Chapter 102 Strong Like Wine (XIV) Almost obediently, she leaned against the wall…

More than a decade later, Su Du saw Ling Xi again, but she was not quite the same as he remembered.

The huge courtyard was completely silent.

A burner of incense was lit inside, its fragrance spreading in circles to the doorway. Su paused for a moment until Zhi Rou turned to look at him from inside before he went in.

On the brocade couch to the south, half of Ling Xi's face was bathed in sunlight, her features tinged with gold. When she saw him, her eyes did not move.

For some unknown reason, Su stood still for a while before bowing to her and saying, "This junior greets Lady Ling."

Ling Xi was unfamiliar with that voice; it was low and deep, as if someone was suppressing something. Her chest tightened involuntarily, and she forced a smile: "Please sit down."

He added, “I am used to living in seclusion and have little contact with outsiders, so we have no choice but to meet here. I apologize for any shortcomings in our etiquette, Young Master Feng.”

Su Du lowered his chin and sat down on the stool beside the couch upon hearing this.

Zhi Rou stood silently from the moment she entered the room, her gaze fixed on him like a wolf's.

Ling Xi: "I heard from Rou'er that Young Master Feng used to live in Bei Li, and only returned to Yanjing at the beginning of this year. Young Master is..." She paused, her throat slightly dry, "...How did you get to the north?"

Hearing her tone, Su Du's eyelashes trembled for a moment, and her eyes reddened as she stared at her knees.

After a long pause, he finally replied, "When I was young, my family suffered a misfortune and I was separated from my relatives. I fled north. Fortunately, a hunter in the north rescued me, which allowed me to survive."

After he finished speaking, his hands on his knees curled slightly, and his usually hidden emotions were inadvertently revealed in this gesture.

For nineteen years, Ling Xi has endured the pain of losing her son, and thinking of her daughter who has not yet grown up, she has been supporting herself alone. As time goes by, the grief seems to have been worn away by the years, and the pain has gradually faded.

But hearing the phrase "family tragedy, loved ones scattered" brought back a flood of memories. Suddenly, it felt as if she was surrounded by a crowd of people, making it hard for her to breathe.

She pressed her hands to her legs, her back arched. Seeing this, Su Du quickly rose and stepped forward to support her arms.

Zhi Rou instinctively lifted her foot forward, but stopped abruptly halfway. Her fingertips, hanging by her side, slowly closed. Before they could say anything, she quietly retreated.

All the servants in Xixiang Garden were dismissed by Song Congzhao, and not a single one remained at large.

Zhi Rou paced back and forth in the courtyard, pushing the blade up and down with her fingers. The osmanthus blossoms had not yet opened, and there was no fragrance in the air; this tranquility made her restless.

Not long after, Su Du came out of the room, accompanied by Ling Xi, whose eyes were still moist. Zhi Rou watched blankly, and when he turned around, she pressed her forehead to Ling Xi, bowed, and left.

After leaving Xixiang Garden, Zhirou led Sudu to the front yard. After crossing a low bridge, they saw a towering Taihu stone rockery with swaying green grass and few people around.

"I have something to say to you." She turned her head and threw out the words before stepping onto the path paved with broken planks.

Seeing her as his younger sister, Su Du's attitude was naturally much gentler than before. Hearing her call, he followed and stood beside a rockery.

Zhi Rou's tone was slightly different from before when she spoke to him: "What are your plans now?"

Zhi Rou knew long ago what Su Du wanted to achieve by returning to the capital. At that time, she was not sure about their relationship, so she had no intention of interfering with what he wanted to do.

Times have changed. Now that Mother is aware of his existence, there is a connection between them. She cannot allow Su Du to act arrogantly, as that would hurt Mother.

"Are you referring to the Chang family?"

"nature."

Su Du looked down at her for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The emperor wiped out my entire clan, and I will repay him with blood and avenge him."

He made it very clear, and Zhi Rou asked, "Do you have a way to get out of here unscathed?"

This is the second time.

This was the second time she had asked him that question.

Su Du raised an eyebrow, seemingly unable to understand her intention. What she said was meant to be a question, but to Zhi Rou, it sounded arrogant.

Why should I walk away unscathed?

He lived only to await the day of revenge. What did it matter whether he could escape or not?

Zhi Rou slightly furrowed her brow, her dark brown eyes scrutinizing him through the wispy sunlight: "What do you think?"

He shrugged slightly, indicating that he didn't understand.

That incomprehension or indifference made Zhi Rou grit her teeth.

In a fit of rage, she dragged him behind a Taihu rock, braced him with her arm, and shoved his back against the rock wall, with newly blooming magnolias above his head.

Behind her was a white wall, and sunlight could only barely fall on the tiles, the rest shrouded in a bluish-green shadow. The place where the two of them were was far too small and too cold.

Su Du looked down at the face so close to his. She was fierce, her eyes piercing, reminding him of the day in Suyuan City when she held him at knifepoint.

This time she didn't use a knife, and her hands no longer trembled. Su Du almost obediently leaned against the wall.

After a long silence, he gave a helpless smile: "Little sister."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou's eyelashes fluttered, and she paused slightly in surprise.

Su Du continued, "I assure you, what you are worried about will never happen."

Zhi Rou raised one eyebrow: "Do you know what I'm thinking?"

“You’re thinking,” Su Du’s voice was even lower, mimicking her tone, “If he fails and implicates Mother, I will definitely not let him off easily.”

Zhi Rou was slightly taken aback, and stared at him for a moment.

He had no idea what he was saying.

She was completely different from what he had in mind.

