Chapter 99 Like Strong Wine (XI) No one could refuse her. ...

Wei Yuanzhan looked at Zhi Rou. Even without light, her smile was always bright, her eyes sparkling with a unique beauty.

However, he tasted a hint of bitterness in her words, as if she were deceiving herself, deliberately hiding some of her stirring emotions and replacing them with a facade.

Wei Yuanzhan's heart tightened, and he involuntarily raised his hand to stroke her brow. The warmth of his thumb slid down from the tip of her brow to the corner of her eye, where he lovingly rubbed it.

Zhi Rou didn't move; her body was visibly stiff. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she stared blankly at him.

The bells under the eaves rang more and more urgently. Wei Yuanzhan came back to his senses, remained silent for a moment, then stopped and glanced at the door: "The wind is picking up."

As February approaches, the weather in the capital is warming up, but the nights are still bitterly cold.

Zhi Rou lowered her eyes, lifted her right wrist out of the basin, dried it with a towel, and then said to Wei Yuanzhan, "You should go back first, it's too late."

Zhi Rou is thoughtful and has been so since she was a child. When Wei Yuanzhan saw that she was unwilling to say it outright, he did not force her.

He got up and went to the door, then suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at her: "I'll come to see you again tomorrow."

This was after he returned to Beijing, and he took the initiative to arrange a meeting with her.

But she refused, saying, "Tomorrow won't work, let's do it another day."

Her voice was low, and her expression was anything but joking; she was telling him seriously not to come.

Wei Yuanzhan was slightly taken aback, somewhat suspicious.

Zhi Rou quickly smiled at him and casually raised her hand: "I twisted it too badly, I need to rest."

There was a lantern outside the door, its dim light swaying across her face. At that moment, one could see the redness in the corners of her eyes, and the insincere curve of her lips.

Who could possibly have hurt her so deeply?

Wei Yuanzhan couldn't help but clench his fist, feeling an extreme pang of heartache, yet he had nothing to say. So he simply replied, "Then I'll wait for you."

After he left, the boundless night drew near once more. Zhi Rou leaned against the door with her back to him, her mind in turmoil.

Two days. She needs two days to accept her origins.

Zhi Rou sat alone in the dark for a long time, the moonlight reflecting on the window frame, creating different colors.

A short while later, a shadow swayed gently outside the door.

"Fourth sister, are you resting?"

A soft sound seeped into the room through the crack in the door, pulling her back from her chaotic thoughts.

Zhi Rou paused for a moment, then got up to open the door. Song Hanjin's face was revealed under the lamplight, as she held a silk pillow.

"Sister...why are you here?" Zhi Rou asked, somewhat surprised.

Song Hanjin smiled and said, "My mother sent someone to bring me a late-night snack. I just finished eating, and since I used to eat with my fourth sister, I brought some over. So, aren't you in a hurry to settle down?"

She turned slightly to the side, and the maid behind her, carrying a food box, stood still with her eyes lowered.

Song Hanjin carried a pillow into the house, asking as she went, "Why isn't a single lamp lit? Where are the people in your yard?"

"I told them to go and rest. Sister, what's going on...?" Zhi Rou turned to look at her, her brows furrowed in suspicion, "Are you going to stay here overnight?"

Song Hanjin easily found the bed curtains, carefully put down the soft pillows, and then came out. She glanced casually at the maid, who immediately found a tinderbox.

One lamp after another lit up the room, their warm flames flickering, instantly illuminating the space.

“You’ve been leaving early and coming home late these past few days, and we haven’t had a chance to say more than a few words.” Song Hanjin looked at Zhirou’s face and smiled. “Perfect timing, today, you can talk to me for a while.”

Zhi Rou, with her keen senses, noticed a hint of weakness in her words. It seemed as if she had come over on purpose, but because she hadn't practiced, she spoke without much confidence.

In fact, Zhi Rou met with Song Han Jin quite a few times after returning to Beijing. They did talk, but some things seemed to have changed.

Zhi Rou wanted to make amends, but as Song Han Jin said, she was busy with her own private affairs, leaving early and returning late.

