Chapter 163 The Noble Young Master of a Marquis's Family (Part Two): The Noble Young Master's Revenge and Love Story...

At this moment, a meal was already laid out on the round table inside the room, with steam rising and a fragrant aroma filling the air.

Seeing Song Ce pick up his bowl and chopsticks and start eating, Mo Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Last night, the young master drank quite a bit of wine at the manor, and his face was beaming with joy. He kept saying that Yunding Temple was his blessed place, and now that his wish had been fulfilled, he had to go and give thanks. Therefore, just after dawn today, the young master urged him to prepare his horse and go up the mountain.

Not only that, the young master also burned incense and bathed, and knelt down to offer incense on an empty stomach, saying that he wanted to show his sincerity.

Mo Yu stood respectfully to the side, hands at his sides, and asked in a low voice, "Young Master, we've done our prayers and fulfilled our vows. Shouldn't we return to our residence now?"

Since the person who came to fulfill their vow was the original owner of this body, Song Ce naturally didn't want to stay here any longer. He immediately replied, "Yes, you're right, let's go now." After saying that, he put down his chopsticks and smiled gently.

In the original timeline, Mo Yu was extremely loyal to the original owner of the body. After the Marquis's mansion gradually declined, other servants left or scattered, but Mo Yu, who had never been valued by his master, insisted on staying in the mansion, listening to Sun Yiyao's instructions and taking good care of Song Zhixiao.

They rode swiftly all the way, and by the time Song Ce returned to the Marquis of Weiwu's residence, it was already afternoon.

"Why did you go to Yunding Temple again today, Ce'er?" Princess Yongping saw Song Ce come to pay his respects and quickly pulled him to sit down. Her tone was full of concern. "You were sick a few days ago and haven't fully recovered yet. You should stay at home and rest more before the wedding."

"Your son understands, Mother," Song Ce nodded gently, his voice steady.

A short while later, Song Zhixiao came in from outside carrying a scroll. Upon seeing Song Ce, he smiled and asked, "My son, did you like the vegetarian food at the temple?"

"Hmm, the vegetarian food at Yunding Temple is light and refreshing." Song Ce smiled and gestured for Mo Yu to bring up the prepared food box. "Father, Mother, these are seasonal pastries that your son brought back from Yunding Temple. Although the ingredients are not very fancy, it's still nice to try something new."

Upon hearing this, Princess Yongping and Song Zhixiao immediately washed their hands and each picked up a piece of pastry and took a bite.

Princess Yongping, who was used to eating delicacies since childhood, found this pastry too sweet and cloying, probably because too much sugar was added.

"Hmm, there's way too much sugar and honey in this pastry, and it's also filled with sweet red bean paste. It's a bit too sweet."

Princess Yongping glared at Song Zhixiao upon hearing this, "Even eating cake won't shut you up."

Song Zhixiao laughed heartily at Princess Yongping's glare, still holding half a piece of pastry in his hand, and said nonchalantly, "Just telling the truth, the honey in this is almost sticking my tongue to the bone." As he spoke, he stuffed the remaining half piece of pastry into his mouth, "It's Ce'er's good intention after all, we can't waste it."

Princess Yongping playfully took out a handkerchief and wiped Song Zhixiao's hands, saying, "You!"

After scolding Song Zhixiao, Princess Yongping turned to look at Song Ce, her eyes softening: "You child, in the future, for small things like going to the temple, just let the servants run the errand. Why bother yourself?"

"No, no, madam, sincerity is key." Song Zhixiao shook his head, looking completely at ease.

Song Ce smiled, watching Song Zhixiao and Princess Yongping bickering and joking, momentarily lost in thought. This warm scene of ordinary family life was vague and unfamiliar in his original memory…

Seeing that her son's face was still a little pale, Princess Yongping hurriedly urged Song Ce to go back to the courtyard to rest, and also instructed Mo Yu to go to the kitchen and have them stew some ginseng soup to send to Song Ce.

Song Ce smiled and thanked Princess Yongping, then bowed to the two elders before leaving.

