Chapter 28: Matters of the Charitable Hall
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“You certainly have plenty of free time, my lord.” Song Xirui swallowed a mouthful of water, her expression weary and her tone faintly sarcastic.
These days, she considered even one extra word to Xiao Yunci too many.
Xiao Yunci turned to Hongdou. “Little girl, go outside first.”
“No!” Hongdou planted herself in front of Song Xirui and glared at him like she were confronting a tyrant. “You are not taking my madam away!”
She remembered perfectly well that this was the very man who had taken her madam away last time and never returned her.
How despicable!
The corner of Xiao Yunci’s mouth twitched as his gaze fell upon Song Xirui’s face.
Song Xirui remained unmoved.
In fact, she rather enjoyed seeing him at a loss.
At last, Xiao Yunci sighed. “Madam Su, I only meant that your little maid knows too much. I fear that may not be good for her.”
A sharp glint entered Song Xirui’s eyes. She raised a hand and gently patted Hongdou’s shoulder. “It’s all right, Hongdou. He won’t make things difficult for me this time.”
Hongdou shot Xiao Yunci a glare before obediently leaving.
“What does the general want with me?” Song Xirui asked, sparing her words as always. She was unwilling to say even one sentence more than necessary.
Xiao Yunci gave a mocking laugh and sat down of his own accord. From within his robe, he took out a jade vial and held it out to her.
“Give this to Su Yun. After he takes it, he will never pester you again.”
Song Xirui did not accept it. She gave a soft laugh. “If you mean poison, I have plenty of my own. There is no need for the general to trouble himself.”
“This poison is different.”
Xiao Yunci’s expression turned solemn. “This medicine will render a man impotent. Once he takes it, that top scholar Su will be a false man—a genuine eunuch.”
He looked perfectly composed, his expression utterly matter-of-fact.
Song Xirui froze.
Xiao Yunci actually intended to make Su Yun impotent?
“Has Su Yun offended you, my lord?” Confusion filled Song Xirui’s eyes. “What you are doing would make him suffer even more than killing him.”
Could there be some information she had yet to uncover?
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yunci abandoned his usual forthright manner and merely gave a vague reply. “Madam is my ally. Naturally, I should help shoulder her troubles.”
Song Xirui eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”
Could a fox-like man such as him truly be this kindhearted?
Xiao Yunci wore an expression of righteous sincerity. “Of course.”
With that, he pushed the jade vial toward her and urged, “The sooner, the better. Remember, do not go soft on him.”
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Song Xirui cast him a sidelong glance before accepting the jade vial.
Afterward, the two of them discussed affairs of the court.
“The secret letter says that Su Yun is conspiring with the Third Prince. Is that true?” Song Xirui lifted her eyes to Xiao Yunci, a faint trace of doubt in them. “How did he come to associate with the Third Prince? This connection…”
“It is true.” Xiao Yunci nodded. “Our people have been following Su Yun all along. We have not only confirmed that he is in contact with the Third Prince, but also that he intends to pledge his allegiance to him and become his aide. However, I have not discovered how he first came to know the Third Prince.”
Song Xirui lowered her eyes, falling into thought.
In her previous life, Su Yun had had little interaction with the Third Prince and had always stood with the Crown Prince.
How had he come to be connected with the Third Prince now?
Where, exactly, had things gone wrong?
Or perhaps, in the unseen workings of fate, many matters were already destined to unfold differently.
A sense of danger seized her heart.
“The Third Prince is deeply calculating. He should not accept Su Yun’s allegiance so easily,” Song Xirui said coolly.
A smile touched Xiao Yunci’s eyes. “Why does Madam think so?”
A mocking smile skimmed across Song Xirui’s lips. “In this world, anyone who wishes to secure a future for himself must offer a pledge of loyalty. Sometimes, he may even have to wager his life. Am I right, General?”
Xiao Yunci was like that. The Crown Prince was like that. Could the Third Prince be any different?