Therefore, when Song Hanjin took the initiative to find her, even though the timing wasn't right, she still smiled and said, "Okay."

Fu Yi sat down on the edge of the chair, the lamplight illuminating her eyelids, her thick eyelashes curling upwards, and a faint reddish glow around her eyes.

Noticing her description, Song Hanjin couldn't help but be somewhat taken aback: "Your eyes...who bullied you?"

Zhi Rou said lightly, "No one is bullying me. I've just encountered some confusing things, but I'll figure them out."

Song Hanjin had seen her smile like that many times before; it seemed she had always been like that since she was a child. She never complained about herself, and even when talking about the past in Luozhou or those who had dealt with her, she always had a smile on her face.

To the outside world, she only displays enthusiasm, completely suppressing any unfriendly emotions, just as she did in her youth.

Song Hanjin seemed happy that she was the same as before, but she couldn't help being annoyed that she kept everything to herself.

They are family; this shouldn't be done.

"Did this happen in Beili?" Song Hanjin looked at her, her amber eyes always sparkling.

Zhi Rou thought of her mother, inevitably drawing Su Du into her thoughts. After a moment's hesitation, she casually slumped her shoulders and said, "I suppose so."

"Why don't you tell me, Fourth Sister?"

Song Hanjin was determined to restore her relationship with Zhirou. Seeing Zhirou with her eyelashes lowered and looking increasingly engrossed, she coaxed her, "Perhaps I can help you figure it out."

In the firelight, Zhi Rou gently raised her eyes, as if she had truly listened, and a hint of anticipation appeared on her face.

She asked softly, "Sister, if someone gets into trouble because of me... is it my fault?"

Song Hanjin was silent for a moment: "Did you do this on purpose?"

Zhi Rou shook her head.

Her mother was the person she least wanted to hurt.

"No worries, no anxieties..." Zhi Rou murmured, her lips curving listlessly. "Easier said than done."

Song Hanjin neither confirmed nor denied it.

When her brother joined the army, he soon heard about the war in the Northwest and didn't receive a single letter from home for months. Many people said that her brother was a lucky man and would surely be safe, but she was still afraid and couldn't sleep well night after night.

"Who is it?" Song Hanjin suddenly remembered and asked.

Zhi Rou frowned slightly and said evasively, "It's nothing."

Unaware of her true origins, she frequently encountered both loyal and rebellious individuals, and dared not reveal her background to others.

She cannot pose a threat to the Song family, and she must also protect her mother.

The night breeze tilted the candlelight on the table, and also affected Song Hanjin's face. She lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought, before looking up at Zhirou.

He comforted her, saying, "The world is vast, but as long as we are alive, we will meet again someday."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou felt a chill run down her spine: "What are you saying, sister?"

Based on her words and expressions, Song Hanjin assumed that she had unresolved past grievances in a foreign country, and even imagined a story of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress.

"Isn't he the one you love in Bei Li?"

Zhi Rou was slightly surprised, but before she could finish, she burst into laughter: "What sweetheart? Even if he does, he's not in Bei Li."

"So you're saying you're pregnant?" Song Hanjin's eyes brightened. "Who is it? Which family's young master is he? Do I know him?"

It's perfectly normal to admire someone when you're young, but when Zhi Rou thought of Wei Yuanzhan, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

Facing Song Hanjin, she straightened up and said enticingly, "Last time, my sister asked me what my older brother looked like in military uniform. I can tell you about it."

This is a change of topic, and also a form of "bribery".

Song Qiyu did not dress as a soldier in front of his family, probably so that they would overlook his military rank.

Curiosity prevailed, and Song Hanjin had no choice but to compromise: "Master Zhou is right, Fourth Miss is cunning, quick-witted and resourceful."

Hearing Master Zhou's evaluation of her when she was young, Zhi Rou felt as if she had returned to the family school. That time was lively and wonderful, like the colorful ripples on the lotus pond in summer.

She and Song Hanjin talked for a long time, and finally the two of them fell onto the bed, their soft pillows side by side, the candlelight filtered through the curtains, like an immature dream.

