Chapter 165 The Noble Young Master of a Marquis's Family (Part 4) The Noble Young Master's Revenge and Love Story...
The next morning, Song Ce had just changed his clothes and was about to leave the manor when Mo Yu hurriedly entered the courtyard with a letter and whispered, "Young Master, there is a letter for you."
Song Ce raised an eyebrow. "A letter? Who sent it?"
"The gatekeeper said it was a young girl, and specifically instructed that this letter be given to the young master."
Song Ce nodded and smiled, "Bring it here."
"Yes, young master."
Song Ce took the letter. The envelope was plain and unsigned. As he pulled out the letter, he faintly smelled a sweet fragrance.
"Finally couldn't sit still anymore...?"
The handwriting on the letter was neat and fluent, and it was indeed a beautiful handwriting.
My soul yearns for the temple gate in the old alley, where winding corridors still stand atop the clouds. Only the moon in the spring night sky remains, shining on the empty steps, awaiting the return of the traveler.
This mournful and poignant seven-character poem was clearly the work of its author. Song Ce smiled slightly; it seemed it was time to go and meet them.
Mo Yu stood by with his hands at his sides, watching his young master casually fold the letter and stuff it into his sleeve pocket, then said gently, "Prepare the horses, we're going to Yunding Temple."
"Cloud Top Temple? Young Master, didn't you just come back from there..." Mo Yu was stunned for a moment, and asked subconsciously.
"It's alright, just do as I say. You can stay here at home today, I'll go myself."
“Young Master…this letter is of unknown origin. You are all alone; I fear you may be in danger,” Mo Yu said worriedly.
“They’ve already laid out the hook, just waiting for me to bite! If any danger comes at me, then no matter how many people we bring, it will be useless.” With that, Song Ce turned around and took down the bow and arrows that his original self had made from the wall, and laughed, “Don’t worry, I will definitely be back at the manor before Shenshi (3-5 PM).”
"Yes, young master."
Mo Yu watched his young master handle the bow and arrow, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, but he remained silent. His young master appeared gentle and polite, but his actions were always decisive and his word was law.
Song Ce took the reins from Mo Yu, flipped his wrist, and nimbly mounted his horse, galloping off towards the west of the city. After finishing his business, he let the horse leisurely head towards Yunding Temple. After traveling for more than half an hour, he finally arrived at the foot of Yunding Temple Mountain.
Gazing at the ancient, flying eaves that were faintly visible in the distance, Song Ce couldn't help but smile indifferently.
After tying his horse to the old locust tree inside the temple, he slowly walked up the winding stone steps. It was the height of summer, and the flowers in the temple were in full bloom, their pale yellow petals swaying gently in the breeze.
As Song Ce rounded the mountain wall behind the temple, he suddenly stopped. He saw a figure in light green kneeling with his back to him in front of a huge Buddha statue. In front of him was a small incense burner, from which wisps of smoke rose.
"May Buddha bless us, and grant us a long and happy life together..."
As if hearing footsteps behind her, the girl turned around abruptly with tears in her eyes—it was Sun Qing'er.
"Song Lang, you've really come."
Song Ce smiled faintly: "Miss Sun sent a letter inviting me here, how could I not come?"
Looking at her former lover's indifferent demeanor, Sun Qing'er felt a chill run down her spine. She had a feeling that something had quietly changed during the two months they hadn't been able to meet.
Suppressing her inner turmoil, she said with tears welling up in her eyes, "Song Lang, are you still blaming me? I really don't know how to explain what happened yesterday to you, I...I..."
At this point, tears that Sun Qing'er had been holding back for so long slowly streamed down her face. Clutching the silk handkerchief tightly, she avoided Song Ce's calm gaze and said in a mournful voice, "Do you know how difficult my life has been in the Rongguo Duke's mansion all these years? My stepmother sees me as a thorn in her side, my brothers and sisters never even glance at me. If I were to reveal my affair with Song Lang, the entire mansion would surely beat me to death! Song Lang, I'm afraid, I'm so afraid… Now, the only person I can rely on is you…"
Before she could finish speaking, Song Ce raised his hand to interrupt her: "Miss Sun, what secret affair is there between us?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Qing'er looked up in astonishment, saying incredulously, "Song Lang, what...what did you say?"
