Chapter 43 Dust and Light (Part Two) Master, Fourth Miss has brought you something again…
The garden was completely silent on all sides.
Princess Rongqing raised her eyebrows and stared intently at Zhirou, a hint of interest on her face: "What's your name?"
"Your Highness, my humble name is Zhirou."
Song Zhirou. Princess Rongqing's lips moved slightly, silently uttering the name, thinking to herself, "She has some courage."
She curled the corners of her lips into a smile, then turned to the servant and said, "Bring me the sword."
Wei Mingying was surprised that Zhi Rou would help her out of her predicament. She was taken aback for a moment, and then slowly frowned.
All eyes were on the red platform.
Princess Jiayang held the konghou upright in her arms. The clear and crisp music was like the beautiful jade of Kunshan. From the moment she plucked the strings, her gaze remained fixed on the strings. She paid no attention to the girl who had volunteered to play along, and did not even care whether the girl could keep up with her music.
The male and female guests were separated by a covered bridge, yet also connected by it. Upon hearing the ethereal music, many men couldn't help but look towards the opposite bank and see a figure dressed in simple, elegant clothes.
She held a long sword, its light flowing with the music of the zither; every move she made was anything but weak, displaying a rare and dashing spirit.
He's a trained fighter.
Princess Rongqing almost clapped her hands in praise, but her gaze inadvertently swept over Wei Mingying before turning back. Then, Princess Rongqing suppressed her smile, no longer showing interest in watching, and waited quietly for the music to end.
Song Hanjin's attention was focused on the princess and Zhirou. Seeing this, she guessed that the princess was dissatisfied with Zhirou's earlier unauthorized decision.
Compared to Wei Mingying, Song Hanjin cared more about Zhirou. She really wanted to capture Zhirou, teach her a lesson, and make her distinguish between close and distant relatives, and never interfere in the affairs of the Yining Marquis's mansion again.
As the music ended, Princess Rongqing's voice softened, praising, "The sword moves like a dragon, the body is as light as a swallow, truly complementing Jiayang's timbre."
Song Hanjin felt a sense of relief, but upon hearing Princess Rongqing's next words, her hands tightened silently again.
"It's just that the two countries are allied, and something like this long sword..."
"Unlucky."
The two words don't seem to be evaluating an object, but rather judging Zhi Rou.
A single word from someone of imperial lineage can crush a person.
As soon as she spoke, the women in the audience—some stunned, some fearful, and some bold—raised their eyes wide, eager to see how this Ms. Song would "add color" to today's banquet.
Zhi Rou appeared normal, but upon hearing the word "inauspicious," she slightly raised her eyebrows and glanced at the head of the table.
After only a moment, she lowered her eyelashes again and remained silent.
Princess Rongqing sensed a strange emotion in the gaze she received, and slightly raised her eyes: "What, are you not convinced?"
Zhi Rou was about to speak up and clarify, but then she thought again. If she refuted him, it would make it seem like she was eager to contribute to the banquet for the envoys. Her father never allowed her to enter the palace, so she shouldn't do anything to displease him.
After a moment's thought, Zhi Rou lowered her eyelashes even further.
"I wouldn't dare."
He didn't say "no," nor did he use any self-reference; after speaking, he politely returned to his seat.
It may seem ordinary and without faults, but it has a strong backbone.
Princess Rongqing seemed to chuckle softly and praised Jiayang a few more times, but at this moment everyone's attention was focused on Zhirou, with some looking at her for the better and others for the worse.
Song Hanjin's palms were sweating from clenching her fists during the meal. When she saw Zhirou come down, she immediately scolded her lightly, "Fourth sister, how dare you! Do you really think you're one of the Marquis's people?"
Zhi Rou did not answer.
Song Hanjin, sensing her expression, stopped scolding her and turned back to her desk to say, "I will send someone to buy you the jade thumb ring that Fourth Sister wanted. You should think about whether what you did today was wrong."
