At the Princess’s Estate.
Yuyang had been fishing in the courtyard. The moment she saw Song Jintang arrive, she tossed aside her fishing rod and lazily got to her feet.
“You’ve finally come. I’ve been bored to death these past few days.”
“Don’t worry, County Princess. I heard that Lord Xu’s residence is hosting a polo match in a couple of days. You’ll surely receive an invitation soon.”
But Yuyang pouted in dissatisfaction.
“I won’t be able to go! Mother has been arranging marriage prospects for me lately!”
“Oh? Which young gentleman has Her Highness taken a fancy to?”
Curious, Song Jintang accepted a handful of fish feed from a maid, sat beside Yuyang, and scattered the pellets into the pond one by one.
Yuyang, however, looked thoroughly agitated.
“I heard it’s General He’s son. Mother plans to use Fourth Aunt’s visit home as an excuse to hold a banquet so I can meet him. How am I supposed to have the mood for polo now?”
“Oh? I’ve heard that General He’s family has always produced exceptional sons. The old general himself was a famed warrior in his youth. Doesn’t Your Ladyship like him?”
With an annoyed huff, Yuyang reached out and poked Song Jintang’s forehead.
“You’re so hateful! You know perfectly well that the one I like is… Brother Songqing.”
Jintang immediately burst into laughter, hiding her smile behind her fan.
“County Princess, how could I not know your feelings? It’s already autumn, and the New Year is drawing near. You’ll surely see him again before long.”
“But… what about this matchmaking?”
Yuyang looked troubled.
“What if that Young Master He actually takes a liking to me? My mother…”
Song Jintang smiled calmly.
“It’s only a trivial matter. Why worry? Pretend to be ill, fall into the water, suffer a minor injury—little tricks like these won’t do any real harm if used once in a while.”
Comforted by her words, Yuyang finally relaxed.
“You always have the best ideas. I just hope I can hold out until next year. Once Brother Songqing passes the imperial examination, I don’t think my parents will oppose us as strongly.”
“Rest assured. With his talent, he’ll certainly succeed.”
After a brief pause, Jintang added meaningfully,
“However… have you dealt with the remaining problem?”
Yuyang froze before finally realizing what she meant.
“You mean Lichun? Don’t worry. My third brother has already transferred her to Yangshan Terrace. She hardly ever leaves the place.”
“What?!”
The moment Song Jintang heard that, her pupils contracted sharply.
The fish feed slipped from her fingers, spilling into the pond. A swarm of koi immediately rushed over, devouring every last morsel.
Yuyang was startled by her reaction.
“Jintang, what’s wrong?”
Realizing she’d lost her composure, Song Jintang steadied herself before replying,
“It’s nothing. I was suddenly struck by a sharp pain in my chest. I’ve been helping my mother manage household affairs lately, so I must be overworked.”
She accepted the tea Yuyang handed her, took a couple of sips, and finally managed a smile.
“There’s no need to worry about me. It’s just… Lichun. Didn’t you say last time that you’d arranged for her to marry one of the servants? I’m rather curious about what happened.”
Yuyang curled her lip.
“That little vixen schemed her way out of it somehow and ended up by Third Brother’s side instead! But Mother already said she’ll stay at Yangshan Terrace from now on. Let her plague Third Brother instead. Serves him right for always being so fierce with me.”
Jintang laughed softly, though the smile never reached her eyes.
“Your Ladyship is truly amusing.”
“Actually, Mother also told me that as a county princess, it looks unbecoming to stoop to fighting with a maid. Men won’t like someone like that. I… I’m afraid Brother Songqing might think I’m overbearing.”
“Besides, nothing can ever happen between him and Lichun anyway. Since she’s been sent to Yangshan Terrace and won’t appear before me anymore, I’ll just let it go.”
These days, Yuyang’s thoughts were entirely occupied by her own affairs. She had no energy left to concern herself with Lichun.
