Chapter 517 — Retribution
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Song Cen watched as Song Han's expression eased a little, then his face hardened and he said in a stern voice, "Song Han, do you know your error?"
Song Han's eyes were wide with fury, and he struggled desperately, a muffled sound of "mmph, mmph" escaping his mouth from time to time, his gaze filled with hatred and resentment as he looked at Song Cen.
Song Cen's heart quivered, and the scene of Jiang-shi's death suddenly rose before his eyes.
He felt a sudden discomfort, cleared his throat softly, and then said in a loud voice, "Bring in Miao-shi and that serving girl."
Zeng Wu hurried forward to lift the curtain of the side room beside them, and Miao Zhi and Qixia walked in.
Song Han stared at Qixia in horror.
But Qixia, as though seeing nothing, followed behind Miao Zhi to the very center of the hall and bobbed a curtsy to the masters and young gentlemen seated there.
Song Cen said, "Miao-shi, I ask you: when the Prince of Liao came to this house as a guest, what happened?"
Song Maochun and the others suddenly understood.
So that was it!
Song Han was not having the ancestral hall opened because of an affair with his father's concubine, but because he had colluded with the Prince of Liao. If the Prince of Liao failed, and Song Han was not struck from the family register, then once the Emperor learned of it, the Yingzhenguo Mansion would be in ruin!
Not only would they lose their protector, they might well be dragged down with him and exiled, their property confiscated, just like the Dingzhenguo Mansion.
Song Han must be driven from the family.
As Miao-shi spoke on in her gentle voice, Song Maochun and the others had already exchanged glances and reached their decision.
Song Qin was consumed with shame.
To think that he, the eldest brother, had actually doubted that his Second Uncle had dealt unfairly.
It seemed he was not even the equal of his younger brother Song Duo.
He could not help glancing toward Song Duo.
Song Duo was listening intently as Miao Zhi recounted the events of that day: "...In truth, Qixia once reminded me, but the fault was mine for being slow. I never gave it a thought, and that was how the Second Young Master drifted further and further astray, until at last he committed this great wrong! When all is said and done, it is all my fault. I beg my father-in-law to punish me."
As she spoke, she knelt down.
Song Cen was pleased with what she had said, gave a slight nod, and turned his gaze to Qixia.
Qixia dropped to her knees with a thud beside Miao Zhi and said in a low voice, "Ever since I was assigned to the Second Young Master's rooms, I have served him close at hand. The Second Young Master was always very warm toward the young ladies in the Zhenguo Lord's household. At first I did not think much of it. Later, when the Second Young Master was to be married, Du Ruo grew unhappy for no apparent reason, and the Second Young Master would sidle up to Du Ruo at every opportunity. I saw that something was not right, but at the time the household was busy with the Second Young Master's wedding, so I did not pay it any particular mind..."
Song Cen felt a toothache coming on as he listened.
What did she mean, "the Second Young Master was always very warm toward the young ladies in the Zhenguo Lord's household"? Were the women in his own household all exchanging glances with Song Han?
And this Dou-shi—how had she taught the girl to talk? How had she let her babble on like this!
Song Cen felt as though a feather were tickling his throat; he cleared it softly again and said, "Enough. Everyone knows what happened now."
Truly, pulling up a radish brings a clump of mud with it!
Those in the know would say it was Qixia's clumsy tongue. Those not in the know would think Song Cen wore a crown of green!
Song Maochun nearly burst out laughing.
He quickly lowered his head and pretended to drink his tea, and so managed to force the laughter down.