Chapter 3. At this point, she was the only one left in the Song family.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), the new moon and full moon are observed.

The mist lingered on the ancient city walls of Chang'an, and the majestic Weiyang Palace remained hidden in the night. Several light, black carriages traveled along the straight official road and slowly came to a stop in front of the Sima Gate.

The Sima Gate was brightly lit, and solemn guards, clad in feathered armor and carrying long halberds, lined up from the Sima Gate to the jade steps of the Weiyang Palace.

At dawn, the drums sounded, and the officials who had been waiting lined up and marched toward the most magnificent palace of the Southern Dynasty.

"Your Majesty ascends the throne!" the Yellow Gate Attendant announced loudly.

The officials rose and knelt down, chanting in unison, "Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you."

Emperor Xuan, wearing a twelve-tassel crown, a black robe with embroidered patterns, and a vermilion lower garment, walked steadily into the hall and sat down. "All of you, rise."

After everyone had taken their seats again, Grand Commandant Dong Yannian stepped forward with his jade tablet in hand. "Your Majesty," he said, "General Pei Yu has recovered Dong'ou and will arrive in Chang'an tomorrow."

The twelve-tassel crown hanging from Emperor Xuan's forehead swayed slightly. He said with delight, "Excellent! When General Wei returns to the capital, I will hold a grand celebration for him."

Grand Tutor Mi Heng stepped forward, holding an ivory tablet: "Your Majesty, I report that the Crown Prince has completed his inspection tour of Ji Province on Your Majesty's orders and is on his way back to the capital."

Emperor Xuan nodded. “The Crown Prince did a good job inspecting the prefectures and counties this time. In recent years, there have been frequent disasters. I plan to build an altar for abdication and sacrifice. When the Crown Prince returns to the capital, I will entrust this matter to him.”

Upon hearing this, the King of Wu, who was kneeling below, looked displeased. The Marquis of Pingyang, who was kneeling to his right, quickly gave him a look, signaling him not to show his emotions in public.

After the high-ranking officials, including the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, finished their reports, a censor wearing a Liang crown and with narrow eyes stepped forward from the back of the hall, holding a wooden tablet. "Your humble servant impeaches Zhang Bingzhu of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for illegally occupying dozens of acres of farmland and selling land for personal gain. The evidence is conclusive. I beg Your Majesty to make a decision!"

He took out a folded silk book from his sleeve and respectfully presented it to the Yellow Gate Attendant.

Emperor Xuan chuckled and said, "I have repeatedly emphasized that we must not encroach on the people's farmland. It seems that some people have ignored my words."

Zhang Bingzhu of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was ashen-faced and drenched in cold sweat. Ignoring the scrutinizing gazes around him, he rose, knelt in the center, and bowed his head, awaiting judgment.

"Hand it over to the Court of Justice for handling according to the law."

After a long while, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat shouted again, "Court adjourned."

Zhang Bingzhu wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, nodded goodbye to his colleagues, and hurriedly walked to the palace gate, instructing his servants to quickly drive back to his residence.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xun was gathering his servants, who were skilled in martial arts, and assembling dozens of men to go out and cause trouble for Huiyin and her companions. He secretly planned what he would do after capturing Huiyin, and looked at the muscular guard in front of him with satisfaction, a malicious smile on his fleshy face.

With a wave of his hand, he swaggered out of the mansion with his entourage, just as he bumped into Zhang Bingzhu, who was rushing back. Upon seeing his son's imposing entourage, Zhang Bingzhu's mustache twitched up, and he bent down to take off his upturned shoes and smash them at Zhang Xun.

"You brat! Get back to your residence right now and see what you've done!"

Zhang Xun clutched his head and cried out, "Father, what are you doing?"

Zhang Bingzhu brushed aside the servant's arm, jumped off the carriage with difficulty, pointed at Zhang Xun's nose, and was so angry that he couldn't speak. Then, seeing the strong guards behind him, he roared in anger, "Go to the ancestral hall and kneel down to be punished according to family rules!"

Having said that, ignoring Madam Zhang's attempts to dissuade him, he ordered his men to forcibly take Zhang Xun to the ancestral hall, tie him to a chopping board, and beat him severely twenty times. Zhang Xun cried out in pain, and Madam Zhang screamed repeatedly. Chaos erupted in the Zhang household.

