Chapter Thirty-Two: The List of Male Concubines
Song Yiqiu stepped forward at the opportune moment, offering a way out in a sincere tone:
"Gentlemen, although the bet is as agreed, I know your love for chickens. If you really can't bear to part with them, you can use the corresponding amount of silver to offset the price, how about it?"
The playboys, who were already heartbroken, were relieved to hear this. Although it would cost them a fortune, it was better than watching their beloved chickens being taken away. They all agreed to pay off the debt with money.
Soon, Song Yiqiu had amassed a large sum of silver notes.
She immediately split the business with Song Tianhan.
Holding the gleaming silver notes, Song Tianhan beamed from ear to ear, and was deeply grateful to Song Yiqiu.
"Good sister! You're really my good sister! If you ever need anything in the future, just tell your big brother!"
Song Yiqiu smiled and agreed. Taking advantage of his ecstasy and lack of vigilance, she flicked her fingertip, and a fine white powder landed on the panting cock's beak.
The rooster instinctively pecked at it, its feathers bristling and it became extremely aggressive.
Hehehe!
It charged wildly toward the garden in the front yard where a tea party was being held.
"Oh dear! My chicken! My ever-victorious general! Quick, catch it!"
Song Tianhan was so frightened that he forgot about the silver notes and gave chase.
Song Yiqiu sneered and hurriedly exclaimed, "Big brother! Wait for me!" and followed after him.
Driven mad by the drug powder, the fighting rooster, as if guided by a navigation system, ignored the other panicked noble ladies and charged straight at He Jianren with bloodshot eyes.
He Jianren was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she screamed. Forgetting all about her appearance, she grabbed her skirt and fled in a disheveled state through the garden.
"Ah! Don't come any closer! Go away! Chase it away!"
The scene instantly descended into chaos, with the noble ladies screaming and scattering in all directions.
Song Yiqiu pretended to rush forward to help stop them, but as she passed by her fat and slow-witted second brother, Song Wenbin, she 'accidentally' stumbled and her shoulder 'accidentally' bumped into his back.
Song Wenbin was already obese and had an unstable lower body. This sudden collision caused him to lose his balance. With a cry of pain, he was thrown forward like a ball of flesh.
As luck would have it, the direction he fell was precisely the fighting rooster that was frantically chasing He Jianren.
After a sharp crowing of a rooster, the world fell silent instantly.
The eldest brother, Song Tianhan, who was chasing after them, witnessed this horrific scene and let out a heart-wrenching wail of pain:
"No!!!!! My invincible general!!"
His God of War had barely warmed up when it turned into a pile of chicken paste!
The chicken puree is so delicious!
He was trembling with rage, pointing at Song Wenbin who was still lying on the ground groaning in pain, and began to curse:
"Song Wenbin! Are you blind? You're as fat as a pig and you're blocking my way!"
Song Wenbin was dazed and confused after the fall, and was also scolded. He was in pain and angry.
"Are you blind?! Who bumped into me?"
At this moment, Song Shenshi, who had been disturbed, finally rushed over. Seeing the mess before her, she turned pale with anger:
"This! This is outrageous! What on earth is going on?!"
Song Yiqiu immediately stepped forward, her voice still trembling with shock:
"Mother, please calm down! Perhaps... perhaps the chickens in the kitchen weren't properly kept and escaped, disturbing the young ladies."
"Fortunately, my second brother reacted quickly and stepped forward to save the beauty, thus protecting Miss He from the Minister of War's family from injury."
"It's just a pity about this chicken... Brother, don't you think?"
She looked at Song Tianhan, her eyes carrying a hint.
Song Tianhan's heart was bleeding, but seeing his mother's pale face, and not daring to admit the true origin of the chicken and the previous bet, he could only swallow his anger.
"Yes...yes! He ran out of the kitchen! My second brother...he was brave!"
Madam Song was skeptical, but when she saw He Jianren, whose hair was disheveled and being supported by a maid, and her chubby son who was still lying on the ground groaning, her mind immediately started working.
