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Chapter 39 Confrontation

Nightfall, the spacious street already no longer had many people. This kind of street often had someone in charge of cleaning. The ground was spotless. The snow was piled up at the two sides.

This was the road to the Song estate entrance. Turning a bit in the front and he would arrive home, Song Song was familiar with this street when he was younger. Later, he didn't leave the estate much.

".... Too, too high."

"I'm here. Don't be scared."

Song Song obediently crouched on the roof. To avoid obstruction, he didn't wear a cloak, but had a heavy cotton padded coat. At glance, he seemed a little rotund in appearance.

"From what I gathered, Song Ge's reputation isn't bad. He treats people kindly. Normally when he leaves the estate, he goes alone and rarely brings servants."

Song Song nodded: "He's accustomed to acting humane."

He was a hypocrite.

As Song Song silently thought, Li Xiao stood up to take a look. Song Song quickly reached out to grab his leg. He was still scared of being on a roof, even though snow on this roof was pretty much melted.

Good thing Li Xiao didn't let him stay long. He very quickly carried Song Song down. When Song Song landed, he immediately hid. Li Xiao walked over from the side and stood behind him.

Song Song stuck out his head and looked around: "Where's he? Is he coming?"

"Just wait here."

Song Ge held a pot of wine and walked over with a hand behind his back. The street was already empty, but he wasn't scared. If he turned the corner, he'd be home.

However today, this turn of his was on an unlucky day of the year. Unexpectedly, a cloth sack closed over his head, followed closely by pain to his stomach. He was kicked to the floor by someone, the wine pot in his hand instantly broke to pieces on the ground. He was shocked by the turn of events and said in the pitch-black darkness: "Dare I ask if we have any old animosity, what's the meaning of this?"

That person grabbed him, dragging him straight backwards. He was full of terror in his heart, but also felt strange. Who would have to cover his head in order to injure him?

"Who the heck are you?!"

Li Xiao waved his hand to call Song Song over, saying: "I'm Li Xiao."

Song Ge's heart skipped a beat. "Wangye, why are you doing this? Did I offend you somewhere?"

He couldn't see clearly, but still he felt that even if Li Xiao was helping Song Song get revenge, he wouldn't use this kind of method.

Li Xiao chuckled lightly: "If this king wants to hit you, then I'll hit you. Do I need a reason?"

"Wangye." He didn't have the chance to say more. Suddenly, he felt someone step on his back. A flurry of punches rained down on him from above. He raised his arms to cover his head: "Who are you really? You dare to feign to be the king? Do you not want your life?! Ahy--"

This was the first time Song Song did something bad personally. On one hand, he felt very satisfied, on the other, he was also very terrified. When he finished beating up Song Ge, he grabbed Li Xiao and dragged him off running. They didn't run very long before he stopped to take some deep breaths. Patted and smoothed on the back by Li Xiao, he said with eyes shining like stars: "That was way too exciting."

Li Xiao held up his hands. The cloth sack was coarse. After hitting it a few times with his fist, Song Song's knuckles peeled skin. Li Xiao frowned: "Next time, I'll let someone make a silk bag to avoid rubbing open Song-er hands."

"It's fine. I'm not hurt." Song Song silly laughed for a while and was patted on the head by Li Xiao: "What else do you want to do?"

"Nothing really. Let's go home. I'll make you some noodles. We can drink some soup and warm up."

He basked in his brief delight, the resentment in his heart felt relieved for a bit. Too busy being happy, he didn't notice Li Xiao casting him a longsided glance, his eyes shrouded in darkness.

Song Ge was beaten, bruised and bloody all over. His face was swollen, even his bones broke a few. He was brought home by a cart driver passing by. He had already fainted. However, what's most scary wasn't his injury, but rather that his feet were chopped off.

The mourning white cloths hadn't even been removed and this kind of thing happened. When madam Song saw him, she screeched sharply and started bawling: "Who? Who harmed my son?!!!"

Song Guogong's face was also full of grief. He ordered people to find the doctor while questioning the cart driver: "Did you see who harmed him?"

"This one doesn't dare to say. " The cart driver trembled with fear but didn't speak, which means he knew. Song Guogong asked seriously: "Who exactly was it? If you say it, you'll get a reward."

He waved his hand, the steward instantly stepped forward and revealed some silver. Upon seeing it, the cart driver's eyes widened. However, after considering for a while, his face was still full of conflict. The steward ordered someone to bring another tray of silvers. That cart driver finally was unable to resist the enticement and said: "It, it was Ping wangfei!"

The veins on the back of Song Guogong's hands instantly bulged, his expression full of fear and anger. The steward's expression was full of incredulousness. He heard Song Guogong say: "Are you willing to be a witness?"

The cart driver greedily looked at the silver ingots, but also had a face of hesitation. Song Guogong waved his hand, and another tray of silver was carried over.

