Chapter 28 Autumn Frost, What Are You Afraid Of?

To ensure absolute safety, Madam Song also arranged four extra guards for Song Qinghan, who, along with Song Wen, would stay by her side.

The carriage stopped in front of the soup kitchen, which was decorated with a banner bearing the character "Song" (宋).

Song Wen personally helped Madam Song and Song Qinghan out of the car, ignoring Si Niannian who was still in the car, and turned to leave.

Si Niannian slowly got off the train and stopped. She took the veil from Qiushuang and put it on, only to find that a long queue had already formed in front of the porridge stall.

Each family's guards, wielding sharp blades, forcefully cleaved the crowd into a clear and distinct division, each faction determined to be completely separate from the others.

Some of the people waiting for the porridge had been queuing since last night. They were shivering from the cold, but were afraid of disturbing the esteemed guests, so they tried to curl up their flesh and blood to silence the trembling of their teeth.

But looking around, every face was filled with an overwhelming sorrow, which seemed inexplicably comical compared to the shimmering gold-threaded banners of charity displayed by each household.

Si Niannian tucked her hands into her fox fur coat, suppressed the sarcasm on her lips, and followed after him.

Not far from the Song family's house was the Duke's soup kitchen.

The people from the Duke's mansion are still on their way.

Jie Changying leaned against the car window, looking pitifully at Jie Ge'an on horseback: "Uncle Jiu, I want to go out and ride a horse with you."

She still doesn't know how dangerous yesterday's events were, and only thinks that she had drunk too much and that's why she slept through the night.

Jie Ge'an glanced down and saw Jie Changying being pulled back by her mother: "Sit still and don't cause trouble!"

"Mother, I..."

"I told you to listen to me!"

Madam Xie interrupted her daughter's protest and sighed with shame at Jie Ge'an, "Changying has been spoiled by us, and what about your eldest brother..."

“It’s nothing,” Jie Ge’an’s voice was chilled by the cold wind. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, I don’t mind.”

Jie Ge'an was granted a title at a young age and had long since moved out of the Duke's mansion to establish his own household.

The title of Duke was inherited by his elder brother.

Although Jie Changying's father inherited the title, he was incompetent and had an extreme personality.

He insisted on investigating the Canglang Mountain bandits alone and forbade Xie Ge'an from interfering, but the escaped bandits nearly caused a major disaster.

If Jie Ge'an hadn't discovered and stopped it in time, then...

The First Madam said with a wry smile, "You know your elder brother's temperament; he didn't mean to argue with you."

The Duke was eighteen years older than Jie Ge'an, but his temperament was far less composed than Jie Ge'an's.

The two talked about something in the study last night, and after Jie Ge'an left, the Duke got angry and smashed everything in the study!

Jie Ge'an graciously nodded and said, "I know."

The First Madam looked at his handsome, cold profile and sighed silently, "Thank you for taking the time to bring us here today."

Last night, the Duke flew into a rage, beating and killing many of the guards of the Duke's mansion, leaving the remaining small fry useless.

If Jie Ge'an hadn't mobilized people from the Marquis's residence, they probably wouldn't have even left the house yet!

Jie Ge'an squinted at the red figure disappearing into the distance, his expression indifferent: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, we'll be there soon."

...

"We've arrived at the Duke's Mansion!"

"The Duke's mansion has arrived?" Madam Song stood up excitedly upon hearing the voice. "Has the old lady come?"

Song Wen raised his hand to brush the snowflakes off his shoulder, exhaled a puff of white breath and said, "The old lady is too old to come, but the Marquis and the First Madam are all here!"

Jie Ge'an actually came too?!

Madam Song clapped her hands in delight and laughed, "It's good that the Marquis is here!"

Jie Ge'an will definitely agree to Si Niannian's request; a mere apprenticeship certificate is by no means a problem!

"Niannian!" Madam Song pulled Si Niannian, who was sitting in the corner, up excitedly. "Come on, come on, I'll take you to pay your respects to the Marquis!"

We must get Song Mo's matter settled today!

Song Qinghan sat by the incense burner and said with a smile, "Mother, you and sister, take it slow."

"Qiushuang, aren't you going to hurry up and follow them?"

Qiu Shuang glanced quickly at Song Qinghan, gritted her teeth, clutched the purse in her sleeve, and chased after her.

Si Niannian was surprised to find that Madam Song was quite strong. As she was pulled out of the porridge stall, she looked up and met Jie Ge'an's eyes across the distance.

Jie Ge'an's gaze slid over the fox fur coat she was wearing, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes.

With her red and white attire, Si Niannian looked exactly like a red fox in the snow.

Fresh and vibrant.

And that strange fragrance, of unknown origin, lingers in my heart...

It's happened again.

