CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 100: CAN’T BE SAVED

Song Qizheng couldn’t believe it. He took a few steps forward and grabbed Chang Shan from the ground, wanting to interrogate him to see if he was instigated by Song Xian.

Song Qizheng and Chang Shan locked eyes for a moment; he didn’t speak again. Chang Shan didn’t seem like he was lying, and Song Qizheng vaguely remembered that after Song Min returned to the Song Family from the mine, Chang Shan had left for a few days.

Thinking of this, Song Qizheng suddenly felt anger and fear. He powerlessly released his grip, throwing Chang Shan back onto the ground.

After a while, Song Qizheng calmed down from the series of blows. He turned his head to look for Vice General Qiao. It was Vice General Qiao who had said that Song Xian had secretly shipped warhorses from Juma River.

Song Qizheng’s gaze swept over the people nearby, but Vice General Qiao, who was originally following him, was nowhere to be found.

"Father," Song Yu’s face was pale, and he too had just come to his senses. "This... can’t be true, could it? Third Brother wouldn’t do such a thing."

Song Qizheng didn’t answer Song Yu’s question; instead, he asked, "Where is Vice General Qiao?"

Song Yu hurriedly turned to search: "He was just..." But among the shadows behind, there was no sign of Vice General Qiao.

Song Qizheng felt a surge of heat rush into his head. If Vice General Qiao had no guilty conscience, why would he quietly leave?

Song Qizheng ordered a trusted aide, "Find Vice General Qiao, and use any means necessary to bring him to see me."

The aide responded and hurriedly rode off to search.

Listening to the hurried hoofbeats gradually fade away, Song Qizheng raised his eyes to look ahead. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him: he should stop the troops that Song Min was deploying at several camps.

But then he gave up on the idea, as it was already too late, given that Song Xian was leading troops there.

Unable to find Vice General Qiao, Song Qizheng couldn’t wait here. There might be military unrest, and before causing bigger trouble, he should resolve the matter.

Song Qizheng turned decisively, mounted his horse, and ordered to bring Chang Shan along. The group continued forward.

Hoofbeats sped along the official road.

Song Qizheng saw from afar several figures approaching on the road.

The one leading them was Song Min.

When Song Min saw Song Qizheng, his eyes lit up, as if he’d seen hope.

"Father, Father." Song Min began frantically shouting even before he arrived.

When his horse reached them, Song Min stumbled off and rolled and crawled to Song Qizheng’s feet.

"Father."

Song Qizheng reined in his horse. Before he could speak, Song Min rushed to the front of his horse, grabbing Song Qizheng’s robes.

"Father," Song Min’s voice was hoarse, "Song Xian wants to kill me. Song Xian is leading troops to kill me. You must hurry... Song Xian is right behind, he..."

As Song Min spoke, he suddenly saw the blood-covered Chang Shan. His face changed, and he instinctively released his grip on Song Qizheng.

Song Qizheng saw Song Min’s action, as if a needle pierced deeply into his already aching chest.

Realizing his abnormal behavior, Song Min quickly masked his shock and fear, trying to persuade Song Qizheng again: "Father... Song Xian killed my people, he..."

Father and son locked eyes again, and Song Min saw disappointment and anger in Song Qizheng’s eyes, along with unconcealable sadness.

The sadness in his gaze made Song Min suddenly feel a chill.

Song Qizheng finally spoke: "Who told you to go to the camp to mobilize troops?"

Song Min felt his blood drain in an instant. His legs faltered, causing him to step back, but fortunately Song Yu stepped forward to support him.

"Third Brother," Song Yu said urgently, "What did you do in the end? Chang Shan already said it was really you..."

Song Min’s clenched fists began to tremble. His reddened eyes were filled with pleading and earnestness: "Father, it was Song Xian who wants to kill me. He wants to kill me. It’s all him framing me, scheming against me. Father, you must believe me."

Song Qizheng didn’t move. He continued to scrutinize Song Min: "Your older brother did not collude with the Liao people; everything was orchestrated by you. You harbored resentment when your brother sent you to prison, and so you conspired with Vice General Qiao, bought warhorses from the Liao people, and framed your brother.

How did you interact with the Liao people?"

Song Min shook his head: "It wasn’t me, it has nothing to do with me, Father, don’t listen to Vice General Qiao’s nonsense. Vice General Qiao must be Song Xian’s man. If you seize Song Xian, everything will be clear."

Song Qizheng said nothing, and Song Min continued: "Those soldiers at the camp did not move when they saw the Token Father used to mobilize troops. They all listen to Song Xian, Father..."

Song Min bit his lip, "Father, if you don’t stop him, the Song Family Army will all defect to Song Xian. Sooner or later, Song Xian will act against you. Once Song Xian is dealt with, the North will settle down, and Father will sit in the Military Governor’s position. Father knows Mother, Second Brother, and I are all thinking for you. We are family..."

Song Min believed that as long as he persuaded Song Qizheng to act and help, he could reverse the situation no matter how it stood. This was Song Min’s last reliance.

However, before he could finish, the sound of a whip cutting through the air was heard, followed by a scorching pain on Song Min’s cheek.

Song Qizheng’s whip struck Song Min’s face soundly.

Song Min held his face, stood there in shock for a moment, his expression slightly contorted: "Father still wants to protect him? Can’t you see what he has done to me? How Second Brother and I fell into the hands of the Liao people, who told the Liao people, doesn’t Father know? If Father had taken command earlier, would we be in this situation?

Does Father only care about Song Xian as the legitimate eldest son?"

Song Qizheng didn’t respond to Song Min’s words, instead intensifying his tone: "Besides mobilizing troops without permission, conspiring with Vice General Qiao to frame your brother, what else have you done? Who else is involved in your actions? Does your mother know what you’ve done?" He hoped Song Min would deny it, provide evidence to refute him, but unfortunately, when he mentioned Vice General Qiao, Song Min seemed to accept the accusation.

Song Qizheng hadn’t expected that Song Min would not only learn no lesson but commit an even greater offense.

This time, it wasn’t something a few days in jail or labor could resolve.

Whether it was colluding with the Liao people or framing a court official and stealing the Token to mobilize troops, they were capital offenses.

His son indeed colluded with the Liao people, but it was Song Min, not Song Xian, the one with whom he always trusted.

"Father, save Third Brother," Song Yu suddenly urged, pulling Song Qizheng, "Third Brother did this for a reason. Think of a way to cover it up..."

Song Qizheng heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching from afar. He looked up to see Song Xian and the large banner of the Palace Commander.

Song Qizheng’s ears buzzed, and he barely kept himself from falling off his horse.

Song Xian claiming to act on the court’s order to apprehend the traitors was true. Without such an order, Song Xian wouldn’t dare fabricate the Palace Commander’s banner.

Li You should have returned to the North, possibly on his way now.

Song Qizheng looked down at Song Min, a surge of emotion choking him, and he forced it down.

Song Min had sent himself down a destructive path, and no one could save him.

Song Qizheng’s eyes stung with pain, and he said, "Bind Song Min."