Chapter Fifty-Two: Supporting Aunt Yun

The entire poetry gathering instantly descended into chaos.

Song Sangyu mingled among the panicked crowd, watching the blood spreading in the spring pool. She couldn't help but smile, but quickly suppressed it, replacing it with a worried expression, though inwardly she was cheering.

Bai Mei and Qing Zhu were terrified and rushed to the edge of the pond, screaming and crying:

"Young Miss! Young Miss! Please save my young lady!"

However, most of the people around were pampered noble ladies and scholars, most of whom were not good swimmers. Faced with this sudden situation, apart from screaming and panicking, no one dared to go into the water.

Fu Langxing's expression changed drastically. Seeing the crimson stain spreading rapidly in the water, he instinctively reached for his outer robe and jumped in.

However, another figure beside him was faster.

The crown prince's face was more gloomy and panicked than ever before. He didn't even have time to take off his elaborate outer robe and boots before plunging headfirst into the icy spring water, splashing up a huge spray.

Song Yiqiu was naturally good at swimming, but her old back injury had not yet healed. Suddenly falling into the icy water caused her calves to twitch violently, and the heavy blow to the back of her head made her dizzy and disoriented.

She didn't even have time to struggle; she just thought that it would be easier if she could just fall into a deep sleep like this.

As the icy lake water enveloped her, and her consciousness began to fade, she felt a sudden tightening around her waist. A powerful force lifted her up and pulled her into a cool yet firm embrace.

She struggled to open her eyes, but through her blurred vision, she could only see the prince's face so close to hers, water droplets dripping from his soaked hair.

Those eyes, which always held a mocking tone, were now filled with a panic she had never seen before.

He held her tightly, hissing urgently in her ear:

"Song Yiqiu! You can't die! Do you hear me! If you die, who will be my blade? If you die, who will avenge your grandmother?! Hold on!"

Revenge...Grandmother...

These two words brought her to a momentary clarity from her muddled consciousness, but a feeling of suffocation quickly overwhelmed her, and she eventually lost consciousness completely.

When she regained consciousness and opened her heavy eyelids, she found herself lying on a familiar bed in the main courtyard of the Song residence.

The air was filled with a strong smell of medicine.

"Miss! Miss, you're awake! Waaaaah..."

Bai Mei's eyes were swollen like walnuts from crying. She collapsed to the bedside, almost unable to breathe.

"Young Miss, you're finally awake! I thought... I thought you were dead, sob sob sob..."

Song Yiqiu's throat was dry, and she coughed twice before she could speak:

"...Don't cry, I'm not dead yet..."

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a 'thump' beside her. It turned out that Qingzhu had fainted from crying after seeing her wake up, and collapsed to the ground.

Song Yiqiu: "..."

I dared not open my eyes, hoping it was just my imagination.

As Bai Mei hurriedly helped Qingzhu up, she sobbed and said:

"Miss, while you were unconscious these past few days, the Third Young Master came to see you many times. He said that Miss Ying'er has been locked up in the ancestral hall by Madam, and he wants you to go and beg Madam for mercy to save her as soon as you wake up..."

Upon hearing this, Song Yiqiu sneered:

"Ha, what a lunatic. She pushed me into the water, almost drowning me, and I'm supposed to save her?"

Bai Mei nodded quickly:

"Exactly! I think so too! The Third Young Master is such a fool! If it weren't for His Highness the Crown Prince, Miss would probably already be queuing up for her love ticket at the King of Hell!"

Song Yiqiu: "..."

Song Yiqiu took a breath, suppressed her anger, and gave the order:

"Go and invite Aunt Yun over."

Bai Mei was taken aback:

"Inviting Aunt Yun at this hour? Miss, you've just woken up, shouldn't you rest a little longer..."

"Go and invite them."

Song Yiqiu's tone left no room for argument.

"Of course, it's about planning a good show."

Aunt Yun arrived quickly, looking worried.

Behind her followed Song Ruoling, who was peeking around curiously.

Song Yiqiu spotted her immediately, waved to her, and softened her voice:

"Sister Ruoling".

Compared to the last flower-viewing party, Song Ruoling seemed much calmer and was no longer the playful little girl she once was.

She looked timidly at Aunt Yun, who then spoke:

"Ruoling insisted on coming along, saying she wanted to see how the young lady was doing...that child..."

Song Yiqiu: "It's alright, come over here."

After receiving Aunt Yun's nod of permission, Song Ruoling slowly stepped forward, took out a handkerchief from her bosom that was noticeably more exquisitely embroidered, and said softly:

“Sister Yiqiu, I heard you fell into the water. You…you must take good care of yourself. This, this is a handkerchief I embroidered. If you don’t mind…”

Song Yiqiu took the handkerchief, carefully examined the lifelike orchid pattern on it, and praised it generously:

"Sister Ruoling is really amazing. In just a few days, your embroidery skills have improved so rapidly. I'm afraid that in a few more days, even the best embroidery shop ladies in the capital will be no match for you."

Aunt Yun watched from the side, feeling both gratified and puzzled, and interjected:

"Miss, you may not know this, but this child has been acting strangely ever since she came back from the last flower-viewing banquet. She doesn't talk much these days, and she doesn't go out to catch butterflies or dragonflies anymore. She just stays in her room, pestering her older sister Sanchun to teach her embroidery and needlework."

"Unexpectedly, she really does have some talent and learns extremely quickly. When asked why she suddenly changed her personality, she wouldn't go into details, only muttering... she wanted to become as capable as the young lady."

Song Yiqiu's heart stirred slightly, and she looked at Song Ruoling with great approval.

She carefully put the handkerchief away, then turned to Aunt Yun and got straight to the point:

"How have you been enjoying your food, drink, and other necessities in your concubine's courtyard lately?"

Ever since learning of Aunt Yun's dire straits, Song Yiqiu has frequently sent people to provide assistance under various pretexts, at least ensuring that Song Sanchun no longer needs to secretly sell paintings to make a living.

Aunt Yun's face immediately showed embarrassment:

“I know, this must be thanks to the young lady’s secret help. If it weren’t for her concern for us, we would probably still be struggling in dire straits. I truly don’t know how to repay the young lady’s kindness…”

Song Yiqiu gently shook her head, dissatisfied with the answer:

"Aunt Yun, would you like to compete for it?"

Aunt Yun was stunned, and subconsciously shook her head, her face showing her usual timidity:

"Compete? Miss, you jest... I am but a woman, what right do I have to compete with the Madam? The Madam is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongjia, of noble birth. Miss, you too will inherit the title of Marquis of Yongjia in the future..."

"I am but a concubine, how can I compete? How can I compete? I have no other wish but to raise my children safely and peacefully in my Hibiscus Courtyard, and that will be enough for me."

"Grow up safely?"

Song Yiqiu was disappointed in him.

"How can one grow up safely in a courtyard where even basic food and drink cannot be guaranteed? Sister Sanchun is of marriageable age, Sister Ruoling needs to start learning etiquette and seeing the world, and Brother Ziyu needs to study and understand reason. We need to hire a tutor."

"Which of these things doesn't require money and status? If you don't strive for them, you'll truly have nothing. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about the future of your three children."

Aunt Yun was struck by her words and remained silent for a long time before finally asking:

"Young Miss... what do you mean by that?"

Song Yiqiu sat up straighter and slowly uttered two words:

"Seize power."