Chapter 109 You little brat
"Where is Madam?"
As night fell, the clatter of hooves echoed as the main gate of the Marquis of Andong's residence opened, welcoming the carriages and horses into the house.
Ruan Donglin strode down from the carriage. He was robust, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold, and wearing deerskin boots. The golden tiger-skin cloak on his back gleamed menacingly under the lamplight. He looked at the people surrounding him with some confusion.
Usually, his wife would greet him here whenever he returned. Although it was cold now, he didn't want her to wait in the cold, but this time he had been gone for three days, and he felt a little uneasy not seeing her upon his return.
He looked at the two brothers squatting to the side: "What are you doing? Have you finished your homework?"
Nguyen Kim Hoa and Nguyen Kim Latt are twelve years old this year, a time when they are growing rapidly. They have grown a lot taller in just one or two months, looking like skinny monkeys. Fortunately, their features are regular and dignified, and they still look quite presentable.
But Ruan Donglin disliked it.
Two little kids whose thighs aren't even as thick as his elbows—how will they ever be able to defend their country in this state?
Because of a family tragedy years ago, he survived and then devoted himself to martial arts training, transforming himself from a pale-faced scholar into a robust warrior. He has continued practicing martial arts all these years, and after having two sons, he also hopes to guide them in this direction.
Unfortunately, one was pale and thin, and the other was emaciated.
Weak and frail, having just caught a cold, the pale and thin Ruan Jinhe was about to speak when a gust of wind blew by, causing him to cough and preventing him from saying anything.
Sitting on the ground like a black monkey, Ruan Jinle said cheekily, "Dad, Mom doesn't seem to be feeling well; she didn't eat dinner tonight."
Ruan Donglin's expression changed, and he frowned as he asked, "Do you know what happened?"
Ruan Jinhe finally finished coughing, and his pale face turned red. He said, "Mother went to distribute grain again today, and she came back like this. Was she bullied?"
Although their mother was a marquis's wife, she had a good temper and a kind heart, but it's really hard to say...
Ruan Donglin glared at them angrily: "Ah Xin went to distribute grain, and you two aren't going with her? You two good-for-nothings, what a waste of money!"
With that, he strode towards the backyard.
The two brothers were left dejected.
They would like to go, but they have to attend classes.
Ruan Donglin paid no attention to the two brats and strode to the backyard. The maids were waiting at the gate. Lan Yan, standing at the gate, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him return.
"My lord, you're finally back!"
Ruan Donglin: "What's wrong with Madam? Who's so blind as to offend her?"
Lan Yan said worriedly, "This servant is not sure either, but I suspect it must be related to Princess Song."
As she spoke, she recounted Song Jin's arrogant "seat-grabbing" incident earlier that day, but then added, "Madam was fine at the time, but after I went upstairs, she became somewhat distracted, and when she came back, she couldn't eat and locked herself in her room."
Ruan Donglin frowned deeply: "Prince Qi and Princess Mingguang? What are they doing here? This is Prince Qi, so who is that one from Changdu Prefecture? With that devil Song Shang gone, how dare those little brats like Song Shenzhi cause trouble like this?"
In any case, one of them is definitely a fraud. Compared to the presence of the three Song brothers in Changdu Prefecture, he's more inclined to believe that the people on this side are swindlers.
If he weren't a conman, he wouldn't have harmed his wife so badly right away.
A ruthless glint flashed in Ruan Donglin's eyes.
No matter who these people are, or what their motives are, anyone who dares to lay a finger on his wife will be executed without mercy.
He didn't lash out at Lan Yan. This man had been with his wife through the most difficult years, and he was very kind to everyone. He simply said, "Madam, please take more helpers with you when you go out in the future, and never leave your side."
Lan Yan felt somewhat guilty: "This servant knows her mistake."
Ruan Donglin didn't say anything, walked towards the room, and gently knocked on the door: "Axin, I'm back."
There was no sound from inside. He knocked a few more times, and then gradually, sounds came from inside. With a creak, Tai Qingxin opened the door, lit a kerosene lamp, and came out. In the dim light, her eyes were red and moist.
