He thanked her on the 103rd.
Ruan Tianxin immediately stopped joking and nodded seriously, a sweet smile appearing on her face:
"Of course I'll remember~ Sister Yiqiu, don't worry, this matter concerns my life and my future carefree life, so I will definitely take it very seriously. I must move all my treasures to a new place without anyone noticing before Ruan Jiawen gets married in a grand and glorious way."
Song Yiqiu lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then seemingly casually offered a suggestion:
"Sweetheart, speaking of which, you've never told me in detail about your birth mother, Mrs. Su. What kind of person was she?"
When her mother, Su Yunning, was mentioned, Ruan Tianxin's smile froze, and she fell into a rare silence, her eyes filled with a sorrow that was heartbreaking.
She lowered her head, fiddling with her sash, struggling to suppress her emotions.
“My mother… I was too young when she passed away.”
She choked up as she spoke.
"I only remember that she was an extremely gentle person, speaking softly and always carrying a pleasant medicinal fragrance."
"She left me with the nanny who took care of me since I was a child, two personal maids, and... that huge family fortune. Over the years, it was only because the nanny and the maids fought so hard to protect and manage it that Liu Shi didn't swallow up all of my mother's hard work so quickly."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her voice trembled even more from the effort of suppressing her emotions:
"But... two years ago, a fire suddenly broke out in my courtyard. Granny Li and the two maids... couldn't escape... I was the only one left."
She gripped the hem of her dress tightly.
"Fortunately, I was old enough to understand right from wrong by then, and I saw through those people's true colors. I swore that I would never let those wicked people benefit from what my mother left behind! I would make them pay the price!"
After these words were spoken, silence fell inside the carriage.
Both Bai Mei and Qing Zhu showed indignation on their faces.
They never expected that this usually lively and cheerful Miss Ruan would have such a tragic past.
At a young age, he lost the protection of his birth mother and struggled to survive under the clutches of his stepmother, who was surrounded by wolves and tigers. Even his most loyal servants met a tragic end.
Bai Mei was outspoken, and upon hearing about Ruan Tianxin's ordeal, she was immediately furious and wanted to speak up:
"Miss Ruan, could your mother also have been...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Song Yiqiu stopped him with a look.
Song Yiqiu gently patted Ruan Tianxin's hand twice to comfort her.
"Sweetheart, the past cannot be undone, and we cannot change what has happened, but the future is long, and there is always hope ahead."
Ruan Tianxin, her eyes red-rimmed, nodded heavily, then smiled:
"What I want most now is to hold on tightly to what my mother left me."
At this moment, the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Song residence.
Everyone got off the bus one by one.
Taking the opportunity, Bai Mei moved closer to Song Yiqiu and asked in a low voice, puzzled:
"Young Miss, why didn't you let me speak earlier? Miss Ruan's mother's death was clearly very suspicious!"
Song Yiqiu shook her head slightly and said in a low voice:
"Right now, everything is just speculation, without any concrete evidence. If we rashly reveal this and give her hope, only to find out in the end that there is no evidence or that the facts are hard to find, wouldn't that cause her even more pain? Before we are certain, it's better not to give her this illusory hope, and let her focus on what she can grasp in front of her first."
In the first carriage, Ruan Jiawen, supported by her maid, gracefully stepped down. She immediately noticed Ruan Tianxin alighting from the carriage behind her, and, somewhat surprised, immediately launched into her usual sarcastic remark:
"Oh, little sister is really something... always trying to compete with her older sister for everything? Just because your older sister is on good terms with Sang Yu, you want to curry favor with the eldest daughter of the Song family."
"When my sister comes to visit the Song family, you also eagerly follow along. Does that mean you'll shamelessly try to interfere in my sister's marriage in the future?"
Ruan Tianxin gritted her teeth in anger, her fists clenched in her sleeves, but remembering that this was at the Song family's doorstep, she held back, not wanting to cause trouble for Song Yiqiu.
She just glared at Ruan Jiawen without saying a word.
However, while she tried to settle the matter peacefully, some people were unwilling to do so.
Song Yiqiu stepped forward, shielding Ruan Tianxin slightly behind her:
“Miss Ruan, you are mistaken. Although the Song family’s gates are not high, not just anyone can come and go as they please. Tianxin’s arrival is legitimate because she received my invitation. But Miss Ruan, you…”
She glanced at Ruan Jiawen, who was holding hands with Song Sangyu to the side.
"You came uninvited, only able to enter the Song family's gates by relying on someone else's influence, yet you have the audacity to question the honored guest holding an invitation? Could it be... that you've been occupying someone else's nest for so long that you really think that nest is yours?"
Ruan Jiawen was most concerned about her illegitimate status. She was so choked up that her face turned black. She pointed at Song Yiqiu and stammered for a long time, unable to say anything in rebuttal.
Seeing the tense atmosphere at the doorway, Song Qingming quickly stepped forward to smooth things over:
"Alright, alright! Say less. You're all young ladies of similar age. What's wrong with you coming to the manor for a visit? Come on in. What kind of behavior is it to block the entrance?"
Song Yiqiu was too lazy to say anything more, and took the opportunity to make an excuse:
"Father, I'm a little tired today. I'll take Tianxin back to my courtyard to rest first."
After saying that, he led the group toward the main courtyard.
Song Sangyu watched their departing figures, her eyes darkening, and then affectionately pulled Ruan Jiawen along:
"Sister Jiawen, don't mind them. Come on, I'll take you to see my eldest brother and third brother. They're both at the manor today!"
Just as Song Yiqiu and her companions were about to step into the main courtyard, a maid responsible for sweeping hurriedly came to report:
"Young Miss, Miss Feiran from the Wang family has been waiting for you in the courtyard for quite some time."
"Miss Wang?"
Song Yiqiu was pleasantly surprised.
Bai Mei immediately realized what was happening and happily said:
"It must be because you and His Highness the Crown Prince pleaded with the Emperor and cleared the Wang family's name that Miss Wang was released so quickly. Let's go see her!"
The group quickened their pace.
As they approached the main courtyard gate, the sharp-eyed Qingzhu suddenly tugged at Song Yiqiu's sleeve and whispered:
“Young Miss, look under that maple tree over there, that person… looks like Miss Sanchun.”
Following her gaze, Song Yiqiu saw Song Sanchun wandering alone under the maple tree outside the main courtyard, her expression showing some hesitation.
Upon seeing Song Yiqiu and her group return, they were startled and turned to leave.
"Sister Sanchun".
Song Yiqiu called out softly.
Song Sanchun paused, turned around stiffly, and forced an explanation:
"You...you don't misunderstand, I was just passing by."
Upon hearing this, Song Yiqiu chuckled softly.
She knew perfectly well that Song Sanchun was just too shy to lower herself.
Before the autumn hunt, Song Sanchun could have kept quiet about Song Sangyu's potential framing of her, lest she get herself into trouble, but she still chose to remind her. Song Yiqiu remembered this kindness.
There was no need to express gratitude specifically, as that would have made Song Sanchun feel awkward. Instead, he spoke in his usual tone:
"If Furong Courtyard ever encounters any difficulties in the future, you may send Qingzhu or Baimei to find me at any time."
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