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"Oh? So Second Brother didn't know? Mother is quite concerned about her sons' marriages, and specifically instructed me, as your younger sister, to pay extra attention to my brothers' marital prospects after returning home."
"I came specifically to ask you, Second Brother—have you taken a liking to any particular noble daughter? That way I could… prioritize arrangements?"
At these words, Song Wenbin's expression instantly changed.
The male companions at his side immediately erupted, swarming around him with sour, anxious tones:
"Binlang! You said you loved only me!"
"My lord! Are you really going to marry those vulgar women?"
"Don't, Binlang! You said you hated those simpering young misses the most!"
"Is Mother trying to introduce those annoying women to you again?"
Song Yiqiu watched the scene, clicked her tongue softly, and shook her head with a sigh:
"So Second Brother's tastes… are so unique. Ah, it seems I've overstepped. I suppose I'll just have to return and… truthfully report Second Brother's preferences to Mother."
"I just wonder whether Mother will be able to tolerate these pretty little… pretty little gentlemen."
"Song Yiqiu!"
Song Wenbin interrupted her furiously, grinding his teeth as he glared at her.
"Stop speaking in that insinuating tone! You've already moved back to the main residence and extorted a fortune—what more could you possibly want? Just say it directly!"
"What exactly are you trying to do? What are you here to demand this time? Silver? Jewelry? Silks and satins? Or rouge and powder?"
Song Yiqiu spread her hands, feigning innocence:
"Second Brother, you're being so distant. You know I've just returned from the border—I have no interest in those feminine adornments. It's just that…"
"In this vast Song residence, none of the servants suit me. The old retainers who knew me seem to have all disappeared. Organizing a tea party is strenuous work—it's truly difficult without capable and trustworthy helpers…"
Song Wenbin's eyes shifted as he immediately grasped her hidden meaning.
He smirked darkly, with a hint of malice:
"Heh, what a coincidence. There actually is an old acquaintance of yours in my courtyard. However… she's not quite right in the head now—has become a little madwoman. Though she's crazy, she can probably still handle rough chores like sweeping and cleaning."
Song Yiqiu's heart clenched, rage instantly flaring up, but she maintained a thoroughly disgusted expression:
"Second Brother must be joking with me? A madwoman can help me? Your sincerity seems lacking."
Song Wenbin waved impatiently:
"After you left, Mother replaced all the old servants long ago—there are no former retainers left!"
"This is the only one, and I only kept her as a rough maid because she was somewhat pretty back then. Otherwise, she would've been sold to a procuress and who knows which brothel she'd be serving in now! Take it or leave it!"
Suppressing the urge to kill him immediately, Song Yiqiu reluctantly nodded:
"Fine, fine, better than nothing. Where is she?"
Song Wenbin stared at her:
"Then you must remember—keep your mouth shut!"
Song Yiqiu:
"Of course, Second Brother's 'preferences' will remain strictly confidential."
Satisfied, Song Wenbin clapped his hands and ordered a servant behind him:
"Go bring that mad girl who tends the kitchen fires!"
Soon, two servants dragged over a thin figure and roughly threw her to the ground.
The woman was utterly filthy, her hair tangled like withered grass, her face smeared with grime and soot to the point where her original features were nearly unrecognizable. Her eyes were hollow, and she seemed to be murmuring something unconsciously under her breath.
Dressed in tattered coarse clothing, she exuded a sour, unpleasant odor.
With just one glance, Song Yiqiu recognized those once-bright and lively eyes.
Even now, dull as stagnant water, she could never mistake them.
It was Qingzhu!
Her heart ached so fiercely she could barely breathe. Clenching her teeth, she bit the tip of her tongue, using the pain to hold back tears that threatened to spill.
She couldn’t show it—absolutely not!
Forcing herself to look away, she infused her tone with undisguised disdain:
"Second Brother, is this the sort of trash you’re giving me? It’s downright insulting—I doubt she could even sweep the floors properly in my courtyard."
Song Wenbin just wanted to be rid of this nuisance. Irritated, he snapped:
"If she’s dirty, have the maids in your yard scrub her clean when you get back. Now take her and go! Don’t stand there cluttering up the place and wasting my time!"
