Seeing the two with emotional turmoil, Yin Quan tried to explain himself. Song Hong, though silent, looked at him with urgency. Lowering his gaze to avoid their eyes, Yin Quan said, “The young master and the young lady are unwell and unable to come. As for the master, he has pressing duties and cannot split himself in two. He specifically instructed me to deliver this message to you.”
Song Tan's face immediately turned grim. Back then, in order to save Song Jinxiu’s children, he had cooperated by taking the blame, resulting in today’s exile.
He had never regretted his sacrifices for them. Yet, during this time, not once had Song Jin and his family come to see him. And now, on the day he was being exiled, they didn’t even bother to show up. Their absence filled him with immense heartbreak.
“What do you mean they’re unwell? Of all days, it had to be today?” Song Tan questioned in a low, grave voice.
The elderly matriarch of the Song family grabbed Yin Quan by his clothes, her once-broken and twisted hand weak but her other hand clutching with a ferocious strength, as if to tear through his arm.
“Are you lying to me? Does Song Jinxiu truly have urgent duties? He can’t spare even a glance at his grandmother and father? Did he escape and abandon us, leaving us all to die?”
Yin Quan’s ears buzzed from her sharp voice, and he noticed people glancing over from the city gates. He quickly replied, “Madam, you misunderstand. The master genuinely has pressing matters and cannot come.”
He forcibly freed himself from her grip, stepping back before taking off the bundle slung on his back.
“The master knew your journey would be long, so he prepared medicine, food, and clothing for the winter ahead, as the cold in those lands can be severe. These are supplies to help you through.”
Yin Quan handed the bundle to Song Hong, lowering his voice as he explained, “The food inside is preserved and can last several days. I’ve carefully wrapped it in oil paper to keep it dry. There are also thick winter jackets…”
Leaning in even closer, he whispered, “Inside the sleeves and front pockets of each piece, I’ve sewn two liang of silver. Keep them hidden, and no one will notice. If the journey becomes dire, this can be used for emergencies.”
Smack!
The matriarch slapped the bundle to the ground with force. “Two liang of silver? Is that all Song Jinxiu thinks of us? He used his father’s life as a stepping stone to crawl out of prison, and now he expects us to survive on a few measly liang of silver?”
She had held onto a faint hope that Song Jinxiu would come to see them off, or at least make arrangements for their well-being. Now that he had been reinstated to his official position, surely he could use his influence. Yet, she never imagined her cherished grandson would be so heartless.
A desolate exile, three thousand li away. She, in her frail condition, might not even survive the journey. A few liang of silver wouldn’t even cover medicine, let alone sustain them.
To her, it was as if Song Jinxiu wanted to see them dead.
Already overwhelmed by fear and despair from her confinement, the matriarch spiraled further into panic. Her voice rose, sharp and grating.
“Does Song Jinxiu think his newfound favor with the emperor means he can abandon his parents and grandmother? He’s nothing but a heartless wretch—an ungrateful ingrate—”
“Bang!”
The elder lady of the family suddenly shoved the matriarch, cutting her tirade short. The push left the matriarch stumbling, almost falling to the ground.
Song Hong, shocked, hurriedly helped his mother up, shouting angrily, “Are you insane? How dare you lay a hand on Mother—”
“Pah! Who’s her daughter-in-law? I refuse to recognize this old hag as my mother-in-law!”
“You!”
The matriarch, furious, raised her hand to slap the elder lady but was swiftly restrained and shoved back.
Facing Song Hong’s furious glare and his raised fist, the elder lady sneered defiantly. “What? You want to hit me? Go ahead!”
“Do you still think you’re in the Duke’s Manor? Or that you’re still the exalted Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites? Your family’s greed and deceit ruined me, and now you want to lay a finger on me? If you dare, I’ll drag you all down with me, even if it kills me!”
The elder lady, once submissive, now radiated a feral intensity that startled the matriarch and Song Hong.
Scoffing coldly, she bent down, picked up the bundle, and carefully brushed off the dust. “The Duke’s Manor has long been confiscated. The Song family has not a single coin left. You know as well as I do what kind of people our relatives are. Do you think we’re still in the days of freely spending thousands of silver taels?”
She sneered at Song Hong.
“You’re a lecherous, selfish fool who nearly dragged the whole family to ruin for your darling daughter. Yet instead of begging your precious girl for help, you blame Jinxiu, who barely managed to salvage his career from your mess. If you don’t want this bundle, I’ll take it.”
Clutching the bundle tightly, she turned to Yin Quan.
“Pay no attention to them. Go back and tell your master to take care of himself. We’ll manage.”
Yin Quan nodded. “Rest assured, Madam. I’ll deliver the message. The master asked me to tell you he regrets not being able to rescue you. He apologizes and promises to try his best to bring you back to the capital someday.”
The elder lady’s eyes misted over, though she assumed these were empty words meant to comfort her.
Yin Quan bowed his head. “I must return now to serve my master. Take care.”
Suppressing her emotions, the elder lady said hoarsely, “Go back. Look after him well.”
Yin Quan bowed again and left quickly, never once sparing a glance at Song Hong or the matriarch.
Song Hong stood there, his face a mix of anger and embarrassment. The matriarch trembled with rage. Meanwhile, Song Tan glanced at the bundle in the elder lady’s arms and offered cautiously, “Sister-in-law, let me carry that—”
Before he could finish, she turned sharply, clutching the bundle tighter.
“No need. I’ll carry it myself.”
She shot him a look filled with disdain and disgust, then moved aside, pretending to reorganize the contents while deftly retrieving the silver hidden within.
As Song Tan stood there, his face shifting between humiliation and despair, a commotion broke out near the gate.
A young woman, unfamiliar yet neatly dressed as a servant, approached. Smiling, she announced, “I come from Jiyun Alley, sent by my mistress to deliver a message to the Song family.”
The guards, startled, immediately made way. Jiyun Alley—that was…
The leader quickly responded, “Please speak, miss. We’ll step aside.”
“No need. This will be brief.”
The servant girl smiled politely and walked up to the group.
Upon hearing “Jiyun Alley,” Song Hong and the matriarch instinctively assumed she was sent by Song Tangning. Yet, instead of addressing them, the servant turned to Song Tan.
“Third Master Song, I bring you a message from Lady Ru.==============
You can read ahead to chapterr 234 (100+ extra chapters) here
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