CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 81 HELP ME

Song Min heard Madam Rong’s words and slightly raised his head, but soon lowered it again. His eyes were devoid of any sparkle, as if only an empty shell remained.

Song Yu quickly walked into the courtyard, reached out to support Madam Rong, and then instructed the steward, "What are you all standing here for? Hurry and help the Third Young Master to the room to lie down."

Madam Rong kept her eyes on Song Min, following closely, fearing that if she slowed down, Song Min would disappear.

"Mother, don’t worry, don’t hurry," Song Yu said, "I’ve invited a doctor; Third Brother will be fine."

Madam Rong felt as if half her life had left her, even breathing was difficult, tears blurred her vision. Finally, she arrived in Song Min’s room. Mrs. Song was sitting by Song Min’s bed, reaching out to touch his thin cheeks.

Song Min’s eyes stared upwards without any response.

"Min," Madam Rong said tremblingly, "don’t scare your mother."

Song Min didn’t speak, so Madam Rong looked at Song Yu, "What exactly happened to your brother?"

Song Yu pursed his lips, his voice hoarse, "Third Brother was sent to the mines for labor, with heavy iron chains on his hands and feet. Third Brother is the legitimate son of the National Guardian General Mansion, how can he be humiliated like this?"

Madam Rong hurriedly looked at Song Min’s hands and feet and indeed saw the bruises and marks from the chains.

Madam Rong’s eyes widened, "Wasn’t it said he would only be locked up for a few days in prison? How did he end up with labor? Who..."

Before she finished speaking, Madam Rong already understood, "It’s Song Xian. Without his command, who would dare to do such a thing?"

Upon hearing Song Xian’s name, Song Min on the bed made a sound of gritting his teeth, his eyes filled with blood, as he struggled to sit up, but his body couldn’t bear it, and he fell back heavily onto the bed.

Seeing this, Madam Rong hurried forward to persuade him, but Song Min wouldn’t listen, looking determined to kill Song Xian, and finally fainted from exhaustion.

The doctor came forward to examine Song Min, and Madam Rong wept bitterly.

Song Yu comforted Madam Rong, "I’ll think of another way, invite Big Brother back, and let Third Brother admit a mistake..."

"Will he come back?" Madam Rong said, "He’s been in Dingzhou for several days, I sent people to invite him every day, but he wouldn’t even step into the gate of the National Guardian General Mansion. The steward cautiously pleaded just for a few words with him, waited for days, yet he didn’t say a word."

Song Yu also had resentment on his face, but still said, "Father got angry over our brothers’ affairs, Li You is also on Big Brother’s side, and the people of Zhenzhou all praise Big Brother... Big Brother’s influence is strong right now; at this moment, we can only beg Big Brother to spare us."

Madam Rong cried, "He was always like this as a child, appearing faultless on the surface, yet secretly putting snakes in my room. Knowing his schemes, I still had to coax him to be pleased."

While Madam Rong and Song Yu were talking, Song Min had already woken up. Hearing this, he shouted with all his strength, "No one should beg him... I said long ago, he is born cold and unfeeling, he won’t stop until... until we are dead."

Madam Rong quickly instructed the doctor to step back and went forward to hold Song Min’s hand.

The veins on Song Min’s forehead bulged, and he looked at Madam Rong, "Mother, remember, either I die, or he dies, there’s no other way, unless..."

Song Min thought of something else, a strange smile appeared on his face, "If I die, I’ll take him with me. Only when we’re both dead can Mother and Second Brother have peaceful days."

Hearing Min mention "death," Madam Rong felt a sense of loss, as if she had already lost him. She hugged Song Min in a panic, "Don’t... don’t say such foolish things, you’ll be fine... Mother won’t watch you die."

"Mother," Song Min held Madam Rong’s arm, "help me, help me."

Madam Rong didn’t know what Song Min wanted her to help with, her heart softened completely, "Don’t worry, who else would Mother help but you?"

