Chapter 178 Muddy the Waters
Song Yutang's face flushed red, and he said in a low voice:
"I...I want to borrow some money from you...I can write an IOU, and I'll definitely pay you back later!"
Shen Yiqiu clapped her hands gently.
Qingzhu immediately stepped forward with a wooden box, opened it, and inside was a thick stack of account books.
"Fourth Brother, these are the debts you owed to the Ziqian family. The amount, including principal and interest, is staggering."
"If I hadn't found it annoying and dealt with those thugs who came to collect debts for you, your hands and feet would probably be missing by now. I've done so much for you, Fourth Brother... how can you still have the nerve to ask me for this?"
The older brothers looked at each other, knowing they were in the wrong, and could only resort to appealing to their blood ties:
"Yiqiu, you can't say that, we are after all..."
Shen Yiqiu didn't want to get entangled with them any longer, and shouted sternly:
"roll!"
The group was intimidated by her imposing manner, and seeing Xiao Yongjing's embarrassed expression beside them, they dared not say anything more and turned to leave in a dejected manner.
"Wait a minute."
Just as they were about to step out the door, Shen Yiqiu's voice rang out again.
The group turned around in surprise.
Just then, a nanny carrying a large red invitation card with gold lettering hurried in and respectfully reported:
"My lord, the Earl's mansion has sent a wedding invitation outside the gate, requesting that you personally review it. It is imperative that you attend."
The old woman's tone was somewhat cautious.
Everyone in the capital knows that Fu Langxing was previously Shen Yiqiu's fiancé.
Shen Yiqiu raised an eyebrow slightly and accepted the invitation.
Upon opening the window, she saw Fu Langxing's name alongside Song Sangyu's. She instantly understood that Song Sangyu was still harboring malicious intentions and had come to flaunt her power, still dreaming of being the victor.
She raised her eyes and glanced indifferently at the brothers in front of her who were avoiding her gaze. Considering their eagerness for money just now, she immediately understood.
"So, all I know is why my brothers suddenly remembered our blood ties today. It turns out they were turned away by Song Sangyu and got a cold shoulder, so they turned around and remembered their good sister? What, do you think I'm easier to talk to than Song Sangyu, or do you think I, Chen Yiqiu... am even more stupid?"
Her blunt words exposed the brothers' true feelings, leaving them speechless and stammering.
Xiao Yongjing, who had been sitting silently drinking tea, finally put down his teacup.
He stood up, walked to Shen Yiqiu's side, his gaze sweeping over the unsightly wedding invitation, his brows furrowing:
"You are not allowed to go."
"Going to such a filthy place will only sully your eyes. Song Sangyu and Fu Langxing are nothing but a pair of clowns. Why should you personally go and give them that face? If you want to see them in a sorry state, I have plenty of ways to make them appear before you, so you can do whatever you want with them."
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, the elder brothers became even more anxious.
They are now desperate, and Shen Yiqiu is the last straw they can grasp. If she doesn't go, where will they get money?
“Sister Yiqiu! Your Highness, you can’t say that! No matter how bad Song Sangyu is, this wedding banquet is still hosted by the Fu family. If none of our Song family members attend, wouldn’t we become a laughing stock in the whole capital?”
“The Fu family and our family have a history, this…this is against etiquette! Yiqiu, you are now the Marquis of Yongjia, representing the face of both the Song family and the Shen family. If you don’t go, what will outsiders say about our family not caring about past relationships? They will say you don’t care about the bigger picture!”
"Yes, Yiqiu, your brother is right! We all know you've been wronged, but after all... after all, we were once family. We have to put on a show, right? Just think of it as... just going through the motions, to preserve this face that no longer exists, okay?"
Listening to their high-sounding words and looking at the invitation in her hand, Shen Yiqiu suddenly smiled.
That smile was full of excitement and amusement.
She gently waved the wedding invitation in her hand, her gaze sweeping over her brothers:
“What you’re saying…makes some sense.”
"However, since we need to save face, I can't just go alone, can I? Wouldn't that make us look too small and weak?"
Seeing the instant light up in her brothers' eyes, she slowly continued:
"Didn't you just want money and a better future? Fine. Do me a favor."
"Come with me to this wedding banquet. Then, do as I say. If you handle things well... I might actually consider helping you with those requests you made before."
When the older brothers heard that Shen Yiqiu was willing to negotiate, their eyes lit up and they rushed to express their loyalty.
"Sister, just say it! As long as it's within your brother's power, I'll do anything, even go through fire and water!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Yiqiu, your second brother may not be good at much else, but he's good at running errands and gathering information! Just give the order!"
Looking at their fawning faces, Shen Yiqiu felt a sense of irony, as if she were looking at a pack of stray dogs wagging their tails and begging for mercy.
"Alright, I'll have someone inform you what I need you to do. Now, all of you, get out."
"Yes, yes, we'll leave now, so as not to disturb your rest!"
"Sister, please take good care of yourself. We are at your service at any time!"
The group dared not say another word. Pulling at each other, they tiptoed carefully out of the room, gently closing the door behind them, afraid of making any noise that might anger Shen Yiqiu.
The brief silence in the hall was finally restored.
As soon as the door closed, Xiao Yongjing could no longer hide his disapproval. He walked to Shen Yiqiu's bedside, his brows furrowed.
"Don't you know your own physical condition? The most important thing is to rest! Song Sangyu deliberately sent you the marriage invitation; it's clear she has ulterior motives, trying to provoke you and see you make a fool of yourself!"
"Moreover, we now know that Zhao Jieyu is behind Song Qingming and his daughter, and the real big fish behind Zhao Jieyu is still hiding in the shadows, its depth unknown! What if you rush in like this and it turns out to be a carefully laid trap?"
He spoke hastily and blurted out without thinking that the last time she went alone, she ended up covered in injuries.
Now that the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, how could he bear to let her risk her life again?
Shen Yiqiu was stunned when she saw him like this.
The Xiao Yongjing she first met was the calm, composed, and carefree Crown Prince at the family banquet. When had he ever been so... flustered?
Is it because of her?
This realization brought a touch of warmth to her long-frozen heart.
She suppressed the flutter in her heart and met his worried gaze, speaking as follows:
"Precisely because they are hiding in the shadows, we must not shrink back. We must not only keep the appointment, but also go in a grand manner, bringing gifts and going in style."
"Only by stirring up the waters more, making those hiding underneath feel uneasy and in danger, will they be unable to resist making a move. Only when they move will we have a chance to catch them by the tail."
After listening to her calm analysis, Xiao Yongjing was not convinced; instead, his panic intensified.
She was too hasty; her reaction, her desire to end everything as quickly as possible, alarmed him.
He suddenly leaned down, grabbed her slender shoulders with both hands, and locked his gaze into her eyes:
"Shen Yiqiu, tell me, do you... know something?"
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