Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 88 The good times are coming (1)

Song Yan was a little puzzled by the situation on Yang Miaoqing's side.

She seemed completely disconnected from the Yang family, but upon closer inspection, it made sense. The three highest officials in Ningping County were all from the Yang family's side branches, a deliberate arrangement by the Yang family to keep an eye on Luo Yuheng.

The status of the Yang family's legitimate daughter is naturally more noble than that of the three side branches. If there is anything that needs to be done by the side branches, just give the order directly.

However, the Yang family was not a monolithic entity; there were also some conflicts between the direct and collateral branches. Generally speaking, the collateral branches would cooperate with the direct branch, but if the matter affected the interests of the collateral branches, they would also refuse.

Yang Miaoqing was determined to get Song Zhen out. Since they had this relationship, she must have gone to the county magistrate, but was undoubtedly rejected. After all, the person who died in this case was the legitimate son of the Duke's Mansion. There were countless eyes watching him. Once he really released Song Zhen or replaced him with other death row prisoners, he would be exposed as soon as he did it.

His position as a county magistrate was the limit, and he might even lose his head. Even though he was just a small county magistrate, for Emperor Ninghe and the Yang family's enemies in the court, they would never miss the opportunity to eliminate a member of the Yang family.

Song Yan had a smile on his lips as he was connecting various clues and the performance of Yang Chang, Yang Ping, and Yang Long in his mind.

The plan to use the county magistrate's connections to release Song Zhen failed, so Yang Miaoqing had no choice but to cooperate with the Japanese pirates, trying to disrupt Ningping County and take the opportunity to rescue Song Zhen. The Yang family must have known about this and supported it.

It can even be said that it is possible that the Yang family directly cooperated with the orders given by the county magistrate and his two companions.

But one thing seemed particularly strange. Just before Yang Chang left, he had told him to be careful and not to lose his life accidentally! From this sentence, it can be seen that Yang Miaoqing's collusion with the Japanese pirates was not only known to the three county magistrates, but also to their descendants.

This is where it gets weird.

In theory, this is an extremely secret matter. If the news of colluding with Japanese pirates and being a traitor gets out, it will be a huge loss to the reputation of the Yang family. Of course, the fewer people who know about it, the better. How could it be possible that even people like Yang Chang knew about it? Didn't the Yang family ask for it to be kept secret?
Is it intentional?

Song Yan narrowed his eyes, his brain spun rapidly, and suddenly a light bulb went off in his head.

Abandoned son!

The county magistrate Yang Siye, the county assistant secretary Yang Zhongning, the county lieutenant Yang Chengen, along with their wives and children, were all abandoned.

These three people probably thought it was normal for Japanese pirates to attack the county town. After all, the coastal areas of Ningguo had been plagued by Japanese pirates every year. They had done their best, but they simply couldn't resist the pirates' attacks. At most, they would suffer a few injuries. Emperor Ninghe wouldn't chop off their heads for such a small matter, would he? Moreover, they had eliminated a huge hidden danger for the Yang family this time. It was a great achievement. The people above them would definitely protect them to the death. Who knows, their status could even rise.

However, they had no idea that from the moment Yang Miaoqing contacted the Japanese pirates, they had been abandoned by the Yang family.

Once this is done, the goal of the top leaders of the Yang family will be achieved.

It worked, and the Luo family was destroyed.

This is the best outcome. The death of Luo Yuheng and many children of the Luo family completely eliminates the hidden danger, and there is no longer any threat to the eldest prince inheriting the throne.

Emperor Ninghe was naturally furious, but so what? His goal had been achieved anyway. At worst, he could just execute the entire three families to appease him.

Do you still want to uproot the Yang family? Don't be silly, if you really have the ability, you wouldn't have delayed it until now.

Failed?
It doesn't matter. Even if we fail, there will be gains. At least we can confirm that there is a formidable force gathered around Luo Yuheng. Whatever we do in the future, our purpose will be clearer.

As for these three families, as the father and mother of a county, they actually allowed the Japanese pirates to invade the county. What was the point of keeping such trash? Wasting food? Emperor Ninghe would certainly take their heads. Of course, to prevent these three from revealing more secrets, the Yang family would probably kill them beforehand to silence them.

In any case, they are all dead.

Thinking of the uncontrollable pride of Yang Chang, Yang Ping and Yang Long, Song Yan shook his head. They were unaware of their imminent death, which was truly pitiful, sad and lamentable.

Perhaps, even Yang Miaoqing was abandoned.