Following the original owner's memories, Song Ce arrived at the study. He looked around and saw that the study was very elegantly furnished. A rosewood desk stood by the window, and his grandfather Song Chengming's sword hung on the wall. Although the sword was old, it still exuded a chilling aura.

Song Ce walked to the bookshelf and randomly picked up a copy of "The Laws of Da Yue" to read.

He had only read half a page when he heard a servant announce from outside: "Young Master, Young Master Wu Shiheng has come to visit."

Song Ce was slightly taken aback. It seemed that there was indeed such a scene in the original owner's memory. At that time, he had just returned from Yunding Temple on horseback, exhausted, and did not want to deal with the son of this lecturer with whom he had a shallow relationship. Without thinking, he ordered his servants to send him away.

Later, just two days before the original owner's wedding, Wu Shiheng behaved improperly while drunk, and his words seemed to have offended a powerful figure. Soon after, his father, Lord Wu, resigned from his official post and the whole family left the capital...

"Alright, I understand. Please have a seat in the front hall, Young Master Wu. I'll be right there."

"Yes, young master."

Song Ce got up, straightened his robes, and walked towards the front hall.

In the original owner's memories, Wu Shiheng was a quiet but handsome and frail scholar who had no close relationship with her. She wondered why he had suddenly come to visit today.

As soon as Song Ce entered the front hall, a handsome young man of about fifteen or sixteen years old suddenly turned around, hurriedly stood up, and bowed, saying, "Brother Song, I came in a hurry today and haven't had time to send you my visiting card yet. I'm really sorry to bother you."

"No need for formalities." Song Ce raised his hand to help him up, noticing the faint bloodshot in his eyes, and asked, "Shiheng, is there something you need today?"

Wu Shiheng's throat bobbed, and his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly: "To be honest, Brother Song, I have a question in my mind, and I hope you can enlighten me."

Song Ce nodded, "Speak freely."

Wu Shiheng put down his teacup, took a deep breath, and mustered his courage to ask, "May I ask, Brother Song, how did you meet the third young lady of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion?"

Song Ce was taken aback. The original owner's encounter with Sun Qing'er was a carefully orchestrated plan by the Second Prince. Why was Wu Shiheng suddenly asking about this now? Did he know something inside?

“This…” Song Ce drawled, deliberately showing a hint of unease on his face, and said softly, “I met the Third Miss at Yunding Temple a month and a half ago. Why does Shiheng ask this question?”

Wu Shiheng clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, and murmured, "A month and a half... Yunding Temple... Then, Brother Song, do you still remember which day it was?"

Song Ce lowered his gaze and said gently, "Of course I remember, it was June 15th."

After a long while, Wu Shiheng said in a hoarse voice, "I see. Thank you for informing me, Brother Song. I'll take my leave now."

"Shiheng, wait a minute!"

Song Ce stepped forward and asked, "Shiheng, have you heard some gossip?"

"No, not at all." The young man turned around, trying to appear calm, and forced a smile. "Brother Song and Miss San are a match made in heaven. On your wedding day, I will definitely come to ask for a cup of celebratory wine."

Before he could finish speaking, Mo Yu's voice suddenly came from outside the front hall: "Young Master, people from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion have arrived."

“Since Brother Song has guests, then I will not disturb you any longer.” Wu Shiheng was taken aback, then bowed deeply and took his leave.

As Wu Shiheng moved, Song Ce's eyes narrowed. He clearly saw a corner of an apricot-colored silk handkerchief embroidered with silver thread slip out of Wu Shiheng's sleeve. If he remembered correctly, there was a similar handkerchief in the original owner's bedroom.

Just as he was pondering this, Mo Yu knocked on the door and entered, holding a gold-embossed invitation in his hand. He said respectfully, "Young Master, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion has sent an invitation, saying that they will be holding a flower appreciation banquet in three days and invite you to the mansion."

Song Ce took the invitation, opened it, and saw that it was indeed from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. In the original owner's memories, this flower-viewing banquet at the Rongguo Duke's Mansion was ostensibly an invitation to like-minded people, but in reality, it was a place for the young men and women of marriageable age in the mansion to find suitable marriage partners.

