"Fuling, you're scared, aren't you?"
"You're scared that after we return to the prince's mansion, when the eldest sister asks you about today's events, you won't know how to describe them in detail. Because you were asleep and saw and heard nothing. You can't give the eldest sister a proper account, right?"
With each word Song Yihuan spoke, she took a step forward.
Fuling was forced to retreat continuously by the aura she had never shown before until her back hit the wall. Stammering, she said, "F-fourth Miss..."
Song Yihuan reached out her hand towards her. Fuling subconsciously closed her eyes. Then the hair beside her temple was tucked behind her ear. A delicate fragrance of apricot blossoms wafted into her nose. Song Yihuan whispered in her ear:
"Good girl Fuling, how about we make a deal?"
"I know that after we go back, you need to report every single thing we did and said today to the eldest sister in great detail.
"I can tell you what I said to Lord Gu just now so that you can give the eldest sister an account. I won't tell the eldest sister that you dozed off on your duty today, so that you won't be punished or beaten by the eldest sister.
"You've served her for so long. You should know what means the eldest sister will use to torture the servants, right?"
Song Yihuan was right. Fuling knew very well how Song Nanxin tortured disobedient servants.
This eldest miss of the marquis's mansion seemed amiable and dignified on the surface, and was praised by everyone. But if anyone offended her, the consequences would be dire.
It was imaginable that if she knew that Fuling didn't see Song Yihuan draw a clear line from that scholar Gu with her own eyes today, the punishment waiting for her would be terrifying.
Gritting her teeth, Fuling opened her eyes and asked, "What does the fourth miss want Fuling to do?"
Under the veil hat, the plump and alluring cherry lips curved into a beautiful arc.
"Don't be scared. My request is not excessive. I just need you to be smarter when reporting to the eldest sister every day from now on. You should know what to say and what not to say."
Hearing this, Fuling bit her lower lip.
This request was indeed not excessive. But if she agreed, it would mean that she would have to lie to the eldest miss from now on. Wasn't this the same as betraying the eldest miss?
If she didn't agree, the eldest miss would surely punish her severely when she found out that she had messed up today.
Either way, it was not beneficial to her.
Biting her lip, Fuling found it hard to make a decision for a moment.
"If you find it difficult, it doesn't matter. But I won't be able to tell you what I said to Lord Gu today." With that, Song Yihuan turned around and was about to continue walking.
Her sleeve was grabbed. Song Yihuan looked back. Fuling said, "Okay, fourth miss. Fuling agrees to you."
Song Yihuan was out for most of the day. When Song Nanxin woke up from her afternoon nap and sent someone to inquire, she found that Song Yihuan hadn't returned yet. She couldn't help feeling a little anxious. Even the pastries she usually liked didn't taste good.
In a fit of anger, Song Nanxin slammed the cup in her hand on the table. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I shouldn't have let that little bitch go out. Then there wouldn't have been any accidents."
Baizhi put her finger on her lips and glanced into the inner room.
Song Yixuan was tired from playing at Song Nanxin's place and was sleeping soundly on the imperial concubine's couch.
Waking up that boy was a minor matter. But if he heard something he shouldn't have and it triggered his heart disease, that would be a real trouble.
This boy was her bargaining chip to control Song Yihuan. He couldn't afford to have any mishaps.
Song Nanxin knew this well and consciously shut up.
Baizhi whispered in her ear, "Miss, don't be in a hurry. Fuling is watching over the fourth miss. Nothing will happen. Fuling has been with you since childhood and is extremely loyal to you. If you don't trust the fourth miss, you should at least trust Fuling."
Song Nanxin was just in a bad mood when there was a knock on the door of Yixiang Pavilion. Fuling's voice came from outside, "Eldest miss, the fourth miss is back."
As soon as the words fell, Song Yihuan walked in from outside, holding the veil hat.
As soon as she entered the room, Song Yihuan immediately looked towards the imperial concubine's couch not far behind Song Nanxin.
Seeing Song Yixuan sleeping soundly with a normal complexion, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Nodding slightly towards Song Nanxin, Song Yihuan said, "Thank you, eldest sister, for taking care of Xuan'er for me. I've taken care of the matter today. I'll take Xuan'er back to Tinglan Courtyard now."
Song Nanxin glanced at Fuling. Seeing Fuling nod slightly, Song Nanxin then said, "We're family. Why are you saying thank you? Little Xuan'er is also my younger brother. It's only right for me to take care of him."
Song Yihuan picked up her younger brother who was sleeping on the couch.
Seemingly smelling a familiar smell and feeling a close person beside him, Song Yixuan opened his eyes and happily wrapped his arms around Song Yihuan's neck.
"Fourth sister, you're back!"
Song Yihuan smiled and said, "Yes, I'm back. I also brought pastries for Xuan'er. Come on, let's go home."
When leaving Yixiang Pavilion, Song Yixuan waved goodbye to Song Nanxin with a big smile on his face, "Eldest sister, Xuan'er is going back with fourth sister! Thank you, eldest sister, for playing with Xuan'er today. Xuan'er is very happy."
Song Nanxin smiled with her eyes bent, "Remember to come and visit eldest sister often, little Xuan'er. Eldest sister likes you the most."
Hearing this, Song Yihuan subconsciously tightened her hold on her younger brother in her arms. Her eyes were filled with coldness.
Fuling didn't follow Song Yihuan out. After Song Yihuan walked far away, Fuling knelt in front of Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin couldn't wait to ask, "Well, was that little bitch well-behaved today? Did she make it clear and cut off all ties with that scholar Gu?"
Fuling replied calmly, "The fourth miss has made it clear to Lord Gu. Lord Gu won't come to look for the fourth miss anymore."
Song Nanxin stared intently at Fuling, "What did they say? Did that little bitch reveal anything to others?"
Fuling shook her head and said, "The fourth miss told Lord Gu that she was suffering from a serious illness and might not live long. She didn't want to drag Lord Gu down and asked him to find a good match elsewhere. After Lord Gu heard this, he left without looking back."
Song Nanxin burst out laughing, "Suffering from a serious illness and not living long? I didn't expect that little bitch to come up with such an idea."
But Song Yihuan's words were quite appropriate. After that little bitch gave birth to the child, she wouldn't let that little bitch live anymore. Wasn't that not living long?
Thinking that everything was firmly in her control, Song Nanxin laughed proudly. She waved her hand casually, "Okay, you can go back. Keep an eye on Tinglan Courtyard."
Fuling replied, "Yes," and bowed to retreat.
After walking out of Shulan Courtyard, a gust of wind blew. Only then did Fuling realize that her back was soaked with cold sweat. She had actually helped the fourth miss deceive the eldest miss. This was something she wouldn't even dare to think about in the past.
Thinking of the eldest miss's means of torturing servants, she quickened her pace and rushed back to Tinglan Courtyard.
Song Yihuan was actually extremely exhausted both physically and mentally after going out today. In order not to let Song Yixuan and Chunxing notice, she had been holding on.
After nightfall, after coaxing Song Yixuan to sleep, she returned to her room and was about to lie down when the door was gently opened. Fuling's voice rang in her ear:
"Fourth miss, someone from the eldest miss's place is here. They want this servant to protect you and go there quickly."
Song Yihuan opened her eyes, sat up straight, and the hand holding her clothes tightened until her knuckles turned white.