Chapter 54 Dust and Light (Thirteen) A lecherous scoundrel!
In ordinary households, the separation of men and women was somewhat relaxed, and interactions were no longer taboo. However, in official families, most people adhered to traditional customs, and it was not appropriate for a young woman like Zhirou to have close contact with men outside the family. As her elder brother, Song Qiyu was the most suitable person to take care of his younger sister.
Wei Yuanzhan understood these principles, but he was unwilling. He lowered his eyes to look at Zhi Rou, whose fair and delicate face was now lifeless, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she was extremely dizzy.
Wei Yuanzhan bit his cheek and carefully gave Zhi Rou away.
The young man had a strong and powerful chest, and Song Qiyu was wearing incense, carrying a hint of orange blossom scent.
Zhi Rou was only dizzy, but still conscious. She felt a pair of large hands slide down her legs and arms, lifting her up in their arms. A refreshing fragrance lingered on her face, and his voice was like the moonlight: "Please lead the way, Your Highness."
He hadn't been to the Marquis's residence for many years, and its layout was no longer as clear as before. Wei Yuanzhan, anxious about Zhirou, said nothing and strode towards the warm pavilion.
Zhi Rou was skilled in martial arts and was already quite tall for a woman, but she was very light in her arms. Song Qiyu carried her with almost no effort. He couldn't help but think of the past, when he had carried her like this once.
As the sun sets, the pomegranate blossoms, no longer illuminated by the afterglow, gradually fade into the twilight.
Upon arriving at the western warm pavilion, the Marquis's wife was clearly startled, for not only were they there, but Xu Yueyuan and Song Congzhao were also present.
"What's going on?" Song Congzhao took a few steps forward, a hint of worry appearing on his usually unassuming face.
Song Qiyu did not stop walking. He put Zhirou on the bed and then straightened up to reply to his father, "Fourth sister saved people, but she herself is exhausted. She probably overexerted herself in the water and is too weak."
The sleeves of his robes were wet with water stains, which had just soaked through Zhi Rou's clothes.
Seeing his appearance, Xu Yueyuan was displeased: "Go out. There are imperial physicians here to take care of you. Your clothes are all wet. Why don't you change them?"
When the wind blows, the wet clothes cling to the skin, and one inevitably feels a chill.
Song Qiyu remained silent and quietly retreated outside. When she raised her eyelashes, she saw Wei Yuanzhan. He had changed his clothes, and the collar of his inner garment was slightly disheveled, probably the same one he had worn before, with only an outer robe added.
The warm room was packed with people; the space was small and rather stuffy.
When Zhi Rou was brought in, the imperial physician had already examined the woman who had fallen into the water. He checked her pulse and said that everything was stable. He then ordered someone to bring her a bowl of hot soup.
"Give it to me." Song Hanjin reached out and took it, her brows furrowed as she glanced around furrowed, as if to say that she thought there were too many of them.
It turns out that the woman Zhi Rou rescued was a servant of the Empress, who was accompanying her to deliver gifts today. Somehow, she took a wrong turn and stumbled by the pond. She has now regained consciousness, and the palace staff are taking care of her and questioning her.
It was completely dark outside, and the servants lit up the silk lanterns one after another. After a while, the mansion was brightly lit again.
There were soft voices inside the room. Outside the door, Wei Yuanzhan and Song Qiyu stood together, seemingly listening to the sounds behind them or pondering something. Their expressions were somewhat gloomy.
"Wei Yuanzhan," Song Qiyu called his name as before.
He suddenly spoke, and Wei Yuanzhan paused for a moment, then turned his head and raised his eyebrows in confusion.
Song Qiyu's voice was low and faint, like falling into the night: "Aren't you... too concerned about Zhi Rou?"
This was the first time he had addressed her as Zhirou, not as his fourth sister, nor by her surname; it was as if he were simply referring to her.
Wei Yuanzhan noticed something unusual in his words, his handsome eyebrows furrowed even more, and he stared at him for a long time.
The palace lanterns above swayed, casting a halo of light that obscured Song Qiyu's face. Wei Yuanzhan couldn't see his expression clearly; perhaps he was simply a man without much emotion.
“Isn’t this the way of friendship?” Wei Yuanzhan stopped looking at him and turned his gaze to each figure entering and leaving the warm pavilion.
Song Qiyu glanced at him sideways: "Just friends?"
Wei Yuanzhan did not answer immediately.
