Chapter 168 The Noble Young Master of a Marquis's Family (Part 7) The Noble Young Master's Revenge and Love Story...
On the day of the Qiqiao Lantern Festival, a gentle breeze blew and the sky was clear, making it a rare and beautiful day.
On major festivals like these, young ladies could go out for banquets and entertainment, but they needed to be accompanied by relatives. When Lady Rongguo learned that Sun Yiheng wanted to take her younger sister Sun Yiyao out of the manor, she hesitated for a moment, but considering that her daughter would soon be married to someone else, she agreed after careful consideration.
Seeing her daughter's joyful expression, the Duchess of Rongguo couldn't help but smile and instructed, "Ayao, you must not linger outside. You must stay close to your brother, understand?"
Sun Yiyao nodded and excitedly replied, "Yes."
Inside the Green Jade Courtyard, Qiu Yi took out the new light blue silk dress she had made a few days ago. After helping Sun Yi Yao get dressed, she happily combed and tidied her young mistress's hair.
The bronze mirror reflected the girl's slightly curved eyebrows and eyes. A butterfly tassel hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her movements, making her peach-blossom face even more radiant and beautiful.
“Miss, look, these diamond-shaped leaf earrings suit your dress perfectly.” As she spoke, Qiuyi held up the earrings to her ears, then hesitated before picking up another pair of jade hibiscus earrings that she had chosen earlier. “These newly made earrings are also quite suitable. Do you like any of them, miss?”
Sun Yiyao smiled and shook her head, letting Qiu Yi do her work.
Ever since her brother mentioned watching the lanterns a few days ago, her heart had been pounding like a bird, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn upwards. After a long while, Qiu Yi took two steps back, looked her over, and said with a smile, "Miss, that's enough! If Young Master Song sees you like this, he'll definitely be stunned!"
Sun Yiyao blushed slightly, gently tapped Qiuyi's forehead, and said shyly, "You naughty girl, you're so talkative."
Just then, Sun Yiheng's voice came from outside the courtyard: "Ayao, are you ready?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Yi hurriedly stepped forward and lifted the curtain. Sun Yiyao lifted her skirt and walked out, seeing that her brother was wearing a moon-white brocade robe and a jade belt, making him look even more extraordinary.
"Greetings, brother." Sun Yiyao smiled and bowed.
Sun Yiheng looked his sister up and down, noticing that her clothes today were unusually neat and tidy, unlike her usual elaborate attire. He smiled and said gently, "Let's go, the sooner we go, the sooner we'll be back."
Although the Lantern Festival was a time of relaxation of restrictions and the emperor could still enjoy the festivities with the people, Sun Yiyao was, after all, a noblewoman from a high-ranking family who rarely left her home. Even when enjoying the night view, she had to cover her face with a light veil. Fortunately, Zhuque Street was not far from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, so Sun Yiheng arranged an inconspicuous sedan chair for his sister, and the two siblings headed towards Zhuque Street.
Hearing the lively shouts and laughter outside the sedan chair, Sun Yiyao couldn't help but gently lift a corner of the curtain to peek. She saw that the shops on both sides of Zhuque Street were all decorated with red lanterns, and there were stalls selling Qiqiao lanterns one after another. There were all kinds of lanterns, such as white elephant lanterns, white rabbit lanterns, ingot lanterns, butterfly and fruit lanterns. The lights flickered in the twilight street, making her eyes dizzy.
"Brother, look, those are double lotus lanterns!" Sun Yiyao exclaimed happily, pointing to the exquisitely crafted lotus lantern not far away.
Sun Yiheng looked in the direction she pointed and immediately smiled: "If you like it, sister, buy one." With that, he told the sedan bearers to stop and personally helped Sun Yiyao out of the sedan.
After the brother and sister bought the lotus lanterns, Sun Yiyao suddenly heard a commotion not far away. Curious, she looked over and saw a crowd gathered in front of her, with what appeared to be acrobats performing. She stood on tiptoe to get a better look, but the surging crowd made her sway and almost fall.
"Watch out!" A hand reached out from the side and caught her arm just in time.
Sun Yiyao turned around in shock, only to see a handsome young man in a lake-blue robe standing beside her. It was Song Ce. She was stunned for a moment, her cheeks flushing red. She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Song Ce said gently, "Third Miss, it's crowded here, so please be careful."
"Young Master Song...?"
"Yes, it's me."
The two had only exchanged two words when Sun Yiheng spotted Song Ce. His face instantly darkened, and he strode forward, demanding, "What are you doing here?"
