Chapter 406: Chapter 397: She Resents Him Now
Facing the woman’s reddened eyes, Song Tingfan panicked, holding her in his arms and raising his hand to console her, promising, "I will catch that person."
The woman in his arms suddenly bit his arm, and he didn’t even flinch, allowing her to bite.
After some time, the woman finally let go of him, and seeing her calm down, Song Tingfan raised his hand to wipe her tears, but she avoided him, making his hand halt in mid-air before finally retracting.
She resented him...
But there was no turning back. If he didn’t succeed, they would all die.
His recent actions had displeased the Third Prince, which led to Lin Qiao being targeted.
If no one stops Lin Qiao, what would he do?
Thinking of this, the rage within him surged even more.
He’s not a pushover.
No one can touch her.
"Someone, bring in the food."
The maid outside quickly responded, "Yes, General."
...
The room was silent for a while before a dark figure walked out.
Shortly after, in the secluded courtyard, the dim candlelight flickered, casting obscure shadows, with only a somber voice heard, "I’ll give you half an hour."
"Spare me, General Song! I truly don’t know. I thought these were the jewelry you bought for the madam..." The maid was terrified, kneeling on the floor, continuously kowtowing.
"How much longer will you lie? Everything entering the mansion goes through the gatekeeper. We already asked there, and they said you’re the one who stopped the inspection, claiming you knew the box." The housekeeper angrily said,
If she were him, she’d hurry and confess, maybe still have a chance to live.
But now, it’s unlikely she can survive.
The maid tried to lie again, "I just thought these were bought by the General..."
Before she finished her sentence, a sharp pain struck her shoulder, and the next moment, she was kicked into the corner.
The man chillingly said, "I’ll give you one more chance, speak!"
"Spare me, General, I didn’t..." Before the maid could finish her sentence, her voice disappeared.
The housekeeper beside her, looking at the dagger by her neck, broke into a cold sweat on his forehead, not daring to look at the man.
He restrained himself from trembling.
The General’s rage was showing again.
The man’s deep voice said, "In the coming days, add some calming herbs to the food."
The housekeeper quickly responded, "Okay."
...
The sky had brightened, and the sun was high.
"Hurry, hurry, Song General has led troops to surround the government office and arrested Mr. Jiang."
"Who did you hear this from?"
"My nephew told me, let’s go, or we’ll miss the excitement."
"Wait for me, I’ll go home and inform my wife."
"Gosh, you guys always have to report everything to your wife. I’m not waiting; I’m going first."
"Why would Song General arrest Mr. Jiang? Could it be Mr. Jiang did something bad?"
"I always thought Mr. Jiang was... a corrupt official."
"Keep your voice down, or they’ll arrest you."
Meanwhile, at the government office
Jiang Guo’an looked at the soldiers surrounding him with swords, glaring angrily at Song Tingfan, demanding, "What are you trying to do? Detaining an official privately is a capital offense."
Song Tingfan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he coldly replied, "You think you can walk away alive?"
"Exploitation of the people, embezzling their wealth."
He paused briefly, "Attempted murder of the Seventh Prince." He finished with a cold snort.
At the mention of the last few words, Jiang Guo’an’s pupils shrank slightly, but having been in the Capital for so many years, how could he be intimidated by this brute? He snorted coldly, "Song General, don’t think that just because you’re a high-ranking official, you can falsely accuse others. I, Jiang Guo’an, have always acted justly and sat with integrity."
Song Tingfan’s expression didn’t change, he stepped forward two more steps, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, ominously, "Harm my people, and don’t expect to live."
After saying this, he signaled to Zhou Fu’an, who nodded, stepped forward, and restrained Jiang Guo’an.
Jiang Guo’an, having been an official for over a decade, was always treated courteously by others, angrily said, "Try touching me! Do you know I..."
He choked back his words forcibly at the end.
He didn’t feel much fear even now because the Third Prince already held most of the power in the court. As long as there was no irrefutable evidence, the Emperor wouldn’t dare move against him.
At that moment, a shrill and loud cry sounded, "Imperial decree is here!"
Instantly, a group of people knelt directly on the ground, "Long live the Emperor."
"By the Emperor’s decree, Jiang Guo’an has oppressed the people, embezzled their wealth, attempted to murder the Sixth Prince, with evidence irrefutable, unforgivable sins, thus to be executed immediately, and his family members to be enslaved and exiled to the border, So decreed."
The robust eunuch respectfully handed the decree to Song Tingfan, saying, "Song General, the Emperor entrusts this matter entirely to your handling."
Jiang Guo’an snapped out of his stupor, incredulous, then kowtowed, "I’m innocent! Eunuch Wang, I request to see the Emperor."
Eunuch Wang snorted coldly, then signaled to the eunuch behind to show him the items, shrill-voiced, "Mr. Jiang, don’t speak recklessly, the Emperor is wise and won’t wrongly accuse anyone. Here is the evidence, have a careful look."
Jiang Guo’an grabbed the papers fiercely, his face growing paler as he read, finally tearing them into pieces and hurling them at Song Tingfan, "How do you have these things? I already destroyed them. Who are you? How do you know these things? Impossible, impossible!"
No matter how he tried to riddle it out, Jiang Guo’an wouldn’t imagine that Song Tingfan had been reincarnated, a close confidant of the Third Prince in his past life.
Besides Song Tingfan, everyone else instinctively thought Jiang Guo’an was scared out of his wits, spewing nonsense.
Jiang Guo’an, a second-rank official, yesterday clashed at the court, yet today died at the market gate.
All of the Capital sighed, and the officials privately began to restrain their actions, no longer daring to underestimate Song Tingfan.
To be able to depose a second-rank official so swiftly is not solely because of Imperial favor...
...
Lin Qiao fell ill, remained comatose for several consecutive days. The doctor couldn’t diagnose the illness, only saying it was excessive fright.
Lin Ling had never seen his mother lying in bed for so many days; he leaned against the bedside, wanting to cry but not daring to, "Mother, why aren’t you waking up? I’ve learned a lot of big characters; wake up, and I’ll show them to you."
"Mother, wake up."
"Go outside to play."
Song Tingfan was about to bend down to take him outside when Lin Ling avoided him, clutching Lin Qiao’s hand, refusing to let go, "It must be you bullying mom, you’re bad!"
"Mom never got sick with Mr. Xu; it’s all your fault, you’re a big bad guy."
The child had been by Lin Qiao’s side since childhood, seeing her unresponsive, naturally panicked.
These words felt like daggers stabbing into Song Tingfan’s chest. He pursed his lips, letting the child hit him.
Lin Ling suddenly burst into tears, "Mother, wake up, I miss you, mom..."
The woman’s eyelashes trembled twice before opening her eyes after some time, looking at her tearful child, "What happened?"
Upon hearing her voice, Lin Ling immediately stopped crying, throwing himself into her arms, "Mom, I was scared; I thought you didn’t want me."
"I wouldn’t."
Lin Qiao shook her head, her peripheral vision catching sight of the man next to her, immediately thinking of Xu Dagui’s death.
Those eyes lingered for a long time.
