Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 86 - Song Zhen Should Die

Although he had long known that Luo Yuheng's thinking was a bit jumpy, for it to jump to this extent still caught Song Yan off guard.

Weren't we just talking about how to deal with the Wokou? Why did it suddenly jump to Luo Tianyi?

For the people of ancient times, it was quite normal for sisters to marry the same man.

Song Yan subconsciously turned to look behind him, but found that Luo Tianyi, who had originally been leaning against the tree trunk, was already gone.

'Phew!'

If Luo Tianyi had heard that, who knows, she might have thought he was coveting her. Although his younger sister-in-law was very nice, he really didn't have that kind of thought.

Luo Yuheng also seemed to have just been making a joke and didn't pursue it further.

During this period, Song Yan was relatively busy.

He first made a 'wolf brush' (langxian).

The so-called 'langxian' was also called 'longxian'.

It was relatively simple to make. One just needed to select a sturdy Moso bamboo, take about five meters from the top, remove the leaves but keep the branches, then infuse it with tung oil and embed an iron spearhead at the tip, and it was done.

If one wanted, one could also apply poison, and it would become a 'poisonous wolf brush'.

This kind of weapon was long and cumbersome, not suitable for single combat. But the bamboo branches were relatively soft, so even a Wokou's saber could not easily cut through them. It could effectively block the Wokou's frontal assaults. Moreover, because the wolf brush was long, even Wokou armed with long pikes would have difficulty causing injury.

It was also fortunate that he had the ‘Jixiao Xinshu’ in his mind. Otherwise, although he knew of the weapon called the 'wolf brush,' he would have been completely in the dark as to how to actually make one.

Regarding the weapon Song Yan made, those five hundred soldiers... no, farmers, were somewhat disdainful. No matter how you fiddle with it, in the end, isn't it still just a bamboo pole? What a joke.

What's more, for them, men who had fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, to have to listen to the commands of a greenhorn kid, they were truly unhappy in their hearts.

It wasn't until they had a farmer play the part of a Wokou, who thrusted from the left and right but was still unable to break through the wolf brush's blockade, that they gradually became convinced. Of course, Song Yan also understood that winning over these men was not such a simple matter. He didn't care either. As long as these men could be obedient for the coming period of time, it was enough.

During this period, Luo Tianshu also brought news: the time for the Wokou to attack Ningping County was in half a month.

The good thing was, Song Yan had enough time to let these so-called farmers become proficient in using the wolf brush and setting up the mandarin duck formation.

The bad thing was, a period of fifteen days was enough to show that the number of Wokou appearing this time would be very exaggerated. Even if everything Song Yan did was completely according to the ‘Jixiao Xinshu’, he didn't have much confidence in whether they could hold off several times their number of Wokou.

In the afternoon in the eighth month, the sky was dotted with clusters of white clouds. This time was probably early autumn. The temperature was suitable, and the city and its outskirts were a scene of leisure. The bright autumn sun shone down, and the roads and courtyards were cast with mottled tree shadows.

In the ancient city, pedestrians came and went. The sound of storytellers echoed from restaurants and teahouses. The girls of the Red Sleeve Pavilion enthusiastically solicited the passing customers. After all, after autumn comes winter.

When it's too cold, even the girls are not very willing to go out.

The fragrance of brewing tea slowly wafted through the pavilion.

"Damnable! Treacherous officials are in power in the court. This time, the Chu Kingdom, disregarding the alliance between our two countries, brazenly sent troops and captured two of our cities. And they even want us to pay an annual tribute of three hundred thousand silver and one hundred thousand bolts of cloth.”

"That Chu Emperor actually demanded to address His Majesty as uncle and nephew."

"Simply a disgrace."

"My Great Ning, how have we fallen to this state?"

In the teahouse, several scholars were filled with righteous indignation.

Song Yan, who was drinking tea at the side, slowly let out a breath, his expression somewhat helpless.

In the autumn of the nineteenth year of the Ninghe era, a border conflict broke out between the Ning and Chu kingdoms. The Ning Kingdom was utterly defeated, losing over thirty thousand soldiers and two cities. If not for the approach of winter and some unusual movements from the northern barbarians on the grasslands, they were afraid the Chu army would have fought all the way into the heartland of the Ning Kingdom.

