Chapter Sixty-Nine: Every word spoken counts
Song Yiqiu sneered inwardly. If she hadn't overheard them plotting to harm her in the warehouse that night, she would almost have believed their sincere performance.
She remained outwardly calm and asked in a deliberately gentle manner:
"Alright. So, what exactly does Big Brother want me to do for you?"
Seeing that her attitude had softened, Song Tianhan immediately seized the opportunity and chuckled sheepishly:
"It's just that... the auction the day after tomorrow happens to coincide with an important official from the Ministry of War coming to inspect. If it were Lord Wu leading the team, I could have managed to cover it up, but I heard that the official coming is one rank higher than Lord Wu!"
"I really can't take leave and skip work... How about, my dear sister, you go and run errands for me? Help me get that strongest strange chicken back?"
Song Yiqiu looked troubled.
"Brother, I'm afraid that won't work. I've heard that Dousheng Manor has extremely strict rules; the auction must be attended in person and the identity verified before one can participate. Even if I wanted to help you, I'm powerless to do so."
Seeing that this approach was blocked, Song Tianhan's eyes darted around, and he changed his approach again, rubbing his hands together and laughing:
"Well... Yiqiu, how about this, can you lend me some money? You know, the starting bid at auctions is a thousand taels of silver, and I'm really short on cash lately... I'll pay you back double once I win the money!"
Song Yiqiu sighed:
“Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. I’m just really powerless to do so. I’ve already spent most of my savings trying to smooth things over with Lord Wu a while ago. I’m really short of money.”
At this point, she changed the subject, her eyes lighting up as if she had suddenly remembered something, and reminded him...
"However... I've heard that the warehouse is currently clearing out some old items, converting them into silver for public use. Since you work in the Ministry of Works, you inevitably have some social obligations to attend to. Using that as an excuse to get an advance on some money shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
Song Tianhan suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing what had happened:
"That's right! How come I didn't think of that! The warehouse! Thanks for reminding me, sister!"
In his haste, he didn't have time to bother Song Yiqiu anymore. He quickly made up an excuse and rushed home. Although he was a little dissatisfied that Song Yiqiu wouldn't give him the money directly, at least he had a way to get the money.
Watching Song Tianhan's departing figure, Bai Mei clicked her tongue in amazement:
"Would the young master really withdraw so much silver from the treasury just for a few fighting cocks?"
Qingzhu calmly analyzes:
"I think the probability is... 9,999 out of 10,000."
Song Yiqiu nodded, full of confidence:
"Greed blinds us. Let's go back."
Qingzhu glanced in the direction of Zhentian Pavilion:
"Miss, aren't we... going back for dinner?"
Bai Mei pouted:
"Still want to eat? Sitting at the same table with those people, I'm already full of anger, how can I have any appetite!"
Song Yiqiu said calmly:
"I'm not eating anymore. We've achieved our goal for today. Let's go."
She turned to leave, but then remembered something and whispered an instruction to Bai Mei:
"Bai Mei, do me a favor later."
After the dinner ended,
The Ruan family prepared to leave.
Just as Ruan Tianxin was about to board the simple carriage assigned to her, she was stopped by a steward from Zhentian Pavilion.
"Miss Ruan, please wait."
Ruan Tianxin turned around in confusion.
The steward smiled and handed over a brocade box carefully wrapped in red cloth:
"This was specially left for you by Miss Song."
Not far away, Ruan Jiawen was about to board the luxurious carriage drawn by eight fine horses when he caught a glimpse of this scene. He couldn't help but cover his mouth with his handkerchief and sneer:
"Ha, those two good-for-nothings really do appreciate each other! I wonder what kind of low-class stuff they left behind. They're such poor, unsophisticated people who've never seen the world!"
Ruan Liu and her maids beside her also let out low, mocking laughs.
Ruan Tianxin, whose eyes had been lowered, suddenly raised them, a rare glint of ruthlessness flashing across them.
She could tolerate Ruan Jiawen scolding her, but she could not tolerate her insulting Song Yiqiu.
Holding the brocade box, she turned to Ruan Jiawen, her pitiful appearance from the dinner table gone:
"Instead of wasting time belittling others, sister, you should focus more on whether your own marriage will go as planned. After all, forced marriages are never happy."
Ruan Jiawen was furious that Ruan Tianxin, who was always submissive, dared to talk back. She wanted to get off the carriage and teach her a lesson.
"You little brat! How dare you talk to me like that!"
Ruan Liu quickly pulled her back and whispered:
"Excellent article! Be mindful of the occasion! There are too many people and too many eyes on the street; don't ruin your reputation!"
She glared at Ruan Tianxin, her gaze warning.
Ruan Jiawen's chest heaved with anger. She angrily flung down the carriage curtain and uttered a single sentence:
I'll deal with you when we get home!
Ruan Tianxin seemed not to hear, and carefully boarded her carriage while holding the brocade box.
Inside the carriage, she untied the red cloth, revealing a very exquisite three-tiered food box.
Upon opening the box, each layer is neatly arranged with exquisitely beautiful pastries, all of which are currently the most popular styles from Zhentian Pavilion.
There was also a small note tucked inside the food box, with Song Yiqiu's neat handwriting on it:
I promised to treat you to pastries from Zhentian Pavilion, but since I didn't know which flavor you preferred, I ordered one of all the currently popular ones. Next time we meet, remember to tell me which one you like best.
Ruan Tianxin looked at the note and couldn't help but laugh, her earlier gloom vanishing completely.
She picked up a pastry shaped like a little rabbit from the box, put it to her lips, and took a small sip.
After savoring the moment, he frowned slightly, a hint of reminiscence in his voice:
"It tastes good... but compared to the chestnut cake that Sister Yiqiu handed me that day, it's not even one ten-thousandth as good."
...
The following afternoon, a gentle knock was heard on the side gate of the main courtyard.
Song Yiqiu had anticipated this, and said to Bai Mei:
"Go and invite Aunt Yun in."
As the door opened, Aunt Yun stumbled in, her face pale. Upon seeing Song Yiqiu, her legs went weak and she almost knelt down, startling Song Yiqiu, who quickly stood up to support her.
"Aunt Yun, what are you doing? Get up and speak quickly."
Aunt Yun refused to get up, her voice trembling and choked with sobs:
"Young Miss! Young Miss, you must save me, save everyone in Hibiscus Garden!"
Song Yiqiu helped her up and pressed her down onto the embroidered stool next to her.
"Auntie, don't panic, calm down. What happened? Tell me slowly."
Aunt Yun tremblingly pulled an account book from her sleeve and handed it to Song Yiqiu, her fingers shaking.
Song Yiqiu took it and quickly glanced at the key parts. She immediately understood and breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought it was some major emergency, but it turned out to be this matter.
She put down the ledger and calmly reassured them:
"Don't worry, Aunt, this matter won't affect you or Furongyuan."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Yun was not at ease; instead, she became even more anxious, pointing at the account book:
“Young Miss, of course I believe you! But, but such a large deficit has suddenly appeared in the accounts. If the Master investigates, I, who am now assisting in the management, will also bear some responsibility for negligence! How can I completely stand aside?”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
