"Sister Four, is the person you mentioned dead?"
The innocent words of her younger brother left Song Yihuan in a daze for a long time.
Was that person dead?
In fact, she didn't know either.
Since her stepmother died four years ago, she had never seen that person again. He seemed to have vanished into thin air. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find any trace of him. Gradually, she gave up.
Four years was long enough to change everything. He was older than her, and maybe he was already married with children by now.
Even if he was still alive, what did it matter to her?
After her younger brother fell asleep, Song Yihuan took Fuling back to her own room. Taking off her clothes, Song Yihuan saw her current appearance clearly in the bronze mirror.
The marks left on her body were so shocking, but paired with Song Yihuan's charming face, they somehow gave rise to a hint of ambiguity.
Last night wasn't entirely painful. The two of them had a strange sense of compatibility in this matter, and she had also felt indescribable and shameful pleasure. But he was too crazy, as if tireless. She simply couldn't bear it, and in the end, she got angry.
However, in Fuling's eyes, Song Yihuan just seemed pitiful.
As Fuling applied medicine to Song Yihuan, she whispered, "The heir apparent doesn't know how to cherish people. How could he be so rough?"
Song Yihuan stared at the mandarin duck flowers on the brocade quilt, lost in a daze.
She knew that Ji Lingchuan was extremely angry with her during the day, so he vented his anger through this matter at night. Otherwise, why would he propose to send her away after it was over?
She had already made up her mind. As long as she didn't go out these days and just hid in Tinglan Courtyard, she wouldn't run into Ji Lingchuan openly and make him unhappy.
However, it seemed that God was against her. Just as she was about to fall asleep in a daze after applying the medicine, an unexpected guest suddenly came to Tinglan Courtyard.
Struggling to get up with her aching body, Song Yihuan, with Fuling's help, tidied up her clothes and hair, and then went out to the courtyard to greet the guest.
Nanny Chen, who served beside the Princess of Ningqin, stood in the courtyard with a smiling face. She said to Song Yihuan,
"Miss Song the Fourth and Young Master Song have been staying in the Prince of Ningqin's Mansion for some time, but they rarely show up. The princess has always been concerned about the relatives of the in - law family. She is worried that the two of you have been wronged in the mansion, so she specially sent this servant to invite you two to the Pine and Crane Courtyard to have some tea."
Hearing that the Princess of Ningqin wanted to see her and her younger brother, Song Yihuan couldn't help but tense up.
If it had been before, she would have gladly gone with her younger brother. But now, after her estrangement from Gu Yunzheng, it made her suspicious.
Did Ji Lingchuan tell the Princess of Ningqin something, and now the princess planned to give her a good scolding?
Song Yihuan was a guest, and it was unreasonable to refuse when the host invited her. Moreover, Song Yixuan had been injured in the prince's mansion some time ago, and the Princess of Ningqin had even sent gifts to apologize. They hadn't even gone to the front courtyard to thank her yet.
After thinking for a while, Song Yihuan said to Nanny Chen, "Okay. Please lead the way, Nanny."
After leaving Tinglan Courtyard, Nanny Chen waved her hand, and a servant squatted down with his back to Song Yixuan. Seeing the puzzled looks on the faces of Song Yihuan and her younger brother, Nanny Chen smiled and said, "The princess considered that Young Master Song is still young, so she specially instructed someone to carry him there so that he won't get tired."
I see. Song Yihuan let out a sigh of relief. She told Song Yixuan to climb onto the servant's back, and then followed Nanny Chen towards the Pine and Crane Courtyard.
Song Yihuan had only entered the Pine and Crane Courtyard once when she was brought into the Prince of Ningqin's Mansion by Song Nanxin.
She remembered that day clearly. The woman in her fifties was sitting casually in the upper seat. There were no hairpins in her hair, but her elegant and wealthy aura was still overwhelming. When she cast a glance, the dignity in her eyes made people can't help but feel timid.
Hearing that she was Song Nanxin's half - sister, the Princess of Ningqin sized her up from head to toe and only said, "Since you're in the Prince of Ningqin's Mansion, stay here well and accompany your elder sister."
After that, she was settled in Tinglan Courtyard by Song Nanxin.
The second time she saw the Princess of Ningqin was at Ji Lingchuan's welcome banquet. Her seat was quite far back at the banquet, and there were many guests. She only took a distant look at the princess and didn't have any conversation with her.
The third time was the day they went to the Guanyin Temple. The woman was still as noble and aloof as ever. And her younger brother's words "Goddess of Mercy" actually caught the princess's attention and favor.
While lost in her thoughts, Song Yihuan had already arrived at the Pine and Crane Courtyard under Nanny Chen's guidance.
Song Yixuan was put down by the servant. Song Yihuan held her younger brother's soft hand, took a deep breath, and stepped into the door that emitted a faint fragrance of Buddha.
Inside the room, the noble Princess of Ningqin was sitting casually on a chair, holding a string of Buddhist beads in her hand and unconsciously playing with the beads on it. Hearing the sound, she opened her slightly closed eyes and looked forward.
Even at this age, Song Yihuan could still tell that the Princess of Ningqin must have been an extremely stunning beauty when she was young. Ji Lingchuan had inherited her straight eyebrows, bright eyes, and straight nose bridge, and his appearance was extremely handsome.
Remembering the rules, Song Yihuan stopped five steps away from the Princess of Ningqin and bowed, saying, "Song Yihuan, the fourth daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an's Mansion, pays respects to the princess. May the princess enjoy boundless good fortune and eternal beauty."
Song Yixuan also imitated his sister, clasped his hands and bowed properly, saying, "Song Yixuan, the fifth son of the Marquis of Ding'an's Mansion, pays respects to the princess."
The Princess of Ningqin thought it was interesting to see him bowing so seriously. Her eyebrows softened, and she said with a teasing smile, "Oh? Why did you change your address to 'princess' today instead of 'Goddess of Mercy'?"
Song Yixuan answered obediently, "Because this is the prince's mansion, and you are the mistress of the prince's mansion. This address shows respect."
The Princess of Ningqin's heart almost melted, and she couldn't stop smiling. She waved at him and said, "Come here, to me."
Song Yixuan looked back at Song Yihuan. After getting her permission, he walked up to the Princess of Ningqin in small steps.
The Princess of Ningqin bent down slightly, reached out and pinched his face, and said, "You've gained some weight. It seems that you've been doing quite well in the mansion these days. By the way, is your injury better?"
Song Yixuan rolled up his sleeve and showed her a fair arm. The once - shocking wound on the arm had already scabbed over.
The little boy said with a smile, "Look, Goddess of Mercy. Xuan'er's injury is already better! It doesn't hurt anymore!"
The Princess of Ningqin lovingly stroked his cheek and said, "You must have been really scared when you got injured in the mansion that day, right?"
The two of them chatted there, just like an ordinary pair of grandparents and grandchildren. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
And the Princess of Ningqin seemed not to see Song Yihuan at all. After Song Yihuan bowed, she just remained half - crouched there.