Who doesn’t know what kind of person the Mad Crown Prince is? During that palace coup years ago, the capital was drenched in blood—who dares involve themselves in such a past case now?
That man, relying on his scholar's status, had merely gotten used to opposing others for attention. But now, seeing everyone’s eyes on him, a chill ran through his heart.
"The Song family deserves to die, but it is not Song Lady's place to bring it up. As the ancient saying goes, family loyalty allows for concealment. A son accusing his father or his elders is the gravest form of unfilial behavior." Enraged, he flung his sleeve dramatically. "I have no interest in debating with you crude people." Righteous in tone, he finished his speech, then scurried away through the crowd.
The person who had spoken earlier couldn’t help but spit in contempt. "What nonsense! The books must have made him stupid."
More people emerged at the gates of the Song residence. In no time, no one paid attention to the man who had run off. They stood on tiptoe, straining to see the Song family members, bound in shackles and being led out. The crowd murmured softly, discussing Song Hong's treason.
In the Grand Duke's manor, Song Ru was pale, trembling as she saw Song Tangning approaching her.
"S-second sister..." she stammered.
"Don't be afraid," Tangning gently reassured her.
Song Ru clung tightly to her sleeve, her sharp chin tense as she watched her grandmother and father being taken away. She followed Song Tangning to Shian Court.
When she saw that Xiao Yan had ordered people to help Tangning inventory the items inside Shian Court, and Tangning stood quietly by her side, Song Ru, though uneasy, had an inkling of what was happening.
Tangning didn’t bother with pleasantries and spoke directly, "Ah Ru, thank you for warning me that night about Song Jinxiu stealing my father’s belongings."
Song Ru’s small face was deathly pale. She had intended to feign ignorance, as she always did, pretending not to understand what Tangning was talking about. But faced with Tangning’s dark, penetrating eyes, she finally hung her head in silence.
"I… I didn’t say anything. Second Sister is just clever; it had nothing to do with me..." Her voice was barely a whisper. That night, her warning had been vague, and she hadn't expected anyone to understand. Uneasy, she muttered, "I didn’t dare tell you about brother’s actions. If you don’t blame me, I’ll be relieved."
Seeing her head bowed and trembling in fear, Tangning softened her tone. "Why would you think I would blame you?"
Song Ru nervously twisted her fingers, listening as Tangning said, "Ah Ru, I know what you're going through."
"It hasn't been easy for you in the Song family, and it's natural to be cautious. My falling out with Song Jinxiu and the others seems impulsive to outsiders—they all think I’m just being capricious and that I’ll eventually return to the Song family."
"You knew that warning me might get back to the family, yet you risked it out of sisterly loyalty. I’m grateful for that. Why would I ever think you didn’t do enough?"
"Second Sister..." Song Ru looked up in surprise, her eyes reddening, and her pale face appeared even more delicate with her large eyes.
Tangning, who was only two years older, looked at the girl who seemed too thin for her age and spoke softly, "The Song family won't escape punishment this time. Song Hong harbored traitors and colluded with the Cruel Crown Prince. Once the charges are confirmed, the emperor will punish them severely, and the entire Song household will be implicated. But you are innocent and shouldn’t be dragged into this."
"I’ve discussed it with Supervisor Xiao. You can sever ties with the Song family by becoming the first informant. Afterward, you can live with me in Jiyun Lane."
Xiao Yan, standing outside, had expected Tangning to present two choices to Song Ru, but seeing that she didn’t mention the second one at all, he chuckled softly. He could tell how much Tangning cared about this illegitimate daughter of the Song family. Even though she cared, she still didn’t want to put him at risk.
The bright sun cast dappled light through the courtyard of Shian Court.
Tangning didn’t notice Xiao Yan’s gaze and continued speaking to Song Ru. "If you leave the Song family as the first informant, you’ll be seen as heartless and cruel, and people will inevitably gossip. But with Song Hong’s treason and Song Qin’s harsh treatment of you, you have every moral right to do so."
"I’ll have my brother request a reward from the emperor for your loyalty. You’ll leave the Song family and become a daughter under my mother’s name. From then on, she will be your mother, and you will be my sister. You will have nothing more to do with the Song family."
"You’ll live with me in Jiyun Lane, and I’ll do everything I can to protect you. No one will ever dare harm you again. So, Ah Ru, do you want to stay in the capital and live with me?"