In the narrow space, Su Du's voice was as soft as a magnolia blossom, but lacked a melodious quality: "Chang Yu's son died long ago, and now there is no Chang Jinchen in this world. Whatever I do has nothing to do with you or Mother."

She looked up at his calm demeanor, as if Chang Jinchen truly no longer existed. Something seemed to weigh down on her heart, neither painful nor itchy, but rather somewhat suffocating.

Without reacting, she released him, suppressing her emotions.

“I know you are not afraid of death, but what is the point if death is pointless? You all say that Chang Yu is a hero, a gem, and should not have ended up in such a state. If you murder the emperor, how are you any different from the ‘traitor’ they call you? How can the injustice done to the Chang family be cleared?”

Upon hearing this, Su Du stared intently at her, but could only turn away with his back turned.

Turning away from the artificial hill, one realizes that Rou's heart is restless and agitated.

Perhaps it was because of that "sister" that she clearly realized that even if she didn't agree with Su Du, she wouldn't betray him as long as it didn't harm her mother. In fact, she hoped he could live a good life.

After passing through several arched doorways and reaching the corridor, Zhi Rou walked ahead while Su Du watched her from behind. Suddenly, he asked, "The father you mentioned, is it Song Congzhao?"

Su Du asked the question knowingly, which made Zhi Rou a little uncomfortable. She bent her knuckles and replied, "Yes."

“You respect him very much,” Su Du added.

Servants gradually passed by, and upon seeing Zhi Rou, they stepped aside to make way. Zhi Rou remained silent, walked past them, and reached a secluded spot. She turned back to Su Du and asked, "What do you want to say?"

Why did you agree to marry Princess Yan to Bei Li in the first place?

He spoke frankly, and Zhi Rou frowned slightly: "It has nothing to do with my father."

Su Du did not mean that. If he suspected Song Congzhao, he would not have come today. He was simply curious about the extent to which this Lord Song could protect her and her mother. Among the old acquaintances of the Ling and Chang families, there seemed to be no one with the surname Song.

Zhi Rou felt offended by his words and quickened her pace. Su Du followed slowly behind, not in a hurry, occasionally raising his hand to rub his shoulder; he had been caught off guard when she pressed him against the stone wall, and it had hurt.

Before they had gone far, golden light rippled across the covered walkway like water. Zhi Rou raised her head slightly and met two figures coming towards her.

Seeing her stop, Su glanced ahead warily and saw Wei Yuanzhan, which did not surprise him.

The young man's feelings for Zhi Rou were too obvious. Not to mention the Song residence, he wouldn't be surprised if Wei Yuanzhan was in any place where Zhi Rou was.

However, Su hadn't expected to encounter another figure here.

Song Qiyu stepped forward and called out to Zhirou, "Fourth Sister."

Su Du reacted for a moment upon hearing this, and smiled silently to himself. So, the person Zhi Rou was comparing him to was this older brother.

He looked up to observe Song Qiyu, but the other seemed not to see him, her gaze fixed only on Zhirou.

After Su returned to the capital, he investigated the Song family, but he did not find out the details about their offspring. He was even more surprised to learn that this person was the son of Song Congzhao.

Zhi Rou took a few steps forward to respond to Song Qiyu. Wei Yuanzhan did not come over; he stood behind her, his gaze calmly fixed on her.

For some reason, Zhi Rou's gloomy heart leaped with joy the moment she saw him, but when he gazed at her like that, it skipped a beat.

While Su Du remained completely unaware, Song Qiyu secretly observed him. He had changed into Han Chinese robes, and his hair was tied up inside a crown, not in a loose braid, nor adorned with dazzling silver and jade ornaments. His attire made him appear to be a true Central Plains person.

Unlike Wei Yuanzhan, Song Qiyu did not question Su Du about his presence. Instead, she whispered to Zhi Rou, "Is this to see the guest off?"

Zhi Rou nodded, and Song Qiyu said, "I'll deliver it for you." He then waved to Su Du, politely inviting him to do so.

Zhi Rou quickly refused, saying, "No, I'll go."

Song Qiyu frowned slightly but did not react much.

Wei Yuanzhan, on the other hand, subtly curled the corners of his lips, as if a mocking smile was about to bloom. Even though they were still far apart, Zhi Rou somehow sensed his smile and subconsciously looked over.

Wei Yuanzhan turned his head to look at the courtyard, not at this place.

This felt strange. Zhi Rou didn't say anything at the moment, but rephrased her words to Song Qi Yu: "I still have things to say to him, so I'll see him off."

Song Qiyu couldn't refute it, so she stepped aside.

Su Du walked slowly up and asked him in a familiar tone between men, "Young master, how have you been?"

Earlier on the grasslands, Su Du heard Zhi Rou mention his brother, and he felt a strange sensation in his heart. He didn't savor it then, but now it seems he was probably displeased.

Song Qiyu finally met his eyes properly, her face showing no resentment: "Thanks to the general, I am still alive."

Her tone was far less indifferent than her expression suggested; Zhi Rou was afraid they might start fighting at any moment.

Having anticipated that the enemy generals would not be on good terms, she gave Su Du a cold look, her gaze urging him on.

Su Du, feeling helpless, made up a story: "I had a deal with Miss Song that didn't go through, so I'm leaving first." He then addressed him politely as "Young Master Song."

The way the surname was addressed struck Song Qiyu as slightly jarring. Looking at Zhi Rou's expression, he was quite puzzled.

An old friend?

As she approached, Zhi Rou paused slightly. Wei Yuanzhan looked at her, and a force subtly tugged at her sleeve: "Wait for me."

He didn't move, but frowned.

As the figures receded into the distance, and they were about to leave this territory, Wei Yuanzhan turned his back. Song Qiyu asked from behind, "Where is the young master going again?"