Chapter 21 Farewell to the Stars (Part 9) Is this how she wins over others too...?
The continuous wind swirled and crashed through the streets, making the lanterns whistle and clatter.
Zhi Rou accepted the lantern from Song Qizhang and smiled brightly. When she inadvertently looked up, she spotted Wei Yuanzhan in the crowd.
She opened her eyes wide and waved the hand holding the lantern at him playfully: "Wei Yuanzhan!"
They were quite far apart, so Zhi Rou couldn't see his expression clearly, but she knew he was looking in their direction.
Before she could even lower her hand, she heard someone call out to her from behind: "Don't go over there."
Zhi Rou paused slightly and turned to look at Song Hanjin.
She glanced at him and said, "You're not from the Marquis's household, why are you rushing to bow to them?"
These words were too sharp; Zhi Rou couldn't understand them.
Since they know each other, isn't it normal for them to greet each other when they meet? Why pretend not to know each other?
Before she could voice her doubts, Song Hanjin had already strode forward.
Song Qizhang patted her shoulder helplessly: "Let's go."
As their figures receded into the distance, Zhi Rou still didn't take a step, turning her head to glance at Wei Yuanzhan one last time.
The two stood a short distance apart, and he remained motionless, his aura seemingly flowing with the same intensity as Song Hanjin's.
He was determined not to cross over.
Recalling half a month ago, Marquis Yining and his wife and two others visited the Song residence to offer their congratulations. The old lady invited them to stay for a meal and chatted warmly with the Marquis for a long time. At that time, the eldest brother was also leading Wei Yuanzhan to play pitch-pot at the residence.
How could their interactions be like this once they arrived outside the mansion?
Zhi Rou looked away in confusion and jogged a short distance to catch up with them. Song Qizhang was already waiting ahead, and walked alongside her as she approached.
Across from the flowing light, Wei Yuanzhan stared ahead, his fingers slightly curled beneath his sleeve, his expression unchanged.
Sheng Xingyun said, "This girl is interesting. She ran away after calling you." His voice, tinged with laughter, still lingered in the air.
Wei Yuanzhan raised an eyebrow: "Are you always this perceptive?"
“You… My mother is urging the whole family to go to Ming'en Temple to pray next month. Why don’t you come with us and practice some good speech?” After he finished speaking, he put his arm around Wei Yuanzhan’s shoulder. “Let’s go, stop looking. What’s there to see?”
"Who saw it?" Wei Yuanzhan tossed his hand off his shoulder, then glanced at Song Zhirou with his eyes that had just returned.
On the second day of this month, when she stayed at the Song residence for a meal, it wasn't clear that she got along very well with the Song family. How could she have already joined their ranks in just a few days?
Wei Yuanzhan lifted his robes and walked away. Just thinking about the slingshot Song Zhirou had given him that day filled him with inexplicable unease. Did she use the same methods to subdue Song Hanjin and the others?
Zhi Rou lagged two steps behind, stepping on Song Han Jin's shadow, when suddenly a gust of wind blew and she sneezed.
Song Qizhang turned to look at her: "Is it still too cold?" He glanced at her again.
He remembered that his fourth sister was quite healthy. She had caught a cold before, but recovered in just a few days, and was now playing with a tortoise at the Zhiyu Pavilion.
He and his sister passed by and talked about her, saying that this fourth sister looked a bit silly, but was very lucky.
Zhi Rou tucked the lamp stub into her bosom, touched her face; it wasn't hot, so she shouldn't be sick. She then gathered her collar together: "I'm fine. Second brother, how much longer until we reach Ruishui Terrace?"
If she were just following the crowd at a leisurely pace, she felt that the lantern festival tonight wouldn't be very interesting.
“Look ahead,” Song Qizhang pointed ahead with his sleeve, “the place with the most people, do you see it? That’s Ruishuitai.”
He continued, "I've heard that tonight someone from the Northern Li Kingdom will be at Ruishui Terrace to honor Her Majesty the Empress..." Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly closed his lips and stared coldly at someone.
Song Peiyu.
It's him again.
They seemed to still remember the events of yesterday, and neither of them was happy to see the other.
