Song Jiuning had a restless night, her dreams repeatedly replaying the scene of Shen Wenjing kneeling for her.
Each time she reached out to stop him, she would wake up fruitlessly.
Upon waking, her face was always cold and damp.
She wondered how Shen Wenjing in her previous life reacted upon learning of her death… Did he actually kneel? And how would Shen Yunting humiliate him?
The thought deepened her hatred for Shen Yunting and Song Qingyao.
Song Jiuning went to the woodshed. Without her orders, no one dared to untie Song Qingyao.
A rag was still stuffed in her mouth, her hair matted into clumps with dried blood, while the wounds and slap marks on her face looked ghastly.
Hearing the door open, Song Qingyao shrank back in fear.
Upon seeing it was Song Jiuning, she let out muffled, agitated sounds.
With a wave of Song Jiuning’s hand, Xun Mo stepped forward and tore the rag from her mouth.
Song Qingyao’s mouth was numb, drool dripping down, unable to form complete words.
Xun Mo slapped her, finally knocking her stiff jaw back into place.
Filled with hatred and anger, Song Qingyao seethed—even Song Jiuning’s maid could slap her now!
But since Song Zhaoran had handed her over to Song Jiuning, she had to swallow her hatred and beg for mercy to survive: “Sister, I truly know I was wrong. Please spare me!”
Song Jiuning looked down coldly at Song Qingyao. “Tell me, when exactly did you get involved with Shen Yunting?”
No wonder her attitude had changed so suddenly—she must have found out and was jealous.
Song Qingyao quickly hatched a plan, her expression growing even more sorrowful. “Please, sister, save me!”
Song Jiuning frowned and sneered. “How so?”
Song Qingyao crawled forward and grabbed Song Jiuning’s pant leg, pleading tearfully: “I never intended to steal your man, sister. It’s all Tenth Highness’s fault—he forced me. He promised to marry you if I complied. Knowing you admired Tenth Highness, I pretended to go along, sacrificing myself for your happiness.”
Song Jiuning had to admit, Song Qingyao was indeed cunning.
She would never have thought of such an excuse.
“Now that you’ve seen Tenth Highness’s true nature, sister, I no longer need to endure this humiliation. Please, for the sake of our past bond, save me!”
Unwilling to entertain her empty words, Song Jiuning pulled her robe from Song Qingyao’s grasp in disgust.
“Saving you isn’t impossible. Tell me, since you’ve been involved with Shen Yunting, you must have something that proves his identity, right?”
Song Qingyao hesitated. “What do you intend to do, sister?”
She did have something, but unsure of Song Jiuning’s plans, she dared not answer directly.
Song Jiuning understood perfectly and smiled. “That’s none of your concern. If you refuse to give it, it doesn’t matter. I can kill you and examine every item on your person to trace its origin. It’ll take some effort, but I’ll find it.”
Song Qingyao was horrified. Having witnessed Song Jiuning’s methods yesterday, she had no doubt she meant every word.
Without further hesitation, Song Qingyao replied: “I have it. Tenth Highness gave me his personal jade pendant. I’ve hidden it in my room.”
Satisfied with the answer, Song Jiuning nodded.
She crouched down and opened her palm, revealing a pill. “As long as you obey, we can still be good sisters. Take this medicine, and the wounds on your face and body will heal without leaving scars.”
Song Qingyao stared at the pill, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
Seeing this, Song Jiuning frowned. “If you don’t believe me, fine. Then you can keep that ugly scar. I suppose Father will surely pick a groom or servant who doesn’t mind it for you.”
At the mention of marrying a groom or servant, Song Qingyao panicked. That would be worse than being poisoned to death by Song Jiuning.
Without further hesitation, she snatched the pill from Song Jiuning’s hand and swallowed it in one gulp.
Song Jiuning stood up and suddenly patted her head as if remembering something, her face filled with regret. “Ah, look at this sister’s memory! I forgot to tell you just now—although this medicine can heal your scar, it does have some side effects…”
Hearing this, Song Qingyao widened her eyes in terror. “Wh-what side effects?”
Song Jiuning replied, “You’ll have to come to me every month for the antidote. Otherwise, your whole body will fester and you’ll die.”
Even Song Qingyao, foolish as she was, understood now. Healing her wound was just a pretense; poisoning her was the real goal.
Song Qingyao pinched her throat and frantically tried to vomit.
Song Jiuning watched coldly and laughed. “It’s useless. The medicine dissolves as soon as it enters your mouth. It’s already fully absorbed by now.”
Song Qingyao froze upon hearing this, glaring fiercely at Song Jiuning.
She didn’t doubt Song Jiuning’s words. Song Jiuning had always been skilled in medicine and poison.
Song Qingyao hated her to the core, knowing full well that Song Jiuning could never have good intentions.
Seeing her like this, Song Jiuning couldn’t have been happier.
She pinched her chin and sneered mockingly. “Dear sister, don’t look at me like that. I used to trust you, but how did you treat me in return? Blame yourself for being a vile woman.”
Song Qingyao gritted her teeth until they creaked, her eyes wishing they could tear Song Jiuning apart.
Only after toying with her enough did Song Jiuning say, “Hand over the jade pendant. For the sake of your own health, dear sister, don’t try any tricks.”
Song Qingyao had indeed considered it, but with her life now in Song Jiuning’s hands, she didn’t dare.
Following Song Qingyao’s instructions, Xun Mo indeed found Shen Yunting’s jade pendant.
Handing it to Song Jiuning, she examined it carefully.
The jade was warm and smooth, clearly of high quality. There was no doubt it belonged to Shen Yunting.
Shen Yunting himself was as poor as a church mouse, yet he was generous to Song Qingyao.
Song Jiuning ordered someone to keep an eye on Song Qingyao, wrote a visiting card, and had Fu Zui take the General’s Manor token to Gongning Wangfu. Meanwhile, she left with Xun Mo.
Shen Yunting owned a restaurant on East Street.
The restaurant’s business wasn’t good. After learning about it, Song Jiuning had even given Shen Yunting money to expand the operation, which eventually improved the business. However, she never saw a single coin of the subsequent profits.
Just as she remembered, the restaurant was nearly deserted.
The waiter spotted the two of them and rushed over eagerly, his eyes lighting up. “Esteemed guests, please come inside.”
Song Jiuning went upstairs and took a seat with a good view.
In her previous life, aside from providing money, she had never involved herself in the restaurant’s management. Today, she came specifically to inspect it and found that the location was indeed excellent, worth investing in.
She casually ordered a few dishes and watched the crowds passing by on the street.
Although the visiting card had been sent, she wasn’t sure if Shen Wenjing would come. After all, his attitude toward her in this lifetime hadn’t been particularly warm. But then again, in her previous life, he had hidden his deep affection for her so well.
Perhaps Shen Wenjing was just the reserved type? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have pinned her down and turned her over repeatedly yesterday at Wangfu.
At this thought, a blush crept onto Song Jiuning’s delicate face.
The two waited for a long time, until Xun Mo couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, will His Highness really come?”
Just as Song Jiuning was about to speak, her gaze settled on a figure dressed in dark blue.
She chuckled softly, her heart feeling as sweet as if she had eaten a large piece of candied fruit. “Isn’t he here now? Go and invite His Highness up.”