"The taxes are going to be raised again this year. After all, three hundred thousand silver and one hundred thousand bolts of cloth is no small number."

"The common people will have to suffer again."

"Ai... If not for that Yang family controlling the imperial court, leading to the decay of our military, how would my Ning Kingdom have come to this? Thinking back to the founding of Great Ning, with its mighty army, the northern barbarians on the grasslands didn't dare to come south to pasture their horses. What heroes they were! A pity that Taizu died early..."

In Song Yan's mind, the image of the middle-aged man he had met that day appeared.

Dignified, proud, and with a suppressed weariness.

Uncle and nephew.

For him, that must be an immense humiliation.

"Shhh, Brother Liu, don't speak like that. There are many people and watchful eyes here. Be careful..."

One of them was probably a bit drunk. He stood up, planted one foot on his chair, and held a wine pot in one hand, his face flushed red, but his eyes were filled with a deep hatred.

His companion's face changed drastically and he hurriedly went forward to try and cover his mouth. It was one thing to criticize the court's situation in private, but to name the Yang family, did he not want his life? Didn't he know what the surname of Ningping County was?

"Careful of what?" That scholar surnamed Liu forcefully broke free: "We scholars should naturally be loyal to the sovereign and serve the country. How can we fear a mere treacherous Yang?"

'Huu.'

Just then, a pot was suddenly thrown from upstairs.

With a 'pa', it smashed right on the scholar's forehead and shattered into pieces. Wine flowed down his head, and he was injured by the smash. Some red marks slowly spread with the wine.

"Pah, what are you, to dare to slander my Yang family's name?"

A flippant voice came from upstairs.

Looking up, he saw three young men, all about eighteen or nineteen, with some resemblance in their looks.

A swarm of house slaves rushed out from behind them.

Seeing these three appear, many people's faces changed drastically, and they instantly lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

These three, in this Ningping County, could be considered local tyrants. Besides the few young masters from the Duke Song's mansion and the few young masters from the Luo family, there was no one these few didn't dare to provoke.

They were Yang Chang, Yang Ping, and Yang Long!

The sons of the Ningping County Magistrate, County Deputy, and County Commandant.

Seeing these three appear, even his fellow students didn't dare to stay here any longer, lowering their heads and retreating to the side. But that young man surnamed Liu was resolute and unafraid. He wiped the wine and blood from his face and glared angrily at the three.

"Reputation? The Yang family still has a reputation?"

"In the entire Ning Kingdom, who doesn't know that the Yang family is teeming with beasts? If the Yang family is not destroyed, the Ning Kingdom will surely perish.”

He's got some backbone.

The three Yang family young masters, who had just come downstairs, their faces completely sank.

In this Ningping County, it was truly the first time someone had dared to be so disrespectful to the Yang family. Among them, Yang Long, who had the most explosive temper, clenched his fist and was about to strike, but was caught by the wrist by Yang Ping beside him:

"Younger Cousin, why bother with such trouble? Men, take him away for me. Throw him in the dungeon first. Don't let this kind of idiot disturb the mood of us brothers' drinking."

Immediately, a group of house slaves rushed forward, directly restrained that scholar surnamed Liu, and began to drag him outside.

The other two had sinister smiles on their faces. Hitting someone outside would ultimately have a bad influence. But once in a place like a dungeon, there were plenty of ways to torture this kid. At that time, they would break all the teeth in his mouth, cut out his tongue, and see if he could still be as sharp-tongued as he was now.

Many people looked at the scholar with eyes full of pity, but there was nothing they could do.

Just then, a gentle voice suddenly came from not far away:

"As expected of the Yang family. Such great prestige."

"Just a few house servants, without even a single bailiff, and you dare to arrest someone in public. I was starting to think this Ning Kingdom wasn't surnamed Luo, but surnamed Yang."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent with a 'swish'.

Good heavens, where did another one who isn't afraid of death pop out from?

