The legitimate daughter was reborn, and the emperor’s little Jiaojiao went crazy.

Chapter 981: Lightning Breaks the Dark Abyss

Less than an incense stick of time later, Song Shenzhi came back with a bag of charcoal. His hands, which had been holding the pen, were cracked, and his once upright figure seemed to be bent by the wind and snow.

He put down the charcoal, went in and respectfully told his father, "Father, the princess wants you to come over and ask a question."

Mrs. Song trembled all over when she heard this.

Song Yuanjiu patted the back of his wife's hand and said, "Don't worry, the princess saved my life and protected our family under her wings. She has been very kind to us and will not embarrass me."

Mrs. Song nodded, but her hands were still tightly clenched around her husband's sleeves in fear, and then slowly loosened.

Ever since the incident at home, she has been like a frightened bird, afraid of the slightest breeze.

Song Yuanjiu walked away, his back looking desolate.

Song Shenzhi wanted to go forward to comfort his mother, but was afraid that she would be annoyed, so he stood a foot away from her and said, "The princess should be arranging work for our whole family, mother, don't worry."

Mrs. Song looked at her eldest son's pale face with complicated eyes, nodded, and sat on the bench.

She suddenly realized that he had even learned to control his breathing.

The eldest son was the one who took care of everything along the way. The man who originally only knew how to read seemed to have grown up overnight and knew everything.

The snow and wind along the way crushed the pride of the young man into dust. He would lower his head and bend his waist slightly, speak kindly to the officials escorting them, and ask them to give him some water to drink.

He could also untie his hair band to fix the mortise and tenon when the axle broke, and he even squatted in front of the stove and used the residual heat to bake the officials' snow-soaked boots.

Along the way, the officials were quite polite to their family.

Mrs. Song was very sad, "Be careful..."

Song Shenzhi then dared to take a step closer, "Mother, it will be fine." He opened the food box that Miss Nan Yan brought over and found that there was still steam coming out of it.

He quickly covered it, fearing that the heat would escape, and got up, went in, and took out a faded piece of clothing to wrap up the food box.

Song Xizhi, the second son of Song Yuanjiu, used to be talkative, but now he has become taciturn. He knows that he is stupid, as he actually brought the death of his grandmother to the government, which led to his elder brother and mother being exiled.

Everything is his fault.

Song Xizhi huddled silently in the corner, head lowered, like a fledgling wet by the rain.

One hand was placed on his forehead, and then rubbed, the voice was clear and gentle, with a reassuring power, "What's wrong? Why are you so depressed? You should be happier today."

"What are you so happy about?" Song Xizhi didn't dare to look into his elder brother's eyes. He stared at the toe of his worn shoes with his head lowered.

In the candlelight, the dark shadows of the window frames were reflected on the blue brick floor, pressing horizontally and vertically on his thin and twisted shadow.

Song Shenzhi lifted his coat and sat down next to him. "With tiles on the roof, the wind and snow won't bully us. With charcoal in the house, the cold won't invade us. With hot food on the table and a bright heart, life won't be too difficult."

Song Xizhi finally shrugged his thin shoulders, tears falling. Not long ago, he was the second son of the Song family, favored by the teacher at Yunqi Academy and close to his classmates.

At that time, he was standing on the steps with high spirits, and he and a group of students wrote poems and lyrics with the title "North Wing Qingyun Road". How passionate he was.

When he recited the lines "Mist and haze gather, split the cloud pass, the reflected images of mountains and rivers pass by the carved saddle. Don't worry, the road ahead is vast and long, there will be lightning to break the dark abyss", even the Master applauded him and praised his lofty ambitions.

Song Shenzhi seemed to have remembered the poem written by his brother, and smiled gently, "You also said, don't worry about the vast road ahead, there will be lightning to break the dark abyss."

Song Xizhi didn't know what darkness and the abyss were until this moment. When he wrote this sentence, he was just "forcing himself to be sad". How could he really understand the deep meaning?

Song Shenzhi said leisurely, "I guess the princess is the 'lightning light' in your poem."

The two brothers talked in low voices, and gradually their faces calmed down.

Only half an hour later, Song Yuanjiu came back with a bunch of things.

As he stepped through the threshold, he smiled and said, "The princess has punished me by making me write ten thousand words a day in exchange for one day's hard labor."

To him, this was not a punishment, but a reward.

Mrs. Song's tense shoulders finally relaxed.

The two sons smiled and took the big bag from their father, which contained brushes, inkstones, rice paper, books, and even ancient books.

The Song Shenzhi brothers were immediately attracted by the ancient books and picked them up to read them.

Song Yuanjiu added, "The princess also asked me to teach the young marquis every day, and I get one ounce of silver per month."

With his knowledge, he was worth more than one tael. But he was a criminal, so the one tael he had was a gift from the princess.

He was very grateful, and Madam Song also clasped her hands together, "Buddha, may the princess and the young marquis and princesses be healthy and safe."

Song Yuanjiu said to his two sons who were only busy reading, "From tomorrow on, Shenzhi will follow Master Qiu to do some odd jobs, and Xizhi will go to the school to serve."

Song Shenzhi looked up in surprise, "Does this count as military service?"

Isn't military service just moving rocks and mining? Working with Mr. Qiu is like a step to heaven.

Song Yuanjiu nodded, "Only if you have a sharp eye and strong hands can you live up to the princess's good intentions. You must also be able to withstand the cold stares and provocations of others. The princess's move will definitely attract objections from those with ulterior motives. We can't discredit the princess, understand?"

Both sons nodded in agreement.

Song Yuanjiu was very relieved to see the whole family gathered in front of him. He also remembered that his mother was originally healthy and had a voice like a bell, especially when she scolded people, she was full of energy and twisted people's ears.

If I were still here... I would be unable to live like this, with curses all the time.

Song Yuanjiu felt inexplicably guilty, and actually felt that his mother seemed to have left at the right time. Especially when he saw his wife's peaceful smile, he remembered that his mother had been trying to find him a concubine every few days, and had forced his wife to persuade him.

If he had not been so strong and persistent, there would have been a lot of illegitimate sons and daughters in this house, and the lady would have been nowhere to be seen.

His wife suggested several times that she wanted to return to her hometown to live alone... Song Yuanjiu's thoughts were in turmoil, and he gradually developed an illusion that "life is getting better and better."

The family gathered together for a reunion dinner. The food was delicious, although there were not many varieties, but the quantity was sufficient and the taste was good.

The princess also gave an extra pot of tea. Tea was expensive, and ordinary people could not afford it.

For the Song family, tea is no longer just tea. It is the hope of life and the confidence to start over.

Mrs. Song drank her tea with tears in her eyes.

When she went to bed with her husband at night, she held his hand, "It was like a dream."

"Han'er, I'm sorry for making you suffer." Song Yuanjiu said, "I once promised you a life of luxury, but in the end..."

"It's not bitter." Mrs. Song interrupted her husband, "I've been the one who made my husband tired all my life."

"You don't have to say these words. We are husband and wife, sharing honor and disgrace." He paused, and then reminded her tenderly, "There is only one thing you have to remember."

"Husband, tell me."

"From now on, be nicer to Shen Zhi. He did nothing wrong... He is my, Song Yuanjiu's, biological son, and he will always be."

Song Shenzhi outside the door paused, his hands and feet were cold.