The figure approached and stopped about ten feet away from Song Wenjing.
“Brother Yanqing, you’ve arrived.”
Liu Qianyun’s voice was soft and gentle, and her eyes hadn’t left Song Wenjing since she came in.
Liu Zhihe felt a headache coming on. He looked at Song Wenjing again. Song Wenjing had his back to Liu Qianyun and only nodded slightly, without giving his daughter a single glance.
He had the demeanor of a true gentleman.
It’s all the fault of that couple. Before Song Wenjing got married, they had discussed arranging a match between him and their daughter after he graduated from high school.
What was originally a secret plan between the couple turned out to be overheard by their daughter.
After that, Liu Qianyun kept hoping to marry Song Wenjing.
Who would have thought that the talented scholar had just passed the imperial examination, and the Song family had already arranged a marriage between him and the eldest daughter of the Jiang family.
After their daughter’s wish was dashed, she was dejected for more than half a year and even fell ill. The couple had no choice but to send her to stay with her maternal grandparents in Beijing for a while.
Liu Zhihe had initially thought that his daughter’s mood and physical condition were the same as before since she came back these past two days, and that she had come to terms with things.
Looking at it now, it’s clear that this doesn’t look like someone who has come to terms with things.
They’ve probably gotten even deeper into trouble!
Liu Zhihe glanced at his wife, who was now busy setting out the dishes, and his headache worsened.
This whole thing was probably planned by the mother and daughter!
“Qianyun, you’ve just returned from the capital after a long journey. You’re not feeling well, so go back to your room and rest.”
Faced with her father’s intention to make her leave, Liu Qianyun tightened her grip on the handkerchief, but showed no willingness whatsoever.
“Father, I don’t feel tired.”
Liu Zhihe’s face darkened.
My daughter went to the capital and came back, but why is she even less polite now?
Boys and girls should not sit at the same table after the age of seven. Although the social norms are not so strict nowadays, it is still not to the point that a young virgin should not eat at the same table as a married man.
Just as he was about to have Liu Qianyun forcibly taken away, Song Wenjing, who was sitting opposite him, spoke first.
“Sir, Madam, I have some matters to attend to at home, so I must take my leave now.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhihe’s expression improved somewhat.
He couldn’t bear to scold his daughter, and he would prefer Song Wenjing to avoid it.
“Since that’s the case, I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll find you another day to meet again.”
After bowing, Song Wenjing withdrew.
Liu Qianyun’s eyes immediately filled with tears as she moved with his figure.
Liu Zhihe continued with a stern face, “Alright, sit down and eat.”
Yan felt utterly helpless. She exchanged a glance with her husband and could see that he was suppressing his anger.
However, the couple kept their conversation to themselves and didn’t bring it up in front of their daughter, deciding to discuss it later.
Madam Yan pulled her daughter over and urged, “Let’s eat first. I made you chestnut chicken soup today, isn’t that your favorite?”
Liu Qianyun wasn’t listening to any of that right now.
She was still thinking about Song Wenjing’s disregard for her, feeling that he was heartless, yet she couldn’t bear to criticize him.
They missed their chance. But a man doesn’t necessarily have only one wife.
During the six months she spent in Beijing, she couldn’t convince herself to let go.
After listening to her cousin’s words, she realized that as long as she loved and tolerated him enough, she could still be with Song Wenjing.
Thinking of this, she stopped eating, ignored the soup bowl that Madam Yan handed her, and got up and ran out.
…
The attendant, Changshun, was waiting outside the courtyard when he was surprised to see his master come out in less than a quarter of an hour.
“Third Master, has something happened?”
Song Wenjing remained aloof, saying, “It’s nothing, let’s go back.”
Changshun scratched his head, wanting to ask where they were going back to.
Should we return to the cell or to the Song residence?
Before he could ask any questions, Song Wenjing had already left.
The two had only gone halfway when they heard light footsteps behind them.
Changshun looked back and saw a corner of clothing running from around the corner.
“Third Master, what’s behind us…”
He had just turned around when he saw Song Wenjing walking steadily, and quickened his pace slightly.
“Brother Yanqing!”
The young woman’s voice rang out, and Changshun lowered his head, pretending not to hear, and continued walking forward with Song Wenjing.
The tall, slender figure ahead kept walking without stopping. Liu Qianyun chased after him, panting heavily, but gritted her teeth and refused to go back just like that.
After Song Wenjing got married, he rarely visited her home.
In the six months before she was sent to the capital, she rarely saw Song Wenjing.
Liu Qianyun was naturally unwilling to give up this rare opportunity to be alone.
She chased after them with great determination, and even when Changshun tried to stand between them, she pushed him aside.
Changshun never expected that this seemingly delicate girl could be so strong.
Seeing that the girl was acting like she had lost her mind, Song Wenjing felt annoyed. However, considering that she was the teacher’s daughter, he did not immediately tell Changshun to abandon her.
Just as Liu Qianyun was about to pounce on him, Song Wenjing dodged to the side, causing her to miss.
His face darkened as he said, “Miss Liu, are you trying to frame me?”
Hearing his cold words, Liu Qianyun couldn’t stop her tears from falling.
“Brother Yanqing, we haven’t seen each other for so long, don’t you…?”
“Miss Liu.”
Song Wenjing interrupted her. His eyes were dark and intimidating, and his voice was cold and ruthless.
“Changshun, you stay here and let the Liu family come and take her back.”
Changshun quickly agreed and raised his hand to stop Liu Qianyun. This time he was prepared and managed to prevent Liu Qianyun from pushing him away.
Song Wenjing turned and left, disappearing from Liu Qianyun’s sight shortly afterward.
Liu Qianyun suddenly lost all her strength and collapsed to the ground.
Changshun couldn’t bear to watch, after all, he had followed Song Wenjing since he was a child and was quite familiar with Liu Qianyun.
“Young lady, go back. Men and women should not touch each other. What you are doing will not do you any good.”
Liu Qianyun covered her face and wept, mumbling, “I know he was afraid I would ruin his reputation, but what could I do? I couldn’t let him go. If it weren’t for that Jiang guy interfering, we would be a perfect couple now…”
Changshun’s lips twitched.
Is this Miss Liu suffering from hysteria?
Their third master never made any advances toward this girl that went beyond the bounds of propriety!
Changshun said, “Miss Liu, you must be careful what you say!”
He glanced at the Liu family members chasing after him and took two steps back.
Liu Qianyun was quickly subdued by the nanny who had caught up with her.
She couldn’t break free, and recently she’d been yelling, “Why are you making things so difficult for me? We’re so in love, why are you forcing us to be such a star-crossed couple…”
Seeing that she was becoming increasingly deranged, the old woman took it upon herself to stuff a handkerchief into her mouth.
Upon seeing this, Changshun quickly withdrew and left.
Back in his cell, he saw Song Wenjing in the small study next door and went up to him to tell him what had just happened.
After Changshun finished speaking, he added, “…Miss Liu isn’t feeling well, so you shouldn’t go to the headmaster’s place these days.”
Song Wenjing lowered his head, flipped through two pages of the book, and hummed in agreement.
A moment later, he still hadn’t absorbed much of the book.
Instead, I kept thinking about Rong Shu’s lonely figure in front of the mirror last night.
He felt a sharp pain in his head, and despite his intelligence, he couldn’t figure out why.
As usual, Song Wenjing would spend two hours reading in the afternoon.
Changshun would prepare the tea and then stand guard outside the door to prevent anyone from disturbing him.
But just as he finished brewing the tea, he saw Song Wenjing stand up.
Changshun thought he had some instructions, but he heard him say, “Go prepare the horses.”