Chapter Eight: Second Brother's Sexual Interests

Song Yiqiu frowned, and just as he was about to touch her, she suddenly reached out and precisely grabbed his wrist, twisting it in the opposite direction.

"Ouch!!! Ouch ouch ouch! Which blind bastard dares to spoil my fun!"

Song Wenbin cried out in pain and started cursing loudly, tearing off the blindfold.

When he saw Song Yiqiu standing in front of him, he was stunned, and the alcohol sobered up considerably.

"Song...Song Yiqiu? What are you doing here? Where's the doorman? You're letting just anyone in these days!"

Song Yiqiu disgustedly shook off his hand, then casually took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, her tone full of interest:

"Second Brother? You're in high spirits."

The male concubines nearby also gathered around, and upon recognizing Song Yiqiu, they whispered amongst themselves in a frivolous tone:

"Oh, so this is the eldest daughter of the Song family who's been in the border region for seven years? She looks pretty fierce..."

"Hmph, she has no feminine grace at all, no wonder she can't get married."

"That's right, unlike Miss Sangyu, who is gentle and considerate, and often brings us exquisite trinkets to cheer us up."

"Binlang, she's just your sister, why are you so afraid of her?"

"That's right, that's right, hurry up and kick her out, she's disturbing our playtime..."

Provoked by these words, and seeing Song Yiqiu's attitude after ruining his plans, Song Wenbin felt he had lost face in front of his beloved. Enraged, he raised his hand and slapped Song Yiqiu across the face.

"You wretch! Who gave you permission to run wild in my yard!"

Song Yiqiu snorted coldly, neither dodging nor avoiding, and grabbed his wrist again. Then, using the force, she pulled him back and delivered a loud slap.

Snap!

A crisp slap echoed through the courtyard, abruptly silencing all the teasing.

Everyone was stunned, staring in disbelief at Song Wenbin, whose face was now marked with five red fingers.

Song Wenbin covered his face, stunned for several seconds before he reacted, trembling with anger:

"Song Yiqiu! Are you trying to kill me?! How dare you hit me?"

Song Yiqiu slowly blew on her slightly reddened palm:

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Second Brother. It was so dark, and the yard was full of buzzing mosquitoes and flies. I was a little blind and thought the one that swooped down to bite me was a big mosquito. I hit it a little too hard, please don't be offended, Second Brother."

She tilted her head and smiled after she finished speaking. This trick of hers was something she learned from her good sister.

Tsk tsk, as the old saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black."

"you!"

Song Wenbin was so angry he almost vomited blood. He was about to call for someone to take this crazy woman down when Song Yiqiu suddenly changed the subject.

"By the way, Second Brother,"

She pretended to have just remembered something.

"I've heard that Mother seems to be considering having me send out invitations in my name to invite all the noble ladies of the capital to a tea party at our residence. I wonder if Second Brother... knows anything about this?"

Song Wenbin was taken aback and looked at her warily:

"...What does this have to do with me?"

In my previous life, I was imprisoned because of the stigma of 'adultery'. My mother used my name to hold a tea party and act as matchmaker to arrange for my second brother to marry the daughter of the Minister of War.

The second brother also harbored resentment towards her from then on, hating her for ruining his lifelong happiness in sex.

She only learned of her second brother's true sexual orientation when she died, and regretted that she had wasted the life of a beautiful young woman.

Song Yiqiu's eyes flickered with a dazed look as she gazed meaningfully at the person before her:

"Oh? So Second Brother didn't know? Mother is very worried about my brothers' marriages. She specifically told me, as their younger sister, to take care of them after I return home."

"I came here specifically to ask my second brother if there's any noble lady he's interested in? I'd like to... make some arrangements for her?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wenbin's expression changed instantly.

His male favorites were in an uproar, crowding around him with sarcastic and urgent tones:

"Binlang! You said you only loved me!"

"My lord! Are you going to marry one of those vulgar women?"

"No, Binlang! You said you hated those pampered rich girls the most!"

"Is Mother going to introduce you to one of those annoying women again?"

Looking at the scene, Song Yiqiu clicked her tongue softly, shook her head, and sighed:

"So my second brother's tastes are...so unique. Sigh, it seems I've been meddling. I can only go back and tell Mother the truth about my second brother's preferences."

"I just don't know if Mother will be able to accept these beautiful young men and women."

"Song Yiqiu!"

Song Wenbin interrupted her angrily, licking his back teeth and staring intently at her.

"Stop being sarcastic. You're already back in the main courtyard, and you even asked for a fortune. What else are you dissatisfied with? Just say it!"

"What exactly do you want? What do you want this time? Silver? Jewelry? Or silks, satins, cosmetics?"

Song Yiqiu spread her hands, looking completely innocent:

"Second Brother, you're being too polite. You know I just came back from the frontier, and I'm really not interested in those things for young women to wear. That's right..."

"This vast Song mansion is so small, I don't know how to use the servants properly. It seems like all the old folks I used to know are gone. Organizing a tea party is hard work, and without a capable and trustworthy helper, it's really difficult..."

Song Wenbin's eyes darted around, and he immediately understood her unspoken meaning.

He gave a sinister smile, tinged with malice:

"Oh, what a coincidence. I do have an old acquaintance of yours in my yard. But... he's a bit out of his mind now, a little madman. Even though he's a bit crazy, he can probably still do some menial chores like sweeping and cleaning."

Song Yiqiu's heart skipped a beat, and anger surged instantly, but she feigned utter disgust on her face:

"Second Brother, are you kidding me? A madman can help me? Your sincerity is questionable."

Song Wenbin waved his hand impatiently:

"After you left, the old people in the manor were replaced by Mother several times over. There are no old people left!"

"This is the only one. I only took her from my mother to be a maid because I thought she was pretty enough. Otherwise, she would have been sold to a matchmaker long ago, and who knows which brothel she would be working for now! Take it or leave it!"

Song Yiqiu suppressed the urge to kill him immediately and nodded reluctantly.

"Alright, alright, it's better than nothing. Where is that person?"

Song Wenbin stared at her:

"Then you'd better remember to watch your mouth!"

Song Yiqiu:

"Of course, I will keep my second brother's 'preferences' a secret."

Song Wenbin was finally satisfied. He clapped his hands and instructed the servant behind him:

"Go, bring that crazy girl in the kitchen who tends the fire over here!"

A moment later, two servants dragged over a thin figure and roughly threw him to the ground.

The woman was filthy, her hair was tangled like dry straw, her face was streaked with black and gray, making it almost impossible to recognize her original features, her eyes were empty, and she seemed to be muttering something unconsciously.

He was dressed in tattered coarse cloth and reeked of a sour smell.

At a glance, Song Yiqiu recognized those once bright and lively eyes.

Even if they are like stagnant water right now, she will never admit her mistake.

It's green bamboo!

Her heart ached so much she could hardly breathe. She bit her tongue hard, using the pain to force back the tears that were about to spill.

She can't show it! Absolutely not!

She forced herself to look away, her tone filled with undisguised disdain:

"Second brother, is this all you gave me? This is too humiliating. I doubt he can even clean my yard properly."

Song Wenbin just wanted to get rid of this troublesome guy as soon as possible, and said irritably:

"If you think it's dirty, just go back and have the old woman in your yard give it a good wash. Hurry up and take it away! Don't get in my way and delay my business!"

He said he couldn't wait to hug his little beauty again.

Song Yiqiu said no more, coldly rebuking the trembling green bamboo on the ground:

"What are you standing there for? You shameful wretch! Come back with me!"

Feigning impatience, she dragged the unsteady Qingzhu away quickly and returned to the main courtyard.