"What!"
Fu Langxing instantly bristled,
"Song Yiqiu! You want me to apologize to you? Are you daydreaming! How could I possibly apologize to you!"
As the dignified heir of a count, apologize to a woman of ill repute?
Absolutely impossible!
Song Sangyu quickly interjected with a soft voice, seemingly mediating but actually adding fuel to the fire:
"Sister! Aren't you being unreasonable? After all, Brother Langxing is the heir of the Count's estate, of noble status…"
"Even if he spoke somewhat hastily today, you can't… you can't humiliate him like this. Even if you won't spare Brother Langxing any face, you should at least show some respect for the Count's estate, right?"
Song Yiqiu completely ignored Song Sangyu, simply looking at Fu Langxing as she slowly rose to her feet.
Tall and slender, her standing figure cast shadows over the faces of those present as she spoke deliberately:
"Young Master Heir might have forgotten. When Grandmother and the old Count arranged the marriage alliance back then, they drafted a formal marriage contract… one bearing the Emperor's personally bestowed private seal granted to Grandmother. This marriage contract remains safely in my possession."
Her gaze swept over the crowd whose expressions had drastically changed:
"As long as I don't agree, this engagement remains valid. Even if you take this matter to the imperial court today, justice remains on my side."
"Do you wish to continue lingering here, letting more people witness the Count's estate become a laughingstock, or… offer one apology in exchange for a dissolution agreement, settling this cleanly once and for all? The choice is yours."
Fu Langxing trembled with rage, pointing at Song Yiqiu:
"Song Yiqiu! What's the point of you clinging so desperately and causing trouble like this?"
Song Sangyu immediately cooperated with tear-filled eyes, gently tugging his sleeve:
"Brother Langxing, don't be angry, don't speak to sister like that, she's just…"
Song Yiqiu suddenly flashed an exceptionally radiant smile at Fu Langxing, cutting off Song Sangyu:
"There is. Making you unhappy is my greatest satisfaction right now."
Having said this, she no longer paid attention to the spectacularly varied expressions in the hall, turning to give Baimei a straightforward order:
"Baimei, let's go. We have important matters to attend to today, no need to get our feet stuck in a pile of foul-smelling muck here."
Baimei, who had been stifling laughter until her stomach hurt, immediately responded brightly:
"Right away, Miss! We certainly don't make a habit of stepping in shit for fun!"
The trio departed – one walking with head held high and chest out, another strutting proudly, and the last drooling as they went.
Fu Langxing shouted furiously behind them:
"Song Yiqiu, you stop right there!"
…
Arriving at the bustling market, Baimei finally couldn't hold back and chattered away:
"Miss, why didn't you just cancel the engagement earlier? That so-called heir is blind and foolish, dumb as a donkey, completely unworthy of you! If we were in Longnan, I'd have already bagged him and given him a beating!"
Qingzhu, though in disguise, also felt disappointed by Fu Langxing's words and actions today, but still offered a quiet defense:
"Perhaps… Young Master Fu has heard slanderous talk and has his difficulties…"
"Difficulties?"
Baimei snorted contemptuously,
"Difficulties give him the right to spew nonsense and slander Miss's reputation in front of so many people? I think he's just asking for a beating!"
Listening to their bickering, Song Yiqiu smiled faintly, remaining perfectly calm:
"The engagement will naturally be called off. But not when he forces me to cancel it – only when I want to cancel it."
Baimei blinked:
"Huh? Why?"
"If an endeavor yields no benefit to us, there's no need to rush into it. But since we're going to do it, we must extract the maximum advantage from it."
Song Yiqiu's tone was calm, as if discussing battlefield strategy—a principle equally applicable to daily life.
"If we retreat so easily, who will restore my reputation? Should I just endure the slander Fu Langxing and Song Sangyu threw at me? Nothing in this world comes that cheaply."
Baimei's eyes lit up with sudden understanding, her face filled with admiration:
"Wow! Young mistress! How brilliant! Using military tactics even at home! I've learned something new!"
Qingzhu also nodded thoughtfully:
"I concur."
Baimei grew excited again:
"Then, young mistress, where shall we go stir up trouble… I mean, where shall we strategize?"
Song Yiqiu stopped walking and raised her chin to indicate:
"We're here."
Before them stood an imposing structure with vermilion-lacquered gates guarded by several uniformly dressed attendants.
Hanging above the entrance was a black plaque with golden characters written in standard script: Dousheng Manor.
Qingzhu paled at the sight, quickly grabbing Song Yiqiu's sleeve:
"Young mistress, this won't do! This… this is the capital's most notorious fighting arena, frequented by all sorts of disreputable characters. They say the owner has powerful backing. If the master finds out we came to such a place, he'd punish us severely!"
Song Yiqiu patted her hand reassuringly:
"Qingzhu, from now on, we can't just wait for others to harm us before thinking about how to evade or defend. We must strike first and seize the initiative."
She paused, then continued, "Sometimes, the most dangerous place is actually the safest, and where we're most likely to find what we need."
Though not fully comprehending, Qingzhu nodded firmly:
"This servant will follow your lead."
Baimei threw an arm around Qingzhu's shoulders, brimming with bravado:
"Don't be scared! Sister Qingzhu, I'll protect you! Whatever dragon's den or tiger's lair, we three sisters will face it together!"
Qingzhu blushed at the embrace, murmuring softly:
"Alright… alright…"
The moment they approached the entrance, a burly attendant blocked their path.
His gaze swept over the three modestly dressed women, his expression turning dismissive:
"Young ladies, you must have mistaken the location. Feizhi Pavilion (the capital's largest cosmetics and jewelry store) is on South Gate Street. This isn't a place for you."
Unperturbed, Song Yiqiu retrieved a wooden token from her sleeve and offered it:
"I'm here to see Manager Sun."
The attendant glanced at the token and snorted derisively, not even bothering to take it:
"Ha! Every day we get eight or ten people trying all sorts of tricks to get into our Dousheng Manor with their so-called treasures!"
"What rare item haven't I seen? But someone trying to enter with a shabby wooden token? That's a first! Scram! Don't block the path of our esteemed guests!"
With an impatient wave, he turned away, immediately plastering an obsequious smile on his face as he hurried toward a luxurious carriage that had just arrived.
Three or four richly dressed young masters descended from the carriage, followed by a man in common blue cloth garments.
Song Yiqiu's eyes fixed on the figure at the back of the group. Xiao Yongjing? What was he doing here? And dressed like that?
The attendant bowed obsequiously to the young masters, his demeanor completely transformed.
Baimei rolled up her sleeves in fury:
"Hey, this temper of mine! Those who judge people by their appearance! Miss, don't stop me…"
Qingzhu quickly held her back, looking at Song Yiqiu with concern:
"Miss… It seems we really can't get in…"
But Song Yiqiu wasn't surprised. Her mind raced as her gaze swept between the crown prince and the servant, and suddenly a smile played at the corners of her lips.
She whispered to Baimei and Qingzhu:
"Wait."
After saying this, she suddenly flashed a bright smile and quickly walked toward the crown prince, exclaiming with surprise:
"Xiao Jing! Oh my, what a coincidence! You're here to have fun too?"