Su Tan held an umbrella as she walked all the way to the outskirts of the city and stepped into a seemingly low-key, inconspicuous black carriage.
No sooner had she entered than a thick cloak was wrapped around her.
Seeing how she had exhausted herself, Cui Wan felt both heartache and anger, yet she didn’t forget to feed Su Tan some brown sugar water. “Why must you suffer like this? I told you earlier to let me go to the Song family and give them a beating, but you refused.”
“They’ve bullied you to this state, and you’re still protecting those ungrateful wretches.”
Su Tan offered a weak smile.
“If they found out that the renowned, elusive top diviner of the capital, Cui Wan, is my second senior sister, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to get a Divorce.”
Cui Wan gritted her teeth and cursed under her breath, “Bastards.”
“Those scoundrels won’t rest until they’ve squeezed every last drop from you. Especially that Old Woman Song—if it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t even be alive today. Now that her son has been appointed as a great general, she puts on airs and thinks you’re not good enough for Song Tingchen.”
“As if their Song family is some great place!”
The more Cui Wan thought about it, the angrier she became. Looking at her junior sister, whom the entire sect doted on, reduced to such a state by a toxic relationship, her tears simply wouldn’t stop, falling pattering down.
“If it weren’t for your foolishness, using your own Merit to protect their Song family, I’m sure Song Tingchen would have long suffered backlash for his heavy killing karma!”
Su Tan used a handkerchief to dry Cui Wan’s tears. “Second Senior Sister, don’t cry. Haven’t I escaped now?”
“Exactly.” Cui Wan wiped her tears and cursed through gritted teeth, “Without your protection, let’s see how long they can remain arrogant. I’m waiting for that pack of ungrateful wretches in the Song family to get their comeuppance!”
“Since you’ve escaped from that soul-devouring den of demons, don’t look back.”
Su Tan lowered her gaze, tightening her grip on the cloak in her hands. “Mm.”
…
Three years later.
Heavy snow weighed down the flowering branches as Su Tan emerged from Qingyu Lane, heading with Cui Wan to purchase supplies needed for their upcoming trip out of the city.
“Are you really sure about going back?”
Cui Wan’s face showed concern. Over these three years, Su Tan seemed to have completely forgotten about that bunch from the Song family.
But as her senior sister, she knew perfectly well that her junior sister had the softest heart.
This return to the capital would inevitably bring her into contact with the Song family. She feared that if those big and small ungrateful wretches named Song shed a few tears, Su Tan might forget all the suffering she’d endured, taking pity on Song Xiao’s young age.
Su Tan extended her hand, watching snowflakes land on her fingertips only to melt rapidly away.
“Princess Zhaoyang has a persistent high fever, and Prince Chen has searched throughout the land for famous doctors without finding a cure. When Prince Chen’s people found us and produced our master’s jade token, I had no reason not to go.”
She understood Cui Wan’s concerns and offered her a gentle smile. “Second Senior Sister, don’t worry. A good horse doesn’t turn back to graze on old pasture.”
Cui Wan fell silent for a moment before finally taking Su Tan’s hand. “You’re right.”
“If you kept hiding here, unwilling to face things, that’s when I’d truly be worried.”
“They say physicians can’t heal themselves. We read affairs for others, always determining fates and changing destinies for people, calculating good and toxic relationships for others. When it comes to ourselves, we must also be stripped of a layer of skin before we can comprehend the mysteries.”
Everyone has their own fate—this much she had come to understand over the years.
After gathering their supplies, Su Tan set off for the capital with Cui Wan the next day. Escorted by well-trained hidden guards along the journey, they reached the capital in just eight days.
As they passed by the General’s Residence, the carriage curtain happened to be lifted by the wind.
Su Tan happened to notice a layer of bluish-gray haze shrouding the General’s Residence’s plaque—a sight invisible to others.
She let the carriage curtain fall, her eyes devoid of emotion.
The moment the curtain dropped, Song Tingchen, who had just reined in his horse to dismount, seemed to sense something. He lifted his sharp eyes and fixed them on the passing carriage.
Just as he prepared to remount and pursue it for a closer look, a soft voice halted his steps.
“Brother Tingchen.”
