Chapter 11 Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Five years ago, Dayu was plagued by internal and external troubles, and countless heroes died. Your Majesty led a group of children under the age of twenty from Shuzhou to resist foreign enemies while quelling the civil war. When your soldiers died in battle, some were starving and some were naked.

The peace they fought for with their lives ended up enriching this group of wealthy businessmen.

The young lady's face, raised on gold and jade, was full of charity. For the first time, Song Yunzhi felt the evil of the rich businessman. Before he could even think about the consequences, he leaned forward, met the young lady's watery eyes, and raised his lips coldly, "Okay."

She gave back everything that her Qian family had squeezed out of the people of Dayu.

Is she willing?

The attack that suddenly erupted from the young man's eyes was so sharp and oppressive that Qian Tong leaned back unconsciously and looked at him in surprise.

Did she say something wrong?

He has no relatives left?

But he wasn't so desperate that he wanted to eat himself.

Noticing the change and suspicion in her eyes, Song Yunzhi came to his senses in time and slowly straightened up.

A strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake, and his goal is still a long way to go.

He had read the sage books for more than ten years and was not a fool. He had thousands of schemes hidden in his heart and knew which one would be more beneficial to him at this moment. If he could gain her trust, he would sacrifice himself. After thinking it through, he lowered his eyes and gently swept them across the young lady's face. He whispered, "We have many relatives, and my mother's uncle's family is prosperous. I'm afraid Seventh Lady will not be willing to let her go."

The young man's eyebrows and eyes were charming, and his gaze was filled with a faint sadness like the autumn wind, which perfectly interpreted the word "bitterness".

Qian Tong was stunned.

She thought she understood that the plots in operas about falling in love with a young man for the rest of his life were not groundless. If he had put on such a face last night, how could she have brought herself to do it to him?

After more than ten years of war, how many poor people can prosper again?

She could afford it, so she held up two fingers and promised, "Trust me, I'll give it to you if I say so. I'm a stickler for words and I won't lie to you."

Song Yunzhi withdrew his gaze and continued to record his account. He lowered his head and said, "I believe it."

Qian Tong: ...

His voice was low and slow, and the faint smile at the corner of his lips made her look like he was deliberately teasing her. Her heart suddenly felt like it was being scratched by a cat, and she felt a little restless.

Under the pressure of money, the young master's attitude finally changed.

Feeling the omnipotence of money, Qian Tong counted the money faster and faster, and told Fu Yin, "Those who don't have any silver, follow the people to the mansion to get it. Record it all, and whoever collects it will get a commission according to the old rules."

The Qian family's servant had been waiting outside the door for an order. As soon as the creditor left, he followed him like a dog-skin plaster, and he couldn't get rid of it.

An engagement banquet was turned into a mess. Even though Mrs. Cui forced herself to smile and wanted to continue, the wife of the prefect was in no mood. She ended the banquet hastily after a few words and took Young Master Lan back to the prefect's mansion.

Mrs. Cui was furious. She knew that the Qian family's daughter was no good. She was full of tricks and would never let anyone take advantage of her. After looking around and not seeing anyone, she asked the maid, "Where is she?"

The maid replied, "Mrs. Qian Qi went to the grandmother's courtyard."

Mrs. Cui sneered. Now that the prefect's wife had left, she spoke without restraint. "Nothing good ever comes of being associated with the Qian family. It's really unlucky. Who is she trying to show off by acting half-heartedly all day? If she really wants to fight for her own life, why not just end it with a pair of scissors? I respect her bravery..."

——

After collecting the bill, Qian Tong went to the courtyard of Cui's grandmother.

The last time I came here was half a year ago.

I still remember when the eldest lady got married, she came with her family to see her off. The yard was clean and bright, and was hung with red silk lanterns. The eldest son of the Cui family was dressed in a wedding dress and holding a heart-shaped knot in his hand, he led the bride all the way into the bridal chamber. Facing the people who came to make trouble in the bridal chamber, he protected the bride behind him and would not let anyone tease her.

Even she envied the lady at that time.

Five years have passed, and nothing and no one have changed.