Even the three Yang brothers' faces changed. These words were even more venomous than what that man surnamed Liu had said. Even if the Yang family now controlled the imperial court, they wouldn't dare to say such a treasonous thing as 'the Ning Kingdom is surnamed Yang.' After all, the current Emperor Ninghe's relationship with the Yang family was not good, and the Yang family was not without opponents in the court.

If this were to be seized upon by others...

Three pairs of eyes glared angrily in the direction the voice came from, only to see a man and two women.

The man was as gentle and lustrous as jade;

One woman was mature and charming, the other was lively and playful.

It was Song Yan, Gu Banxia, and Kong Chan.

Originally, the three were extremely angry, but when they saw Gu Banxia and Kong Chan, a bit of greed couldn't help but appear in their eyes.

Such beautiful women. If they could take them home to properly toy with and torture, it would be a great pleasure.

"I was wondering who it was. So it's the Luo family's live-in son-in-law. Since when did a live-in son-in-law have the right to speak? This person insulted my Yang family's reputation. Can't we punish him a little?" The eldest, Yang Ping, said in a cold voice, having recognized Song Yan's identity.

"Whether he insulted the Yang family's reputation, I'm not clear on that. I only know that a group of house servants are not qualified to arrest people, and are even less qualified to throw people into a dungeon." Song Yan said with a light smile, without the slightest hint of nervousness or anger, as if he were just stating a very ordinary matter.

"My father is the County Deputy..."

"That's your father. What do you count for?" Song Yan raised his eyebrows, his tone still peaceful.

That Yang Ping's breath hitched. His face flushed red, and a layer of indignation surged up. This kind of calm and peaceful humiliation was even more infuriating.

Just as he was about to explode, Yang Chang, who was beside him, suddenly reached out a hand to stop him, smiling:

“What Brother Song says is right. It was us brothers who were being rash."

With a wave of his hand, that Yang Chang led his people away. Although Yang Ping and Yang Long were dissatisfied, they could only follow from behind.

When he reached the doorway, Yang Chang suddenly stopped again.

"Oh right, Brother Song, I heard that your elder brother, Song Zhen, seems to be about to have his verdict overturned and be released. The Ministry of Punishments has reviewed the case. The death of Song Yun seems to have been just an accident."

"Your brother will be able to get out of prison. You must be very happy, right? Brother Song should be a little careful recently. Don't carelessly lose your life.”

Song Yan just smiled and nodded slightly:

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Yang. But... the one who loses their life won't necessarily be me."

Yang Chang just snorted, no longer paying attention to Song Yan, and walked straight outside. Once outside the teahouse, Yang Ping finally couldn't hold it in.

“Elder Cousin, are we just going to let that kid go?"

"How could I? Lack of forbearance in small matters upsets great plans. Have you two forgotten about tonight... I don't want any trouble to arise before then," Yang Chang said with a chuckle.

"After all, I've heard that Luo Yuheng places great importance on this son-in-law. Where Song Yan is, Luo Tianyi is sure to be. I don't want to provoke that madwoman."

Yang Ping and Yang Long's faces also changed slightly. Luo Tianyi, they probably couldn't beat her. Even counting their house slaves, it wouldn't work. But very quickly, they thought of something, and cruel smiles appeared on all their faces.

That's right. After tonight, the Luo family will completely disappear from Ningping.

"It's just a pity about those women of the Luo family. They're going to be ravaged by those Wokou... tsk tsk..."

"What's to be afraid of? At worst, we can just spend some money to buy them back from those Wokou later. Whether they're virgins or not isn't important."

"Who knows, we might even get to taste Luo Yuheng and Luo Tianyi. All together at that time. That was a former Grand Princess, an imperial relative."

"Hehe!"

Accompanied by the sound of ferocious grins, the three of them swaggered off.

Inside the teahouse, Song Yan's expression was strange.

Song Zhen actually has a chance to get out?

I'm afraid the Yang family directly used their power in the imperial court to change Song Zhen's sentence.

If that's the case, why did Yang Miaoqing have to go through all this trouble?

Could it be that this news was intercepted? Was it Yang Siyao?

It doesn't matter. In short, Song Zhen really should die.