Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 348 The Death of Song Zhe (1)

Song Zhe is really going to die.

Not to mention the harsh conditions of the dungeon, he was also injured. Unless Song Jincheng could arrange for a highly skilled doctor to treat Song Zhe constantly, there might be a tiny chance of survival. No… even with the most skilled doctor, Song Zhe would most likely not survive.

Song Yan had already questioned the head constable in detail and learned that Song Zhe had been shot dead, the arrow piercing his rectum. To make matters worse, when the head constable pulled out the arrow, he only managed to pull out the shaft; the arrowhead remained stuck in his anus.

He was beaten with another twenty strokes of the rod. Under the impact of the stern warning, perhaps the arrowhead had already shredded Song Zhe's rectum, small intestine, and large intestine into pieces.

Such injuries would be devastating, let alone in ancient times, and even in modern times, it's uncertain whether one could survive.

When Song Yan heard the news, his body tensed up for a moment, his expression was particularly strange, and he felt a faint pain in a certain part of his body.

However, it must be said that human vitality is truly tenacious; Song Zhe was clearly injured so severely, yet he was still alive.

As for how long he will live...

An hour?
Half an hour?

Who knows?

"Perhaps you also want to ask me why I insisted on killing your mother back then?" Song Zhe's voice echoed in Song Yan's ears.

A slight hint of smugness appeared on his grime-covered face. Perhaps he wanted to provoke Song Yan with this question.

The jailer who brought Song Yan over asked for Song Yan's permission before quietly opening the cell door and leaving alone. There were many things that were not for someone like him to hear.

Song Yan took out a silver ingot and stuffed it into the jailer's hand, his expression calmer than Song Zhe had imagined. After the jailer had walked a distance away, Song Yan pushed open the cell door and entered the cell.

Looking down at Song Zhe, who was covered in blood and lay like a dead dog, his expression was indifferent: "Why?"

This is not the expression Song Zhe wanted to see.

The rupture of internal organs brought waves of unbearable dull pain.

The excessive blood loss made him feel as if his life force was slipping away with every breath.

He probably wouldn't survive; he only wanted to see Song Yan's ferocious expression before he died. Why couldn't even this simple wish be granted? Involuntarily, Song Zhe's face contorted in rage. He gasped for breath, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Song Yan: "Tell me something first..."

"Song Yun, did you kill him?"

Song Yan blinked, then nodded slightly.

"Where are Song Zhen and my mother?"

Nod again.

Song Zhe had an expression that said, "I knew it."

Regarding the deaths of Song Yun, Song Zhen, and Yang Miaoqing, the other descendants of the Song family suspected that Song Yan was involved. However, Song Yan had done these things in a very secretive way, and it was not easy to find evidence. Now that Song Yan had personally admitted it, it could be considered as confirming one's suspicions.

How many people are you planning to kill?

"all."

Does this include Song Hongtao?

"Yes."

Song Zhe suddenly laughed, but his mouth was full of blood and foam, and he choked on it, coughing violently. This aggravated the wound on his buttocks, and his face twitched again. After coughing for a long time, Song Zhe gradually calmed down. His baby face, which was no longer recognizable, was raised, and he glared at Song Yan: "You're quite ruthless."

"Song Hongtao, that's your own father! You actually want to kill him too. I wonder how Song Hongtao will feel when he hears this. That old man is probably still thinking about whether he can use your status as a member of the royal family to get some benefits for the Duke's mansion."

Song Yan smiled; Song Zhe seemed to know Song Hongtao quite well.

However, it seems that Yang Miaoqing did not tell Song Zhe that he was not Song Hongtao's biological son.

I wonder where Song An got this information from; he seems to know everything.

"Actually, I was secretly pleased that you killed my mother and fifth brother."

“I know very well that my mother only has Song Zhen in her heart. We are like bastards picked up from outside. My mother doesn’t even care about us. As long as she is alive, neither I, the unicorn of the Song family, nor my elder brother Song Huai will have any chance of inheriting the Duke’s mansion.”

"What a pity, the opportunity has finally come, but I am about to die."

Song Zhe had an urge to talk a little longer, but by the time he could no longer open his mouth, he had no chance to speak at all.

The incessant chatter echoed through the dungeon.

Song Yan listened quietly.

"You know what? I'm jealous of you."

"Why?" Song Yan asked, somewhat puzzled.

Song Zhe laughed: "It's strange, isn't it? I'm clearly the legitimate son of the Duke's mansion, a proper young master, yet I'm jealous of a son born out of wedlock... I have no worries about food or clothing. From childhood to adulthood, my food, clothing, and daily necessities have always been the best in the Duke's mansion. As long as I want, I have endless money to spend."

"But I just can't help it."

"Why is it that I, the legitimate son of the Duke's mansion, never receive a word of praise from my mother, no matter how well I perform? And if I do anything slightly wrong, I am beaten and scolded by my mother?"

"Why is it that you, a mere illegitimate child, are pampered and doted on by your aunt? When you do well, your aunt will pat your head and praise you; when you do poorly, your aunt will hug you and comfort you."