Inside the room, madam Song carefully helped Song Ge wipe his face, in between the silence was filled by the sound of her crying. When she saw Song Guogong enter, she immediately stood up: "Who was it? Did that car driver tell the truth?"

"He said it was Song-er."

Madam Song instantly exploded: "Song Song, I will definitely peel his skin and pull out his tendons!"

Song Guogong immediately replied: "Don't be rash. Even though Song-er's personality has made a huge change recently, I don't think he could be so vicious and merciless. I'm afraid"

"Your worries are useless!" Madam Song said, grinding her teeth: "My Ah-Shi just died not long ago, now Ge-er experiences this kind of suffering. Just look at your son. Just look at him. His feet weren't just broken, they were chopped off. They were chopped off, do you understand?!"

She was so sad she wished she were dead: "My Ge-er was brimming with talent. My Ah-shi was innocent and naive. But now now they are both ruined because of Song Song--- completely ruined!!!"

She couldn't even stand steadily from her torment. A tearful momo to the side helped support her up. Song Guogong's eyes also looked like they held tears. He said: "This thing was likely done by the mad king. What can we do about it?"

"You go find the emperor and ask him for justice. Don't mention the mad king, only focus on Song Song. He murdered his own brother. I won't believe the emperor can endure the royal family having such a malicious son-in-law!!"

When Song Ge woke up, he still didn't know what happened. He only felt pain all over, but he couldn't straighten his body. Madam Song carefully comforted him and asked him. Song Ge closed his eyes and said: "I heard the mad king's voice. But the person who hit me wasn't the mad king. His strength wasn't big. He didn't practice martial arts. The few kicks I received later seemed more like they were done by someone who knew martial arts."

"Don't be scared. Your father already went to the palace to fight for justice for you. We will definitely seize Song Song to ask him clearly---"

"How could father be so foolish?!" Song Ge replied immediately: "This thing is related to Ping wangye. If we want to get revenge, we must carefully plan."

He suddenly paused: "My foot, how come, I can't feel it.?"

It wasn't lacking in sensation, but rather, lacking.

Madam Song glanced towards his feet then faced his confused blank face: "Ge-er, let's focus on recuperating. Everything will get better"

Song Ge's face gradually paled in color. He said: "What happened to me? Mom, tell me."

He also looked towards Song Zhen who was standing next to madam Song. The little girl trembled all over for a second and said tearfully: "Song Song chopped it off "

Song Ge suddenly struggled wildly to sit up. The servants to the side didn't dare to get close. They saw the veins on his forehead straining. Not knowing what part of the injury he stressed, he unexpectedly coughed up a mouthful of blood while still yelling: "Help me up!"

Madam Song shook, in such despair it seemed like she was going to faint.

From the room came a loud scream: "Song Song! Where did I treat him unwell!! Why is he this ruthless?!"

Song Guogong kneeled in front of the emperor, sweat dripping from his forehead. The latter finished listening to him wordlessly, then confirmed with him: "You said, Ping Wang, chopped off Song Ge's feet?"

"No no no, this is family business. It was Song-er. Someone saw Song-er did it to Ge-er. However, Song-er is currently Ping Wang's wangfei. This official can't really enter his estate to get him. Trouble your majesty to help bring him out of the king's estate. "

The emperor fell silent for a while then said: "You have a witness?"

"Yes. He's outside."

The cart driver probably never in his whole life has entered a place like this. He cautiously walked in, kneeled with his head to the floor, not even daring to look up even once. The Emperor Hong Ren said gently: "Song Guogong said you saw Ping Wang commit an act of violence?"

Song Guogong immediately corrected him softly: "Not Ping Wang, it's Ping wangfei."

The eunuch, Ming gongong, who served the emperor, shot Song Guogong a glance, then looked back down again.

Emperor Hong Ren asked again: "You saw Ping wangfei commit a violent crime against his brother?"

The cart driver suddenly corrected himself: "No! I don't dare lie to your majesty! This one didn't see anything! I only passed by and saw the gongzi with heavy injury, so I brought him back to the Song estate. Other than this, I don't know anything!"

He actually changed his words, Song Guogong's face had a huge change. Emperor Hong Ren slowly said: "Then what are you doing here?"

"... .. I, I was given money. Song Guogong gave me 200 silver ingots to let me testify against Ping Wang!"

Song Guogong yelled loudly: "Even if this official had 10 thousand heads, I wouldn't dare to slander Ping Wang. Your majesty, this thing, maybe this official made a mistake. Your majesty, please grant me a chance to return and investigate this clearly!"

"Don't worry." Emperor Hong Ren said: "Just sit here first."

Song Guogong sat trembling on the chair. Beside him just happened to be a huge fire heater. His body was already sweaty all over, now he really felt like he was being cooked in an oven. Emperor Hong Ren liked Li Xiao, liked him more than any other of his sons. Song Guogong insisted this was done by Song Song, but the cart driver kept dragging it back to Li Xiao. This made it difficult for him to back out of this situation.