Si Niannian stood behind Madam Song and curtsied respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

The First Madam and the others, along with Xie Changying, had already entered the warm shed. Xie Ge'an gestured for Gu Yu and the others to go and make other arrangements first, then dismounted and said with a smile, "No need for formalities."

“The eldest daughter is the same age as Changying, there’s no need for you to be so formal with me.”

Jie Ge'an generously suggested, "Why don't we follow Changying's seniority and call him Ninth Uncle?"

Si Niannian: "..."

This damned ingratitude isn't over yet?!

Jie Ge'an even wanted to take advantage of her and act as her elder!

Si Niannian stared wide-eyed silently.

Madam Song was overjoyed, exclaiming, "Oh my, Your Excellency is really too kind to this girl!"

There are plenty of people who want to call Jie Ge'an Uncle Nine, or even Grandfather Nine, but only Si Niannian can reach that generation!

Madam Song frantically urged Si Niannian, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and greet your Ninth Uncle!"

Si Niannian gritted her teeth secretly, trying to find a reason not to speak.

Jie Ge'an watched her calmly until...

"Nian Nian!"

Jie Changying, who ran out of the soup kitchen like a divine being, smiled and waved to Si Niannian: "I knew you would come too!"

“I…” Si Niannian ignored the narrow-mindedness in Jie Ge’an’s eyes and turned to leave. “Gentlemen, Changying must have something to say to me.”

Goodbye!

Madam Song instinctively reached out to grab Si Niannian, but Si Niannian walked away very quickly!

Seeing that Si Niannian had disappeared, Madam Song saw Qiu Shuang chasing after her, so she braced herself and looked at Xie Ge'an: "My lord, I actually have something to ask of you today."

Xie Ge'an smiled faintly and said, "Please speak freely, Madam."

Madam Song gritted her teeth and said, "As the Marquis knows, Niannian's fifth brother originally wanted to take the entrance exam for Qingyang Academy, but that child is really disappointing..."

"Niannian is closest to her fifth brother. She's been extremely worried about him these past few days, hoping to come up with a suitable way to help him get back to his former life..."

"My lord!" Jingzhe, who was guarding nearby, noticed Jie Ge'an's gesture and suddenly ran over to speak, "The time for distributing porridge is almost here, and the First Madam is looking for you."

Jie Ge'an gave an apologetic smile and said regretfully, "What did Madam say just now?"

Madam Song was anxious to speak, but Jingzhe said instead, "My lord, let's go quickly!"

"this……"

"How about we discuss the lady's matter later?" Jie Ge'an said gently as he strode forward. "I'll be right back."

Madam Song stared in disbelief as Jie Ge'an strode away, so anxious that she almost tore the handkerchief in her hand!

It didn't work out again!

Unfortunately, that damned Si Niannian has disappeared without a trace!

Madam Song wanted to bring Si Niannian back, but when she saw the sky, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and return to the Song family's soup kitchen to make preparations.

Distributing porridge is an order from a noble lady in the palace, and it cannot be delayed for even a moment!

Let's get down to business first!

As the imperial drum was struck, the families participating in the porridge distribution began to move, and the refugee procession, which had been waiting anxiously for a day and a night, finally began to move slowly forward.

The noise of voices grew louder, and footsteps began to move.

Inside the Duke's mansion's greenhouse, Xie Changying held onto Si Niannian, unwilling to let go: "Going back is pointless, why don't you stay here with me?"

Si Niannian thought to herself: Every place without your Ninth Uncle is very interesting!

If you don't let me go, that damned Jie Ge'an will come and claim me as his niece in no time!

As if reading her mind, Qiu Shuang explained, "Young lady, before you left, Madam specifically instructed that you must stay in the greenhouse at home after the porridge distribution begins."

With so many people around, the most secure place is often the individual greenhouse.

After the porridge distribution began, the women in each household stopped wandering around.

Jie Changying was still unwilling to give up, but then she heard Si Niannian say softly, "If I don't go back, I'll get scolded."

Jie Changying quickly let go: "Then I'll go ask Uncle Jiu to send someone to take you back..."

"No need!" Si Niannian refused decisively. "It's just a few steps, I can go by myself!"

No need to trouble that uncle!

Si Niannian politely bid farewell to the First Madam and the others, and left the Duke's mansion amidst Xie Changying's reluctant gaze.

Not far away, the refugees who had received the rice porridge didn't even bother to find a quiet place to eat, nor did they wait for the porridge to cool down slightly; they eagerly picked up the bowls and poured the porridge into their mouths.

The more people receive it, the more people will stand there anxiously waiting to eat it.

The guards began shouting and driving away the lingering crowd, and the scene suddenly became somewhat chaotic.

Si Niannian raised her hand to pull her fox fur coat tighter, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Qiu Shuang's chin, which was pale from tension. Her eyes were playful: "What are you afraid of?"