Why didn't my mother treat me like this?

The lack of maternal love led to a distorted personality.

Song Yan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, causing sharp pain. His face was somewhat gloomy: "Just because of this, you instigated Yang Miaoqing to kill my mother?"

Song Zhe's mouth stretched wider and wider, like a huge crack: "That's right, that's why. I'm the legitimate son, and I don't even get the care I deserve. What right do you have to have it?"

"I will destroy what I don't even have."

"Hehe...hehehehe, what a pity. I should have been more cruel back then and kept you, you bastard. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in this state now."

Song Zhe hoped to see a twisted expression of hatred on Song Yan's face to satisfy his deep-seated, morbid desires. Unfortunately, Song Yan only looked at him coldly from beginning to end, which made Song Zhe feel extremely bored. Then, he suddenly seemed to have found something amusing, and a smile appeared on his face: "Do you know about your mother's identity?"

You don't know, do you?

"I'm not afraid to tell you, your mother was also a young lady from a prominent family. Do you know the Mei family of Dongling? The old master of the Mei family was Duke Lu. Your mother was Duke Lu's only daughter, and you are his granddaughter."

Song Yan finally raised an eyebrow: "You're just like your mother."

"Are you trying to sow discord between me and Mui Chi-chung, and use Mui Chi-chung to get rid of me?"

Song Zhe's face instantly darkened, then he grinned and said, "I underestimated you. I thought you were just a crude brute, but I didn't expect you to have such a delicate mind. But as long as Mei Zicong believes it... no, he doesn't need to believe it. As long as he has even the slightest doubt, he will find a way to kill you."

"Only in this way can his adopted grandson truly secure his position as the heir apparent of the Duke of Lu."

This can no longer be considered a conspiracy or trickery.

This is an open card.

Song Yan smiled, squatted down, reached out and grabbed Song Zhe's hand, holding his thumb: "It's okay, Mei Zicong has already been completely honest with me. After you left yesterday afternoon, he was a bit clever and didn't want to cause me any trouble because of your two meaningless provocations."

what?
Song Zhe's eyes suddenly widened.

This was information he was unaware of.

Isn't that guy a brainless idiot with all his might?
That damned bastard, he even hired ten prostitutes and put them all on his own tab.

Just then, Song Zhe's body suddenly trembled, his teeth clenched tightly, and a muffled groan escaped his throat.

But it was his left thumb that Song Yan had deliberately pushed onto the back of his hand.

The crunching sound was the bones in my fingers cracking.

Fingers connected to the heart.

Even though Song Zhe had already endured enough pain, he was still sweating profusely at this moment.

Even so, Song Zhe still stubbornly raised his head, and despite his utter defeat, there was not a trace of surrender in his eyes.

Song Yan didn't care and grasped Song Zhe's other finger: "Didn't you just say that you are the legitimate son and I am the illegitimate son? You seem very proud of your bloodline?"

Click.

The index finger was also placed on the back of the hand.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she let out a scream.

But it came to an abrupt end. Song Zhe quickly held back: "Yes, I am the legitimate son, and I am more noble than you, a son born out of wedlock."

“I have the blood of the Duke and the Yang family flowing in my veins.”

"And you, you're nothing but a bastard."

Song Yan grasped Song Zhe's middle finger. *Snap*.

The third finger slipped onto the back of the hand, and another scream rang out.

It hurts.

It really hurts.

The pain caused Song Zhe's entire body to writhe violently like an eel.

A malicious smile appeared on Song Yan's face. He roughly knew where to strike at Song Zhe: "Then... what about an illegitimate child?"

"An illegitimate child?" Song Zhe was stunned.

Song Zhe nodded, then broke off his fourth finger. His teeth were grinding together, and the intense pain caused him to break out in a cold sweat. Even the blood on his body gradually dissolved in his sweat.

"That's right, an illegitimate child. You didn't know that, did you? Actually, you're the bastard child your mother had with Song Jincheng."

Boom... Crack!

When those words were spoken, it was like a thunderbolt striking Song Zhe out of nowhere.

Song Zhe's body trembled violently, his eyes widened, and he didn't even feel his fifth finger being severed by Song Yan.

The status of the legitimate son.

Noble blood.

This has always been Song Zhe's proudest achievement.

But now Song Yan is telling him that he is an illegitimate child?

The next instant, Song Zhe's face contorted, and he screamed like a madman, "Impossible, absolutely impossible."

"I am the legitimate son of the Duke's mansion, how could I be an illegitimate child?"

"My mother is the eldest daughter of the Yang family, a lady of high birth. How could she do something like having an affair? Especially with her brother-in-law!"

"Song Yan, don't think you can fool me with such a lie. I will never believe it."

Song Yan exhaled, and his inner force surged into Song Zhe's palm, his powerful inner energy like a tsunami.

With a series of cracking sounds, all the bones in the entire arm were shattered.

Broken bones pierced the flesh.

