Did Jie Ge'an find out something in Chapter 43?

The apprenticeship certificate that Jie Ge'an took out was gleaming with gold and rainbow colors, and the seal on the outer cover of the certificate bore the personal seal of the headmaster of Qingyang Academy.

In other words, the Song family only wanted him to get Song Mo into the academy, but Jie Ge'an directly sent Song Mo to the most authoritative headmaster's tutelage.

This made him the headmaster's personal disciple.

But this long-awaited apprenticeship invitation has now become the most glaring farce.

Song Mo has been imprisoned in Dali Temple.

He doesn't even know if he can save his own life, so how can he do anything else?

Madam Song's eyes reddened and she was about to cry, but Song Cheng, being utterly disrespectful, quickly covered her mouth to stop her from wailing.

The fact that Jie Ge'an personally delivered the invitation today and even apologized to Si Niannian shows that Si Niannian's words carry special weight in his heart.

Song Cheng immediately said, "Niannian's words have another hidden reason, but this is not the place to talk."

"Would it be so kind of Your Excellency to move to another place so we can discuss this further?"

Jie Ge'an gave an ambiguous "oh," his gaze falling on Si Niannian: "What happened?"

Si Niannian thought to herself, "You're quite the actor," and touched her nose, mumbling, "Well..."

"I can't explain it in a few words, so why don't you talk to my elder brother, my lord?"

She was also curious about how Song Cheng planned to negotiate.

Song Cheng decisively ordered someone to send Madam Song away, and personally led the way to invite Jie Ge'an to his study.

Si Niannian was forced to accompany him. Once inside the study, she treated herself like a decoration, staring intently at the vase on the display shelf without blinking.

Just as Jie Ge'an sat down in the main seat, Jingzhe, whom he hadn't seen before, walked in with her head down and quickly whispered a few words in his ear.

Song Cheng watched silently until Jingzhe left, after which he showed remorse and solemnly apologized to Jie Ge'an, saying, "I was arrogant and unruly, and have caused a murderous case. The Song family is ashamed to accept the Marquis's recommendation. I am afraid that I will have to disappoint the Marquis's good intentions today."

Jie Gean rubbed his fingertips without replying.

Song Cheng carefully considered his words, then said sorrowfully, "Song Mo has truly gone too far this time. The law is merciless; even if he is from an official family, he should still respect the law and abide by the rules. Therefore..."

"Regardless of the final verdict, he deserves what he got, and the Song family has no complaints."

Si Niannian's lips curled slightly upon hearing this, and the mockery that flashed across her eyes was caught by Jie Ge'an.

As Jie Ge'an sensed the faint fragrance emanating from Si Niannian, his eyes momentarily lost focus, and his fingertips involuntarily curled up.

Was it just his imagination?

Why did he feel that the scars on Si Niannian's face seemed to have faded a bit?

Jie Ge'an snapped out of his daze and smiled knowingly, replying, "That's how it should be."

"After all, even I, the Marquis, cannot interfere in a case with such a complete body of witnesses and evidence. Otherwise, it would not look right if word got out."

"only……"

Jie Ge'an raised an eyebrow and looked at Si Niannian, seemingly helpless: "Niannian."

Si Niannian looked bewildered: "Huh?"

"You won't blame me for not helping him, will you?"

Si Niannian: "..."

Something's not right.

There's something extremely wrong with Jie Ge'an today.

However, in front of Song Cheng, Si Niannian couldn't show it, so she just lowered her head as if feeling dejected and said, "He deserves it."

Song Mo's life is his life, and so are other people's lives.

Song Mo dared to kill someone, so he must pay with his life!

Otherwise, she wouldn't have clashed head-on with the Song family couple and almost been forced to kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment.

Jie Ge'an seemed relieved. Those who didn't know the situation might have thought he cared a lot about Si Niannian's opinion.

Song Cheng secretly observed him, paused, and said, "Actually, besides pleading Song Mo's crimes today, I have another request that you, Lord Marquis, grant me."

