Chapter 42 Are she and Jie Ge'an that close?

Song Cheng had been working in the city's defense force for many years, and his every move exuded the sharpness of a soldier.

He strode into the ancestral hall, saw the horrifying shattered porcelain on the ground, and immediately kicked Granny Qian in anger: "You wretched thing! What do you want to do to her?!"

Madam Qian was kicked and sent flying over the doorway. She scrambled to her feet, clutching her stomach and explaining in pain, "Young Master, this is Madam's..."

"You're spouting complete nonsense!"

Song Cheng rebuked, "Niannian is her parents' biological daughter. How could they possibly be so cruel to their younger sister?"

"It must be you treacherous servants who are causing trouble and deliberately instigating evil!"

"Young Master..."

"Shut up!"

A chilling killing intent surged across Song Cheng's dark face: "If you dare utter another word of nonsense, I can take your dog's life right now!"

Startled, Qian's mother shut up like a quail, glaring at Si Niannian with hatred but not daring to utter a sound.

Song Cheng strode over to Si Niannian's side, his eyes filled with unspeakable heartache: "Niannian, it's because your older brother is late that you've suffered."

Si Niannian: "..."

The city guard's garrison was only eighty miles away from the Song family, and there was no rule that forbade them from going out or returning home.

In other words, from the day she returned to the Song family, Song Cheng must have known the whole story and that the Song family now had her.

It has been almost a month since she returned, and Song Cheng has not sent back a single word about her, clearly showing that he does not care about his adopted sister.

Now, this sudden remark startled Si Niannian, giving her goosebumps.

Si Niannian lowered her head in alarm, subtly avoiding Song Cheng's hand that was trying to help her, and gently shook her head: "No."

"I couldn't help Fifth Brother with his affairs, and that's all my own fault. I..."

"Nonsense," Song Cheng interrupted her, saying irritably, "That kid Song Mo brought this on himself, what does it have to do with you?"

"Even the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners when he breaks them. You are not wrong to not help him!"

Song Cheng spoke with great righteousness, as if every word came from the bottom of his heart.

Si Niannian looked at him blankly, at a loss for words, and asked, "Big brother?"

Song Cheng sighed and stroked her hair reassuringly: "Don't worry, now that I'm back, I can't just sit idly by."

"Niannian, you did nothing wrong."

Perhaps to reassure Si Niannian, Song Cheng sighed softly, "Don't worry, your older brother is on your side."

If he hadn't received the news and rushed over, things might have been beyond saving.

Lord Song and his ilk were so short-sighted that they almost squandered Si Niannian's potential.

He would never let that happen!

Song Cheng arrived aggressively and was about to take Si Niannian away on the spot.

Si Niannian lowered her head and kept quiet, following along. She hadn't gone far from the ancestral hall when she bumped into Madam Song, who had come after hearing the news.

Si Niannian took a half step back, determined to watch coldly from the sidelines, letting Song Cheng take the lead.

The confrontation between mother and son was particularly heart-wrenching. Every word Song Cheng uttered was aimed at Madam Song's Achilles' heel: "You only think about Song Mo, have you ever thought about me?!"

How spoiled has Song Mo become?

They were still thinking of covering for Song Mo!

What good would it do for a good-for-nothing like Song Mo to be alive? What benefit could he bring to the Song family?

Why should someone who only brings endless trouble sacrifice their future?!

"You wretched child!" Madam Song nearly fainted on the spot, pointing at her eldest son. "He's your own brother!"

"How could you..."

"What's wrong with my own brother?"

Song Cheng retorted sarcastically, "Mother, I have four younger brothers, and each one of them is my own flesh and blood!"

"But he's the only brother who's so despicable as to drive his elder brother to the brink of despair!"

"What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Madam Song cried and roared, "You were doing just fine in the city guard post, why did you..."

"Mother, I'm bad!"

Song Cheng glanced at Si Niannian quickly, seemingly wary, but didn't notice the mocking look in the corner of Si Niannian's eyes.

He held Madam Song's trembling shoulders with both hands and said through gritted teeth, "You've kept everything from me at home. Guess how I found out?"

Meeting Madam Song's furious gaze, Song Cheng almost laughed out of anger: "I know everything, but what about the others?"

"What kind of time is this to still be trying to cover for Song Mo? Does he think his life is more important than the lives of our whole family?!"

"But……"

"alright!"

Song Cheng forcefully interrupted Madam Song, his chest heaving violently: "I know you don't understand right now, Mother, but it doesn't matter, as long as..."

"Young Master!"

The man Song Cheng brought back rushed over, his voice filled with shock: "Young Master, the Marquis of Zhennan has arrived!"

"What?!"

Song Cheng's expression changed drastically, and even Si Niannian raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Is Jie Ge An safe?

Why is this person here?

Before Song Cheng could think any further, he stared at Madam Song and unconsciously raised his voice: "You've already sent people to the Marquis's residence?!"

He rushed back as fast as he could, but still missed it?!

"No...we still..."

"What's going on here?"

The moment Jie Ge'an's voice rang out, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

All eyes were on his face. Song Cheng snapped back to reality and hurriedly grabbed Madam Song to bow, saying, "Greetings, Lord Marquis!"

Jie Ge'an gave a lazy "hmm," ignoring everyone else. Taking advantage of Si Niannian's lowered head as she perfunctorily answered his questions, he brazenly fixed his gaze on her: "Niannian, why are you looking at me like that? Didn't you ask me to come today?"

Several questions arose in Si Niannian's mind, and her feelings were complicated.

How come she doesn't remember ever asking him out?

And when did she become so familiar with Jie Ge'an?

Why did this person suddenly call her Niannian?

But under everyone's watchful eyes, Si Niannian still forced herself to say, "Yes..."

"I just didn't expect the Marquis to come in person..."

This place is in complete chaos, what exactly are you here for?

Jie Ge'an seemed oblivious to the searching look in Si Niannian's eyes, and said without changing his expression, "I've been busy with other things and it's not convenient to talk about them in detail. I just got back to the city today and rushed over to deliver what you wanted."

Si Niannian asked curiously, "What is it?"

“Here,” Jie Ge’an took out a card with the Qingyang Academy emblem and handed it to Si Niannian, “this is the apprenticeship card you mentioned to me before.”

Jie Ge installed it skillfully, seemingly unaware of Song Mo's arrest, and said apologetically, "It's my fault for delaying its delivery until now."

"Don't be angry, just accept it."

Si Niannian: "..."

Did Jie Ge'an take the wrong medicine?

Amidst countless gasps, Si Niannian slowly gritted her teeth, staring at the apprenticeship letter in Jie Ge'an's hand—a letter the Song family desperately sought but could not obtain—and said with difficulty, "I appreciate Your Excellency's kindness, but..."

"This thing is probably no longer needed."

"Big brother," Si Niannian turned to look at Song Cheng, who couldn't hide his shock, and hesitated, "Am I right?"