"After you left, my brother went to Yuyang, and I was living a very boring life alone in the capital. Xinghui tends to your courtyard every day, and whenever I pass by it, I think of some things from our childhood."

As Zhi Rou listened, she slowly turned to look at Song Hanjin.

Her eyelashes fluttered rhythmically like butterfly wings.

“I remember very clearly the first day you arrived at the family school. Everyone thought you were an odd girl and deliberately made fun of you. Especially Song Peiyu, who was even punished by the teacher and got you dragged into it. At that time, although I didn’t get along with you, I was not happy to see them like that.”

As she spoke, she turned over to face Zhi Rou, a sweet smile appearing on her lips.

"Fortunately, my fourth sister is not a gentle and useless person. Seeing how well you manage in the family school and how you can please Grandmother, I am actually relieved."

Zhi Rou asked in confusion, "Doesn't my sister hate it when I fawn over our grandmother?"

Whenever Song Hanjin looked at her grandmother, her gaze was tangible. Zhi Rou was still young at that time and needed her grandmother's affection. Indeed, because of the generational gap, she felt an unprecedented sense of intimacy.

She loves her grandmother and enjoys making her happy.

“I don’t dislike you,” Song Hanjin said, her gaze lowering. “I am… somewhat envious.”

She was born into a wealthy and noble family, treated with utmost respect and deference, and should have been living a life of great comfort. However, her mother did not value her; her father was busy; she was not good at pleasing others; and her grandmother treated her indifferently.

The only person she felt special was her brother.

Knowing that gentleness is different from knowing others.

She seemed to possess boundless power, sincerity, and radiance; once you got close to her, no one could resist her charm.

Song Hanjin didn't want to lose such a good person and such a good sister.

Zhi Rou smiled slightly: "I'm actually envious of my older sister..."

Her gaze lingered in the dim candlelight, her thoughts seemingly uncontrollable. Song Hanjin had no idea what she was pondering, but hearing her tone of voice, a pang of sorrow welled up in her heart.

Just as she was about to speak, Zhi Rou rolled over and lay flat on her back, but her hand still firmly grasped hers, and she said softly, "It's getting late, sister, go to sleep and have sweet dreams."

Song Hanjin remained silent for a while, then moved her fingers, cupping the cool warmth in her palm, and softly replied, "Okay, you too."

As the candle burned out, Zhi Rou's smooth eyebrows gradually furrowed.

That night, Song Hanjin slept soundly with Zhirou, without a single dream.

Zhi Rou lay stiffly on the bed all night, her mind mostly occupied with one thing.

How can this idea be realized?

Should she overturn the verdict? But Chang Yu... she didn't know if he was truly innocent.

The following day, after Song Hanjin left, Zhi Rou stayed indoors and did not go out.

Song Hanjin was suspicious when she couldn't find her during her morning and evening greetings. She went to Longyuexuan to look for her many times, but she always made excuses about feeling unwell.

She sat alone in the room, outwardly no different from usual, but she was unusually quiet, quite unlike herself.

Seeing this, Xinghui often walked around her and called out to the Fourth Sister. She rarely responded. When she finally came to her senses, Xinghui asked her what was wrong, and she said that she needed to sort out some things in two more days.

When asked what it was about, she remained silent.

After two days, Zhi Rou's face gradually regained its radiance, but for some reason, her limbs were slightly sore, not from the fall, but probably from her mental state.

Unable to bear it any longer, I decided to go out and stretch my muscles to distract myself.

As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, a light rain began to fall from the sky. She stared at the rain, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Xinghui quickly opened a silk umbrella from inside the house and ran over to hold it up for her: "Why didn't you call me when you came out, young lady? What's wrong with this rain...?"

Zhi Rou didn't hear a word of what followed. She only saw a half-finished blue Taoist robe standing under the eaves. She slightly raised her eyes, and the edge of the umbrella just covered his jade hairpin.

It was Song Congzhao standing there, as always, his face calm and refined, his eyes seemingly warm, slowly flowing towards her.

"Rou'er," he called to her from the veranda.