Liu Qingyin stood gracefully at the street corner, holding Song Xiao’s hand. Her slender figure, like a magnolia blossom adorned with morning dew, swayed gently in the breeze.
Chubby Song Xiao toddled clumsily on his short legs, rushing back toward Song Tingchen.
“Father!”
“Father, you’re finally back! Did you find that bad woman?”
Frowning, Song Tingchen exuded a low pressure as he peeled the round-faced Song Xiao off himself. “How many times have I told you? Su Tan isn’t a bad woman—she’s your mother!”
Song Xiao pouted, tears pattering down like raindrops, his childish voice trembling with sobs.
“She is a bad woman! Soon after she left, Grandfather died. She ruined your chance to marry Aunt Qingyin! Everyone at the academy says my mother is dead—they mock me for being a motherless wild child!”
Song Tingchen’s expression froze.
After a long pause, he reached out and ruffled his son’s dark hair.
“Stop crying. You’re not a motherless wild child. I’m close to finding your mother.”
Liu Qingyin’s fingers dug sharply into her palms.
She nearly failed to maintain the smile on her face.
“Sis…” Noticing Song Tingchen’s suddenly tightened brow, she corrected herself timely, “Has sister-in-law returned?”
As a white horse was led into the residence by a servant, Song Tingchen carried Song Xiao and walked inside, addressing Liu Qingyin, “Not yet, but soon.”
He had a strong premonition—Su Tan had returned and was right here in the capital.
Liu Qingyin smiled gently. “That’s wonderful. Auntie has been ill these past two years and used to rely on sister-in-law’s prescriptions for recovery.”
“Sister-in-law left in such a hurry back then and didn’t leave behind Auntie’s prescription. Over the years, no treatment or medicine has seemed to help her condition.”
“Actually, it’s my fault—I caused sister-in-law’s misunderstanding back then. When we find her, I must properly apologize to her.”
Song Tingchen paused.
“Mm.”
His voice was cool as he reflected on Su Tan’s tendency to overthink and her extreme nature.
The past incidents were largely misunderstandings.
They truly needed a thorough explanation.
He had never felt any romantic affection toward Liu Qingyin.
His earlier intention to take her as a Second Wife stemmed merely from pity—she had lost her father, and he felt guilty, wanting to offer her shelter.
To ensure she wouldn’t be bullied.
But Su Tan’s eyes could never tolerate the slightest impurity.
Liu Qingyin’s nails nearly snapped from clenching, yet she forced herself to keep smiling.
She took a deep breath, remembering more urgent matters, and suppressed her temper.
“Brother Tingchen, I heard that Princess Zhaoyang has fallen unconscious. Prince Chen is searching far and wide for renowned physicians, desperate to wake his daughter.”
“Father left me a pill, and one remains. My heart aches for all parents’ worries. Could you arrange for me to visit Princess Zhaoyang? I’d like to offer it for her to try.”
She lowered her gaze, hiding the calculation in her eyes.
What “lifesaving pill left by Father”?
This was a Soul Return Pill crafted by the renowned Master Wangyou—obtained at great expense after numerous intermediaries and inflated prices!
Only three pills remained, costing her half her fortune!
Two years ago, Princess Chen passed away due to difficult childbirth, leaving only the frail Princess Zhaoyang to accompany Prince Chen.
Since the princess’s demise, Prince Chen has remained unmarried, devoting himself entirely to caring for his daughter.
Liu Qingyin lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, “If I can save the princess, I’ll gain protection from now on. Misunderstandings like the one three years ago will never happen again.”
“Brother Tingchen and sister-in-law will also be well.”
Song Tingchen initially wanted to refuse outright. With the current unstable political climate, these were turbulent times.
Many court officials had fallen from grace to ruin due to a single misstep in choosing sides.
If Liu Qingyin saved Prince Chen’s daughter, it would mean the Zhenbei General Manor was aligning with Prince Chen.
Song Tingchen had no desire to get involved in such matters.
Yet if this could make Su Tan let go of her prejudice against Liu Qingyin—Song Tingchen’s eyes darkened, “After I pay respects to my parents-in-law, I’ll make arrangements for you.”