Blossom

To live like Song Han is truly a tragedy!

She said this to Song Mo.

Song Mo sneered and replied, "He brought this upon himself. Who can he blame? If he had told me about Mother's affairs back then, why would I have treated him this way? No, even if he was too afraid to speak of Mother's matters at the time, had he told me after I turned against Father and saw I had the upper hand, I wouldn’t have held it against him. Yet he deliberately fed me fragments to mislead me, and when caught, he made endless excuses. Can you honestly say he didn’t have ulterior motives?"

More like a mind full of schemes!

Dou Zhao smiled bitterly.

Song Mo exhaled deeply and said gently, "Let’s not talk about him anymore. Thinking of him ruins my mood. I’ve already spoken with Lord Huang of Shuntian Prefecture. Father can go with the Miao family tomorrow morning to settle the formalities. Once the ancestral hall is opened, Song Han will be kicked out immediately..."

And after he’s kicked out?

Dou Zhao looked at Song Mo’s frosty expression and wisely chose not to press further, letting him help her to bed.

Perhaps because a weight had been lifted from her heart, Dou Zhao slept exceptionally well. When she woke, the sun was already high, and Song Mo was no longer by her side.

She grumbled, "Why didn’t you wake me?"

Miao Ruosu and Qi Xia were temporarily staying at the Hall of Cultivating Will, and today was the day the ancestral hall would be opened!

Ruo Zhu, who was on duty, smiled and said, "It’s not that we didn’t want to wake you, but the Young Lord said you’ve been exhausted these past few days and told us not to disturb you." She added, "The Duke hasn’t returned yet from Shuntian Prefecture with the Miao family. Second Madam had breakfast and then went to Qi Xia’s room. They’ve been walking and talking by the lake all morning."

No doubt they had much to reflect on.

After breakfast, attended by Ruo Zhu, Dou Zhao checked on Yuan Ge'er playing on the seesaw with the maids in the backyard before heading to the rear garden.

From afar, Miao Ruosu spotted Dou Zhao. She whispered something to Qi Xia, who glanced over, and the two approached together.

Dou Zhao asked them, "What are your plans now?"

Though the Song family wasn’t large, as Song Han’s wife and maidservant, they had testified against him in the ancestral hall, tarnishing their reputations. She hoped to offer them whatever protection she could.

Miao Ansu smiled. "Last night, my brother’s page came to see me and relayed the Young Lord’s words. To leave the Duke of England's Mansion like this is already a great blessing. I dare not ask for more." She joked, "Back then, I had nothing and still married into the Duke’s household. Now I have land and a house, plus the Young Lord and Madam’s protection. How could life not be better than before?"

She was remarkably optimistic.

Qi Xia, on the other hand, wished to return to Cui Family Village in Zhen Ding: "The Thirteenth Master told the villagers my husband died protecting Cousin. Everyone has been very kind to me, and I’ve grown accustomed to the simple life of rising and resting with the sun."Not only that, but no one ever looked down on her because of her widow status. Several older women often encouraged her to remarry. Moreover, the son of the village's Widow Du, who worked as a peddler, would bring her brightly colored silk threads whenever he returned from his rounds. This time, when he heard that Madam had summoned her back to the estate, he thought she wouldn’t return and followed her carriage all the way to the outskirts of Zhen Ding County...

Thinking of this, her face grew slightly warm, and she quickly glanced at Dou Zhao. Seeing that Dou Zhao was talking to Miao Ruosu and hadn’t noticed her unusual reaction, she let out a sigh of relief, her anxious heart finally settling.

Wuyi came running over to find them: "Madam, Second Madam, Miss Qi Xia, the masters and uncles have all arrived. The Young Lord requests your presence."

The show is about to begin!

Dou Zhao smiled and followed Wuyi to the ancestral hall.

The Song family’s masters and the Lu family’s uncles were seated in the main hall of the ancestral temple, while the womenfolk waited in the side rooms nearby.

Soon after, Song Yichun and Song Mo entered the ancestral hall one after the other.

Everyone stood up to exchange greetings with Song Yichun and Song Mo.

Song Mo was amiable, but Song Yichun looked as though someone owed him three thousand taels of silver and had no intention of repaying. With a stern face, he nodded at everyone and took his seat on the master’s chair in the central hall. "I’ve already explained my intentions earlier," he said, his gaze sweeping over the Lu family members. "Today, I’ve invited you all here to bear witness. Should anyone ask in the future, they will know that from this day onward, Song Han is no longer a descendant of the Song family." Then his expression darkened as he barked, "Bring Song Han forward!"

Song Han was nearly driven mad!

Dou Zhao had confined him to the woodshed, where he was well-fed and cared for, yet no one spoke a word to him. There were no reprimands from Song Yichun or interrogations from Song Mo. It was as if everyone had forgotten about him. He had no chance to defend himself, and he had no idea what awaited him next. One moment, he imagined the woodshed door creaking open, his father standing at the threshold with a cold expression, saying, "Come with me," while Song Mo could only watch helplessly as he left with his father. The next moment, he envisioned the door being kicked open, and himself being dragged out like a dead dog, the men callously letting the gravel on the ground tear his clothes as they sneered, "You’ve eaten and drunk well today, but your next meal will be in the underworld..."

