"Mm." Song Tangxue responded, lowered her guard, and sat on the couch behind her.

The flickering candlelight illuminated that stunningly beautiful face, which was both tired and flushed, captivating the coach's gaze.

Her shimmering, starry eyes gazed silently at him. Her collar was slightly pulled back, revealing half of her slender neck, which was fair and delicate, like a piece of ivory or jade.

It makes you want to reach out and gently touch and play with it.

Xie Qianzhong took something out of his pocket and tossed it to Song Tangxue, who caught it with some surprise.

Looking down, I saw a small dagger.

The dagger was engraved with dark patterns, and when it was gently swung, it produced a sharp, whistling sound as it cut through the air; it was a fine weapon.

Song Tangxue looked up at Xie Qianzhong with some confusion. Xie Qianzhong had already walked to her bedside with the dagger and was gazing down at her.

The bright moonlight in his eyes seemed to drown a person: "Here you go. Your short sword is not handy and you're likely to hurt yourself."

As he spoke, he picked up the short sword and threw it onto the table beside him.

Song Tangxue was pleasantly surprised. Her long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly on her eyelids as she lowered her head to look at the dagger in her hand, a faint smile appearing on her lips: "Is this a gift for me?"

Her eyes were soft as silk, incredibly alluring.

Xie Qianzhong's throat bobbed almost imperceptibly. He reached out and grasped Song Tangxue's hand, the cold dagger becoming warm under his grip.

Song Tangxue's face grew even redder, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head, not daring to look up.

The hot breath flowed down my neck to my limbs, a tingling, itchy sensation.

As she was embraced by darkness, Song Tangxue heard Xie Qianzhong's cheerful laughter behind her ear.

It carried an unmistakable aspirated sound.

As dawn broke, Song Tangxue groaned and struggled to get up. Feeling unwell, she frowned and rubbed her lower back.

Last night, I was touched by those big hands, and now they are slightly red.

Xie Qianzhong must have been a dog all his life, torturing people over and over again.

Song Tangxue felt weak all over and couldn't help but curse the culprit in her heart. Haitang brought in water to serve her.

He accidentally caught a glimpse of the red mark on his young mistress's neck, his heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed down. Whatever his young mistress did was right.

"Miss, did bugs get into the room last night?" Haitang couldn't help but ask, her face shyly lowered, not daring to look any longer.

She was also a young girl who had never experienced anything like this before. When she suddenly saw these things, she was quite at a loss. She wrung out the handkerchief in her palm, put it down to soak it again, and then picked it up again to wring it out.

Song Tangxue interrupted her helplessly: "If you keep wringing it, the handkerchief will be ruined."

Haitang suddenly woke up, her face flushed, and stammered as she wrung out a handkerchief and handed it to Song Tangxue. She glanced at her, then quickly lowered her head, glanced at her again, and buried her head even deeper.

Song Tangxue found it somewhat amusing and called out softly, "Haitang."

Haitang, not understanding why, responded.

"You're of marriageable age now, do you have a suitable husband?" Song Tangxue handed her a handkerchief, and Haitang's face turned as red as if it could drip blood.

"This servant has no other thoughts; all I want to do is serve Miss well."

Haitang replied, word by word.

Song Tangxue laughed out loud. Haitang was stunned for a moment before realizing that her young mistress was joking with her. She said coquettishly, "Miss, please don't tease me!"

Before the two could exchange more than a few words, Cuixi pushed open the door and came in: "Lord Xie came to the manor today, and the Second Miss has already rushed over."

Although Cui Xi didn't know the relationship between Song Tangxue and Xie Qianzhong, it didn't stop her from disliking Song Tangli. When she saw Song Tangli going to the front yard, she immediately returned to report the news.

Song Tangxue's eyes suddenly lit up, and her empty heart, which had been empty when she woke up in the morning, seemed to be filled halfway: "Quickly, help me wash up."

The other half needs to see that person.

After Haitang and Cuixi finished dressing her up, Song Tangxue stood in front of the mirror for several moments, afraid that she might not be satisfied with anything.

When they reached the front yard, the man stepped out of Song's father's study, just a step away from her.

The two looked at each other, a hint of affection flashing in their eyes, like a thunderbolt striking the earth, exploding in Song Tangxue's heart and overflowing in her chest. Song Tangxue lowered her eyes and calmly stepped aside to let him go first.

Song Tangli glared at Song Tangxue resentfully, then gracefully walked up to Xie Qianzhong and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Lord Xie."

Xie Qianzhong kept his eyes straight ahead, as if he hadn't seen her at all, and walked forward indifferently.

Song Tangli gritted her teeth, unwilling to miss this opportunity, and as she got up, she leaned her body slightly towards Xie Qianzhong.

He was still exclaiming in surprise, "Oh!"

When the hem of her skirt touched Xie Qianzhong's clothes, Xie Qianzhong frowned and pushed her away. Song Tangli's personal maid quickly caught her.

Song Tangli stood up timidly: "I was slapped by my sister yesterday, and my head is a little dizzy. I offended Lord Xie, and I hope you won't mind."

Song Tangxue strolled over leisurely, completely unaffected by Song Tangli, as if she weren't the one being complained about.

Song Tangli straightened up, propped her head up, and the five red finger marks on her left cheek were shocking, making her beautiful face look somewhat frightening.

Xie Qianzhong asked as she wished, "How did you get the injury on your face?"

Hearing this greeting, Song Tangli was so happy that she didn't notice the sarcasm in Xie Qianzhong's eyes. How dare a parasitic plant clinging to Li Zhaoxian show off in front of him?

"It was an accident, sister. I don't know why. Maybe sister was in a bad mood." Song Tangli obediently made an excuse for Song Tangxue, her words implying that Song Tangxue had hit her for no reason.

And how innocent and pitiful I am.

“Yes, some people come to my yard in the middle of the night to provoke me and disturb my sleep. Shouldn’t I teach them a lesson?” Song Tangxue stopped a step behind Xie Qianzhong.

“You should respect your elder sister. You haven’t bowed to her since you entered the house. This is not the proper etiquette for a concubine’s daughter.” Xie Qianzhong’s gaze was like a cold star, making Song Tangli feel a chill to the bone.

Her knuckles were clenched so tightly they turned bright red. Song Tangli had no choice but to bow to Song Tangxue, her teeth clenched tightly.

At this moment, Song Tangxue's heart and soul were completely focused on Xie Qianzhong, so she didn't bother to argue with Song Tangli.

As Xie Qianzhong walked outside, he asked in a low voice, "What brings you to the Song residence?"

But a sliver of hope lingered in her heart, wishing that what he said was related to her, such as expressing concern for her.

Xie Qianzhong withdrew his gaze from Song Tangli, his eyes cold: "I've come to discuss court matters with the Right Chancellor."

The distance between the two remained neither too close nor too far, as if a gust of wind could close the gap, or as if they were separated by a vast distance, unable to see each other from afar.

A pang of sadness welled up in Song Tangxue's heart. She didn't ask any more questions and followed Xie Qianzhong somewhat absentmindedly to see him out of the mansion.

Song Tangli behind her slammed into a pear tree beside her, and the white petals fluttered down, landing on her raised eyebrows.

The maidservant knelt down carefully, not daring to utter a word.