Chapter 195 The Road Is One You Walk Your Own

Song Zhimin still went to see Song Zhiqing.

In the teahouse where spring never ends, Song Zhiqing did not wear a gauze hat as she usually did when she went out.

Instead, she wore her hair in a simple bun, just like any other ordinary woman, and adorned it with a silver hairpin.

Song Zhimian was a little surprised.

She knew that Song Zhiqing had been sold off and then bought back by the Ding family; Song Kaishan and the others were indeed commoners.

But their home wasn't raided, and they still have everything they need.

How could Song Zhiqing be dressed like this!

"What is this...?" Song Zhimin stared at Song Zhiqing for a long time without saying a word.

“I am a criminal woman, a commoner. Silks, brocades, hairpins and pendants will no longer be my concern.”

It's fine as it is now!

"At least I don't have to live in fear, and I don't have to worry about being dragged out of bed and whipped in the middle of the night," Song Zhiqing said with a faint smile.

Seeing Song Zhijing like this, Song Zhimian suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Is this a case of being forced to face reality after being hit hard? Or has Wu Jiande tormented them to the point of losing their will to live?

Song Zhijing stared at Song Zhimian for a while.

She suddenly smiled and gave Song Zhimian a curtsy.

“Song Zhimian, I used to hate you, but now... I don’t hate you as much anymore.”

At least you were the only one who told me when I was driven to the brink that I had more than just resigned myself to fate.

I can take other paths.

Although I didn't succeed, at least I tried.

Also, I admire you very much.

I admired you greatly after you donated all your dowry, but I didn't realize it at the time.

You were originally facing a desperate situation, but you saved yourself.

You're not like me. When I'm facing a desperate situation, all I think about is getting someone else to save me.

"I really admire you for that!" Song Zhijing said with a smile.

Song Zhimin didn't speak, she just looked at Song Zhiqing.

She noticed that Song Zhijing's expression seemed much calmer, lacking the sharpness she had before...

"You called me here just to tell me this?" Song Zhimian finally spoke.

Song Zhijing nodded.

"I wanted to thank you in person. I know that Wu Jiande was able to be convicted so quickly, you must have done something."

It is because of something you did that I can come and go freely like this now.

"No matter what, I have to thank you!" Song Zhijing said, bowing to Song Zhimian again.

Song Zhimin carefully stepped aside, refusing Song Zhiqing's courtesy.

"Wu Jiande was convicted because he violated the laws of Da Yu, and it has nothing to do with me."

"You don't need to thank me for this!" Song Zhimian said calmly.

Song Zhijing hummed in agreement and then looked at Song Zhimian.

"Alright! Then I'll thank you for something else: what you said to me back at the Princess's Villa."

"If it weren't for what you said, I'd probably be hanged by a white silk ribbon by now."

Song Zhimian responded with an "oh".

To be honest, she really didn't take Song Zhiqing seriously.

She knew that Song Kaishan and Ding were the instigators of everything.

In fact, Song Kaishan was the one who caused all of this to be the worst.

"So... you'll still be living at the Song family's house from now on?" Song Zhimian asked.

Song Zhijing shook her head, then looked at Song Zhimian.

"If I had stayed with the Song family, my father would probably still be thinking about selling me to someone else so that he could fulfill his dream of making a comeback."

I don't want him to sell it again.

You said... could I open a tea stall or a food stall like those female shopkeepers?

I may not be good at other things, but I can definitely do cooking.

I want to... leave the capital and open a restaurant or tea stall somewhere that Song Kaishan can't find.

"If it can be opened... at least I can make my own decisions," Song Zhijing said softly.

Song Zhimian...

She truly hadn't expected Song Zhiqing to have such thoughts.

She'll open a restaurant somewhere no one knows her, somewhere Song Kaishan can't find her...

"Are you really sure?" Song Zhimian looked at her.

"Yes, I've thought it through!"

I came here today for two reasons: first, to see you, and second, to ask you if it's okay to do this.

"After all, you're smarter and more knowledgeable than me, and now you're a lady-in-waiting in the Crown Prince's Palace. If you say something can be done, it definitely can be done," Song Zhiqing said with a smile.

Song Zhimian didn't know what to say for a moment.

The two sat facing each other, drinking cup after cup of tea.

"It's possible, but you have to be mentally prepared. Running a restaurant requires being shrewd and adaptable, and you have to suppress your own personality."

"Can you...do it?" Song Zhimian asked.

"Don't worry, since you left the Song family, I've been through so much, and I've long since worn away my original personality."

I can do it.

You once said that everyone makes their own way, even the blind have their own path. "Song Zhijing said softly.

Song Zhimian nodded and said nothing more.

After drinking another cup of tea, Song Zhiqing got up to say goodbye.

Just before leaving the private room, she suddenly turned around and gave Song Zhimin another curtsy.

"Elder sister, until we meet again!"

Song Zhimian...

Two days later, Princess Yongxin suddenly found Song Zhimin and handed her a small wooden box.

"That Song Zhijing asked me to pass it on to you."

When Song Zhimian opened it, she found a pair of jade pendants inside.

These seem to be the pair of jade pendants that Gu Shi loved most during his lifetime, but were later taken away by Song Kaishan.

Now that Song Zhijing has returned the jade pendants, Song Zhimian doesn't know what to say for a moment.

"The information I received is that your younger sister will quietly leave early the day after tomorrow."

"Her mother secretly helped her with the household registration," Princess Yongxin said.

Song Zhimian said "oh" and picked up the pair of jade pendants to look at them.

The jade is of excellent quality, and the carving is superb; it is a rare and exquisite piece.

If such a pair of jade pendants were sent to a pawnshop, they could fetch at least five hundred taels of silver.

Thinking of this, Song Zhimian suddenly got up to get a small purse, stuffed some things into it, and handed it to Princess Yongxin.

"Princess, please give this to her for me!"

Consider this payment for the two jade pendants!

Princess Yongxin...

These two are so awkward!

...

Two days later, just as dawn broke and the city gates opened, Song Zhiqing, dressed in plain clothes with her face painted black, followed the crowd out of the city gates and was pulled aside by a middle-aged woman.

Someone gave you this!

Song Zhiqing was taken aback and paused when she saw the purse.

This is the purse that Song Zhimian used when she was in the Song family.

I quietly opened my purse and took a peek.

Inside were two silver notes worth two hundred taels each, four thumb-sized beads, and four gold ingots.

Song Zhiqing smiled and put the purse into her bosom.

Then he shouldered his bag and walked towards the outskirts without looking back.