Hearing that, Song Jintang curled her lips into a faint smile and reminded her,
“Really? Your Ladyship is remarkably magnanimous. I don’t possess such kindness. The way she behaved with Young Master Qi on the street that day… who knows whom she’ll ruin next? I much prefer settling problems once and for all.”
Yuyang’s expression darkened.
She would never allow anyone to lay a finger on her Brother Songqing.
Still, she believed in his integrity.
Qi Songqing was a man of noble character and lofty ambitions.
Between a high-born noble lady like herself and a maid as lowly as dust, she refused to believe he would ever choose the latter.
Song Jintang didn’t stay long at the Princess’s Estate.
After dinner, she boarded her carriage with her maid and headed back to the Song residence.
The moment the carriage door closed, the graceful facade she’d maintained all day vanished.
Her eyes burned with jealousy before the fire faded into profound sorrow.
“Why…?”
“I’ve loved him for so many years.”
“But why has he never once truly looked at me? He can’t even remember my name…”
Her maid hurried to comfort her.
“My lady, how can you belittle yourself like this? You possess unparalleled beauty and talent. Even compared to the beauties of the imperial palace, you are second to none. Besides, you’ve always said that the Heir of Changping Marquis’s Estate has always been cold and indifferent, showing no interest in women. He treats everyone the same.”
Song Jintang let out a bitter laugh.
“He treats everyone the same…”
“I used to believe that too.”
“So no matter how distant he was, I accepted it willingly.”
Then hatred flickered across her eyes, and her voice turned icy.
“But everything changed after he traveled all the way to Yangzhou and brought back that girl.”
The Yangzhou investigation had been extraordinarily complicated.
Pei Du had been ordered to investigate the case, but before his arrival, two imperial officials had already been murdered.
Terrified that he might never return, Song Jintang secretly sent people to follow him from afar.
Fortunately, Pei Du was a man of extraordinary ability.
Within a short time, he solved the case, sending every corrupt official involved to the execution grounds.
Relieved to hear he had returned safely, she was then struck by another piece of news that tormented her day and night—
Pei Du had actually brought a young woman back from Yangzhou.
Her informants reported every movement that woman made after arriving in the capital.
For a time, Song Jintang became obsessed with uncovering the girl’s identity.
Yet despite all her efforts, she found nothing.
Fortunately, not long afterward, Pei Du received another official appointment elsewhere and left the capital once more.
He hadn’t taken the girl with him.
Still, what worried Jintang was that the young woman had been placed under the protection of Old Madam Pei in Chunhui Garden, where security was airtight.
Knowing her feelings, her father and brothers had repeatedly hinted that they wished to form a marriage alliance with the Pei family.
Their hopes coincided perfectly with hers.
But what she wanted…
…was a Pei Du who belonged to her alone.
Before marrying into the Pei family, she intended to eliminate every obstacle standing in her way.
Chunhui Garden was impossible to penetrate.
So she had turned her attention to Yuyang, hoping to use her as the breakthrough.
Thinking of this, Song Jintang let out a mocking laugh.
The refined, ambitious gentleman whom Yuyang adored so wholeheartedly…
Had openly flirted with that young woman in the middle of the street, frightening her so badly that she fled from him.
How utterly foolish.
Still, it had given Song Jintang the perfect opportunity to bring Lichun down.
She had deliberately twisted the truth, provoking Yuyang into targeting Lichun.
She’d thought she could get rid of that lowly maid without lifting a finger.
Instead, she discovered that Yuyang was nothing more than a beautiful fool—good for appearances and little else.
No wonder she treasured Qi Songqing like a priceless pearl when he was nothing but a worthless fish eye.
Since Yuyang had proven useless…
Song Jintang would have to take matters into her own hands.
The moment she returned to the Song residence, she hurried straight to her courtyard.
After searching her inner chamber for quite some time, she finally pulled a red porcelain bottle from a hidden compartment beneath her bed and carefully placed it on the table.