The two immediately knelt on the ground. The Emperor didn't look at them but instead at a maid by Madam Lins side. "Where are Zhu Feng and Zhu Fang?" The maid didn't dare to delay so she told the Emperor "T-They must still-still be sleeping Y-Your Majesty." Sweat poured from her forehead as she knelt with her head lowered. She didn't dare to tell the truth. The Emperor looked at them with disgust. He scanned the group for a while before his eyes landed on a small child. The child was in rags and was very skinny. He was obviously very malnourished. He gestured to the child. The boy stood and came to the front and knelt again. "Child. What's your name?" The Emperor's voice wasn't as scary as before and even held some gentleness to it. The boy still trembled. He went to speak but all that came out was a heart wrenching screech. He lowered his head even more in shame. The Emperor didn't look the least bit disgusted but looked at the child with sympathy. " Do you have parents?" The little boy shook his head no. "Do you know where Zhu Feng and Zhu Fang are?" The boy hesitated but still nodded yes. The Emperor smiled gently to the boy. "Can you take me there?" When Madam Lin heard this she wanted to scream. She looked up for just a second but was met with not one but two death glares. She immediately lowered her head again. The Master was out of town so she didn't have the protection of him in front of the Emperor. She could only watch in dismay as the silent boy started to lead the Emperor to the wood shed.
When the boy got to the shed he gestured hurriedly to the door. The eunuch beside the emperor went up and broke the locks. All three of them. When the door was opened the two people inside shielded their eyes from the light. To add fuel to the fire Zhu Feng pretended to be afraid. "N-Nanny Gu…I can't…"she gasped for a breath. "I can't take anymore…I'm sorry…t-tell Auntie-no tell Ma-Madam Lin I won't do it again…" the group of four stood out the door for a second before Zhou Ming reacted. "Feng'er! Who…why that unruly wench!" He picked up the "almost dead" Zhu Feng and carried her to the main hall. Madam Song nimbly followed along with the Emperor. When they reached the main hall everyone was still bowing.
Zhou Ming sat in a chair and used his eyes to talk to Zhu Feng. After realizing there was no fear or actual hurt in her eyes his heart calmed down a bit. But then he looked at her ruined dress and the blood stains on her back and grew even more angry. He glared at Madam Lin. "Zhu Daiyu." Madam Lin shivered. Only the unruly ninth son dared to call officials and their spouses by their names. She slowly looked up. Her eyes met a pair of very dark violet eyes. There seemed to be a storm brewing in them. She shivered unconsciously. The Emperor looked at his favorite son and saw how he cared for the little girl. He knew they must have met previously or Ming'er wouldn't have made him come out to meet her. His gaze flew to Madam Lin again. " Madam Lin. Is this how you treat the future Princess Consort Yu? Is this how you treat a member of my royal family!" His voice grew louder with every word. He released his aura and made everyone except the eunuch, Madam Song, Zhou Ming and Zhu Feng along with the mute boy cough blood. The Emperor was enraged. Madam Lin took the last of her strength and said a sentence that sealed her fate. " S-she's just a bitch without a father. Her mother is a whore who got pregnant and then was dumped by her husband."
"Who said she was dumped! Who said that my, Poison Master Song's daughter had no father?" At this moment Song Bo and Song Yu walked in. When the Emperor saw Song Bo he was overjoyed. "Junior Brother, do you mean to say that Madam Zhu is your wife and Zhu Feng the daughter you've been looking for?" The Emperor looked at the little girl in his sons arms and only then noticed her red eyes that matched Song Bo's. he also saw the lotus flower between her eyebrows. It was a sure fire sign that she was of Song family blood.
The Emperor just looked at his junior brother and nodded with satisfaction. "Alright junior brother. I'll let you handle this matter then. Feng'er needs medical attention right away." He was about to take her to the palace when the young boy stepped forward. The boy didn't bow when he met the Emperor. At first he was a little annoyed. Then he saw the same birthmark under the boys eye and understood why. As the junior brother to the Emperor Song Bo naturally didn't have to bow. So as his descendent the boy didn't either. The boy nodded his head in greeting and went to take his sister. He went to his mother next. He led them out of the house and into a carriage. Along with the little mute boy. Zhou Ming followed close behind. The Emperor stayed back to watch the show with Song Bo. He watched happily as if watching a play as Song Bo poisoned everyone in the manner. Only Nanny Gu, Madam Lin and Lin Xiaofan were spared. He had a special place for them. The three watched in horror as their servants and family member dropped dead one after another. Then it was Nanny Gu's turn. Song Bo grabbed her face and fed her a pill. Before Nanny Gu could spit it out it melted and went down her throat. Then Madam Lin and Lin Xiaofan were treated the same. The three scratched at their throats with all they had. They looked on in horror as Song Bo took away their little life source. He wouldn't let they die so easily. "The poison you have taken is my flesh corrosion pill. It will slowly melt and rot your flesh. Then right before your about to die it will regrow it. And the process will go on forever." There was a glint in his eyes " and don't try to kill yourself. The poison will keep you alive. Even if you cut off your own head." With that he flicked his sleeve and made his way to his wife and children. The Emperor shivered once and followed closely behind. The Eunuch gestured to the guards to lock the three to the back of the carriage and burn down the Zhu mansion.