As he spoke, he was already impatiently reaching to pull his little beauty back into his arms.
Song Yiqiu said no more. With an icy glare at the trembling Qingzhu on the ground, she scolded sharply:
"What are you still dawdling for? Disgraceful creature! Come with me!"
Feigning impatience, she dragged the stumbling Qingzhu along and hurried back to the main courtyard.
Chapter 8: Second Brother's Tastes
Song Yiqiu's brows furrowed. The instant he was about to touch her, she shot out a hand, precisely grabbing his wrist and twisting it back.
"Ahhh! It hurts, it hurts! Which blind dog bastard dares to ruin my fun!"
Song Wenbin cried out in pain and cursed loudly, ripping off his blindfold.
When he saw Song Yiqiu standing before him, he froze, the alcohol wearing off in an instant.
"Song… Song Yiqiu? What are you doing here? Where's the gatekeeper? Are they letting just anyone in now!"
Song Yiqiu flung his hand away in disgust, took out a handkerchief to wipe her own, and spoke in a tone laced with amusement, "Second Brother? You're certainly in high spirits."
The male courtesans beside him also gathered around. Upon seeing it was Song Yiqiu, they began whispering to each other in a frivolous tone.
"Oh, so this is the eldest daughter of the Song family who spent seven years on the frontier? She does look quite fierce…"
"Hmph, not a trace of feminine gentleness. No wonder she can't get married."
"Exactly. She's nothing like Sang Yu, who is so gentle and considerate, and often sends us exquisite little things to amuse us."
"Bin-lang, she's just your sister. What are you afraid of her for?"
"That's right, hurry up and kick her out. She's disturbing our fun…"
Spurred on by these words, and seeing Song Yiqiu's attitude after ruining his good time, Song Wenbin felt he had lost face in front of his darlings. Flying into a rage out of humiliation, he actually raised his hand to slap Song Yiqiu across the face.
"You bitch! Who allowed you to come to my courtyard and act so insolently!"
Song Yiqiu scoffed. Without dodging or evading, she once again seized his wrist, then used his momentum to pull him forward and sent a resounding slap back across his face.
Smack!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the courtyard, and all the teasing chatter came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone was stunned, staring in disbelief at the red, five-fingered handprint rapidly appearing on Song Wenbin's face.
Song Wenbin clutched his face, dazed for a full few seconds before he reacted, his entire body trembling with rage.
"Song Yiqiu! Are you trying to die! You dare hit me?"
Song Yiqiu nonchalantly blew on her slightly reddened palm. "Oh, my apologies, Second Brother. It's so dark, and this courtyard is full of buzzing mosquitoes and flies. My eyes played tricks on me for a moment; I thought a big mosquito was lunging over to bite me. I might have hit a little too hard. Second Brother, please don't take offense."
After she spoke, she tilted her head and smiled. This mosquito trick was something she had learned from her dear little sister.
Tsk, tsk. The old saying was true: he who touches pitch shall be defiled.
"You!"
Song Wenbin was so furious he nearly coughed up blood. Just as he was about to shout for his men to seize this madwoman, he heard Song Yiqiu's tone suddenly shift.
"By the way, Second Brother," she said, feigning a sudden recollection, "I heard that Mother seems to intend for me to send out invitations in my name, to host a tea party for all the noble daughters in the capital. I wonder if Second Brother… is aware of this matter?"
Song Wenbin froze, looking at her warily. "…What does this have to do with me?"
In her past life, she had been confined because of the stigma of 'adultery'. Mother had used her name to host a tea party, acting as a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for Second Brother with the daughter of the Minister of War.
From then on, Second Brother had resented her, hating her for ruining his life's happiness.
It was only when she was dying that she learned of his true orientation and his regret for having delayed a woman in the prime of her life.
Song Yiqiu's gaze grew distant as she looked at the man before her with profound meaning. "Oh? So Second Brother doesn't know? Mother is very worried about her sons' marriages. She specifically instructed me, as your younger sister, to be more concerned about my elder brothers now that I've returned home."
"So I came here specifically to ask Second Brother if there is any noble daughter who has caught his eye? That way I can… make special arrangements?"
The moment she said this, Song Wenbin's expression changed instantly.