The once bustling courtyard had become deserted, covered by an endless gloom. Along the way, I didn't see a single maid or old woman serving. When I reached the door, I saw a maid hurried out of the house, holding an earthenware jar that had just been filled with medicine.

"Chun Liu." Qian Tong called her.

The maid was brought back from the Qian family by the eldest lady, and Qian Tong had known her since childhood.

Chun Liu was stunned, her face full of surprise, "Seventh Lady is finally here."

When Qian Tong heard that his elder sister was ill again, he asked, "How is my elder sister?"

The smile on Chunliu's face disappeared in an instant, and she shook her head sadly, "He just drank the medicine, he's awake, Qi Niang, go in and take a look."

Not long ago, Qian Tong specially asked someone to find a famous doctor to treat the lady. When he came back to report, he said that her health had improved a lot.

I don't know how I ended up taking the medicine again.

As soon as Qian Tong stepped into the house, he smelled a strong smell of medicine. He saw that the windows were closed tightly, so the smell of medicine could not dissipate and was trapped inside. If he smelled it for a long time, he would lose his energy.

"Didn't I tell you to open the windows? Why are they closed so tightly?"

Chunliu followed behind her and reported, "Mrs. Cui said that the eldest lady is weak and can't stand the wind. If she gets sick, she will have to spend money to see a doctor."

Spending money? When Cui Liuniang got engaged, the courtyard was so extravagant that she could afford to hire several good doctors for just one table of dishes.

She wasn't afraid of spending money, but she felt that the Qian family's eldest lady was a burden, dragging down her Cui family. Qian Tong said angrily: "What does she know? Is she a doctor? Open all the windows..."

The lady had just finished drinking her medicine and was leaning on the couch. When she heard the noise coming from outside, she knew who was coming. She hurriedly tidied her hair and cheered herself up.

Soon, the beaded curtain in front of her was blown open from the outside, and a light green figure came in. After half a year, she was still the lively young lady, her face full of energy, and the decisiveness and straightforwardness in her eyes, becoming more and more like the old ancestor.

The lady smiled and said, "Tong'er is here."

Qian Tong was stunned for a moment. Looking at the haggard, skinny woman lying on the bed, his heart ached. He couldn't help but ask, "How did you end up living like this?"

The lady's mouth was filled with the bitter taste of medicine. She was reluctant to talk and smiled sadly, "I want to know too."

When she was at the Qian family, she was in good health and could even climb trees to pick cherries for her sisters. But after she went to the Cui family, she became a bedridden patient and could not be cured.

Qian Tong stood by the beaded curtain, not going in, and asked the eldest lady, "Where is my brother-in-law?"

The lady lowered her eyes and said, "He is busy."

He was quite busy, busy raising children with his concubines. Qian Tong had told the eldest lady what he needed to say more than once, but this time she didn't come to comfort her. She said bluntly, "He doesn't love you anymore, sister."

Although the truth hurts, she can't keep fooling herself.

The two of them had a beautiful relationship, but so what? People's hearts change, and the eldest son of the Cui family, who had always protected her in front of others, is no exception.

However, the eldest lady seemed not to have heard what she said. Her expression was calm. She changed the subject and asked, "I heard that Tong'er found a son-in-law?"

Qian Tong said nothing.

The lady laughed and said, "If one can pass Tong'er's inspection, he must be a rare talent."

Qian Tong still ignored her, staring at her with eyes that were getting redder and redder.

Seeing her like this, the lady was at a loss for words. She lowered her head and said self-deprecatingly, "Big sister once advised you not to give up easily and almost helped you escape. Fortunately, it didn't work out in the end, otherwise I would have committed a huge sin. Now look at me, I've become a joke..."

Qian Tong said hoarsely: "You are never a joke."

The lady said nothing.

Qian Tong didn't like getting involved in other people's marriages because she couldn't empathize or offer advice. However, the person in front of her was her older sister, so Qian Tong had to make a decision for her. "Sister, let's get a divorce."

The lady was also surprised by her attitude today, "Tong'er, I don't need you to deal with my affairs..."

"I can't just ignore it." Qian Tong's temper suddenly flared up, and he interrupted in a deep voice, "The Cui family can't be saved. You have to come home with me."

