Qin Junyue’s mother was commanding the war against the Rong tribe in Liaodong and suffered a great defeat.
The iron cavalry of the Beirong broke through the defensive line, burned the city, and seized countless supplies.
More than half of the defenders were killed or wounded.
She led the remnants of her defeated army and fled south in panic.
The court’s documents of blame came flying like snowflakes.
First, they said she commanded poorly, losing the army and disgracing the country.
Then they said she withheld military pay, embezzled grain and fodder, and lined her own pockets.
They also said she disobeyed orders, retreated without authorization, causing the complete collapse of the front line.
Finally, the Emperor’s decree came down: Qin Mu was to be executed, and the Qin family was to be exiled to a bitter cold place.
Exile, in a sense, meant a slow death, meant never being able to turn things around.
When Qin Junyue got wind of this news, she felt as if she had been drained hollow.
She sat in the schoolroom in a daze, unable to take in a single word.
During the period of deliberation on her crimes, the Qin family could not leave the capital city, nor could they escape.
They could only wait for the Emperor’s decree.
She looked around. Those sitting in the schoolroom were all children of high officials and great clans.
But among these people, who could really help her? Who could put in a good word?
Qi Chuyao’s mother was in charge of the Ministry of War. Maybe she could help? Maybe she could say a few words?
Qin Junyue suddenly turned around, only to find that Qi Chuyao hadn’t come again today. Her seat was empty.
If the Qi family wasn’t here, what about the Song family? Qin Junyue looked at Wu Ruozhao in front of her and the Song Ning beside her.
Song Ning was listening attentively to the teacher’s lecture, his fingers moving across the Braille board, earnestly absorbing the knowledge of this world.
Originally, his mother and elder sister hadn’t wanted him to come, but he felt he still needed to understand the knowledge system of this world.
Maybe it would come in handy in the future? This was a rare good opportunity, so he pestered his elder sister to come along.
His elder sister was somewhat stubborn. With a stern face, she scolded him a few times, always going on about things like “men should be raised at home, not meet outsiders, not talk to strange women”—lessons in male virtue.
She even wanted to put a veil on him, but Song Ning tore it off and refused.
‘I’m blind already, and I still have to go out wearing a veil? Isn’t that a bit…’
Wu Ruozhao glared at him for a long time, but finally compromised.
Although his elder sister was such a strange and old-fashioned sister, she still brought him along every time.
She would say, “Next time, I won’t bring you,” but when the next time came, the carriage was still waiting early at the door, with an extra hand warmer inside.
After class, Song Ning stretched and stood up with Wu Ruozhao’s help:
“Let’s go. This class felt a bit watery.”
Wu Ruozhao frowned, unabashedly reached out and patted Song Ning’s butt to smooth the wrinkles on his clothes. While patting, she asked:
“What is ‘a bit watery’? Where is there water?”
Song Ning pouted and shook his head. “Forget it, I didn’t say anything. Let’s go home.”
This was an offhand comment; after all, even if he explained, Wu Ruozhao might not understand. All of this was irrelevant.
But Wu Ruozhao’s face stiffened. She pulled Song Ning’s arm and turned his whole body around to face her. Her tone became serious:
“Ning’er, I am your elder sister, understand?”
“With mother not around, you have to listen to what your elder sister says and answer when she asks. How can you brush me off like this?”
“Is our Ning’er going to become a man who doesn’t keep male virtue?”
“Our Song family is not some small household. Men must…”
Hearing his elder sister start to nag about these Three Obediences and Four Virtues again, Song Ning felt a headache coming on and sighed deeply.
Wu Ruozhao kept on talking, from “Men should be cautious in words and deeds” to “Men should be dignified and steady,” from “Men should prioritize the family” to “Men should regard their wives as heaven,” chattering endlessly.
Song Youyi walked over slowly, her face pale. She stole a glance at the helpless Song Ning, covered her mouth to laugh, and rescued him:
“Sis, we should go back now. Everyone’s almost gone.”