Having been married once wasn't a big deal in this era, but being past childbearing age was a serious matter. Even if Yang Miaoqing was the legitimate daughter of the Yang family, she wouldn't have much value left. If Emperor Ninghe's anger couldn't be appeased, Yang Miaoqing could be thrown out. A legitimate daughter in name only would be considered respectable.

The methods of these old foxes were truly ruthless, using dozens of lives as pawns. Furthermore, they were ruthless enough, regardless of whether they were from the side branches or the main branches, they were all blood relatives, and they would just trick them.

As for Emperor Ninghe, he is indeed much more powerful than Emperor Yuanjing who died in the water. Although he seems to be at a disadvantage in the contest, the fact that the Yang family can make such an arrangement is enough to prove that Emperor Ninghe still has some ability to fight back.

The only thing that Song Yan couldn't understand was why Song Zhen didn't need the death penalty?
This should not have been done by the Yang family!

I always feel like there is a third party involved.

However, both the Yang family and the mysterious third-party force thought that Song Zhen’s life or death depended on the law, but they didn’t know that the person who could truly decide Song Zhen’s life or death in Ningping County was Song Yan!

With this thought, Gu Banxia stood up and placed a few copper coins on the table. The scholar surnamed Liu was a bit rigid. He believed that expressing gratitude to a benefactor required cleanliness and tidiness; otherwise, it would be disrespectful. However, by the time he had finally straightened his clothes, the three men were gone.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The lights flicker dimly, and time flows slowly like the tranquil waters of the Yiluo River. The brighter the lights, the deeper the night!
Bang bang bang, bang bang bang...

Suddenly, there was a dull and chaotic knocking sound near the city gate, interspersed with slight rustling noises. The originally quiet night suddenly became restless.

Although the office had been closed for the day, the hall was unusually bustling with activity. Yang Siye, Yang Zhongning, and Yang Chengen, along with their entire family and even their servants, had gathered there. Perhaps they were worried about their relatives being harmed by the pirates... Their actions alone revealed that none of them were capable of accomplishing anything.

The front and back doors were tightly closed, and the sound of wind in the county government compound shook the flames in the lanterns.

Yang Siye and two other people gathered around a stone table. A stove was crackling beside them, and a wine pot on top was bubbling. The rich aroma of wine mixed with hot steam drifted into the night.

Holding the wine glass, Yang Siye took a sip, and a look of intoxication appeared on his face.

Looking up at the sky, the sky seems like a huge black curtain, with candlelight dancing on it.

"Calculating the time, those Japanese should have landed already, right?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be so."

"Today's matter is over. You and I are all meritorious officials of the Yang family. I'm afraid our positions in the family tree will have to be moved. Gentlemen, drink up!" Yang Siye raised the wine glass in his hand.

"Drink."

"Drink Sheng!"

Ding...pop.

The wine glasses collided with each other, making a crisp sound, like the sound of porcelain breaking.

The Duke's Mansion.

Yang Miaoqing was sitting upright in the house. She was dressed particularly elegantly today, and even had a light and delicate makeup on her face. The brown eyeshadow was smudged around like ink, and with the faint crow's feet, she undoubtedly showed the charm and grace of a mature woman.

She was wearing a gorgeous black embroidered dress, exuding nobility and elegance.

Her eyes were closed, as if she was waiting, or as if she was calming herself down.

Right next to her was Yang Siyao.

call.

A gust of wind blew past the window.

The candlelight immediately flickered, filling the room with mottled and chaotic shadows.

Yang Miaoqing finally opened her eyes.

Squeak.

The door was pushed open.

Just outside in the yard, there were four old women, three maids, six guards, seven servants, and an old servant.

This is all the power she can currently mobilize. Compared to the past when most of the Duke's Mansion was run by her people, it is now much worse off.

Her eyes swept across the faces, she took a deep breath, and there was no hesitation in her eyes anymore: "Let's go."

She didn't know why Song Hongtao often stayed out all night recently, but this gave her an excellent opportunity. When Song Hongtao was away, Wang Qingshan alone couldn't stop him.

Don't panic, Zhen'er, your mother is here to save you.

Just over ten kilometers away from Ningping County, the calm coast, illuminated by the bright moon, shimmers with ripples, like a giant mirror reflecting the stars in the sky.

In the darkness of night, small boats appeared out of nowhere, breaking through the waves and rushing towards the shore.

The Japanese pirates have finally arrived.

(End of this chapter)