Chapter 126 Wishing with Lanterns
Song Yiqiu suppressed her smile and said seriously:
"My second brother acted recklessly after drinking today, and if word gets out, it will damage the reputation of the Song family. In my opinion, this matter is quite strange; there must be something going on in the capital recently..."
"Breaking the taboo of conflict disrupts the peace of the household, causing my elder brother to become distracted and act recklessly. I wonder what Your Highness thinks about this?"
Xiao Yongjing was a very shrewd person, and after a little thought, he understood her intention.
He frowned slightly:
"Do you know that if we use this as an excuse to attribute the matter to a clash of fates, it may temporarily solve your second half-sister's current predicament, but being labeled as a taboo person... her reputation will be completely ruined. As a result, the reputations of all the Song family's unmarried children, including yours, will be affected in the short term."
Song Yiqiu shrugged:
"Rumors are like the wind; they will eventually dissipate. But the trouble at hand is real and can be fatal. When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one."
She spoke in the calmest tone, as if discussing what to eat.
Xiao Yongjing looked at her decisiveness, which was beyond her years, with admiration. Far from finding her cold-hearted, he admired her even more.
He nodded:
“There are gains and losses, and one must be decisive when necessary. General Song truly deserves to be called a leader who has been able to establish himself on the frontier for seven years. I was right about him.”
"Since that's the case,"
Song Yiqiu raised the wine pot she had just taken another sip from, making a toasting gesture.
"Then, how to make this taboo and conflicting statement reasonable and spread quickly throughout the capital... I'll leave that to Your Highness."
Seeing her trust in him, Xiao Yongjing laughed heartily, raised his wine pot, and gently clinked it against hers.
Slightly tipsy, Song Yiqiu knew that this place was not a good place to stay.
Just then, Bai Mei and Qing Zhu winked at her from under the bridge, indicating that her second brother had been forcibly taken away by people from the Song family and the situation was temporarily under control. She then took the opportunity to bid farewell to the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, it is late at night. I, Yiqiu, shall take my leave."
She had just turned to leave when she heard the Crown Prince's unhurried voice behind her:
"General Song, please wait."
Song Yiqiu turned around in confusion, and a delicate lotus lantern was presented to her. The warm yellow candlelight illuminated the delicate pink petals, behind which was Xiao Yongjing's face, whose emotions were difficult to discern.
She frowned:
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"
"Come with me to release a lantern."
Song Yiqiu was slightly surprised, and gave a sarcastic smile that was neither a smile nor a laugh:
"The Crown Prince, a seven-foot-tall man, actually likes such girly things?"
Xiao Yongjing didn't care at all, and lazily threatened while shaking the lantern in his hand:
"It's just for good luck. If you don't want it, then forget it. But I've had a bit too much to drink today, so I... might not remember clearly what you just said."
Song Yiqiu knew he was using this as an opportunity to manipulate her, and she sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.
She waved to Bai Mei and Qing Zhu, who were looking at her with concern, indicating that they should return to the manor first, and that she would arrive later.
He reached out and took the lotus lantern:
"In that case, let it go."
The two walked down the Wishing Bridge one after the other, blending into the young couples on the shore, looking just like an ordinary pair of lovers.
Finding a less crowded spot on the shore, Xiao Yongjing personally placed the lantern into the water, then gently stirred the surface with his palm, and the lotus lantern swayed gently towards the center of the lake.
Make a wish.
Xiao Yongjing turned his head to look at her.
Song Yiqiu wanted to retort, but seeing him raise an eyebrow at her, and remembering the deal they had just made, she swallowed her words.
Fine, let's go all the way with this act.
She did as instructed, closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and silently recited not a prayer, but a vow:
I hope that all those who have hurt me and schemed against me will eventually die without a burial place!
Xiao Yongjing lowered his head, looking at her closed eyes and brows. The evening breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, and even the candlelight beside her seemed to favor her. She had a unique charm when she was quiet.
He couldn't help but wonder what she would wish for? Would she pray for peace? Or for happiness? And would it... have anything to do with him?
In less than three breaths, Song Yiqiu opened her eyes. This time, without waiting for the Crown Prince to speak again, she stood up straight and decisively cupped her hands in greeting:
"Your Highness, farewell."
Having said that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Xiao Yongjing's outstretched hand only managed to grasp a wisp of cold wind carrying her fragrance.
He watched her figure disappear into the dim light, and murmured to himself:
"Song Yiqiu, what kind of person are you really?"
...
As soon as Song Yiqiu stepped through the gates of the Song residence, before she could even catch her breath and head towards her courtyard, Wang Mama, the maidservant beside Song Shenshi, rushed over, clearly having been waiting there for some time.
"Oh my, my young lady, you certainly have a lot of leisure time. A terrible thing has happened in the manor, why are you only returning now? Hurry, hurry! Go to the front hall! Master and Madam, everyone is waiting for you!"
Song Yiqiu raised her hand, stopping Bai Mei from stepping forward to reprimand her:
"Today is the Qixi Festival, and it's understandable that I went out to admire the lanterns and returned late. What terrible thing has happened in the mansion that warrants such a commotion in the middle of the night, keeping people from sleeping? What are you doing in the front hall?"
Seeing her unhurried manner, Granny Wang was furious:
"Young Miss! Everyone knows you went out with the Second Miss and Young Master Fu today. Stop dawdling and come with me. Master is furious!"
Song Yiqiu sneered inwardly. It had come as expected; it was real. She couldn't wait a moment longer.
Upon entering the front hall, a large group of people were kneeling on the ground. Song Qingming, holding the family law tightly in his hand, paced back and forth in the center of the front hall, his face ashen.
Song Yiqiu scanned the room and, sure enough, did not see Song Sangyu. She realized that after Fu Langxing safely escorted her back, she must have used the excuse of being drunk to hide away.
She composed herself and feigned surprise as she spoke:
"Father, Mother, what's going on? Granny Wang said everyone in the manor is here, but where is Sangyu? Is she perhaps feeling unwell and has gone to rest?"
Song Wenbin, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and pointed at Song Yiqiu:
"Song Yiqiu! Are you still pretending? Today's events are all because of you. If you hadn't been urging me to drink so much on the boat, how could I have gotten so drunk? And how could I have... how could I have done such a disgraceful thing? It's all your fault!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yiqiu pointed her slender finger at herself, looking quite aggrieved:
"Second Brother, what makes you say that? What happened today? I only remember that after the flower boat docked, I saw you two seemed to be arguing, so I went ashore to admire the lanterns. I have no idea what happened after that. How can you blame me for this?"
"You...you!"
Song Wenbin was so angry that he trembled all over, but he was speechless for a moment.
"Shut up!"
Song Qingming stopped in his tracks, slamming the rattan cane in his hand onto the ground, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Neither of them gives me any peace of mind. I just finished dealing with the mess caused by your third brother, and now you've done this shameful and disgraceful thing."
"I only found out today... that my son, Song Qingming, actually... has a taste for this kind of thing. And he even brought such a despicable person to that kind of place, making it known to everyone! You've completely disgraced the Song family."
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