——

On a remote road outside Chang'an, a heavy horse-drawn carriage travels along a dirt road. The carriage is enclosed and old, with blue curtains covering the luggage in the boxes at the rear of the carriage.

As they rounded the corner, the carriage was suddenly stopped. Song Jingchuan raised his hand to adjust his straw hat, revealing bright eyes. He gripped the reins tightly and scrutinized the uninvited guest before him, his brows furrowed.

Dozens of young men, dressed in short gray-brown blouses, wearing headscarves, and with swords at their waists, rode on tall horses and blocked the way.

A reddish-brown Mongolian horse circled around behind them, with a young man in a plain brocade robe sitting atop it, a smile on his lips, as he slowly rode to the middle of the road.

Song Jingchuan recognized the person. His previously relaxed arm suddenly tensed up, and he reached his right hand behind his waist to grip the short dagger.

"Su Xin, what are you doing?"

The young man called Su Xin proudly waved his whip, signaling his elite troops behind him to surround the blue-tent carriage. He looked to be about the same age as Song Jingchuan, with a effeminate face and deep-set eyes, a seasoned playboy.

Su Xin stared intently at the carriage, a surge of heat rising in his lower abdomen as he recalled the woman's goddess-like face. His gaze shifted to Song Jingchuan's face, remembering the decades he had been consistently outmatched by this man, and a surge of rage welled up within him. "You defeated dog, how dare you bark! Take him down!"

Song Jingchuan had practiced martial arts since childhood, but being a boy not yet sixteen, he was subdued in just three moves by several tall and imposing guards. His hands were tied behind his back, and large hands from behind held him tightly. He could only watch helplessly as Su Xin dismounted, lifted the carriage curtain, and reached out his evil hand towards his elder sister.

Song Jingchuan strained to tilt his head back, his cheeks flushed red, but he couldn't break free from the restraints behind him no matter how hard he tried. He could only shout in an attempt to stop them: "Su Xin! Stop it!"

Huiyin sat inside the carriage. This old carriage was purchased with the last of their money. The carriage was slightly raised due to the heavy luggage at the rear, and it could not be compared with the painted cloud-patterned carriage she used to travel in.

Indeed, just a month ago she was the high and mighty daughter of the Duke of Song, traveling with brocade carpets and a multitude of servants. Now she is blocked on this secluded path, being humiliated.

She stared intently at the hand reaching into the carriage, her expression grim. Su Xin and Zhang Xun were completely different people. She had deliberately chosen a secluded path, but she never expected to be intercepted.

Su Xin is Su Jinghao's half-brother.

Yan Niang shielded Huiyin behind her, grabbed a wooden lacquer tray from inside the carriage, and warily watched the intruder. The owner of the hand seemed impatient, tearing open the swaying curtain and eagerly peering inside.

The beautiful woman's hair was styled in a bun over her shoulders, without a single ornament. Unlike her usual fine silk robes, she wore only a light blue short-sleeved top and long skirt. The coarse linen clothing did not diminish her beauty in the slightest, making her shine even in the dimly lit carriage.

Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without artifice, even this dilapidated carriage seemed magnificent because of her. Su Xin was mesmerized and couldn't help but reach out to grab the person inside the carriage.

A dark shadow crashed down in front of him. Caught off guard by Yan Niang's sudden slap, he saw stars, clutched his head, screamed, and staggered back two steps, his effeminate face turning terrifying.

Feeling humiliated in front of the beautiful woman, he angrily ordered, "Seize that old woman! I'm going to cut off her hands!"

Two henchmen immediately came up to drag Yan Niang out of the carriage.

Huiyin rushed forward to stop her, gritting her teeth and saying, "Su Xin, I am your elder sister in terms of seniority, and I have never offended you before, so why do you have to keep chasing after me and wantonly humiliating me!"

Seeing the beauty question him, Su Xin quickly straightened his clothes, waved his hand to send his men away, and said with a flicker in his eyes, "Sister Huiyin, don't be angry, I'll tell them to leave right away."

He took a few steps forward, and the subtle fragrance emanating from Huiyin wafted into his nose, causing his heart to flutter: "I have admired you since I was a child, and now that you are in trouble, I just want to help you."