Zhi Rou's brows furrowed closer and closer; such was her nature, and she was unaware of any wrongdoing. Those who were making things difficult for Sister Wei were the ones in the wrong; what had she done wrong?
Lifting her eyes, she met Wei Mingying's gaze directly. Wei Mingying looked at her with a complicated expression, as if she had something to say to her.
After the gathering ended, Wei Mingying waited for Zhirou by the long road.
Upon seeing her, Song Hanjin did not say much, but instead got into the carriage and knocked on the sill to signal the driver to drive back to the mansion.
Zhi Rou glanced at Song Hanjin, then turned back to Wei Mingying: "Sister Wei."
Wei Mingying gestured with her sleeve to help her into the car.
After getting into the car and settling in, Wei Mingying handed her a handkerchief and asked, "Why did you help me out, Fourth Sister?"
After Zhi Rou came down to the table and heard Song Han Jin's words, she clenched her fists again, and by this point, her palms were indeed a little damp.
Seeing the handkerchief handed to her, Zhi Rou paused slightly, then took it to wipe her hands: "Does Sister Wei also think I shouldn't have done that?"
Wei Mingying paused for a moment. She really liked Zhi Rou, a girl as passionate and fiery as Zhi Rou. Fearing that her words might hurt her, she carefully considered her words several times before speaking.
As Wei Mingying spoke, Zhi Rou lowered her eyes, her sadness barely concealed.
She was somewhat aware that the Princess of Jiayang was causing trouble with music, but since she had just met her, she didn't think much of it.
"My fourth sister is so pure and sincere, she is captivating. I don't want you to suffer because of me."
Zhi Rou adjusted the handkerchief in her hand, her voice low and muffled: "Next time... I won't do it again."
"You're not wrong either, after all, you didn't know I had a relationship with them. You helped me out of that predicament, which means you consider me an important person, and I'm very happy about that."
Wei Mingying smiled slightly, gazing at the still-youthful face opposite her. Her head was slightly lowered, and the slanting sunlight shone through the curtains onto half of her face, casting a shadow of extreme pride.
“Fourth Sister looks quite like Yuan Zhan,” Wei Mingying remarked.
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou frowned slightly.
no the same.
Wei Yuanzhan had a deep-rooted foundation, so no matter how arrogant he did, there would always be someone to cover for him.
What she did today was indeed impulsive.
Thinking of Wei Yuanzhan, Zhi Rou recalled that day on horseback when Wei Yuanzhan asked her about the word "fairness".
She looked up at Wei: "Sister Wei, can I ask you something?"
"you say."
"Who mistreated Wei Yuanzhan?"
Wei Mingying's heart skipped a beat.
That day, Wei Yuanzhan returned home very late, or rather, he didn't want to come back; it was his father who sent people to bring him back.
Why should Mother take her anger out on them?
He stood in the hall, his features appearing desolate in the candlelight.
When Xu Yueqing heard the words "taking out her anger on someone else," she knew he was blaming her.
Speechless for a moment, Wei Yuanzhan focused his attention on Chang Huai and the other man, turning his head to instruct, "Step back."
"Sister Wei?" Zhi Rou's voice sounded in the car. Wei Mingying blinked and looked at her again.
She said, "Why do you say that, Fourth Sister? Yuanzhan is the only one who mistreats others. You should be more careful." She then changed the subject and started talking about some trivial family matters.
Zhi Rou, observing his words and expressions, vaguely guessed what was going on. Recalling that night in Qufei Lane, Wei Yuanzhan did not turn around; she only heard his voice but never saw a trace of his expression.
Strangely enough, she actually felt a bit of pity for Wei Yuanzhan.
A few days later, at Qiyun Garden, Lan Ye strolled into the pavilion carrying a bunch of wildflowers he had picked from who-knows-where, his thick eyebrows furrowed: "Master, the Fourth Miss has brought you something again."
