Song Jinxiu had never intended to clear their names or restore their former glory; he only wanted to keep them alive. Yet, he hadn’t expected them to be found, nor that he’d be trapped in this coffin.
The first thought in Song Jinxiu’s mind was clear: Tang Ning did this.
Outside, the Song family was in chaos. They had gone to sleep in the clean beds of the farmer’s house, but woke up in this eerie, unfamiliar place.
Before them loomed a large grave mound, its tombstone illegible in the darkness. Overgrown weeds surrounded it, and tattered white banners swayed in the wind.
The shadowy forest blocked the moonlight, and the occasional caw of a crow made their already pale faces, illuminated by the moon, even more ghastly.
Song Hong, having swiftly kicked away a snake, was filled with terror in his remaining eye. “We don’t know where this is. Let’s go…”
Song Old Madam and Lady Song turned to leave.
But at that moment, a voice came from the woods. “Uncle, Grandmother, where are you off to?”
The three froze. Song Old Madam turned back in shock. “Song Tang Ning?!”
Song Hong’s face was equally horrified. “Tang Ning, you…”
The girl stepped forward from the trees. The Song family, gripped by fear, stumbled back. Song Hong nearly fell.
Tang Ning stopped, tilting her head. “Are you afraid of me?”
Song Hong’s heart pounded like a drum. He knew how much she hated them and how she had single-handedly ruined the Song family.
After narrowly escaping back to the capital and hiding in the farmer’s house, they never imagined seeing Song Tang Ning again.
Clutching his trembling hands, Song Hong stammered, “Tang Ning, we know we were wrong. I shouldn’t have used Song Shulan to harm you or done those foolish things. We’ve paid the price.”
“Your third uncle was tortured to death. Your grandmother and I are sick and crippled. We’re family, blood kin. Why must you be so relentless and wipe us out?”
Song Old Madam despised Tang Ning to her core. If not for this wretched girl, she’d still be the revered matriarch of the Duke’s mansion. If not for Tang Ning’s ruthlessness, the Song family wouldn’t have fallen so low.
But now, no matter how much she hated her, she didn’t dare shout as she once did. The exile had been brutal—near death from illness multiple times, witnessing the gruesome fates of fellow exiles, including her third son who didn’t survive.
The once-proud Song Old Madam had lost her fire, now pleading pitifully. “Tang Ning, we just want a chance to live. I beg you, spare us.”
Tang Ning looked at the white-haired, pleading Song Old Madam, who seemed utterly pitiful—aged and frail, stripped of all pride, begging for her life.
Tang Ning suddenly laughed. “Old Madam, do you remember this place?”
Song Old Madam froze.
“What about you, Uncle Song? Do you remember?”
Song Hong’s single eye scanned the surroundings, feeling a vague familiarity.
Seeing their expressions, Tang Ning knew they didn’t recognize the place. Her eyes turned cold, her smile mocking. “You really don’t remember? Well, it’s been so many years—any guilt or shame has long turned to complacency.”
“Tang Ning…” Song Hong tried to say he didn’t understand.
Tang Ning’s tone sharpened. “Back then, Song Old Madam and Uncle Song personally led palace men to dig up this grave, scattering the bones inside. Fearing vengeful spirits, you splashed dog’s blood and pasted talismans, ensuring the dead couldn’t rest in peace.”
“What, have you noble folks forgotten it all?”
Song Hong and Song Old Madam’s faces paled, and they staggered back, staring at the tombstone. This was Song Xi’s grave—the second son!
Lady Song, bewildered, looked at Tang Ning. “What digging? What bones? What are you talking about?”
Tang Ning sneered. “Why don’t you ask Song Old Madam and Uncle Song? Let them tell you what I mean.”
Song Old Madam and Song Hong were ashen, as was Song Jinshu inside the coffin.
Song Hong dropped to his knees. “Tang Ning, there must be a misunderstanding. Your second uncle’s grave is here, and though I haven’t visited yearly, I’ve never let their incense go out. How could I do something so vile as to desecrate them?”
Song Old Madam’s legs trembled, her face deathly pale. “Did someone tell you something, or did someone harm your father’s bones? I didn’t like you, but your father was my son. How could I dig up his grave and destroy his remains?”
“Tang Ning, your uncle and I were wrong, but you can’t slander us like this. There must be a misunderstanding…”
Bang—
From the woods emerged Xiao Yan and Cang Lang. Cang Lang tossed the barely conscious Empress Lu, roused by pain, before the Song family.
Song Old Madam’s earnest pleas cut off abruptly. Seeing Empress Lu’s half-burned, ruined face, not only she but even Lady Song screamed in terror.
“Shut up!” Empress Lu, disoriented and in agony, reflexively snapped at the piercing scream. Then she realized something was wrong.
Wasn’t she in the cold palace? Why was there a woman’s voice?
Looking up, she saw three disheveled, terrified people. She didn’t recognize two of them, but the frail, white-haired old woman in the middle seemed familiar.
After a moment, Empress Lu blurted out, “Song Lin? Why are you here?!”
Weren’t the Song family exiled long ago?
Song Old Madam, hearing her voice, gasped, “You’re the empress?”
Empress Lu?!
Song Hong, recognizing her, was first shocked, then horrified, his face draining of color.
Tang Ning’s icy voice cut through. “Seems you’re quite familiar.”
“Song Tang Ning?” Empress Lu, spotting Tang Ning, was stunned. Then, seeing the aloof, elegant man behind her, her face lit up. “Supervisor Xiao, did you save me? I knew you’d help me! Where’s the Fourth Prince? Did you save him? Where is he?”
The woods fell silent. Cang Lang remarked dryly, “Didn’t they say the empress was clever? Where’s her brain?”
Tang Ning said coolly, “Maybe a dog ate it.”
Xiao Yan: “…”
His lashes flickered, a strange laugh escaping his throat. “Poor dog.”
==================
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment