Magistrate Jiang choked.
Though everyone around Yuan Yunzhong knew he was not familiar with roads, how could such a bright man actually lose his way? The reason he often got lost was merely that he did not focus on his surroundings. Moreover, considering Yuan Yunzhong’s status, he needn’t concern himself with such trivial matters, let alone empathize.
After all, none among them genuinely did not know the roads.
Master Jinghu, who knew the truth, considered this a significant flaw in Yuan Yunzhong.
If this flaw were magnified, it might even affect Yuan Yunzhong’s future. He either avoided the topic or flatly denied it, so much so that those around him still could not grasp how much this issue affected Yuan Yunzhong’s life.
Only Song Jiyun, with the information age of her previous life, understood that a lack of sense of direction, like reading disorders, couldn’t be overcome by mere willpower.
She could even imagine how confused, angry, and helpless Yuan Yunzhong must have felt walking alone in the dark woods.
She sighed softly in her heart and, looking at Magistrate Jiang’s expression and recalling the previous times they had searched for him, suddenly speculated—had they never acknowledged the issue of Yuan Yunzhong getting lost?
She couldn’t help but look toward Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong was just lifting his eyes to look at her.
His gaze was profound, as if something was churning within, as if it wanted to devour her.
Song Jiyun’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shifted her gaze, addressing Magistrate Jiang, "Have you never considered this matter when you were searching for him before?"
So, like headless flies, you ran around aimlessly, focusing solely on Prince Ning’s side?
Magistrate Jiang coughed uncomfortably.
Yuan Yunzhong suddenly said, "Miss Song, I’m afraid I might need to stay at your residence these next few days. There’s no conclusion with Prince Ning, and he certainly won’t let things go. My staying there could deter some malicious figures."
Then he paused slightly, and added in a low voice, "Miss Song, I’ve dragged your family into this. But rest assured, before I leave, I will make sure to resolve everything cleanly so as not to pose a threat to the Song family."
"Why talk about this now?" Song Jiyun sighed.
Isn’t it too late to clear things up now!
Especially since she knew what Yuan Yunzhong had once done for her, she simply could not bring herself to resent him, no matter how hard she tried.
"The urgent task is to deal with Prince Ning," she said, "to teach him fear, to make sure he dares not reach out to you again."
With his crisis resolved, the Song family’s crisis would naturally be resolved too. If his crisis could not be resolved, the Song family could not expect to remain unscathed. They were all in the same boat, now they had to pull together.
Yuan Yunzhong nodded, not even waiting for Shao Qing to approach, loudly instructed, "Pack up, I’m diverting to the Song Mansion immediately."
Magistrate Jiang also understood the severity of the situation. He did not try to stop him, but asked Yuan Yunzhong, "Do you want me to send some government officials with you?"
"That’ll work!" Yuan Yunzhong responded without politeness to Magistrate Jiang, "Just have them patrol around the Song family residence. Ignore everything else. If they encounter people from Prince Ning’s Mansion, they should notify me if they can; if not, they should avoid them. The priority is their own safety."
Magistrate Jiang said displeasedly, "What good is that? Then who will ensure your safety?"
It wasn’t that he looked down on the Song family’s protectors, but against the regular army, their guards simply weren’t sufficient.
"Just make it look convincing," Yuan Yunzhong said, "I will arrange for guards from the Inspectorate and the Inspection Division. Only when everyone unites in their hatred against the mansion of Prince Ning can we twist them into a single force, pinning the crime of killing an angel on Prince Ning and charging him with a ’grave dishonor.’"
In plain terms, it meant letting everyone know that if they wanted military achievements and to get promoted and rich, they had to follow Yuan Yunzhong’s command and stick to the path to the end.
Magistrate Jiang was still a bit worried and said, "Just the charge of ’grave dishonor’? I thought you’d accuse him of ’plotting rebellion.’"
Yuan Yunzhong scoffed and said, "It is merely the murder of an Imperial Court official, how can it amount to ’plotting rebellion’? But if he used the whipping of an Imperial Court official to gradually test the Emperor’s bottom line and gauge the reactions of the court officials, wouldn’t that be preparation for a rebellion?"
Magistrate Jiang couldn’t help but clap his hands in approval, "This move is indeed brilliant!"
He couldn’t help but remark, "No wonder Master Jinghu holds high hopes for you, saying you are the heir to both the Wang and Yuan families. With this memo presented before the Emperor, even if the Emperor wished to let him off due to ancestral teachings, he wouldn’t be able to."
"That’s why you need to go and do something for me." Yuan Yunzhong had a servant boy prepare the Four Treasures of the Study and said, "Have Xu Guangzeng send a letter to the Capital City, and inform Duke of Ding about this matter exactly as it is."
Magistrate Jiang thought for a moment and said, "Do you wish Duke of Ding to take the route of Noble Consort Wan?"
Yuan Yunzhong did not deny it and said, "Duke of Ding and Xu Guangzeng are uterine brothers. Back when their mother passed away, the old Duke of Ding remarried. After having a son, he plotted to harm the Duke of Ding, but luckily Xu Guangzeng saved his life. He has always felt indebted to Xu Guangzeng, constantly seeking to secure a lifetime of glory and wealth for him.
"If Xu Guangzeng could attain military exploits this time, Duke of Ding would definitely request a hereditary position for him. He would be even more dedicated than we are. No matter whether there are solid grounds or not concerning Prince Ning’s matter, he would find a way to turn it into reality.
"Using people from the Duke of Ding’s Mansion is better than using people from the Yuan family."
"Also, go inform Deng Chen, just hint a few words. He will understand."
"Aligning vertically and horizontally, this strategy is excellently employed," Magistrate Jiang exclaimed once more, wishing he could deliver the letter himself.
Yuan Yunzhong then summoned Shao Qing, packed his belongings, and returned to the Song Mansion with Song Jiyun.
Madam Qian had already received the news, not only had she had restoratives stewed early, but she also had the kitchen prepare a table full of good dishes, personally greeting them at the door.
In just a few days’ time, it was unclear how she had perceived it, but after taking a close look at Yuan Yunzhong, she immediately declared he "had lost weight," assigned Nanny Zheng to attend to Yuan Yunzhong, and even gave her waist token to Shao Qing, saying, "Whatever Young Master Yuan needs, go directly to Steward Wu."
Yuan Yunzhong thanked her repeatedly before finally returning with Shao Qing to their lodgings.
Madam Qian then hurriedly pulled Song Jiyun aside and quietly asked her, "How did it go? Is everything resolved?"
What Prince Ning would do next was still uncertain.
Song Jiyun needed her mother to help restrain the family, so she could focus on guarding against Prince Ning causing troubles for the Song family in the business world.
She shook her head and said, "I’m still confronting Prince Ning, and it might still be a few days before there’s any outcome."
Madam Qian, quite a change from her former timidity, supported Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong, "Just take care of what you need to, I’ll handle home affairs. If worse comes to worst, I can still ask Zheng Quan." But as she had never experienced such things, fear was still visible in her words as she concluded, "You will leave Zheng Quan at home, right?"
"Of course!" Song Jiyun replied, then teasing her mother, "I thought you would avoid Yuan Yunzhong."
Madam Qian playfully hit Song Jiyun, "Your mother is not that kind of person—as Young Master Yuan is in distress, we cannot turn our backs on him now."
Song Jiyun laughed heartily.
A servant boy came to report, "Inspector General Lord Xu has come to visit."
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