Chapter 71 His little Haitang is like a housekeeper
Everyone knows who the Crown Prince Li is. The palace coup that year caused rivers of blood in the capital. Who would dare to be involved in such an old case?
The man had just relied on his status as a scholar and was used to going against others to gain attention. Now, seeing that everyone around him was looking at him, he felt a chill in his heart.
"The Song family deserves death for what they did, but it's not Madam Song's place to bring this up. As the old saying goes, relatives should conceal each other's secrets. It's a great act of unfilial piety for a son to report his father or his elders."
He angrily threw his sleeves and said, "I'm too lazy to argue with you vulgar people."
After the man finished speaking righteously, he squeezed out of the crowd and ran away in shame.
The person who spoke earlier couldn't help but spit.
"What the hell!"
You must have become stupid from reading too much!
People came out from the front door of the Song family one after another. After a while, no one in the crowd paid any attention to the man who had just escaped. They just stood on tiptoe and looked at the Song family members who were shackled and pushed out, and whispered about Song Hong's treason.
In the Duke's Mansion, Song Ru's face was pale, and her body was shaking when she saw Song Tangning walking towards her.
"Second... Second sister..."
"Don't be afraid." Tang Ning comforted softly.
Song Ru clutched her sleeves tightly, her pointed chin tense as she watched her grandmother and father being taken away, while she was taken to Shi'an Garden by Song Tangning.
When she saw Xiao Yan ordering people to help Song Tangning count the things in Shi'an Garden, but Tangning just took her to stand aside, Song Ru felt a little helpless, but she also vaguely guessed something.
Song Tangning didn't say much in the way of pleasantries, but got straight to the point: "Aru, thank you for reminding me that night that Song Jinxiu stole my father's things."
Song Ru's face was pale. When she heard this, she wanted to pretend not to understand as she did in the past, or pretend not to know what Song Tangning was talking about. However, when she met her dark eyes, she still lowered her head and stammered.
"I... I didn't say anything. It's my second sister who's smart. It has nothing to do with me..."
Her voice was very low, and that night she spoke so vaguely that even she herself felt she might not understand. She felt uneasy: "I dare not tell my second sister about my brother. I hope my second sister doesn't blame me."
Seeing that she was timid with her head down, Song Tangning lowered his voice.
"Why do you think I would blame you?"
Song Ru pinched her fingers nervously, and then she heard the person in front of her say, "Aru, I know your situation."
"It's not easy for you in the Song family. You're right to be worried. My breakup with Song Jinxiu and the others is hard for others to tell. Everyone thinks I'm just being willful and angry, and I'll return to the Song family sooner or later."
"You knew that warning me might be known to the Song family, but you still took the risk of coming to my house out of consideration for our sisterhood. I am already very grateful. How could I think that you didn't do enough?"
"Second sister..."
Song Ru looked up in some surprise, and then her eyes turned slightly red, and her eyes looked particularly big on her already pale face.
Song Tangning looked at the girl who was less than two years younger than her but a little too thin, and tried to lower her voice.
"The Song family can't escape this time. Song Hong harbored a traitor and colluded with the Crown Prince. Once proven guilty, he will be severely punished by His Majesty, and the entire Song family will be unable to escape. However, you are innocent and do not need to be involved. I have discussed with Governor Xiao that you can sever your ties with the Song family as the first accuser, and stay with me in Jiyun Lane."
Xiao Yan stood outside the door, originally thinking that Tang Ning would directly tell Song Ru both options, but she didn't even mention the other one. He was stunned for a moment, and a soft laugh escaped his throat.
He could see that this little Begonia cared a lot about the concubine's daughter of the Song family, but even if she cared, she was still unwilling to let him take risks.
This child was really protecting him as she said.
The bright sun shines brightly on Shi'an Garden, casting patches of light and shadow.
Tang Ning didn't notice Xiao Yan's gaze not far away. He just said to Song Ru, "If you leave the Song family as the first complainant, you will be known as a ruthless person and will inevitably be criticized. However, the Song family was involved in treason before, and Song Tan treated you harshly. You are right to kill your relatives for the sake of justice."
"I will ask my brother to ask His Majesty for a reward for you, so that you can leave the Song family and marry my mother. From now on, my mother will be your mother, and you will be my biological sister. You will have nothing to do with the Duke of Song's Mansion anymore."