"Good," Song Min said, "If Song Xian targets me again, Mother should take Father’s Commander’s Seal, let me mobilize troops to kill Song Xian."

Madam Rong was stunned, what Song Min said was nonsense. Even if she did this, what good outcome would Song Min have? Killing his legitimate elder brother, a court official, it’s a capital crime.

"Nonsense, what crime does he have for you to lead troops against him?"

Before Madam Rong finished speaking, she felt Song Min’s hand on her arm tightened, "Mother, he colluded with the Liao people, he is guilty of a major crime."

Madam Rong was shocked, "What nonsense are you saying?"

Song Min nodded firmly, "Someone has already reported it to me. Once I gather the evidence to prove his crime, Father can raise an army for justice and morality."

Madam Rong looked into Song Min’s deep eyes, her whole body shaking.

Song Min said, "Mother, it’s either he dies or I die."

Listening to Song Min’s words, a sudden thought crossed Madam Rong’s mind: the image of Song Xian being killed. With Song Xian dead, perhaps there would be peace thereafter.

A voice echoed in Madam Rong’s ear, "Whatever it is, as long as you say it, I’ll make it happen for you." Could it be that she needed to ask for that person’s help?

Just like when she saved the two children back then? Madam Rong couldn’t decide for a moment.

Song Min understood his mother’s nature and did not push further; seeing him in such a miserable state, she would agree sooner or later.

After Madam Rong left, Song Min lay on the bed resting with his eyes closed. He noticed his mother’s expressions, knowing that these days he hadn’t suffered in vain.

"Third Young Master," said the attendant beside Song Min, "Princess Jiahui sent a package from the Capital."

Song Min opened his eyes, his face full of joy, "Where is it?"

The attendant handed the leather-wrapped package to Song Min, who slowly unwrapped it, revealing a dagger inside.

The dagger was drawn, and a chilling breath assaulted his face.

Song Min envisioned Princess Jiahui’s shy face, his heart throbbing wildly.

After he became the new Yi Wu Jiedu Envoy, Princess Jiahui would help him eradicate the remnants of the previous dynasty and reclaim Prince Guangyang’s territory.

Princess Jiahui was the bloodline of Prince Guangyang’s uncle, and she was the only one left of that lineage. Once Prince Guangyang’s territory was reclaimed, those lands would be given to Princess Jiahui’s husband by the court.

Thinking of Princess Jiahui, everyone said Prince Guangyang was unparalleled in beauty, and indeed, his kin were all beautiful.

High rank and handsome salary, with a beautiful wife by his side, this is what he deserved.

This time, Song Xian would certainly die at his hands.

...

Cangzhou.

The Henghai Jiedu Envoy’s territory.

Su Huaiqing was reading a letter from his mother, whose anger was evident between the lines, just because he had people purchase medicinal herbs from Chen Family Village.

"That Chen Family Village is all working for Song Xian, don’t you get it? Do you really think that a bunch of rural villagers can understand medicinal herbs? Herbs are one thing, but now they’ve built a Familiar Medicine Institute, who thinks familiar medicine is for everybody?"

The rest of the letter was filled with insults towards the people of Chen Family Village.

Unwilling to read more, Su Huaiqing held the letter to the lamp and burned it.

As the letter turned to ash, there was a knock on the door,

The inn where Su Huaiqing was staying was known only to his close companions and one other person, so he didn’t hesitate to call out, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Qin Maoxing walked in.

Qin Maoxing was the nephew of the Henghai Jiedu Envoy, and met Su Huaiqing when he was in the capital. The two of them clicked immediately and have since often gathered to discuss the current political situation.

Su Huaiqing poured tea for Qin Maoxing, who couldn’t wait to say, "Have you heard about the official medicine bureau being built in Zhenzhou? If it’s really completed, Song Xian will have another achievement to his name."

Su Huaiqing did not speak.

Qin Maoxing continued, "Do you believe a village can produce familiar medicine? What do you think Song Xian is really up to?"

Su Huaiqing looked at Qin Maoxing, "What kind of person do you think Song Xian is?"