Ruan Donglin pulled her into the house, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his voice filled with barely concealed heartache: "What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden? That bastard Song Shang is still restless even after death, leaving behind a little pup running rampant. I'll avenge you tomorrow."
Tai Qingxin couldn't help but punch him on the shoulder, crying out, "Don't talk about her like that!"
Ruan Donglin was a little confused, but at the moment he was only concerned about her and wiped away her tears: "Okay, I won't say anything, but don't cry. Your eyes are not good, you can't hold back your tears. You didn't eat dinner, do you not care about your health? Eat something first, and then we can talk properly."
Seeing his distressed expression, Tai Qingxin couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they streamed down her face like a spring. She hugged his arm and buried her face in his chest.
He was a robust man; even through his thick clothes, one could feel his strong ribcage. He was a very masculine man, but in the beginning, he was just a thin, pale-faced scholar.
Tai Qingxin felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Thinking of those painful memories, her heart clenched, and she couldn't hold back her tears. She curled up in his arms, sobbing softly, which broke Ruan Donglin's heart.
It took her a while to stop crying; her tears had soaked the fabric of her clothes.
She said softly, "I think I've found our Lingling."
...
Day 2
It gets dark earlier and dawn later in Pingyang Prefecture than in the capital.
As dawn broke, the outside world was already bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of various vendors hawking their wares.
It's October now, the weather is chilly, and in two months it will be the Lunar New Year. Every household will start preparing for the New Year, with new clothes and shoes, and even if they're not that well-off, they'll at least have some candy on hand.
This is the key time to make money.
Song Jin opened the window, and the biting cold wind blew white mist onto her face, cool and refreshing. She was only wearing a white undershirt, and half of her body was leaning out. She could see at a glance that the door and window next door were also open.
Good morning.
She tossed a peanut at him, then looked at Qi Zheng peeking out, panting and waving, her smile as bright and radiant as a flower in the thick fog, full of life.
Qi Zheng's solemn expression relaxed slightly, and he replied softly, "Morning."
Song Jin grinned but didn't say much. Niu Tielan was still sleeping. She pointed downstairs, indicating that they should go play down there.
Qi Zheng nodded
She gently closed the window, cautiously glanced at Niu Tielan who was still sleeping in bed, quietly put on her coat, and went outside.
It was still early, and there were few people outside; it was exceptionally quiet.
Qi Zheng got up early and was already dressed. He was tall and imposing, dressed in a magnificent black robe, impeccably groomed from head to toe. Standing there, he resembled a pillar, dignified, composed, and commanding.
Song Jin's hair was unkempt, and her clothes were loose and casual. She had a comb between her teeth, and walked along, buttoning her clothes as she went.
Qi Zheng sighed silently, took small steps forward, and gently brushed her hair with the comb he had taken from her lips.
Song Jin winked and said, "You look tough, but you're much gentler than my mother."
Her mother practically ripped her scalp off yesterday.
Qi Zheng remained silent most of the time, not replying, and simply combed her long hair until it was smooth and flowing. Then, he used the jade hairpin that was stuck in her collar to fix it.
Her entire face was exposed, without any bangs or wispy hair to frame it. Her forehead was full, and her features were striking and assertive, actually more suited to gold and jade jewelry. The jade hairpin added a touch of bluntness to her appearance.
Qi Zheng fell silent for a moment, then took her hair apart again, awkwardly parting the front of her hair and leaving some ends out when she pulled it up at the back to make it look more lively.
He breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "It's done."
Song Jin stared wide-eyed at his movements, flashing her white teeth, and pointed to her collar: "Is it crooked?"
Qi Zheng glanced at her, his eyes immediately drawn to her long, fair neck. The fur collar was indeed slightly askew, one side clinging tightly to her neck. He hesitated for a moment, but looking into her bright eyes, he gently raised his hand to straighten it. His knuckles accidentally brushed against her delicate skin, and he paused slightly. Through the collar, he could see the red string tied to it.