Song Ce took a step back and said calmly, "If I remember correctly, when Miss Sun was heartbroken and in tears, I was just trying to comfort you, nothing more."
Sun Qing'er trembled and hurriedly stepped forward to grab Song Ce's wrist, but he nimbly dodged her.
"Song Lang, the person you know and understand is clearly me, so why are you so distant from me?" Sun Qing'er's voice was choked with sobs. "Have you forgotten the vow you made to protect me when we first met here?"
Looking at her tear-streaked face, Song Ce felt nothing. The tender moments in the original owner's memories were nothing more than a carefully woven trap of lies by the Second Prince and Sun Qing'er.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Song Ce said calmly. “But I also remember that you said you were the third young lady of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion. After I returned to the manor, I begged my mother to propose to the third young lady on my behalf. But in the end, it was Miss Sun who became my betrothed. Miss Sun, could you give me an explanation for this?”
Sun Qing'er's eyes flickered, and she stammered, "I...I was just afraid you would look down on me because I was born out of wedlock, so...so I lied. Song Lang, but you must believe me, my feelings for you are real! You must believe me!"
"Is that so?" Song Ce remained noncommittal. "Now that I'm engaged to the real Third Miss, from now on..."
Before Song Ce could finish speaking, Sun Qing'er suddenly burst into tears, grabbing his sleeve with a sob: "Song Lang, if you're willing to ask my father for my hand in marriage, you can save me from the manor! Even... even if I'm just a concubine, I'm willing! Do you know how much I love you, Song Lang!"
Upon hearing this, Song Ce took a step back and deliberately raised his voice: "Miss Sun, do you know that men and women should not touch each other? I am already engaged to your sister and will be married soon, yet you are pestering me like this. If this matter gets out, how will the Rongguo Duke's Mansion save face?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a slight hissing sound came from the mountain wall behind the temple.
Song Ce caught a glimpse of a moon-white hem flashing by out of the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but break into a mischievous grin.
“Song Lang, I… I was just in a moment of panic…” Sun Qing’er’s face turned pale from his scolding, and she took a half step back with a sad expression. “Since Song Lang is so heartless today, then I have nothing to say.”
"It doesn't matter that you and I have nothing to say to each other, but I'm sure Young Master Wu and you will have something to talk about," Song Ce said with a smile.
Sun Qing'er's eyes widened in panic, "What Young Master Wu? I... I don't know him..."
Before she could finish speaking, the owner of the moon-white robe slowly emerged from behind the mountain wall. His eyes were red as he stared straight at Sun Qing'er—it was Wu Shiheng.
"Aheng, I, I..." Sun Qing'er's voice trembled as she said in a panic, "Listen to me..."
Wu Shiheng clutched a handkerchief tightly in his hand. Embroidered with a half-open twin lotus in silver thread, it was the personal item that Sun Qing'er had given him during their private meeting.
“Miss Sun,” Wu Shiheng said in a hoarse voice, “the Mr. Wu you were just talking about with Mr. Song, are you referring to me?”
Sun Qing'er's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head helplessly, "Aheng, let me explain, it's not what you think..."
"Then Miss Sun, tell me, what is this?" Song Ce said, taking out an identical handkerchief from his sleeve and asking with his arms crossed.
Sun Qing'er's knees buckled, and she knelt on the bluestone slab, her hair bun tilting to one side with her movement. "No...this is..."
Wu Shiheng's voice trembled violently as he murmured, "You... you're lying to me?"
Sun Qing'er suddenly looked up, stray hairs clinging to her sweat-dampened cheeks: "Aheng, I didn't lie to you! You have to believe me! My feelings for you are real..."
