Chapter 27: Your Very Existence Is a Mistake

Father Song cast a cold glance at Song Shilan, seeing right through her petty schemes. "What is wrong with your second brother? I think he is perfectly fine."

Song Shilan was both shocked and incredulous. "Father, did you not see my second brother bullying me?"

Father Song sneered, "Why is it that your second brother only bullies you and no one else? You should look for the reason within yourself."

Song Shilan froze, looking at him as if he were a stranger. "Father, how... how could you say such things?"

Father Song replied, "Are these not the very words you often said to the Old Madam when you were a child? I am merely repeating your own words back to you; why do you act so surprised?"

Song Shilan was struck dumb. She wanted to argue that it was different. She was not bullying Song Mingting and the others; she was merely reclaiming everything that belonged to her. Besides, as the most prestigious daughter in the household, she had the right to deal with anyone she pleased.

Seeing the expression on her face, Father Song could guess exactly what she was thinking, and his disgust for this daughter only deepened.

"Father," Song Shiwei approached them at that moment. Without any regard for Song Shilan's presence, she said bluntly, "I think it would be best to get rid of Song Shilan and Concubine Qin as soon as possible. Not only have this pair of mother and daughter been causing trouble throughout our journey of exile, but they have also been secretly contacting the Qin family. To prevent us from being killed by them, we should finish them off early."

Father Song nodded in agreement. "Shiwei, you are right. It is time to eliminate this hidden threat." He looked ahead and added, "Find a place up ahead, finish them both off, and leave their bodies there."

Song Shiwei glanced at Song Shilan, whose face had turned ghostly pale, and smiled sweetly at her father. "Father, why wait until we are further ahead? We can just settle this right here. I believe Second Brother would be very happy to handle it."

Song Mingting immediately bounded over, his face beaming with a bright, lighthearted smile. "Father, I am more than willing to take care of Concubine Qin and Song Shilan." He clenched his fists, the knuckles cracking audibly. "I guarantee that I will not let this mother and daughter have any chance to escape or feign death."

"No!" Song Shilan shrieked, "Father, you cannot do this to me! You cannot!"

Song Mingting suddenly grabbed her, laughing with biting sarcasm. "Why can't Father do this to you? If not for the Old Madam helping Concubine Qin drug Father back in the day, do you think you would even exist?"

It was common knowledge in the household that Song Shilan’s birth was the result of the Old Madam assisting Concubine Qin in drugging their father. Originally, they had hoped for a son, planning to force the child into the legal wife’s name to secure the position of heir. Instead, they produced a daughter, earning only their father’s deep loathing for both Concubine Qin and Song Shilan.

Being reminded of the one thing she most despised, especially by Song Mingting, left Song Shilan humiliated beyond measure. Damn you, Song Mingting, she thought, I will remember this debt.

"Second Brother..." she sobbed pitifully, "I know you don't like me, but you can't do this."

Song Mingting gripped her throat with one hand, tightening his hold. "Keep crying. It will be interesting to see just how ugly you look when you die."

"Second Brother, hurry up; we still have a long way to go," Song Shiwei said coolly.

Song Mingting grinned. "Don't worry, Eldest Sister, I will finish this quickly." Looking at Song Shilan, his eyes flashed with murderous intent. "I am sending you on your way now."

Realizing that these people truly intended to take her life, Song Shilan fainted from terror. Before she lost consciousness, only one thought remained: she should have used the lives of the entire family to ingratiate herself with Princess Anning when their estate was first confiscated.

"She fainted just like that?" Song Mingting pouted with disdain.

Song Shiwei said indifferently, "If she’s fainted, just wake her up." As she spoke, she glanced at Zhang Huai and his men, a faint smile curling her lips. "Captain, wouldn't you agree?"

These guards were truly patient; they had yet to give her family an answer.

Zhang Huai felt a tightening in his chest, and his expression darkened. His eyes were bruised and sunken, making him look haggard, as if he hadn't rested well the night before. "What the Eldest Miss of the Song family says is absolutely correct."

Song Shiwei’s smile deepened. She did not speak to Zhang Huai again but turned to Song Mingting. "Second Brother, hurry up. If we delay any longer, it will only get hotter."

"No!" Concubine Qin, who had been cowering nearby, lunged forward. She knelt before Song Shiwei, kowtowing incessantly in a display of total submission. "I beg the Eldest Miss to spare the Second Miss’s life! Please, I beg you!"

After this incident, she finally realized that the gentleness and nobility Song Shiwei usually displayed were all a facade. This woman was, at her core, sinister, vicious, and ruthless.

Song Shiwei looked down at her, her eyes icy. "Concubine Qin, you know to beg me now? Back when you relied on the Old Madam’s favoritism to frame my mother and have her punished, you certainly didn't have this face."

When the Old Madam was still alive, Concubine Qin had never ceased to plot against her mother, repeatedly urging the Old Madam to have her divorced. Had their father not constantly protected her, her mother would have met a tragic end long ago.

Concubine Qin only regretted that she had been too kind-hearted back then, failing to finish off the legal wife and Song Shiwei sooner. "Eldest Miss, please, for the sake of the Second Miss being your sister, forgive her this once."

Song Shiwei ignored her and looked at Song Mingting. He understood. He tossed the unconscious Song Shilan to the eldest and third guards, then grabbed Concubine Qin by the throat, hoisting her up.

"Concubine Qin, since you have begged Shiwei, I will send you on your way first." His face was cruel. "Don't worry, I will make sure your death is painful. I certainly won't let you go easily. That is the least I can do to repay the suffering my mother and I endured all those years."

"No!" Concubine Qin tried to struggle, but Song Mingting slapped her, swelling her face. "Concubine Qin, don't struggle. The more you fight, the more I want to torment you." He laughed with grim satisfaction. "There is no Old Madam here to protect you now."

Concubine Qin looked around, only to find that everyone present was either gloating or wishing for her death; not a single person was willing to help. She could not understand how it had come to this, but she knew one thing: she did not want to die.

"Second Young Master, if... if you kill me and the Second Miss, Princess Anning will not let you off!" she threatened, though her voice trembled.

Song Mingting laughed heartily, looking at her as if she were a fool. "Concubine Qin, how would Princess Anning ever know that you and Song Shilan were murdered? On this journey of exile, there are so many dangers, and one might even encounter wild beasts."

Concubine Qin shook uncontrollably, her face deathly pale. "No..."