Wu Ruozhao turned to look at Song Youyi, then released Song Ning. She went over to tie Song Youyi’s coat tighter, her elegant brows furrowing even more:
“You too. You’re weak, yet you insisted on coming.”
“I told you we could hire a tutor at home. You insisted on coming along.”
“You two are more trouble than each other.”
A faint smile appeared on Song Youyi’s pale and beautiful face. She stuck her tongue out at Song Ning, even though he couldn’t see.
Wu Ruozhao took one hand of each and led them toward the door, muttering:
“Let’s go. Neither of you should come tomorrow. I think it’s getting colder.”
When passing Qi Chuyao’s empty desk, Wu Ruozhao glanced at it, snorted, and kicked the leg:
“A good-for-nothing.”
Upon hearing this, Song Ning couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t need to guess to know his elder sister was scolding Qi Chuyao. She hadn’t come again today.
To be fair, Qi Chuyao was a bit afraid of Wu Ruozhao.
Due to Mother Qi’s official position, the other children all flattered Qi Chuyao, curried favor with her, played with her, made a fuss with her, held her high, and never offended her.
Even the teacher had no way to deal with Qi Chuyao, so they turned a blind eye.
But Wu Ruozhao was different. She dared to use her fist, as big as a sandbag, right in Qi Chuyao’s face, sending her fleeing in panic.
The key point was that Qi Chuyao had no place to argue.
Wu Ruozhao was her future sister-in-law, and Mother Qi considered the Song family as one family, so she wouldn’t interfere with fights within the family.
Song Ning smiled. He was quite interested in this little fiancee of his, but unfortunately she didn’t pay much attention to him.
Every time they met, she either avoided him or pretended not to see him.
Outside the door, the carriage was parked to the side. Xia Ling stood nearby, wearing a pink padded jacket, rubbing her hands from the cold.
When she saw Song Ning come out, her eyes lit up, and she was about to wave.
A figure quickly darted out from the side.
“Elder Sister Wu Ruozhao!”
Qin Junyue ran up to Wu Ruozhao, grabbed her hand. Her eyes were red, tears welling up, expression sorrowful.
“Please, save our Qin family.”
Wu Ruozhao frowned and pushed Qin Junyue away. “Qin Junyue, I don’t hold any official position. What use is it to come to me?”
“Besides, I heard your mother’s crime was decided by the court. How could I save you?”
This matter was simply absurd. Although these people had prominent status, how could they have any say at court?
But this was all Qin Junyue could think of.
Qin Junyue bent her body, her posture extremely humble, as if afraid that if she spoke too slowly, she would lose her chance. She said urgently:
“My mother is not that kind of person! Our Qin family is not that kind of corrupt family!”
“Even if there is the crime of losing a battle, it’s far from the level of execution and exile of the whole family!”
“Isn’t this all a frame-up by those treacherous ministers and eunuchs in the court? Please help me talk to Minister Qi and Song…”
Wu Ruozhao pushed Qin Junyue away and said flatly:
“This is not something we can handle. Truly willing but powerless.”
Qin Junyue fell to the ground, her palms on the cold floor, but she didn’t get up for a long time.
Tears spilled out. She looked up at the sky in despair and murmured:
“Mother, they are wronging you…”
Song Ning’s footsteps stopped.
He broke free from Wu Ruozhao’s hand.
Wu Ruozhao was startled by him shaking off her hand. She froze for a moment and turned to look at him.
Song Ning ignored her. He turned around and tilted his head slightly toward the direction of the voice:
“You said your mother was wronged, right?”
He took a half step forward and probed the air with his hand, as if looking for her direction:
“Qin Junyue, right? I remember your mother commanded troops in Liaodong. Can you tell me the specifics?”
Qin Junyue was stunned. That handsome face, those white eyes, that spotless white robe—all appeared before her.
The person in front of her seemed like a savior, as if radiating light.
As if grabbing at a lifeline, she scrambled to Song Ning’s leg, wrapped her arms tightly around his thigh, holding on for dear life, as if afraid that if she let go, he would disappear. She spoke hastily:
“I’ll tell you, Young Master Song, I’ll tell you.”