“Speaking of which,” Song Ce interrupted her, gesturing with his chin to the Buddha statue on the other side of the mountain wall, and said with a smile, “I think I heard you praying for a long and happy marriage before the Buddha. I wonder if the man you prayed for was Young Master Wu, or someone else?”
Sun Qing'er looked at Wu Shiheng's red eyes, then suddenly turned to Song Ce: "It was you! You plotted against me! You knew Aheng would come today, didn't you?"
"Scheming? I merely received a letter and wanted to visit a friend. But Miss Sun, on the other hand, is secretly engaged to Mr. Wu while simultaneously sending me a letter. What kind of logic is that?"
Wu Shiheng staggered back two steps, suddenly feeling a chill in his heart. He looked at Sun Qing'er's pale face, carefully folded the handkerchief, and gently placed it in her arms: "Although I, Wu Shiheng, am not from a wealthy or noble family, I will not tolerate being played like this. Miss Sun, from now on, our relationship is over. You... should find another suitable match!"
Sun Qing'er knelt on the spot, watching Wu Shiheng resolutely turn around and walk down the mountain step by step.
"Aheng, come back! Come back!"
Only after Wu Shiheng's figure had completely disappeared did Sun Qing'er raise her hand to cover her face and burst into tears.
Song Ce placed the handkerchief beside Sun Qing'er and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, Sun Qing'er heard the chanting of scriptures and suddenly grabbed his hem, crying out, "Song Lang! You can't leave! I have nothing left! You promised to protect me! You can't leave!"
“Zhou Quan?” Song Ce chuckled. “Instead of lowering yourself to ask me to protect you, why don’t you go and beg your master to see if he will take pity on you?”
Sun Qing'er's face suddenly turned pale. "You! I don't understand what you're saying."
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand." Song Ce stopped and looked down at her. "It's good that you know what's going on. Trying to negotiate with a tiger will only lead to being devoured."
These words were like a poisoned dagger, precisely striking Sun Qing'er's sore spot.
"Song Ce, what do you have to be proud of? Your Song family's current glory is nothing but the protection of your ancestors! Sooner or later, you, Song Ce, will come back to me, begging and pleading, kneeling and kowtowing!"
"hehe."
Sun Qing'er suddenly looked up, seemingly angered by Song Ce's indifferent attitude: "What are you laughing at! Did I say something wrong?"
Song Ce slowly straightened the hem of his clothes that she had crumpled, paused for a moment, and then said, "It's nothing, as long as you're happy." After saying that, he ignored her and walked quickly down the mountain.
Sun Qing'er watched Song Ce turn and leave without a second glance, her heart filled with resentment. She thought that if he ever fell from grace, she would teach him a lesson to avenge the humiliation and scheming he had caused her today. Thinking of the person waiting for news in the room, she couldn't help but shudder. If that person knew she had messed everything up, they would surely not let her off the hook!
Thinking of this, a hint of panic flashed in Sun Qing'er's eyes. She tidied her slightly disheveled hair, took a deep breath, and slowly walked towards the side room of Yunding Temple.
...
A figure in black sat behind the screen with his back to her. Hearing footsteps, he slowly put down his teacup. "How is it?"
Sun Qing'er knelt obediently and said respectfully, "In response to your question, everything is normal."
"Very good." The man slowly stood up, walked to her and stood in front of her. He raised his hand and pinched her chin, saying with pleasure, "Good girl, you will definitely get your share of the benefits after this is done."
The tone was so casual, as if he were teasing an obedient cat.
Sun Qing'er pressed her face against the man's hand and said sweetly, "Qing'er has no other desires. I would be content as long as I can stay by your side for the rest of my life."
Zhao Xuanhong laughed loudly, his fingertips caressing the delicate skin beneath his hand. Suddenly, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her neck: "As long as you don't cause any trouble, I will naturally treat you sincerely."
Sun Qing'er froze, and when she looked up, she met his ambiguous gaze.
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Author's note: Thank you for your support, my lovely readers! I'll continue to work hard! [doge emoji with rose in hand]
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