Song Yixuan's heart couldn't take any stimulation. Even hearing the quarrel between the two sisters might trigger his heart disease.
Song Yihuan didn't dare to take the risk, nor could she gamble with her younger brother's life.
Letting out a long sigh, Song Yihuan stepped forward, took down the small wooden box, and opened it right in front of Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin couldn't wait to step forward and take a look, only to find that the box was empty. There was nothing in it.
Seeing the surprise on her elder sister's face, Song Yihuan stabbed her coolly, "Sister, are you relieved now?"
Song Nanxin felt a bit embarrassed. She said crossly, "Since it's empty, why lock it? It only arouses suspicion for no reason."
"Don't be afraid of you knowing, sister. This box once contained a keepsake from Scholar Gu, the second - place finisher in the imperial examination. But now the keepsake has been returned to its owner, so the box is naturally empty," Song Yihuan said calmly.
So the box used to hold something related to that Scholar Gu.
Song Nanxin finally felt relieved. She took Song Yihuan's hand and said with a smile, "I was just worried that the things hidden in it might be bad for us sisters. Sister is here to apologize to you."
Song Yihuan was unmoved by Song Nanxin's apology. She just wanted Song Nanxin to leave Tinglan Courtyard quickly. She asked straightforwardly, "Sister, why did you come to my place today? It can't be just because you wanted to take a look at my room, right?"
Song Nanxin remembered her purpose and mentioned the birthday banquet at the Duke Jiang's Mansion on the fourth day of the seventh lunar month to Song Yihuan.
"Yihuan, that day you will go to the birthday banquet at the Duke Jiang's Mansion with me and the heir. The princess has already agreed to this, and the heir also knows about it. At the time of the snake (around 9 - 11 a.m.) that day, you send Xuan'er to Songhe Courtyard and then set off with us."
Song Yihuan was a bit surprised. The birthday banquet of the old lady of the Duke Jiang's Mansion?
For such an occasion, why would they want a concubine - born daughter like her who was out of favor to go?
But then she thought that on the day of the banquet at the Duke Jiang's Mansion, most of the powerful and noble people in the city would come to celebrate, and most of the people in the city would also focus their attention on the Duke Jiang's Mansion.
This was a very rare opportunity.
Song Yihuan probed a bit, "Sister, with my status, it may not be appropriate for me to go to the Duke Jiang's Mansion to congratulate the old lady on her birthday. Why don't I just stay in the Prince Ning's Mansion..."
Song Nanxin interrupted her and sneered, "Stay in the Prince Ning's Mansion? Song Yihuan, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. When I and the heir are not in the mansion, this is the best time for you to take that boy and leave, right?"
Having her thoughts exposed by her elder sister, Song Yihuan felt a chill on her lips and teeth.
Song Nanxin leaned closer to her and looked straight into her eyes:
"Song Yihuan, I advise you not to waste your efforts. Although Xuan'er has a heart disease, he is still a concubine - born son of the Marquis's Mansion. He is the blood of the Marquis's Mansion. If you dare to take him away, within half a day, you will be arrested and thrown into jail on the charge of abducting the offspring of the Marquis's Mansion."
Pressing her fingers hard on Song Yihuan's wrist, with her fingernails digging into her skin, Song Nanxin whispered in her ear:
"For a beautiful girl like you, once you enter the jail, do you think you can get out unscathed? As long as I say a word to the yamen, I'll make your life a living hell."
"Yihuan, you'd better recognize your position. You're still useful to me now. As long as you're obedient, I can give you and your younger brother a stable life. But if you become useless one day..."
The fingers on her wrist were like cold poisonous snakes, as if they would bite her neck the next moment.
Song Yihuan calmed her emotions and replied, "Sister, you're over - thinking. I've never thought like that."
"You'd better not."
After saying those words, Song Nanxin smiled amiably again and held Song Yihuan's hands.
"Alright, didn't I tell you that I'll find another good marriage for you? That Scholar Gu is just a poor student from a humble family. Marrying him won't get you anywhere. There will be many wealthy and noble young masters at the Duke's birthday banquet. You can choose whoever you like then."
Song Yihuan would never believe that Song Nanxin would choose a husband for her at the Duke Jiang's Mansion. This was just a way to appease her.
Give a beating and then offer a sweet date. Her elder sister had always been like this.
Song Yihuan replied calmly, "Thank you, sister."
After getting Song Yihuan's answer, Song Nanxin didn't stay any longer. She got up and left Song Yihuan's room.
Song Yihuan clenched the nine - ring puzzle in her sleeve. Listening to Song Nanxin's laughter coming from outside the courtyard, her expression was as cold as frost.
"Little Xuan'er, sister is leaving. You must remember to come to Shulan Courtyard to play with sister often."
Sister?
What kind of sister was this?
She didn't even leave her a way out.
...
Ji Lingchuan left Yixiang Pavilion. Instead of going straight back to Jingtao Courtyard, he called up Fuzhou. The master and his servant went out and went to the Western Market.
They stopped in front of a perfume and powder shop named "Que Luo Fang". Fuzhou looked at Ji Lingchuan in surprise, checking him up and down repeatedly.
"My lord, are you... going to buy some rouge and powder for the heir's wife?"
Ji Lingchuan didn't answer Fuzhou's question. He just left a sentence, "Wait outside," and then strode into "Que Luo Fang".
There were mostly female customers in Que Luo Fang, and very few men came. So as soon as Ji Lingchuan entered, he immediately attracted attention. Seeing that Ji Lingchuan had an extraordinary bearing, the shopkeeper's wife greeted him with a smile.
"Oh, this young master looks very unfamiliar. May I ask what you need in our small shop?"
Ji Lingchuan took out the perfume paste he got from Song Nanxin from his sleeve and handed it forward, "Was this perfume paste bought from your shop?"
The shopkeeper's wife took the porcelain bottle and looked at it carefully, then replied, "Yes, it's the perfume paste made by our small shop."
Ji Lingchuan showed a waist token and said, "This perfume paste is involved in a case. It's the only clue to find the witness. I hope the shopkeeper will cooperate fully."
Hearing that it was involved in a case, the shopkeeper's wife's face changed. She pointed with her hand, "Sir, please come this way. Let's talk inside."
Entering the inner hall, the shopkeeper's wife said nervously, "My lord, our small shop has been in business for many years. We've always abided by the law and never done any cheating or deception. If you don't believe it, you can ask the neighbors."
"Don't be nervous. I just have a few questions. Answer them if you can. I won't blame you if you can't," Ji Lingchuan said.
Only then did the shopkeeper's wife feel relieved. She answered Ji Lingchuan's questions very cooperatively.
"When did you start selling this perfume paste?" Ji Lingchuan asked.
"Our small shop has been selling rouge and powder here for six years. We're also a time - honored perfume and powder shop in the capital," the shopkeeper's wife replied. "This apricot - scented perfume paste has been available since the shop opened."
It had been around for six years? So it was very likely that the fragrance on the letter back then came from this.
Ji Lingchuan thought for a while and then looked up and asked, "Has this perfume paste always had this smell? Has the formula ever been changed?"