No one knew whether they would be able to get out, but one thing was certain: the bandits were going to be put to work again.
After lying fallow through the winter, the fields were hard as stone.
They had to break open the gray-black soil inch by inch with plows and hoes, releasing the rich, earthy scent of freshly turned ground.
In addition to the wasteland reclaimed last year, Song Qiming had ordered another thousand mu to be cultivated this year.
It was not just him. Along both banks of the Immortal River, stretching two li in either direction, the wasteland that the common people had once scorned as too far away was now being claimed by eager farmers—all because they had heard that the government intended to extend the irrigation channels.
Seven hundred li from Suining City, in Panzhou.
Pacification Commissioner Yang Ruiping stared at the cement ground after it had hardened, his eyes filled with astonishment.
“Song Jinzhao is selling it openly. He isn’t guarding against us at all.”
When he had previously sent his steward Yang Mo to deliver a gift of thanks, he had learned that Suining City had built cement roads.
But hearing about them was different from seeing them with his own eyes. And since they had been unable to obtain any cement at the time, Yang Ruiping had not taken the matter too seriously.
This time, it was only because Yang Cenan had insisted on buying some that the Wumeng tribe had sent people over.
Standing to one side, Yang Cenan slowly spoke. “The Song family made its fortune through commerce. Merchants value profit above all else. As long as they can make money, they’ll sell to anyone.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Yang Ruiping’s mouth, but his eyes remained cold.
“That’s good. A man without weaknesses would be frightening indeed.”
“Since they’re willing to sell, send people to buy from them. Whatever Dongzhao has, Panzhou must have as well.”
Yang Cenan took a step back and bowed his head. “Your son understands.”
Yang Ruiping’s eldest son, Yang Cedong, saw his third brother emerge from the council hall. The hatred in his eyes raked across the other man like a knife.
When Yang Cenan spotted Yang Cedong, he stopped. Their eyes met, sharp as blades, clashing in the air hundreds of times.
Yang Cedong sneered. “Don’t think Father favors you. That doesn’t mean the position of heir is yours for the taking.”
“Our Yang clan has never had a leader who stammers and wears a face as stiff as a corpse.”
Although Yang Cenan’s body had recovered, the paralysis in his face had never improved. He either stammered when he spoke or spoke with a slight, sluggish drawl.
His sore spot having been struck, the corner of Yang Cenan’s mouth twitched faintly as he replied, “Even if I can’t speak clearly or make expressions, I’m still better than a useless good-for-nothing like you.”
Yang Cedong’s face flushed with anger. “Did you kill my son?”
Yang Cenan curved his lips. “Brother, you jest. I wasn’t even in Panzhou at the time, so how could I have killed your son?”
“I’d say it’s because you’ve done too many evil deeds. This is simply retribution.”
Watching his brother walk away with a furious wave of his sleeve, Yang Cedong clenched his fists, wishing he could charge over and kill him on the spot.
Behind a pillar not far away, Yang Cexi watched the two men walk off in opposite directions, a satisfied smile curling across his lips.
When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits. Ideally, the two of them would kill each other. Then the position of heir would naturally fall into his hands.
The crabapple blossoms opened in late March. In early April, as promised, Song Shixue arrived in Songzhou City. Song Anhao came with her.
Madam Gu could not help sighing when she saw the two girls enter the room arm in arm, looking as close as sisters.
“There’s only Baozhu in the family, and she really does get bored sometimes.”
The older maid smiled. “How could she be bored? Young Master Jinghong is always by her side.”
Madam Gu shook her head. “Jinghong spends more and more time at the military camp. Baozhu hasn’t even left the house for several days.”
In the martial arts yard behind the residence, Gu Jinghong crouched in front of Song Anhao, his eyes shining.
“Can I touch it?”
Hearing that Gu Jinghong wanted to touch the tiger, his personal attendant Laixi hurried over to stop him. Several guards standing beneath the wall also quickly came forward.
Song Anhao tightened her grip on the rope and hugged Xuetuan around the neck as she shook her head.
“Xuetuan is a little wary of strangers. It might bite you.”
Gu Jinghong stared greedily at Xuetuan. His pale blue eyes gleamed as he tilted his head to one side. With Song Anhao shielding it beneath her, he looked like a gigantic cat.
After being stared at for too long, the impatient Xuetuan opened its jaws and let out an “Awooo~”
Its sharp teeth made everyone’s scalp prickle, and fear rose in their hearts.
Gu Jinghong stood up and muttered to himself, “You really do have to raise one from the time it’s a cub. If only I could raise one too.”
Laixi pressed his lips into a thin line, feeling helpless.
Even raising one from childhood wouldn’t work. Hadn’t they noticed that this white tiger’s brain was wired wrong? If he raised an ordinary one, it would be capable of biting a person to death by the time it was a year old if it didn’t obey.
