Chapter 42 Fourth Brother's Rare Homecoming

Outside the main gate of the Song residence, Song Yiqiu had just stepped down from the carriage and hadn't even gotten her footing when Bai Mei, with sharp eyes, nudged her and whispered:

"Young Miss, look at that timid guy over there... isn't that the Third Young Master? Why does he look so flustered?"

Song Yiqiu immediately realized why he had come, her eyes turned cold, and not wanting to get entangled, she turned around and said:

"Enter through the side door."

Just as she lifted her foot, her third brother, Song Haochu, rushed over as if he had seen a lifeline and blocked her way:

"Yiqiu, my dear sister, don't go, wait for your third brother."

Qingzhu immediately stepped forward, blocking Song Yiqiu's path, her tone very displeased:

"Why is the Third Young Master here instead of studying at the academy?"

Only then did Third Brother notice Qingzhu, looking her up and down with some surprise:

"Huh? Just like Mother said, you've really regained your senses? Tsk, you're quite lucky."

Song Yiqiu was too lazy to waste words with him and asked directly:

"Third Brother, is something the matter?"

Third Brother rubbed his hands together, a fawning smile plastered on his face:

“Yiqiu, about the bracelets in the warehouse last time… Third Brother heard about it. It’s my fault, I didn’t manage my people well and almost dragged you down… Ying’er was just… just joking with you, she didn’t mean any harm, don’t take it to heart.”

Upon hearing this, Song Yiqiu's eyes instantly turned cold:

"A joke? You should know better than anyone who took the things from the storeroom, Third Brother, right?"

"We could have lived peacefully, but your 'innocent' Ying'er not only stuffed things into my maid's room, but also deliberately caused a scene in front of Song Sangyu, eventually alarming Mother and almost killing Qingzhu! Is this what you call a joke?!"

The third brother turned pale after being rebuked, but he still tried to defend himself:

“Yiqiu, don’t be so rigid and serious… Ying’er is just young and confused for a moment! She’s not a bad person! She’s just a child at heart, she wants pretty things when she sees them… She really didn’t mean to hurt you…”

"Not on purpose?"

Song Yiqiu scoffed.

"If she wasn't deliberately trying to harm me, why would she have known to place the bracelet so precisely in my maid's room? Why didn't she put it in Song Sangyu's room? Was she afraid, or was she deliberately picking on the weak?"

Bai Mei, furious, put her hands on her hips and cursed:

"Exactly! My young lady was so kind to you before, sending you money, jewelry, and a house! Is this how you repay her? You're repaying kindness with enmity!"

Qingzhu's eyes were also red, her voice filled with lingering fear and grievance:

"That day... I was almost beaten to death by my wife..."

Third Brother, overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, scratched his head in frustration.

“I know all of this. It was Ying’er’s fault, but what could I do? After that incident, Mother sent people to surround the west courtyard, and it was full of her people.”

"I can't even see Ying'er! I can't even send her a letter! She's pregnant! How can I not worry about her!"

Song Yiqiu looked at him coldly:

"Then you should go to your mother to plead for mercy, why are you coming to me?"

Third Brother was enraged by her attitude and said angrily:

"Song Yiqiu! Why can't you understand good or bad advice? In the end, you are the victim in this matter. Go to your mother and say a few good words for Ying'er, beg for mercy. Maybe your mother will soften her heart and lift the confinement! Then I can see Ying'er again!"

This robber's logic is simply astounding!

Just then, a nonchalant voice came from behind:

"Hey! What's all this commotion at the entrance so late at night? Are you having a tea party?"

The group turned around and saw their fourth brother, Song Yutang, staggering over, reeking of alcohol and with a vacant look in his eyes.

Song Yiqiu sized him up; this was the first time she had seen her fourth brother since the homecoming banquet.

Third Brother looked embarrassed, and not knowing how much he had overheard, he immediately asked:

"Yutang? Wasn't there a quiz at the academy today? Why are you back so early?"

Song Yutang's eyes flickered, and he stammered to cover it up:

"Uh...it's nothing...I just...came back to ask my mother for some tuition fees."

"Leave me aside for now, what are you two arguing about at the door?"

He turned his gaze to Song Yiqiu, who had remained silent, and looked her over with a flippant, sidelong glance:

"Oh, isn't this our famous young lady who has returned from the frontier? It's only been a few days, but you've already put on quite the airs of a young lady."

"Hmm... you've lost much of that savage, frontier vibe, but..."

He deliberately drawled out his words, belittling the situation.

"Compared to Sang Yu's gentle and charming nature, and her overflowing talent, I can't even match one ten-thousandth of her."

Bai Mei immediately reacted, fiercely protecting her master:

"Fourth Young Master! Please show some respect! My young lady..."

Qingzhu's face also turned red with anger:

"How can you speak like that, Fourth Young Master!"

Song Yiqiu raised her hand to stop them.

She stepped forward, looking calmly at Song Yutang, her face expressionless:

"Fourth Brother is right, I am naturally no match for Sister Sangyu, not even one ten-thousandth as good."

She paused for a moment, then drew out her words:

"After all, I didn't enjoy the support of my family and study the classics while losing the tuition my father gave me at the gambling table."

"In the end, he didn't even dare to participate in the quizzes. He could only slink back home like a child who hadn't been weaned, and he had to rely on his 'skill' and 'shamelessness' to ask his mother for money again."

"you!"

Song Yutang, his thoughts exposed, sobered up considerably and pointed at Song Yiqiu.

"What nonsense are you spouting? You're making baseless accusations!"

Song Yiqiu's eyes showed disdain:

"Whether I'm lying or not, Fourth Brother knows perfectly well. Should I go and ask Father and Mother right now to check the accounts for the past few months' tuition withdrawals, and then go to Dousheng Manor in the west of the city to ask if some 'Great Scholar Song' has recently lost so much money there that he almost pawned his pants?"

Song Yutang was rendered speechless by her retort, losing face, and retorted sullenly:

"Hmph! I can't be bothered arguing with a wild girl like you!"

In order to regain his composure, he turned to Song Haochu, who was still standing there dumbfounded, and said:

"By the way, Third Brother, I have something important to tell you. Those newly emerging talents in the capital are organizing a poetry gathering, which will be held in three days at the Qushui Pavilion on the outskirts of the capital. It's quite elegant."

"They specifically asked me to inform you that you must be there. My brother and I will go together."

He rolled his eyes and added,

"Oh right, I also told Sangyu that she'll be there too, so it'll be a good opportunity for her to show her face."

Song Yiqiu had no interest in these pretentious gatherings and was about to leave when she heard Song Yutang whisper mysteriously to his third brother:

"Oh, and... I heard that 'that woman'... will be going too."

Third Brother's expression changed, and his tone became somewhat tense:

"who?"