Ji Lingchuan was a god of war who had been on the battlefield and slain countless enemies. His hands were stained with innumerable amounts of blood. As long as he willed it, a single glance from him could strike fear into the hearts of his opponents.
Gu Yunzheng knew that at this moment, Ji Lingchuan truly wanted to kill him.
Naturally, a sense of fear welled up in his heart towards the man in front of him. He even wished he could turn around and leave immediately. However, he forced himself not to back down. He still stared directly into Ji Lingchuan's eyes in the same posture as before, not willing to show any sign of weakness in front of him.
"Lord Gu," Ji Lingchuan said coldly, "What do you mean by this?"
Gu Yunzheng clenched his fists and said, "Doesn't the Crown Prince think it's inappropriate to keep Miss Song Si of the Marquis Mansion in the Prince Ning's Mansion? She's the younger sister of your wife. Yesterday's incident aside, it's only reasonable that you should draw a clear line and let her return to the Marquis Mansion."
Gu Yunzheng's words indicated that even after yesterday's incident, he still hadn't given up. He must have been keeping a close eye on the Prince Ning's Mansion all night, waiting for them to drive Song Yihuan out so that he could step in and console her.
Ji Lingchuan placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist and took a step forward.
"Since when does the Prince Ning's Mansion need an outsider to dictate how we should act?"
His gaze was cold and filled with killing intent, as if he was about to draw his sword and strike at the person in front of him the next moment.
Gu Yunzheng stared back at Ji Lingchuan without flinching and provocatively said, "Is the Crown Prince feeling guilty and getting angry out of embarrassment?"
"Guilty?" Ji Lingchuan sneered.
"Lord Gu might as well take a look at his current sorry state. You've been treated like a discarded pawn, with your dignity trampled underfoot, yet you still shamelessly try to get closer. You truly live up to your so - called 'integrity'."
"So what?" Gu Yunzheng laughed.
"In my heart, I've already recognized her as my wife. The reason she left me this time is that I haven't climbed high enough or stood far enough. But I believe that one day I'll be able to achieve that. By then, I won't let her leave me again."
Ji Lingchuan tightened his grip on the sword so hard that his knuckles cracked.
"Without going through the proper betrothal rituals, you dare to claim that she's your wife. You've wantonly slandered her reputation in front of others. Lord Gu's affection for Miss Song Si is nothing but a farce."
"Even without yesterday's incident, in my opinion, with your character, you're not qualified to marry her."
These words irritated Gu Yunzheng. Seeing Ji Lingchuan trying to bypass him and move forward, he spread his arms and blocked the way, quickly saying:
"In terms of qualification, I'm far superior to the Crown Prince."
"I can offer her the position of a wife. But what about you, Crown Prince?"
"Don't forget, Crown Prince. You're already married, and your wife is Song Nanxin, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Marquis Ding'an's Mansion and the older sister of Song Yihuan. Our teacher often praised you in front of us, saying that you have noble character and your conduct is a paragon of a gentleman. He told us to take you as an example."
Gu Yunzheng said word by word, "I believe that with your character, you wouldn't do such a despicable thing as to make sisters share the same husband. You definitely won't take Miss Song Si of the Marquis Mansion as a concubine."
In response to Gu Yunzheng, Ji Lingchuan mounted his horse and galloped away, leaving behind a cold and distant back.
Not getting a definite answer from Ji Lingchuan, Gu Yunzheng stood there, gritting his teeth in anger, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
In the Shulan Courtyard of the Prince Ning's Mansion.
After suffering a night of torment, Song Yihuan woke up in the side room of the Yixiang Pavilion in the early morning. She felt sore all over her body.
She sent Fuling to inform the front courtyard, and then dragged her heavy steps back to the Tinglan Garden. Fuling supported her all the way. Seeing that her face didn't look good, she guessed that something must have happened during the night of serving the prince.
Looking around and seeing no one on the road, Fuling whispered in Song Yihuan's ear, "Fourth Miss, after we get back, let this servant apply medicine for you. There's still some of the last ointment left. It should be enough."
Song Yihuan nodded and replied, "Thank you."
When they were about to reach the Tinglan Garden, Song Yihuan straightened her back and quickened her steps. There was no trace of uneasiness on her face.
Song Yixuan had already gotten up and was having breakfast under Chunxing's care. Seeing Song Yihuan coming back from outside, Song Yixuan blinked and said, "Fourth Sister, did you go to accompany Eldest Sister again last night?"
Song Yihuan sat down beside him, took the wooden spoon from Chunxing's hand, and smiled, "Yes. Does Xuan'er still remember the wailing of a woman in the mansion some time ago? Eldest Sister heard it too. Lately, she often has nightmares and can only fall asleep with someone by her side."
Song Yixuan remembered that scary night, patted his chest with lingering fear, and said, "Eldest Sister is so pitiful. Fourth Sister, you should accompany Eldest Sister more often."
After breakfast, Song Yihuan taught her younger brother to read and write.
Song Yixuan was just over four years old. At his age, in an ordinary noble family, it was time to start his enlightenment education. But as a concubine - born child in the Marquis Mansion and a sickly one at that, he wasn't valued by the Marquis Mansion.
Therefore, the responsibility of teaching her younger brother to read and write fell on Song Yihuan.
Song Yihuan had never really attended a proper school, but she had a remarkable ability to remember everything she saw or heard. As long as she read a book once, she could remember all the content.
Song Nanxin was lazy and didn't like going to school. After she discovered that Song Yihuan could recite the Thousand - Character Classic, she asked Song Yihuan to disguise as her and go to school for her. Song Yihuan did this for four years.
During these four years, she desperately read books in the Imperial College and came into contact with things that a concubine - born daughter like her couldn't normally access.
That's how she became proficient in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art.
Fortunately, she learned ventriloquism from an entertainer and used the excuse of having pimples on her face to cover her appearance. Over the years, the two of them had exchanged identities many times without being noticed.
Moreover, Song Yihuan liked to stay in the library of the Imperial College and read books. With her knowledge and insight, it was more than enough for her to teach Song Yixuan his enlightenment lessons.
Now, Song Yixuan had already recognized nearly thirty characters and could recite half of the Rhymed Primer, which made Song Yihuan very proud.
Song Yixuan lay on the table, his little face stained with some ink. Looking at Song Yihuan's neat and delicate small characters, he said enviously, "Fourth Sister's calligraphy is so beautiful. When will Xuan'er be able to write as beautifully as Fourth Sister?"
Song Yihuan laughed and pinched his nose, saying, "Then you have to work hard on your calligraphy. You can't be lazy anymore. Sister suffered a lot to practice this good calligraphy."
Song Yixuan got excited and pestered Song Yihuan, saying, "Xuan'er wants to hear the story of Fourth Sister practicing calligraphy."
Song Yihuan was sore and exhausted, but she didn't show any impatience towards her younger brother. Patting his back gently, she smiled and said, "It's not a very special story. One day, someone laughed at my bad calligraphy. After that, I made up my mind to practice calligraphy."
"It's a pity that that person will never have the chance to see my improved calligraphy."
Song Yixuan asked curiously with a look on his face, "Who was that person? Why can't he see Sister's calligraphy? Is he dead?"