Noticing that the handkerchief was not by her side, Song Yihuan felt a momentary panic.
At this time, Song Yixuan slowly woke up. Finding that they had returned to their own yard, he subconsciously asked, "Fourth sister, where's brother - in - law?"
Song Yihuan quickly put her finger to her lips and hissed at him. She lowered her voice and said, "Don't mention to anyone that we were with brother - in - law just now. Especially Fuling."
Song Yixuan covered his mouth. His eyes rolled quickly, and he immediately understood what his sister meant.
Fuling was the maid sent by the eldest sister to his sister. If Fuling knew, it would be the same as the eldest sister knowing. Although the eldest sister was very kind to them, she was the elder sister of the annoying Song Nanzhe. He still didn't want the eldest sister to know.
He nodded vigorously, happy to have a secret of his own.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Suddenly, Song Yihuan heard three soft knocks.
She got up warily and looked back in the direction from which the sound came. There was no one there.
She took two more steps forward and saw two small brown porcelain bottles lying on a familiar handkerchief on the ground outside Tinglan Courtyard.
This was...
She squatted down and picked up the handkerchief and the small porcelain bottles.
She opened the bottle stoppers and smelled. A strong medicinal smell assailed her nose.
Because her younger brother was often ill, Song Yihuan often went to get medicine. She recognized the efficacy of the medicine from the smell. Coupled with the handkerchief, she knew who had sent the medicine.
Ji Lingchuan.
A moment later, Chunxing came back to the yard with gauze. She wrinkled her face and said to Song Yihuan, "Miss, the medicine for injuries..."
Seeing the medicine for injuries in Song Yihuan's hand, her eyes widened. Song Yihuan gave her a look, and she understood and closed her mouth.
Fuling happened to come back with a basin of clean water at this time. She didn't notice anything unusual at all. She and Chunxing helped Song Yihuan apply medicine to Song Yixuan.
After cleaning the sand on Song Yixuan's wound with clean water, Song Yihuan carefully applied the ointment on the wound. Song Yixuan, at such a young age, had already learned to endure. He didn't make a sound from beginning to end, which made Song Yihuan feel extremely heart - ache.
She pretended to be angry and said, "This injury is not light. You must remember that you can't run around casually when there's no one around you next time. Do you understand?"
She still felt scared. She was afraid that when she was not around, Xuan'er would be captured by someone and hidden in a place where she couldn't find him, and then used to blackmail her.
Song Yixuan hugged her arm and rubbed it, saying softly, "Xuan'er knows he's wrong. Fourth sister, don't be angry."
Seeing him like this, Song Yihuan's heart softened. She couldn't help hugging her younger brother tightly and murmuring, "Xuan'er, you must always follow me. We siblings will never be separated."
Knowing that the Marquise of Ding'an was in Prince Ning's Mansion, Song Yihuan always felt a little uneasy. She asked Chunxing to take Song Yixuan into the room and close the door. She herself sat nervously in the yard, waiting.
Sure enough, not long after, Tinglan Courtyard received the least - wanted guest.
The Marquise of Ding'an, without even announcing herself, barged into Tinglan Courtyard with her servants and walked towards the main house. "Where's that brat Song Yixuan? Let him come out and see me."
Song Yihuan's face changed. She immediately stepped forward, spreading her arms to block her. "Mother, if you have anything to say, just tell me. Xuan'er is still young!"
"Tell you?"
The Marquise of Ding'an stopped and sneered. She pinched Song Yihuan's chin and pulled her in front of her.
"Fine. Then let's talk about your marriage."
Looking at this charming face that resembled Concubine Rou's by eight - tenths, the Marquise of Ding'an said coldly, "Look, what a pity - inspiring face. No wonder Lord Wu the Second can't forget you and insists on taking you as his concubine."
The Wu family was a prominent and powerful family in the capital. Not only was there a noble concubine in the palace, but Lord Wu the Elder also held an important position in the court. However, Lord Wu the Second was a good - for - nothing, indulging in drinking, whoring and gambling. He already had seven concubines in his backyard. Being taken a fancy to by him was not a good thing.