Song Ce released his grip and bowed to the two of them. "I had arranged to meet my friend here, but I never expected to run into my brother..." As he spoke, his gaze fell on Sun Yiyao, and the corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. "And the Third Miss."
Sun Yiyao felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, lowered her head and whispered, "This humble girl greets Young Master Song."
"Young Master Song, you seem to be in high spirits," Sun Yiheng said in a cold tone. "But I wonder where your friend is? Why didn't he come along?"
Song Ce smiled but didn't reply. He simply said, "Brother, there are too many people here. Why don't you and Miss San come with me to Deyue Tower in front to rest for a while? The Osmanthus Qiqiao Cake in the tower is very exquisite. I wonder if Miss San would like to try it?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Yiyao's heart stirred. She already harbored some vague feelings for Song Ce, and since the two were engaged, seeing how considerate Song Ce was, she thought about agreeing.
"I myself..."
Before Sun Yiyao could finish speaking, Sun Yiheng's expression changed slightly. He glared at Song Ce and sneered, "Young Master Song, keep it for yourself! Come on, Yiyao, let's go take a look over there."
Sun Yiyao's heart skipped a beat. She vaguely felt that her brother's reaction was not quite right, but she did not ask any further questions. She could only quickly bow to Song Ce and follow her brother forward.
Sun Yiyao had only taken one step when her wrist was tightly gripped by someone behind her. She turned around and saw that Song Ce still had that gentle and refined appearance, but the strength in his hand did not loosen at all.
Sun Yiyao instinctively tried to break free, but couldn't.
Sun Yiheng angrily took a few steps forward, but when he saw that his younger sister hadn't followed, he quickly turned around and saw Song Ce standing opposite his sister, gazing at each other affectionately.
"Young Master Song, what do you mean by this?"
Sun Yiheng could no longer hold back. He took a few quick steps to separate the two and said sternly, "You did such a shameless thing behind A Yao's back. How dare you still bother my sister?"
Sun Yiyao was taken aback by his words. Looking at the furious Sun Yiheng, she subconsciously asked, "What shameless thing?"
Song Ce glanced at Sun Yiheng, whose face was filled with anger, and Sun Yiyao, who seemed out of sorts, and explained kindly, "Brother, this is not what you think. May I explain it to Ayao?"
"Fine, speak," Sun Yiheng snorted coldly. "If your explanation today does not satisfy me, then the Rongguo Duke's Mansion will have to reconsider Ayao's marriage."
The lights of Zhuque Street illuminated Song Ce's calm face. He released Sun Yiyao's wrist and said earnestly, "Yao, brother, I redeemed Miss Man'er not because of personal feelings, but because she is the long-lost blood relative of General Feng, the deputy general by my maternal grandfather, Marquis Danyang."
Sun Yiheng was taken aback upon hearing this, and then asked, "Are you referring to General Feng Yuncheng?"
Song Ce nodded: "Exactly."
Sun Yiyao glanced around subconsciously. "Brother, it's not very convenient for the two of you to talk here. In my opinion, why don't we go to Deyue Tower first and then discuss everything in detail?"
“Ah Yao is right. Here, let’s go!” Although Sun Yiheng’s face was still a little tense, he was genuinely relieved. He strode ahead, deliberately leaving the two of them some space to be alone for a while.
"Ayao." In just a short while, Song Ce changed how he addressed Sun Yiyao. He took out an exquisite wooden box from his sleeve and handed it to her, saying somewhat awkwardly, "This is for you."
Sun Yiyao was taken aback, blushed, and took it. "What is this?"
Song Ce said succinctly, "...I think the hairpin suits you very well."
Sun Yiyao blushed even more and stammered, "Thank you, thank you."
When they arrived at the private room of Deyuelou, Sun Yiheng looked at Song Ce's uncomfortable expression and his younger sister's shy demeanor, and glared at him fiercely, "Alright, continue."
"Yes, elder brother."
Song Ce stepped forward and poured tea for Sun Yiheng and Sun Yiyao before continuing, "After my maternal grandfather passed away, General Feng Yuncheng took his wives, concubines, and children back to his hometown in Qingzhou. Many years ago, Qingzhou suffered a flood, and General Feng's family tragically perished. Later, my mother sent someone to Qingzhou to handle the Feng family's funeral arrangements. Unexpectedly, she learned from the neighbors that a concubine named Hui had committed a serious offense and had just been kicked out of the house by Madam Feng—she was already three months pregnant at the time. Every cloud has a silver lining; Concubine Hui, having committed a mistake and been kicked out, actually escaped the flood and survived."
Sun Yiheng took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "Then how did this Miss Man'er end up in a brothel?"