Just now, when Song Zhirou jumped into the waterside pavilion, he felt like he couldn't breathe. Even though he knew she was a good swimmer and that she wasn't a reckless person, he knew that if she dared to go into the water, she must have been confident and wouldn't put herself in trouble.
But he was still afraid.
That woman was not from the Marquis's residence at all. She was traveling alone and no one knew what she was doing there.
Even if you need to save someone, you don't need to do it yourself.
He was indeed a little angry, but he felt it was inexplicable and wrong of him to direct his anger at Song Zhirou.
After a long silence, Song Qiyu stopped asking questions, seemingly having simply stated her position without seeking an answer.
At that moment, Wei Yuanzhan spoke in a low voice: "Of course."
Song Qiyu remained silent for a moment, and then didn't speak to him again.
At the beginning of the eighteenth year of Shuode.
Zhi Rou has been at the Song residence for nearly a year and a half. Because she once protected Song Han Jin on the street, Song Qi Yu's attitude towards her has greatly improved.
One day, Song Congzhao returned home very late. It was raining, and Xu Yueyuan sent someone out to look for him while she paced back and forth in her room. Not long after, Steward Zou came to report that the master had returned and gone to Xixiang Garden.
At that time, Song Qiyu had just come out of the family school and ran into Steward Zou. Upon hearing this, he was not as furious as Xu Yueyuan. He nodded and walked into the courtyard.
The following day, during the family school's ten-day break, Master Zhou, acting on the orders of Old Madam Song, came early in the morning to instruct him on his studies. During their conversation, they discussed other matters, and Master Zhou entrusted him with a letter to deliver to Song Congzhao.
With nothing else to do, Song Qiyu agreed. When she went to her father's study, she found that he was not there; he had just gone to Xixiang Garden.
For some unknown reason, Song Qiyu pondered for a long time before surprisingly taking a step towards Xixiang Garden.
That day, he overheard his father talking to Lin He. Their voices were low and indistinct, and he had no intention of eavesdropping. But during their conversation, he caught a shocking glimpse of something.
Zhi Rou's surname is not Song, she is not her father's daughter, nor is she his sister.
Although Song Qiyu was unaware of Zhi Rou's true background, based solely on her father's actions, she vaguely felt that the two of them would bring disaster to the Song family.
To be fair, Lin He and her daughter have been in the household for less than two years. Perhaps there is some affection between them, but they are still outsiders.
They are not as precious as the Song family.
Song Qiyu went to find his father, but before he could even speak, his father interrupted him and said firmly that Zhirou was his daughter.
From that day on, whenever Zhi Rou tried to talk to Song Qiyu, he ignored her and even scared her when she came to watch him practice shooting.
After spending time together day and night, he couldn't deny that Zhi Rou was a good person.
She possesses a vibrant energy that no one else has; her heart is pure and kind, and she shines like a ray of light.
Every year at the palace banquet, her father would leave Zhirou at home.
Her father never allowed her to appear in front of the nobles in the palace.
At home, her father said that Zhirou was naughty and might offend important people with her unruly behavior.
Song Qiyu wondered if there was someone she absolutely could not see inside that majestic imperial city.
The Wei family is related to the emperor. Zhi Rou and Wei Yuanzhan are getting too close. If they get involved with the palace, not only will she be affected, but the Song family will also be in trouble.
Ultimately, it was just his own conjecture; he didn't want to interfere in other people's relationships.
A gentle evening breeze blew by, and Song Qiyu tucked his sleeves into his pockets, asking Wei Yuanzhan, "Will the Crown Prince's birthday banquet still be able to proceed?"
An unexpected incident occurred by the pond, even disturbing the Marquis. He had calculated that the banquet should have started by now.
Wei Yuanzhan had no interest in this private banquet; he always longed for just one person.
The number of people in the warm pavilion gradually decreased. Zhi Rou had already stood up, his gaze sweeping over this direction seemingly casually. He glanced at Song Qiyu: "The night is cool, Lan Ye, take your cousin to change his clothes."
Having just been reprimanded, Lan Ye was incredibly efficient. Heeding his command, he quickly gestured to Song Qiyu, asking him to move to the guest room.
Among the people sent by the Empress, the leading man kept apologizing to Marquis Wei.
Wei Jingfan smiled and said it was alright, but there was no smile in his eyes. Thinking that the Xu family was still at the banquet, he couldn't be negligent, so he turned and left the warm pavilion.
Seeing that Wei Yuanzhan was still there, he slightly turned his head and glanced into the room, as if he had understood something.
“Father,” Wei Yuanzhan said.
"Hmm." Wei Jingfan didn't ask him anything, not even a second glance, and slowly walked away.
