Jiang Wan left the West Garden and headed towards the main hall on the east side.
He Xingyun hadn't reacted yet.
"Is Madam Jiang joking?"
“The Song family’s military power cannot fall into other hands. Song Yu is just a son of the imperial clan. How could Song Ziyu let him inherit it?”
Pei Xuanwei raised his eyelids slightly: "If Song Yu becomes the heir apparent, his status will be very high."
"Well, that doesn't mean he should take over the Song family army, does it?"
Pei Xuan's voice grew even colder: "What if by then he has no other descendants?"
"No way, could Madam Jiang really be so heartless?"
He Xingyun shuddered again at the thought of Jiang Wan's so-called "lover".
Women are truly terrifying.
Pei Xuan: "She had planned this all along. Didn't I see she'd already gone to find Pei Tang?"
Listening to Pei Tang's cheerful and confident assurances, interspersed with a few coquettish meows, it seemed that the atmosphere inside the house was harmonious and joyful.
Pei Xuan scoffed lightly, but a barely perceptible smile flickered in his eyes.
A cunning woman is quite adept at cheating.
She said she was gambling with the position of heir apparent, but she... is already starting to use the power of the Crown Prince's palace.
In late autumn and early winter, wild animals appeared in the mountains outside Beijing.
In just three days, the beast bit more than a dozen civilians, prompting Emperor Jingyuan to order the Song family army to send troops to capture it.
On this day, Song Ziyu led Song Lin to the camp.
Wild beasts roam outside the city every year, so this mission is not difficult for the soldiers.
Just in time, Er Gou's elite army was almost fully assembled.
Song Ziyu wanted to use this simple task to help Song Lin gain merit and make him look good in front of the emperor.
As everyone was getting ready to depart, someone came to report that Princess Zhaohua had arrived.
Pei Tang stopped in front of the tent without dismounting.
"I heard that the general went into the mountains today. Since I have nothing to do, I might as well join in the fun."
She pointed to a chestnut horse behind her, on which sat Song Yu in riding attire.
“I met the young master of the General’s Mansion on the way. He also wanted to do his part, so I brought him along.”
Song Ziyu's face stiffened.
He disliked Song Yu, a member of the imperial clan with lowly blood, who was beneath his notice.
But Pei Tang had spoken, leaving him no room for rebuttal, so he could only nod.
Song Lin mounted his horse, his gaze towards Song Yu filled with both jealousy and a hint of pleasure.
A few days ago, Gu Yurong told him that Jiang Wan's death was imminent.
He used to envy Song Yu for having a mother who was a third-rank imperial consort, and he even wanted to win Jiang Wan's favor.
Looking back now, it was completely unnecessary.
"Second brother, aren't you being a little too hasty?"
Song Lin gave a provocative smile.
"Unfortunately, this elite army was prepared for me by my father. You are of lowly status, so even if you are jealous, you have no share in it."
To show off his power, he lashed out with his whip at a soldier who was lagging behind, and roared, "How did you protect me? Hurry up and catch up!"
The soldier's face was ripped open, and he nearly fell off his horse.
The remaining soldiers glared angrily, but dared not speak out.
Song Yu's eyes turned cold. Not wanting to argue with him, he spurred his horse and rode away.
Song Ziyu waited in the camp. The task, which should have been completed in at most an hour, was delayed in returning.
It wasn't until nightfall that a group of people ran down from the mountain.
The two dogs leading the pack arrived before they did, but their voices preceded their arrival.
"It's terrible, General! Princess Zhaohua is injured! I'll take her back to the palace immediately!"
Song Ziyu was shocked and quickly called for people to follow.
In the darkness, Song Lin and Song Yu were seen in the group, both covered in blood and seemingly injured.
Pei Tang's injury alarmed even Emperor Jingyuan and the Empress, and the Qiankun Palace was brightly lit.
The imperial physician rushed over, only to say that she had just twisted her ankle.
The Empress breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Then why is there so much blood?"
The imperial physician replied, "It was the young master of the General's Mansion who saved the princess from the claws of a wild beast. His back wound is quite deep, and he is still unconscious."
"How is Lin'er? Is he alright?"
Song Ziyu said with heartache.
"This child, so devoted to saving His Majesty's bloodline, even disregarded his own life! All my teachings to him to be loyal and courageous, to serve His Majesty..."
The imperial physician couldn't stand it anymore and gave him a strange look.
"General, I'm referring to Young Master Yu in your household."
"Young Master Lin is fine. He was just frightened and wet his pants. He's changing inside."
Pei Tang then came out and recounted what had happened.
"When I was lying in ambush on the mountain, Song Lin was frightened by the shadows of the trees and suddenly shouted, which startled the wild beast and almost hurt me. It was Song Yu who rushed in front of me and used his body to block the beast's claw."
"Mother, he is seriously injured; the wound is so deep that the bone is visible."
Song Ziyu was struck dumb, his face pale, unable to utter a word.
The Empress was deeply moved: "He is such a good child. When he wakes up, whatever he asks for, I will grant it."
Pei Tang said, "Song Yu kept calling his mother's name while he was unconscious, which must be because he misses his mother very much."
"His mother..." The Empress pondered for a moment, "was Lady Jiang."
"That's right."
Pei Tang limped forward and said in a coquettish tone.
"Father, Jiang is guilty of kidnapping Sister Anyang, while Song Yu is meritorious for saving me. Their merits and demerits cancel each other out. Please forgive Jiang and release her."
The Empress also sighed.
"I beg Your Majesty to consider the merits of Lady Jiang in treating the plague and to give her a lenient sentence."
Emperor Jingyuan nodded.
He had heard about what happened at Qiyun. Since Anyang wasn't injured, he hadn't planned to severely punish Jiang Wan.
Now that there is a legitimate reason, the sentence can naturally be lenient.
However, he could not release the man immediately; he had to weigh the options carefully, otherwise he would not be able to explain himself to Anyang.
"Treat Song Yu first. I will consider the matter of the Jiang family," Emperor Jingyuan said.
That night.
Song Yu was left in the palace to recover from his injuries, while Song Lin was taken back to the general's mansion in a sorry state.
The Song family only knew that something had happened on the mountain. Gu Yurong was worried about Song Lin. Seeing that he was covered in dirt and looked unwell, she quickly went up to him and asked him if he was alright.
He was angrily rebuked by Song Ziyu.
"Ignore him! He's a disgrace!"
He recounted what had happened before the emperor, and then couldn't help but slap Song Lin.
"I even wanted to give you face in front of the Emperor, but now look what's happened! The Emperor can't forget you even if he wanted to! You're from a military family, how... how could you be so spineless!"
Song Tingyue's face darkened considerably.
"So, Jiang Wan will be pardoned soon?"
Song Ziyu tacitly agreed.
Gu Yurong gritted her teeth inwardly, but some doubts remained in her heart.
Gu's mother hired several martial arts experts to assassinate Jiang Wan, but so far there has been no news of them.
Did they all make mistakes?
How could that be?
Gu Yurong comforted herself.
Mr. Ji only hires vicious and highly skilled people. Even if Jiang Wan survives, she will probably be missing limbs by now.
How can a cripple fight her?
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