Chapter 119 Gradual Decline

Bai Mei and Qing Zhu, standing to the side, couldn't help but lower their heads and chuckle.

"Even someone without ears could understand that this is a rejection, right? How come someone with eyes and ears can't understand human speech?"

Song Sangyu looked embarrassed but pretended not to hear and just looked at Fu Langxing pitifully.

Seeing Song Sangyu's behavior, Song Yiqiu understood and spoke directly:

“Please go ahead, Sangyu. Your friends are probably already waiting at the lantern festival. Young Master Fu and I will take our leave now.”

Song Sang's voice was so angry she almost gritted her teeth. She glared fiercely at Song Yiqiu, then forced a wronged smile at Fu Langxing. She quickly walked to Song Yiqiu's side and whispered in a menacing tone, only the two of them could hear:

"Sister, you really have a clever way with words. On the surface, you don't compete or fight, but in reality... Hmph! You really have the leisure to come out and have fun? Aren't those people in Hibiscus Garden all counting on you?"

“I heard that Aunt Yun cried all night last night, and this morning she even pawned her personal belongings to try and raise a decent dowry for Song Ruoling. You, on the other hand, are here enjoying yourself, completely disregarding the lives of others.”

"If those people in Furong Garden found out, they'd be heartbroken. When it comes to being a good person, you're the best, sister!"

Song Yiqiu's face turned cold, and a playful smile appeared on her face. Instead, she moved closer to Song Sangyu, forcing her to subconsciously take a step back.

Song Yiqiu lowered her voice and provoked:

"Do you know why Prince Fu invited me to his residence? To admire paintings. Don't forget, my engagement with him hasn't been officially dissolved yet. Your long-cherished dream of becoming the Prince's wife... is likely to be dashed."

The anger in Song Sangyu's eyes was almost bursting out. She clenched her fists tightly and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth:

"Song Yiqiu, what are you so smug about? Once Langxing sees your true colors, he'll definitely abandon you! Just you wait and see!"

After saying that, he could no longer maintain his composure, turned around abruptly, stomped onto the waiting carriage, and rode away.

Song Yiqiu was initially reluctant to ride with Fu Langxing, but he insisted and eventually got into his lavishly decorated carriage.

The carriage was spacious, and on a small table were two delicate plates of osmanthus cakes, steaming hot, clearly fresh from the oven.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

Fu Langxing tried to break the silence by picking up a piece of osmanthus cake from the small table and eagerly offering it to Song Yiqiu:

"Yiqiu, want to try some? I remember... this was your favorite when you were little."

Song Yiqiu turned her gaze from the car window to the delicate pastry in front of her:

“Young Master Fu is very kind. However, those are all things that children like. Since returning from the frontier, I have stopped touching these sweet and cloying things; they are too cloying.”

Fu Langxing's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his smile captivating, and he reluctantly withdrew it.

"Yes...it was my oversight. I didn't know your tastes had changed. What kind of pastries do you like to eat now? I'll have someone buy them right away."

"No need for that."

Song Yiqiu refused decisively.

Fu Langxing looked at her aloof profile, a hurt expression on his face:

“Yiqiu…you never used to call me Prince Fu…you always called me Brother Langxing…”

Song Yiqiu had no idea what kind of hysteria he was having today, so she simply turned her head away, closed her eyes to rest, and ignored him.

Looking at her aloof demeanor, Fu Langxing clenched his fists inwardly, his desire to conquer growing stronger.

He was determined to make Song Yiqiu become that little girl who depended on him, looked up to him, and willingly submit to him again.

During the conversation, the carriage arrived at the Crown Prince's residence, which was the former Poli Pavilion.

Compared to the bustling scene I remember, Polige Pavilion now appears much quieter and more desolate.

This is understandable. As a representative of scholars from humble backgrounds, Right Chancellor Fu Yunjian has been severely suppressed by the faction of Left Chancellor Zhao Wude in the court in recent years, and his power has declined significantly. As a result, the Prince's Mansion has also become deserted.

As soon as Song Yiqiu and Fu Langxing stepped into the front yard, they heard a loud cry coming from behind the side gate.

"You little slut! Still dare to talk back? You stole Aunt Li's gold bracelet, caught red-handed, and you still won't confess?"

"I didn't! I really didn't steal it, it's...it's you framing me."

"How dare you talk back! Beat her! Beat her until she confesses!"

Then came the sound of whips cracking and the girl's cries.

Fu Langxing frowned, clearly having no interest in such private matters within the household, and impatiently said to the servant beside him:

"Tell them to keep it down. Can't you see there are guests here?"

The servants who were committing the crime bowed respectfully when they saw Fu Langxing, but they did not stop what they were doing, obviously expecting that Fu Langxing would not help the maid.

Song Yiqiu stopped in her tracks and glanced at the thin, frail maidservant.

She was being held down on the ground by two rough old women, while another man was whipping her with a rattan cane, her back already stained with blood.

The maid looked up and saw Song Yiqiu. Their eyes met, and as if grasping at a last straw, she broke free from her restraints and scrambled to Song Yiqiu's feet, clutching her skirt tightly and pleading:

"My lady! My lady, save me! I didn't steal anything, they've framed me! Please, please save me, otherwise... otherwise they'll beat me to death today! I'm willing to serve you like a slave, to repay your great kindness with my life!"

Song Yiqiu looked down at those eyes filled with despair, then glanced at the arrogant servants.

He sneered inwardly; this dilapidated pavilion was practically rotten inside and out.

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, Song Yiqiu slowly bent down and helped the young maid to her feet, her voice gentle and persuasive:

"Don't be afraid."

"If you say you didn't steal it, I'll believe you."

"Now, tell me what exactly happened."

The little maid sobbed and spoke haltingly:

“This servant…this servant’s name is Xiao He, and I am responsible for cleaning the outer courtyard corridors. This morning, this servant was cleaning as usual, and when I passed by the flower garden outside Aunt Su’s courtyard, I saw something shiny on the ground.”

"When I picked it up, I saw it was a gold bracelet, so I wanted to quickly return it to Aunt Su... But, as soon as I got to the courtyard gate, I was caught by Granny Zhang and the others, who insisted that I stole it!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

The old woman surnamed Zhang immediately retorted in a shrill voice.

"It's obvious you're dishonest; you stole the bracelet and tried to hide it, but we caught you red-handed!"

Song Yiqiu coldly swept her gaze towards Granny Zhang:

"Oh? Where did you catch her?"

"Right, right at the entrance of Aunt Su's courtyard!"

"Was she holding a bracelet at the time?"

"Yes! I was just about to slip away!"

Song Yiqiu then asked Xiao He:

"After you found the bracelet, did you encounter any other people? Or did anyone see you pick it up?"

Xiao He tried hard to recall, and suddenly her eyes lit up:

Yes! Yes, there are.