Especially Song Peiyu.
The next day, she somehow managed to get the letter he handed to the teacher to be filled with sarcastic and cryptic words.
The gentleman was furious.
Now that they had run into each other, Song Peiyu forced a smile and exchanged pleasantries with Song Qiyu and the others, but his words implied that he wanted to lure Zhirou away alone.
Why should I go with you?
Zhi Rou held a lantern in her hand, her chin slightly raised, and her gaze towards him held a hint of ease. If he weren't unwilling to admit it, she really did resemble a member of the "Song family" at this moment.
Song Peiyu deliberately provoked, "What, you're worried I'll harm you?"
Zhi Rou answered readily, "Of course."
Having lived in Luozhou for nine years, she harbored a degree of wariness towards everyone, let alone Song Peiyu, who had been at odds with her from the very beginning.
She felt tormented by his futile words and tugged at Song Qizhang's sleeve, saying, "Second Brother, let's go quickly."
Song Qizhang had this intention all along. He gripped the corner of his sleeve and, as if using force, pulled Zhirou away from that unlucky place.
Unexpectedly, Song Peiyu stepped forward and yanked her lantern down.
Despite the lively surroundings, the "rustling" sound of lanterns hitting the ground still made Song Qiyu and his sister stop in their tracks.
This is happening outside. If Song Peiyu deceives Song Zhirou, it will damage the reputation of their organization.
Song Qiyu's face turned slightly cold, and just as he was about to speak, Song Hanjin stepped forward first: "Song Peiyu, how dare you!"
"Third Miss, go your own way. Do I need to ask your permission to speak with Song Zhirou?" Song Peiyu was tall and surrounded by powerful servants, showing no fear in front of Song Hanjin.
Song Hanjin saw a square, black object hurtling towards her at such a speed that she couldn't dodge it in time.
In that instant, a force squeezed her arm through her sleeve, pulling her to the side.
The man cried out in pain, "Ouch! My Flame Spider!" He quickly ordered his men to capture it, while angrily berating the man, "How do you walk? Why did you throw the lantern? You dare touch my Flame Spider? Do you want to die?"
As soon as the wooden box was thrown at Song Hanjin, Song Qiyu rushed forward to try to pull her back, but someone was faster than him!
The wooden box hit the ground, the lid opened with a thud, and a dark shadow quickly crawled out, slithering across the ground in a very eerie manner.
Song Hanjin's heart was pounding. Not only was she frightened just now, but she was also shocked by the people protecting her.
Once she regained her balance, the grip suddenly loosened: "Third sister, are you alright?"
It was Song Zhirou's concerned tone. Looking down, her two delicate eyebrows were almost knitted together.
Before Song Hanjin could calm down, her brother grabbed her wrist and pulled her back forcefully, shielding her and Zhirou behind him.
Song Qiyu glanced at the thing crawling on the ground, then turned his gaze to Song Peiyu, his face darkening.
He had heard of the "Flame Spider".
It was raised in the Miao region and contained a deadly poison, but it had extremely high medicinal value. Therefore, His Majesty once decreed: "Anyone who can catch the fire spider can be exempted from taxes; if the number is large, it can be used to exchange for a residence in the capital."
Judging from the owner's attire, he is most likely a merchant from the south who has come to Beijing to exchange his residence.
If Song Zhirou hadn't acted just now, and I had been a step slower, allowing the merchant's fiery spider to fall on my sister, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Thinking of this, Song Qiyu's eyes sharpened, and she turned to instruct the nanny, "Send the two young ladies back to their residence. Qizhang, you go back too. Changli, stay here."
Changli is Song Qiyu's attendant and is extremely skilled.
Granny Xin agreed and hurriedly asked the young masters to follow her back and get into the carriage.
In the car, Zhi Rou sat still, her face expressionless ever since she met Song Peiyu.
Song Hanjin was in a similar situation. Although her emotions had calmed down slightly, her face had lost its color.
The interior of the car was as quiet as a stagnant pool.
Song Hanjin smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes and finally spoke awkwardly, "Do you know what a Flame Spider is?"
Zhi Rou shook her head: "I don't know."
