The entire courtyard was filled with the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. As Song Jinxiu knelt, there was a heavy thud accompanied by a muffled groan. Tang Ning even wondered if his kneecap had shattered. The tall man standing in front of her merely pulled his sleeve to shield her face.
Tang Ning felt a faint warmth covering her eyes, and the cold, clear voice next to her ear said, "Your name is Song Shulan?" Song Shulan's face turned deathly pale.
"Since you admitted that yesterday's incident was your fault—that you accidentally knocked over Lady Song’s ever-burning lamp—and said that you would do anything to gain Tang Ning's forgiveness, then you should leave here. Start at the gate of the Cheng Wang Mansion and kneel step by step all the way to Lingyun Temple to relight the ever-burning lamp for Lady Song."
"Given that Miss Song is so considerate and eager to share her brother's burdens, she surely won't refuse." Song Shulan froze upon hearing this.
He must be mad!
The Cheng Wang Mansion was located in the most prosperous part of the capital. Just getting from here to the city gate would take a good half an incense stick's time, let alone the entire journey to Lingyun Temple. If she truly knelt step by step all the way there, aside from the disgrace and the impossibility of ever being able to show her face in the capital again, she would probably lose the use of her legs.
"What, you’re unwilling? Seems like Miss Song’s sincerity is lacking." Song Shulan trembled all over under Xiao Yan's gaze, her face white as a sheet.
"A-Brother..." she called out in a trembling voice, fearfully looking toward Xie Yin, "Brother Yin..."
Xie Yin, already furious, shouted in anger, "You've gone too far! If she kneels all the way to Lingyun Temple, you’re trying to kill her!"
Song Jinxiu’s leg throbbed with pain from the kick, the sharp sting in his knee a constant reminder of the humiliation he'd just endured. After performing the "grand ritual" and being ignored, he forced himself to stand, not daring to look at Xiao Yan, and instead addressed Tang Ning in a somber tone, "Are you just going to watch him humiliate your brother and sister?"
Xiao Yan's eyes grew cold, but before he could act, the person behind him gently tugged on his sleeve.
Tang Ning revealed a small face from behind him. "Chief Xiao is my brother. His decision is mine. If you’re so desperate for my forgiveness, then let Song Shulan kneel all the way to Lingyun Temple, and I’ll consider forgiving her." A wicked smile appeared on her face as she seemed to recall something, turning to the two of them.
"I’m already a malicious and narrow-minded person, not as understanding and gentle as Song Shulan."
"Song Langjun cherishes his sister, and Young Lord Xie feels sorry for her miserable and fragile upbringing. You can both kneel in her place. And if that's not enough, you can also bring Lu Zhinyan along. Since the three of you treasure her so much, I’m sure you’d be willing to kneel for her. Or is Song Langjun’s so-called love just empty words?"
"Tang Ning..." Song Jinxiu could hardly believe she could say such things. "I’m your brother!"
"No, you’re not."
The moment he broke his promise and placed Song Shulan on the same level as her, the moment he could scold and abandon her on Mount San with no regard for her survival, he had ceased to be her brother.
Looking at Song Jinxiu with anger in her eyes, her voice was as cold as falling snow.
"Song Jinxiu, I don't want you as my brother anymore." Song Jinxiu felt as though he'd been struck by lightning, stumbling backward in a daze.
Tang Ning lowered her long lashes and tugged on Xiao Yan's sleeve. "Brother, I don’t want to see them."
"Didn’t you hear that?" Xiao Yan’s voice was cold. "Get them out."
"Tang Ning, you’ve lost your mind." Xie Yin roared in anger. "Are you insane? We’re your family, your closest kin! Yet you recognize a eunuch as your brother, humiliating your own elder brother like this! Don’t you have any shame... Ah..."
Canglang swung the scabbard at Xie Yin’s face, drawing blood.
The word "eunuch" seemed to hit a nerve in Xiao Yan. His expression grew icy, and he uttered only four words: "Cut out his tongue."
Suddenly, three shadows leaped into the courtyard. One of them brought a sword to Xie Yin’s face, the blade just an inch from taking his head.
Xie Yin screamed and backed away in terror, but not before the sword slashed his mouth. Even the Cheng Wangfei, who had been furious, was now stunned.
"Chief!" she cried out in fear.
She was angry at Xie Yin’s stupidity but never intended for him to lose his life.
However, Xiao Yan’s expression remained cold and merciless. As the black-clad man moved to strike again, someone suddenly rushed into the courtyard.
"Chief Xiao, don't act rashly! Please don't act rashly!" The Cheng Wang hurried into the courtyard, speaking loudly as he strode over to Xie Yin and kicked him hard in the leg.
"You reckless fool, who gave you permission to offend Chief Xiao? Do you know what kind of trouble your mouth will get you into one day?" After scolding Xie Yin, the Cheng Wang shoved him aside, barely blocking the sword in the black-clad man's hand.
"They’re just a bunch of kids horsing around. There's no need to trouble Chief Xiao's Black Armor Guard over this." Then he glared at Xie Yin. "You fool, why aren’t you apologizing to Chief Xiao?"
Xie Yin's mouth throbbed in pain, the sword cut still bleeding. Terrified and enraged, he never expected Xiao Yan to dare strike in the Cheng Wang Mansion, and even less that his father would apologize to Xiao Yan first.
His heart was filled with fear and resentment, but with the Black Armor Guard close at hand and Xiao Yan’s cold gaze seemingly ready to have his tongue cut out at any moment, Xie Yin suppressed his anger and grudgingly said, "I misspoke just now. Please forgive me, Chief Xiao."
"Misspeaking isn’t an issue, but losing your life is. If Young Lord Xie can't learn to watch his mouth, he might as well not have one." Xie Yin's face flushed with anger.
The Cheng Wang also felt a flicker of anger at Xiao Yan's arrogance but knew the eunuch held immense power in the court. He had no choice but to endure it.
"Chief Xiao, if you were planning to visit the mansion tonight, why didn’t you inform me first so I could prepare a banquet in your honor?" The Cheng Wang forcibly changed the subject, trying to ease the tension.
"I’ve heard that the Chief and Tang Ning are close, that you’ve even sworn brotherhood with her. What a joyous occasion! It’s still cold outside, so let’s not stand around here. Tang Ning, why don’t you invite the Chief and your brother inside, and we can all sit down and talk this over..."
"What’s there to talk about? Tang Ning doesn’t even want to see them!" The Cheng Wangfei, who had just recovered from the shock of nearly seeing Xie Yin killed, snapped angrily.
"Jinxiu is still Tang Ning’s elder brother. This is just a misunderstanding between children, which can be resolved with a few words. It wouldn’t do for Tang Ning to be too harsh, especially in the presence of Chief Xiao." The Cheng Wang gently coaxed her, then turned to Xiao Yan.
"Chief Xiao, we’re all on the same side here. Please help calm Tang Ning down so that we can avoid any unnecessary conflict." Xiao Yan’s eyes were cold and distant. "My own people died a long time ago. Does Cheng Wang wish to join them?" The Cheng Wang's smile froze.
Xiao Yan was growing weary of dealing with these scheming individuals. He turned to Tang Ning and asked, "This place is filthy and unsuitable for recovery. Would you like to come with me?"
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T/N: I just love Xiao Yan so much
You can read ahead to chapterr 50 here
I am a little disappointed with the Cheng Wang and why did her Aunt pass again? Did it have something to do with him, so that he can bring his lover in?
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