Seeing his hesitant look, Song Jin smiled and pulled him out.
Beneath the red rope and gold knot lies a black jade tiger, which, even in the cold winter, still radiates warmth like bamboo charcoal.
It was a piece of jade that Qi Zheng had given him before.
It's warm in winter and cool in summer, which is really comfortable.
Qi Zheng was stunned. His heart felt as if something was pressing down on it, making it unable to move, yet it swelled up little by little. He reached out and touched the mouth of the golden tiger on the black jade, then leaned down, his thin lips gently touching his pale pink fingertips.
They are all warm.
Song Jin stood there, looking at the person reflected in front of her. His warm breath touched her forehead, and his breath lingered on her fingertips. Her eyelids trembled slightly, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.
a long time
Qi Zheng raised his head, his dark eyes focused, filled with her image. He said softly, "When we get back, I'll ask my father to grant us a marriage, how about that?"
Song Jin bit her lip, her phoenix eyes bright and sparkling, and muttered, "Why are you telling me this? It's not like I gave the order."
A smile appeared in Qi Zheng's eyes: "Then I'll take that as your agreement."
Song Jin stubbornly insisted, "I didn't say anything."
Qi Zheng reached out and stroked the little golden tiger again, then pinched it and put it back. He gently straightened his collar, his smile revealing an irrepressible spring breeze: "Shall we go downstairs for a meal first? Should we stay in the shop or go for a walk outside?"
Song Jin pouted and muttered, "Let's go outside and take a look."
At this time of day, there are usually many snack stalls outside. The taste may not be as good as those in restaurants, but they are more fun.
Qi Zheng followed her downstairs.
These days people get up quite early, so the restaurant should be making some noise by now, but it's unusually quiet. There isn't a single waiter working; it's eerily quiet.
Song Jin and Qi Zheng exchanged a glance and slowed down their pace as they descended the stairs.
Ta-da!
Stepping out of the stairwell, the second floor was deserted. But wait, right by the window where they had eaten yesterday, there was someone with their back to the window, looking in their direction against the light, their figure flickering and indistinct.
The man was burly, draped in a tiger skin, and had eyes as sharp as a tiger's; it was clear he meant no harm.
He looked at the two people coming downstairs and slowly said, "You little puppies, just as annoying as your father."
Song Jin subconsciously patted the person next to her: "He's insulting you."
Qi Zheng remained silent; he felt the possibility was zero.
Ruan Donglin looked at her arrogant and unruly demeanor, sneered, and stood up.
Before he came, he firmly believed that the two were liars, but now that he saw them, he knew at a glance that they weren't.
So alike, so incredibly alike
That bastard Song Shang's little brat is actually real! He always thought it was fake.
As for Qi Ye, Ruan Donglin didn't know what he meant, but it didn't matter. Ignorance is no excuse. He had never met the person before, so how could he tell if the person was real or fake?
Ruan Donglin slowly walked forward: "Was it you who bullied my wife yesterday?"
Song Jin now knew who this person was, and pointed at herself: "Me? Bullying me? Let's be reasonable, old man, I reserved this spot first."
Ruan Donglin: "You're quick-witted and sharp-tongued; I've heard you're also highly skilled in martial arts."
Song Jin crossed her arms, one leg casually crossed, and looked at the bear-like old man in front of her, raising her eyebrows: "Oh, judging from your posture, are you here to stand up for your old woman? What, did she go back and complain to you? Didn't she say anything else?"
Ruan Donglin stared at her intently: "Don't give me that crap. Just say what you're doing here. Don't try to use other things as an excuse. Whatever you find out, whatever you want to do, if you want to harm my wife, you'll have to step over my dead body."
Song Jin was annoyed when he kept talking about his wife: "Are you out of your mind? Who cares about your old woman? You keep calling her 'wife,' you're quite the actress. What, are your wives and children better than each other? So what if your ex is dead?"
Ruan Donglin's heart skipped a beat: "You little brat, don't force me to beat you up. If it weren't for your father's sake..."
