Calling in Backup!

Early on the morning two days later, Song Linshi prepared breakfast, then began packing for her children's impending journey.

As the saying went, a mother worried when her child traveled a thousand miles, but Song Linshi was not particularly worried about their safety. After all, she had prepared herself for this from the day she married into the Song family.

In the Black Robe Guard, roaming the length and breadth of the land and traveling on official business were everyday occurrences.

Her only concern was that, with her son and daughter leaving, their marriages would probably be delayed another six months or a year.

Fortunately, her young niece Lin Daiyu would be traveling with them. She could only hope her son would get a clue along the way and strike a few sparks with Daiyu.

After breakfast, their father, Song Yuanshan, had to report to the office for roll call. Once they stepped outside the gate, he began giving Song Xuan advice.

"There's no end to official work. Don't work yourself to death once you get there. Doing enough to get by is fine."

Song Xuan nodded, unsurprised by his father's advice.

After all, slacking off was a time-honored tradition in the Song family.

"You've always known your own mind, so there isn't much for me to tell you. Just stay safe. If things become unbearable over there, come straight home. It's no big deal. I can shoulder the pressure from above for you!"

Song Xuan inclined his head slightly, discreetly looking his father up and down.

Old Song was a seasoned old hand at the Black Robe Guard Office. He had never expected his father to show such a commanding side today.

After leaving home, Song Qian hired a carriage, and the two headed toward the Jia family's Rongguo Mansion.

An ancestor of the Jia family had followed the Founding Emperor of Great Zhou and won great merits, earning the hereditary title of Duke of Rongguo.

By now, however, the Jia family had long since declined, with little left beyond their title. In the sprawling Rongguo Duke Mansion, hardly a single descendant of the clan amounted to anything.

Of course, even in decline, their hereditary dukedom remained, and the Jia family still put on quite a show. From a distance, a group of servants could be seen standing outside the gates of the vast estate, haughtily surveying the pedestrians passing by.

Their manner gave the distinct impression that they considered everyone else country bumpkins.

"Hey, what are you doing? No parking outside the duke's mansion!"

The moment Song Xuan's carriage approached, a servant from the Jia Mansion came forward to drive them away.

Song Xuan had chosen to keep a low profile today and was not wearing his official uniform. Dressed in a white scholar's robe, he carried a scholarly air and looked refined and courteous.

To the servants of Rongguo Mansion, scholars like him were the easiest to bully. Every year, plenty of penniless scholars came to cultivate connections and cadge handouts. People like that could simply be chased away!

Stepping down from the carriage, Song Xuan cupped his hands in greeting. "My name is Song Xuan. As arranged, I've come to collect my cousin Lin Daiyu and escort her home to visit her family. Would you please announce our arrival?"

"Relatives of Miss Lin?"

The servant looked Song Xuan up and down. He swallowed the words he had been about to use to chase him away, hesitated, then said, "Wait here a moment. I'll fetch the steward."

As the servant left, Song Qian climbed out of the carriage. Looking at the somewhat aged yet magnificent duke's mansion, she could not help feeling a little envious.

"Brother, how about we get ourselves a big house like this someday?"

Song Xuan replied casually, "Money alone won't let you live somewhere like this. Without the proper rank, it's an unlawful overstepping of your station."

"Oh, is that so..." Song Qian's eyes darted over Song Xuan as she murmured, "Brother, I think you're getting promoted a little too slowly."

Song Xuan gave a dry chuckle and could not be bothered to respond.

Half a cup of tea later, several servants approached with a middle-aged man in their midst. Faint calls of "Slow down, Eldest Master" could be heard along the way.

The only person in the Jia Mansion likely to be addressed as Eldest Master was Jia She, the current head of the family's eldest branch.

Jia She had little ability but plenty of temper. Assuming the airs of the eldest master, he scrutinized Song Xuan and Song Qian.

He had heard that Lin Daiyu had recently spent some time visiting her aunt, but he had paid it little mind, much less looked into that family's standing.

Now, seeing only two young people whose clothes suggested neither great wealth nor high status, he immediately felt a measure of contempt.

"Who told you to come collect her?"

Jia She stood on the steps, looking down at Song Xuan and Song Qian.

Song Qian said, "We arranged it with our cousin the day before yesterday. We were to pick her up this morning and leave the capital. Didn't she tell you?"

"What did she tell us? She eats our food and drinks at our expense! Since when does she get to make decisions in the Jia Mansion?!"

Jia She shouted, "Enough. Go home. Even if she's leaving the capital to visit family, our Jia Mansion should send people to escort her. Since when is it the business of outsiders like you!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve and shot the steward an arrogant glare. "Steward Liu, don't interrupt my reading with this sort of thing again. Is our Rongguo Duke Mansion somewhere just anyone can come claiming connections?"

"You fucking..." With her explosive temper, Song Qian immediately began swearing.

Even the usually good-tempered Song Xuan's expression turned cold. He raised a hand to stop Song Qian from attacking and said flatly, "Call in backup!"

Song Qian glared at Jia She, drew a sleeve arrow from her sleeve, and flicked her hand toward the sky.

The next instant, the sleeve arrow burst like a firework above Rongguo Mansion, unfurling a brilliant character for "Black" in midair.

"What do you mean by this?"

Jia She looked up and saw the seemingly unusual firework as well. As though something had occurred to him, he stared darkly at Song Xuan.

"Nothing in particular!"

Song Xuan sneered. "You couldn't understand when I spoke politely, so let's try a language you'll find easier to understand!"

Just as he finished speaking, two Black Robe Guards in black battle robes, Black Iron Sabers at their waists, came galloping from the end of the street. Their horses whinnied as they stopped outside Rongguo Mansion.

"Brother Xuan, was that your signal arrow?"

Song Xuan inclined his head. "I've run into a little trouble. I need your help."

The two looked young, perhaps seventeen or eighteen. Rather than showing any reluctance, both lit up with excitement.

"Brother Xuan, just say the word. Who needs a beating?"

"No rush. Let's wait a little longer!"

Over the next stretch of time, less than it took to drink a cup of tea, Black Robe Guards arrived one after another on the street outside Rongguo Mansion. As their numbers grew, the dense, dark mass nearly filled the entire street.

The sea of black armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and Black Iron Sabers clinked against it from time to time. The sight left Jia She trembling all over, his mouth dry.

"A misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! Surely there's no need for such a huge turnout?" Even Jia She's voice had begun to tremble.

His luck truly had turned foul. He had thought they were merely two poor relatives of no standing or background. How had he suddenly stirred up a whole nest of Black Robe Guards?