The male courtesans around him erupted, crowding around him with voices both sour and anxious.
"Bin-lang! You said you loved only me!"
"My lord! Are you going to marry one of those vulgar women?"
"Please don't, Bin-lang! You said you hated those delicate young ladies the most!"
"Is Her Ladyship trying to introduce you to those annoying women again?"
Watching the scene, Song Yiqiu clicked her tongue softly and sighed with a shake of her head. "So Second Brother's tastes… are this unique. Alas, it seems I've been meddlesome. I can only go back… and report Second Brother's preferences to Mother truthfully."
"I just don't know if Mother can tolerate these flower-like, beautiful little… little beauties."
"Song Yiqiu!" Song Wenbin cut her off, exasperated. He ground his back teeth, staring at her fixedly. "Stop with the sarcasm. You've already moved back to the main courtyard and made an exorbitant demand for a thousand taels. What else are you not satisfied with? Just say it!"
"What do you really want? What are you here to ask for this time? Silver? Jewelry? Or silks and satins, rouge and powder?"
Song Yiqiu spread her hands, a look of innocence on her face. "Now, Second Brother, you're being a stranger. You know, I just got back from the frontier. I'm really not interested in those things for dolling up. It's just that…"
"In this huge Song residence, I find the servants difficult to manage. The old, familiar ones all seem to be gone. Organizing this tea party is a lot of work. Without a capable and trustworthy helper, it's really hard to handle…"
Song Wenbin's eyes darted, and he immediately understood her hidden meaning.
He gave a sinister smile, tinged with malice. "Hah, what a coincidence. In my courtyard, there really is an old acquaintance of yours. However… her mind isn't quite clear now; she's become a little lunatic. Though she's crazy, she can probably still handle rough chores like sweeping and cleaning."
Song Yiqiu's heart lurched, and rage instantly flared within her, but her face feigned utter disdain. "Second Brother must be joking with me, right? A lunatic can help me? Your sincerity is rather lacking."
Song Wenbin waved his hand impatiently. "After you left, Mother replaced the old servants several times over. How could there be any old-timers left!"
"This is the only one. It was only because I saw she was rather pretty back then that I asked Mother for her to be a rough-serving maid. Otherwise, she would have long been sold to a procuress and be receiving clients in some brothel by now! Take her or leave her!"
Song Yiqiu forcefully suppressed the urge to kill him on the spot and nodded with feigned reluctance. "Fine, fine. It's better than nothing. Where is she?"
Song Wenbin stared at her. "Then you'd better remember to keep your mouth shut!"
Song Yiqiu replied, "But of course. I will certainly keep Second Brother's 'preferences' a secret."
Only then was Song Wenbin satisfied. He clapped his hands and ordered the servant boy behind him, "Go, bring that crazy girl who stokes the fires in the back kitchen over here!"
A short while later, two servant boys dragged over a thin figure and threw her roughly to the ground.
The girl was filthy from head to toe, her hair matted like withered grass. Her face was streaked with black and gray, her original features almost unrecognizable. Her eyes were vacant, and she seemed to be unconsciously muttering something.
Dressed in tattered coarse cloth, she exuded a sour stench.
With just one glance, Song Yiqiu recognized those eyes that were once bright and lively.
Even though they were now like stagnant water, she would never mistake them.
It was Qingzhu!
Her heart ached so much she could barely breathe. She bit down hard on the tip of her tongue, using the pain to force back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
She couldn't show it! She absolutely couldn't!
She forced herself to look away, her tone dripping with undisguised disgust. "Second Brother, this is the kind of person you're giving me? She's too filthy. I'm afraid she can't even sweep the floor of my courtyard clean."
Song Wenbin just wanted to get rid of this jinx as quickly as possible. He said irritably, "If you think she's dirty, just have the old women in your courtyard give her a good wash when you get back. Take her away now! Don't be an eyesore here and delay my business!"
As he spoke, he eagerly tried to pull his little beauties back into his arms.
Song Yiqiu said no more. She barked coldly at the trembling Qingzhu on the ground, "What are you still dazing for? You disgraceful thing! Follow me back!"
Feigning impatience, she dragged the stumbling Qingzhu and quickly left, returning to the main courtyard.