Xie Yan raised the hand holding the sword tip and blew on it lightly, then carelessly drew it across the back of his other hand.
Cherry red flowed down the bulging veins, soaking into the blue sleeve, more aesthetically pleasing than a flowing stream.
"What are you doing!"
He held his hand to his lips, raising an index finger in a "shush" gesture. Then, with a swift movement, he grabbed the man's neck and, with a smile, plunged the broken sword into his chest.
Song Qingchao smiled helplessly, "Aren't you afraid the old Marquis will put you under house arrest?"
Xie Yan loosened his grip and pushed.
The man fell to the ground with a "bang," silent.
He frowned and offered his hand to Song Qingchao, "It's dirty."
Song Qingchao truly couldn't do anything about him, so she took a handkerchief and wiped it for him.
The Xie family's ancestors were founding功臣 (meritorious officials), and the marquis title was hereditary. The martial arts family ultimately chose to pursue civil service to protect themselves.
This Xie Yan, however, was rebellious. He secretly learned martial arts from a young age and was beaten so badly by the old Marquis that he couldn't get out of bed for three days.
It was only when her father presented the old Marquis with two jars of fifty-year-old bamboo leaf green wine that Xie Yan was spared.
From then on, Xie Yan went to her house to practice martial arts, and the old Marquis never intervened again.
However, there were also rules: no lives were to be taken, and no martial arts were to be practiced openly.
"Song Chaichao."
"Yes?"
"You must be well, and only then will I be at ease."
Song Qingchao didn't know when Xie Yan had left.
He had said a lot, and while most of it confirmed her suspicions, it still hurt to have someone lay the facts bare before her.
She raised her head and looked at the only window.
It was autumn already.
Although autumn had arrived, the lingering summer heat was still fierce.
To the east of the Imperial Prison, outside the majestic grand hall, the rising heat from the ground was visible.
In the vast open space, a small figure knelt, swaying precariously.
Li Yanzhu had been kneeling there for some time. As the most favored eldest princess of Great Yuan, her father had never treated her with such hardship!
"Princess, Princess, please have some water."
Beside her, the palace maid Xiao Cui knelt, asking with pity. Since entering the palace, she had never seen His Majesty treat the eldest princess this way.
The current Emperor doted on the princess immensely. Even the most favored Consort Wan would be jealous by three parts.
"I won't drink." Li Yanzhu glared, pinching her thigh with her lowered hand, wincing from the pain. "Xiao Panzi, go tell Father that if he sends Chaichao and Mumu away, he doesn't need this daughter anymore."
The young eunuch beside her looked as if his face were about to fall to the ground, with a look of grievance. "Ancestors, this is a matter of state. The imperial decree has been issued, and water thrown out cannot be taken back, especially when it's related to the Bai family. Please, do not rush into the muzzle."
The eunuch and the young palace maid were so anxious their heads felt like they were smoking, but Li Yanzhu remained stubbornly kneeling.
Uncle Song was upright, and Aunt Song was delicate. How could those two, who spent their days indulging in pleasure, have any connection to the Bai family!
If they said the children were ambitious, she wouldn't say anything. But Chaichao was so weak that she trembled even when holding a cup of tea, and Mumu couldn't even lift a saber.
She truly didn't know who the Emperor had believed. Some old, senile fool was stirring up trouble again.
"This is truly infuriating!"
Li Yanzhu lifted her skirt and was about to smash the door, but was surrounded by a group of young eunuchs.
She gritted her teeth, her hands trembling as she pointed at them one by one. "None of you touch me. I am the eldest princess. Whichever finger touches me, I will have Father chop it off!"
But these young eunuchs were like loaches, dense and numerous. They couldn't touch her, but they could block her completely.
Blocking her was one thing, but they were also sobbing.
This was truly infuriating!
She couldn't help but curse loudly, "This princess isn't dead yet, why are you all crying as if for the dead?"
"Oh, my dear lady, please go back. His Majesty is very troubled right now, you..."
"I won't listen, I won't listen. A turtle chanting scriptures."
Li Yanzhu covered her ears, closed her eyes, and charged forward.
"Princess, something bad has happened! Miss Song is in trouble!"
Li Yanzhu's eyes snapped open, and she looked at the rushing Xiao Guo. "What is it?"
"Miss Song and the young master have been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. It's heard that after they were released, Miss Song caused quite a scene."
Xiao Guo's voice grew softer and softer. Li Yanzhu, anxious, grabbed her shoulders. "And then?"
"Then..." Xiao Guo glanced up at Xiao Panzi, then lowered her head.
How could Li Yanzhu not understand? She angrily threw her hand aside and rushed out in a hurry.
"Princess, Princess! Slow down!"
Xiao Cui and Xiao Guo hurried to follow, holding up their skirts.
They were too familiar with their mistress's impetuous nature.
Xiao Guo sped up, catching up to Li Yanzhu. "Princess, the news only reached the palace late. Miss Song and the others should have already left the city. If we ride fast, we should be able to catch them at Thirty Li Pavilion."
Li Yanzhu nodded. "Good, we'll do as you say. Quickly tell me, what happened to her?"
"Madam Song passed away. Your servant dared to go to the mass grave, but there was no body there."
"What!"
Li Yanzhu stopped in her tracks, stunned, and looked at Xiao Guo blankly. "You mean Aunt Song is gone?"
Xiao Guo nodded with difficulty. "Yes, killed with one sword thrust, no room for recovery."
"How could this be..." Li Yanzhu swayed and stumbled backward, caught by the catching-up Xiao Cui.
Her voice lost its usual assertiveness, replaced by a sob. "Someone who feared pain so much, how could they?"
She pushed Xiao Cui away and turned to look in the direction of the imperial palace, her eyes filled with confusion. "How did it come to this?"
"Princess, it is most important that we go see Miss Song now." Xiao Cui quickly stepped forward and held her wrist. "The Northern Frontier is far, and if we delay any longer, we will not be able to see her."
Li Yanzhu bit her lip and steadied herself. "Xiao Cui will come with me, Xiao Guo, prepare the horses."
"Yes, Princess."
Meanwhile, in the distance, the great door that the eldest princess had knelt before for a long time without success slowly opened from the inside.
A middle-aged man with white hair walked out with a majestic stride.
"Xiao Panzi, has Yanzhu left?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." The old servant, who had been panting moments ago, instantly resumed his humble demeanor. "Do you need me to send someone to follow her?"
The man waved his hand. "It's fine."
"But..."
"Let her go," the man said, covering his mouth with a clenched fist and coughing twice. "Can you stop her?"
He raised his hand, and Xiao Panzi quickly stepped forward, respectfully saying, "Your Majesty is right. This servant is just worried that the princess, being simple-minded, will be deceived by those two little vixen."
The man snorted. "My daughter, although a bit arrogant and domineering, still has her wits about her."
"It is this servant who misspoke. Our little princess is intelligent and perceptive, so Your Majesty need not worry."
"You, you always know how to please me. Let's go, back to Cold Pond," the man said, shaking his head. "How can those noble families let this opportunity pass..."
"It's cold there, Your Majesty, you should still take care of yourself."
The man smiled and sighed. "I am very healthy."
"Yes, Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years."