Without a second thought, Song Jin kicked out, not with much force, but the kick wasn't weak either.
Ruan Donglin caught it steadily, took a step back, and looked at her with a more solemn expression.
Song Jin sneered twice: "Old man, you'd better keep your mouth shut, or I'll really beat you up and you'll get struck by lightning."
Ruan Donglin had held the title of Marquis for many years, and very few people dared to speak to him like that.
There's a puppy in front of me, and the puppy's family's old dog is another one.
His gaze darkened: "I'd like to see what you're capable of, you little bastard."
As he spoke, he rushed over and threw a punch.
"No interference allowed"
Song Jin gave a shout, then stopped Qi Zheng's movement and charged forward, directly confronting him head-on. She slammed her fist back, producing loud thuds of hard bone. She tried to twist his arm, but couldn't budge it. Instead, a gust of wind came from behind, and she retreated, dodging his punch.
More capable than she/he thought
Neither of them had used their full strength, and they looked at each other with a slight increase in caution—but only a slight, mostly disdain.
The two stared at each other, then instantly grappled again, their fists flying, smashing tables and chairs to pieces, but it didn't stop them from continuing.
They all possessed internal energy; if it were anyone else, shattered bones and broken hands would be minor matters.
Qi Zheng stood to the side, watching the two men clash fist to fist, listening to the sounds of furniture breaking, and sighed silently.
As expected, footsteps came from behind after a short while.
"What happened?"
Qu Maoze carefully helped the person down, walked around Qi Zheng to look, and saw a stool flying towards him. He gently dodged it, then looked at the two people wrestling over there, a deep smile playing on his lips.
As expected of his daughter, he'd support her to beat that old bastard to death.
Niu Tielan frowned deeply. The two men were standing far away and moving quickly, so she couldn't see them clearly. However, seeing Qi Zheng's calm demeanor, she guessed he wasn't an assassin. Although somewhat worried, she suppressed her anxiety and asked...
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Qi Zheng replied without hesitation: "The Marquis of Andong was waiting early this morning, scolded the princess because of yesterday's events, and then took the initiative to attack."
Niu Tielan's face turned cold, her lips pressed tightly together as she looked at Ruan Donglin over there.
He bore no resemblance whatsoever to the person she remembered.
The father she remembered was gentle and handsome, slender, a typical pale-faced scholar. The man before her, however, was robust and imposing, with dark skin and a commanding presence. He had even clasped his feet together with someone else because of her.
Niu Tielan felt a tightness in his chest and his eyes were a little sore.
Although she didn't remember much, Qu Maoze's attitude along the way had made it clear that this man was basically her father.
He didn't die; he escaped death by a hair's breadth and even earned a noble title through his own abilities. Judging from his imposing physique and the ferocity of his punches, he's in good health and could easily live another thirty to fifty years.
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Niu Tielan said, "That's enough, Jinjin."
Her voice was neither loud nor soft; Song Jin had heard it for over ten years and recognized it instantly. Her eyes darted around, she reduced her strength, and took the punch head-on, staggering back two steps.
Song Jin bared her teeth, hissed twice, and rolled up her sleeve, revealing a patch of red and swollen skin on her fair arm, which quickly turned purple.
Ruan Donglin was momentarily stunned, took two steps back, and looked at his fist with suspicion.
What, did that last punch break through?
Before he could think it through, Niu Tielan saw Song Jin's hand and rushed over, grabbing it tightly. Seeing the obvious redness and swelling, her eyes instantly reddened. Protectively pulling Song Jin back, she glared angrily at Ruan Donglin.
"What are you doing? Is it fun to bully a child? How can the dignified Marquis of Andong be so petty and narrow-minded? Have you no shame?"
Song Jin chimed in, adding fuel to the fire: "Exactly! You come here and immediately start criticizing me for not having a father. What did I do to you? I have a mother to raise me, so why are you interfering?"
This didn't sound right. Ruan Donglin was shocked and stepped forward, pointing at the person: "I didn't say that, you little brat!"