The car fell silent again.
Song Hanjin's gaze lingered on Zhi Rou's face. When Zhi Rou glanced back at her, Song Hanjin felt awkward and abruptly changed her tone: "Judging from your brother's expression, Song Peiyu is in trouble."
Zhi Rou remained noncommittal.
The eldest brother usually appears cold and distant, maintaining a certain distance with everyone he interacts with. However, he is a completely different person when it comes to his third sister. He not only smiles more but also indulges her and protects her in every way.
According to the servants in the manor, years ago, the eldest young master was almost in trouble, but the third young lady protected him despite the danger.
Although the two of them were unharmed, the third girl's wet nurse, Zheng, was seriously injured as a result, and she was in a state of semi-madness and semi-consciousness all day long, and was no longer in good condition.
When Zhi Rou heard about this, Madam Zheng had already been sent out of the Song residence by the Second Madam. Because Madam Zheng had appeared in her mother's courtyard, she later recalled that Song Han Jin's cold attitude towards her was not without reason.
Now that Song Peiyu had ruined their enjoyable outing, Zhi Rou was in a bad mood. Seeing Song Hanjin looking at her with a complicated expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Third sister, will we ever go out to play again?"
Seemingly surprised that this was what she was thinking, Song Hanjin remained silent for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Of course there will be, and there's also the Spring Banquet."
The following day, Zhi Rou went to Danyu Garden as usual to greet her parents, and then went to the family school with Song Han Jin.
Song Qiyu arrived later than usual and did not appear before the Second Madam in the morning. Feeling his gaze fall upon her, Zhi Rou looked up and met his eyes directly.
His complexion was no different from usual, with a cold and aloof air about him. But as he turned his head to the side, the spring sun shone on half of his face, revealing a hint of hazy warmth.
A moment later, a figure sat down in front of her, blocking her view: "I'll be sitting here from now on!"
Zhi Rou looked at Song Qizhang with surprise: "Song Peiyu is willing to exchange?"
"Him?" Song Qizhang leaned back lazily in his newly acquired position, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, "He won't be coming."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhi Rou stared blankly at the row in front of her.
Wei Yuanzhan, who was standing nearby, heard their conversation, his eyes shifted slightly, and he also looked at Song Qiyu.
His silhouette, bathed in the warm spring sunshine, appeared serene and elegant, yet in Wei Yuanzhan's eyes, it conveyed an indescribable contradiction.
last night.
Wei Yuanzhan and Sheng Xingyun hadn't gone far when they turned back and headed towards Ruishuitai with Song Zhirou and the others. The journey, less than a mile, seemed exceptionally long that night.
He wasn't really interested, but when he saw a vendor selling cloud cakes nearby, he stopped and bought a bag.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead, hindering the progress of those behind.
Wei Yuanzhan simply sat down on the bench and didn't move forward any further.
After waiting for a while, I could vaguely see the Song family group walking back.
After a while, he saw Song Qiyu.
The night was dazzling, and tourists thronged around. The surrounding noise seemed to have nothing to do with Song Qiyu. He simply quietly observed the person in front of him.
After a moment, he said coldly, "Tenth Young Master, you no longer need to come to our Song family academy."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of confusion crossed Song Peiyu's eyes, before he demanded, "You want to expel me? On what grounds?"
On what grounds? How ridiculous. If Song Zhirou hadn't shielded her sister from the attack, given the venom of the Flame Spider, her sister might have been in mortal danger.
As Song Qiyu thought this, her expression quickly turned cold, and she looked down at him: "Because I am the eldest grandson of the Song family; because you, Song Peiyu, plotted against my sister in the street."
"I have no ill intentions toward the Third Miss. What happened just now was just an accident..." Song Peiyu hurriedly retorted, rattling off a whole bunch of things. Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, she was slightly surprised.
"You...you said...Song Zhirou?"
He stared at Song Qiyu in disbelief.
Song Qiyu didn't answer, but impatiently turned her head to the side and said, "Changli, you clean up the mess."
The moonlight shone on the boy, clearly illuminating his profound face, like a tranquil painting, or a cold blade, waiting to be unleashed.
A note from the author:
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