Chapter 82 The First Time I Rejected Her

Following her gaze, Song Sangyu glanced at Song Ruoling, whose cheeks were flushed with excitement.

She scoffed:

"Don't worry, she's not that smart. Besides... we need to take her with us on our next plan."

Song Ruoling vaguely sensed that they were talking about her, and thinking it was something nice, she hurriedly and clumsily took out several carefully embroidered purses from the embroidered bag she carried with her, and timidly handed them over:

"My dear sisters, this... this was embroidered by Ruoling herself, a small token of her appreciation. I don't know if you'll like it..."

Ruan Jiawen casually took it, glanced at it, then curled her lip in disdain and whispered in Song Sangye's ear:

"Is this it? The embroidery is crooked and messy, even worse than the work of the maids in my household! Can this stupid thing really help us? I don't want this piece of junk!"

She made a move as if to throw it away.

Song Sangyu grabbed her arm and turned to give Song Ruoling a loving smile:

"Sister Ruoling, your embroidery skills are truly superb! You've only been learning for a short time, yet your progress is so rapid! I will definitely keep this with me and cherish it dearly."

Ruan Jiawen gave her a puzzled look, and Song Sangyu gave her and He Jianren a warning look.

Although unwilling, the two had no choice but to feign flattery, and He Jianren gave a dry laugh:

"Yes, yes, this peony embroidery is... very spirited."

Ruan Jiawen said with difficulty:

"The color combination is... quite unique."

Song Ruoling believed it to be true and her eyes lit up with joy:

"Really? Then...can I still play with you guys in the future?"

Seeing this, Song Sangyu sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she was overjoyed:

"Of course! We're sisters after all..."

Then, changing the subject, she spoke with a pitiful expression.

"By the way, Sister Ruoling, I... I have a small favor to ask you for. It's nothing big, and I'm sure Sister Ruoling will help us, right?"

Seeing her younger sister cry, Song Ruoling panicked and quickly nodded:

"Of course! Just tell me what you need help with! After all... you're my sister too."

Song Sangyu picked up a handkerchief, wiped away non-existent tears, and began her performance:

“Sang Yu knows that she and her sister are not related by blood, but since I entered the manor, I have always regarded her as my own sister, relying on and respecting her.”

"But... ever since Sister Yiqiu came back, I've always felt... that you and I have become much more distant. Is it because, in your heart, Sister Yiqiu, who is related to you by blood, is more important than Sangyu, who has been with you for seven years?"

Song Ruoling was at a loss for words after hearing her distorted and contradictory statements, and awkwardly explained:

"No...no, Sangyu, you've misunderstood. Yiqiu and you...in my heart, you're the same, both my good sisters!"

"How could they possibly be the same?!"

Song Sangyu's cries were heart-wrenching; anyone who didn't know the situation would think there had been a funeral in the family.

“I’ve been with you for seven years. Our relationship should be much deeper than that of Song Yiqiu, who just came back not long ago. What right does she have to steal my sister’s attention from me?”

She paused for a few seconds, observing Song Ruoling's flustered expression, and feeling the time was right, revealed her true purpose:

"The autumn hunt will begin in three days. At that time, the royal hunting grounds will be heavily guarded, and some areas will be restricted to the royal family members. Foreign officials and their female relatives are strictly prohibited from entering. Violators will be punished for spying on the emperor or for disrespecting him in front of the palace."

She stared into Song Ruoling's eyes, her gaze a mixture of seduction and coercion:

"Sister Ruoling, all you need to do is find a way to lure Sister Yiqiu to the vicinity of the Hunting Pavilion on the day of the autumn hunt. That is where the Emperor and the princes rest during their journey, and it is marked by yellow curtains on the outside."

"You just need to take her there, find an excuse to leave, and then... you don't need to worry about the rest. Afterwards, you'll still be my good sister, and we'll still play together often like before, okay?"

At this moment, Song Sanchun, who was hiding behind the artificial hill, heard the keywords "Hunting Pavilion" and "Yellow Curtain Marking" and instantly understood Song Sangyu's treacherous plan.

She trembled with fright and covered her mouth tightly to keep from screaming.

Good heavens, they actually wanted to lure Song Yiqiu into the royal forbidden area and accuse her of such a heinous crime! This is practically a death sentence for Song Yiqiu!

Although Song Ruoling wasn't very bright, she sensed danger in those words and shook her head frantically.

"Only royal personnel are allowed to enter that place; we can't! Something will happen to Yiqiu if she goes in!"

Song Sangyu was disappointed in him:

"That's exactly what we want! Once the guards take her down and convict her of disrespect, let's see how she'll still have the face to inherit the title."

"Then, Father and Mother will only love me even more, and you'll benefit even more. Isn't having one sister like me enough? Why must you side with that Song Yiqiu?"

Song Ruolin stood there, awkwardly twisting her sleeves, her mind in turmoil.

Meanwhile, Song Sanchun, hiding in the shadows, was on tenterhooks, both afraid that her younger sister would naively agree and worried about how Song Sangyu would retaliate if she didn't.

Song Sangyu thought that Song Ruoling, who was usually timid and easy to manipulate, had been fooled by her. Feeling smug, she picked up a cup of tea and pretended to offer it to Song Ruoling as a gesture of goodwill.

"Sister Ruoling, have a cup of tea and tell me slowly..."

Unexpectedly, after standing there for a few minutes thinking, Song Ruoling recalled the moments she had spent with Song Yiqiu. Those brief moments of warmth were far more real and precious than Song Sangyu's seven years of seemingly insignificant charity.

She suddenly swung her hand, knocking the teacup out of Song Sangyu's hand. Broken porcelain and tea splashed everywhere, startling Song Sangyu, who screamed and jumped away.

"Song Ruoling! Do you want to die?"

Song Ruoling's eyes were resolute, but her voice trembled with fear:

"I can agree to anything else, but I can't hurt Yiqiu!"

Ruan Jiawen and He Jianren were stunned by this turn of events, then exchanged a mocking glance and began to whisper among themselves:

"Tsk, I thought she was so capable, but she can't even handle her own cowardly older sister?"

"Exactly! Didn't you swear before that she would definitely agree? Now look what's happened, the plan has fallen apart before it even started."

Song Sangyu was furious and her face turned ashen after losing face in front of her friend.

The two of them added fuel to the fire.

"Sang Yu, does she know our plan now? What should we do?"

"We absolutely cannot let her go around spreading rumors. We have to think of a way!"

Song Sangyu's eyes hardened, and she glared fiercely at Song Ruoling:

"Since you refuse to listen to reason and are forced to drink the penalty cup, then don't blame me for not showing any sisterly affection!"

She turned to her trusted servant.

"Grab her!"

He then turned to Ruan and He and whispered:

"Don't worry, I have a way to shut her up!"

She gestured for Liu Ye to take out a small porcelain bottle that had been prepared beforehand.

"This contains a drug that makes her mute. The dosage is low, but it will only damage her voice for a month, leaving her unable to speak!"

"Once the autumn hunt is over, the effects of the medicine will naturally wear off. By then, the die will be cast. Who would believe the words of an unfavored concubine's daughter?"