In an instant, blood gushed from his entire arm.

"Ah ah ah ah..."

Song Zhe screamed desperately, his body like a fish about to die of thirst.

Despite being in excruciating pain and his whole body convulsing, he remained unusually conscious. He didn't want to hear Song Yan's voice anymore, but Song Yan's voice lingered in his ears like a persistent, stabbing wound.

"I'm not lying to you."

"Actually, it's not just you. Your five older brothers and two younger brothers are all illegitimate children, all born from Yang Miaoqing's affairs."

"Otherwise, why do you think Song Jincheng would risk his reputation to send you to Bailu Academy? Even Song Mingyu and Song Mingzhou didn't receive such treatment, right? It's because he felt indebted to you since your biological father wasn't by your side. Song Hongtao used to dote on you, so why did he show you no mercy at all? Even knowing you were seriously injured, he didn't go to Dongling to see you, and even expelled you from the family register without hesitation?"

"Because Song Hongtao already knows about your illegitimate children."

"Believe it or not, if Song Hongtao knew you were dead, he would jump for joy."

"Your mother has never shown you any love, and your father is only hoping for your death. You are truly pitiful."

Every word was like a knife, piercing Song Zhe's heart.

For the first time, genuine fear appeared on his face. He shook his head frantically, screaming, "Shut up! Shut up and stop talking!"

He could sense that what Song Yan said was true, which made him even more desperate.

"You think you are of noble status, but in reality you are as insignificant as dust."

When the last sentence was uttered, Song Zhe seemed to have all his energy drained away. His face was blank and numb, and even his eyes lost focus, becoming empty and lifeless.

He lay sprawled on the ground like a pile of rotten flesh.

In reality, he was nothing but a pile of rotten flesh. Just moments before, Song Yan had shattered every bone in his body. He was covered in blood, with only his skull remaining, allowing him to cling to life. Song Yan stood up and looked down at Song Zhe: "Although I think it would be better for you to stay here, letting your blood drain away slowly, dying in pain and despair."

"However... it's better to be decisive in this situation."

"Don't worry, Yang Miaoqing, Song Yun, and Song Zhen are all down there with you."

"Song Huai, Song Yi, and Song Jing will be here soon too..."

"You will not be alone."

Song Zhe frantically turned his head, his wide eyes only able to see Song Yan's raised leg and the dirty sole of his boot, getting closer and closer.

He opened his mouth, his lips moved a few times, as if he were making some kind of sound.

then……

Snap.

My head felt like a bursting watermelon.

Broken.

died.

Song Yan stood rooted to the spot, watching silently, his mind seemingly echoing Song Zhe's last words: The Mei family! The Mei family! The Mei family!
After a long while, he turned and left.

The boots stomped on the ground, making a dull, suppressed sound.

Another enemy has been dealt with.

Song Yan was quite satisfied that he could break Song Zhe's will before he died, but... it wasn't enough. Song Huai, Song Yi, Song Jincheng, Song Hongtao, Song An... one face after another flashed before his eyes. A slight smile appeared on Song Yan's lips. Soon, he vowed that it wouldn't be long before he could reunite this family.

……

By the time they emerged from the dungeon, the blood-stained sunset had already faded away.

Between heaven and earth, all is a vast, boundless expanse.

Even before it was completely dark, the hustle and bustle of Dongling City had already begun.

Ziyu and Luotianyi had been waiting quietly at the entrance of the dungeon. When they saw Song Yan appear, both women breathed a sigh of relief, and a gentle smile appeared on their faces.

However, when Luo Tianyi saw Song Yan's eyes, her heart skipped a beat.

Luo Tianyi didn't know what exactly happened in the prison, but she could tell that her brother-in-law was not at peace. It seemed that he had heard some shocking news that had greatly affected him.

She knew she was stupid.

He knows nothing but how to wield weapons.

She wanted to comfort her brother-in-law, but she didn't know how.

With her pearly white teeth gently biting her lower lip, Luo Tianyi walked to Song Yan's side, her small hand quietly reaching out from her side to grasp her brother-in-law's slightly rough fingers, which were worn from long hours of training.

"Brother-in-law...it's the Lantern Festival."

"Can you go shopping with me?"

The Lantern Festival is very lively, and people are happy when they see lively things.

Her voice was very gentle, unlike Luo Tianyi's personality.

Song Yan suppressed the confusion deep in his eyes, turned to look at Luo Tianyi, and a slight smile appeared on his lips:
"Okay."

The imperial edict and Fang Lingyu's plan no longer mattered. Holding hands, they headed towards Chang'an Avenue, the street with the highest foot traffic.

Ziyu followed behind, somewhat bewildered, her suspicious gaze shifting between Song Yan and Luo Tianyi. If the information he knew was correct, these two should be brother-in-law and sister-in-law, right?
Is it really appropriate for us to be this close right now?

……

The Lantern Festival is a time of joy and celebration everywhere.

However, at this very moment, there was no festive atmosphere at the Ministry of Works' residence; instead, there was an oppressive atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)