Just as the two were about to fall into a tense standoff, the window beside them was slammed shut with a loud bang.

"Tsk, so noisy." Huaiyue complained as she shut the two out. "I don't want to see anyone, Lord Song, please leave! The last person I want to see right now is you. Go spend your life with your dead self!"

"..."

Song Ting's eyes darkened, and her face turned particularly grim, immediately making Yang Zhaowen even more vigilant.

To his surprise, Song Ting didn't insist on going in anymore. After standing under the moonlit window for a while, he turned and left.

After being turned away, Song Ting went back to her room, where Qi Zhou was already waiting.

The anger that had been simmering for so long finally reached its peak, and Song Ting kicked Qi Zhou in the chest: "What on earth is going on?!"

Qi Zhou got up and knelt at his feet: "..."

Song Ting knew he was taking his anger out on others. After kicking out that kick, his anger had subsided somewhat. In fact, he already understood what was going on without Qi Zhouyan even having to say it.

He sat at the table and drank most of a pot of cold tea, his emotions gradually calming down. He looked down at the person at his feet:

"Tell Thirteen and the others to be prepared. If things get to the worst, they should do everything in their power to rescue Huaiyue."

“Ignore everyone and everything, and send him to the place I prepared five years ago.”

Qi Zhou lowered his head: "Yes."

Song Ting withdrew his gaze and stared at his trembling right hand. Just an incense stick's time ago, he had used this very hand to slap Chu Huaixu, making him vomit blood.

The promise was still ringing in his ears, yet he once again became the one who hurt Huaixu.

Even though he knew that this was what Chu Huaixu wanted him to do, in such a critical moment, there was no other way.

This was out of necessity, a situation forced upon us.

Huaiyue deliberately said those words to make the others present think that he was provoked, judging only by his attitude towards Huaiyue.

Huaiyue took the opportunity to get close to him and gave him a hint, asking him to act out this play with her.

This was something they used to do often. Huaiyue was mischievous and loved to cause trouble, turning the manor upside down every few days, but no one could dislike someone like him, so even when he caused trouble, no one in the manor could bear to blame him.

What's more, he has an imperial grandfather backing him up. This pampered young noblewoman, emboldened by her privileged upbringing, spends her days fooling around. After all, someone will always be there to clean up her messes.

But all of this is predicated on the fact that the old prince is not home. The old prince is the only one who will not endlessly indulge Huaixu; if Huaixu makes a mistake, he will definitely be punished by the old prince according to family rules.

No one knows a son better than his father. The old prince knew his son's temperament well, so he didn't do it himself or ask the servants in the mansion to do it. Instead, he made Song Tinglai the one to carry out the punishment.

But Song Ting naturally wouldn't lay a hand on Chu Huaixu. In the end, both master and servant were whipped and then lay face down on the bed, heads touching, in so much pain they couldn't even turn over.

Or they would kneel under the eaves for hours, until they were so stiff that they could barely walk when they stood up.

The old prince was a military general who had led troops into battle for many years, and he didn't know anything about showing mercy.

Moreover, in order to teach Huai Xu a lesson, he would often punish Song Ting, who was unwilling to do anything, even more severely. For example, if Huai Xu was whipped, Song Ting would be whipped for three consecutive days.

For example, if Huai Xu knelt for one hour, Song Ting would have to kneel for three hours. The idea was to use this method to make Huai Xu behave more restrained.

Huai Xu was indeed heartbroken for Song Ting, who had been implicated by him. After being beaten, Song Ting restrained himself for a few days, but then relapsed after a while.

"Next time, you don't need to worry about me. If Father tells you to hit me, then hit me. It's not like he has to hit me just because you hit him. He hits me really hard, so it's better if you hit me. You definitely won't be able to hit me hard, right?"

Even so, Song Ting still couldn't bring herself to do it, and the next time she was punished, she remained as still as a piece of wood.

"Are you stupid? You're happy to get a few beatings, aren't you?"

When they said these words, the two of them had just been whipped and were lying on the bed with their backs covered in bruises. Huai Xu was grimacing as he waited, but he didn't forget to scold Song Ting.

Song Ting snuggled closer, nuzzling his neck like a puppy: "I'm happy to be with you, even if I get beaten up, I'm still happy. Young master, does it hurt?"

"It hurts, it hurts so much! Father was too cruel. Once I can move again in a couple of days, I'll go to the palace to complain to Grandfather and ask him to beat him too!"

He got so excited talking that it aggravated the injury on his back, and his face immediately changed color. He gasped for breath. Song Ting's eyes reddened with anxiety.

"Why are you crying? You're a puppy, not a rabbit. Don't cry, I'm not in pain, I'll be fine tomorrow."

Song's eyes reddened even more.

"Alright, alright, why are you still crying? If you cry again, I'll laugh at you." Huaixu nudged him with his head, then nudged him again. "Don't cry anymore. I promise I won't make Father angry for the next few days. I'll hold back until he leaves, I swear!"

“But little dog, let’s make a deal. Next time Father asks you to hit me, you can agree to give me a few slaps.” Seeing that Song Ting was about to refuse again, he explained first, “I don’t mean you have to really hit me, just give me a few symbolic slaps to leave a mark.”

"But you have to act convincingly, and whatever you do, don't let Father see through it. We'll work together, so you won't get beaten, and I'll get a lighter punishment. You definitely won't be willing to really hurt me, right?"

In order not to let Prince Duan see through their act, the two secretly practiced many times after their injuries healed. Every time they opened the shop, they would burst out laughing. Gradually, their performance became so convincing that it was as if they were being beaten to death.

It was Prince Duan who felt sorry for him. But in reality, Huai Xu only suffered minor injuries, which were nothing to a martial artist.

The tacit understanding between the two was cultivated little by little in this way. Often, Huaixu would give him a subtle look, and Song Ting would be able to guess what he meant.

Five years have passed, and they are separated by a blood feud and misunderstandings. Although Huaiyue hates him to the core, she still believes in the unspoken understanding between them. Song Ting should be happy about this, but he still cannot forgive himself.

Grasping his own hand, he suddenly exerted force, and his palm fell limply to the ground. Song Ting was instantly covered in a cold sweat from the pain, and the madness in his eyes was almost uncontrollable.

Qi Zhou was horrified: "My lord, you—"

"I am fine," Song Tinghun said nonchalantly. "This is just punishment. Send a message back to Chang'an immediately and tell the people in the palace to make preparations. Go."

Qi Zhou accepted the order and left: "Yes."

...Zhang Bingzhi.

Song Ting silently recited the name in her heart, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

Regardless of whether this matter can be resolved amicably, this old fellow cannot be allowed to live. Huai Xu could have avoided this suffering, but he underestimated this old fox and fell into his trap.