"Mother…"
"Shut up!" The Old Dowager Princess scolded sharply, forcefully pulling Prince Cheng back by the arm.
The remaining guards of Prince Cheng's residence, seeing their lord pulled away and still hearing the agonizing screams of the man who had his arm severed earlier, dared not stop the ruthless black-armored soldiers. They retreated to the sides, and the ladies, Madam Qian and Madam Wen, also stepped aside, inadvertently exposing the mother and son of the Song family who had been standing behind them.
Madam Song's expression was filled with panic. "Your Highness, my son and I came to the Prince's residence for the banquet. You invited us…"
"Ah—!"
The hilt of a black-armored soldier's sword pressed into her back, twisting her arm behind her, causing Madam Song to scream in pain.
"I am the wife of the Assistant Minister and a noblewoman of the court! You have no right to arrest me!"
"Chief Xiao, both my son Jin Xiu and I know nothing about Song Hong's affairs. There must be some misunderstanding… Ah!"
The pressure on her back increased, and Madam Song could no longer struggle. She and Song Jin Xiu were dragged away by the black-armored soldiers.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, save us!"
Prince Cheng, held firmly by the Dowager Princess, remained silent. Madam Song, desperate, turned her head and screamed toward the Lu family, "Young Master Lu, Old Madam, our families are related by marriage…"
"The Lu family dares not claim such relatives!" Old Madam Lu interrupted sternly, about to remind everyone that Song Tangning had just declared her severance from the Song family. Did the Song family still expect the Lu family to speak up for them?
But before she could say more, Lu Zhinian, with a grim expression, stepped forward.
"Madam Song, you seem to misunderstand. My engagement to Tangning was arranged years ago by the late Grand Tutor Rong and Her Majesty the Empress. What I care about is Tangning, who has never been a part of your Song family." He glanced at Song Tangning, then spoke in a solemn tone:
"Tangning has just severed ties with your Song household in the flower hall. Naturally, my engagement to her has nothing to do with your Song family anymore."
"*Song Shilang (Assistant Minister) was disrespectful to the late emperor and has oppressed the orphaned branch of the family. Song Jin Xiu went as far as to bully my future wife. Though Tangning and I may have our quarrels, she is the woman I’ve chosen. Why would I help outsiders mistreat her?"
"You… you…" Madam Song looked at the tall, elegant young man, feeling as if her mind was buzzing.
In the past, when this third son of the Lu family visited the Song residence, he had always been humble and polite, addressing her as "Aunt Song." Each time he came to see Tangning, he never failed to bring gifts for her and other members of the family. She had often lamented how fortunate Tangning was to have such a perfect match, and she herself had admired Lu Zhinian greatly.
But the more she had admired his gentleness back then, the more shocked she was by his cold indifference now.
Song Jin Xiu, also pinned down, looked up at Lu Zhinian and saw the coldness in his eyes. It felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, with the chill seeping into his bones.
He recalled when they had sailed together on a boat in the capital.
"Jin Xiu, I truly regret that we are not from the same family. I have never met someone as kindred as you. You have no idea how grateful I am to know you through Tangning, to even call you brother."
"Your ambitions, your talents, I admire them deeply. As long as we stand together in the court, we will surely become loyal ministers and virtuous generals, aiding the emperor and leaving our names in history."
Those words, spoken so warmly in the past, now pierced him like icy daggers.
"Zhao Zhi…" Song Jin Xiu murmured.
Lu Zhinian's voice was cold: "Young Master Song, you should stop calling me that. I admired your talents, but I despise your character. If you can treat Tangning, your own sister, with such cruelty, how can I possibly associate with you?"
"Our principles diverge. We cannot walk the same path. I ask you to conduct yourself with dignity."
A cold chill seemed to spread through Song Jin Xiu’s body as Lu Zhinian's words echoed. His heart felt as though it had sunk to the bottom of a frozen lake.
