Chapter 110 Like Strong Wine (Twenty-Two) His body leaned forward slightly, staring intently...

The two were about an arm's length apart, which was quite proper compared to sitting on a chair.

A strange emotion crept into her heart. Zhi Rou stared at Wei Yuanzhan without saying a word.

The bells hanging from the eaves swayed and made a crisp sound.

Wei Yuanzhan met her gaze, his lips slightly upturned, and tapped his finger on the edge of the seat: "Snap out of it."

Zhi Rou paused for a moment, then quickly looked away, as if she heard a smile in his voice: "After your mother and General Chang's matter is settled, what do you want to do in the future?"

What she wants to do in the future... Zhi Rou had answers when she was young, such as becoming a craftsman or traveling through mountains and rivers, living a carefree life, but now it's a bit blurry.

“I don’t know either. Maybe… I’ll go back to Luozhou and see Xiao’e. And…” Remembering the Scholar’s ​​Wine buried under the pomegranate tree, Sheng Xingyun told her about it, but she hadn’t taken it out yet, always hoping that her master would give it to her personally. “Go to Jiangdong to pay my respects to my master.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan naturally asked, "Do you want to come with me?"

It seemed like a casual remark, but Zhi Rou's heart skipped a beat, and she looked him over again.

After a moment, the surprise in her eyes slowly faded, and a light smile swirled at the corner of her lips. She asked in return, "Can you?"

Times have changed. He is not just the heir of the Marquis of Yining. He has other responsibilities on his shoulders. How can he leave easily?

Wei Yuanzhan thought about it carefully.

Investigating old matters is not easy and will take some time; once the Changfeng Camp is reorganized, he will have the opportunity to step down from this post, or ask for a few months' leave. So he looked at Zhi Rou frankly and said, "There's always a way."

The carriage continued forward, but it was moving more slowly than before.

Zhi Rou admired his unwavering faith for a moment, then asked him, "What gift do you want for your birthday this year? I plan to make up for the return gift I owed you before."

The return gift refers to three years ago.

Wei Yuanzhan's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had thought of something, and he smiled slightly: "I am flattered that Fourth Miss has condescended to come and offer her congratulations."

Seeing that he wouldn't stay serious for long, Zhi Rou said, "Then I'll hunt a fox for you, to match you."

As they chatted, the atmosphere in Qiyun Garden cleared up, and Wei Yuanzhan couldn't help but want to get closer to her. Unconsciously, he put his forearm on his knee, leaned forward slightly, and stared straight into her eyes.

A cool fragrance, mingled with the scent of alcohol, enveloped Zhirou.

She raised an eyebrow, stared at him for a moment, and asked, "Not satisfied?"

Wei Yuanzhan smiled and lowered his head, ceasing his teasing, and said, "Satisfied."

Stepping into the Song residence, Zhi Rou was still thinking about the "Young Master Xin Yi".

If this person were still alive, they might be able to solve many mysteries for her. But someone from over ten years ago doesn't even have a name; where is she supposed to find them?

As she pondered, she set off for Danyu Garden. Perhaps because her true identity had been revealed, she felt a pang of guilt about living in the Song residence and was unwilling to be impolite in any further manners.

Xu Yueyuan had always turned a blind eye to Zhirou's behavior, disciplining and indulging her to a limited extent. Whether Zhirou came to inquire about her well-being or not, Xu Yueyuan did not care. However, having just seen her son off, she was feeling heavy-hearted and went to bed shortly after finishing dinner.

As Zhi Rou arrived at the entrance of the courtyard, she saw Song Congzhao walking under the eaves in the distance. His black robe was loose and his wide sleeves fluttered in the wind. She paused for a moment, and Song Congzhao glanced at her and then leisurely stopped.

Zhi Rou immediately stepped forward and softly called out, "Father."

"Just got back?" Song Congzhao glanced at her without saying a word.

"yes."

"Jin'er and the others returned home in the evening. Where did you go again?"

Despite asking this question, he showed no anger on his face and walked slowly with his hands behind his back.