"That's enough!" Niu Tielan shoved the man away violently, furious. "She's a little dog, and what are you? An old dog or a mad dog? Ruan Donglin, who are you pointing at? If you have the guts, hit her; if you have the guts, hit me. Come on, just kill me. I, as a mother, don't know how to raise my child. Come on, come on..."
Niu Tielan had almond-shaped eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows, fair and delicate skin, and a tall, slender figure. She looked frail and delicate, clearly a gentle and quiet beauty. Even when she was tidying up Song Jin, she was charming and lively. She was nothing like she was now.
She clenched her fists, her eyebrows furrowed, and glared angrily, looking quite fierce.
When faced with a vicious wolf cub like Song Jin, Ruan Donglin didn't hesitate to grab the back of his neck and give him a good beating. But when dealing with a delicate lady like Niu Tielan, he took two steps back, looking completely helpless.
"Hey, hey, stop throwing a tantrum, be reasonable!"
With red eyes and tears welling up, Niu Tielan roared, "I'm unreasonable! I'm a shrew! I have no manners! Come on, hit me too! Hit me!"
Song Jin carefully supported her from the side, feeling sorry for her while also adding fuel to the fire: "If you want to hit my mother, you'll have to step over my dead body first."
Unable to hold back her tears, Niu Tielan wiped her eyes and turned to run upstairs.
Song Jin raised her hand and gestured at Ruan Donglin's wrist, baring her teeth: "You old geezer, you just wait!"
After saying that, she chased after Niu Tielan and ran away, carefully supporting him from the side.
Ruan Donglin was somewhat bewildered
Wait a minute, what was he here for?
They were the ones bullying her wife!
No, that's not right either. Ruan Donglin finally realized something.
At first, he suspected these people were con artists trying to deceive his wife and settle scores. But upon seeing them, he knew he was wrong; their identities were likely legitimate, but they certainly didn't have good intentions.
He never hesitated to treat the Song family with the utmost malice.
Ruan Donglin suspected they had discovered something and came to threaten him, which angered him.
Although he and Song Shang had some grudges, they were all private matters. When had he ever shown loyalty in matters truly beneficial to the people? He didn't care what they did to him, but what about their wives?
Ruan Donglin looked at the remaining two people
A pretty boy who looked rather unpleasant, I didn't recognize him.
One of them is Qi Zheng, who is exactly like Qi Ye.
Ruan Donglin looked at Qi Ye with hostility: "Your Highness, Prince Qi, is coming. I should have welcomed you with open arms, but you went to see my wife first without saying a word. Isn't that a bit inappropriate? She's not in good health and fell ill as soon as she got back. Doesn't Your Highness have anything to say to me?"
Seeing his angry expression, Qi Zheng made various guesses in his mind, and said in a low voice, "I have a question, and I wonder if Marquis Andong can answer it for me?"
Ruan Donglin replied in a deep voice, "If Your Highness has any questions, I dare not fail to answer."
Her expression made no attempt to hide her displeasure towards him.
Qi Zheng didn't care much. He just glanced at Qu Maoze beside him, who was smiling, and couldn't help but feel that he was gloating. He made up his mind and asked, "The current Lady of Andong is your wife who disappeared many years ago, right?"
Ruan Donglin's face instantly darkened: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. In those years of war and chaos, my ex-wife died in the war long ago. How can you say such a thing?"
Qi Zheng looked at Qu Maoze again, and the schadenfreude on his face was almost impossible to hide.
It seems the two do indeed have a deep-seated grudge, just as rumored; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to trick someone in this kind of place.
Qi Zheng looked at Ruan Donglin with a hint of pity, ignoring his obvious anger, and said, "My lord, please don't be angry. We've come here for no other reason than to reunite with our relatives."
If anyone else had said this, Ruan Donglin would have dismissed it as nonsense, but Qi Zheng's appearance was far too convincing. With his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, handsome and dignified, he looked like a steady and open-minded person.
