Her Family Had Someone to Back Her

Beside the official road stood a relay station enclosed by a ring of fencing, with mountains of fodder piled inside.

From afar, a rider came charging at full speed. He slowed as he neared the relay station, then Chen Guishuo wheeled his horse straight inside.

He reined in upon entering and leaped down, holding up a token toward the minor official who came out to greet him.

The minor official quickly brought him another fine horse that had been rested and re-energized. Chen Guishuo mounted and charged straight out of the relay station again, galloping at full speed along the road, with neither horse nor rider stopping to rest...

On one of the official roads within Guangyi Commandery, Niu Youdao led a group of ten riders. They were not traveling especially fast, proceeding neither hurriedly nor slowly along the way. After all, they had no relay stations at their disposal and had to consider the horses' stamina.

Shang Chaozong's personal guards had all changed into ordinary civilian clothes. Some had been stationed by Niu Youdao along the route, while the rest traveled with them.

Ahead, the tall walls of the commandery city had already appeared in their sights. Yuan Gang made a hand signal, and the two riders at the rear stayed behind, turning into the nearby mountain forest to conceal themselves. They were responsible for receiving and relaying messages. The rest continued without stopping. At the city gate, they dismounted to undergo the guards' inspection, while Shang Chaozong's personal guards stepped forward to smooth things over and get them through. Though Shang Chaozong had fallen on hard times, he was still no ordinary person. With no wartime alert in place, preparing an identity as a merchant caravan to enter the city was no problem.

Once inside Guangyi Commandery, it became clear that this land of fish and rice, this rich and fertile region, was extraordinary. The streets were exceedingly prosperous, with people flowing like a woven stream and shops lining the roads. Plenty of people were dressed smartly, a far cry from the desolation and decline outside. Riding his tall horse and parting the crowds, Niu Youdao looked left and right all the way, taking in the world's prosperity.

They found a decent inn. The inn's workers took the horses away to tend to them, while the personal guards prepared the guest rooms.

The group found their rooms and familiarized themselves with them, then gathered together again. Yuan Gang ordered three men to investigate the information they needed in the city, then said to three others, "You've all worked hard on the journey. Hurry and take turns resting."

"Yes!" The three men cupped their fists and accepted the order, then turned and returned to their own rooms.

Yuan Gang himself then left the inn with Niu Youdao and strolled through the commandery city's streets.

The two of them genuinely looked as though they were out sightseeing. Whenever they came across a silk shop, Niu Youdao would rush inside, embrace the finest silks and satins, and stroke them. From time to time, he would turn back and click his tongue at Yuan Gang. "Look at this weaving technique, this workmanship! Exquisite, exquisite!"

His praise delighted the shopkeeper, but after Niu Youdao asked about the price, he did not buy anything. He turned and left, leaving the shopkeeper happy for nothing.

Whether it was jewelry shops or livestock stalls, Niu Youdao's figure could be seen everywhere, asking about prices.

In short, the two of them did not look like they had come to handle business at all. They looked more like they had come to shop...

In the Capital City, at Song Manor, Song Jiuming, dressed in plain clothes, stood on the steps outside the main hall to receive a guest. Anyone who could make the dignified Minister of Justice wait personally to welcome them was naturally no simple person.

Song Jiuming seemed to be standing there casually, but guards and experts could be seen and felt in the corners on either side.

After a while, a group of people emerged from beside the artificial mountain screen wall. A burly man with a full beard strode over like a dragon and tiger, his face taut and clearly displeased.

This man was none other than Wang Heng, one of the four great commanders of the Capital City's garrisons. Though his official rank was below Song Jiuming's, he held several tens of thousands of troops in his hands, and no one in the Capital City dared to underestimate him. Wang Heng was also Song Yanqing's father-in-law. The plump woman following closely behind him with her head lowered was Song Yanqing's wife, Wang Liufang.

Song Shu and his wife stood to the side, smiling obsequiously. They had personally led their in-laws in from the main gate, but this time their in-law seemed unwilling to give them face, his expression unsightly.

Four cultivator guards accompanied Wang Heng on either side, all four remaining vigilant toward their surroundings throughout the journey.

When they reached the steps below the main hall, Wang Heng clasped his fists toward Song Jiuming and said coldly, "Your subordinate pays his respects to the Minister of Justice!"

Song Jiuming, who usually wore an expressionless face, showed a hint of a smile. He hurried down the steps and caught Wang Heng by the wrist. "There's no need for such formalities, in-law. There are no subordinates or superiors here, only family. Commander, come inside!" He personally took Wang Heng's hand and warmly pulled him into the hall.

The two sat down as host and guest, while Song Shu and the others could only stand. Wang Liufang lowered her head and stood behind her father, Wang Heng, looking utterly aggrieved.

The servants brought tea. Host and guest raised their cups and took a perfunctory sip, then Song Jiuming got to the point. "What brings the commander here?"

Bang! The teacup in Wang Heng's hand nearly smashed onto the tea table. He said bluntly, "If I hadn't come, my daughter might not have survived. My Wang Heng's humble household cannot aspire to marry into the household of the Minister of Justice. I've come today to ask the Song Family for a divorce decree for my daughter!"

Song Jiuming said in surprise, "Commander, how can you say such a thing? Fang'er is obedient and virtuous. We can hardly love her enough, so how could she be unable to go on living here? The young couple are deeply affectionate. Where could talk of a divorce decree have come from? Could it be that the commander intends to tear apart a loving couple?"