Huiyin avoided his scrutinizing gaze with disgust and said coldly, "Help? You led men to intercept my carriage, had my brother subdued, and even threatened to kill my mother-in-law. Is this helping?"

Her gaze swept over Song Jingchuan, who was being pinned to the ground and struggling by two henchmen. She paused, then softened her voice: "If you have something to say, just tell me in detail. Why did you have to resort to violence?"

Seeing Huiyin's change in attitude, Su Xin nodded repeatedly, signaling the two women to release Song Jingchuan. He had brought plenty of men today; a mere young boy and two frail women were no match for him.

He coaxed softly, "Sister Huiyin, don't be afraid. I only chased after you out of the city because I felt sorry for you having nowhere to go. I have a house near Lindu Post Station. If you don't mind, would you like to come with me there and settle down?"

Song Jingchuan broke free from his restraints and stood in front of Huiyin, gritting his teeth as he advised, "Sister, this man has ill intentions, you can't trust him!"

Huiyin breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was not injured. Her younger brother was still young and naive, and had suffered a great change in his family. He was full of indignation and had no mind to think about anything else.

Su Xin came prepared, and the three of them alone could not escape. If they angered Su Xin, no one could stop him from taking action in the wilderness.

She pulled her younger brother behind her and looked at Su Xin: "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Song Jingchuan tugged at her sleeve from behind, and Huiyin turned around and gave him a reassuring look, gesturing for him to get in the carriage first. The carriage slowly started moving again. Inside the carriage, Huiyin took out a pen and ink, found a piece of white cloth in her bundle, quickly wrote a few words, and handed it to Song Jingchuan.

To reach Lindu Post Station from here, one must take a detour, passing through a narrow mountain ridge where carriages and horses can hardly travel. Su Xin, mounted on his horse, looked back at the woman inside the carriage, feeling extremely satisfied.

He was captivated by Huiyin's beauty when he first saw her at the age of thirteen, but her noble status made her untouchable. Now that the beauty had fallen into his hands, he couldn't help but urge his horse forward, thinking that he could kiss her that very night.

The narrow ridge was only wide enough for one-way carriages. Su Xin rode in the lead, with his family retainers trailing behind and behind the carriage. They took advantage of the moment when the carriage was not paying attention.

Song Jingchuan took out a short dagger from his sleeve and stabbed it hard into the horse's rump. The horse, in excruciating pain, bolted forward, knocking down the three people in the carriage and breaking up the formation in front of it.

Huiyin and Yanniang steadied themselves, untied the ropes binding their luggage, and pushed the heavy objects down to block the narrow valley entrance, hindering Su Xin and the others from pursuing them.

Her palms were sweaty as she watched Su Xin and his lagging troops being blocked, and a heavy weight lifted from her heart. But the next moment, she saw Su Xin abandon his horse and leap over, his movements nimble, grabbing the stern of the carriage and straddling it in a few steps.

Huiyin almost cried out, her heart pounding in her throat. Yanniang, who was standing next to her, pounced on Su Xin, who was unsteady on his feet. Huiyin quickly straightened up and grabbed a wooden plate to slap Su Xin's calves.

Su Xin, being a man and having practiced martial arts since childhood, subdued Yan Niang in no time and grabbed Huiyin, attempting to jump off the carriage.

Yan Niang lunged forward and bit Su Xin's leg. Su Xin cried out in pain and kicked Yan Niang in the chest. Hui Yin heard Yan Niang's cry of pain and instantly became enraged. She rammed into Su Xin's chest haphazardly and flailed her arms wildly.

Hearing the commotion, Song Jingchuan turned around and saw Su Xin grabbing Huiyin by the back of the neck. His eyes instantly turned red. He threw down the reins and punched Su Xin in the face to free Huiyin. He then turned around and started fighting with Su Xin.

The old carriage, unable to withstand the four men's struggle, groaned under the strain. Seeing that the Su family's retainers were about to catch up, Song Jingchuan gritted his teeth, grabbed Su Xin, and tumbled off the carriage.

Dust flew everywhere, staining Song Jingchuan's white robe with mud. He straddled Su Xin, slamming him to the ground and raining blows at Su Xin's face with his fists.

He roared, "Shameless scoundrel, how dare you covet my elder sister!"

Su Xin's once handsome face immediately swelled up, and he bent over to fight back with all his might.

