CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 180: TELL HER

As Song Xian left Chen Family Village, the corner of his garment was caught by Chen Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng looked up at Song Xian: "General Song, are you going to personally interrogate the person who harmed Gouzi?"

Song Xian nodded.

Chen Zigeng wanted to say something but ultimately couldn’t speak.

Song Xian reached out and patted the top of Chen Zigeng’s head: "You can’t handle the interrogation scene yet; you are still young and need not worry about these matters. Just concentrate on studying with Mr. Xu. Before you grow up, there will be someone to take care of everything; Chen Family Village will be fine, and your grandmother and sister will be safe."

Chen Zigeng watched Song Xian’s departing figure, pondering the General’s words. Suddenly, he felt a strange impression as if General Song had become part of Chen Family Village.

How else could he speak feelingly such words?

After Song Xian left, the villagers returned to rest, though with the night’s upheaval, many were destined to lie awake.

Old Mrs. Chen, who usually fell asleep quickly with little snores, coaxed Chen Zigeng to bed and went looking for Chen Yongsheng for a chat.

The two sat down in the house.

Chen Yongsheng spoke first: "Aunt, do you think those people are targeting Mr. Xu, or is it because..."

Or is it because of Liangchen?

Old Mrs. Chen sighed: "Miss Chen foresaw this day long ago. After Gouzi came to Chen Family Village, Miss Chen mentioned to me the epidemic that occurred in Yu Yao.

Daqi suffers from many epidemics every year, but why does Miss Chen always encounter them? On the surface, it seems unrelated, but they all follow the same path. Even if they pretend not to be a group, once the rain falls, everyone gets soaked."

Old Mrs. Chen’s words were cryptic, but Chen Yongsheng understood.

Chen Yongsheng said: "Mr. Xu is from the same place, did you recognize it early on?"

Old Mrs. Chen shook her head: "It’s been nineteen years, and people change significantly. When she first arrived in Chen Family Village, I didn’t see it; later, when Miss Chen invited her to make medicine, watching her skill and medical expertise, I thought of Divine Doctor Xu’s disciple.

Back then, we didn’t have much contact with Prince Guangyang Mansion, so we didn’t see many people or things, thus realizing it much later."

Chen Yongsheng pressed his lips: "Aunt, do you think this is fate?"

Old Mrs. Chen opened her mouth, revealing her missing teeth: "If it is fate, then it is a good fate; look at Chen Family Village, look at Mr. Xu and Gouzi. Who hasn’t fared better after meeting Miss Chen?"

Speaking of her granddaughter, Old Mrs. Chen was joyful, as if all the negative thoughts in her heart were washed away.

Chen Yongsheng nodded along: "Then... Aunt, are you planning to tell Liangchen about the past?"

Old Mrs. Chen’s eyes showed a shift, with many thoughts emerging in her mind. When Old Master Chen was around, she listened to him; when Yongjing was around, she listened to Yongjing—not because she was a woman, but because she trusted and understood them, knowing their choices wouldn’t err.

Before leaving, Yongjing instructed her to forget the past if he couldn’t return; the men of Chen Family Village had been taken away, with no strength left for anything else. Even if one insisted on doing something, it would lead to trouble instead of success.

Old Mrs. Chen has led Chen Family Village forward this way, passing through wars and famines.

Now that Miss Chen has returned, Chen Family Village has changed. If it could always remain this way, she might still choose silence. But peaceful days don’t come easily.

Miss Chen has her own tasks.

Even if Miss Chen is unaware of those secrets, someone will come looking.

"Tell her," Old Mrs. Chen said firmly, "When you see Miss Chen, tell her everything we know; the path ahead will be guided by her."

Chen Yongsheng showed a smile of joy.

Old Mrs. Chen glanced at him: "You’ve become happy? If major troubles arise, we’ll see if this village chief can still laugh."

Chen Yongsheng said: "Aunt, knowing Liangchen won’t change Chen Family Village much; no matter what, Chen Family Village will follow Liangchen."

Old Mrs. Chen took a deep breath: "Then so be it."

Feeling relieved after expressing everything in her heart, Old Mrs. Chen started to become drowsy: "I’m going to sleep."

Chen Yongsheng was filled with various emotions but wanted to continue talking to Old Mrs. Chen. However, she yawned: "Tomorrow will have its own matters, rest early!"

Chen Zigeng lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, when he heard his grandmother’s footsteps.

Old Mrs. Chen didn’t light a lamp, washed up in the dark, muttering, "It’s all Miss Chen’s rule, must wash clean before bed. Oh... I’m freezing my old bones."

Speaking as she got into the blanket, soon the familiar snores echoed through the room.

Listening to the sound, Chen Zigeng gradually sank into dreams.

...

Inside the government office prison.

The cries rang out intermittently throughout the night.

Geng Wu was covered in blood, his bound body trembling incessantly with pain.

Another knife pierced Geng Wu’s flesh, the tip stirring inside, making him feel unbearable pain all over, as if his flesh was being sliced off piece by piece.

When captured, he was too afraid to end his own life; now tightly restrained, with all his teeth pulled out, he had no means of escape.

Water splashed on Geng Wu, clearing his mind a bit, and he heard footsteps approaching, looking up to see the person before him.

Song Xian.

"What is your name?" Song Xian’s cold voice sounded.

Geng Wu hoarsely whispered: "Geng Wu."

Song Xian didn’t continue questioning and turned to walk out.

Geng Wu knew well that after Song Xian left, he would fall back into pain worse than death.

"Xu Xiao," Geng Wu said, "I was once called Xu Xiao. Captured by Liao people in Lingqiu, I agreed to work for Xiao Xingzong... Now I serve under Li Cong of Xiao Xingzong’s Thirteen Grand Protectors."

After Xiao Chi’s incident, Li Cong came here from Jinzhou, intending... intending to avenge Xiao Chi. I... inadvertently discovered Xu Tingzhen and thus devised the plan to place Gouzi in Chen Family Village."

After saying this, Geng Wu looked urgently at Song Xian: "Spare me, General Song... I had no choice... I agreed to the Liao people... in Lingqiu...

We want revenge for Prince Guangyang, but have been entangled with remnants of the previous court for nineteen years, without any hope, and I couldn’t last any longer; I just wanted to find a way to survive.

This method of using epidemics wasn’t my idea, it was Li Cong. Li Cong used to do this in Yuezhou, claiming it was quiet and least likely to be noticed.

I also know where Gouzi’s sister is, Li Cong took her to Qi State."

Only mentioning Gouzi’s sister, Song Xian understood that Gouzi’s father and brother-in-law were likely no longer alive.