Song Yihuan was not favored in the Marquis Mansion. The Marquise of Ding'an couldn't wait to marry her off earlier. How could she care what a scoundrel that man was?
But this marriage was enough to ruin Song Yihuan's whole life!
"Listen, Song Yihuan." The Marquise of Ding'an whispered in Song Yihuan's ear.
"I came here today planning to take you back and marry you off. The Wu family has already made all the preparations. They're just waiting to pick you up in a sedan chair. But your eldest sister disagreed. I can't let her be sad, right?"
"If you want to save that brat Song Yixuan's life and not be the concubine of Lord Wu the Second, you'd better stay in Prince Ning's Mansion obediently. Obey your eldest sister and do what she tells you to do."
"Don't even think about running away with that brat, and don't think about seducing the heir and betraying your eldest sister. If you do, do you believe that I have hundreds of ways to make you and your younger brother live in hell?"
Song Yihuan stared directly at the Marquise of Ding'an without flinching and said, "Mother, don't worry. Yihuan knows her place."
Although she got the answer she wanted from Song Yihuan's mouth, the Marquise of Ding'an was extremely annoyed by her stubborn and proud look.
It was just like looking at Concubine Rou back then.
Angrily, she raised her hand to slap Song Yihuan, but suddenly a voice came from outside:
"Is Miss Song the Fourth here?"
It was the voice of Nanny Chen, the confidant of the Princess of Prince Ning.
Both the Marquise of Ding'an and Song Yihuan were startled. When Nanny Chen walked into Tinglan Courtyard, what she saw was the Marquise of Ding'an holding Song Yihuan, looking loving as she tidied up the clothes on her body.
"In Prince Ning's Mansion, you must listen to your eldest sister. Take good care of yourself and Xuan'er. Don't cause trouble for the prince and the princess. Do you understand?"
"I didn't expect the Marquise to be here too." Nanny Chen said with a smile.
Song Yihuan subtly avoided the Marquise of Ding'an's hand and saluted Nanny Chen. "Yihuan pays respects to Nanny."
After getting up, she saw that Nanny Chen didn't come alone. There were several servants following behind her. They were holding several bolts of silk and some precious medicinal materials, which were obviously very valuable.
Song Yihuan's eyes swept over the cloth and medicinal materials held by the servants, and she looked at Nanny Chen, asking tentatively, "Nanny, what does this mean?"
"The princess heard that Young Master Song had a fall and got injured in the mansion today, so she sent these things as compensation. The princess also said that Miss Song the Fourth is the younger sister of the heir's wife, so we are like family. If you are wronged in the mansion in the future, you can go to Songhe Courtyard and tell the princess. The princess will surely uphold justice for you."
Hearing this, the Marquise of Ding'an was so angry that she almost gritted her teeth. It was all because of that good - for - nothing Song Nanzhe. He had inadvertently made this pair of siblings gain more favor from the princess.
She looked at Song Yihuan with a beaming smile and said, "Silly girl, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank the princess."
Song Yihuan didn't expect that her younger brother's fall would even alarm the Princess of Prince Ning. She said to Nanny Chen, "Please thank the princess for her concern on my behalf, Nanny. After Xuan'er recovers from his injury, I will surely take Xuan'er to visit the princess."
After saying that, she saluted Nanny Chen properly.
After Nanny Chen left, the Marquise of Ding'an gave a cold look at the things sent by the Princess of Prince Ning. She gave Song Yihuan a stern warning and then turned around and left.
In the spacious yard, only Song Yihuan was left. She stood there straight - backed and head - held - high. Her back looked desolate and vulnerable, making people can't help but feel pity for her.
But no one could see that in those clear deer - like eyes, there was a deep - seated hatred.
That hatred finally turned into a flame that could never be extinguished, making her eyes as bright as stars.