Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 431 Song Jing finally guessed it... (11,000 words)

The night was cold and quiet.

Only when a night breeze blows can you hear the rustling of leaves.

Unlike Pingyang, Ningping is a rainy place, with a perpetually gloomy sky. Thick, dark clouds obscure the moon, swirling in the air and making the night even darker. Outside Song Hongtao's bedroom stood dozens of fully armed soldiers. They were not martial artists, nor did they display any internal energy fluctuations... but even sixth- or seventh-rank martial artists dared not act rashly in front of so many elite soldiers.

The crossbows hanging from their waists were not just for show.

His cold, crazed gaze retreated slightly, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, which were now bloodshot and looked rather frightening. His fingers clenched unconsciously, as if he were desperately suppressing something. Standing eight feet tall and with a robust physique, anyone standing before him would feel the overwhelming pressure emanating from him.

This person is Song Jing.

Months ago, he probably never imagined that Song Yan, whom he had bullied since childhood, would one day drive him to the brink of despair. This filled Song Jing with both shame and hatred. If it weren't for Luo Tianyi, a ninth-rank martial artist, protecting Song Yan, he would have definitely taken Song Yan's head.

That mere bastard, a concubine's son who only knows how to hide behind women, is truly a petty person who has achieved success.

Deep down, he was probably still a little envious; after all, even if he wanted to hide behind a woman, he wouldn't have the chance. At the same time, he was even more dissatisfied with Yang Miaoqing for having Song Yan replace Song Zhen to marry into the Luo family and marry Luo Tianxuan.

In Song Jing's view, Song Yan's current achievements were entirely due to the support of the Luo family; without them, Song Yan was nothing. If he had married Luo Tianxuan instead, perhaps all of this would have come to him. He could have become a marquis, a regional governor, had a beautiful wife, a sister-in-law of unparalleled beauty, and even a voluptuous and graceful mother-in-law. Why would he have ended up on the run?

Whenever Song Jing thought about these things, he felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed fly droppings.

On the eve of his escape to the State of Zhao, a very important event occurred: he, Song Jing, killed his second elder brother, Song Yi…

They had planned to rest in the cave for one night and try to get out the next day, but who could have imagined that when he regained consciousness the next day, the first thing he smelled in his nostrils was a strong stench of blood.

His entire body was covered in semi-dried bloodstains.

At that moment, Song Jing was stunned. Even if his mind wasn't working properly, he knew what had happened.

He panicked. He didn't understand why he had done such a thing. He broke out in a cold sweat. A strong feeling of nausea made his stomach churn uncontrollably. He dry-heaved, but nothing came out. He fled from the cave in a panic, found a riverbank to wash the blood off his body, and then shakily returned to the cave.

From the appearance, it was impossible to tell who the corpse was. Only by looking at the clothes on the body could one barely make out that this person should be Song Yi... Song An and Song Huai were also nowhere to be seen in the cave. It was probably because when he lost control, the two of them were frightened and then ran away.

At that moment, Song Jing's heart sank, and he knew that he had... gone mad.

For martial artists, this is a result worse than death.

Song Jing didn't understand. He had been cultivating well all along. Although he had occasionally had violent emotions and strong restlessness in his heart, in Song Jing's eyes, this was a normal phenomenon after breaking through the barrier. How could he suddenly go into a state of demonic possession for no reason?

Until one moment, a flash of inspiration struck Song Jing, and he realized a possibility... the secret manual of the Vajra Arhat Technique.

The manual he copied had problems. Otherwise, how could he have gone mad from practicing qi cultivation when he had always had a solid foundation?

Ignoring the need to bury Song Yi's mangled body and the wanted posters plastered everywhere, Song Jing hurriedly returned to Songzhou and Ningping. He wanted to ask Song Hongtao... The letter clearly stated that he was Song Hongtao's only biological son, so why did he give him a problematic secret manual?
Was it intentional or accidental?

Aren't you afraid of having no descendants?
If we can find the real secret manual, perhaps there is still a chance.

