Song Mo took a deep breath, suppressing the fury rising within him, and with apparent calmness said to Wei Tingyu, "Get dressed first," before turning to leave the inner chamber.
Wei Tingyu’s mind was blank.
He scrambled to find his clothes but tripped over something, tumbling off the bed in an undignified heap.
The sight was utterly humiliating.
Yet, recalling Song Mo’s icy expression, no one dared to laugh.
Zhao Zishu was so terrified that her face turned deathly pale. She grabbed Wei Tingyu’s arm and stammered, "My Lord, we—we didn’t do anything…"
If not for him, how could she have ended up in such a predicament?
Wei Tingyu found the sight of this actress repulsive, her face twisted with fear.
He glared at her fiercely, shoving her away without a second thought, then numbly dressed and stepped out of the inner chamber.
Song Mo sat composedly in the Grand Preceptor’s chair in the central hall, leisurely sipping tea.
Gu Yu sat beside him, holding a teacup but unable to hide his curiosity as his eyes darted between Song Mo and Wei Tingyu.
When Wei Tingyu emerged, Song Mo gestured to the chair opposite Gu Yu and said coolly, "Sit."
Wei Tingyu couldn’t bring himself to meet Song Mo’s gaze. Head bowed in shame, he took his seat.
Someone served him a cup of tea—its liquid emerald green, its fragrance delicate—clearly a fine Biluochun.
Wei Tingyu murmured, "Thank you."
The attendant replied humbly, "You honor me."
Wei Tingyu then heard Song Mo address the man as "Chen He" and instruct, "Go fetch the Young Lord’s personal page."
Chen He hesitated briefly before bowing and withdrawing.
Wei Tingyu was startled.
Was this matter to be broadcast to everyone?
His face flushed and paled in turns. He wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say. Fear of provoking Song Mo further made him fidget restlessly, as if sitting on pins and needles.
Wei Tingyu’s page was quickly summoned.
Song Mo ordered Chen He, "Accompany him into the inner chamber to ensure the Young Lord hasn’t left anything behind."
This was to prevent anyone from using Wei Tingyu’s belongings against him.
He was cleaning up Wei Tingyu’s mess!
Gu Yu raised an eyebrow.
In the past, Tian’en-ge had always been indifferent toward others, only ever tidying up after him and Tianen. He himself had clung shamelessly to Tian’en-ge, nearly losing his life in the process, while Tianen was Tian’en-ge’s own brother. What right did this Wei fellow have to receive such favor?
A cold glint flashed in Gu Yu’s eyes as he stared at Wei Tingyu, his earlier amusement fading into something darker.
Wei Tingyu didn’t notice Gu Yu’s shift in demeanor.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, he looked up at Song Mo and blurted, "Young Lord!" Unconsciously, he had placed himself in a subordinate position, using an honorific.
Was there any need for such groveling?
So what if he had slept with an actress?
Just clean up the mess and be done with it!
This trembling deference…
Dou Zhao, Dou Zhao… how could she have ended up with someone like this?
His heart ached unbearably.
Chen He and Wei Tingyu’s page dragged Zhao Zishu out of the inner chamber.
"Young Lord," Chen He reported quietly, "nothing was left behind."
The page, sensing the gravity of the situation, turned ashen and nodded frantically in agreement.Zhao Zishu knelt trembling before Song Mo, kowtowing repeatedly with a "thud, thud, thud."
He dared not utter a word, let alone shift the blame onto Ji Yong.
Remaining silent might allow this matter to be dismissed as mere romantic dalliance, leaving him a chance to survive.
But implicating Ji Yong would turn it into conspiracy and framing.
Not only would the imposing youth before him—though unfamiliar, clearly protective of the Marquis of Jining—not spare him, but Ji Yong would also seek retribution.
For someone like him, sometimes knowledge itself was a crime!
Yet Song Mo didn’t even glance at Zhao Zishu. He stood up and said casually to Wei Tingyu, "Let’s go."
Everyone in the room was stunned.
Was it really over just like that?
No reprimand?
No interrogation?
No thunderous fury?
Just leaving like this?
Wei Tingyu stood bewildered, unsure what to do.
Song Mo had already started walking out.
Gu Yu followed closely behind, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
Wei Tingyu inexplicably exhaled in relief and hurried after them out of the hall.
Zhao Zishu collapsed weakly onto the floor.
He would have preferred the youth to beat or kick him—at least then his anger would have been vented. But this silent departure—what awaited him now?
The thought sparked an idea in Zhao Zishu’s mind.
Hadn’t Wang Qinghuai, the Young Lord of Yan'an Marquisate, stayed here last night?
Since that youth had been brought by Gu Yu, even if Wang Qinghuai didn’t know him personally, he could still reach out through Gu Yu, right?
His only hope now was to beg Wang Qinghuai to intervene.
Once Song Mo and the others had left the hall, he struggled to his feet using the Grand Preceptor's Chair for support and stumbled toward the courtyard where Wang Qinghuai was staying.
Outside, Song Mo suddenly paused.
Beneath the lush and verdant locust tree stood two youths.
One was dressed in luxurious attire, rubbing his temples with a weary expression. The other, though disheveled and pale from a hangover, stood tall and straight, his eyes sharp and confident—impossible to overlook or underestimate.
A glint of icy sharpness flashed in Song Mo’s eyes.
That upright youth must be Ji Jianming!
Only he could carry such poise and bearing.
Meanwhile, Ji Yong sneered inwardly.
Song Mo, heir to the Duke of Yingguo’s mansion.
A ruthless, bloodthirsty noble scion!
But so what?
If he dared interfere, Ji Yong would make sure he regretted it!
