Chapter 116 Asking Her for Help

When Song Shen realized what was happening, she was furious:

"Rebellion! Utter rebellion! How dare a lowly concubine's daughter stop me?"

Only then did Song Sanchun truly panic, and she hurriedly whispered:

"Ruoling! Come back quickly! Don't be impulsive!"

However, although Song Ruoling was so frightened that her legs went weak, her feet felt like they were filled with lead, and she refused to give an inch.

She looked up, crying out:

"Mistress! Father! Punish me! My mother... she was just too worried about me and acted rashly. She didn't mean to offend me. All the blame is on me. Punish me."

As she spoke, to everyone's astonishment, she raised her hand, revealing her sharp, long fingernails, and pointed them at her fair and delicate cheek.

“If you don’t let my mother go… today… today I’m going to slash this face. Don’t you want to use this face to marry someone off and quell the trouble? If I’m disfigured, let’s see how you’ll send me away.”

Madam Song gritted her teeth in anger, pointing at Song Ruoling:

"You...you dare threaten me?!"

She never expected that this seemingly easy-to-control concubine's daughter would be so difficult to manage.

Song Qingming, his head throbbing from the series of farces, impatiently waved his hand at Song Shenshi:

"Enough! Why bother arguing with a little girl? Yunniang, take your good daughter away and get ready for her wedding in three days. Everyone, disperse and don't get in my way."

Madam Song glared fiercely at Aunt Yun and Song Ruoling, then angrily flung her sleeves and left with Song Sangyu's help. Seeing this, the others also dispersed.

Song Sanchun immediately rushed forward, grabbed Song Ruoling's hand, and checked her face for any injuries, her concern tinged with reproach:

"Ruoling! How could you joke about your face like that? What will a girl do if she loses her face?"

Song Ruoling slowly lowered her hand, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace:

"Sister Sanchun, I've grown up now. I... I can protect Mother, you, and my younger brother in my own way."

She took a deep breath. "It's just getting married, right? I...I'll get married!"

Song Yiqiu looked into Song Ruoling's eyes, which were originally clear and innocent, but now held something she couldn't understand.

She was shocked to realize that the little girl she had always seen as needing protection was also growing up at an astonishing pace.

"Ruoling..."

Song Yiqiu couldn't help but speak, wanting to say something.

Song Ruoling interrupted her, raising her head and giving Song Yiqiu a relieved, sweet smile:

"Thank you, Sister Yiqiu."

Her voice was gentle, yet it sounded particularly heavy in Song Yiqiu's ears.

“This time… I finally have the responsibility to protect my family, and I’m like a real older sister.”

...

"Miss? Miss! Why are you spacing out?"

Qingzhu's exclamation pulled Song Yiqiu back to reality from her chaotic thoughts.

She then realized that she had been distracted while pouring the tea, and the scalding tea had already overflowed the rim of the cup and spilled onto her fingers, yet she seemed not to feel any pain.

Seeing Song Yiqiu's distraught state, Bai Mei sighed and whispered to Qingzhu:

"Young Miss is probably still thinking about those girls from Furong Courtyard. Miss Ruoling... is really quite pitiful. She's not valued at home, and now she has to... With that kind of personality, if she goes to a treacherous place like the Shen family, she'll probably be devoured without a trace..."

Song Yiqiu silently withdrew her hand, the sharp pain in her fingertips was clear, but it was nothing compared to the heaviness in her heart.

Song Ruoling's sweet smile, tinged with tears, was deeply etched in her mind, impossible to forget.

She could no longer stay in this house.

A soft, hesitant knock came from outside the door:

"Young Miss, are you there?"

Qingzhu listened intently, somewhat surprised:

"Miss, it seems to be... Miss Michun has arrived."

Song Yiqiu nodded, and Qingzhu stepped forward to open the door.

Song Sanchun was still wearing that faded old dress, her face even paler, with dark circles under her eyes. She was clearly exhausted from worrying about Song Ruoling and had not been able to sleep.

She stood awkwardly at the doorway, her footsteps so light they barely made a sound.

"Come in, have a seat."

Song Yiqiu calmly pointed to the chair next to her.

Song Sanchun sat down as instructed, accepting the hot tea offered by Bai Mei with both hands, but had no heart to taste it.

She raised her head, looked directly at Song Yiqiu, and got straight to the point:

“I know something. If you’re willing to help me cancel Ruoling’s marriage, I’ll tell you about it.”

She emphasized her words.

"It's about our grandmother, the Marquis of Yongjia."

Song Yiqiu looked at her quietly.

Song Sanchun tried her best to maintain a calm demeanor and create an impression of equal exchange, but the way she tightly wrung out her handkerchief betrayed her inner panic.

Song Yiqiu did not immediately agree, but instead asked in return:

Why did you come to find me?

She knew very well that Song Sanchun had always disliked them, the legitimate daughters, considering them selfish and cold-hearted. Her visit today was truly unexpected.

Song Sanchun met her gaze:

"Because I've realized that in this family, only you have a bottom line when it comes to doing things, and only you... dare to truly rebel against them."

She straightened her back slightly.

"I'm not begging you, Song Yiqiu, I'm here to make a deal with you."

Seeing her stubborn and awkward expression, Song Yiqiu understood, but instead of directly responding to the terms of the deal, she turned her gaze to the teacup in her hand and softened her tone:

"Have some tea first. This is calming tea, made with green bamboo. I drink some when I'm upset and can't sleep at night, and after a good night's sleep, things might turn out better."

Song Sanchun didn't understand why she changed the subject, thinking she was just stalling for time. He grew even more anxious and couldn't help but press her for an answer:

"Don't you want to know what it is? It's about Grandmother..."

Before she could finish speaking, Bai Mei suddenly perked up her ears, quickly walked to the window, gently pushed it open a crack to peek outside, then turned back and whispered:

"Miss, Miss Ying'er is coming this way."

Song Yiqiu straightened the cups and spoke with a playful tone:

"You've come at the perfect time. Tonight is going to be lively enough to fill a mahjong table."

Oriole?

A look of surprise flashed in Song Sanchun's eyes.

Song Yiqiu had turned to her and politely extended her hand:

"Sister Sanchun, please wait behind the screen for a moment."

Although Song Sanchun didn't understand why, she still got up as instructed and hid behind the screen.

Before long, the door was gently pushed open, and Ying'er, wearing a black cloak, sneaked in furtively.

As soon as she entered, she eagerly placed the items on the table, lifted the cloth to reveal a small, exquisite emerald green seal, which was the private seal of the Marquis of Yongjia.

It gleamed with a warm glow under the candlelight, making it look genuine.

Ying'er spoke triumphantly:

"I brought what I promised you."