The lady was stunned.

"I have asked someone to write it. You can ask him to sign it. Then the marriage between the Cui and Qian families can be considered an amicable one." Ignoring the eldest lady's shock, Qian Tong took out the written divorce agreement from his sleeve and handed it to her.

The lady didn't answer, she was more concerned about something else she said, she grabbed her wrist and asked seriously, "What's the matter?"

Marriage is meant to unite two families, but one never considered what would happen if the two families fell out one day. Qian Tong sympathized with her, but she was powerless. "Sister, the Cui family has committed a serious taboo."

The relationship between the eldest lady and the eldest son of the Cui family has come to this point, and Qian Tong doesn't know whether to hate or be grateful.

I hate that Master Cui has tortured a good person into a unrecognizable form.

Fortunately, they didn't have a child. He didn't love her anymore, and there was nothing that could stop her from leaving. Qian Tong said, "Sister, you should know that the Qian and Cui families are no longer the same as they used to be. It's either you die or I die. The Cui family thought they had climbed up to the position of prefect, but they didn't realize they had already cut off their own retreat. The Pu family has never been a tolerant and generous family."

The lady was still in a daze.

Qian Tong gently pulled her hand away and placed the divorce agreement in her palm. "Sister, get Master Cui to sign it as soon as possible. When you're done packing, tell me and I'll send someone to pick you up. We'll go home, recover, and live a good life together. Okay?"

Before becoming the grandmother of the Cui family, she was the eldest lady of the Qian family. She grew up in the Qian family and lived there for seventeen years.

Qian Tong believed that she knew how to choose.

The lady looked into her eyes motionlessly and asked her softly, "Are you still in contact with Master Park?"

Qian Tong didn't answer.

Seeing that she didn't want to mention it, the lady didn't ask any more questions. She lowered her head and slowly folded the divorce document in her hand.

Qian Tong didn't urge her and waited quietly.

Chunliu in the outer room opened all the windows at Qian Tong's suggestion, and a breeze blew in, with large amounts of light slanting in, stinging the lady's eyes. After she adjusted for a while, she looked out the window and accidentally saw the half-open cicada window.

Young Master Cui had inlaid them one by one with his own hands, but five years later, they were too old and no longer shone.

The lady breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Okay, I promise, I'll go home."

——

Qian Tong went to the lady's yard alone, without anyone bringing him with him.

Song Yunzhi and Fu Yin went to wait by the carriage outside the door first. Fu Yin was still counting the banknotes, while Song Yunzhi stood alone at the door, inquiring about the passers-by.

The Cui family's alley is connected to the streets outside, and there is a constant stream of people coming and going. When Song Yunzhi glanced over inadvertently, he saw a familiar face among them.

Shen Che's secret guard.

Song Yunzhi glanced at Fu Yin who was still busy and walked over.

Fu Yin noticed it quickly and asked hurriedly, "My lady will be out soon, where is Mr. Song going?"

Song Yunzhi didn't even turn his head, "Buy a comb."

There was indeed a vendor selling wooden combs outside, within sight.

Fu Yin ignored him.

As soon as Song Yunzhi arrived in front of the stall, the secret guard whispered, "Prince Song."

Song Yunzhi nodded.

The secret guard said, "The master has sent a message. He has received the letter from Prince Song and agrees with the prince's determination to kill the female thief."

Song Yunzhi had released the letter last night. His mood back then was completely different from now. He asked, "Where is he?"

The secret guard said, "On the Cui family's ship."

Song Yunzhi frowned. Wasn't he in charge of accounting on the Qian family's hill?

The secret guard was silent for a while, and spoke with great difficulty, "The Qian family led the master to the Cui family's ship to act as an insider. The master... is not good."

It wouldn't be easy to sneak onto the Cui family's ship with the identity of a Qian family member.

Song Yunzhi couldn't help but close his eyes. He went through hardships to sneak into the Qian family, and was then sent by the Qian family to the Cui family as an insider... Such a treacherous act was indeed something that the witch could do.

The secret guard suddenly said, "The master has found out that the Cui family's boat is full of tea and suspects that the Cui family is smuggling."