Along the way, Song Jingdong hid and struggled to control the increasingly intense, beast-like bloodlust within him. Occasionally, he would wake up in the morning covered in blood, surrounded by the carcasses of animals he had killed.

They finally arrived in Ningping, only to learn that Song Lü had been executed for patricide and that Song Hongtao was seriously injured and paralyzed.

Damn it, damn it, damn it… At this moment, Song Jing’s rage reached its peak, as if the whole world was against him.

At this moment, Song Jing missed Song An terribly. The fourth brother was the most clever among them; if Song An were here, he might be able to deduce what had happened at the Duke's mansion, unlike him, who, besides being filled with resentment, couldn't see anything else. He pursed his lips, controlling his heartbeat, glanced at Song Hongtao's bedroom, and then at the dozens of elite soldiers surrounding it. Now was not the time to see his father. The violence in his chest grew increasingly uncontrollable; he craved blood more and more.

Even just seeing a maid occasionally passing by gives me the urge to pounce on her, bite her neck, tear open her veins, and then swallow her whole.

My heart was pounding, and it was beating faster and faster.

We can't let things get out of control in the Duke's mansion... or we'll die.

Perhaps we could find an opportunity to make a move on that Aunt Lin, or Steward Wang. Neither of them always has so many guards around them, especially Steward Wang, who is mostly a lonely old man.

Moreover, Steward Wang has worked for the Song family for decades, and his loyalty is absolutely unquestionable. That delicate and weak Aunt Lin might betray her father, but Steward Wang would never do so.

Thinking this, Song Jing desperately suppressed the agitation in his chest and quietly backed away.

In the blink of an eye, it completely disappeared into the night, as if it had never existed.

Almost at the same time, Wang, the steward who was discussing some specific details of the caravan with Lin Xiangwan in the small room, paused in his action of sucking on his pipe, frowned, and suddenly looked up, his cloudy eyes gazing out the window.

"Butler Wang, has something happened?" Lin Xiangwan asked, slightly suspicious.

Butler Wang grinned: "It's nothing, probably just a mouse, don't worry about it."

"By the way, you'll be busy with the caravan these next few days, so I'll temporarily lend you my guards... Remember to return them when you're done."

……

Pingyang City.

Governor's Mansion.

After Zhang Ci left with Zhang Yan, Luo Yuheng felt a little sleepy. She yawned, and even in her sleepy eyes, she could still reveal a touch of lazy charm. She gently rubbed her eyes with her delicate hand: "Yan'er, do you still have things to do?"

Song Yan smiled and said, "I called Li Er, Jia Yifei, and the others because there are indeed some things to discuss. Mother, if you are tired, please rest early and don't tire yourself out." After a pause, Song Yan continued, "But they are just some small matters, so Mother doesn't need to worry about them."

Luo Yuheng stared straight at Song Yan.

Luo Yuheng knew his son-in-law quite well. He was the type who liked to shoulder everything himself, always wanting to use his own shoulders to support those he cared about, without really considering whether his shoulders could actually bear that weight.

Luo Yuheng could see the weariness in Song Yan's eyes.

Having spent nearly three hundred days together, how could she not know that whenever Song Yan showed such an expression, what he was facing was no small matter? Everyone said that this son-in-law was intelligent, quick-witted, and a literary genius descended to earth, but now it seems that he is also a bit stupid, and can't even lie.

She gently patted Song Yan's head with her delicate hand, then let it slide down his hair to caress his cheek. In the past two or three months, she had been traveling back and forth between Dongling and Pingyang, and his once tender face now bore the marks of time.

She looked somewhat haggard.

Seeing that, Luo Yuheng felt a pang of sympathy: "If you're tired, then put down your burden and get some rest."

"You know, your mother only hopes that you will all be well, and she will never force you to do anything."

Song Yan smiled, feeling a warmth in his heart from Luo Yuheng's gentleness: "Mother, don't worry, I know."

