“Yes!”
Song Jiuning’s eyes were clear and bright, her voice resolute and unwavering.
Shen Wenjing pinched Song Jiuning’s chin and chuckled softly, “Whatever your purpose may be, this prince will marry you.”
Song Jiuning breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was willing to give her a chance, that was enough.
After speaking, Shen Wenjing turned and walked away. In the moment Song Jiuning couldn’t see, the smile in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, chilling coldness.
Song Jiuning called out, “Your Highness!”
Shen Wenjing stopped in his tracks. “What is it?”
Song Jiuning lowered her gaze slightly, a gentle smile on her lips. “Today is Your Highness’s birthday. Jiuning wishes Your Highness eternal youth, as radiant as the morning sun.”
Shen Wenjing turned back, cupped his hands in a light salute, and smiled faintly. “Thank you, Princess Consort.”
The words “Princess Consort” stirred a ripple in Song Jiuning’s heart.
Apart from Shen Yunting, she had never felt such emotions for any other man.
Recalling the intense and passionate intimacy they had just shared, a blush spread across her cheeks.
When the maids came to attend to Song Jiuning’s washing, she instinctively refused.
Years of military life had long made her unaccustomed to being served.
Hearing her refusal, the maids knelt in unison, filling the room. “This is His Highness’s order. Please do not make things difficult for us, Miss Jiu.”
Song Jiuning had no choice but to let them proceed.
Under the maids’ care, Song Jiuning grew drowsy.
If not for the fact that her family was still waiting, she would have loved to sleep soundly right there.
For Shen Yunting, she had spent years on campaigns, enduring hardships and sleeping rough, forgetting how long it had been since she last enjoyed such comfort.
After the medicinal bath, she finally felt truly alive again.
Shen Wenjing had indeed instructed the maids to bring women’s clothing.
It seemed to have been bought from a tailor shop on the spot—varying in style but all in striking shades of red.
She used to love wearing red the most.
Later, because Shen Yunting preferred light colors like goose-yellow and powder-blue, she never wore red again.
Shen Wenjing had been thoughtful toward her.
It seemed heaven had not been unkind to her, arranging such a good husband. Yet, blinded by foolishness, she had ended up with the tragic fate of her entire family being executed!
Looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror—clad in vibrant red, her gaze resolute—Song Jiuning clenched her fists.
According to the calendar, there were still six years until the life-or-death struggle for the throne.
At this time, Shen Yunting had not even been formally enfeoffed as a prince; he was merely a prince-in-waiting.
It was in the autumn of this very year that she had followed her father and brothers onto the battlefield for Shen Yunting, fighting for a full eight years.
Fighting until not a single member of the Song Family remained.
Overwhelming hatred nearly burned her to ashes. She wished she could slice Shen Yunting into a thousand pieces right then and there.
“Miss Jiu?”
A maid’s call interrupted her thoughts. Song Jiuning smiled at her. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
In the side hall of Gongning Wangfu.
Song Shaoqin glared furiously, the teacup in his hand on the verge of shattering.
He had been waiting here for two hours!
And Shen Wenjing, sitting across from him, was still calmly urging him to drink tea.
Drink tea? Like hell he would!
News of his younger sister falling into the water at Gongning Wangfu had already spread everywhere. Sent by his father to fetch her, he had waited and waited, yet Shen Wenjing simply refused to hand her over.
Could it be that he intended to use his sister as a hostage to control the Song Family?
Shen Wenjing was notorious for his cold-heartedness and ruthlessness. If his sister fell into his hands, could anything good come of it?
Song Shaoqin finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He slammed the table and stood up. “Your Highness!”
Shen Wenjing raised an eyebrow, sweeping a faint glance over Song Shaoqin. “Hmm?”
Though just a glance, the immense pressure it carried was impossible to ignore.
Song Shaoqin clenched his fist. His younger sister was still in Shen Wenjing’s hands; he absolutely could not offend Shen Wenjing at this moment.
For his younger sister’s sake, he had to endure.
“Big Brother!”
Seeing the tense standoff between Song Shaoqin and Shen Wenjing from afar, Song Jiuning’s heart turned cold.
The Song Family was what she must protect in this lifetime, and Shen Wenjing was the one she needed to repay a debt of gratitude to.
Both sides were what she valued most; she could not let discord arise between them because of her.