So when Xia Lian entered with a few old women carrying hot water and fresh clothes, he dropped to his knees before Xia Lian, clutching his legs and sobbing, "It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it—I’m innocent! Let me see my brother, just once..." When he saw Xia Lian remain unmoved, a hint of mockery on his face, he quickly changed his plea, "Please take a message to my father. I won’t forget your kindness. You know how much he favors me. If he finds out who harmed me, though he may not be able to touch the mastermind, dealing with those who carried it out would be effortless for him... This is a family matter—stay out of it. Since ancient times, those who meddle in succession disputes never come to good ends, and you’re no exception..."No wonder everyone says the Second Master and the Young Lord aren’t born of the same mother.

How could someone as resilient and resolute as the Young Lord have such a brother?

Xia Lian barely restrained himself from kicking Song Han aside.

"You’ve misunderstood, Second Master," he replied respectfully, adhering to etiquette. "It was the Duke who wished to see you. The Young Lord merely ordered me to bring attendants to help you freshen up."

"What did you say?" Song Han was both shocked and overjoyed. "My father wants to see me?"

"Indeed!" Xia Lian couldn’t help but let a faint smile curl his lips. "You should hurry and prepare, Second Master, so we may go to see the Duke without delay."

It was like glimpsing hope in the face of near-certain doom.

Song Han repeatedly muttered, "Good, good, good."

Xia Lian couldn’t even be bothered to help him up, simply brushing off Song Han’s hand and striding out.

Several old women stepped forward with practiced ease, smiling as they helped him wash, comb his hair, and change clothes.

Too elated to care that these attendants were unfamiliar faces, Song Han asked, "Where have you served before, mothers? Do you know where my father is waiting? Is my elder brother with him?"

The women only smiled in silence, their movements swift and efficient—clearly accustomed to serving others.

Knowing the strict discipline of the household, Song Han didn’t press further. After letting them tidy him up, he stepped out of the woodshed.

Outside, the sky was a brilliant blue, as if freshly washed, filling him with an inexplicable sense of relief.

He took a deep breath—only to notice seven or eight burly guards flanking Xia Lian.

Song Han’s smile froze.

Xia Lian, however, acted as if he hadn’t noticed. "Second Master," he said cheerfully, "please follow me!" With that, he turned toward the direction of Cassia Fragrance Courtyard.

Song Han’s smile returned, and he no longer felt as repelled by the guards surrounding him.

They passed the main hall and continued forward onto a stone-paved path lined with cypress trees.

Suddenly, Song Han halted, his expression turning fearful. "Where are we going?"

"To the ancestral hall!" Xia Lian replied casually. "The Duke and the Young Lord are waiting for you there."

"Waiting for me?" Song Han’s gaze darted around nervously. "What for?"

"It seems they have something to discuss," Xia Lian said. "As for the specifics, this humble servant wouldn’t know."

Song Han hesitated.

Xia Lian smiled. "Second Master, the ancestral hall is barely a few dozen paces away. Whatever it is, you can ask the Duke directly. Wouldn’t it be worse to anger him by being late?"

His tone was gentle, almost reassuring, easing Song Han’s nerves. Besides, surrounded by guards, even if he wanted to run, where could he go?

Song Han followed Xia Lian to the ancestral hall.

The moment he entered, he saw Song Yichun’s grim face and the indifferent expression of the Lu Family’s eldest son, Lu Chen.

Then his gaze landed on Song Mo—seated below Lu Chen.

Song Han’s heart sank.

Discussing matters not in the study but in the ancestral hall, and even summoning the Lu Family…

He quickly glanced toward the seats below Song Yichun.

Song Maochun and the others either sipped tea silently or sat with lowered eyes—none acknowledged him.

His face instantly turned deathly pale.

"No, no, no!" Song Han staggered back. "I never conspired with Liao Wang! It was Father who sent me to the Fragrant Mountain Estate—I know nothing about this!"At this point, this wretch was still spouting nonsense. No wonder Dou Shi said they had to take preemptive action and drive him out of the family.

Song Yichun was furious and glared fiercely at Zeng Wu, who was standing nearby.

Zeng Wu shuddered and quickly stepped forward to cover Song Han's mouth. "Second Master, this is the Song family ancestral hall! You mustn't speak recklessly, or the ancestors of the Song family will be displeased."

Song Qin frowned as he watched.

No matter what mistakes Song Han had made, how could a mere servant like Zeng Wu treat him this way?

His lips parted slightly as he prepared to reprimand Zeng Wu, but unexpectedly, his younger brother Song Qin tugged at his sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Stay out of it, or you might bring trouble upon yourself."

Song Qin still hesitated inwardly, but several burly servants had already swiftly stepped forward, stuffed a handkerchief into Song Han's mouth, and pinned him to the ground.