Song Jingchuan heard Huiyin's anxious shouts behind him, reminding him that they had caught up and that he should get in the car quickly.

In that moment of hesitation, he was knocked to the ground by Su Xin below, and the situation between the two was reversed. He could only cover his head with his hands and shout, "Sister, don't worry about me, run!"

Yan Niang picked up the reins and struggled to control the mad horse. She had been farming with her father and brothers since she was a child. She had no other skills, but she had great strength.

Huiyin lay crouched inside the carriage, anxiously watching the two wrestling, not daring to make a sound to disturb them. She pursed her lips tightly, her nails digging so hard into the wooden board that white marks appeared.

The dust kicked up by the car obscured her eyes. She waved her hand to disperse the rising dust, and when she looked up again, her younger brother and Su Xin were already wrestling on the edge of the cliff.

Her heart pounded, and just as she was about to warn him, she saw her younger brother's right foot slip and he fell backward. She sat there, stunned, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"Mrs. Fu! Stop the car! Stop the car now!"

Hearing Huiyin's broken voice, Yanniang quickly turned around and looked back. She saw Huiyin reveal her vulnerable side again, her tears falling like a broken string of beads, and she choked out, "Jingchuan... fell off the cliff."

She looked in the direction she had just been, and there was only Su Xin's slender figure and the troops that had caught up behind him. Not seeing Song Jingchuan, Yan Niang concealed the sorrow in her eyes, ignored Huiyin's pleas to stop the carriage, and fiercely spurred the horse away.

Only after seeing the Lindu post station did Yan Niang rein in her horse and help the exhausted Huiyin off the carriage. They stuffed the last of their silver coins into the guards' hands, pleading with them to send someone to search for Song Jingchuan at the bottom of the cliff.

The soldiers stationed there were initially reluctant to take on this arduous task, but when they saw Huiyin weeping and looking so pitiful, they couldn't bear it and sent someone to report to the postmaster.

The postmaster of Lindu had once received kindness from Huiyin's father, and upon seeing his old friend's daughter in distress, he was filled with mixed emotions. He immediately ordered several soldiers to check the place where Song Jingchuan had fallen off the cliff, and arranged for Huiyin and Yanniang to wait quietly in a side room in the backyard.

Huiyin was restless and paced back and forth in the room. She finally managed to wait until the soldiers returned from their search, only to hear a shocking piece of news. Her mind went blank, and she could only stand up with Yanniang's support.

She only saw the soldier's mouth move: "We went to the place where Young Master Song fell off the cliff to check, and we did find fragments of his clothes and bloodstains, but the body..."

He stopped speaking when he saw Huiyin's pale face, and after considering his words, he spoke again: "I did not see any trace of Young Master Song."

As dusk fell and the spring sun shone brightly with heavy dew, it was difficult for an ordinary person to spend a night outdoors, let alone someone who had fallen off a cliff and was seriously injured. Huiyin pleaded with the postmaster of Lindu again: "Sir, please send more people to search for and rescue my brother, I beg you."

The postmaster of Lindu looked troubled. He had seen this famous beauty in Chang'an from afar. At that time, she had an extraordinary demeanor, was elegant and noble, and was surrounded by princes and nobles. Every smile and frown of hers was captivating.

Who would have thought that this noble lady would fall into the mud and kneel before him, a mere postmaster, to beg?

He said helplessly, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but General Pei, who quelled the Dong'ou rebellion, will arrive at Lindu Post Station tonight. We must treat him well and not be negligent!"

Huiyin pushed Yanniang away and knelt down, hitting the ground heavily, tears streaming down her face. "Please, help me..."

The postmaster of Lindu Post Station took out a clean handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Huiyin. He helped her up and couldn't bear to speak: "Recently, wild dogs have been frequently seen at the bottom of that cliff. The cliff is more than ten zhang high. If someone falls down, they will surely die. Perhaps..."

Before he could finish speaking, the body had likely been devoured by wild dogs, leaving no trace.

Huiyin closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. The postmaster couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned to leave. He felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He absolutely refused to believe that a man of such high moral character as Lord Song would be accused of corruption and bribery. He only resented the slanderous accusations from petty people.

Thinking of Shuse in the room behind him, he shook his head and sighed. Lord Song died, and his two children also met with bad ends. It's pitiful that good people don't get good rewards. This damned world.