Chapter 41: Unexpected News |
Along the road, a post station was fenced off, with fodder for livestock within. Not far from this station, a rider could be seen galloping towards it at full speed. He burst into the station and immediately reined in.
It was none other than Cheng Gui Shuo. He swiftly produced a wooden tablet and showed it to the minor official in charge of the post station. The official promptly led out a rested horse and handed it to Cheng Gui Shuo. Cheng Gui Shuo spurred the horse to full speed once more, showing no mercy to the animal...
Kuangai County. On a certain road, Niu You Dao, leading eight bodyguards, rode neither fast nor slow. He was deep in thought. Along this route, they had no means to switch horses, and their mounts were already in need of rest.
Shang Chao Zong's bodyguards had changed their attire and were now dressed like common folk. Niu You Dao had left some of the bodyguards behind along the way, while others continued to follow him.
Ahead, the city walls were now visible. Yuan Gang raised a hand, and behind him, two riders halted. They dismounted and, leading their horses, vanished into the mountain forest. The rest continued forward. Upon reaching the city gates, the guards immediately began to inspect the bodyguards. However, when the bodyguards declared themselves to be Shang Chao Zong's men, they were promptly allowed through without issue. Though Shang Chao Zong was currently in decline, he was still the dignified son of Ning Wang. And in peacetime, there was no reason to thoroughly search him or his people.
As soon as they reached the city, they noticed that the lands of Kuangai County were quite prosperous and well-developed. At the beginning of the street, many people could be seen. Shops and stalls stood like a forest. Everything here flourished, unlike the outside where everything was ruined or in poor condition. Niu You Dao rode his horse through the crowd, constantly looking around. He was assessing the situation.
Their group found a good inn. An inn worker rushed out and immediately took the horses, while the bodyguards promptly rented rooms for themselves.
As soon as they knew their room numbers, the group gathered again. Yuan Gang told three men to go scout the city and gather information, while ordering the others to rest.
"Understood!" The three men immediately replied and returned to their rooms.
The two men wandered freely through the street, browsing the stalls. Niu You Dao approached a stall and examined some silk:
"Look at this... What craftsmanship, exquisite silk. Truly fine!"
At such words, the stall owner immediately rejoiced. However, as soon as Niu You Dao inquired about the price of the goods, he turned his head and walked away. The owner's joy proved to be in vain.
Thus, the two of them browsed through the stalls. No matter if it was a jewelry shop, a livestock market, or anything else, Niu You Dao would always feign an intention to buy something, only to walk away upon learning the price...
The Capital. Song Residence.
Song Jiu Ming, dressed in casual attire, stood on the steps by the entrance. He was clearly receiving guests. A person whom the Chief Justice himself would greet was certainly no ordinary individual.
Song Jiu Ming stood at ease. Meanwhile, in the corners of the courtyard, concealed masters could be seen, guarding him.
After a while, a group of people appeared from among the garden, and a robust man with sideburns, a mustache, and a beard strode towards them with a majestic gait. He seemed to be displeased about something.
This was one of the four heads of the capital guard. His name was Wang Heng. Although his rank was inferior to Song Jiu Ming's, he commanded tens of thousands of soldiers, so no one in the capital dared to slight him. Besides all this, Wang Heng was also the father-in-law of Song Yang Qing, and behind him walked a plump young woman with her head bowed. This was precisely Song Yang Qing's wife, Wang Liu Fang.
Song Shu and his wife greeted their relatives at the gate, smiling as they led them towards the guest hall. However, Wang Heng seemed to pay them no mind. On either side of him walked four cultivator masters, constantly surveying their surroundings.
When they reached the guest hall, Wang Heng, cupping one fist in his other hand, spoke:
"Your subordinate greets the Chief Justice!"
Song Jiu Ming, with a stony expression, offered a slight smile and quickly descended, seizing Wang Heng's hands:
"We are all one family; what need is there for such formality? Please, come in!" After saying this, he personally led him inside.
The two men took their seats, host and guest. Song Shu and the others merely stood to the side.
Wang Liu Fang stood with her head bowed, clearly aggrieved. She stood as if under her father's protection.
Servants brought tea and gestured for the guest and host to drink. Song Jiu Ming immediately inquired, "What wind brings the General here today?"
Thud!
Wang Heng slammed his teacup onto the table with a sharp thud and spoke rudely: "If I hadn't come, my daughter might not even be alive right now. Is my daughter, Wang Heng's daughter, not worthy of your Chief Justice's family? I am here today to arrange my daughter's divorce!"
Song Jiu Ming asked, surprised: "General, what do you mean? Liu Fang is a capable and kind girl. Our family cannot praise her enough. What has happened? The newlyweds share a fervent love. What talk of divorce? Does the General truly wish to separate these lovers?"
