Seeing that Ji Lingchuan had stopped at her words, Song Nanxin's face showed panic as she said,
"It's nothing. Baizhi is always so clumsy. Maybe she left the hairpin somewhere again. It's just a hairpin, not worth much. Your Highness the Prince doesn't need to worry about it."
Baizhi mumbled, "Miss is the Prince's Consort. That hairpin is worth at least thirty taels. How can it be worthless? It's not the first time the Fourth Miss has done such things. Every time she comes to Miss's place, something always goes missing from Miss's room."
Song Nanxin emphasized, "Enough. I've said that Yihuan is my younger sister. Don't make unfounded speculations about her."
"Miss, it's because of your kind - heartedness that you let that brother - sister pair take whatever they want from you."
Baizhi gritted her teeth, knelt down in front of Ji Lingchuan, and said,
"Your Highness, it's not that this servant wants to gossip about the masters. It's just that the Prince's Consort is too kind - hearted. Baizhi can't bear to see her wronged, so I'm telling you this."
"The Fourth Miss is a concubine - born daughter. Her birth mother is out of favor in the Marquis's Mansion, so her situation in the mansion is very awkward. Miss took pity on the brother - sister pair and has taken care of them since childhood. But the Fourth Miss is ungrateful. Every time she comes to our Miss's place, something goes missing from Miss's room. Sometimes it's a jade pendant, sometimes a sachet, sometimes a handkerchief. Now, the things she takes are getting more and more valuable. She even took Miss's hairpin."
"Miss just said that she makes clothes for the Fourth Miss every time. Actually, it's the Fourth Miss who asks Miss for them. She wants to wear the same clothes as our Miss and deliberately dresses like our Miss, as if she can be like our Miss in this way. And last night, she..."
Song Nanxin stopped her again, "Baizhi, stop talking!"
Hearing the words "last night", Ji Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat for some reason. He stared intently at Baizhi and said, "Let her continue."
"Yesterday was the day when Your Highness returned in triumph. Our Miss invited her to the banquet to welcome Your Highness. But she was not well - behaved. Relying on being the Prince's Consort's younger sister, she flirted with other guests at the banquet, trying to climb up the social ladder. She has shamed the Marquis's Mansion."
Hearing this, Ji Lingchuan frowned tightly.
From just a quick glance earlier, he only thought that his wife's younger sister was overly charming and delicate. He didn't expect that she had such a hidden side.
However, he knew that everything required evidence. One couldn't draw a conclusion based on just a few words.
Moreover, he was not familiar with these two sisters. He had to observe carefully to know what kind of people they were.
"You're just making inferences. This can't be used as evidence. Look for the hairpin carefully again. Don't jump to conclusions so quickly, and don't tell others about these things anymore."
"A good reputation is extremely important for a woman. The Prince's Consort and she are sisters after all. They rise and fall together. If her reputation is damaged, the Prince's Consort will also be affected. Do you understand?"
He was naturally calm and cold - tempered, and there was a fierce aura from his battles on him. When he spoke with his eyes downcast like this, it gave people a sense of being seen through and a feeling of oppression.
Baizhi lay on the ground, her body trembling slightly as she replied, "S - servant understands."
Ji Lingchuan glanced at Song Nanxin, who was silently crying, said nothing more, and turned away completely.
After confirming that he had gone far away, Song Nanxin returned to the room and threw the porcelain bottle that Ji Lingchuan had just given her into the corner, shattering it into pieces.
"He just took one look at her and heard these words, and he subconsciously tried to excuse her. Why? Why?!"
Song Nanxin had already inquired and knew that Ji Lingchuan couldn't tolerate servants who were sneaky and dishonest. Whenever he found someone in the Prince's Mansion with dirty hands, he would drive them out of the mansion. She thought that telling these things would make Ji Lingchuan dislike that coquettish and charming woman, but he was actually speaking up for her!
Baizhi stepped forward to support Song Nanxin's elbow and comforted her, "Miss, don't be angry. His Highness has such a personality. Besides, this is only the second time you and Your Highness have met. He doesn't know much about you and the Marquis's Mansion, so he naturally won't believe everything. In the future, when your relationship with His Highness deepens and you have children, are you still afraid that His Highness won't be on your side?"
Song Nanxin gradually calmed down. Thinking about it, she felt that Baizhi was right.
There was no need to rush to make Ji Lingchuan immediately dislike Song Yihuan. As long as a seed of doubt was planted, in Ji Lingchuan's eyes, everything Song Yihuan did would seem deliberate. This way, her goal would be achieved.
Song Yihuan didn't know that after she left, her elder sister had splashed a basin of thick and black dirty water on her in front of Ji Lingchuan. Because just a few steps after she left Shulan Courtyard, her vision went black and she fainted on the ground.
Fuling was assigned by Song Nanxin to take care of Song Yihuan. She was a bit reluctant. When she saw Song Yihuan fall in front of Ji Lingchuan just now, she was even more convinced that this Fourth Miss was a coquettish woman who was good at using tricks. Now, seeing Song Yihuan fainting, she thought Song Yihuan was up to some tricks again and said coldly,
"Fourth Miss, stop pretending. His Highness won't come this way. This servant advises you to get up quickly, go back to your own courtyard obediently, and rest well. Don't play any more tricks."
After saying that, when she saw that Song Yihuan still didn't move, she realized that Song Yihuan was not pretending but really fainted.
Oh no!
Fuling stepped forward to support Song Yihuan. When her palm touched Song Yihuan's cheek, she exclaimed, "So hot!"
It turned out that the Fourth Miss was not pretending to be weak in front of His Highness just now. She was really sick. What should she do? Should she go back to call someone?
Just when Fuling was at a loss, Song Yihuan opened her eyes and said weakly, "Don't make a fuss. Help... me back to Tinglan Courtyard."
In Tinglan Courtyard, Song Yixuan had already woken up. He was sitting in the yard, nibbling on the fruit in his hand. His big, bright eyes would look towards the gate from time to time. Obviously, he was waiting for Song Yihuan.
When he saw the familiar figure appear outside the door, the little boy immediately put down the half - eaten fruit in his hand and rushed forward.
"Fourth Sister, why did you go out again? You just said you would accompany Xuan'er."
Noticing that Song Yihuan was leaning weakly on Fuling, Song Yixuan widened his eyes and shouted, "Fourth Sister, what's wrong with you? Chunxing, Chunxing!"
Chunxing heard the sound and came out of the room. Seeing this, she was also startled and tried to take Song Yihuan from Fuling.
"Thank you, Sister Fuling, for sending the Fourth Miss back. Let me take over from now on."
Unexpectedly, Fuling didn't let go and said, "From now on, I'll also serve by the Fourth Miss's side. You take care of the Fifth Young Master. I'll take care of the Fourth Miss."
What? Fuling was going to serve by the Miss's side?
Chunxing was at a loss and gritted her teeth, saying, "T - then I'll go and call the doctor."
"Don't go," Song Yihuan stopped her. "With Fuling taking care of me, I don't need a doctor. I'll be fine after a good sleep."