He met Song Mo’s gaze unflinchingly.
Song Mo stood with his hands behind his back.
One beneath the tree, the other on the steps—both motionless.
The sky had turned a pale violet.
The cheerful chirping of birds echoed from the locust tree.
Dewdrops glistened on the grass beside the steps.
The scent of greenery in the air made this midsummer morning feel exceptionally fresh and serene.
Wei Tingyu, following behind Gu Yu, hadn’t expected him to stop abruptly. He nearly collided with Gu Yu in surprise.
"What’s going on?" he asked, confused, then looked up and saw Ji Yong under the tree—and He Yu, whose mouth hung open. The silence of the courtyard was broken.
Ji Yong let out a mocking laugh. "The Duke of Yingguo’s Young Lord drags the Marquis of Jining out of Zhao Zishu’s bed before dawn… Could it be you’re here to catch him in the act?"
His eyes held no trace of amusement.
Song Mo’s fingertips turned cold.
So, it was indeed Ji Jianming who had schemed against Wei Tingyu!He fixed his gaze on Ji Yong, a cold smile curling at the corners of his lips. "I heard the Third Scholar and the Marquis of Jining are brothers-in-law. Who would have thought you’d bring the Marquis along for your pleasure-seeking escapades? The Third Scholar certainly has refined tastes!"
Was Song Mo mocking him for lacking the dignity of an elder brother?
Ji Yong’s lips twitched slightly, revealing a hint of amusement as he turned to pluck a few tender leaves, bringing them to his nose for a sniff.
Meanwhile, he silently cursed: The road to heaven is wide open, yet you choose the path to hell. Initially, he had only planned to frame Wei Tingyu with rumors of illicit affairs through Zhao Zishu. But since Song Mo had recklessly inserted himself into this mess, he wouldn’t hold back from dragging him down too. Let them have their grand spectacle— a rendezvous with actors at Thousand Buddha Temple, vying for the Marquis of Jining’s favor!
Aloud, he said, "How could I compare to the Young Lord of Duke of Yingguo’s heartfelt devotion to the Marquis of Jining? Though I wonder how Zhao Zishu is faring now. It’d be a shame if the Marquis were left with nothing but regret."
"Is that so?" Song Mo smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to He Yu as he asked gently, "Young Master He, what did you see?"
He Yu’s expression instantly darkened.
By all accounts—whether personal ties or social standing—he should have stood firmly by Ji Yong’s side without hesitation.
But Ji Yong’s actions… Not only was he framing someone, he had also dragged Song Mo into this.
Who was Song Mo?
A man who, when provoked, had slaughtered his own house guards and then neatly arranged their corpses in the courtyard. Even his own father could do nothing about it, and the Emperor had no choice but to cover it up… Was it worth pulling someone like Song Mo into this just for petty revenge? Moreover, He Yu had a vague sense that Ji Yong’s motives ran deeper than mere spite.
He Yu hesitated for a moment.
Gu Yu, however, wore a faintly mocking smile as he raised his voice. "I heard that Lord Ji introduced his favorite from the male brothel to his brother-in-law. I wonder what those stuffy old scholars at the Imperial Academy, who only know their classical texts, would think of that?"
Ji Yong glanced at Gu Yu dismissively. "That depends on who’s saying it."
Mocking Gu Yu for lacking the standing to make such claims.
Gu Yu’s temples pulsed with anger, but he knew this wasn’t the time for violence.
His hands clenched into fists, then relaxed, repeating the motion several times before he managed to steady his temper. With a forced smile, he said, "Lord Ji makes a fair point—it truly does depend on who speaks. If it were anyone else, those esteemed scholars might not believe it. But if it were me…" He grinned. "My aunt just told me the other day to avoid associating with those spoiled nobles who only know how to indulge in vice. Come to think of it, Lord Ji and I have shared drinks at Drunken Immortal Tower and enjoyed music at Thousand Buddha Temple together… We could almost call ourselves acquaintances, no?"
Ji Yong looked up at the sky, his disdain palpable.
Yet from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Song Mo’s faint smile.
A chill ran down his spine.
How had he forgotten the real mastermind here and gotten caught up in a war of words with Gu Yu?
Gu Yu was nothing more than a clown by Song Mo’s side. Lowering himself to Gu Yu’s level was beneath him.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.
Everyone turned toward the noise.
Wang Qinghuai strode over with two pages in tow, his expression urgent."Young Master," he first cupped his hands towards Song Mo in greeting, then bowed to Ji Yong, "Minister Ji," before continuing, "It's all a misunderstanding. Zhao Zishu merely saw that Tingyu was drunk and feared he might catch a chill, so she helped him rest in her room. It's not what everyone thinks... This is all a misunderstanding!"
Ji Yong responded with a cold sneer.
Song Mo, however, smiled as he returned Wang Qinghuai's courtesy and said, "Since it's just a misunderstanding, we'll take our leave now—I had invited the Marquis of Jining for a horseback ride by the moat outside Xuanwu Gate, but he stood me up... That's why we came looking."
Wang Qinghuai made a show of glancing at the sky and remarked with a smile, "The sun hasn't even risen yet. Young Master, you still have time to make it to Xuanwu Gate."
"May your words prove auspicious, Young Master." After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wang Qinghuai, Song Mo and Gu Yu left with Wei Tingyu in tow.
Later, Wang Qinghuai's personal attendant asked him, "Aren't you afraid of offending Minister Ji?"
Wang Qinghuai sighed bitterly, "Offending Minister Ji would just mean I'd have to smile more. But if Song Mo holds a grudge, who knows what he might do to the Yan'an Marquis's household."
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