Chapter 40 Find someone to die in his place?!

Si Niannian was frozen in place by several pairs of eyes. She twisted her eyebrows restlessly and said subtly, "A serious crime of murder committed in full view of everyone, and the Dali Temple even came to our door and arrested the person."

"Even if the Marquis is willing to help, rumors about the Song family's disregard for human life have already spread. What if this gets brought up in the imperial court...?"

Si Niannian hesitated, unable to continue, but her meaning was very clear.

If Song fails to properly educate his son, the worst that can happen is that he will be impeached.

If Song Mo is allowed to commit murder and escape punishment, then the charges against Lord Song will be far more than just this.

Lord Song glanced at her with a gloomy face, his surprise barely concealed.

Si Niannian has a sharp eye, and her words hit the nail on the head.

Madam Song was in a state of confusion and lost her composure. Instinctively, she wanted to take her anger out on Si Niannian: "I think you just don't care about your fifth brother's life or death! That's why you deliberately made up an untenable excuse!"

Si Niannian thought to herself, "I am indeed afraid that he won't die," but on her face she looked completely innocent: "Madam, I'm just stating the facts, okay?"

Is Lord Song really willing to give up his official position for the sake of a good-for-nothing youngest son?

She doesn't think so.

And is she crazy to seek help from Ge'an for something like this?

Song Mo likes to court death, so he should just die sooner rather than later.

Why should she interfere when it's a matter of getting what one desires?

Madam Song was about to continue her tirade when Lord Song stopped her, saying, "Madam, please calm down."

"My lord!" Madam Song opened her mouth, but couldn't help but cry again. "Our son is still locked up in prison! How can you expect me to stay calm?"

If we don't hurry up and come up with a way to save them, Song Mo might be dragged out and beheaded at any time!

“What Niannian said is not entirely unreasonable,” Lord Song slowly lowered his eyes, his voice restrained, “It would be unreasonable to rashly ask the Marquis to release him without charge.”

You must pay the price for doing something wrong.

Regardless of whether the price paid is real or not, at least one must present an appearance that leaves no room for criticism.

Si Niannian pondered these words without responding.

Lord Song exhaled slowly: "Therefore, Song Mo cannot be released directly. He must participate in the full interrogation until the trial is over."

"In addition, I will also draft a letter of apology for failing to properly educate my son tomorrow. You should prepare some gold and silver as compensation and personally deliver it to the Wu family with Song Wen."

"But……"

"Madam!" Lord Song said coldly, "No matter what the Wu family says, the gesture of apology must be convincing; no one can find fault with it!"

Song Qinghan blinked blankly, tears falling unexpectedly: "What about my fifth brother?"

"Father, Fifth Brother definitely didn't do it on purpose. If he's punished, wouldn't he have to pay for that Wu guy's life?!"

Before Lord Song could speak, Song Qinghan knelt down excitedly in front of Si Niannian, pleading, "Sister, I beg you, please go and see the Marquis right now, okay?"

"I know that Fifth Brother did something to upset you before, but he is still our brother!"

Si Niannian: "..."

This person really doesn't miss any opportunity to slander her.

Lord Song clearly had a backup plan; she didn't believe Song Qinghan hadn't noticed!

Song Qinghan did it on purpose!

Song Qinghan grabbed Si Niannian's skirt, her voice choked with tears as she said, "I beg you."

"Sister, please beg the Marquis. As long as you promise to rescue Fifth Brother, I will agree to any condition and do anything for you!"

As if to show her sincerity, Song Qinghan even said, "I know my sister thinks I'm in her way, but as long as you rescue Fifth Brother, I'll move out of the house immediately!"

"As long as Fifth Brother is alright, I will never come back again. I will return the position of Miss Song to you, and never again..."

"Han'er!"

Song Wen was so moved that his eyes reddened, and he forcibly helped Song Qinghan, who had been crying so hard, to her feet: "Don't talk nonsense, there's still a chance for this to turn around."

Song Qinghan leaned on Song Wen's shoulder and cried, "I don't want Fifth Brother to pay for someone's life..."

"Who dares!"

Madam Song held Song Qinghan tightly, her heart aching, and cried out in a frenzy, "A lowly wretch like him, does he even deserve my son to pay for his life?!"

"I must..."

"I didn't say I wanted his life!" Lord Song roared, unable to contain his anger any longer. "I already said it was just a show for outsiders, so why are you all shouting like that?!"

"Shouting so loudly, aren't you ashamed enough already?!"

Madam Song's screams and Song Qinghan's crying were forcibly interrupted, and Lord Song was so angry that he turned into a toad on the spot.

But Si Niannian knew that what followed was the main event.

As expected, after taking a large gulp of cold tea, Lord Song said in a deep voice, "The necessary procedures must be followed in order to silence the public's criticism."

But Song Mo cannot really die.

Lord Song stared intently at Si Niannian, saying slowly and deliberately, "There are many death row inmates in prisons, but very few people can recognize who the real death row inmate is."

The story of "the prince being replaced by a raccoon dog" can be a tale, or it can be manipulated into reality.

Jie Ge'an controls the criminal justice system and holds a dominant position in the Dali Temple. With just a flick of his finger, he can quietly get Song Mo out of death row.

After listening, Si Niannian said cryptically, "Find someone to die in his place?"

Lord Song said with dissatisfaction, "He was originally a death row inmate, someone who was going to die sooner or later. How can you say it was a replacement for him?"

"I've made up my mind. After this matter, it's no longer appropriate for Song Mo to stay in Yujing."

After all, he was a criminal who had been executed. The best outcome for him in the second half of his life was to stay far away from Yujing and spend his time in a place where no one knew him.

“I will secretly send him out of Yujing and never let him set foot in Yujing again,” Lord Song said slowly. “Everyone will think he is dead, and that will be the end of it.”

Song Mo faked his death and went far away, thus losing the possibility of pursuing a bright future. For him, this was already a punishment enough to make him regret it for the rest of his life.

This arrangement is the best.

He even found a plausible excuse for Si Niannian to ask for help, every word of which was thoughtful and meticulous.

Si Niannian remained silent for a long time after hearing this, and Lord Song's eyes gradually turned cold: "Niannian, he is your own brother."

"No matter what, I will not allow you to stand by and watch him die!"

Whether Si Niannian is willing or not, she has to beg!

Under the watchful eyes of many, Si Niannian scoffed silently, saying sarcastically, "What if they don't agree?"

"Don't forget, although I saved the old lady, she saved me last time too."

A life for a life, Jie Ge'an owes her nothing anymore.

On what grounds does she demand that Jie Ge'an bend the law for personal gain?

Why should people have to listen to her?

Lord Song said irritably, "The Marquis saved you incidentally; he didn't say it was to offset anything!"

"Go change your clothes now, and I will personally take you to the Marquis's residence!"

In this urgent situation, Lord Song disregarded the intricacies of officialdom.

He needs to pave the way out before things get out of control, otherwise...

"I'm not going."

Lord Song couldn't believe what he had just heard, and exclaimed incredulously, "What did you say?!"

“I said,” Si Niannian stood up and said very calmly, “I’m not going.”

"No matter what anyone says, I won't go."

"If you want to find a way for Song Mo to survive..."

Si Niannian said regretfully, "Let's find someone else."