Chapter 4: My mind is full of the shadow of one person
"According to your intention, you want to renovate Zuixianlou?"
The image of his third brother Song Mingjing flashed through Song Qingyuan's mind. He was specializing in the silk and fabric business in the capital and was very proficient in these matters.
"Yes." She handed the deed to Zi Su, "When you leave the house tomorrow, give this deed to Third Brother and ask him to find some skilled craftsmen to renovate Zuixianlou from the inside out."
"Zuixianlou is too 'too approachable', which is not a good thing."
Song Qingyuan's tone was calm, but it revealed an unquestionable determination.
She tapped the tabletop with her fingertips, a clear blueprint already forming in her mind: "The tables and chairs in the first-floor lobby must all be replaced with pearwood, and the screens must be Suzhou embroidery. Each of the private rooms on the second floor must have a different view. And the dishes must also be updated."
As Zi Su listened to the young lady's endless plans, she seemed to see again the wise and decisive young lady who was in charge of the overall planning in the Song Mansion.
She quickly took out a pen and paper and wrote down the key points one by one.
"Okay, I will go there early tomorrow morning and tell the Third Young Master everything about the young lady's plan."
After finishing her notes, Zi Su suddenly remembered a matter of etiquette: "Miss, the prince has given such a generous gift. Tomorrow...shouldn't you go to the prince to express your gratitude?"
Song Qingyuan was picking up a crystal grape. He paused when he heard the words, looked up at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Why should I go to him?"
The tone of his voice seemed as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
Zi Su choked a little. Seeing her young lady's leisurely appearance, she had to lower her voice to remind her, "Young lady, it is reasonable to say thank you when the prince gives you a gift. This is the rule of the mansion."
Song Qingyuan finally understood and put the grapes into his mouth, saying slowly, "I made a mistake. Zuixianlou was not given by the prince, but by the princess."
"princess?"
A surprised voice came from the door. It was Wen Ling who came in with the tranquilizing soup. She looked at Song Qingyuan and then at Zi Su with a look of bewilderment, as if she had heard some Arabian Nights fairy tale.
"Auntie, you heard it right." Song Qingyuan was quite polite to the old man in the palace, "It was given by the princess."
Wenling slammed the tray down on the table, causing a few drops of soup to spill out.
"My concubine Song, please don't be fooled! The princess will give you a restaurant?" She leaned closer, her voice lowered. "I'm not being nosy, but that lady, although she's a noblewoman from the Cui family, is stingy. Who in the palace doesn't know that?"
She gestured and described it vividly: "Two years ago, the eldest son grew taller. The princess took apart an old dress she had worn and made him a new set of clothes! She even saved money on clothes for her own son. How could she give you a building?"
This was too bizarre for her not to believe it.
Song Qingyuan only smiled faintly: "I saved the eldest son's life today, this is the princess's thank you gift."
Wenling still felt that there was something strange about this matter. He shook his head and couldn't figure out the reason.
…
In the study, the candlelight flickered.
Shen Yanzhi sat behind the desk, holding a book between his fingers, but his eyes were unfocused.
The pages of the book were not turned for a long time.
He forced himself to look at the words, but what lingered in his mind was Song Qingyuan's thin but straight back.
"Your Majesty."
Qi Ming came in quietly and placed a stack of papers respectfully on the desk.
Shen Yanzhi's gaze finally withdrew from the void and fell on the stack of papers. His voice was cold and clear: "Have you found out?"
"Yes." Qi Ming bowed and replied, "Today, the eldest young master fell into the water by the lake. It was Concubine Song who risked her own life to rescue him. She then hospitalized him and gave him acupuncture, which saved his life."
"The Princess... indeed, she bought the Drunken Immortal Tower as a gift to Concubine Song out of gratitude for saving her life."
Having said that, Qi Ming paused and lowered his voice a little.
"However, when I checked the official land deeds, I discovered that the title deed to the Zuixian Tower is still... in the princess's name."
He didn't dare to look up, only feeling that the air around him suddenly turned cold.
Shen Yanzhi slowly put down the scroll in his hand, making a soft sound.
"Oh."
A very light sneer, but more chilling than any roar.
"Is this the young lady from the Cui family? What a big move, what a deep calculation."
He recalled how that woman boasted about her background in the circle of noble ladies in Beijing, and how she kept saying the words "well-educated and well-mannered", but the things she did were increasingly shameful.
By using an empty favor, he gained a reputation as a virtuous person and also controlled his savior.
What a good trick.
The ink color in Shen Yanzhi's eyes surged, as if it were quenched with ice.
"Qi Ming."
"I'm here."
"Early tomorrow morning, you will go to Shuntian Prefecture in person." He spoke each word with a low voice, but it carried an irresistible authority. "Transfer the deed of Zuixianlou to Song Qingyuan's name cleanly."
He wanted to see what kind of expression the woman would have after he exposed the tricks she had tried so hard to pull.
I also want to see what kind of waves that woman named Song Qingyuan can make in this palace after getting these tangible benefits.
Qi Ming stood outside the study with his head bowed, and reported carefully: "Your Highness, the third son of the Song family requested to see you outside the palace. He said that he had not seen Concubine Song for a long time and wanted to see her. By the way... he brought some things for Concubine Song."
In the study, Shen Yanzhi's hand holding the pen paused slightly, and the ink drop spread out an ugly ink spot on the rice paper.
Oh
He uttered a very light cold sigh.
Song family.
He sent money three days ago, cloth the day before yesterday, and now he is chasing me to the gate of the palace.
Did the Song family really think that Chen Yanzhi's palace was some kind of place? Did they really think that he was short of money and that was why he married their daughter?
This was a slap in his face.
"Qi Ming."
"The servant is here."
"Go, take two shops from the accounting office and send them to the third son of the Song family." Shen Yanzhi's voice was cold and emotionless. "Tell him that my palace can still support his sister and that he has enough food and clothing."
These words were extremely serious. Qi Ming's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare to say anything more.
A few days ago, the Song family also sent boxes of things to the prince's palace, but they were all returned intact by the prince.
But Song Qingyuan was a man with an idea. He immediately picked out some ordinary vases and head ornaments from his worthless private property and personally delivered them to the princess's main courtyard.
The princess was actually very happy to get those "ordinary" things, and she even made an exception and had boxes of treasures sent to Furong Garden.
I’m afraid the prince doesn’t know about this yet.
Qi Ming considered it and felt that the prince had to know about this matter, so as to prevent Concubine Song from using the princess's methods to cause trouble in the future.
Just as Qi Ming was thinking about how to start, Shen Yanzhi's voice sounded again.
"never mind."
He seemed to remember something, and his tone softened a little, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table. "She's been mumbling like that, probably because she's homesick. Let them meet."
Qi Ming was stunned for a moment because his thoughts changed so quickly before he quickly agreed, "Yes."
"This won't happen again."
"I understand."
After Qi Ming left, Shen Yanzhi was the only one left in the huge study. He dropped his pen, and the nameless anger in his heart inexplicably subsided, replaced by a deeper irritation.
He walked to the inner room and lay down with his clothes on, but he tossed and turned in bed like a pancake and couldn't fall asleep.
My mind is full of the shadow of one person.
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