But searching for relatives
Ruan Donglin pondered. Of the four of them, Song Jin was out of the question; as Song Shang's child, she had absolutely no relation to him. That left only Niu Tielan. He began to recall her appearance, but in such a chaotic and war-torn place, and given she was a young girl, why would he need to scrutinize her so closely?
I only remember that she had bright almond-shaped eyes, a gentle and elegant demeanor, and bore a resemblance to his wife in her youth.
Ruan Donglin's heart skipped a beat, but he also felt it was impossible.
His Ah Ling
Seeing his stunned and bewildered expression, Qi Zheng felt a pang of pity for him.
He got into a fight with his granddaughter, drove away his biological daughter, and his mortal enemy became his son-in-law.
After all, this person would be his elder in the future. Unlike Song Jin, who was rebellious and deliberately caused trouble, he carefully considered how to speak to make him seem less pitiful.
Qu Maoze, having watched the drama unfold, smiled and slowly walked up to the thunderstruck Ruan Donglin. His voice was gentle: "I am Qu Maoze, greetings, Your Excellency. Our arrival was somewhat hasty; please forgive us. It's like this: my wife, Niu Tielan, is thirty-four years old this year. She was abducted when she was young, but managed to escape. She has forgotten where her home is. She only remembers that on the day of the incident, it was winter, and she was wearing red, going out to buy candied hawthorns..."
Ruan Donglin's teeth chattered as he stared intently at Qu Maoze.
Over the years, many people have known about his search for his daughter, and with careful inquiry, they could even learn her name, but he had never told anyone these details. To know so much, there's only one possibility besides the thief.
Qu Maoze felt somewhat relieved as he admired Ruan Donglin's ugly face.
He's already been demoted involuntarily, so this old scoundrel can't just get a whole family for free without giving anything in return, can he?
Still puppies
Qu Maoze's eyes darkened, and he said with a hint of malice, "Some time ago, Madam recognized the thief from back then, and only then did she learn about her background. Her biological father's name is the same as the Marquis's. What a coincidence! But judging from the Marquis's attitude, it shouldn't be you. It seems we've made a wasted trip. We'll return tomorrow."
Ruan Donglin grabbed Qu Maoze by the collar, interrupting him. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with ruthlessness as he spoke, each word distinct: "Song Shang, if you dare to use this as a pawn, I will take your life."
That tone of voice, that physique, that repulsive appearance—it could only be that bastard Song Shang.
His collar was gripped tightly, causing Qu Maoze's face to turn red little by little, his veins bulging, but he didn't care at all, and said with a smile: "So it turns out that I look similar to Prime Minister Song? So, Jin Jin and I also look like father and daughter?"
Ruan Donglin didn't want to listen to his nonsense. His veins bulged on his hands as he forcefully pulled the man over, incredulous: "Is she really Ah Ling?"
Qu Maoze stopped teasing and became serious: "Her name is Ruan Jinling."
She is also Ruan Jinling; whether she is theirs or not, they need to verify that themselves.
After saying that, he pried Ruan Donglin's hands off, straightened his clothes slightly, and turned to leave.
He doesn't want to hang out with such an old man.
At this moment, Ruan Donglin no longer cared about the matter of the dead coming back to life. His hands trembled, his legs felt weak, and he staggered to a chair, sitting there motionless as if in a daze.
The entire inn was sealed off early on. When the guests upstairs came down and saw the mess on the second floor, they quietly ran away faster than anyone else. The first floor was already sealed off, and no one came up to disturb them.
He just sat there by the window, lost in thought.
Unable to discern the time, hurried footsteps echoed from the wooden stairs below. Tai Qingxin rushed up in a panic, her eyes still red and swollen. Seeing the mess on the second floor, her ominous premonition came true.
She walked up to Ruan Donglin, her voice trembling, "What did you do? Didn't you say you were going to take up a post?"
Ruan Donglin turned his head as if he had lost his soul. The man who had been so imposing just moments before now looked rather pitiful. He said softly, "Madam, do you think it's too late for me to jump off here now?"
Tai Qingxin: ...
I don't know, maybe they should all jump together.
Old man
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