Qingzhu wiped her tears as she recalled:
"It happened not long after you left…"
"I heard that while the master and madam were out on the street, they encountered a girl selling herself to bury her father. She was about your age, lovely as jade and snow, and acted very clever and obedient."
"The master took pity on her and brought her back to the residence. When madam saw her, she liked her so much that she said they were kindred spirits and immediately adopted her as her own daughter, naming her Sang Yu."
"Originally, she was just an adopted daughter registered under Yun Yiniang. Later… later when news of constant warfare came from the border, they all thought you wouldn't return."
"Madam and the master then transferred the second young miss under madam's name, giving her the status of legitimate second daughter. They even wanted to transfer the qualification to inherit the peerage to… the second young miss."
Qingzhu paused and said quietly,
"This second young miss came under suspicious circumstances. Although I haven't had much interaction with her, I always feel… she's not as simple and kind as she appears on the surface. Young miss, you must be careful."
After listening, Song Yiqiu sneered coldly, all the clues gradually connecting in her mind.
She looked at Qingzhu and softened her tone:
"Qingzhu, I'm giving you a choice now. I can arrange for you to leave the Song residence immediately, provide you with enough silver to stay away from these troubles and live peacefully for the rest of your life."
"But I must stay to uncover the truth about grandmother's death and make everyone who wronged us pay the price. The road ahead is dangerous, you…"
"Young miss!"
Qingzhu knelt without hesitation, tightly grasping Song Yiqiu's skirt, her eyes extremely determined,
"Qingzhu has stayed in the residence pretending to be mad for seven years, just waiting for young miss to return. This servant's life was given by the old madam and young miss. Whatever young miss intends to do, even if it's climbing mountains of swords or crossing seas of fire, Qingzhu will follow you!"
"I beg young miss not to drive Qingzhu away!"
Song Yiqiu looked at Qingzhu kneeling before her, warmth surging in her heart as she bent down to personally help Qingzhu up.
After straightening Qingzhu's slightly disheveled clothes, Song Yiqiu's eyes were full of heartache:
"Good. Since someone wants you to be mad, then from today onward, continue being 'mad.' Who would take a mad person's words seriously? And this can exactly become cover for both you and me."
Qingzhu immediately understood and nodded heavily:
"Yes, young miss. This servant understands."
…
The next day at noon, sunlight streamed through the window onto the dressing table.
Qingzhu was carefully combing Song Yiqiu's long hair, her technique still skilled and gentle, her eyes sparkling as she was afraid of hurting her.
Song Yiqiu looked at the complicated hairstyle in the mirror and sincerely sighed:
"Qingzhu, after all these years, your hairdressing skills haven't deteriorated at all."
Qingzhu tilted her head and smiled with some nostalgia:
"Young miss is teasing this servant. I was still young back then, only learning some basics from the old madam, barely enough to serve young miss."
Song Yiqiu's fingers touched her fair cheek:
"The capital's environment really nourishes people. In just over half a month, my wheat-colored skin has mostly faded."
"Just looking like this, who would think I spent seven years at the border? I look like a young lady who's been living in privilege all along."
Qingzhu teased, and Song Yiqiu smiled slightly, looking at the unhealed calluses on her palm.
There were still differences. If she hadn't gone to the border back then, would she have been like an ordinary noble daughter…
At that moment, a sudden commotion arose from outside the courtyard.
An arrogant old matron barged in, her voice particularly shrill:
"The sun is already high in the sky, and the young mistress still hasn't risen? These slovenly habits brought back from the army truly need to be corrected. Otherwise, if word gets out, people might think the first wife's daughter of the Song household is undisciplined and lacking in upbringing!"
The newcomer was Matron Wang, the most trusted confidante of Song Shenshi.
Qingzhu's hand paused, her face revealing alarm:
"Miss… why would Matron Wang come so suddenly? Could it be that Madam… she knows you brought me back?"
The smile in Song Yiqiu's eyes vanished, replaced by a cold smirk:
"Mother's sources are naturally well-informed. Though she may not be certain it was you who overheard the secret back then, her approach has always been to rather kill the innocent than let the guilty escape."
"This Matron Wang likely comes with ill intentions, specifically to probe for information."
"Then… what should we do?"
Qingzhu sounded somewhat nervous.
Song Yiqiu calmly took a gold phoenix hairpin with inlaid white jade from her jewelry box and handed it to Qingzhu:
"When the enemy attacks, we defend; when floodwaters come, we use earth to block them. Here, put this on for me."
Understanding her meaning, Qingzhu carefully inserted the gold pin into Song Yiqiu's jet-black chignon. The phoenix at the pin's head held a string of delicate rubies in its beak, shimmering with dazzling brilliance and exuding an aura of nobility.
Song Yiqiu examined herself in the mirror for a moment, 'Beautiful, truly beautiful.'
A faint smile graced her lips as she fully unleashed her presence:
"Since the stage is set, let us perform a scene."
Assuming the dignified posture of the first wife's daughter, she slowly walked out the door, a gentle and appropriate smile gracing her face.
Spotting Matron Wang standing in the courtyard with hands on hips and a face full of disdain, she immediately quickened her pace to approach her, affectionately holding the matron's arm with overly sweet tones:
"Oh my~ Matron Wang, what wind brings you here? Does Mother have some instructions? Please tell me, this daughter will certainly comply!"
Matron Wang was momentarily stunned by this sudden enthusiasm, then disgustedly withdrew her hand. Her gaze swept like a knife over the gold pin in Song Yiqiu's hair as she spoke with sarcasm:
"The young mistress is living quite comfortably now! Not even half a month since returning home, yet such extravagance in daily provisions. It seems this old servant spoke out of turn, worrying that the young mistress, accustomed to hardships on the frontier, might find life back at the mansion difficult!"
Her eyes filled with contempt as she unabashedly scanned the courtyard while speaking.
Song Yiqiu had just moved back and disliked crowds. Having recently changed courtyards, only a few rough-handed matrons were sweeping in the distance, making the place appear somewhat empty and desolate.
Song Yiqiu's smile remained unchanged, but her tone carried a hint of grievance:
"Matron, you truly misunderstand Yi Qiu. I've only just moved back to this main courtyard, and many things haven't been fully arranged yet."
"What I'm using now are merely old items that my younger sister left behind and deemed unworthy."
"Could it be… that even things my sister didn't want are considered extravagant in Matron's eyes? This shows what level of luxury my sister usually enjoys in the household…"
She stopped at the perfect moment, leaving endless room for imagination.
Matron Wang, caught off guard by this counterattack, instantly became furious:
"How dare you! How can you casually discuss the second young mistress? Compared to her golden nobility and cultivated manners, you're nothing but a wild child unfit for proper company!"
No sooner had her words fallen than—
Slap!
An old broom, flying from who-knows-where, smacked squarely into Nanny Wang's face. The handle struck her forehead right on target, instantly raising a large, red, swollen bump.
"Ouch! Who? Which damned soul did this?"