"You brat, you still didn't listen." Seeing Song Yan's appearance, Luo Yuheng was a little discouraged: "Fine, fine, let it be. Just remember that if one day you really can't take it anymore, you still have Tianxuan, Tianyi, and... me behind you."

With a casual wave of his hand, Luo Yuheng went outside the living room.

Watching Luo Yuheng's retreating figure silently, Song Yan's expression became somewhat suspicious.

Too tired to bear it?
How can you put it that way? He is indeed a little tired, but he's still far from being unable to take it anymore, right? His energy has always been quite good.

Shaking his head, Song Yan didn't take the matter to heart and got up to follow him out the door. Luo Yuheng's figure could no longer be seen in the dark night; he must have returned to his bedroom to rest. The governor's mansion was usually very quiet at night, but tonight seemed a little different. In the darkness, faint sounds could be heard.

It sounded like a scream.

It also seemed like a prayer.

Like crying and complaining.

The sound was just too soft, so it wasn't very clear.

A night breeze swept by, making one feel chilly. Coupled with the low, suppressed, and faint wails, the entire governor's mansion suddenly became much more eerie.

A layer of goosebumps spread up my arm in the blink of an eye. I quickly rubbed my hands together, and the goosebumps subsided a little. I looked back towards the cellar; the sound was coming from there. It seemed Liang Qiaofeng was having a lot of fun.

Tightening his collar, Song Yan walked out of the governor's mansion and sat down quietly on the threshold to wait. Although the gatekeeper was curious about who could make the governor personally greet him at the gate, he didn't dare to ask.

About half an hour later, accompanied by creaking and rattling sounds, a carriage stopped in front of the governor's mansion. A man stepped out of the carriage, and Song Yan stepped forward to greet him personally: "Mr. Jia."

It was Jia Yifei, the prefect of Pingyang.

Song Yan always respected such talented and noble people.

"Greetings, Lord Marquis." Jia Yifei returned the greeting, and his eyes showed some surprise at seeing Song Yan squatting at the door. Seeing that Song Yan did not seem to be heading back to the manor immediately, he knew that there were other guests besides himself tonight.

This time, the wait wasn't long; just a few minutes later, the crisp sound of horses' hooves could be heard. It was Li Er, Gao Xingcai, and Liang Guangzong, riding their warhorses, arriving from the military camp. Song Yan's previously somewhat solemn expression immediately relaxed, revealing a hint of joy. In Song Yan's view, these three were among the most intelligent people in the entire Pingyang City; even the most troublesome matters should be so easily resolved by them.

He personally led the four into the living room, where a maid brought fragrant tea. The four sat around the fireplace, the crackling and sizzling of the charcoal sending waves of heat through them, dispelling much of the night's chill. Noticing that all four were looking at him, Song Yan didn't mince words: "The foreign tribes have been infiltrating Pingyang for several days, harming at least two women. Are you all aware of this?"

The four nodded in unison: "We know."

Especially Jia Yifei, it was Jia Yifei who first raised the possibility of alien infiltration.

"This foreigner is a Xiongnu, of noble status, perhaps a prince. He has been captured and is being interrogated in the cellar." Song Yan didn't hide anything. These things couldn't be hidden anyway; with Zhang Han's big mouth, if he knew, it was practically the same as everyone in Pingyang City knowing.

However, the four were still somewhat surprised. Even Jia Yifei hadn't expected that the person from another race would have such a noble status. Even more unexpected was that Song Yan could arrest and interrogate such a noble person so readily.

"Could it be that the Marquis summoned us here to discuss how to deal with this Xiongnu prince?" Li Er raised an eyebrow and asked.

Song Yan grabbed a teacup, drank the warm tea in one gulp, and casually said, "This Xiongnu prince is doomed, what's there to discuss?"

Li Er was taken aback, not expecting Song Yan's answer to be so lighthearted, as if he didn't take the Xiongnu prince seriously at all. He then smiled wryly, his smile containing a hint of self-deprecation and admiration.

