After paying her respects, Jiang Wan returned to her palace.
The maidservant hurriedly stepped forward and reported, "The Third Prince came just now, and when he saw that you weren't there, he threw a huge tantrum and said he wanted to settle accounts with you."
"Ignore him." Jiang Wan waved her hand.
Upon entering, Biluo took the initiative to step forward and greet them.
"Just now in the corridor, the Second Prince first apologized to Song Tingyue, and then suggested that the Song family perform the sword dance created by General Song himself during his lifetime at the Lantern Festival, so as to arouse His Majesty's pity and thus make an exception for the General's Mansion."
Jiang Wan's eyes flickered as she fell into memories.
General Song did indeed perform a sword dance, which was named "Flowing Wind Sword Dance" by the late emperor because of its graceful and swift movements.
That is indeed a solution.
The fact that His Majesty imprisoned the Gu family but did not implicate the General's Mansion shows that he still harbors feelings for the Song family.
If the Emperor were to change his mind, it is not impossible that he would place all the blame for the military supplies on the Gu family and turn a blind eye to Song Ziyu's suspicions.
"I've heard of this dance; only those with martial arts skills can practice it. I imagine General Song will personally perform it then," Biluo guessed.
Jiang Wan slightly lifted her eyelashes, revealing a hint of a smile.
Song Ziyu was indulging in a life of debauchery, his body weakened by wine and women. How could he possibly wield exquisite swordsmanship?
Besides, the Lantern Festival is just around the corner, and there's simply no time for him to recover.
She gently shook her head and uttered a name: "No, this person will be Song Lin."
They had a close relationship with Song Yu, and apart from Song Ziyu, Song Lin was the only Song family man they could trust.
"Young Master Lin?" Biluo asked in surprise, "He has already lost his martial arts skills, how can he still wield a sword?"
Jiang Wan sneered: "The Hermit of Nanshan has many extraordinary skills. If he wants to practice martial arts, he won't have to worry about finding a way."
However, many times, a way out is also a dead end.
And once you step onto that path, there's no turning back.
Just as Jiang Wan had expected, Song Tingyue, with Pei Jin's idea, discussed it with Madam Yuan and Madam Zhou, and they all felt that the method was feasible. The group went to the hospital to find Song Ziyu.
They were startled when they saw Song Ziyu's appearance.
After a few days apart, he reeked of alcohol, his cheeks were sunken, his eyes were vacant, and he looked completely different.
He was holding a wine jug and was drinking himself into a stupor, so much so that he didn't even recognize Zhou Shi.
"Yu'er, how could you have become like this!"
Zhou hurriedly ordered someone to prepare a hangover remedy. Holding Song Ziyu in her arms, she was both surprised and heartbroken.
Upon seeing Aunt Ru on the bed, Song Tingyue seemed to understand something and launched into a tirade of abuse.
"It was you? Taking advantage of Ziyu's depression, you fed him these bewitching potions! No wonder you're just a low-class courtesan, only knowing these vixen-like bewitching arts. You're trying to kill him, to ruin the General's Mansion, do you know that?!"
The matriarch was furious: "Guards, throw her out of the manor and sell her to a brothel!"
Aru was dragged off the bed.
She slid down to her knees beside the matriarch, protecting her lower abdomen, and said, "Madam, it would be a pity if you killed me, but I am carrying the general's bloodline. I beg you to have mercy and let me give birth to this child!"
These words shocked all three of them.
The matriarch asked a doctor to take her pulse, and it was confirmed that Aru was indeed two months pregnant.
Zhou was half angry and half pleased. She had someone send Aru back to the courtyard and assigned two old women to take care of her.
In any case, we cannot wrong the Song family's bloodline.
"Grandmother, what can we do now?" Song Tingyue looked at Song Ziyu's dejected appearance and felt a surge of despair. "With my brother like this, he certainly won't be able to practice swordsmanship anymore."
The matriarch frowned, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Where is Song Lin? Give him the sword manual and see if he can accomplish this."
If that doesn't work, they can only select a soldier from the Song family army, but the effect will definitely not be as good as the descendants of the Song family personally taking the field.
The matriarch was desperate, thinking she had nothing to lose.
Song Lin's performance, however, was beyond her expectations.
Not only did he become familiar with the sword manual in just one day, but his every move was also very skillful and aesthetically pleasing.
However, this beauty contains a touch of femininity, which cannot be perceived by those who are not highly skilled in martial arts.
Therefore, the matriarch and Song Tingyue were pleasantly surprised.
"If you can regain the Emperor's favor at the Lantern Festival, your grandmother will remember you as a great hero."
The matriarch specially instructed someone to give Song Lin the precious sword that General Song used for his sword dance years ago.
A bright yellow necklace hangs from the hilt of the sword, which was personally tied on by the late emperor.
Emperor Jingyuan would be even more moved if he saw this.
Song Tingyue smiled and said, "That's right. You've been diligently practicing the sword manual these past few days. Feel free to make any requests, and your aunt will try her best to fulfill them."
Song Lin raised his head.
"I have no requests, except... there are not enough maids to serve in the courtyard, which makes daily activities a bit inconvenient."
Song Tingyue nodded, assuming that Gu Yurong had made a mistake, and that the servants were not serving Song Lin properly as well.
"These are nothing, they're all minor matters."
She assigned four maids to serve Song Lin.
Two days later, a servant came to report that two of Song Lin's maids had died in bed, and their deaths were...somewhat gruesome.
Upon hearing the report, Song Tingyue's eyes widened in surprise.
"He's so young, he's far from being married, how could he..."
Forget it, as long as we can get through the Lantern Festival, we can't worry about anything else right now.
Turn a blind eye and let Song Lin do as he pleases.
She frowned and ordered, "Send two more maids."
He then specifically instructed, "Don't let Grandma know about this, so as not to worry her."
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