young Master, then…”
Song Yichun’s eyelids twitched.
How had he not thought of that?
Song Mo had killed the Duke of Yingguo’s guards and displayed their corpses so brazenly—he was no longer the son Song Yichun once knew. He had become another Jiang Meisun!Song Yichun gasped and said, "What do you suggest we do now?"
"Your Grace should consider how to face the Young Lord in front of His Majesty!" Chang Guard's eyes flickered with an unusual glint.
He had already formed a life-and-death enmity with Song Mo. If Song Mo were to become the Duke of Yingguo, his fate would be unimaginable.
Song Yichun asked him, "Do you have any good ideas?"
Such matters required scholars well-versed in the classics to devise solutions—how would he know?
Chang Guard reluctantly offered a few suggestions, all of which Song Yichun dismissed.
The faint sound of the fourth watch drum echoed in the distance.
Gritting his teeth, Song Yichun ordered a maid, "Go and summon Mr. Tao!"
Mr. Tao, whose given name was Chi and courtesy name Qizhong, was his most capable adviser.
Originally, he had intended to ask him for a foolproof plan, but Tao Qizhong had rambled on with archaic phrases, citing figures like Duke Wen of Jin and Emperor Wu of Han, which only fueled his frustration... Yet, in the end, he still had to rely on him to clean up the mess.
These military men might be obedient, but like dog meat, they could never grace the main banquet!
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