The sound of the flute carried a hint of tenderness and lingering emotion, echoing repeatedly outside the gates of Songxi Courtyard.

Song Zhiyu put down her brush, stood up and slowly walked towards the door, where she saw Qin Xu's figure not far away.

At this moment, he was wearing a moon-white robe and holding a jade flute. When he saw Song Zhiyu appear, his back straightened up and his eyes were so tender they could melt.

His eyes were full of confidence, and he played the jade flute with even more fervor.

Qin Xu's sanctimonious appearance has fooled many young girls, and he refuses to believe he can't win over Song Zhiyu.

Women all like men who are talented and handsome, and he fits both criteria perfectly.

Upon seeing this, Lu Bai's face immediately darkened, and her bright eyes widened in surprise. What was this person up to?

He was playing the flute at the entrance of Songxi Courtyard in the middle of the night, instead of sleeping, making it look like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

After a short while, the sound of the flute gradually stopped.

Qin Xu bowed to Song Zhiyu, a hint of smugness in his voice, "Second Miss, do you like the meaning behind this piece of music?"

Before he could finish speaking, Song Zhiyu suddenly looked up and said expressionlessly, "Throw it out, it's disturbing me."

Upon receiving the order, the hidden guards, concealed in the darkness, instantly swept across the rooftops like ghosts, silently stopping behind Qin Xu and casually lifting him up.

Before Qin Xu could react, he was grabbed by the back of his collar, his legs dangling in mid-air. His lean body was powerless against the tall and imposing guard.

"Do you know who I am? Let me go right now!" Qin Xu's eyes turned bloodshot with rage, feeling utterly insulted.

This is the Marquis of Chengen's residence, and he is also the grand-nephew of Old Madam Shen's maternal family. Do these people have a death wish to treat him like this?

Seeing the slight displeasure on Song Zhiyu's expression, the guard's eyes sharpened, and he delivered a swift chop to Qin Xu's head, causing Qin Xu to immediately roll his eyes and faint unconscious.

Now I can finally have some peace and quiet.

Song Zhiyu glanced coldly at Qin Xu and whispered, "Throw him back to the old lady's courtyard. Remember, don't wake her up yet."

Tomorrow morning, there will be another lively scene at the Marquis's residence.

*

The next day, a sharp scream pierced the sky.

Song Zhiyu looked in the direction of the sound and, as she expected, the sound was coming from the old lady's courtyard.

Last night, she ordered someone to throw Qin Xu into the old lady's courtyard as a warning.

Song Zhiyu shook her head helplessly, not expecting to frighten people like this.

If Madam Shen isn't worried about Qin Xu encountering any further mishaps, she can use any means necessary to bring them together.

After a short while, the screams suddenly stopped, and then there was no further sound, so it seemed that the problem had been resolved.

If nothing unexpected happens, the old lady will send someone to invite her over later.

Normally, Song Zhiyu wouldn't mind going to watch the excitement, but today she had to keep her appointment with Su Jinyang and had no time to pay attention to Old Madam Shen, so she left the mansion leisurely.

Knowing that Song Zhiyu loved the tea and snacks at Yunshui Tea House, Su Jinyang specially chose this tea house as their meeting place.

No sooner had Song Zhiyu left than Qin Xu arrived at Songxi Courtyard, his manner quite menacing.

He spent the whole night in the old lady's courtyard exposed to the cold wind, all thanks to Song Zhiyu.

Thinking of this, Qin Xu suddenly shivered, his teeth itching with anger, and he forced back his rage as he asked, "Is the Second Miss in the courtyard now?"

A maid from Songxi Courtyard stood in front of the gate and said with a smile, "Young Master Qin, my master is not in the courtyard. Please come again another time."

Qin Xu forced a smile, wanting to go in but hesitant, not wanting to force his way in.

He remembered the hurried figure he had just seen and quickly followed after him.

*

Between water and clouds.

As soon as she entered, Song Zhiyu was led by the servant to the private room where Su Jinyang was.

Su Jinyang, dressed in a long black robe with cloud patterns, sat upright at the table, gently wiping the dagger with the handkerchiefs in his hand. He would occasionally glance at the door, his eyes filled with an indescribable expectation and tenderness, his heart already wandering far away.

"Squeak~"

Along with the crisp sound of the door being pushed open, Song Zhiyu's light footsteps echoed, subtly revealing a hint of joy.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment. In the quiet private room, Su Jinyang stared blankly at the person who had just arrived.

"Third Brother, it's been a long time." Song Zhiyu sat down directly in front of Su Jinyang, a carefree smile on her face, her words carrying a hint of intimacy.

Su Jinyang snapped out of his reverie, a gentle smile blooming on his lips, and reached out to pour Song Zhiyu a cup of tea.

“I’ve heard about the Marquis’s mansion from my elder brother. You’ve suffered a lot these past three years.” Su Jinyang felt a pang of sympathy. Thinking of what his elder brother had said, he wanted nothing more than to teach the people in the Marquis’s mansion a lesson.

His sister, Su Jinyang's sister, is nowhere near as good as an imposter.

“It’s all in the past. Now no one in the Marquis’s mansion dares to bully me.” Song Zhiyu chuckled. Even though they hadn’t seen each other for three years, there was no sense of estrangement between them.

Su Jinyang narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone icy, "But this grudge cannot go unavenged."

Song Zhiyu knew Su Jinyang's personality well. She raised an eyebrow, knowing that someone else had been targeted by him. She just didn't know which unlucky person from the Marquis's mansion it was.

“Of course, some grudges can’t be forgotten just like that,” Song Zhiyu echoed, but her target wasn’t just the Marquis of Chengen’s mansion.

Li Wang is the culprit who harmed Third Brother and caused the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers on the battlefield. The grievances have their source and the debts have their debtors; how can he evade responsibility?

"Third Brother, Prince Li must have contacted you, right?" Song Zhiyu said with certainty. Prince Li was ambitious, and since he couldn't win over Duke Ling, he would naturally set his sights on Su Jinyang, who had just returned from a victorious battle.

After all, looking at the entire court, only Su Jinyang had the ability to rival the Duke of Ling.

“He wants to win me over to his side.” Su Jinyang nodded, making no attempt to hide the Prince’s ambition, and it was no surprise that he had chosen her.

Song Zhiyu recalled the things that Prince Li had done in her previous life, and her heart trembled uncontrollably. "Prince Li was by no means a wise ruler. Third Brother should have realized that by now."

This person is capable of anything to climb the social ladder.