Fortunately, upon hearing her call, Song Shaoqin immediately turned around and saw Song Jiuning walking quickly toward him.
“Little Sister, are you alright!”
Song Shaoqin hurriedly grabbed Song Jiuning’s hand, examining her with concern.
Oh no!
This wasn’t the outfit she was wearing when she left home!
“Big Brother!”
In her previous life, Song Shaoqin had been trampled into a bloody pulp by warhorses to save her, leaving not even a trace of his remains.
Looking at his exceptionally handsome face before her, Song Jiuning felt a tightness in her chest, and tears instantly streamed down her face.
If it weren’t for Shen Wenjing’s presence, she truly wished she could throw herself into her big brother’s arms and cry her heart out.
When Song Shaoqin first saw the ambiguous red marks on his sister’s neck, it felt like a bolt from the blue.
Seeing his sister cry now made his heart ache unbearably.
He glared furiously at Shen Wenjing, his voice icy to the extreme: “Your Highness, care to explain?”
Shen Wenjing frowned slightly. Clearly, she had been willing. Why was she crying like this now upon seeing her family? It almost seemed as if he had forced her.
Shen Wenjing set down his teacup, meeting Song Shaoqin’s gaze that seemed to wish he could cut him into a thousand pieces.
“Explain what? Didn’t General Shen see everything?”
Song Shaoqin was furious. How dare anyone bully his little sister—even Shen Wenjing was no exception!
Realizing the situation was turning bad, Song Jiuning quickly pressed down on Song Shaoqin’s hand as it moved toward his sword.
Assassinating a prince—this wouldn’t even require Shen Yunting’s involvement; it would lead directly to the execution of the entire family in one swift step.
Song Jiuning hurriedly said, “Big Brother, you’ve misunderstood His Highness. He didn’t do anything to me. I’ll explain it to you when we get back.”
Didn’t do anything, huh…
Shen Wenjing tilted his head, looking leisurely at Song Jiuning.
His gaze clearly said: It seems Miss Song is still not quite satisfied.
Song Jiuning’s face flushed red, pretending not to see his look.
How could Song Shaoqin not understand his little sister’s intention? But the kiss marks on her neck…
Unless he gouged out his own eyes, he simply couldn’t believe it.
Everyone knew how deeply his little sister loved the Tenth Prince, Shen Yunting. Her current state must surely be due to Shen Wenjing forcing her.
Poor little sister.
Song Shaoqin’s heart ached even more: “Are you really alright?”
Song Jiuning shook her head repeatedly: “I’m fine. I should even thank His Highness for detoxifying me.”
She was poisoned too?
Song Shaoqin was filled with regret and hatred. If only he hadn’t agreed to bring his little sister here. For no reason, she had suffered so much grievance.
Shen Wenjing’s lips curled slightly: “It was a trivial effort, not worth mentioning.”
Song Jiuning pretended not to understand: “It’s too late; we should head back. We’ll come another time to properly thank Your Highness for saving my life.”
Shen Wenjing nodded: “Mm.”
After saying “farewell,” Song Jiuning dragged Song Shaoqin out.
“Xiao Jiu, you acted very recklessly today.”
Once outside the Wangfu, Song Shaoqin’s expression turned cold.
If their father found out she had lost her virtue at the Wangfu, who knew how furious he would be!
Song Jiuning knelt on the ground with a “thud”: “Big Brother, I’m sorry.”
Song Shaoqin quickly grasped Song Jiuning’s wrist: “Get up quickly. Big Brother isn’t blaming you, it’s just…”
Among the nine young men of the Song Family, eight were older brothers. Since childhood, they had doted endlessly on their only younger sister, Song Jiuning.
If the other seven brothers found out he had made Song Jiuning kneel, even as the eldest, he would have a hard time explaining himself.
Song Jiuning wiped her tears and stood up: “I know Big Brother is just worried. Xiao Jiu shouldn’t have been so willful, sneaking off to meet that scoundrel Shen Yunting, only to end up framed and shaming the General’s Manor. Xiao Jiu won’t act recklessly anymore and will listen well to Father and my brothers.”
That scoundrel?
Song Shaoqin looked at his younger sister in surprise. In the past, anyone who dared to stop her from seeing Shen Yunting would have met with fierce resistance.
Today, she actually referred to Shen Yunting that way?