Song Ce sighed, then said, "After Aunt Hui gave birth to Man'er, she always felt that the child was a burden to her, so she simply abandoned the newborn Man'er by the roadside. By chance, a passing human trafficker picked her up and took her home. When Man'er grew up a bit, the human trafficker sold her to the Cangchun Brothel at a high price."
Sun Yiyao raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, and choked out, "This... Miss Man'er is so pitiful."
"Ah Yao." Seeing her like this, Song Ce quickly comforted her gently, "All that has happened in the past is like yesterday's death; all that is to come is like today's birth. Man'er has now escaped the sea of suffering, and from now on, all that will be her good days will be."
Seeing this, Sun Yiheng couldn't help but ask, "Ce-ge'er, since there's more to this story, why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Song Ce gave a bitter smile. "I only learned about Man'er's background a few days ago. At the time, I was only thinking about rescuing her as soon as possible and didn't think much about it. I originally planned to let Man'er recover properly for a while before taking her to see my mother, but who knew that my brother would find out about this..."
Looking at Song Ce's honest expression, Sun Yiheng's anger had subsided considerably. He put down his teacup and sighed, "Brother Ce, I only believed one side of the story. Today, I'll offer you a cup of tea instead of wine. But if such a thing happens again in the future, you can tell me, so we can avoid misunderstandings, okay?"
“Yes, brother is right,” Song Ce replied respectfully.
The atmosphere in the private room gradually eased. Sun Yiyao secretly glanced at Song Ce and saw that he was also looking at her intently, his eyes full of affection.
"Then...where is Miss Man'er staying now?" Sun Yiyao lowered her eyes and asked stammeringly.
Upon hearing this, a smile flashed in Song Ce's eyes. "She's in a small courtyard on Heshun Street. I've already sent two reliable maids to take care of her. Once she's fully recovered, I'll hand her over to my mother for arrangements."
Sun Yiheng nodded, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of warm tea. "That's excellent."
Just then, there was a knock on the door of the private room from the outside; it was Mo Yu.
"Young master, the time has come. You may take your esteemed guest to release the lotus lanterns."
Upon hearing this, Sun Yiyao's eyes immediately lit up. She turned to look at Sun Yiheng and smiled, "Brother, shall we go together?"
Looking at his younger sister's expectant eyes, Sun Yiheng couldn't bear to refuse. He smiled helplessly and said, "Okay, let's go back after releasing the lotus lanterns."
"Thank you, brother!"
The three of them got up and walked out of Deyue Tower. At this time, Zhuque Street was already crowded with people and brightly lit.
Song Ce and Sun Yiheng escorted Sun Yiyao to the moat. Countless lotus lanterns floated on the water, twinkling like stars falling from the heavens to earth.
"So beautiful..." Sun Yiyao couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes, it's really beautiful." Song Ce echoed softly, his gaze fixed on Sun Yiyao's face, and whispered, "It's even more beautiful than all the lotus lanterns on the river."
Upon hearing this, Sun Yiyao's heart skipped a beat. She quickly blushed and lowered her head, not daring to look at Song Ce again. Sun Yiheng, who was standing to the side, saw all of this, turned his face away, and coughed a few times.
Song Ce snapped out of his daze and smiled naturally at Sun Yiheng.
Sun Yiheng: "..."
The three of them watched the river for a while longer before Sun Yiheng said, "Ayao, it's getting late, we should head back to the manor."
Sun Yiyao was a little reluctant, but she still nodded obediently, "Yes, brother."
Seeing this, Song Ce quickly said gently, "Brother, A Yao, I have prepared a sedan chair. Let me take you back."
Sun Yiheng initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought that his sister would be marrying Song Ce soon, and they would be family from then on... Thinking this, he nodded: "Alright, then I'll trouble you, Brother Ce."
Upon arriving at the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, Sun Yiyao hesitated for a moment before finally mustering her courage and whispering, "You, you should go back quickly. It's late at night, be careful not to catch a cold."
"Um."
...
Back at Green Jade Courtyard, Qiu Yi helped Sun Yiyao finish washing up, then bowed and left with a group of maids.
Sun Yiyao blushed and took out the wooden box that Song Ce had given her. She slowly opened it and saw a pine-jade peach blossom hairpin lying quietly inside. The peach blossom branch, with its trailing branches, leaned to one side, with a blooming peach blossom at the top and a half-peach blossom on either side, making it very elegant and pleasing.
Sun Yiyao picked up the hairpin and gently placed it in her hair.
By the dim candlelight, she couldn't help but look at herself in the bronze mirror, and sure enough... it suited her very well.
-----------------------
Author's note: I added 600 (proud face)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
