Even between Song Xiuxiu and Song Yuan, there was a rare sense of warmth.
Lin Muyang also gave Song Xiuxiu plenty of face. This time, when they returned to her maiden home, the two of them brought back many gifts.
Most of them were gifts tailored to Song Yuan and the Song family's old madam's preferences. The old madam was still on the mountain, but when she returned and saw these things, knowing Song Xiuxiu's current situation, she would surely understand more.
During dinner, Song Chaoyu asked Song Yuan, "Father, when will Grandmother and the others return? Winter is almost here, and it must be getting cold on the mountain, right?"
In the past, Song Chaoyu had no room to speak at the Song family's dinner table.
The First Madam glared at Song Chaoyu, "This is not your concern. Just eat your meal!"
Song Yuan, however, did not grasp the First Madam's meaning. He simply smiled at Song Chaoyu, "I know you're worried about your grandmother. But you've only just returned this year, so you don't know. Every year at this time, your grandmother goes to the mountain to pray for a month. She won't return until it snows, so you don't need to worry."
"Master! This is bad!"
As they were speaking, a young servant suddenly stumbled in from outside.
"What is it?!"
Song Yuan stood up, glaring at the servant whose face had changed drastically, "What's with all the panic? What's happened?"
The servant immediately knelt before Song Yuan, "Master, I heard that there are bandits on Ping'an Mountain in the suburbs of the capital! They say they've surrounded Ping'an Temple and taken officials' wives and concubines hostage!"
"What?!"
Song Yuan's chopsticks clattered to the ground. Song Chaoyu also abruptly stood up, "Have you confirmed this? Is it Ping'an Temple? Grandmother is in Ping'an Temple!"
Just as she mentioned it, something happened at Ping'an Temple. Song Chaoyu felt an indescribable unease.
The servant nodded, "It's Ping'an Temple. The mountain was very peaceful in previous years, but I don't know what's happened this year to cause bandits to appear! However, I heard that these bandits are not ordinary. It seems they heard that a palace concubine was cultivating and praying at Ping'an Temple, which is why they targeted Ping'an Temple. Master, what should we do now?"
Wait... bandits... palace concubine?!
Why did Song Chaoyu feel like this matter was so familiar?
A memory from her previous life suddenly flashed in her mind!
Yes, something like this had happened in her previous life, but it was a year later. In this life, it had happened a full year earlier, leaving Song Chaoyu no time to prepare.
—
Song Chaoyu forced herself to calm down and began to recall events from her previous life.
The Emperor had a concubine he doted on very much, the birth mother of his youngest son, the Sixth Prince, Consort Hai.
Although the Sixth Prince was the Emperor's youngest son, he was already fourteen this year.
In the incident of Prince Ning's usurpation in her previous life, the Sixth Prince, Prince Wen, who was most favored by the Emperor, had clearly stated his stance: he supported the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, it was because of his presence that when Prince Ning framed the Crown Prince, and the Emperor believed the Crown Prince had "erred," Prince Wen always pleaded for the Crown Prince. Prince Wen constantly mentioned the Crown Prince's filial piety and humility to the Emperor, making it difficult for the Emperor to make up his mind to depose the Crown Prince and establish Prince Ning.
Therefore, to counterbalance Prince Wen, Prince Ning devised a malicious plan.
He gathered some martial arts practitioners from somewhere and abducted Consort Hai from the temple while she was out of the palace to pray.
In her previous life, Consort Hai was abducted for a full ten days!
Finally, on a dark and windy night, those villains stripped Consort Hai naked and hung her violated body upside down in front of a tea stall outside the city, where people came and went.
Although Consort Hai survived, her reputation was ruined, and she was practically shamed by thousands.
So, the day after Consort Hai returned to the palace, she leaped to her death from the city wall.
From then on, the Sixth Prince fell into despair. Moreover, because Consort Hai had been violated, the court officials also gossiped about the Sixth Prince.
In this way, Prince Ning, without shedding a drop of blood, used Consort Hai to deal with the Sixth Prince, Prince Wen, preventing him from speaking for the Crown Prince any longer.
Song Chaoyu hadn't expected that Mu Hansu in this life would advance this plan! It seemed he had planned it long ago, revealing how malicious his intentions were!
Returning to her senses from her memories, Song Chaoyu also heard Song Yuan's anxious voice, "Go, prepare the carriage, and head to the mountain!"
"Master!"
The First Madam, however, grabbed Song Yuan's hand, "Now that there are bandits on Ping'an Mountain, how can you go?"
"Let go!"
Setting aside other matters, Song Yuan's filial piety towards the old madam was somewhat genuine, "Mother is on Ping'an Mountain, so why can't I go? Besides, so many officials' wives and concubines are on the mountain, the palace must already know about this. I must go. You stay home and watch over things."
Seeing Song Yuan about to go, Song Chaoyu also hurried forward, "Father, let me go with you!"
"You, a young lady... that place is not peaceful!"
Song Yuan's instinctive reaction was to refuse.
But whether it was for Consort Hai or for the old madam, Song Chaoyu was determined to insist, "Father, I beg you, take me with you! I promise I won't run around, and now that everyone in the capital knows, those bandits must have already left. That place is safe, please let me go with you!"
Song Chaoyu's earnest gaze made it impossible for Song Yuan to refuse.
He sighed, "Alright, you can come, but you must stay close to me and not wander off!"
Besides Song Chaoyu, Song Jiayang also had to go.
His health had improved considerably. He and Madam Nie were already waiting at the entrance, saying they were going to rescue the old madam.
Given the urgency of the situation, Song Yuan did not say much more.
The few of them got into the carriage and sped towards Ping'an Mountain—
After leaving the capital, Song Chaoyu noticed that their carriage was not the only one speeding towards Ping'an Mountain.
There were also other official families. Naturally, any family with female relatives on Ping'an Mountain had to go.
Song Chaoyu, however, was puzzled, "Father, why are Consort Hai and Grandmother going to Ping'an Mountain to pray at this time?"
Song Chaoyu called Song Yuan "Father" at home, which sounded unfamiliar.
Calling Song Yuan "Daddy" at this moment softened Song Yuan's heart, and he patiently explained to Song Chaoyu, "It's also a customary old practice. Thirty years ago, during a rebellion and fire in the capital, many households were burned. Consort Hai's grandfather, who was the Zhenyuan General at the time, turned the tide but died in the fire. This month is his memorial month. Families who were saved and benefited by him during that time will have their female relatives pray for his spirit tablet at Ping'an Temple this month, so Consort Hai naturally has to go."