At that time, the original owner of this body had a worsening cold, so she did not attend the banquet and thus missed the opportunity to meet the real Third Miss Sun Yiyao.

"I understand." Song Ce placed the invitation on the table, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface. "Mo Yu, go and ask Mother to prepare a decent gift for me." Mo Yu bowed and agreed, then left.

Song Ce walked to the window, looked at the dappled light and shadow cast on the ground by the pomegranate tree outside, and smiled faintly.

Three days later.

Song Ce arrived at the Rongguo Duke's Mansion in a carriage. As soon as he got off, he saw the eldest son, Sun Yiheng, with his servants, personally greeting him at the door.

Sun Yiheng and Sun Yiyao were born of the same mother, Lady Rongguo. He was about twenty years old, with outstanding looks and a tall, slender figure, and was well-known in the capital.

"Young Master Song from the Marquis of Weiwu's residence has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Yiheng smiled, stepped forward, and shook Song Ce's hand, saying with a smile, "Our two families are one family, so let's not stand on ceremony today. Please come in!"

Song Ce nodded slightly and smiled, "Brother is right."

The word "brother" brought an even wider smile to Sun Yiheng's face, and he quickly pulled Song Ce into the mansion.

By this time, the courtyard was already full of guests. Song Ce followed Sun Yiheng through the front yard, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a pale blue figure flashing behind the rockery. The figure was slender, and the eyes were haggard. It was Sun Qing'er.

Today she wore a slightly worn blue silk dress, and her hair was styled simply, without any hairpins or ornaments. At this moment, a perfectly measured hint of sorrow lingered on her face as she secretly glanced this way.

Song Ce looked away, pretending not to see her, and followed Sun Yiheng straight to the back garden.

"Please rest in the pavilion for a while, I'll be right back." With that, Sun Yiheng smiled, turned and instructed the servants to serve tea, before turning away to attend to the other guests.

Song Ce picked up his teacup and glanced at the surrounding scenery. Sure enough, he spotted a yellow figure not far away, looking down and fiddling with a handkerchief in his hand.

It's Sun Yiyao.

Unlike the resilient and strong woman in the original owner's memories, she is now just an innocent young girl who is still at home and knows nothing of sorrow.

Feeling Song Ce's direct gaze, Sun Yiyao pursed her lips and looked up.

The girl had delicate features and fair skin, but her eyes still held a hint of panic. The moment their eyes met, she quickly and nervously lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze again.

The people of Da Yue are very open-minded. They are already engaged, so there's nothing wrong with meeting in private... Thinking this, Sun Yiyao mustered up her courage and looked up again, only to find the pavilion empty. There was no trace of that person anywhere.

For some reason, Sun Yiyao felt a strange sense of loss and clutched the handkerchief in her hand tightly. Just as she was lost in thought, she heard a gentle voice behind her: "Third Miss."

Sun Yiyao turned around in surprise, only to see Song Ce standing not far away, extremely politely not approaching.

"Young Master Song."

Sun Yiyao curtsied slightly, her voice barely audible.

Looking at the woman before him, whom the original owner of this body had ignored his entire life, Song Ce returned the greeting earnestly.

In the original owner's memories, he was so rude to her on their wedding night, yet she never complained and even pleaded for him when his mother whipped him. Even after the Marquis's mansion fell into ruin, she, a frail woman, managed to hold up the declining household, which was truly admirable.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the moon gate, followed by a woman's exclamation.

Song Ce knew without even looking that Sun Qing'er had "accidentally" come looking for him.

"How...how did my sister and young master get here?"

Seeing Sun Qing'er's tearful eyes, Sun Yiyao looked up in surprise, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them, and subconsciously asked, "Do you know Young Master Song, sister?"

Sun Qing'er's hand trembled violently, and she hurriedly waved her hand in denial, saying, "No, I don't know him."

However, those eyes, which held hidden affection, could not be concealed and looked straight at Song Ce.

Song Ce stood still, his gaze calm and serene.

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Author's Note: (wiping away tears and kneeling)