This is truly a match made in heaven.
This is a great opportunity to strengthen relations with the Minister of War's family.
She quickly put on a concerned expression to comfort He Jianren, and while He Jianren was in the side hall fixing his makeup, she pulled Song Wenbin, who had just gotten up, to a corner.
Song Yiqiu strolled over nearby, seemingly unintentionally, and pricked up her ears.
Madam Song lowered her voice, her tone urging:
"Did you look at the guest list I gave you a few days ago? It's full of ladies from good families and with good character, whom I carefully selected! I even highlighted a few. Did you look at it? Did you find anyone you liked?"
Song Wenbin was already furious after being hit and scolded, and hearing his mother bring it up again only made him more irritable.
"Mother! Don't worry about me! My eldest brother isn't even married yet, why are you in such a hurry to urge me?"
Looking at her fat, lazy, and utterly unambitious son, Madam Song was both angry at his lack of ambition and saddened by his misfortune. She scolded him:
"If you were half as worry-free as your other brothers, would I be in such a hurry? I think that He Jianren, the daughter of the Minister of War, is quite good! She's dignified and comes from a good family!"
"It just so happens that Yiqiu seems to have some connections with the Ministry of War. I'll have her put in a good word for you; maybe this will work out!"
Song Wenbin was completely exasperated and just wanted to get rid of the nagging as soon as possible, so he impatiently gave a perfunctory reply:
"Alright, alright! Whatever you say goes!"
Just then, other noble ladies came over to exchange pleasantries, so Madam Song had no choice but to let him off the hook for the time being and put on a smiling face to entertain them.
Song Wenbin was angrily straightening his wrinkled clothes when Song Yiqiu walked over.
Song Wenbin immediately vented his anger on her, assuming she was a messenger sent by his mother, and spoke to her harshly:
"Song Yiqiu! What are you doing here? Did Mother send you? Humph! You promised to keep my secret, but now you're helping Mother force me to marry someone I don't like? You really are in cahoots with them, you're untrustworthy!"
Song Yiqiu wasn't angry; instead, she showed a wronged expression:
"Second brother, you've misunderstood me. If I wanted to force you, I would have agreed when Mother suggested it earlier. Why would I come looking for you now?"
Song Wenbin was taken aback, then his tone softened:
"Then what are you doing here?"
Song Yiqiu sighed and whispered:
"I just... saw that Second Brother seemed to have been wronged just now, and was also being urged by Mother, so he was feeling annoyed. Although I, Yiqiu, am not as good at speaking as Sister Sangyu, I also know the bitterness of finding a true confidant in this world. Forcing oneself is the most painful thing."
These words struck a chord with Song Wenbin.
He looked at Song Yiqiu in surprise, as if he were seeing this younger sister for the first time:
"You...you really understand?"
Song Yiqiu gave a wry smile, and instead of answering directly, turned to Bai Mei and gestured.
Bai Mei immediately brought over a long box carefully wrapped in brocade and handed it to Song Wenbin.
Song Wenbin looked at the box with a puzzled expression. The cover had four large characters written on it:
The Collection of Refined Scholars' Appreciation
He frowned, his eyes filled with vigilance.
"What is this? Why are you giving it to me? Are you trying to persuade me to settle down and take the imperial examinations?"
Song Yiqiu shook her head mysteriously and lowered her voice:
"Second brother, you'll know once you open it. This is a precious item that I, your younger sister, spent a lot of money and effort to get, specially for you to cheer you up."
After saying that, she smiled meaningfully, turned around and left, standing not far away as if it were just an ordinary conversation between siblings.
Filled with doubt, Song Wenbin impatiently unpacked the lavish packaging.
Opening the box reveals a beautifully bound book.
He casually flipped to a page, and in just one glance, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!
His breathing quickened. This was no "Record of Appreciation for Elegant Scholars"; it was clearly a list of the most popular male favorites in the capital!
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