Blossom

The scorching sun blazed down on the bluestone slabs of the small courtyard, reflecting a blinding white light, yet it paled in comparison to the chilling gaze of the noble young man standing beneath the veranda.

Li Liang stood alone in the center of the yard, watching the guards scattered in orderly positions around him. His heart sank, but his mind had never been clearer.

"You... you're from the Song family?" His face was as pale as snow despite the sweltering heat. "Are you the Young Lord of the Duke of England's Mansion? Or... the Second Young Master?"

Song Han?

Why would he think he was Song Han?

Song Mo's expression grew even colder.

"What difference does it make?" he asked Li Liang, clasping his hands behind his back as he slowly descended the steps, looking down at the trembling man in the courtyard. "Would it change anything if Song Han were here instead?"

Li Liang raised his head and saw the disdain in Song Mo's eyes.

Memories from years ago resurfaced in his mind, and the humiliation buried in his heart for over a decade erupted like a volcano.

"Where's Yi Gui? Did you kidnap her from the Lantern Festival?" He clenched his fists, glaring at Song Mo with bloodshot eyes. "Back then, you cast her aside like trash... What now? Suddenly remembered the Song family has a daughter left adrift? Think you can just hire a governess to teach her manners for a few years and then use her for a political marriage? Spare me! She's a Li—she has nothing to do with your Song family! Don’t you dare harm her again! This isn’t fifteen years ago, when that beast Song Yichun was in charge and couldn’t even protect the Crown Prince’s tutor, barely managing to cling to his position as Commander-in-chief of the Five Armies Commandery. And our Li family isn’t what it used to be either—we’ve got nothing left to lose! If you don’t hand Yi Gui over, I’ll go straight to Chang’an Avenue and shout your crimes for the whole world to hear!" With that, he lunged toward the side chamber. "Yi Gui! Yi Gui! Are you in there? Your uncle’s here—don’t be afraid, I’ll get you out—"

Duan Gongyi and the others wouldn’t let him get anywhere near Song Mo. In moments, they had him pinned to the ground.

Inside the room, Yi Gui bolted out like a startled calf. "Uncle! Uncle! I’m here!"

Dou Zhao didn’t dare stop her, but fortunately, Jin Gui and Yin Gui were guarding the door. As it creaked open, the two sisters caught Yi Gui and held her at the threshold.

"Uncle! Uncle!" Seeing Li Liang pinned down, Yi Gui burst into tears, struggling to reach him.

Li Liang strained his neck, shouting, "Yi Gui!" and asking, "Did they hurt you?"

Yi Gui shook her head, still sobbing.

The scene made it seem as though Song Mo and his men were bandits, and they were innocent civilians being robbed.

What a mess!

Dou Zhao, who had followed, could only shake her head and glance at Song Mo.

Sure enough, his face was as dark as a storm cloud.

Dou Zhao had no choice but to gently pat Yi Gui’s shoulder and say softly, "If you stay quiet and behave, I’ll have them let your uncle go. How does that sound?"

Yi Gui even dropped to her knees, ready to kowtow to Dou Zhao. "I’ll listen! I’ll do whatever you say—just don’t hurt my uncle!"

Just as Dou Zhao was about to nod, a loud crack echoed from the courtyard.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

Song Mo had just kicked the leaning rail beneath the veranda, snapping it clean in half.

Dou Zhao and the others could only smile wryly.

Yi Gui, however, trembled in terror, too frightened to even cry.Dou Zhao sighed, worried that Yi Gui might suddenly struggle and harm the child in her belly. She signaled Jin Gui and Yin Gui to help Yi Gui back to the side room to sit down, then personally poured her a cup of tea and comforted her softly, "The Young Lord usually has a very good temper. Your crying is making him irritable, so please stop. He’ll just say a few words to your uncle and then let him go."

"I won’t cry, I won’t cry!" Yi Gui hurriedly assured Dou Zhao, but her tears fell even harder than before.

What a weeping beauty!

Helpless, Dou Zhao gently wiped her tears away.

Li Liang had always been fierce in appearance but weak at heart, and Song Mo’s kick shattered the last bit of his courage.

He lay on the ground, silently weeping. "Young Lord, I beg you. It was all my sister’s fault before—Yi Gui had nothing to do with it. Please be magnanimous and spare her. She knows nothing; we told her nothing. She’s a woman, already married. Though she doesn’t live a luxurious life, she’s better off than many. Please show mercy and let her live..."

Mentioning Yi Gui’s marriage only made Song Mo’s face darken further.

With a grim expression, he walked over and lightly pressed the tip of his foot against Li Liang’s shoulder.

Li Liang felt a piercing pain in his shoulder, let out a cry, and then lost all sensation in it—only to hear a sickening crack of bone.

His face turned deathly pale.

Song Mo had stepped on his right shoulder. He wouldn’t be able to write for a while, and as an accountant, how could he work if he couldn’t even hold a pen?

"Young Lord, Young Lord!" he pleaded in a low voice, tears streaming down his face, his heart aching as if cut by a knife.

Chen Jia had interrogated countless prisoners. Unlike others, he could tell from Song Mo’s stance and Li Liang’s injury that the shoulder was ruined. And judging by Song Mo’s demeanor, this wasn’t the end of it. Of course, even if Song Mo did something irreversible to this man, as a member of the Imperial Bodyguard’s Surveillance Bureau, Chen Jia would handle the aftermath. But he had noticed earlier that Yi Gui and her uncle shared a deep bond. If Li Liang died now and Yi Gui remained ignorant, it would take a lot of effort to console her later.