Currently, Ningguo is weak, while the Xiongnu are powerful.

If he were in Song Yan's position, he would most likely consider how to minimize the impact of this matter. In order to prevent war between the two countries, he might even let the Xiongnu leave.

But Song Yan didn't have so many considerations; a life for a life, it was that simple.

Perhaps this is where I fall short of Song Yan.

He shook his head, and suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit in his chest: "Then what exactly is it that you, Lord Marquis, are referring to?"

Song Yan paused briefly, the slight flippancy on his face gradually fading: "The Xiongnu barbarians infiltrated Pingyang to spy on the city's defenses. What's the explanation?"

"Zhao Chu's secret agent mingled with the common people to steal secrets. How can this be explained?"

"Within Ningguo, those who regard me as an enemy, yet their servants mingle with the common people in Pingyang. How can this be explained?"

This is an extremely important matter. Imagine this: the Xiongnu are besieging the city, and Pingyang is defending the city. If there were an inside agent who could open the city gates from inside, what would that be like?

Song Yan's thinking is ultimately somewhat lacking, with some flaws that are not usually obvious. The appearance of the Xiongnu prince this time can be considered a reminder to Song Yan.

As soon as the voice fell, the other four people also became serious. For a moment, the large living room was completely silent, with only occasional sparks from the charcoal.

Everyone was deep in thought. After what seemed like an eternity, Li Er slowly raised his head, took a deep breath, and said, "Strengthen the checks at the city gates."

"Whether it's a secret agent or someone else, the city gate is always the first line of defense."

"The guards at the city gates need to be selected through a rigorous process, requiring both high loyalty and resourcefulness."

"Secret agents often impersonate merchants or wandering monks to conceal their accents because of their different origins and accents. We must be especially careful with such people and carefully record all their information, including their addresses, so that we can monitor them at all times."

Song Yan nodded slightly.

Jia Yifei frowned: "This method may be able to deal with those low-level spies, but those elite spies often know multiple dialects or even languages, and their lifestyles will change accordingly. It is impossible to stop such people by the city guards alone."

"And it is often these same people who leak intelligence."

"Moreover, Brother Li is only thinking about how to intercept outside spies, but has not considered whether anyone in Pingyang City has been bribed?"

Jia Yifei may not be able to offer suggestions immediately, but he is very good at pointing out the mistakes and omissions in other people's suggestions.

"In my opinion, the secret agents are no match for us." Liang Guangzong picked up his teacup, took a sip of fragrant tea, and then said, "How many people are there in Pingyang Prefecture? Four hundred thousand."

"With such a large population and only thirty or fifty spies mixed in, finding them would be like looking for a needle in a haystack if Pingyang Prefecture relied solely on its resources. The only way is to mobilize all the people of Pingyang City to pay close attention to whether the people around them are strangers or have any suspicious behavior, especially in places like inns, restaurants, and taverns."

"Even among close friends and neighbors, has their recent behavior been unusual?"

"Once you discover anyone suspicious, immediately report it to the governor's office."

"In this way, all the people in Pingyang City will become the Marquis's spies, and the vast city of Pingyang will be completely under his control."

"If any member of the clan is a spy, the entire clan shall be punished; if any member of the neighborhood is a spy, the entire neighborhood shall be punished; those who know of such a person but do not report it shall be punished together with the others."

Song Yan's breath hitched. Good heavens, could this be Ningguo's version of the Chaoyang masses?

Just then, a series of rustling footsteps slowly came from outside the living room. Turning around, one could see a hunched figure in the moonlight.

His gray hair was a mess, like a bird's nest.

He was dressed in coarse linen clothes that hadn't been washed in who knows how long.

It was Liang Qiaofeng.

Why was this interrogation so quick?
Could it be that his skill has increased again?

Then, Liang Qiaofeng bowed to Song Yan and said in a sinister voice, "My lord, everything has been interrogated."

"These are all big fish we caught this time!"

(End of this chapter)