Wei Yuanzhan was changing his torn clothes behind the screen when he heard this. He took half a step forward, glanced at Lan Ye's hands for a moment, and his lips curled slightly. What's wrong with her?
Lan Ye seemed to hear his thoughts and pouted, "What mischief are you plotting, Fourth Miss?"
It's no wonder he was puzzled. If he counted carefully, the Fourth Miss had been sending the Master gifts for five days now, and none of them were the same. The Fourth Miss wasn't a stingy person, but when had she ever acted so strangely in her interactions with her master?
Something unusual is probably not well-intentioned.
Wei Yuanzhan's upturned lips vanished instantly, his voice turning slightly cold: "Get out."
The rustling of fabric behind the screen grew increasingly irritating. Chang Huai hesitated for a moment before finally stepping forward to help Wei Yuanzhan get dressed.
Seeing him begin, Wei Yuanzhan slightly raised his chin, letting him do as he pleased, and asked, "Jiang Yun hasn't contacted your sister again, has she?"
Chang Huai replied, "After Steward Qin went to Chang Le Lou, the young lady and that Young Master Jiang never met again. Steward Qin looks kind, but his mouth is full of poison. Back then, Young Master Sheng was summoned to the mansion by him to meet the madam, which terrified Young Master Sheng. I had to carry him out."
"Did Mother summon Sheng Xingyun to the manor for a meeting? When?"
"It's been a few years, I think it was when Master and Young Master Sheng first met."
How could I not know?
Chang Huai froze, his hand as if it had been tied up, and he didn't move for a long time.
During those years, he was often summoned and ordered around by Wei Mingying, and Lan Ye usually accompanied Wei Yuanzhan when he went out. One day, he saw Sheng Xingyun being led into the mansion by Steward Qin, where he paid his respects to the Lady of the Marquis at the waterside pavilion in front.
The young boy, barely a few years old, was so frightened by what his wife said that he couldn't answer and could only cry.
He couldn't bear it and stood there for a long time. When Lady Hou saw him, she gave a word to the old nanny Wei beside her. Soon, the old nanny Wei came over and told him to keep what he had seen to himself and not to tell Wei Yuanzhan a single word.
The pavilion fell silent for a few moments.
Suddenly, Lan Ye's voice came through the door: "Master, the Fourth Miss said she has acquired a new treasure and has gone back to practice archery."
Wei Yuanzhan glanced at the long Huai River for a moment before replying to Lan Ye, "Understood."
Then he straightened his collar again, and as soon as he stepped out of the screen, he saw the cluster of flowers on the table.
Yesterday, Song Zhirou left a bag of plums on his desk; the day before yesterday, a folding fan; the day before that, a writing brush; and before that, a roast goose.
"I bought it because I thought you would like to eat it."
"You can use this, give it a try."
"Look at the characters I wrote, aren't they all strong and spirited?"
"It's too sour, here you go."
What did she want to say when she brought flowers today? Wei Yuanzhan regretted going into the pavilion to change clothes and missing the opportunity.
When Wei Yuanzhan returned home at dusk, he placed the flowers that Zhi Rou had picked for him next to the calamus under the window; they were exceptionally bright and beautiful.
Perhaps out of respect for courtesy, he found the dagger he had carefully stored away in his bedroom the next day. Ever since Song Zhirou became his disciple, he had put it away and focused on practicing swordsmanship and spear skills.
Is this enough as a return gift?
In April, the sun shines brightly, bathing the school grounds in a golden glow.
Wei Yuanzhan was in a good mood at the time, and when he stepped onto the stone steps, his steps were loose and unsteady.
Zhi Rou was holding a bunch of fresh flowers in her arms, playfully adorning them for the two of them. Light, cheerful laughter echoed from the other end.
Wei Yuanzhan's smile gradually faded. He reached behind his back, his little finger and wrist twitching slightly as he slipped the short knife into his sleeve, concealing it completely.
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