He stepped forward and grabbed Song Mo’s foot, whispering, "Young Lord, Miss Yi Gui is the priority. If you’re upset, at least let this man finish speaking first, so Miss Yi Gui doesn’t misunderstand."

Song Mo ground his foot into Li Liang’s shoulder twice more before finally lifting it.

Chen Jia exhaled in relief.

Only then did Li Liang feel the pain, and beads of sweat instantly dotted his forehead.

Chen Jia quickly shoved a pill into his mouth. "For the pain. Bear with it for now. I’ll fetch a doctor for you. Once you’ve answered the Young Lord’s questions, I’ll have the doctor examine you."

Li Liang trembled uncontrollably from the pain, letting out low moans.

Chen Jia exchanged a glance with Duan Gongyi.

Duan Gongyi nodded and, along with Xia Lian, hauled Li Liang to the adjacent tearoom.

Without Song Mo’s permission, Chen Jia wouldn’t dare call a doctor for Li Liang. His earlier words were just to coax Li Liang into answering Song Mo properly.He didn't intend to get more deeply involved and hurriedly bowed to Song Mo, saying respectfully, "I'll go see if Madam has any instructions..." hoping to make his escape.

Unexpectedly, Song Mo, seeing his methodical manner, said, "If Madam has any matters, she'll naturally instruct Jin Gui or Yin Gui. You come with me." With that, he headed toward the tea room.

Chen Jia had no choice but to walk a few steps ahead of Song Mo and lift the curtain for him.

The tea room, meant for female visitors to boil water and steam snacks, was barely half a zhang wide. Apart from a small charcoal stove, there was a cabinet by the window, two spring stools, and a few large men squeezed inside, making it difficult to even turn around.

Song Mo ordered Duan Gongyi and Xia Lian, "You two, keep watch outside."

Duan Gongyi and Xia Lian withdrew respectfully, leaving Chen Jia no choice but to support Li Liang.

Song Mo sat on one of the spring stools.

The medicine began to take effect. Though half of Li Liang's body remained numb and immobile, the pain had subsided.

Chen Jia used his foot to pull over a small stool by the stove, meant for tending the fire, and had Li Liang sit on it before retreating to the doorway.

Song Mo then asked Li Liang, "What exactly happened back then?"

His tone was as calm and composed as ever.

Chen Jia couldn't help but glance at Song Mo.

Li Liang, however, asked in surprise, "Didn't the Duke send you?"

From the moment he saw Yi Gui, things had taken a bizarre turn, and Song Mo realized his understanding was flawed.

He replied vaguely, "Everyone tells a different story. I just want to know what really happened back then."

At these words, Li Liang's eyes immediately turned red with anger, like an enraged bull.

Chen Jia feared he might launch into another tirade against the Song family, which might satisfy him but would only provoke Song Mo, possibly costing him his life.

He quickly interjected, "About the past, the Young Lord has only heard bits from his elders. If he fully believed those accounts, why would he have his subordinates investigate Miss Yi Gui? And if not for that investigation, how could he have saved her..." Knowing Yi Gui's ordeal—something Song Mo would never disclose to others—Chen Jia thought it better to let Li Liang know the truth. Otherwise, Li Liang might continue to boast about raising Yi Gui and speak arrogantly to Song Mo, which would only anger him further.

Chen Jia paused briefly, then quietly recounted Yi Gui's suffering to Li Liang.

Song Mo didn't stop him.

It was better for this man surnamed Li to know what he had done, lest he shamelessly call himself "uncle" and disgust everyone.

Li Liang's eyes widened in shock.

He looked at Song Mo's impassive face, then at Chen Jia's grave expression, and let out a hoarse cry, "Impossible! You're lying! You must despise the Wei Family and are tricking me into making Yi Gui divorce Wei Bairui..."

Even as he spoke, he knew deep down it was likely true. Otherwise, given the Song family's prominence, why would Song Mo remain silent? And why would Yi Gui appear so gaunt and frail?He covered his face and wept: "It's all my fault... If only I had insisted on not marrying Yi Gui to Wei Bairui back then... I could tell that Wei fellow had shifty eyes and felt uneasy, but I let the woman in my house blind me to it, and just married Yi Gui off like that... If I had kept Yi Gui for just one more year—just one more year—when you came looking, she might have married into a good family..."

How did Li Liang's wife get dragged into this?

Chen Jia muttered to himself, thinking Song Mo must be equally puzzled, and said, "What does your wife have to do with Yi Gui marrying that Wei fellow?"

Some people always like to shift the blame onto others.

Li Liang said, "When I married my wife, I made it clear from the start—I had a widowed mother at home, along with a sister who had Returned to her parents' home after being divorced and her daughter. I said I would marry whichever woman could tolerate my sister and niece. But over time, that woman changed her tune. Not only did she look down on my sister, but she also urged me to marry Yi Gui off as soon as possible. Yi Gui was still young, and I had planned to keep her for a couple more years. But as our family's situation grew harder, my wife started making a fuss about Yi Gui's dowry, saying that marrying her off now would allow us to give her a decent dowry, whereas in a few years, she’d only be able to marry into a poor family. Then Wei Quan came to propose, and that’s how Yi Gui ended up married off..." He said bitterly, "It's all that woman’s fault—she ruined Yi Gui’s future!"