Zhi Rou followed his foot, intending to make up an excuse to get away with it, but then she thought that there was nothing shameful about telling the truth, so she lowered her eyes and said, "I'm going to find Wei Yuanzhan."

“Yuan Zhan?” Song Congzhao paused for a moment, then frowned and said, “He’s also dragging you into this mess.”

The two learned martial arts together since childhood, their tempers were completely different, but they got along well. If they were arguing yesterday, they would get into trouble tomorrow, and their names would be together forever.

Zhi Rou pouted and muttered, "No nonsense."

Song Congzhao glanced at her sideways, setting the matter aside for the moment, and spoke again, his voice now warmer: "I have heard about what happened at the banquet in the suburbs. Tomorrow I will go to the Prince You's residence to request an audience with His Highness, so that you will not suffer any injustice."

Upon hearing the words, Zhi Rou was filled with doubt.

At today's banquet, she only had a verbal altercation with Song Peiyu. How could it involve Prince You? Could it be... that Song Peiyu used the wine from beyond the Great Wall as a pretext to implicate Huai Xian?

She wondered what was going on in her mind and didn't answer immediately. After a long while, she finally spoke, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Father." Her voice was slightly lower. "I know I was wrong."

Song Congzhao turned to look at her: "You really know you were wrong?"

Zhi Rou nodded, her sleeve brushing against the flower branches at the corner of the corridor, and the rich fragrance of flowers wafted through the air.

It was already February, and the nights weren't bitterly cold. Song Congzhao slowed his pace, gently clenched his large palms behind his back, and instructed Zhirou, "Then go to the ancestral hall to keep your second brother company."

As she grew up, Zhi Rou had very few opportunities to step into the Song family ancestral hall.

Inside the ancestral hall, the candlelight flickered. Hearing footsteps, the people inside immediately straightened their backs and piously said, "Ancestors above, I, Qizhang, was arrogant and presumptuous, failing to be careful in my words and actions, bringing shame upon our family. My sins are immeasurable. I now beg forgiveness before you. If our ancestors are watching over us from heaven, we hope they will punish us..."

Before the performance was even finished, someone behind him chuckled.

Song Qizhang paused for a moment, then turned his head: "Fourth Sister..." he said in surprise, "Why is it you?"

He straightened his back a little, then watched her walk in. She put her hands behind her back and looked him up and down meaningfully: "What happened to you, Second Brother, that led you to be sent here?"

Song Qizhang lowered his long eyebrows, snorted, and lazily turned around: "There's nothing to mention."

A sound came from the side as Zhi Rou squatted down, placed the food box on a futon, and opened the lid, releasing a faint, delicate aroma.

"Want some? My second sister-in-law made it."

Song Qizhang's pupils flickered slightly upon hearing this, and he looked at Zhi Rou with great interest: "She asked you to deliver it?"

Zhi Rou said no, "My father sent me."

That glimmer of light dimmed instantly, and he smiled wistfully: "I never imagined that the person who cares about me the most in the entire mansion is my second uncle."

"Tomorrow at dawn."

"What does Second Brother need? I can bring it to you."

"No need for that. If Father sees this tomorrow morning, my kneeling will have been for nothing." Song Qizhang forced himself to stay awake and took a piece of spring cake.

The night was long, and the sound of burning candles filled the air, creating an exceptionally quiet atmosphere. Song Qizhang opened his mouth: "Fourth Sister... could you talk to me for a while?"

"Okay." Zhi Rou knelt down beside him, her starry eyes glistening. "What do you want to say?"

Song Qizhang's gaze was fixed on the food box, his voice muffled: "Shulan, she..."

He uttered only three words before falling silent.

Zhi Rou couldn't guess what he was thinking. In fact, she knew very little about the matter between him and Li Shulan, but she could tell that he was in a low mood. She wanted to comfort him, but didn't know how to say it.

He had no choice but to tell the truth: "I didn't see my second sister-in-law. It was her maid who brought me the food box."

Song Congzhao was worried that Song Qizhang would fall ill from kneeling, but since it was his elder brother disciplining his son, he couldn't interfere. So he subtly suggested that Zhirou take care of him. The two children had a close relationship, so it was only natural for her to look after him.