With the candlelight dim, Xu Yueqing's gaze fell on a round-necked robe by the bed. How could she not recognize it as Wei Yuanzhan's?
Her expression was cold. She glanced at Zhi Rou a few times and said to Xu Yueyuan and the others, "Mother is still at the banquet. Sister, Lord Song, I will go over first."
Wei Yuanzhan still refused to leave.
He had just been harsh with Zhirou.
He wanted her forgiveness.
A magnificent display of color descended upon them. Before Wei Yuanzhan could even open his mouth, Xu Yueqing coldly said, "What are you doing standing here? Your maternal grandmother has come in person, yet you refuse to show your face. What kind of etiquette is this?"
Without giving him a chance to linger, Xu Yueqing glanced at him again and said, "Go."
This minor disturbance ultimately did not affect the Crown Prince's birthday. Before long, the banquet began, and the sounds of cups and glasses mingled with voices drifted over very softly, like a thin mist.
Seeing that Zhi Rou was unharmed, Xu Yueyuan did not linger. She took Liu Mama's hand and stood up, saying, "Fourth Miss caught a cold, let her rest first." She then gestured to Song Congzhao, "Master?"
Song Congzhao originally intended to take Zhirou back to the mansion, but thinking of Old Madam Xu, he frowned slightly and had no choice but to lift his robe and go out.
Upon reaching the door, seeing that Song Hanjin hadn't followed, Xu Yueyuan stamped her foot again: "Jin'er."
“Father, Mother, go ahead,” Song Hanjin said as she came out. “I’ll stay here with Fourth Sister.”
Before Xu Yueyuan could object, Song Congzhao was the first to agree: "Okay."
Zhi Rou regained her strength, changed her clothes behind the screen, and strolled out. The palace maid, still dazed, leaned wearily against the mattress.
Zhi Rou peeked over discreetly, thinking that everyone should be alright. She tiptoed to Song Hanjin's side and whispered, "Third Sister, it's so hot in here. Can we go outside?"
Having grown up in a wealthy family, when had Song Hanjin ever been in a warm room with so many people? She had wanted to leave for a long time, and hearing that her fourth sister also had the same idea, she dusted off her skirt and said, "Alright."
The courtyard where the banquet was to be held was further ahead. The two of them did not light any lamps, but fortunately, the lights were on, and although it was not as bright as daytime, the road was still clearly illuminated.
Song Hanjin glanced at Zhirou and said, "Fourth sister, can you please not do such dangerous things in the future? You don't know that palace maid at all, and this is the Marquis's residence. Just watch her, someone else will come to save her eventually."
Two shadows lay askew on the ground. Zhi Rou's expression was gentle: "I didn't think that much about it."
"You have to promise me first."
Zhi Rou smiled and said, "I promise my sister I will never do anything dangerous."
Song Hanjin smiled contentedly, then, thinking of Song Qiyu, her lips drooped slightly: "Do you really think brother has no interest in taking the imperial examination?"
How could that be? He had never mentioned this thought before, so why did it come out when he met Wei Yuanzhan? Could it be that he and Wei Yuanzhan were kindred spirits and appreciated each other?
Upon realizing this, Song Hanjin gave a silent, disdainful laugh.
Just as Zhi Rou was about to answer, someone suddenly grabbed her hand, turned her around, and pulled her to the back.
The two were both startled.
Zhi Rou recognized Wei Yuanzhan first. His hands were long and warm, and she could feel the fiery heat penetrating her skin even through her clothes.
He always does this, using too much force, as if she would run away if he were gentler.
"What are you doing?" Zhi Rou struggled to break free, then raised an eyebrow slightly.
Song Hanjin realized what was happening and took two steps to catch up, her voice still suppressed: "Wei Yuanzhan, you are so rude!"
She was talking to her fourth sister. Where was he going to take her?
The precious lanterns hung high, casting a red glow on people's faces and clothes.
Wei Yuanzhan completely ignored what Song Hanjin was saying and quickened his pace. Song Hanjin couldn't keep up and called out softly, "Wei Yuanzhan! Stop!"
He still didn't respond, his fingers tightening even more.
The dress slapped against the boots, feeling like it was stepping on her heart. Zhi Rou was slightly at a loss and tried to pry his hand away.
Before long, they turned into a small courtyard. When Wei Yuanzhan saw that Song Hanjin was still following them, he simply pushed open the door and went inside, then slammed the door shut.
Seeing his behavior, Song Hanjin almost burst out cursing... "You lecher!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