Wang Heng blew out his beard and glared. "Minister of Justice, let's speak plainly. It was your Song Family that wanted to marry her back then, and it was your Song Family that brought her in and then neglected her! As the old saying goes, a married daughter is water thrown out; marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog. How the young couple live their lives is their own affair, and I can't interfere in everything. But that doesn't mean I'll let that bastard Song Yanqing bully people like this!" Bang! He slapped the tea table again, rattling the teacups.

That curse of "bastard" made the corners of Song Shu's mouth twitch violently. If Song Yanqing was a bastard, did that not make him a bastard's father? Everyone in the Song Family felt awkward, as though they had all become bastards.

"The commander is overstating things," Song Jiuming said mildly.

Wang Heng said, "Not in the slightest. That good-for-nothing Song Yanqing spends his days carousing outside and lingering in pleasure quarters. It's not as though I don't know. We're all men, so I can understand some socializing and entertaining. I'm not unreasonable, and for some things I've turned a blind eye and pretended not to see. He plays around outside, and I can leave him be. It's not as though I can tie him up with a rope. But everything needs a limit. He has a family. He can't play around until he forgets he even has one. My daughter often can't even see him—what is that supposed to mean? This time he went too far. An entire month passed, and my daughter couldn't even see his shadow. She stayed alone in an empty room day after day, washing her face with tears. Is this how you bully someone? Since they can't go on living together, then don't force it. Bring out the divorce decree, and let's go our separate ways!"

His voice nearly tore the roof off. Behind him, his daughter Wang Liufang had reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, looking unbearably wronged.

The Song Family was extremely embarrassed. It was rare to encounter someone who came storming to their door, shouting, pounding the table, and throwing them such ugly looks. An ordinary person naturally would not have had the qualifications to act this way—who would dare try it? But Wang Liufang's family background was different. As the old saying went, her family had someone to back her! No matter how unhappy Wang Liufang was in her daily life, everyone in the Song Family still treated her with courtesy. Her living arrangements and treatment were absolutely first-rate. Even those who disliked her, including her parents-in-law, had to speak to her gently and amiably.

Song Jiuming had lost face and was suppressing a bellyful of anger. He glared coldly at Song Shu, then suddenly pointed at him and shouted, "If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault! I'll say this in front of our in-law today: if our in-law ever hears of anything like this again, I'll break that bastard's legs..."

Wang Heng looked up at the roof without saying a word. He listened as Song Jiuming berated Song Shu without trying to stop him. The talk of a divorce decree had only been talk, but coming today to stand up for his daughter was very real.

After a long bout of fierce scolding, Song Jiuming finally got Song Shu, who had been nodding and bowing, to stand. He walked over to Wang Heng's side and said with a pleasant expression, "Commander, this was my negligence. Rest assured, nothing like this will happen again. Besides, commander, you may have misunderstood that bastard."

"Misunderstood?" Wang Heng raised his brows and slowly stood up. He had thought Song Jiuming would apologize, after which the two sides would exchange a few pleasant words and let the matter pass. He had not expected another "misunderstanding" to emerge. He immediately grew displeased. Were they truly bullying the Wang Family? If even he was treated with such disregard, would his daughter have any good days ahead of her in the Song Family?

Song Jiuming raised a hand slightly, signaling him to calm down, then leaned close and whispered, "A month ago, before the person in the celestial prison was released, word came down from above. Yanqing rushed back to the Shangqing Sect overnight to handle an important matter. He wasn't lingering outside and refusing to return. He was also acting under compulsion. I hope the commander can understand!"

"Oh!" Wang Heng blinked, roughly understanding what it meant. The anger on his face gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

Just then, the steward of Song Manor appeared outside. He called toward Song Quan inside, "Master!"

Song Quan hurried out. Seeing that the steward's expression was off, he knew something might have happened. He went with him beneath a nearby eave. "What is it?"

The steward lowered his voice. "Something has happened to the young master of the Third Master's household." He handed over a sealed secret letter.

Song Quan took it and read it. His expression gradually turned grave. He quickly went back inside, pulled Song Jiuming, who had been speaking quietly with Wang Heng, aside, and whispered a few words. The secret letter was then passed over.

After reading the secret letter, Song Jiuming slowly closed his eyes. Everyone in the room saw that something was wrong and stared at him.

When he opened his eyes again, Song Jiuming looked toward Hu Guizhi, Song Shu's wife, and said, "Third son's wife, take Fang'er out for a walk."

Hu Guizhi agreed and went to Wang Heng's side to ask Wang Liufang to come with her. Wang Liufang instead looked toward her father. Wang Heng realized that Song Jiuming must have something to discuss, so he raised a hand and let his daughter leave with her mother-in-law.

With those who might be affected by the matter gone, the secret report in Song Jiuming's hands was passed to Wang Heng.

After reading it, Wang Heng's expression changed drastically. He abruptly looked at Song Jiuming. "My lord, is this report genuine?"

"There would be no point in forging something like this," Song Jiuming said mildly.

Wang Heng silently sat down, seeming to collapse into the chair. His expression held a trace of bewilderment. The guards behind him looked at one another, equally unaware of what had happened.

"Third son, you need to prepare yourself mentally." Song Jiuming turned his head toward his son. "Something has happened to Yanqing. He's already dead!"

"..." Song Shu froze in place, unable to believe it. He immediately rushed to Wang Heng, snatched the secret report from his hands, and read it. Once he understood what had happened, he staggered back several steps, swaying as though he might collapse. Song Quan hurried forward to support him.