At this, Xiao Yunci laughed heartily. “Madam is clever. The Third Prince indeed refused to accept Su Yun’s allegiance outright. Instead, he ordered him to settle a case first.”
Song Xirui asked, “What case?”
“Do you know that children have been disappearing from the orphanage, one after another, for many years?” Xiao Yunci asked.
Song Xirui pondered briefly. “You mean the case from more than a decade ago? I only remember hearing Father mention it once. It caused quite a commotion, but in the end, the real culprit was never found.”
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened. “This matter is connected to the Third Prince?”
“Yes!” At the mention of it, Xiao Yunci’s face turned cold. “Most of the children in the orphanage were orphans with neither father nor mother. Their identities and origins were unclear. People like that are the easiest to control. I have already uncovered the truth. From more than a decade ago until now, the Third Prince has taken away a large number of children from the orphanage. While I was stationed in the northern deserts, I naturally had no way to oversee such matters. Children continued to disappear year after year, yet for some reason, the people at the orphanage never reported it to the authorities. By the time anyone realized what had happened, it was too late. Those children were most likely trained to become assassins.”
Song Xirui’s eyes grew icy. “Yes. They only wanted to survive in this world, perhaps even to study for the imperial examinations and earn an official position someday. Yet their future was stolen from them just like that. The imperial family is heartless, treating the common people as pawns.”
After a moment, she asked, “The Third Prince wants Su Yun to help him resolve this case? What ability does Su Yun possess?”
Xiao Yunci looked up at her. “That is something you must answer, Madam. Can you make sure Su Yun no longer possesses that ability?”
His meaning was unmistakable.
Song Xirui narrowed her eyes. “So the general is waiting for me to accept the assignment?”
Xiao Yunci rubbed his nose. “Saving one life is worth more than building a seven-tier pagoda. Madam is kindhearted. Surely you cannot stand by and watch innocent people fall into the abyss.”
“Mm—!”
Xiao Yunci’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Did you kick me?”
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“So what if I did? You dared to scheme against me. Beating you would not even begin to satisfy me!” Song Xirui glared at him angrily.
Xiao Yunci pressed his lips together and fell silent. He found that, when angry, Song Xirui possessed a certain endearing charm.
At last, Song Xirui said, “Starting tomorrow, I will find a way to stop Su Yun.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunci let out a soft laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” Irritation colored Song Xirui’s voice.
“I am laughing because Madam is cold on the outside but warm at heart, with a hatred of evil as deep as the sky. Had you been a man, you would surely have joined me in pacifying the realm and bringing prosperity to the world.”
“Xiao Yunci.” Song Xirui called his name coldly, a trace of anger flickering in her eyes. “And what of women? I, Song Xirui, am a woman, yet I am no less capable than any of you!”
Xiao Yunci was abruptly stunned, astonishment filling his eyes.
After a long moment, he nodded solemnly. “This general misspoke. Madam is certainly a woman who can rival any man.”
Song Xirui shot him a glare, then pointed toward the window and softly uttered two words: “Leave. Now.”
A wave of resentment rose within Xiao Yunci’s heart.
Why did he always have to climb through the window like a thief, while that scoundrel Su Yun could enter openly through the main door? It was truly unfair!
But he said nothing. He simply climbed out the window and left.
—
Late that night, Song Xirui fell asleep with Hongdou attending to her.
She closed her eyes, and the sight of Su Yun lunging toward her that day rose before her.
In the darkness, she opened her eyes.
A silent decision formed within her heart.
She absolutely could not allow such a beast to control the court and rise to power.
When that happened, her Song family would be doomed, and the realm would descend into chaos.
All she wanted was to live peacefully and happily with her father and mother, safe and well for the rest of their lives.
—
On the other side of the capital,
a raging fire swept through the orphanage.
Amid the towering sea of flames were the shrill cries and anguished screams of countless children.
They struggled desperately, yet no one came to save them. In the end, their lives were swallowed by the boundless inferno.
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