In early spring, Suiyue Lake is as clear as a mirror, with duckweed and catkins occasionally floating on its surface. Song Jiangmei stands by the lake, her beauty captivating.
Hearing Zhu Jiayu's words, she turned her head and looked at Zhu Jiayu: "What Miss Zhu said at the Wei residence last time was truly thought-provoking. Now, many noble ladies in Heling City speak of you with a hint of admiration. I'm sure Miss Zhu must feel gratified."
Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "Whether I feel pleased or not seems unimportant. What's important is that Miss Song seems somewhat displeased about this?"
She scrutinized Song Jiangmei for a long while, then frowned and said, "I think there's no point in testing someone, whether they're a smart person or a fool. I don't like testing people, and I especially don't like trying to figure out what others are thinking."
As she finished speaking, her voice trailed off, soft yet carrying an undeniable air. After a pause, she continued, "Miss Song is intelligent; I'm sure she understands what I mean."
Song Jiangmei gave a cold snort, finally losing her smile: "Indeed, there's no point in beating around the bush, so I'll be blunt. I don't care what you're up to, our past is settled, I won't hold it against you, but from now on, don't get in my way, okay?"
She waited for five days but did not hear anything about Prince Jing making a move against Zhu Jiayu. She naturally knew that Zhu Jiayu probably had some connections and influence, and was not just a merchant's daughter as she had found out.
If that were the case, she wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed after angering the Crown Prince.
She had no objection to Zhu Jiayu wanting to be the leader, but she hoped that Zhu Jiayu could keep to himself and at least not use unimportant people to deal with her next time.
Thinking this, she said it: "I suppose Miss Zhu and I don't intend to do the same thing. In that case, you go your way and I'll go mine. I just hope that next time Miss Zhu won't attack me over some inexplicable person. I think it's much better for us to live peacefully than to fight to the death, isn't it? What do you think, Miss Zhu?"
She slightly raised her eyes, watching Zhu Jiayu's facial expression. At the same time, she had already quietly extended her foot forward a little. From Fu Yao's angle, it was clear that half of her foot was already on the surface of Suiyue Lake. If she was not careful, she would fall into the lake.
Ever since Zhu Jiayu heard Qiu Lingyan talk about her relationship with Xue Baoshan, she had been wary of Song Jiangmei. Now that Song Jiangmei was being so obvious, if she still couldn't figure out what this woman in front of her was up to, then she would have lived in vain.
She shook her head, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
Song Jiangmei had no idea what she was going to do. The next moment, she was surprised to find that her arm had been grabbed and she was pulled back several steps.
Then she heard Zhu Jiayu's gentle voice: "Is this what you call a lose-lose situation? Every time you scheme against someone, do you have to hurt yourself in return? What are you after?"
"If I remember correctly, your health has never been very good, has it? If you had fallen today, you would have been bedridden for several days. Once or twice is nothing, but if it happens too often, how many days do you have left to live?"
She sighed almost inaudibly, her eyes carrying a hint of disapproval: "And I'm just like Xue Baoshan and her ilk, at most I'll be cursed a few times, but people's hearts are like grass in the wind, swaying for a few days and then withering. After time passes, who will remember our quarrel? In your eyes it's a lose-lose situation, but in my eyes, you're just courting your own destruction."
"There's one more thing you're wrong about. I've never thought about being a leader. If that day ever comes, my choice is to be the alpha wolf. Being a leader is so boring. Leading docile subjects, grazing day after day, fighting wits and courage with wolves and weasels, and being content with just that one small place for a lifetime is too pathetic. Licking blood from the edge of a knife is my style."
Zhu Jiayu extended her crimson tongue and licked her rosy lips. The beauty had bright eyes and white teeth, and her eyebrows were slightly raised, giving off a charming and romantic air. She was like the bright moon over a high building and a nightingale under a willow tree. Just one glance was enough to make one's heart and soul fall into a trance.
She smiled at Song Jiangmei: "Want to try it with me, without scheming or plotting, and openly and honestly get what you want? What's that like?"
Song Jiangmei stared at her blankly, somewhat unable to react.
In her mind, today's conversation would only have two outcomes: either she would fall into the lake to frame Zhu Jiayu, or Zhu Jiayu would agree to her proposal and they would live in peace.
But what is happening now is completely beyond her expectations.
What is Zhu Jiayu doing?
Try to win her over, persuade her, or turn her against her?
Zhu Jiayu waited for a while and roughly understood why Song Jiangmei hadn't responded for so long. She whistled and said, "Miss Song, why don't you take your time to think about it? Once you've figured it out, you can come find me anytime. My cousin is about to go down the mountain, so I have to go see him first. Goodbye, Miss Song."
After she finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the Qiu family's carriage.
Fu Yao watched with bated breath. After Zhu Jiayu left, she quickly ran to her mistress's side and asked anxiously, "Miss, are you alright?"
Song Jiangmei slowly shook her head. Only after hearing Fuyao's words did she feel a trace of reality.
Zhu Jiayu was truly unpredictable. How could anyone ask his potential rival, especially in such a nonchalant tone, "Want to try fighting me?"
What did she think she was doing?
Are they recruiting people to join them as robbers?
Over there, Qiu Lingyan had already led Zhu Jiayu to her second brother.
Among the younger generation of the Qiu family, only his second brother, Qiu Zhuqing, is the most old-fashioned and conservative. Qiu Lingyan brought Zhu Jiayu to pick up her second brother this time because she wanted her cousin to gain more favor with her second brother.
She was thinking that if her second brother knew about what happened at the Wei family's residence, he would be furious. But if he saw his cousin's gentle and sensible side first, perhaps there would be a chance for things to turn around—what if he wasn't angry anymore? Or perhaps he wouldn't be so angry.
She was genuinely afraid that her second brother might get angry and send his cousin back home.
So, as soon as she pulled Zhu Jiayu to her second brother, she presented him with the new purse that her cousin had made for her the day before, saying, "Second brother, look! I noticed last time that the purse on your waist was a bit worn out, so I sewed you a new one before you came back."
After she finished speaking, she added, "My cousin was just telling me in the carriage that Second Brother's writing is excellent, and she greatly admires your literary talent."
Qiu Zhuqing was too familiar with these kinds of words. Basically, it was always the same. Whenever his younger sister made a mistake, she would come to him and shower him with praise. To the point that now, whenever he heard her acting cute and charming in front of him, he would feel a headache coming on.
"Tell me, what have you done this time?"
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