Song Jinnian’s face turned pale upon hearing the words.
Song Jinxiu showed no mercy. He raised his head and looked at the two siblings: "I know what you're thinking. You think your third uncle is innocent, that you are caught up because of the main branch. But don’t forget, the root cause of this was your father bringing back someone who shouldn’t have been brought."
"He knew what would happen once Song Shulan returned. He should have known what would unfold when she entered your second uncle's household. He didn't stop it, and even watched idly as she caused trouble. That’s not innocence."
Song Jinnian was suddenly anxious and raised his voice, "That’s not true! In our family, it was my uncle who made the decisions, my father couldn't control anything. And besides, my father brought her back because he was worried about the possibility of my uncle and the traitor’s daughter being exposed…"
"And what does that change?" Song Jinxiu’s expression grew colder. "If he was really worried, he could have just dealt with her or locked her up secretly and sent word to the capital. I don’t believe that your third uncle couldn’t handle a weak woman."
"But he chose to bring her back to the capital and even to the completely unprepared Duke’s residence. Do you dare say that your third uncle had no other intentions?"
Song Jinnian's eyes widened in shock.
Song Yuanzhi also whispered, "What do you mean, Big Brother?"
"Just what I said."
Song Jinxiu looked at the three siblings: "After our grandfather passed away, the Duke's title has remained vacant. Both my father and third uncle are legitimate sons. They both have the right to inherit the Duke title, but my father, being the eldest son, always suppressed third uncle. Don’t tell me third uncle never harbored any resentment?"
The eyes of Song Jinnian and Song Yuanzhi both flickered. Song Jinxiu smiled: "So it’s true, right? Not only that, but your third uncle must have said more than once that my father wasn’t fit for the title."
"Deep down, he has never respected my father. He thinks he’s just as capable as my father, but since he was born later, my father gained the advantage. But if my father’s reputation is ruined and his name is tarnished, third uncle could easily step over him."
"When your third uncle brought Song Shulan back, his initial intention was to watch the main house suffer, to see my father struggle. He probably thought he could benefit from it, but he didn’t expect that my father and grandmother would let Song Shulan enter your second uncle’s household, using him as a shield, and then cause all these problems."
"I…"
Song Jinnian’s face turned pale. Some of these things were things his father, Song Qin, had told him, or hinted at when he was feeling frustrated. He hadn’t expected Song Jinxiu to know everything.
He wanted to speak, to argue that his father never had such intentions, but Song Jinxiu seemed to see through him and interrupted him directly.
"You don’t need to argue with me. Whether your third uncle wanted to fight for the title, you know better than I do."
"Besides, since your third branch has enjoyed the benefits of the Duke’s residence, if anything happens, you’ll also be punished. Right now, the only reason you two are safe is because I used the merit of betraying your uncle to exchange for my position back in court."
"If you think what I did was wrong, think I’m selfish and heartless, then you can return to the prison and suffer alongside your father. I won’t stop you."
"And if it’s inconvenient, I can help you with that."
The three siblings stood frozen in shock, their faces drained of color. They had hoped that Song Jinxiu would help their father, that they could rely on him from a higher position.
But asking them to return to that dark prison, or to go into exile with Song Qin, how could they ever agree to that? They would never willingly go back.
"Big Brother…" Song Yuanzhi said, her voice trembling, "That’s not what we meant."
"If it’s not, then shut up."
Seeing the siblings stand still, Song Jinxiu looked up: "Do you have more to say?"
Song Yuanzhi, her face as pale as paper, looked at him. His cold, indifferent expression wasn’t at all like the gentle, older brother she once knew. Terrified, she grabbed her equally frightened brother’s hand and shook her head, "No… nothing more."
"If there’s nothing else, then leave. I have important matters to attend to."
The two siblings shuddered in fear and hurriedly turned to leave.
Suddenly, Song Jinxiu called out to them: "Song Jinnian, I’ll remind you of something: the Duke’s family is finished. Don’t keep longing for past glory."
"I’m a target for everyone now, surrounded by enemies. It’s already hard enough to keep you two alive. If you bring any trouble, I won’t be able to protect you."
When the siblings turned around, their faces were pale as paper.
"If that day comes, don’t blame me for being heartless. Understand?"
"Yes, we understand."
"Then go."
Song Jinnian’s steps faltered. The thoughts that had briefly crossed his mind earlier vanished completely. He hurriedly pulled Song Yuanzhi away, walking with panicked and disoriented steps.
Yin Quan, standing to the side, watched the siblings leave and, holding the items in his hands, said: "Young Master, you did everything you could to save Young Master and the others. Why speak to them like this? What if they misunderstand you and hold a grudge?"
Song Jinxiu lowered his gaze, coldly replying, "Third uncle already resents me. A little more won’t matter."
"Besides, if I’m not ruthless, they won’t learn and grow."
Just like he once did—when everything was going well, he truly believed the praise he received, thinking he was like jade, unrivaled. But in the end, he realized how foolish he had been. If he had only used his brain back then, things wouldn't have ended up like this.
Song Jinxiu’s thoughts drifted to that young girl, once clinging to her sleeve with longing and affection. He remembered a fleeting moment he had seen her, and the pain in his heart pierced deeply.
He pressed his hand against his chest to quell the ache, then looked up and asked: "Where is Song Shulan?"
Yin Quan replied softly, "She’s in the courtyard you prepared for her, under watch."
Song Jinxiu stood up. "Let’s go see her."
...
Song Shulan had been confined for a long time—so long that sometimes she felt as though the days in the Duke’s residence had been from another life.
Ever since she had come out of prison with Song Jinxiu, she had been brought to this small, cramped courtyard. Compared to the Duke’s residence, it was nothing. Even before she entered the capital to find her family, the place she had lived with her mother had been better.
The courtyard was shabby and old, the house was extremely simple, with a creaky wooden bed that groaned when she lay down, a roof that leaked when it rained. There wasn’t a single flower in the courtyard, just an old tree that looked half-dead.
The worst part was that two large, burly women took turns watching her like a prisoner. Whenever she tried to leave, they would block her.
She stared longingly at the courtyard gate. After a while, one of the women came over, her expression full of suspicion.
When Song Shulan was blocked from seeing outside, she became enraged, slamming the gate shut with a bang and angrily throwing something nearby.
She was about to go crazy.
Song Jinxiu, that madman, did he want to lock her up here for the rest of her life?
She didn’t know how long it had been, but suddenly the outer gate opened, and she vaguely heard someone say "Young Master." Her face immediately changed, and she stood up to peer through the window. Through the crack, she saw Song Jinxiu approaching.
A look of joy instantly appeared on her face, and she hurriedly rubbed her eyes.
By the time Song Jinxiu arrived and the door was opened, her eyes were already red, tears threatening to fall.
===============
You can read ahead to chapterr 234 (100+ extra chapters) here
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