"Go, summon Ping Wang." The emperor said: "If a king breaks the law, they will be punished just like everyone else. Song Guogong, if the culprit is really this unfilial son of mine, zhen will give you justice."

If it really was

But, what if it wasn't?

What if Li Xiao denies it?

But at this time Song Guogong was already placed on the spot, and could only repeatedly wipe off the sweat off his forehead and wait. Not only did he have to guard against Li Xiao having an outburst and killing people, he had to figure out what Emperor Hong Ren was thinking right now.

Li Xiao arrived very quickly. He glanced at the people before him and asked somewhat puzzled: "Greetings to father. Dare I ask why you summoned me?"

Emperor Hong Ren abruptly threw his teacup on the floor and berated: "Kneel!"

Song Guogong felt his knees soften. He almost slid off the chair to kneel as well, good thing an eunuch to the side supported him and helped him sit back in the chair.

Li Xiao calmly kneeled: "This son is ignorant. I don't know what I have done that made Father so upset?"

"Did you chop off Song Ge's feet?"

Li Xiao turned his face and looked surprisingly at Song Guogong. The latter shrank. Li Xiao said with an raised eyebrow: "This son and the Song family counts as close relatives. Who doesn't know that I absolutely adore Song-er. How could I injure his younger brother?"

"There even is a witness, you still dare to deny it?!" Hong Ren hid the fact that the witness did not testify against Li Xiao to test him. Li Xiao narrowed his eyes and said coldly: "Oh? Then what did that witness say? Father, if there's someone lying and trying to slander this son, you have to give me justice."

"You really didn't commit an act of violence?!"

"Criminals always have a motive. What would be my motive?"

The Hong Ren emperor looked like he just remembered this and looked up asking: "Did Song Ge ever say that he had any enmity with this unfilial son of mine?"

Song Guogong couldn't say a word. His whole body was soaked in sweat. He finally realized. Now that Song Song entered the king's estate, he was already Li Xiao's. No matter what, if he picked on Song Song, Li Xiao definitely wouldn't be far behind. That's why the emperor only summoned Li Xiao, not Song Song. Doing so also saved the Song family some face. If Song Song were called over to ask his motive, he would only bring up all the ugly things that occured in the Song family, and then, he might not even be punished.

From the start, to enter the palace to reason with Emperor Hong Ren was a huge mistake.

He didn't reply. Emperor Hong Red said darkly: "Song Guogong?"

Song Guogong kneeled again and said: "This official was also deceived. I was made to believe it was done by Ping wangfei, but now that I think about it, everything seems strange. Please allow this official to return and consider it some more."

Li Xiao said: "Wangfei's personality is gentle. How could he commit an act of violence? Not to mention, a few days ago he went to give charity and suddenly fell ill. Right now, he's still recovering in my estate. Song Guogong never pays any visits, yet dare to start a rumour to slander him? You have many sons. I know it's hard to avoid biases, however to be this biased, is something I rarely see."

Song Guogong said frenetically: "This official, this official was momentarily confused Please forgive me, your majesty."

"Although when kings commit crimes, they are punished like commoners. If someone slanders the royal family, Zhen also cannot remain indifferent. Song Guogong, you go back and investigate with the prefect together. Make sure to find the real culprit so we can clear Ping Wang and Ping wangfei's name."

Song Guogong understood that this thing in the eyes of the emperor, no longer had anything to do with Li Xiao and Song Song. If he wanted to accuse them again, he must have irrefutable evidence.

He can only swallow his anger, bow down and give thanks: "Thank you for forgiving this official for being impulsive."

"This cart driver's behavior is erratic. Drag him down and give him 40 hits, then chase him out of the city."

Inside the room quieted, the Emperor Hong Ren glanced at the still kneeling Li Xiao and walked over, personally helping him up: "Zhen has often taught you not to take advantage of your position to bully others. Tell the truth, was it really not you?"

Li Xiao said: "It really wasn't."

"How about wangfei?"

"Wangfei's illness came suddenly and violently. Doctor Ji said he can't go outside and must recuperate quietly."

The Emperor Hong Ren looked at him for a while, then laughed: "Forget it. You can go back."

"Excuse me then."

Watching that tall figure leave, the emperor was supported by an eunuch back into his chair. He said: "What do you think?"

"Two days ago after returning from the charity, wangfei indeed fell ill, threw up blood. Someone saw that it was after he saw Song Ge."

"What does the secret agents say?"

"The secret agents protecting wangye said, wangye indeed brought wangfei out of the estate. But they only beat Song Ge up, they didn't cut off his feet."

The emperor Hong Ren drank some tea to wet his dry throat and said: "Song Guogong inquired about the foot loss."

"That's right. Then this case is indeed unrelated to wangye."