Jie Ge'an gave a leisurely "hmm," while Song Cheng's face showed a hint of struggle as he said in a low voice, "My parents at home are heartbroken over Song Mo's situation and have lost their minds for a while."

“Niannian is upright and honest, and her opinions differ from those of the two elders, so she inevitably offends them in some ways…”

"I am but a lowly official with little influence, and I cannot sway the opinions of the two elders. Nor can I extricate myself from the city guard for long. I fear I will not be able to protect her."

Song Cheng adopted the demeanor of a benevolent elder brother and sighed, "Now that Your Excellency is here today, I beg you to protect her this once more."

Without the protection of someone in a high position of power, Si Niannian would definitely be suffering today.

Song Cheng, having carefully gauged the line between probing and protecting, said with a bitter expression, "Niannian was lost when she was young and has suffered a lot over the years."

"As her elder brother, I have limited abilities and can only shamelessly beg for your protection, Your Excellency. I humbly request your permission."

After Song Cheng finished speaking, he knelt down immediately, as if he was thinking of Si Niannian's best interests at heart.

But Si Niannian just wanted to laugh when she heard it.

This man, a seasoned veteran of the City Guard, is indeed far more cunning than Song Wen and Song Mo.

They are also more ruthless and decisive.

He didn't hesitate to trade the reputation of the Song family and Song Mo's life for his own future.

A hint of amusement flickered in Jie Ge'an's eyes as he chuckled and said, "If it's something you keep thinking about, then it doesn't count as asking for something."

“Niannian,” Jie Ge said gently, “It just so happens that the old lady and Changying have been talking about you. Why don’t you come with me to the Duke’s mansion for a while?”

The Song family is embroiled in a horde of troubles, and Si Niannian is trapped in this quagmire, unable to extricate herself.

She might as well take the opportunity to jump around a bit, so that no one will keep thinking about her poor knees.

Si Niannian was somewhat surprised, but feigning modesty, she whispered, "Is this appropriate?"

"Of course it's suitable."

Jie Ge'an said jokingly, "Don't worry, I won't let you suffer any injustice."

Si Niannian met his smiling, affectionate eyes, and a strange, unspoken feeling welled up in her heart once again.

Something unusual must be going on.

Did Jie Ge'an find out something?

Their eyes met, and Si Niannian nodded somewhat shyly: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Marquis."

Upon hearing this, Song Cheng was overjoyed, but he suppressed his worry and whispered to Si Niannian, "When you arrive at the Duke's mansion, remember to follow the Marquis's arrangements. Don't worry about anything at home; your elder brother will handle it."

"Once my older brother convinces our parents, I'll come and bring you home."

Song Cheng originally wanted to ask Lai's mother to help Si Niannian pack some things, but Jie Ge'an shook his head and said, "No need."

"A courtyard has already been prepared for her in the Duke's mansion; she can simply go and stay there."

Worried that things might change if Lord Song returned late, Song Cheng disregarded his friendship with Jie Ge and quickly escorted him to the door himself.

As Si Niannian boarded Jie Ge'an's carriage, the gloom on Song Cheng's face gradually became clear.

Ordinary people rarely see the ladder to heaven in their entire lives.

This time, he will not let anyone ruin his plans!

Song Cheng hurriedly turned back.

Meanwhile, on the carriage.

Jie Ge'an looked at Si Niannian's face with great interest and teased, "Nervous?"

Otherwise, why would he stop talking once he got on the bus?

Si Niannian silently moved closer to the carriage wall, creating distance between herself and Jie Ge'an, and decided to tell the truth: "I just don't understand why the Marquis has come today."

The apprenticeship invitation was clearly just a pretext.

Jie Ge'an couldn't possibly be unaware of what had happened.

He did it on purpose!

Si Niannian felt that she had very little interaction with him and that it was not worth him going out of his way to make a special trip.

But this person's words and actions were all abnormal, which made her wonder if she had given herself away somewhere.

Otherwise, what exactly does Jie Ge'an mean?