Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 294 (2)

Thinking of the young master of the Mei family, a slight smile suddenly appeared on Song Zhe's lips. He had always liked to use other people to achieve his goals; although it was somewhat shameless, it worked.

The old patriarch of the Mei family had no sons. It was said that he once had a daughter, but shortly after she was born, the old patriarch was ordered to suppress a rebellion, and by the time he returned, his daughter had already died.

It was said that he contracted a sudden illness and could not be saved.

The old master of the Mei family fell seriously ill. Coupled with years of fighting, he suffered more and more injuries, eventually damaging his back and his health. After that, he never had a son or daughter again.

The Mei family is different from aristocratic families like the Yang and Fang families, and also different from founding dukes like the Song family. The Mei family only began to emerge during the reign of Emperor Longtai, which is only a few decades ago. Compared with true aristocratic families and noble clans, they lack a certain depth and heritage.

Emperor Longtai was the father of Emperor Yuanjing and the grandfather of Emperor Ninghe. At that time, the Ning Kingdom was already showing signs of fatigue, and the imperial power was being hampered by powerful clans and civil officials. However, Emperor Longtai still had the ability to fight against these powerful clans and civil officials, so he was not as embarrassed as Emperor Ninghe and Emperor Yuanjing.

At that time, Ningguo was plagued by severe land annexation and numerous rebellions. The Ministry of War was controlled by the civil service and largely uncooperative in the war effort. Powerful clans and aristocratic families were deeply entrenched in the provinces, not only failing to help suppress rebellions but often fanning the flames. Many of the rioters were even linked to these powerful clans. Left with no other option, Emperor Longtai personally led the army into battle. At the most dangerous moment, enemy troops even breached the front lines of his central camp. Emperor Longtai, wielding his imperial sword, personally killed a rioter.

Despite the perilous situation, Emperor Longtai was ultimately a capable ruler. Wherever he went, the rebel forces were quickly suppressed, and his imperial power expanded rapidly. If Emperor Longtai had lived a few more years, he might have become a restorer of the dynasty.

Unfortunately, he died young.

He died at the age of thirty.

I heard it was a cold, which quickly developed into a lung disease, and then it was gone.

The patriarch of the Mei family was a military general discovered during the reign of Emperor Longtai. Although he rose from humble beginnings, his military talent seemed divinely bestowed. His tactics were unpredictable, often catching opponents off guard and achieving victories against overwhelming odds. Wherever he went, no one could stop him, and his reputation even surpassed that of Emperor Longtai. After Emperor Longtai's death, the power of the civil service and aristocratic families grew, and military generals were suppressed. The patriarch of the Mei family was no exception. Although he still held the official title of Grand Tutor (a first-rank official), the title of Duke, and the honorary title of Left Pillar of State, he no longer wielded any real power.

It's probably the kind of situation where they'll treat you like royalty and serve you well. The message is: we won't cause you trouble, and you shouldn't come here to provoke us.

Ultimately, they dared not push Old Master Mei too far. If they truly forced him into a corner, the old man might actually lead his three hundred retainers and wreak havoc in Dongling City. A duke might have three hundred retainers, while the Mei family's retainers were all retired soldiers. Although they were old, their ferocity was unmatched by modern soldiers. If a fight broke out, even the Yang family wouldn't dare say that their guards could withstand the onslaught of the Mei family's retainers.

Since there was no way to reverse the situation, the old master of the Mei family was happy to live out his days in peace. In any case, whether it was Fang De, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, or Yang Hetong, the Grand Secretary, they were all quite respectful to him. As long as they were on the surface, he didn't bother to compete for anything.

But as he grew older, he couldn't help feeling lonely. His first wife had died young, and he hadn't remarried or taken a concubine, nor did he have any children. Thinking of the dukedom he had fought so hard for, only to have no one to inherit it after his death, he adopted a grandson from a collateral branch of the Mei family, so that he would have an heir and wouldn't be left without anyone to pay his respects after his death.

The prostitute in front of him poured him a cup of wine.

Although he arrived at the brothel, Song Zhe did not engage in sexual relations with the prostitutes. He merely had them drink with him. After taking a sip, Song Zhe's eyes became somewhat glazed, perhaps due to drunkenness. He shook his head vigorously to clear his mind. Speaking of which, Mei Xue and this old master of the Mei family shared the same surname. Song Zhe was unsure whether they were related. Although if the old master's daughter were alive, she would be about the same age as Aunt Mei Xue, they should not be related, since everyone knew that the old master's daughter had died of illness.

However, if he wanted to connect Mei Xue with the old master of the Mei family, it was still quite possible.

After all, Song Zhe was very good at creating all sorts of dubious evidence.

