Ji Lingchuan kept silent, and naturally Song Yihuan did the same.
However, Ji Lingchuan's gaze was extremely aggressive. The shadow cast by his figure completely enveloped Song Yihuan.
That feeling of being unable to escape made Song Yihuan's heart flutter. And her body, which had been tormented by him last night, still clearly remembered every bit of strength he had exerted. Facing him like this, her legs couldn't help but go weak.
Song Yihuan slightly turned her body to avoid his gaze, as if this could make her feel better.
Ji Lingchuan's line of sight followed her evasive movement and shifted downward. His gaze landed on the depths of her collarbone, where he saw a faint mark.
As a man, he knew exactly what that mark represented.
Uncontrollably, a blaze of anger welled up in his heart, extinguishing all the slight amorous feelings he had just had.
He couldn't help but wonder who had left that mark. It was so fresh. Was it the man who had stroked her hair at the painting - boat dock?
Or... some other man?
Ji Lingchuan forced himself not to care about that mark and said in a deep voice, "Song Yihuan, listen up. I can act as if I don't know about what happened in the Lanfang Garden the other day. But since we've met today, I'll make things clear to you."
"Your elder sister has taken care of you for many years. Seeing that you've had a hard time in the Marquis's Mansion, she brought you to the Prince Ning's Mansion to accompany her. But you should never have set your sights on me."
"Since you have the ability to never forget anything you've seen, it means you've read books and understand reason. One should know how to repay kindness and understand propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame. I hope you can recognize your own status, restrain your thoughts, and don't let your elder sister down."
After saying this, he didn't stay any longer. He called out "Fuzhou" and strode away.
In Song Yihuan's eyes, the back of the man walking away step by step was so straight.
He had broad shoulders and strong arms, possessing boundless strength, as if he could bear all the hardships in the world.
She curled her lips mockingly.
One should know how to repay kindness? Understand propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame?
He was indeed a proud son of heaven, born with a golden spoon in his mouth, not knowing what it meant to be forced by life or to have no other choice.
He and her elder sister were truly a perfect match.
"Yihuan will follow what brother - in - law said," Song Yihuan said clearly, word by word, as she slightly bent down towards the departing back.
Ji Lingchuan's departing steps paused for a moment, then he couldn't help but quicken his pace. If he had turned back at this moment, he would have seen a face that had been tortured by fate and was extremely fragile.
After Ji Lingchuan and Fuzhou left, Fuling finally brought Song Yixuan back to Song Yihuan.
By this time, Song Yihuan had already collected all her emotions and returned to her previous cold and detached look. Only the corners of her eyes were red, as if she had briefly cried just now.
Lying on Fuling's shoulder, Song Yixuan sized up Song Yihuan and asked worriedly, "Fourth sister, did brother - in - law bully you just now?"
Song Yihuan gently shook her head and said, "No. Brother - in - law just had a few words with me. After that, he left."
Song Yixuan let out an "oh" sound, with a worried look on his little face.
After walking for a while, he looked up again and asked, "Fourth sister, does brother - in - law dislike us very much?"
Song Yihuan was dazed for a moment.
Dislike? Maybe he did. Otherwise, why would he have said these words to her again and again?
She stroked her younger brother's hair and said with a smile, "How could that be? The Goddess of Mercy likes you so much. Brother - in - law should feel the same way."
After all, Song Yixuan was just a four - year - old child and didn't notice that Song Yihuan's words only referred to him. A smile reappeared on his worried face, and he said crisply, "Yes! Xuan'er will surely be obedient and never cause any trouble to the Goddess of Mercy and brother - in - law! In this way, the Goddess of Mercy and brother - in - law won't dislike us and drive us away from here!"
When they returned to the Tinglan Courtyard, seeing that Fuling had brought them back safely, Chunxing heaved a sigh of relief.
Song Yixuan had the habit of taking a nap every day. But he had been holding on at the Princess Ning's place. When he returned to the familiar place, he let out a small yawn and his head began to droop.
After sending her younger brother into the room and coaxing him to sleep, Song Yihuan walked out of the room and saw Fuling standing outside.
Song Yihuan knew she couldn't escape. She looked back to confirm that Chunxing was inside the room accompanying Song Yixuan well, and then said to Fuling, "Let's go."
Just as she was about to step out, she found that her sleeve was being grabbed.
Song Yihuan was taken back into the room by Fuling.
"Fourth Miss, this servant hasn't told the Eldest Miss about the matter of you being summoned by the Princess," Fuling said in a low voice.
Song Yihuan was stunned. To be honest, she was a bit surprised.
Fuling was the spy that Song Nanxin had placed beside her. Before, using Fuling's "falling asleep" and causing trouble at the painting - boat dock to threaten her into lying to Song Nanxin was just a temporary measure. Song Yihuan never expected that Fuling would completely side with her.
"Why?" she asked. "Aren't you afraid of being punished by elder sister?"
Fuling said, "This servant promised Fourth Miss that she knows what to say and what not to say."
Song Yihuan was silent for a while and then said softly, "Thank you."
Fuling said to her, "This servant will serve Fourth Miss to go to bed. After a day of commotion, Fourth Miss must be very tired."
Song Yihuan nodded. Under Fuling's service, she took off her clothes and lay down on the bed.
She was indeed extremely exhausted and had no more energy to deal with her elder sister.
She was so tired that she almost fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. She didn't even know when Fuling walked out of the door.
...
In the Shulan Courtyard, Yixiang Pavilion.
"What did you say? Mother Princess summoned that little slut and that ill - fated child alone today?!"
After hearing what Fuling had said, Song Nanxin was so angry that she threw the ivory comb in her hand. The comb hit Fuling's forehead, making a cut on it, and blood immediately flowed out from the wound.
Although her forehead was in excruciating pain, Fuling didn't dare to touch it. She knelt on the ground, shivering, looking extremely frightened.
"Such an important matter. Why did you wait until now to tell me? Have you forgotten whose maid you are?" Song Nanxin slapped the table hard and roared.
"Eldest Miss, please calm down!" Fuling pleaded tremulously.
"It's not that Fuling didn't want to come to the Yixiang Pavilion to inform Eldest Miss. It's just that... it was Granny Chen beside the Princess who came to the Tinglan Courtyard to invite Fourth Miss and Young Master Fifth today! After taking Fourth Miss and Young Master Fifth away, Granny Chen sent people to guard outside the Tinglan Courtyard all the time. This servant was simply unable to inform Eldest Miss!"
It was true that Granny Chen had come to invite them in person, but it was false that she had left people to watch the Tinglan Courtyard.
Lying was something that one got more and more proficient at. Fuling didn't expect that she could now make up lies without even gasping for breath.
But thinking of the bruised Fourth Miss who was walking on thin ice in the Prince Ning's Mansion, Fuling didn't feel any regret in her heart.