tallest building

Chapter 138 A Reluctant Death

It was getting dark earlier and earlier. After dinner, Song Xiang lay in bed, his legs aching terribly, waiting to take his medicine.

Their youngest daughter was sick and cried incessantly in Ge's arms.

Song Xiang was already annoyed, and the child's crying made him even more anxious.

"Have someone carry her away! Why is she crying in front of me? It's so disheartening!"

“It’s getting dark, and she’s only looking for me, not anyone else,” Ms. Ge said helplessly. “I’ll put her to sleep right away.”

"Are you dead? Couldn't you have taken her to another room? Why did you have to do it in front of me?" Song Xiang's eyes widened like a bull's. "You complete idiot!"

"I'm just worried about you," Madam Ge cried, feeling wronged. "You should have a conscience when you speak."

Song Xiang was about to say something when the old woman came in and said, "The housekeeper is here."

The housekeeper was the steward of Prince Zhao's mansion; it was he who led the men to bring Song Xiang back that day.

"Aunt Wu, take the child away. Xiao Chun'er, quickly make some tea," Madam Ge said, wiping away her tears.

She guessed that the steward from the Prince Zhao's mansion had come to deliver silver.

It's been three days since Song Xiang's incident, and it's time for an explanation.

"Please have a seat, Steward Fang." Madam Song went out to greet him and saw that Steward Fang was followed by several servants.

"Sister-in-law, we have come to see Brother Song on the orders of the Prince." The steward said with a smile, "We specially found a medicine that is most effective for injuries to tendons and bones. It has been brewed and is still warm."

"Oh dear, you've really gone to so much trouble for me," said Madam Ge gratefully. "Thanks to your care, otherwise I, a mere woman, would not know what to do."

"Manager Fang, brothers, please have a seat. I can't get up right now, so please forgive my rudeness!" Song Xiang said, half-propping himself up on the bed.

“No need for formalities among brothers. His Highness has been thinking of you and sent us to see you.” The steward smiled and said, “The medicine is ready. Drink it first, or it will get cold.”

"This is too much trouble. Why don't you just give us the prescription and we'll brew it ourselves?" Song Xiang said. "It will save you the trouble of delivering it every day."

"Brother Song, let me serve you the medicine." The servant carrying the medicine came over.

Song Xiang reached out to take the medicine, but noticed that the servant still had a knife at his waist. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I've already taken my medicine. I'll save this one for tomorrow!"

"Brother Song, if you don't drink, wouldn't you be letting down the Prince's kindness?" The steward's eyes flashed with coldness.

"It's not that I don't want to drink, it's just that I've already had some. If I drink this again, I'm afraid it will not only be useless, but also harmful." Song Xiang said with a smile, but he was becoming more and more nervous inside.

"Don't worry, this medicine is well-packaged." The steward then winked at the person next to him, "We've gone to the trouble of delivering this medicine, how can you not drink it? How are we supposed to explain this to the Prince?"

At this moment, Madam Ge also realized something was wrong and stepped forward to stop him, saying, "Brothers, he has already taken the medicine. Medicine is three parts poison, and it's never good to take too much."

Seeing their refusal, the housekeeper sneered, "Song Xiang, you have to drink this medicine today, whether you like it or not. Why bother with your futile resistance?"

He then said to his entourage, "Force it down his throat, make sure not a drop is left." "Why?!" Song Xiang struggled to ask, "I've served the Prince for so many years, haven't I at least put in a lot of hard work, even if I haven't done anything particularly meritorious?"

"Ha, you still have the nerve to say that! The Prince has shown you the kindness of giving you a second life; otherwise, how could a poor boy like you live such a life? Even with your broken leg, the Prince took pity on you and said he would take care of you for life. I never expected you to do something so despicable!" The steward slammed his fist on the table and cursed, "Don't you know what you've done?"

"My lords, please, spare us! He wouldn't dare disrespect the Prince. He's crippled now, and although he hasn't brought honor to the Prince, he's done his best," Madam Ge pleaded tearfully.

"Song Xiang, Bai Xiaoniang has already committed suicide. Do you think you can still live on your own?" The steward looked at Song Xiang coldly and said, "The Prince said that as long as you are dead, he will not pursue your wife and children. You can decide what to do!"

"Ah?!" Madam Ge collapsed to the ground. Although the housekeeper's words were not entirely clear, she understood what had happened.

Song Xiang must have had an affair with Bai Xiaoniang from the Prince Zhao's mansion. When the prince found out, he naturally couldn't tolerate him.

At this moment, Song Xiang's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he knew that his life was in danger.

Bai Xiaoniang was one of Zhao Wang's many concubines. Naturally, she was young and beautiful. From the day she entered the mansion, the princess had given her a contraceptive potion, so it was impossible for her to get pregnant.

King Zhao only treated her as a novelty for two days, and then ignored her completely.

Bai Xiaoniang knew that she would be trapped in that deep mansion for the rest of her life, living like a walking corpse every day.

But she was, after all, a person, and a young woman at that, so of course she wanted to find someone to comfort her loneliness.

Over time, he became involved with Song Xiang, who frequently visited the Prince of Zhao's residence.

Taking advantage of the fact that Bai Xiaoniang couldn't get pregnant, the two of them acted without restraint.

Song Xiang had considered the risks involved, but with such beauty before him, he couldn't care less.
This perfectly illustrates the saying "lust knows no bounds."

He thought he had been very careful, but he couldn't cover up all the traces. Now it's too late to regret it.

"I have wronged Your Highness, I was blinded by lust. I will drink it now, I only beg you to spare my wife and children and give them a way out." Song Xiang glanced at Meng Shi, "From now on, you can fend for yourselves."

"Don't worry, Your Highness is kind-hearted. You'll take full responsibility for your actions," the steward said. "After you die, I'll give your wife and children three days to hold your funeral. Then, I'll sell your property and send you far away, never to return to the capital for the rest of your life."

Song Xiang opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he said nothing, picked up the jar of medicine and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that he was drinking heartily, the housekeeper said to the others who were with him, "Let's go outside and wait for them to say goodbye properly!"

After forcing Song Xiang to drink the medicine, they stayed to handle his funeral arrangements. One reason was to avoid any unforeseen complications, and the other was to make outsiders see that King Zhao had done everything he could to be benevolent.

"You...do you have anything else to say?" At this moment, Madam Ge felt both love and hate for Song Xiang.

"It's all my own fault, so don't cry. There's no need to bury me after I die. Just cremate me and take my ashes, along with my sister's ashes, and leave the capital together."

Let's find a small, peaceful place to settle down, and bury my sister's and my ashes together, so we can keep each other company!
We were orphaned at a young age and have depended on each other for survival. We should take care of each other even in death.

You should raise your three children well, and tell them not to seek wealth or status anymore, but to live peaceful and contented lives.

Just look at what happened to my sister and me, and you'll know it's better not to fight.