Song Congzhi pretended to hesitate and said, “But Wei’er might not be willing.”
“Then, Father, why not first ask Cousin if she is willing? If Cousin refuses, then let Third Sister marry over. Third Sister will have her hair-pinning ceremony soon.”
“No! Si’er is a concubine-born daughter; the Marquis’s Mansion would never agree!” Song Congzhi’s voice rose a few notches.
Song Tang smiled faintly, “As long as Marquis Mu agrees, that’s enough. Your daughter can persuade Marquis Mu. Third Sister has been obedient since childhood and is also of the Song family bloodline…”
Song Congzhi waved his hand, “You go back first. Let me think it over.”
“Yes.” Song Tang gave a slight bow, and as she turned, her expression instantly turned cold.
Returning to Tianlin Yuan, the resentment in Song Tang’s heart grew even deeper. She truly couldn’t understand why Song Congzhi was so good to Song Wei. That favoritism stuck in her throat like a fishbone.
Song Tang sat by the window, gazing at the misty, snowy moonlight outside, her thoughts churning.
Her fingers unconsciously tapped on the window frame as Mu Shu’an’s words echoed in her mind. Should she really go find Mu Changxiao tomorrow?
“Young Miss, it’s cold by the window. Let this servant close it for you.” Caidie brought a hand warmer and placed it in Song Tang’s hands, then took a woolen blanket from the bed and gently draped it over Song Tang’s shoulders.
Song Tang felt a warmth in her heart. In her previous life, Caidie had not been by her side.
She had not had a single trustworthy person around her. It seemed like everything she did was under someone else’s watchful eye, and everything she did was wrong. Madam Sun found fault with her in every way possible, and life in Mu Fu was truly difficult.
“Caidie, find a way to leak the news to Qiuling that I still want to marry the Heir,” Song Tang whispered to Caidie.
Caidie nodded, understanding Song Tang’s intention. This was to have Qiuling pass on the information so that Song Wei would find out.
This way, in her desperation to secure the marriage with the Heir, Song Wei would surely become flustered, making it easier for Song Tang to manipulate the situation.
Song Tang knew Song Wei’s nature. Once she learned there was a chance to marry the Heir, she would stop at nothing to seize it.
Just like when they were children, to win the favor of her elder brothers Song An and Song Chao, Song Wei had deliberately scalded herself just to gain their pity.
Song Tang still remembered the year Song Wei first entered the mansion. It was during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Song Wei, with her hair tied in two little buns, blinked her bright eyes and asked her,
“Tang’er Sister, what gifts are you giving to our elder brothers Song An and Song Chao for the Mid-Autumn Festival?”
Back then, Song Tang was also young, and Song Wei was sweet and soft-spoken. Both being children, she answered without any guard, “I had the small kitchen make their favorite five-nut mooncakes.”
Unexpectedly, that very afternoon, Song Wei imitated her and made the same five-nut mooncakes, deliberately showing Song An and Song Chao how much effort she had put into making them herself.
Only, her own hand was “accidentally” scalded. Song Wei pretended to be strong and refused to cry out in pain. It was her maidservant who accidentally let it slip, allowing her elder brothers Song An and Song Chao to find out.
Relationships between people are often shaped by comparison. Song Wei’s actions undoubtedly made her two elder brothers feel that she, as a sister, cared more about them. A slight difference could tip the scales of familial affection.
In the many incidents that followed, Song Wei consistently maintained her pitiable demeanor, and before long, she had completely won over Song An and Song Chao’s hearts…
She also couldn’t understand how Song Wei, at such a young age, could be so adept at feigning pitifulness and scheming.
Come to think of it, her act of playing pitiful in front of Song Congzhi earlier was something she learned from Song Wei. Although it felt a bit forced and artificial, and she inwardly felt somewhat disdainful, the actual effect was quite good. At the very least, she hadn’t quarreled with her father, and he was still willing to listen to her properly.
Song Tang knew that even though her father treated her poorly, he placed great importance on the family’s honor and interests.
If she wanted to turn things around, she had to make her father see that she, Song Tang, was the one who could bring the greatest benefits to the Song family.
“Song Tang!” A sharp reprimand interrupted Song Tang’s pleasant thoughts.
Song Tang abruptly opened her eyes as Caidie hurried in from the doorway.
“Miss, it’s not good. The eldest and second young masters are throwing a tantrum in the courtyard. The second young master kicked over two flowerpots by the entrance.”
A faint smile curled at the corner of Song Tang’s lips as she said leisurely, “Let them wait in the courtyard for now. Caidie, attend to me carefully while I do my makeup.”
“Yes, Miss.” Caidie helped Song Tang sit before the dressing mirror, picked up a wooden comb, and gently began combing her long hair.
Song Tang paid no attention to the commotion caused by the two in the courtyard. It wasn’t the first or second time they had come to this small courtyard to stand up for her, and she had long grown accustomed to it.
In the past, however, she had been unable to control her temper and rushed out to argue with them, with predictable results.
This time, she decided to continue using Song Wei’s effective method.
“Don’t use lip rouge. Make my complexion look paler,” Song Tang instructed Caidie. She wanted to appear more delicate and fragile.
Song Tang felt that Song Wei had an advantage in this regard—she didn’t need to deliberately apply makeup to appear delicate and charming, whereas she herself had to rely on cosmetics to add a touch of fragility.
Caidie was highly skilled. As Song Tang gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her pale complexion did indeed give her a somewhat pitiable appearance.
“Song Tang, it’s been over half an hour. Why haven’t you come out yet? If you don’t come out soon, we’re coming in!” Song Chao’s impatient voice echoed from outside the door. He had long grown tired of waiting.
He was truly furious. Song Tang, relying on her status as the legitimate daughter, had once again made things difficult for their younger sister Wei’er.
Early in the morning, Song An and Song Chao had received knee pads made from high-quality lambskin, personally crafted by Song Wei.
Deeply moved, the two brothers went together to Song Wei’s Biyu Pavilion to thank their sweet and considerate younger sister Wei’er. To their surprise, they found her wiping away tears.
Upon learning the details, they discovered that Song Tang had refused to marry Mu Ziyu. Their mother had just persuaded Song Wei to accept this marriage arrangement, and not long after she agreed, Song Tang changed her mind and no longer wanted to cancel the engagement.
Wasn’t this just toying with people?
Seeing Song Wei crying so sorrowfully, Song An and Song Chao felt heartbroken and immediately came to Song Tang’s place to demand an explanation.
“Song Tang, you’re really going too far now.” Song An was so angry he could barely contain his temper.
Song Tang raised her hand slightly, and Caidie immediately understood, gently helping Song Tang to recline halfway on the bed.
The next moment, Song Chao kicked the door open. Song Tang looked up to see Song An and Song Chao standing furiously at the doorway.
“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, why have you come in?” Song Tang’s voice sounded weak.
Seeing Song Tang’s pale face and frail appearance, Song An and Song Chao were momentarily stunned. It had been a long time since they had heard Song Tang call them Eldest Brother and Second Brother.
“Are… are you ill?” Song An asked, somewhat incredulous.
Song Tang knew they wouldn’t believe her, so these words had to come from Caidie.
“Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, the young lady was slapped by the master again last night and has been feeling unwell since yesterday evening.”
As soon as Caidie finished speaking, Song Tang coughed lightly a few times, as if truly frail and ill.
Song An and Song Chao exchanged glances. Song An spoke up, “If she’s ill, why wasn’t the Mansion Physician called? We waited in the courtyard for so long just now—why didn’t you mention it?”