Wang Heng seemed to explode with rage: "Chief Justice, you are a clever man. It was you who requested this marriage then. Your Song family desired this union. She married and flowed away like water. A hen follows the rooster, a bitch follows the dog. That is how they should have spent their days, and it would have been their affair. I, too, paid no mind. But Song Yang Qing, that bastard, has gone too far!"
Slam!
Wang Heng slammed his palm on the table once more.
At the single word "bastard," Song Shu's mouth twisted. If Song Yang Qing was a bastard, then he was a bastard, and the entire Song family were bastards. This made everyone in the Song family feel awkward.
"The General of the Guard speaks gravely!" Song Jiu Ming replied in a cold tone.
Wang Heng: "Not a drop! Song Yang Qing, that beast, constantly leads a debauched life. I also know where he spends his time. All men are like that, and some things can be understood. I, too, am a discerning man and have turned a blind eye to certain matters, but everything has a limit. He is a family man and cannot spend his entire life like this. My daughter hasn't seen him in a long time, hasn't even seen a glimpse of him. What is this? A whole month has passed. Does my daughter deserve such humiliation? If that's the case, then let us clap our hands and part ways. Let's get a divorce!"
He spoke so loudly that it seemed the very roof would shake from his voice.
The people of the Song family felt uncomfortable. Witnessing Wang Heng's constant cursing and table-slamming, one couldn't help but be surprised – no one dared to behave like this within the Song family. Had it been an ordinary person, they would have long been taught a lesson. But this was different. For Wang Heng was no ordinary man. Even Wang Liu Fang, this unremarkable girl, had always been treated with kindness and courtesy in the Song family. Even the grandmothers and aunts who harbored dislike for her still spoke to her politely and gently.
Song Jiu Ming's expression changed, and he looked at Song Shu in a rage:
"The father's fault lies in failing to raise his children! Must I endure this from a relative today? If anything like this happens again, I myself will break that good-for-nothing's legs..."
Wang Heng looked up, watching Song Jiu Ming scold Song Shu. Although he had spoken of divorce, in truth, he merely wanted Song Shu to be pressured.
After Song Jiu Ming had scolded Song Shu for a long time, he approached Wang Heng and said in a benevolent tone:
"General, this is my oversight. Please do not worry. From now on, such a thing will not happen again. Furthermore, there might be a misunderstanding in this matter. Perhaps the General is unaware of certain things."
"A misunderstanding?" Wang Heng raised an eyebrow. He slowly rose, preparing to leave. He had originally thought he would come, and the Song family would apologize. And then they would shake hands and part ways, satisfied. However, he had not expected all of this to be called a "misunderstanding"? This truly disheartened him. It seemed even the Wang family was not being taken seriously here?
"Indeed, there's no need for my daughter to remain here any longer."
Song Jiu Ming raised a hand, stopping him, and leaned in to whisper:
"A month ago, that person was released from prison. Then, a report came from above, instructing Song Yang Qing to go to the Supreme Purity Sect and handle some matters. The truth is, Song Yang Qing is no longer his own master. General, I hope you can understand us!"
"Ah!" Wang Heng blinked, seemingly understanding the situation. He gradually calmed down.
At that moment, the household steward appeared at the door. Looking at Song Chuan, he spoke, "Master!"
Song Chuan quickly stepped out and, seeing the steward's troubled expression, asked, "What happened?"
The steward whispered, "The young master, the third son, has met with misfortune." He then produced a scroll and handed it to Song Chuan.
Song Chuan glanced at the scroll and immediately looked troubled. He stepped inside the reception hall and called out to Song Jiu Ming, who was speaking with Wang Heng.
Song Jiu Ming approached him and took the scroll. After looking at the scroll, he closed his eyes. The entire Song family saw that something terrible had happened. They waited for Song Jiu Ming to speak.
When Song Jiu Ming opened his eyes again, he looked towards Song Shu and his wife: "Daughter-in-law, please take Liu Fang for a stroll for a while!"
Hu Guei Zhi approached Wang Liu Fang and took her arm. Wang Liu Fang looked at Wang Heng, and Wang Heng looked at Song Jiu Ming. Song Jiu Ming gave a signal that everything was fine.
As soon as they left, Song Jiu Ming handed the scroll to Wang Heng.
As Wang Heng looked at it, his expression changed, and he immediately stared at Song Jiu Ming: "Is this true?"
"If it were false, such news would not have been brought to us." Song Jiu Ming said calmly.
Wang Heng sank into a chair. He seemed lost, his thoughts drifting far away. Behind him, his bodyguards exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
"Third Son, you must prepare yourself." Song Jiu Ming looked at his son:
"Misfortune has befallen Song Yang Qing. He is dead!"
Song Shu froze, and disbelieving his father's words, rushed to Wang Heng. He snatched the scroll from Wang Heng's hands and quickly re-examined it, then staggered backward. Song Chuan rushed over and caught him.