CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 256 INQUIRY

Song Qizheng’s face looked grim. Besides the military camp and government office, he had been keeping a close watch on He Kuan in the prison, instructing not to bring anyone’s words inside except for Old Mrs. Song.

The household general whispered, "Second Master has been bringing meals to the entrance for several days. We didn’t inform you earlier, but seeing how anxious Second Master was today, we finally..."

Song Qizheng asked the household general, "How long has it been?"

The household general replied, "He Kuan was brought back twenty days ago, and you’ve been away from the prefecture for twenty days as well."

Has so much time passed in the blink of an eye?

Song Qizheng calculated in his mind that the people from the Capital City left three days ago.

Before Song Xian had He Kuan brought back to Dingzhou, he had already reported to the court. Accompanying He Kuan was also the official from Xingzhou, who was present when Song Qizheng interrogated He Kuan.

Then people from the Capital City came, took away the interrogation documents, and informed Song Qizheng to handle the matter first and report the results to the court.

The court indeed gave the Song family father and son enough face.

The more this happened, the more anxious Song Qizheng became. He was investigating Vice General Qiao’s followers in the Song Family Army, but was unexpectedly caught by Song Xian.

With everyone brought to him, if he still couldn’t clarify the entire affair, it would reflect his incompetence.

Anxiety clouded his mind, making time pass quickly.

Song Qizheng stood up and walked outside; he indeed needed to catch a breath.

Leaving the prison, he entered the second hall of the government office and saw Song Yu waiting there. Father and son exchanged glances, and Song Yu’s expression immediately stiffened with a hint of worry in his eyes: "Father, you... have lost weight. Is it because you have too many military affairs recently?"

Being told this by Song Yu, Song Qizheng realized his official robe was indeed looser, but Song Yu didn’t look well either, like he had been through a serious illness.

Song Qizheng asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

Song Yu coughed: "I caught a cold, but it’s nothing serious."

Father and son sat down discussing, and Song Yu quickly placed the food box he held in front of Song Qizheng: "These are Father’s favorite dishes. Let me serve them to you..."

"Just leave them for now!" Song Qizheng could still smell the blood from the prison and had no appetite.

Song Yu sat down again, probing: "Father hasn’t returned home to rest for so long, Mother and I are very worried about you. Elder Brother is still in the Capital City and hasn’t returned. I’m the most idle one in the Song Family now, wanting to help, but not knowing what to do."

If it weren’t the interrogation of He Kuan, Song Qizheng might have let Song Yu assist, but He Kuan had been with the Song Family for too long, since Song Xian’s mother was around, He Kuan was beside them.

Thinking it over, Song Qizheng broke into a cold sweat, having someone constantly watching and spying made him shiver all over. When did He Kuan defect to the Liao people?

Song Qizheng felt uneasy, suspicious of anyone around him, even the loyal household generals who had followed him for years.

"No need," Song Qizheng said, "These days, you just need to patrol the camps carefully."

"Is it only Elder Brother who can help Father?" Song Yu inquired further, "Am I too..."

Song Qizheng waved his hand: "Enough, it has nothing to do with you. I will inform you when there is news." Song Yu seemed unusually impatient today, unlike usual.

Song Qizheng took a deep look at Song Yu: "Is everything alright at home? How is your mother?"

"Fine," Song Yu replied, "Mother is fine, just worried about Father. Grandmother’s health is good too. Mother even said if Father doesn’t come home often, she’ll go to Zhenzhou to care for Grandmother."

Song Qizheng pondered: "It’s good for her to go to Zhenzhou."

Song Yu’s heart trembled, realizing Father truly wasn’t planning to return home. He wouldn’t meet anyone before getting to the bottom of He Kuan’s affair? Was he afraid of being detected?

With only him and Mother in Dingzhou Prefecture, was Father guarding against them?

Song Yu lowered his gaze, avoiding revealing his thoughts. The housekeeper mother beside his mother was interrogated, especially Mrs. Zhao. Mrs. Zhao was the most trusted person his mother brought from her maiden family. When she was suddenly captured, it shocked his mother immensely, later learning it was because of He Kuan.

After Mrs. Zhao and several stewards were taken away, there was no news. They knew nothing of where or whether they confessed anything.

The secret prison in Dingzhou Prefecture, where Father’s men guarded, held back any information, unless Father indicated otherwise.

When the official from Xingzhou joined the interrogation, Song Yu tried to extract some news. But, he didn’t know what Song Xian had told the official, as no matter how many attempts he made, discreet or otherwise, the official remained steadfastly in the government office, not even taking a single step outside until leaving Dingzhou.

Song Yu had to change his approach, bringing meals several times, even if he couldn’t meet Song Qizheng, he would wait in the second hall for an hour. Today Song Qizheng finally met him, yet surprisingly, Song Qizheng revealed nothing.

Song Yu discreetly frowned, unwilling for great upheaval in the Song Family to keep him in the dark. Since the third brother’s death, Father’s attitude toward their mother and him had changed, especially toward their mother. He knew Father resented Mother for giving the military order token to the third brother, barely able to forgive her.

Yet after returning from the Capital City, Father brought Mother back to oversee the ancestral home at Dingzhou, signaling a renewal, though they hadn’t fully restored their family’s former harmony before He Kuan was captured by Song Xian.

Not even the slightest room to breathe.

Father and son were burdened with their own thoughts, the room setting fell silent.

Watching Song Yu bow his head, Song Qizheng hesitated whether to dine with Song Yu in the second hall before leaving, when the echo of footsteps was heard outside.

Soon, a household general entered to report.

Song Qizheng stood and walked aside, with the household general lowering his voice: "We found the people."

He Kuan’s aunt admitted that He Kuan owned a large mansion in Dingzhou Prefecture, where he kept three or four women, which He Kuan disclosed during a drunken episode. They had been investigating in Dingzhou for days, finally discovering the mansion.

Song Qizheng’s heart lifted; he had been waiting for this news.

"You head back," Song Qizheng instructed Song Yu, "If all goes smoothly, I’ll return to the prefecture in a couple of days. We’ll discuss matters at home. Don’t come again."

Song Yu stood up, quickly taking a few steps, seemingly to send off Song Qizheng, yet his attention remained fixated on the direction of the secret prison.

The sound of footsteps approached.

Song Yu saw household generals of the Song Family escorting over a dozen men and women toward the secret prison.

Song Yu felt a heaviness in his heart. It seemed Song Qizheng had uncovered He Kuan’s vulnerabilities. Everyone has weaknesses, and although He Kuan might remain tight-lipped, those around him might not be completely unaware.

Perhaps certain clues could fuel Song Qizheng’s suspicions.

"Second Master," the family general ahead blocked him, "Master instructed that no one is allowed near the secret prison. Let me escort Second Master out!"

Song Yu turned to walk away, his steps unusually heavy.

Song Qizheng returned to the secret prison, where additional lamps and torches were lit, illuminating the captured individuals clearly.

Song Qizheng’s gaze skimmed over the faces of these people, when a particular face came into sight that suddenly felt very familiar.