When Zhi Rou heard that her second brother was being punished in the ancestral hall, she took care of his stomach first and ran to the small kitchen, where she happened to run into Li Shulan's maid.

Song Qizhang frowned, wondering if Shulan was angry with him. Unable to figure it out, he decided to change the subject.

"Where are you and Cousin Wei?"

He suddenly asked, and Zhi Rou's lips moved: "What happened between us?"

Song Qizhang was unaware of the feelings between them, but she was a little worried when Lan Ye came to see her in the evening.

"I've heard that his superior in Lancheng is a ruthless devil who strikes fear into the hearts of all. As the saying goes, one is influenced by one's company..."

Not long after Wei Yuanzhan returned to the capital, Song Qizhang, despite being a cousin, grew distant from him. Based solely on past memories and common prejudices against soldiers, he feared his fourth sister would suffer.

If it were someone else judging Wei Yuanzhan, Zhi Rou would have already retorted sarcastically, but this person is her second brother. She frowned slightly and pouted her lips almost imperceptibly: "I've never heard of that."

A moment later, a thought struck her, and before he could react to her unusual behavior, she spoke first: "Second brother, can you tell me about the Song family of Changxi?"

He had heard news from Lancheng, and the matter of the Song family's collateral branch was certainly no surprise.

When Song Peiyu's penis was mentioned, Song Qizhang looked at Zhi Rou suspiciously. She had gone from kneeling to sitting cross-legged, supporting her cheek with one hand, looking at him intently.

This sight evokes memories of the days spent in a private school.

Song Qizhang's heart softened, and a smile appeared on his face.

He told Zhirou that the Song family of Changxi was worlds apart from them in terms of foundation. Before Song Lang's generation, most of the Changxi descendants were low-ranking officials.

“I heard my grandmother mention that when Song Lang came to the capital, he sent a visiting card to our household, and my grandmother met him in person. After just one meeting, my grandmother saw that he was wicked and immoral, and after he left, she ordered that he was not allowed to enter the Song residence again. Later... it seems that there was a treason case that year, and Song Lang was rewarded for his service and was appreciated by His Highness the Crown Prince, and was promoted three times in one year.”

Song Lang was particularly adept at social interaction. Over the years, he had the support of his wife's family in the officialdom of Yanjing. He had initially ingratiated himself with His Highness the Crown Prince, and now he had even more leverage. No wonder Song Peiyu was so flamboyant.

"Among the Song family of Changxi, is Song Lang and his party the only ones in the capital?"

"It seems so."

Song Qizhang lowered his gaze and studied Zhi Rou for a while, then smiled and said, "Fourth sister, are you so curious about the Song family of Changxi because of Song Peiyu?"

He had heard from others about what Song Peiyu had done in the main tent today. Using such methods to attack Zhirou, and even dragging Princess Huaixian into it, was truly insidious.

"If you have a way to teach him a lesson, don't forget to call me along," Song Qizhang added.

When he asked her the first question, Zhi Rou neither answered yes nor no. She put down her palm, sat up straight, and smiled brightly: "Thank you, Second Brother."

The next morning, after Zhi Rou finished washing up, she hung the dagger, jade pendant, and sachet on her body one by one. Xing Hui, who was beside her, looked at her and asked as before, "What would you like for breakfast, Miss?"

Before she could answer, a voice outside the room announced, "Fourth Miss, there is a guest in the front hall requesting an audience."

Zhi Rou raised an eyebrow. Who could be looking for her at the Song residence so early? She picked up the porcelain cup on the table, took a sip, straightened her clothes, opened the door, and went out.

Today is a foggy day; water vapor condenses on the pillars, and the ground is slippery.

Upon entering the front hall, a man sat upright, his chin slightly lowered, and an anxious look between his brows.

Zhi Rou recognized him; he was Zhao Xun, from Su Du.

The moment her gaze fell upon his face, he looked over and immediately stood up. Seeing his expression, Zhi Rou knew that something had happened at the Feng residence.

Before she even stepped inside, Zhao Xun had already stepped forward and bowed to her, hurriedly saying, "Young master has not returned all night, please come with me out of the city."