Chapter 38: The Qin Family Comes for Song Shilan

Song Shilan was already on the verge of a breakdown, and being struck at this moment caused all her suppressed emotions to explode.

She lashed out at Old Man Wang like a madwoman, her face twisted and hideous. "You lowly thing! How dare you hit me! I’m going to kill you! I'll kill you!"

Old Man Wang kicked her to the ground. "You..."

"Someone is coming!" a bailiff shouted. "They might be heading for the Song family."

Song Shiwei and the others looked over and saw a group of men on horseback approaching. Before Song Shiwei could see them clearly, she heard Song Mingyu’s voice.

"It’s the Qin family! Five of them in total, led by the Qin family steward."

Song Shiwei exchanged a glance with her father, both understanding that the Qin family’s arrival boded no good. However, no matter how malicious the Qin family might be, they wouldn't dare take their lives in plain sight. As for the rest, they would just have to wait and see how to handle it.

"Everyone, sit closer," Father Song said. The Song family did as they were told without question, gathering around him.

By now, Steward Qin had arrived with his men. Ignoring the Song family entirely, he walked straight up to Song Shilan.

"Oh dear, my dear cousin, what has happened to you?" he exclaimed with exaggerated concern. "The Old Master specifically ordered us to come and see if you needed any help."

Feeling as though she had finally found a backer, Song Shilan shot a triumphant look at Song Shiwei. "Steward Qin," she pointed at Old Man Wang, her voice trembling with spite, "kill this dog for me! He dared to strike me!"

Upon seeing Steward Qin and his men, Old Man Wang’s expression shifted instantly into a fawning smile. "Steward Qin, this isn't my fault. I was only following the orders of Princess Anning."

No matter how much Steward Qin looked down on the man, he wouldn't show it openly. "I see." He turned a stern face toward Song Shilan. "Cousin, these are the orders of Princess Anning; you mustn't throw a tantrum."

Song Shilan’s eyes widened in shock. "Steward Qin, you’re not going to help me?"

Steward Qin didn't even bother to glance at her again. He smiled at Old Man Wang and said, "I leave it to you to take good care of my cousin along the way." He took a five-tael silver ingot from his sleeve and pressed it into Old Man Wang’s hand. "If my cousin has offended you in any way, please be lenient."

If it weren't for the fact that Song Shilan was still of some use to the Old Master, he wouldn't have wasted a moment worrying about whether she lived or died.

Old Man Wang weighed the silver in his hand and smiled amiably. "Say no more, say no more. We will certainly take good care of the Second Miss Song on the road." As for how exactly they would "take care" of her, the Qin family would never know.

Steward Qin didn't care how she was treated, as long as she stayed alive. "May I have a word with my cousin?"

Old Man Wang nodded and stepped aside to wait.

Steward Qin crouched before Song Shilan, ignoring her desperate expression, and whispered, "Cousin, the Old Master says if you can help eliminate Master Song and the Eldest Miss, he will allow you to return to the Qin family as a legitimate daughter." The Old Master didn't want to dirty his own hands and risk trouble, which was why he intended to use Song Shilan.

Song Shilan grabbed his arm, asking excitedly, "Really? I can return to the Qin family and be a legitimate daughter?" Returning to the capital and becoming a legitimate daughter was everything she had ever dreamed of.

As Steward Qin leaned closer, he caught a whiff of sour, rotting stench emanating from her. He suppressed his nausea and disgust, his smile unwavering. "Cousin, when has the Old Master ever failed to keep a promise he made to you?"

No matter how clever Song Shilan usually was, her mind could not function clearly in such dire straits. "Fine, don't worry. I will get these two things done." Her eyes filled with malice; her father had been unkind to her first, so she couldn't be blamed for being treacherous.

Steward Qin loathed her cold-bloodedness, but his face remained impassive. "Cousin, I brought some supplies for you." He took a bundle from one of the guards and handed it to her. "There is some silver, food, and necessities inside. Use these for now. I will send more later."

Song Shilan clutched the bundle tightly, already calculating how to use these items to sow discord within her family to achieve her goal as quickly as possible. "Steward Qin, I need medicine. My foot was poisoned by Song Shiwei."

"Second sister, you can eat anything, but you shouldn't say just anything," Song Shiwei said coldly. "Just because your foot is rotting, does it mean I did it?"

Backed by Steward Qin, Song Shilan’s confidence surged. "If it wasn't you, would my foot be rotting? Song Shiwei, you are so vicious; you will suffer retribution sooner or later."

Song Shiwei chuckled. "When it comes to being vicious, who could compare to you? You personally killed your own mother, Aunt Qin, and didn't even bury her, leaving her body to rot in the wilderness."

At these words, Steward Qin looked at Song Shilan as if she were a monster. This woman was truly terrifying. She had killed the woman who had birthed and raised her for over a decade, and she had done so without a shred of remorse.

"Steward Qin, don't listen to Song Shiwei’s nonsense, she..." Before Song Shilan could finish, Steward Qin interrupted her hurriedly. "Cousin, I must return to report to the Old Master, so I cannot stay any longer."

With that, he took his men and left. He had to get back immediately to report this to the Old Master.

"Steward Qin! Steward Qin!" No matter how much she screamed, Steward Qin did not pause.

Seeing this, she glared at Song Shiwei with hatred. "Do you think that by using methods like this, the Qin family will abandon me? No! They won't!"

"Unlike you, whose maternal family doesn't care if you live or die, my maternal family will take care of me."

Song Shiwei sneered. "Is that so? If the Qin family really cared about you, would Steward Qin have run off so quickly? Would he have ignored your injuries? He didn't even ask how you’ve been doing these past few days."

The others mocked her as well. "It’s obvious the Qin family is just using her. Only an idiot like Song Shilan would think they truly care about her."

"She thinks she can use the Qin family to get back to the capital. She must think they’re fools."

Song Shilan assumed they were all just envious of her. She smiled triumphantly. "Eldest sister, I understand that you’re jealous that I have a maternal family to help me. How about this? If you give me the antidote and stop making things difficult for me, I might be able to help you."

Song Shiwei could only shake her head. Song Shilan had always seemed quite clever, so why was she acting so foolish now? "Whatever makes you happy."

She didn't bother to respond and sat back down to rest.

"Song Shilan, I suggest you worry more about your foot," Song Mingyu said with a sneer. "It’s already rotting; if you don't treat it soon, it will all fall off."

This remark caused her triumphant expression to stiffen. She began to wail in pain again. "My foot, my foot hurts so much! Who will save me? Whoever saves me, I’ll give them food, drink, or money!"