CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 101: STRANGERS

Song Min’s face was full of astonishment, and it wasn’t until Song Qizheng’s trusted aide pressed down on his shoulder that he returned to his senses and began to struggle.

Song Yu, too, at that moment, suddenly turned around as if waking from a dream to intervene.

"Father," Song Yu said, "what is it you are planning to do?"

Song Qizheng, his eyes bloodshot, looked at Song Yu with authority: "Do you also wish to go to prison with him?"

Song Yu was momentarily stunned but quickly tried again to rescue Song Min, only to be pulled away by several advancing household generals.

It wasn’t until Song Min’s hands were firmly bound that he believed Song Qizheng truly intended to hand him over to the court.

A panicked look appeared on Song Min’s face; he glanced at the approaching Song Xian and then at the stern-faced Song Qizheng.

"Father," Song Min’s voice began to tremble, his face full of pleading, "Father..."

Song Min’s urgent cries made Song Qizheng tighten his grip on the reins, his eyes again falling on Li You’s large banner.

Song Yu broke free from the household generals, ran to Song Qizheng’s side, and grabbed the hand holding the reins: "Father, you can’t do this. If you hand Third Brother over to Big Brother, there will be no path for him to live! Please save Third Brother."

Song Yu’s grip tightened relentlessly: "Father, Third Brother had no intention of harming you. He just used the wrong method... Father, please, Third Brother was just upset, and that’s why... it was all for you."

Song Yu’s knees weakened, and he knelt to the ground.

On horseback, Song Qizheng remained motionless.

Song Min watched everything unfold, never expecting Qizheng to stand on Song Xian’s side, ignoring his and his second brother’s pleas.

The scene of being captured by the Liao people years ago flashed in Song Min’s mind, when they had also called out, desperately seeking their father’s help from the walls.

But no matter how they cried, their father remained unmoved.

"Don’t beg him," Song Min suddenly shouted, "He doesn’t care about us, we mean nothing to him."

Hearing Song Min’s sharp cries, Song Qizheng’s heart trembled once more. He wished to speak, but his throat tightened, rendering him silent, only able to watch Song Xian approach.

Compared to Song Qizheng, Song Yu, and Song Min, Song Xian was calm and unhurried, like a spectator leisurely observing the scene.

A moment later, Song Xian’s gaze fell on the bound Song Min.

Song Xian asked the deputy general beside him, "It was Song Min who used the token to deploy the troops."

The deputy general replied, "Reporting to the General, that’s correct."

Song Xian decisively ordered, "Arrest the person who deployed the troops without authorization."

Chang An dismounted, leading several guards toward Song Qizheng and the others, the guards moved to apprehend Song Min, Chang An saluted Song Qizheng, and as if entering an uninhabited realm, they turned to leave after completing their task.

All of them bore the surname Song, the household generals like Chang An were handpicked for Song Xian by Song Qizheng himself, yet at this moment they seemed to be complete strangers.

Song Qizheng had wanted to ask Song Xian something, but seeing the high-and-mighty Song Xian on horseback, an inexplicable anger suppressed the words in his throat, leaving him unable to speak.

Song Yu was right, falling into Song Xian’s hands meant a dead end for Song Min. Even before binding Song Min, Song Qizheng had realized this, knowing that Song Xian would not show leniency for Song Min.

Chang Shan was deliberately left for Song Xian, and it was likely Song Xian had informed Li You. Whatever manipulations Song Min attempted were probably already within Song Xian’s sights, waiting for the opportunity to capture Song Min and others.

Watching the struggling Song Min, Song Qizheng closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

After years of battling the Liao people, it was exceedingly arduous, yet it paled in comparison to the present moment...

Song Min had committed a grave error, and the court would surely interrogate him thoroughly, given that the token used to mobilize the troops was his.

In that instant, Song Qizheng felt as if he had aged ten more years, suffering not just this but feeling as though he had lost a decisive battle, helmet and armor discarded on the battlefield, defeated by the opponent across from him.

His legitimate eldest son, Song Xian.

After this incident, his prestige in the court and military would significantly decline, with many of his men potentially gravitating toward Song Xian.

"National Guardian General."

Song Xian’s indifferent voice carried over: "Mr. Li awaits at Zhenzhou Prefecture, please proceed together with the Great General."

Maintaining the demeanor of a National Guardian General, Song Qizheng didn’t spare Song Min another glance, turned his horse, and headed toward Zhenzhou Prefecture.

...

Zhenzhou Prefecture.

The clerks and government officials in the government office conducted house-to-house inspections.

Wang Jian had been at home listening for news, lightly rubbing a teacup, feeling increasingly uneasy as Song Min and Song Qizheng hadn’t entered the city.

There was also no movement from the government office side.

This was abnormal.

After the stolen goods were found in Chen Family Village, the government office should have detained the remaining members of the Chen Family Village, best to try the case and sentence immediately to firmly ensnare Song Xian.

Although there was movement in Zhenzhou, it was not as he had anticipated, and the shopkeeper he sent hadn’t managed to send back any information.

Wang Jian felt the waiting time was too long, suspecting that there might have been a mishap in this matter.

With this suspicion, Wang Jian prepared to hide with his men. He had purchased another courtyard, with an underground passage, equipped with water and food, capable of hiding for half a month, during which time he could find a way to sneak out of Zhenzhou.

There was no time to lose, Wang Jian took his men and headed out.

As the door was opened, Wang Jian heard the steward at the front say, "Lord Qiao."

Wang Jian frowned and looked over, indeed seeing a figure standing at the door, head slightly bowed, but the face was still clearly visible - it was Vice General Qiao, with whom he had private dealings.

Wang Jian’s heart sank, for he noticed Vice General Qiao’s posture was somewhat odd, as if not standing under his own power, but being held upright.

Wang Jian swiftly retreated, simultaneously triggering a mechanism, shooting a few poison-tipped sleeve arrows from the quiver strapped to his forearm toward Vice General Qiao.

Just as they were about to hit Vice General Qiao, his body suddenly "dodged" out of the way.

Wang Jian reached for the dagger tied to his leg but was too late as several figures scaled the walls, pouncing toward him.

Outnumbered, Wang Jian quickly fell into a disadvantage, then was pinned to the ground, his jaw clamped.

Wang Jian felt something scooped out of his mouth, realizing instantly what they intended. Before he could complete the thought, the wooden teeth had already been extracted, followed by a cloth gagging his mouth.

Cheng Yanzhao tossed the fainted Vice General Qiao to Chang Yue, striding into the courtyard to apprehend the people around Wang Jian.

Prepared in advance, capturing Wang Jian and others wasn’t difficult.

Cheng Yanzhao glanced at the bound Wang Jian, and his men had already presented the wooden teeth taken from Wang Jian’s mouth.

Cheng Yanzhao examined them and couldn’t help but marvel, had it not been for Miss Xie’s discovery of this clue, these wooden teeth might have ended up in their stomachs. Unaware of such means, they wouldn’t know to search through dissection.

Cheng Yanzhao said, "Hand over the items and people together to Mr. Li."

Cheng Yanzhao, after speaking, looked to Vice General Qiao. When Wang Jian’s men shouted out Vice General Qiao’s name, the people sent by Mr. Li had already heard him.

Vice General Qiao could not escape either.

This time they indeed scored a major victory.

...

Song Family.

Madam Rong was anxiously waiting for news. Min had gone out for so long without any word sent back, she was truly worried things might not go smoothly.

She also didn’t know if Min would encounter Song Xian. Song Xian was very formidable, and she hoped Min wouldn’t get hurt.