Whether the old master of the Mei family believes it or not is irrelevant, as long as the young master of the Mei family believes it. Think about it, the old master of the Mei family is already quite old and has many injuries and illnesses. As long as the old master passes away, the young master of the Mei family will automatically inherit the title of Duke. If a grandson suddenly appears at this time, it is hard to say whether he can hold on to the position of heir.

That young master probably doesn't want such a threat to exist.

Thinking this, Song Zhe's smile grew even wider.

Upon inadvertently catching a glimpse of Song Zhe's smile, the prostitute opposite him couldn't help but tremble slightly. Although he was smiling, for some reason, that smile sent chills down her spine.

After a long while, Song Zhe must have been thinking things over in his mind before he stretched and yawned. He felt stiff all over. He turned his head and saw a bronze mirror in the private room, so he asked the prostitute to bring it to him.

Looking in the mirror, all I could see was a pale face.

Sunken eye sockets.

Prominent cheekbones.

In a short period of time, he lost a lot of weight.

I have become so haggard from the effects of alcohol and women. Starting tomorrow, I will abstain from alcohol.

Having lost to Song Yan twice in a row, his current state of destitution is all Song Yan's doing. If he can't get rid of Song Yan, he probably won't be able to get over this hurdle in his heart.

Thinking this, Song Zhe turned and looked out the window.

A slightly chilly night wind whipped against his face, raising goosebumps. He was sitting by the window, a spot from which he could clearly see the bustling, jostling crowd on the street. Song Zhe's hands unconsciously clenched. Although he had been studying at Bailu Academy for several years, Song Zhe still had a feeling that this prosperous city was subtly rejecting him.

He doesn't belong here.

He belonged to Ningping County, Songzhou Prefecture.

In the eyes of the second-generation nobles born and raised in Dongling, and in the eyes of the other students at Bailu Academy, he was ultimately just a country bumpkin from a small town.

So what if he is the legitimate son of a duke?
In Dongling, the place was never short of nobles and high-ranking officials. Compared to them, his status as the eldest son of a duke from a small town offered little competitive advantage. The more talent he displayed, the more he could sense the subtle disdain and contempt in his classmates' eyes. It was only after he was noticed by Yang Guochen that this contempt began to subtly change. When Yang Ming was executed, Yang Guochen was dismissed from his post, and he was stripped of all his honors, the previously subtle mockery became unbridled.

His hand rested on his knee, which throbbed slightly.

Kneeling on the ground for so long must have injured his muscles and bones... He could not forget that on that cold, rainy day, he knelt at the entrance of Bailu Academy, begging the dean not to expel him.

Although the dean of Bailu Academy does not hold an official position in the imperial court, he wields immense influence. Countless high-ranking officials in the court address the dean as "teacher." He believes that as long as the dean is willing to take him in and speak a few good words for him, his punishment may be lifted, and he will have a chance to make a comeback.

He knelt there for a day and a night, but instead of the dean, he was greeted by many of his former classmates.

Unrestrained ridicule.

Undisguised contempt.

stone.

Mud and sand.

Sewage.

And saliva.

His writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all smashed onto his body.

He was like a prisoner being escorted to the execution ground, suffering wanton humiliation and ridicule.

He was in pain, he was ashamed, he was desperate.

He hated it even more.

She hated Song Yan, that illegitimate son, for causing her such a miserable state; she hated the Yang family, a bunch of useless good-for-nothings who dragged her down with them; she hated her father, Song Hongtao, for he had already come to such a state, and all he could offer in terms of comfort was a letter he sent, harshly cursing him as a good-for-nothing.

He hated the dean of Bailu Academy even more, his former teacher. If he had just been willing to swallow his pride and ask for help, who wouldn't have given him face? He was his last disciple, yet the dean wouldn't even help with such a small matter.

However, Song Zhe wouldn't stay stuck in the mud forever.

He will rise up and climb to a height that everyone will look up to.

Thinking this, Song Zhe's lips involuntarily curled into a grin, his face revealing an almost manic expression, his eyes turning bloodshot, the blood vessels making one's scalp tingle. Just then, Song Zhe's eyes widened slightly, his pupils reflecting some strange images.

There were a few people there. They were on the roof of the inn across the street.

The illusions deep in my heart were shattered, turning into incomprehensible doubts: What are these people doing climbing onto someone's roof in the middle of the night?
Could he be some kind of thief?
One of them even pulled out a bow from behind his back, then took out a bowstring from his robes and began to wrap and bind it around both ends of the bow. The drunken Song Zhe grew increasingly curious, staring intently. In no time, the longbow was reassembled, and a long arrow was nocked on the bowstring. He drew the bow, aimed directly at the enemy…

My head was still buzzing, and my consciousness was somewhat scattered. Were they planning to kill someone?

Who's the target? How unlucky.

So, opposite the Jade Pavilion is an inn, and opposite the inn is...

Hey!
They are trying to kill themselves.