"You will live with me in Jiyun Lane. I will do my best to protect you and will never let anyone bully you. So, Aru, are you willing to stay in the capital with me?"
Song Ru felt dazed after hearing these words. She stared blankly at Song Tangning in front of her with her mouth slightly open.
Song Tangning saw the stunned look and pursed her lips slightly: "Of course, if you don't want to, we can find another way..."
"I do!"
Song Ru suddenly came back to her senses. Seeing Song Tangning looking up in surprise, her face flushed red. "I do, Second Sister. I really do."
"I, I don't need to be my second aunt's daughter. I want to leave the Song family."
She was self-aware and knew that her status was humble. She did not dare to covet the Second Madam's dignity, let alone dream of becoming the eldest daughter of the Rong family.
Song Ru was simply unwilling to give up the opportunity to escape that she had finally gotten. She nervously tugged at Tang Ning's sleeve and stammered, "Second sister, I want to leave the Duke of Song's Mansion. I'm not afraid of bearing a bad reputation, nor am I afraid of what others say..."
She wants to leave.
Song Tangning looked at the always timid little girl whose cheeks flushed red and even spoke much louder. Her slightly brown eyes were filled with eagerness, and she was not afraid at all of the rumors she would encounter after leaving the Duke of Song's Mansion.
Tang Ning's heart, which had been tense all the time, slowly calmed down. He turned his head and looked at Xiao Yan who was not far away: "Brother."
Xiao Yan's sleeves hung at his sides as he spoke lazily, "This Governor will speak to His Majesty and have her leave the Song family and become a citizen of the Yunxiang Tang Mansion."
Tang Ning smiled brightly: "Thank you, brother."
She turned to Song Ru and said:
"Aru, did you hear that? From now on, you will live with me and call me sister. You are a daughter of the Rong family just like me. No one will be able to bully you anymore."
Song Ru stared at Song Tangning in a daze, seeing her undisguised smile because she agreed to be with her, and murmured softly: "Sister..."
"Hey!" Tang Ning reached out and hugged Song Ru: "Aru, dear, sister loves you."
The embrace in front of her was too warm. The person holding her was like the scorching sun, freely radiating warmth. Song Ru's eyes gradually turned red, and an inexplicable warmth slowly spread in her heart.
She had been disliked since she was born. Everyone said she was a disaster. Even her father disdained her existence and regarded her as a stain, wishing to erase her from the air.
No one had ever cared about her feelings, and no one had ever been so happy to be with her, as if being her sister was an extremely happy thing. This kind of care made her panic and helpless, but she couldn't stop her joy.
She tentatively pulled Song Tangning's sleeve gently, thinking of the snack that warmed her stomach that night, and a small dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Aru will also protect my sister."
Tang Ning's eyes curved with laughter instantly.
When the two girls separated, Xiao Yan only glanced at Song Ru's head, which looked like a quail with only a curl of hair exposed, and said to Tang Ning:
"These people will stay here to help you inventory your parents' belongings. If there's anything missing, remember to write it down so we can fill it in for you when the Song family confiscates their property."
He spoke of the confiscation of property as a matter of course, as if it was just a casual thing.
"You will go with them to bring the things back to Jiyun Lane later. I will go to the palace first to capture Song Hong and report to His Majesty on the Song family's affairs."
Tang Ning also knew the seriousness of the matter: "Brother, go and do your thing. I will go back to the mansion with A Ru later."
Xiao Yan turned his head and said to the side: "Protect the girl."
"Yes, Lord Governor."
The slender figure walked out. Seeing Xiao Yan was about to leave the courtyard, Song Tangning suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly said, "Brother."
Xiao Yan stopped and looked back.
"Come back early in the evening, I'll ask the kitchen to prepare something delicious."
Xiao Yan looked at the little girl's bright and happy face, and ripples appeared in his eyes, softening his stern and cold brows: "I know."
Despite her young age, she acts like a housekeeper.
He stepped out of the courtyard with a smile in his eyes: "I will go to the palace later and ask the people in the imperial kitchen to make some sweet cakes and bring them back to the mansion later."
Jinyun chuckled: "The governor loves girls."
Xiao Yan raised his lips: "Raise a child."
He would let his little girl roll around in the honey pot.
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