Song Qingchao, upon recognizing the newcomer, quickly pulled Song Qingmu behind her.
With her hand hidden behind her back, she desperately rubbed blood onto Song Qingmu's hand.
She had seen it clearly just moments ago; the lean monkey’s expression held a flicker of shock and fear.
Therefore, instead of responding to the declaration, "I've come to marry you," she lowered her head and sobbed, "Shaocheng, my mother… she's dead."
Song Qingchao trembled all over, her arms held tightly around herself, "Mu mu's hand is ruined. I'm so scared…"
Feng Shaocheng glanced at Song Qingmu behind her, his tone softening as he cautiously stepped forward.
Song Qingchao, however, recoiled, bumping directly into Song Qingmu's embrace.
"What are you doing here?"
Song Qingmu's icy voice, transmitted through her back, reached her chest, making her nose sting.
In her past life, her brother's attitude towards Feng Shaocheng was exactly the same. Yet, she had always attributed this animosity to jealousy.
After all, their relationship was not good.
"I've come to save your sister."
Feng Shaocheng half-crouched, his voice cold and utterly different from when he spoke to Song Qingchao.
"With what will you save her?"
"If you marry me, you will become a member of the Feng family, and this crime of the Song family will be absolved."
"A concubine?" Song Qingmu's tone was flat, laced with mockery. "Feng Shaocheng, you have a lot of nerve."
Song Qingchao shivered, instinctively waiting for Feng Shaocheng's answer.
In her past life, she hadn't even been considered a concubine.
When he was happy, he would tease her a few words; when he was displeased, he would ignore her for days.
Only when Mu mu came did he agree to marry her.
"Song Qingmu, you'd better understand the current situation." Feng Shaocheng rubbed his brow, sighing with exhaustion. "Are you going to let Chaocao suffer with you? She's your sister!"
"I will naturally protect my elder sister."
"Easy for you to say. With her hand ruined, how will you protect her?"
"I..."
Song Qingchao yanked him abruptly, "Mu mu."
The siblings exchanged a glance. She shook her head, warning Song Qingmu not to speak.
"Chaocao, I did my best. You know the situation."
Song Qingchao bit her lip, remaining silent.
Song Qingmu, however, scoffed and looked away.
"I am also very sorry about your aunt's passing, but people must move forward. This is the only solution I can think of for now. Please don't blame me."
Feng Shaocheng reached out to stroke Song Qingchao's head, but she dodged away.
"You… are you afraid of me?"
His hand froze mid-air, and his smile became stiff.
"No… I'm afraid of implicating you."
Song Qingchao spoke softly, but slowly revealed her hidden profile.
Her skin was torn and bloody. No matter how stunning her appearance, it was now ruined.
Just as she had predicted, Feng Shaocheng hesitated.
"You won't despise me?"
"Our affection for each other, this small injury is not enough to change that." Feng Shaocheng revealed his hypocritical side again. "Don't worry, I'll find a way."
Song Qingchao smiled weakly. Her already pale and frail face seemed even more meek with this smile.
"Don't force yourself."
Feng Shaocheng lowered his head, his voice turning aggrieved. "Are you still angry about what happened earlier? I was just too worried about you."
With a "slap," he raised his hand and struck his own face. "Blame me. If only I had come sooner."
Feng Shaocheng slapped his face repeatedly.
Song Qingchao watched him indifferently, not rushing to stop him, only murmuring "Don't hit yourself" in a detached manner.
But in her heart, she wished he would hit himself harder.
If she still couldn't figure out what was happening now, she would be utterly foolish.
Her father was not dead. The Emperor exiling her and her brother was essentially a way of holding them hostage.
The destruction of their family was just the beginning. Such a grand scheme could not have been orchestrated by the Feng family alone.
Too many forces were involved behind the scenes.
Her mother chose to sacrifice her life to protect them, but while it seemed like a way out, it was not.
Every step was meticulously calculated by someone.
This person wanted to clip their wings without destroying their foundation.
They aimed to incite hatred and then guide that hatred to target another faction.
In this game, everyone was a pawn.
Song Qingchao clenched Feng Shaocheng's clothes fiercely. Overwhelmed by anger, she spat out a mouthful of blood.
Startled, Feng Shaocheng quickly held her tightly.
She lay in his embrace, her blurred vision fixed on her mother's corpse.
Even her mother's death was part of a scheme.
She felt pain!
She would absolutely, absolutely not forgive!
She would return the pain she had endured a thousandfold, a hundredfold.
Therefore, Feng Shaocheng could not die yet.
She wanted to keep him, to torment him slowly.
She wanted to use him as bait to gradually uncover the tangled web of corruption behind all of this.
Song Qingchao withdrew her gaze, her hand trembling as she touched Feng Shaocheng's face. Large tears traced her upward-curving lips. "Shaocheng, I cannot agree to you. You are so outstanding, and now, I am not worthy of you."
She choked on blood and coughed a few more times, weakly trying to break free from his embrace. "Mu mu will protect me. Don't worry. Shaocheng, let go."
Feng Shaocheng held her hand against his face, lowering his head and sobbing, "I won't. I absolutely won't let go!"
Song Qingchao tilted her head back, looking at the expressionless Song Qingmu beside them.
A faint smile touched her lips, both desolate and beautiful. "To you, I am now a burden. I absolutely cannot agree. Give up on that thought."
Feng Shaocheng, I've changed my mind.
I want to make you fall in love with me.
In the previous life, you imprisoned me under the guise of love.
In this life, you will offer yourself for this damned love.
She turned her head to the lean monkey, who had been standing by as a mere decoration, and raised her hand.
"Sir, it's getting late, and the house has been searched. Can we start our journey?"
The lean monkey's face darkened. "Young Master Feng, do not delay the appointed time."
"Scram!" Feng Shaocheng roared. He raised his head, his eyes watering and bloodshot. "Chaocao, come with me."
Song Qingchao sighed. "Let go."
"I'm doing this for your own good!"
Song Qingchao slowly turned her head to meet his gaze, her eyes calm, but she slapped him hard. "Wake up. If you truly wanted what's best for me, you would clear the name of my Song family, not hold me and cry like this."
Using all her strength, she broke free from Feng Shaocheng's embrace and pulled Song Qingmu towards the exit.
"You will die!"
Song Qingchao paused for a moment, then stepped out of the dimly lit room. Her voice was soft and low, yet resonated with conviction. "How can the son of a general be a coward afraid of death?"
Reaching the main gate of the Zhennan Marquis's residence,
The rain was still falling, but the people had not left. Their faces, etched with wrinkles, conveyed nothing but "worry."
Song Qingchao smiled and offered a deep bow in return.
"My father had three wishes: first, for the mountains and rivers to be clear; second, for the family and nation to be safe; and third, for Chaocao and Mu mu."
Song Qingmu watched her from behind.
This was an elder sister he had never seen before.
Gentle yet strong, resolute and decisive, always believing in their father.
He watched her descend the steps, pick up the dropped oiled paper umbrella, and then turn to offer her hand to him.
"Father's wishes, shall we fulfill them together?"