Song Ru, feeling dazed, looked blankly at Song Tangning, her mouth slightly open. Seeing her stunned expression, Tangning bit her lip. "Of course, if you don’t want to, we can think of another solution..."
"I want to!" Song Ru snapped out of her daze, her face flushing red as she hurriedly replied, "I want to, Second Sister! I really do."
"I—I don’t need to be taken in by Second Aunt. I just want to leave the Song family." She knew her lowly status well. She didn’t dare to covet the honor of being the second wife’s child, nor did she aspire to be the daughter of the Rong family.
All Song Ru wanted was to seize this rare chance to escape. She clutched Tangning's sleeve nervously, stammering, "Second Sister, I want to leave the Song family. I—I’m not afraid of the bad reputation or of what people will say..."
She wanted to leave.
Tangning looked at the timid girl, who usually cowered, but now her face was flushed, and her voice had grown louder. Her brown-tinged eyes were filled with urgency, completely unafraid of the rumors and gossip that would come with leaving the Song family.
Seeing this, Tangning’s heart slowly steadied, and she turned to look at Xiao Yan in the distance. "Brother."
Xiao Yan's sleeves hung lazily by his side as he spoke in a relaxed tone, "I’ll inform His Majesty and ensure she is separated from the Song family and enters Tang household in Jiyun Alley."
Tang Ning's snowy cheeks revealed a smile. "Thank you, brother." She turned to Song Ru and said, "Ah Ru, did you hear that? From now on, you’ll live with me. You’ll call me elder sister, and just like me, you’ll be a daughter of the Rong family. No one will be able to bully you ever again."
Song Ru, still dazed, stared at Tang Ning, watching her joyful smile, unrestrained and genuine because she had agreed to live with her. In a soft murmur, she whispered, “Elder sister…”
"Yes!" Tang Ning reached out and hugged Song Ru. “Good girl, elder sister will take care of you.”
The embrace was so warm, and the person holding her felt like the blazing sun, spreading warmth freely. Song Ru’s eyes gradually reddened as a strange warmth swelled in her heart.
Since birth, no one had liked her. Everyone said she was a curse, even her father resented her existence, treating her as a stain he wished to erase.
No one had ever cared about her feelings, and no one had ever been this happy to be with her, as if becoming her elder sister was something to be overjoyed about. This care made her feel anxious, yet she couldn’t stop the happiness from bubbling up inside her.
Tentatively, she gently tugged on Tang Ning’s sleeve, remembering the snack from that night that had warmed her belly. The corners of her lips faintly lifted, revealing small dimples.
“Ah Ru will also protect elder sister.”
Tang Ning’s eyes immediately curved into a smile.
When the two girls finally separated, Xiao Yan’s gaze briefly swept over Song Ru’s head, where a cowlick stood up, making her look like a little quail. He then turned to Tang Ning and said, “These people will stay here to help you inventory your parents’ belongings. If anything is missing, make a note of it, and when the Song family’s property is confiscated, we’ll make sure to replace what was lost.”
He spoke of confiscating the family estate as if it were the most natural thing in the world, like a casual task.
“In a while, you and Ah Ru can bring the items back to Jiyun Alley with them. I’ll head to the palace first to apprehend Song Hong and report the Song family’s situation to His Majesty.”
Tang Ning understood the importance of the matter. “Brother, go handle your duties. I’ll take Ah Ru back to the mansion later.”
Xiao Yan turned his head and instructed a nearby guard, “Protect the lady.”
“Yes, Master,” the guard responded.
Xiao Yan’s slender figure moved toward the exit. Just as he was about to leave the courtyard, Tang Ning suddenly remembered something and hurriedly called out, “Brother.”
Xiao Yan stopped and turned around.
“Come home early tonight. I’ll have the kitchen prepare something delicious.”
Seeing the bright, cheerful look on the young girl’s face, a ripple of warmth softened Xiao Yan’s cold and stern expression. “Got it.”
So young, yet already acting like a little housekeeper.
As he stepped out of the courtyard, a smile lingered in his eyes. “When I go to the palace, I’ll ask the Imperial Kitchen to make some sweet cakes and bring them home later.”
Jinyun chuckled softly, “The Governor really dotes on the lady.”
Xiao Yan's lips curled into a smile. “Raising a child.” He was more than willing to let his little girl roll around in a pot of honey.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 142 here
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