The people around them cast varied glances, as if mocking him for attempting to cling to the Lu family, and sneering at him for being abandoned by his closest friend. He had never felt so isolated and helpless, as if the entire world was watching his downfall.
His gaze fell on Song Tangning, who remained indifferent. He saw the scorn in Princess Cheng's eyes and the disdain in the eyes of the others. Finally, his eyes landed on his former confidant, Lu Zhinian.
"Different principles, different paths…"
"Well said! Different principles, different paths!"
He let out a hoarse laugh, his voice filled with bitterness, his face even paler than before. His body trembled violently, and despite being held by the black-armored soldiers, he doubled over in laughter, tears streaming down his face.
"Lu Zhinian, you are truly remarkable."
He had indeed been as arrogant and foolish as Tangning had said, utterly blind to the true nature of those around him!
As he spoke in a broken voice, his face flushed bright red. In the next instant, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale as he collapsed to the ground.
The black-armored soldiers hadn’t anticipated this and failed to catch him in time. He fell hard to the ground, his head hitting the gravel, blood immediately seeping out.
"Jin Xiu!!" Madam Song cried out in terror, trying to rush to her son's side.
Xiao Yan frowned impatiently. "Make her be quiet and take her away."
Cang Lang slapped the back of Madam Song's neck, knocking her unconscious.
After the Song mother and son were dragged away, Gu Helian, filled with amazement, turned to Lu Zhinian and said, "I’ve always heard that censors and officials are known for their sharp tongues, able to turn the dead into the living. I didn’t expect Young Master Lu to be just as adept. Your skill at kicking someone when they’re down is truly impressive."
Lu Zhinian responded, "I did no such thing..."
"Young Master Lu need not explain. I understand. With the fall of the Song family and Song Jin Xiu’s future in ruins, it's natural for you to want to distance yourself and protect your own interests."
Gu Helian, with a knowing look, sighed, "It's good for young people to recognize the current situation. No wonder the Lu family has maintained its high status for so many years. It's just a pity for Young Master Song's sincerity. He was more genuine toward Young Master Lu than he ever was towards my little Tang."
Lu Zhinian: "..."
"Pfft."
Standing beside Xiao Yan, Song Tangning couldn't hold back her laughter. Even Princess Cheng had a twitch at the corner of her mouth, thinking how remarkable it was that Gu Helian hadn’t been beaten to death after all these years—his sharp tongue was as venomous as ever.
Everyone around had a strange look in their eyes as they gazed at Lu Zhinian.
All of the capital knew how close Lu Zhinian and Song Jinxiu had been. Though they weren’t inseparable, most of the time, they stood united in the court. But just now, Lu Zhinian had distanced himself from Song so swiftly, and his cold words had driven Song Jinxi to cough up blood and faint in front of everyone. As they watched the Song family being dragged away, people couldn’t help but sigh.
This Third Young Master of the Lu family was indeed heartless when he decided to turn his back.
Xiao Yan glanced at the girl beside him, who was laughing so hard she covered her mouth. A hint of amusement also flickered in his eyes.
"The culprits have been apprehended, so I won’t bother Your Highness any longer." He reached out and lightly patted Tangning on the head. "Let's go."
Protected by the Black Armored Guards, Xiao Yan led Song Tangning and the others out as if no one else was there. Along the way, not a single person dared to stop them. When Princess Cheng and Gu Helian were also escorted away, followed by Madam Hou and the other noblewomen, the banquet guests who had witnessed the entire spectacle quickly realized the show was over. They hurried to leave, as if they had indulged in more gossip than they could handle for an entire year.
In an instant, the courtyard of the Prince Cheng residence was left with only the Lu family’s elder and son and the people from Prince Cheng household. Glaring at the bloodstained ground, Prince Cheng was livid.
"Xiao Yan, that mad dog!"
"He's nothing but a mad dog!"
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*Song Shilang is refering to Song Hong with his official position in the imperial court
You can read ahead to chapterr 111 here
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