The next day, the people from the Nie family invited Nie Yundie over.
She thought her plan was foolproof and never considered the possibility of failure. When the people from the Nie family came to her door, Nie Yundie was still happily listening to the opera in the mansion. When she saw her former servant come to her door, she asked with great joy, "Is Song Jiangmei dead? Does the Nie family need me to go back and take charge?"
The servants dared not speak, and could only say, "Third Miss, please come with us."
Nie Yundie had no objection to this.
However, when she arrived at the Nie residence, she discovered that Song Jiangmei was not dead! So it was obvious what Song Jiangmei's purpose in inviting her there was.
She must know!
Nie Yundie felt flustered.
Song Jiangmei had no intention of giving her another chance to explain. She had two old women force Nie Yundie to kneel down, took out a long arrow from the sandalwood box, played with it in her hand, and spoke to her in a nonchalant manner: "I never intended to kill you. You brought this on yourself."
Nie Yundie's mouth was gagged with a handkerchief, and she couldn't say a word. She could only shake her head emotionally, tears streaming down her face.
She recognized the arrows in Song Jiangmei's hand; there were twelve arrows in that quiver, each one coated with poison by Song Jiangmei herself…
“You could have married someone you loved and done what you loved. But you destroyed it all with your own hands.” Song Jiangmei stepped forward and plunged a long arrow into her stepsister’s body.
Warm blood spurted out, staining her beautiful cheeks red.
The girl lying in a pool of blood also had a beautiful face, but it was ultimately frozen in an expression of terror and regret.
On this day, Wei Qingwu rode past Suiyufang for the second time and encountered servants carrying out straw mats for the second time.
He had already heard about Song Jiangmei from Wei Qinglou, and knew that Song Jiangmei's people had invited Miss Nie back today.
He thought he probably knew who was wrapped in that straw mat.
...
After that day, the two did not see each other for a long time.
But news about Song Jiangmei always reached his ears.
Phrases such as "The young master of the Zhang family presented Miss Song with a zither today," "Lord Shen planted a garden full of peonies for Miss Song," and "Young Master Lü ordered someone to make a box of rubies for Miss Song" are common.
Wei Qinglou also said, "Song Jiangmei controls the vast Nie Mansion, and is the dream daughter-in-law of countless noble ladies. To exaggerate, marrying her is equivalent to marrying a mountain of gold and silver. Who doesn't know that Lord Nie controls a mineral vein?"
Wei Qingwu knew all this, but that didn't stop him from becoming more and more depressed the more he heard these reports.
He couldn't help but wonder, these people only saw Song Jiangmei's good looks and her power and wealth, but did they know her methods? Were they really worthy of her?
After hearing his question, Wei Qinglou smiled and asked, "Second Brother, could it be that you have feelings for Miss Song?"
Do you intend to?
Wei Qingwu didn't know either.
"It's probably just a matter of mutual respect," he replied to his third brother after a moment of silence.
In Yujing, he was like a caged beast; yet, his identity as a woman was also a constraint on Song Jiangmei.
He genuinely felt that, given Song Jiangmei's character and abilities, if she were a man, she would surely have achieved great things. Unfortunately, she was a woman, and thus inevitably burdened by worldly concerns.
Wei Qinglou, holding a folding fan, tapped the table with the handle: "You consider yourself to be on the same page as Miss Song, but have you asked what she thinks? Even if you two are on the same page, it doesn't really matter. Her choice is her business, and it has nothing to do with you."
"Second brother, calm down."
Wei Qingwu was slightly taken aback: "What if I can't accept it?"
"If you can't accept it, then it depends on whether you can let go of it. If you can let go and are willing to let go, then keep it; if you can't let go and are unwilling to let go, then you should go and fawn over Miss Song."
Wei Qingwu suddenly realized what was happening, turned around and left the restaurant, riding back to his residence.
Wei Qinglou was furious: "Wei Qingwu! You haven't paid for your drinks yet!"
Seeing his young master also stand up, Shujian was a little confused: "Young master, aren't you going to drink?"
"I won't drink anymore," Wei Qinglou said as he saw the waiter approaching with the ledger. "Put it on Young Master Wei's tab, and when he comes next time, just have him settle this bill as well."
"Yes, sir!" the waiter replied and went downstairs.
Shu Jian stared in disbelief: "Young Master, why do you always make the Second Young Master pay for the drinks?"
Wei Qinglou said matter-of-factly, "He invited me to drink, so of course he should pay for it. Besides, your young master needs to save his money for Miss Zhu's betrothal gifts, so he has to be careful with his spending."
Book and Sword: ...
His young master certainly knows how to manage money! It's just that doing this seems a bit impolite to the second young master, but it probably doesn't matter!
Wei Qingwu had already gathered all his savings from the past years, packed them into a red sandalwood box, and carried it to the Nie residence.
"Miss Song, I don't know what you like..."
Song Jiangmei: ?
Song Jiangmei looked at Qin Jian, who was standing next to the Second Young Master Wei, with a puzzled expression.
Qin Jian chuckled twice, turned his young master, who was holding a sandalwood box and expressing his feelings to a dark red pillar, around so that he was facing Miss Song, and then stepped aside.
Unexpectedly, Wei Qingwu froze again.
Qin Jian had no choice but to whisper a reminder from the side: "Young Master, you may begin."
He couldn't help but shed tears of regret. If he had known his young master would get so drunk, he wouldn't have told him that alcohol emboldens cowards before getting off the carriage.
It seems that alcohol can not only embolden people, but also intoxicate them.
After his reminder, Wei Qingwu continued, "Miss Song, I... hiccup, I don't know what you like, but all my possessions are here. You can buy whatever you like or fancy... If it's not enough, I can ask the Emperor..."
He began to calculate the accounts for Song Jiangmei, item by item.
"In the twenty-second year of Chengyuan, the Emperor promised me a thousand acres of fertile land; in the twenty-fourth year, the Emperor promised me ten thousand taels of gold; in the twenty-fifth year, the Emperor promised me three visits to the General's Mansion... None of these have been fulfilled yet, and I..."
Song Jiangmei quickly covered his mouth and asked Qin Jian, "What exactly is your young master here for?"
Qin Jian stammered, not daring to speak.
Wei Qingwu stared at her longingly, her eyes sparkling.
Song Jiangmei unconsciously withdrew her hand.
Then she heard him say, "I love you, Miss Song."
I can't let you go.
I want to marry you.
Song Jiangmei smiled, ignoring him, and turned to ask Qin Jian, "Did he drink when he came?"
The zither and sword tremblingly extended two fingers.
"Two ounces?"
Qin Jian shook his head: "Two...two jin."
Song Jiangmei was amused and exasperated again: "Take your young master back. Help him sober up properly!"
Qin Jian opened his mouth: "Miss Song, my young master didn't come to see you while drunk. He had already planned to come before he started drinking. He... he hasn't finished speaking yet."
Song Jiangmei turned around, recalling those clear eyes. She curved her lips into a smile, but still said sternly, "Let him sober up and talk to me then!"
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