Capítulo 41: Fazer Song Ning reencarnar mais cedo

"Zhou?" He Fengmian seemed to have said more, but Wen Hanzhou was distracted and did not notice him for a moment.

When Wen Hanzhou finally came to his senses, He Fengmian’s large face was already hovering close to his: "What is Zhou thinking about? Why are your brows furrowed so tightly?"

Wen Hanzhou’s brows twitched, and he snapped back to reality. Realizing that his thoughts were occupied by a woman, his heart began to beat wildly.

He feigned calmness and spoke: "The sky looks like it is going to rain. I recall that Lord Song has a cough; go ask if he can endure traveling through the night."

"He is just a prisoner now, no longer a Lord. Why does Zhou bother with him?" He Fengmian asked, puzzled.

Wen Hanzhou maintained his composure: "Lord Song is a good official, merely framed and implicated. Moreover, I promised Miss Song that I would look after her family."

He Fengmian crossed his arms, looking suspicious. He considered himself well-acquainted with his master—a man who cared for the world but was cold by nature. Why was he suddenly so attentive?

Meeting He Fengmian’s gaze, Wen Hanzhou spoke coolly: "Fengmian, you talk too much."

He Fengmian paused, then cleared his throat: "Right, right, I’ll go, I’m going!"

As He Fengmian rode off, Wen Hanzhou realized he had been gripping his reins so tightly that his palms were aching. He shook his head with a helpless smile, yet the image of Song Ning remained etched in his mind.

Not long after, He Fengmian returned, his expression grave: "Zhou, Lord Song is fine, but the eldest Miss Song has been unconscious with a high fever for an entire day..."

Wen Hanzhou’s lips tightened. He asked, feigning indifference: "Why does Miss Song have a fever?"

"I do not know. Should we send some medicine?" He Fengmian inquired.

Wen Hanzhou nodded: "We shall rest here for the night. Let Miss Song rest well. Once we enter the city tomorrow, we will summon a physician for her."

His tone was flat, but his hand, gripping the reins, betrayed the turmoil within him. He Fengmian, suspecting nothing, went to fetch the medicine.

Wen Hanzhou turned to look at the area where the prisoners were held and let out a silent sigh, feeling a faint sense of relief. It was fortunate he had followed his whim today... otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

***

Over at the Song family’s side, the second and third branches could not hide their schadenfreude. Traveling through the night? Good! The eldest branch was finally reaping what they sowed!

Madame Li clutched her son's hand, her expression one of triumph. Since her son had recovered, it was only fitting that the eldest branch should suffer the misfortune of traveling through the night.

Song Ming, a young and strong lad, had managed to pull through after a night of fever. Though still weak, he could eat and walk. In contrast, Song Ning remained with her eyes tightly shut, with no sign of waking.

Madame Liu, drenched in sweat and unsteady on her feet, insisted on carrying Song Ning. Anyone could see she was at her limit; to continue would mean collapsing. Yet, if Song Yanduan, who already had an injured leg, were to carry her, his leg would surely be ruined.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, you see? That young general came by earlier, saw Song Ning unconscious, and didn't even blink before turning away!" Madame Li spoke with hypocritical ease, shaking her head. "Your family has groveled like dogs before Prince Ling for so long, yet in the end, he doesn't even want to look at you."

"Some people are just born spineless! Always hovering around others for a bite to eat, doing who knows what shameless things, only to realize they were never worth a glance!" Madame Meng chimed in, pulling her daughter Song Xiang along. "Calling herself the eldest daughter of the Song family, yet discarding all sense of shame. No wonder she is looked down upon. Unlike our Xiang, who is gentle and sensible!"

Madame Li laughed, covering her mouth: "Big brother, sister-in-law, I’d say with how well you’ve been eating and dressing, Ning’er shouldn’t be falling ill like this." She added, "You had better be careful. Did she do something filthy and catch some foul disease, causing her to faint for no reason?"

Madame Li smiled, forgetting that she was no longer the high-and-mighty Madame Wang of the Song family in Jincheng.

"So dirty! Mother, won't that foul disease be contagious?" Song Xiang covered her nose in disgust. "I heard that in other households, maids who catch such filth are beaten to death..." She glanced at Song Ning and urged: "Mother, I’m scared. Make big sister stay away from me, I don't want to catch anything!"

Madame Meng jumped up, shouting: "Sister-in-law, it’s Ning’er’s own fault for not behaving, catching such a filthy disease! Don't blame us; I’m doing this for everyone’s sake. Instead of letting her suffer here, we should find a place to bury her so she can be reincarnated sooner!"

Madame Liu was driven to the brink of madness. How could her own relatives, her elders, spread such rumors about a young girl? She wanted to defend her daughter's honor, but she was too exhausted to speak, only glaring at the others.

Song Yanduan was trembling with rage, but being a man of integrity, he could not bring himself to curse them.

Song Yanhua, however, cared little for decorum. He had been bottling up his anger, and hearing the women's chatter, he reached out, grabbed Song Ning’s arm, and tried to drag her off Madame Liu’s back.

"What are you doing!" Madame Liu cried out, her voice rasping like a dying bird. She tried with all her might to stop him, but she was a weary woman and no match for him.

"Second brother, what are you doing? Are you rebelling?" Song Yanduan stepped in, veins bulging on his forehead. But Song Yanhua shoved him hard to the ground.

Standing over him with cruel indifference, Song Yanhua said: "Brother, I know you can't bear to let her go, but such a filthy woman only brings shame to our family and burdens you! If you won't make the decision, I will be the villain for you!"

With a savage shove, he threw Song Ning onto the ground.