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Song Zhe's drunkenness vanished almost instantly. As if by pure instinct, he slammed his hand on the table and jumped to his feet. Almost simultaneously, with a twitch of the bowstring, an arrow whistled through the air, piercing the street and passing through the window.

And then... pfft!

Ah ah ah ah ah!

A scream suddenly rang out in the Jade Garden.

The sound was so mournful that it brought tears to the eyes and broke the heart of anyone who heard it.

Inside the private room, a spurt of blood gushed from Song Zhe's groin.

The thick, crimson liquid quickly soaked through the white trousers and robe, slowly flowing down her legs.

As the arrow pierced through Song Zhe's leg, leaving him covered in blood, the prostitute, who had never seen such a sight before, immediately let out another sharp scream, her beautiful body trembling violently.

He didn't care about this customer and turned to run away.

pain.

It hurts.

Song Zhe was still wailing.

He wasn't immune to injuries. Although he was a scholar, Song Zhe didn't want to be a weakling. He had some knowledge of the Six Arts of a gentleman, so he knew a little about horseback riding, swordsmanship, and archery. When learning swordsmanship and horsemanship, injuries were inevitable. Even if he accidentally cut his palm or fell from his horse and broke his leg, Song Zhe could endure the pain.

But at this moment, the pain in my body is several times, even dozens of times, greater than the pain of broken bones.

This pain seeps into the bone marrow.

This kind of pain can even lead to uncontrollable despair.

Almost instantly, Song Zhe's face turned pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He desperately lowered his head, looking at the arrow shaft that was still hanging between his legs, swaying precariously. Every sway brought him excruciating pain.

He vaguely understood where Song Zhe was injured.

Could this be... a complete disaster?
Deep in his throat came a suppressed sob, an intense pain so severe that Song Zhe's legs trembled uncontrollably.

Anyone who frequently experiences heartbreak knows that the feeling is far worse than childbirth, and is simply unbearable for a human being.

Song Zhe tried to escape, but his body wouldn't obey him. Instead, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, writhing and twisting like a pathetic maggot.

……

The roof of the inn.

Oritu's expression was unfriendly.

As the best marksman among the seven, the task of killing Song Zhe and avenging him naturally fell on his shoulders.

Here, you can often see constables and soldiers patrolling the streets. They only have one chance to strike. Once discovered by the constables, and with a city-wide manhunt underway, their fate will be grim, and they will have little chance of escaping.

Therefore, he aimed directly at the other man's forehead. Unexpectedly, the man who was kneeling on the ground suddenly stood up, and the arrow was moved from his forehead to his crotch.

Damn it, I messed up again.

Judging from Song Zhe's strong voice, you could tell that this guy's injuries shouldn't be serious.

"Sixth Prince, you retreat first, I'll fire another arrow," Oritu said through gritted teeth in a deep voice.

But soon, a hand landed on Oritu's shoulder; it was the sixth prince, Oritu Xuan: "As long as you live, you have a chance."

"There are only seven of us left in the Wugulun tribe. We cannot afford any more losses. Let's retreat."

Gritting his teeth, Wuli Tu finally obeyed the Sixth Prince's order. He glared at Song Zhe, who was already lying on the ground. From this angle, even Wuli Xuan wouldn't be very confident of hitting him.

The group of seven quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Inside the Jade Pavilion, the prostitute who had previously escaped returned, but this time with a large group of people behind her: other prostitutes, the madam, pimps, and even many patrons who had come to watch the spectacle. They had also heard the shrill screams and wanted to come and see what was going on, wondering what had happened to cause such a terrible scream.
Surely it couldn't have been so violent that it broke inside?
When they saw the blood-soaked mess on Song Zhe's lower body, and the location of the arrow...

hiss!
One by one, they gasped in shock. Some even instinctively covered their groin, feeling a strange sense of shared experience, as if they too were experiencing a dull ache in that area.

"Is this... ruined?"

"He's ruined. He'll probably be a eunuch for the rest of his life."

"Ouch, that hurts so much... Who is this kid? What kind of grudge is this? He's really vicious."

"Huh? Isn't this Song Zhe from Bailu Academy, who's known as the 'Kirin Zi'?"

The rustling sound entered his ears, and the words "eunuch" caused a strong shock to Song Zhe. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

……

A gust of cold wind blew by, and Song Yan suddenly sneezed.

After traveling for three consecutive days, we finally arrived at the Haixi Snowfield.

Behind him stood four thousand black-armored soldiers.

Although the temperature here is getting colder and the breath you just exhale immediately turns into thick white fog, the black-armored warriors still stand tall, their faces covered by visors, only their eyes are resolute and crazy.

After roughly determining the direction, Song Yan cracked his whip, and with a snap, his horse, in pain, reared up, kicking up a flurry of snowflakes, and continued heading further north.

The Jurchen royal court is not far away.

It will probably be tonight.

(End of this chapter)