After wiping the water off his face, Ji Lingchuan was about to return the handkerchief to her. But just as he was about to hand it over, he suddenly realized that this interaction between them was a bit too intimate. So he quietly clenched it in his palm instead.
Suddenly, he asked, "Where does the fragrance on you come from?"
The deep and hoarse voice of the man rang in Song Yihuan's ears. She jolted and suddenly came to her senses.
The shrill howls from last night still echoed in her ears, clearly reminding her of what kind of person he was. How could she be lost in his occasional tenderness?
If the matter of her substituting her elder sister for the night with the prince were to be exposed, what awaited her would definitely not be his gentle words, but a sharp blade!
Song Yihuan lowered her eyes and replied, "It's from a scented balm."
This answer matched what Song Nanxin had said.
Ji Lingchuan had actually already guessed the answer, but there was still a glimmer of expectation in his heart that he couldn't quite explain. When he learned that the fragrance also came from the scented balm, he felt a bit disappointed.
Maybe the old acquaintance from that year had also used such a scented balm. This could also be a clue.
"Do you have that scented balm with you?" he asked.
Song Yihuan shook her head and said, "I couldn't find Xuan'er just now. I rushed out in a hurry to look for him and didn't bring such things with me. If the prince wants it, my elder sister should have some. This scented balm of mine... was a gift from my elder sister."
Ji Lingchuan glanced at her.
He remembered that when they went to the Guanyin Temple that day, Song Nanxin had said that the scented balm had disappeared without a trace.
He didn't know which of the two sisters was telling the truth and which was lying. But based on Song Yihuan's performance just now, he was more inclined to believe her.
She didn't seem like the kind of person who would steal things.
It was Song Yihuan who noticed the strange look on his face. She asked nervously, "Brother - in - law, is there something wrong with this scented balm?"
Ji Lingchuan came back to his senses and calmly told a lie, "I've been investigating a case recently. This fragrance gave me some inspiration for solving the case."
He looked at Song Yixuan, who was sleeping soundly in her arms. Remembering the little boy's request just now, he finally couldn't help but ask, "I remember your elder sister once mentioned that he has a heart disease. How did he get this illness?"
Song Yihuan lovingly stroked the hair on Song Yixuan's forehead and whispered,
"Our mother was just a maid in the Marquis's Mansion. Back then, when she gave birth to him, she had a premature and difficult delivery. He was stuck in the womb for a long time and was already out of breath when he was born. I fought desperately to save him from the clutches of death, but it also left him with this root cause of the illness."
She said it lightly, but Ji Lingchuan could taste the fullness of hardship and helplessness from her short words.
He remembered that Song Yixuan was only four years old now. So, Song Yihuan was only thirteen years old when those things happened.
It was really tough for such a young girl to experience the separation of life and death from her loved ones.
Ji Lingchuan's voice softened a bit more, "Since your elder sister has married into the Prince Ning's Mansion, you are also my younger siblings. I will seek out famous doctors for him and try my best to help him get rid of the trouble of the heart disease from now on."
Just as he was speaking, the rain outside gradually stopped. Listening to his oath, Song Yihuan felt mixed emotions in her heart.
She looked at the drop of water on the eaves that was about to fall, feeling that her fate was just like that drop of water. Once it fell, it would shatter into pieces.
How could she dare to believe his promise?
Picking up Song Yixuan, she curtsied to Ji Lingchuan.
"Yihuan would like to thank brother - in - law in advance for taking care of us siblings. The rain has stopped. Yihuan should leave now."
Ji Lingchuan stood in the pavilion, watching her leave without looking back, with no hesitation in her steps. He couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.
When Fuzhou came, he blurted out a question, "Am I that scary?"
Fuzhou was confused, "Ah? Why would your lord ask such a question?"
Ji Lingchuan tightened his face and let out a deep breath, saying, "It's nothing."
"What's in your lord's hand?" Fuzhou noticed the thing in Ji Lingchuan's palm and asked curiously.
Ji Lingchuan remembered the silk handkerchief in his palm. He quietly hid it in his sleeve and walked forward, asking, "After sending the young marquis of the Marquis's Mansion and the others back just now, what happened?"
Fuzhou quickly followed behind Ji Lingchuan and told him what had happened when he sent the kids back to the Songhe Courtyard.
"Your subordinate sent the young marquis of the Marquis Ding'an and the others back to the Songhe Courtyard. According to your lord's instructions, I told them everything. After the Lady of the Marquis Ding'an heard it, her face looked extremely ugly. The princess of the marquis was also shocked. The young marquis of the Marquis Ding'an still didn't realize his mistake and scolded Young Master Song Wu in front of the princess. The Lady of the Marquis Ding'an sent someone to cover his mouth."
Ji Lingchuan could easily imagine how chaotic the Songhe Courtyard was at that time.
They were both sons of the Marquis's Mansion, one a concubine - born son and the other a legitimate son. One was cautious and the other was arrogant. They were like two extremes.
"Your lord, do you want to go back to the Songhe Courtyard and take a look?" Fuzhou asked.
Ji Lingchuan said indifferently, "No. The young marquis of the Marquis Ding'an's behavior is inseparable from the indulgence of the Marquis's Mansion. The malicious words he said must not have been something a child could come up with on his own. There must be someone who often said such things in his ear for him to be like this."
Fuzhou sighed, "It seems that the princess of the marquis really treats Miss Song Si and Young Master Wu sincerely. If they hadn't been brought to our mansion, who knows how they would have been bullied in the Marquis's Mansion."
Ji Lingchuan didn't comment. But at this moment, the face of Song Yihuan, as charming as a flower, lingered in his mind.
"I remember that we brought back some miraculous healing medicines from the border. Applying them can speed up the healing of wounds. Do you still remember where they are?" Ji Lingchuan asked Fuzhou.
Fuzhou thought for a while, "I remember. They are in the luggage your lord brought back."
Ji Lingchuan responded with a grunt and then fell silent. He directly entered the Jingtao Courtyard.
In the Songhe Courtyard, the guests invited today had already left. Only the Princess of Prince Ning, the maids, and the old women in the room remained.
"I thought the princess of the marquis was a good person and that the Lady of the Marquis was very good at raising children. I didn't expect her to indulge her youngest son like this. It really opened my eyes."
The Princess of Prince Ning frowned tightly with a look of unhappiness on her face. Nanny Hu gently massaged her temples behind her and advised,
"Princess, calm down. It's really not worth getting so angry for a few children."
Sighing softly, the Princess of Prince Ning said, "I just feel sorry for that little guy, Song Yixuan. This kid must have been really scared."
After thinking for a while, she opened her eyes and said, "Nanny Chen, go to the warehouse and find some medicinal materials and cloth. Send them to the small courtyard of those siblings. Comfort them well on my behalf. Don't let people think that our Prince's Mansion has neglected them."
Nanny Chen, who was standing beside her, was secretly shocked. She lowered her head and replied, "Yes, Princess."