After bidding farewell to her eldest brother, Song Ci took Amber and went shopping. Along the way, the bustling streets were a feast for the eyes.
The two shops Madam Fang had given were both located on the west side of the city, facing the street—one was a silk shop, the other a restaurant. They seemed bustling with customers and doing good business.
Song Ci walked into the silk shop to browse but quickly noticed something was wrong. The shopkeeper looked down on everyone, treating customers coldly, and the sales clearly didn't match the foot traffic.
Without showing any reaction, she turned and went to the restaurant. The dishes looked mediocre, yet the prices were outrageously high—they were treating customers like fat sheep to be fleeced.
Song Ci instructed Amber to request the account books, planning to go through them carefully back at the mansion. On the surface, the profits looked decent, but in reality, there were quite a few bad debts and outstanding accounts.
The exterior looked glamorous, but the inside had already rotted into rubbish.
It was a complete loss.
She had no idea what that shopkeeper was so proud about.
In modern times, if you couldn't make money, the boss would have already told you to pack your bags and get lost.
Song Ci sighed.
She thought she was getting a free deal, but now it seemed she had underestimated Madam Fang's means.
As the matriarch of the Marquis's Mansion, how could Madam Fang be willing to give away two golden geese to her for nothing?
It was just putting on a show, casually giving her some garbage to fob her off.
Song Ci sighed. So many tricks, traps everywhere. She would have to be more careful in the future, or she might be schemed to death without even knowing it.
The waters of this inner courtyard were deeper than the workplace.
Fortunately, the two shops were in good locations. If she made good use of them, she could turn waste into treasure. But what should she do with them?
Just as Song Ci was thinking, she heard Amber's anxious shouts from outside the door.
"Second Young Master, at least let me announce you first."
Song Jingwu waved his hand. "We're siblings, what's there to announce?"
Song Ci had just lain back on the bed when she saw a tall, burly man burst into the inner chamber, his rashness barely restrained.
Song Jingwu, ranked second among the five brothers, had a handsome, heroic face and a sturdy build. He was a tyrant in the martial academy, always eager to stand up for others. Since learning that Song Ci was not his biological sister, he had rarely set foot in her courtyard.
In her previous life, he had often stood up for Song Qianqian, serving as the sharpest knife in Song Qianqian's hand.
Seeing Song Ci, Amber fell to her knees with a thud.
"I failed to stop him, please punish me, Eldest Miss."
Song Ci waved her hand. "Forget it. You may leave."
Song Jingwu spoke aggressively, "Song Ci, Qianqian just returned to the mansion, and you immediately tattled on her, making Mother punish her by learning rules. You enjoyed sixteen years of blessings in her place, while she suffered sixteen years outside. Is this how you act as a sister?"
"Second Brother, are you mistaken?"
"Mistaken?"
Song Jingwu sneered. "You dropped the gift Qianqian gave you and deliberately brought it before Mother to spite her. Dare you say it wasn't intentional?"
Song Ci was speechless.
"Let me say it again: there is no conflict between me and Second Sister. Dropping the bracelet was purely accidental. I have a clear conscience.
As for Mother keeping Second Sister in the courtyard to learn rules, that is Mother's well-intentioned effort.
How did it become my fault in Second Brother's mouth?"
Song Jingwu snorted lightly. "Song Ci, when did you become so hypocritical? You've really disappointed me."
"Second Brother comes to accuse me without even asking the facts. I want to ask who is the one stirring trouble behind your back? Why don't you think that person is malicious?"
Song Jingwu was stunned.
Meeting Song Ci's gaze, he only felt a headache coming on.
He was also puzzled. The Song Ci he remembered had always been timid, afraid of trouble, and taciturn. When had she become so aggressive?
Like a sword drawn from its sheath, its cold light exposed.
It was as if she had become a different person.
Song Jingwu was very unaccustomed to it.
"Song Ci... you've changed."
Song Ci snorted lightly. "Second Brother, haven't you changed too?"
Among the brothers at home, the eldest was rigid, the second was reckless, the third was shrewd, the fourth was sinister, and the fifth was indifferent. Song Jingwu had the best relationship with the original body.
But with Song Qianqian's return to the mansion, Second Brother was the first to turn against her.
Song Jingwu was momentarily speechless.
Cui Zhu heard the argument and rushed in, standing in front of Song Ci.
"Second Young Master, if you want to hit or scold someone, come at me. The Eldest Miss has just recovered from a serious illness; her health can't withstand any trouble. I can swear that the Eldest Miss has not done a single thing to harm Second Young Lady.
Not only that, but the Eldest Miss even gave up her own courtyard for Second Young Lady, just to make it convenient for Second Young Lady to bond with Madam.
As for the bracelet matter, it was the Eldest Miss who noticed something was wrong and proactively asked Madam to seek justice for Second Young Lady.
The Eldest Miss considers everything for Second Young Lady. Such a good sister is hard to find even with a lantern.
If I'm lying even one word, may I be struck by lightning."
"Alright, I understand."
Song Jingwu looked at Cui Zhu's earnest expression and clearly softened his tone.
"Xiao Ci, I'm not targeting you. I just think Qianqian has suffered out there for so many years. As her older sister, you should be more accommodating and give in to her a bit."
"Second Brother, as my older brother, why don't you give in to me, your younger sister?"
Song Jingwu was left speechless.
"Xiao Ci, why are you so petty? I'm a man, a bit rough in my actions, but it wasn't intentional."
"Second Brother, that's an interesting way to put it. When it comes to Song Qianqian, I'm the older sister, so I have to give in. When it comes to you, I'm the younger sister, and I also have to give in. Second Brother really is quite biased."
Song Ci's smile was cold.
Song Jingwu rubbed his temples in irritation, feeling uneasy under her gaze.
"That's not what I meant. Forget it, let's drop it. It's getting late, get some rest. I just got a bead today—I'll give it to you as my apology."
With that, he pulled a luminous pearl from his chest, stuffed it into Song Ci's hand, and fled.
As if a dog was chasing him.
Cui Zhu was full of confusion.
"Eldest Miss, what does Second Young Master mean by this?"
"Never mind him!"
Song Ci didn't care at all. It wasn't like he was her real brother.
She toyed with the bead in her hand. It was a deep green, faintly glowing with a soft light, and didn't seem like an ordinary item. Song Ci unconsciously remembered that in her previous life, after Song Jingwu returned to the mansion, he had also given a bead to Song Qianqian.
Song Qianqian had discovered it was a priceless luminous pearl.
Taking advantage of the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, she presented it and won the Empress Dowager's favor, earning the title of County Princess for herself.
Even Marquis Yong'an received praise from the Emperor for raising such a daughter. From then on, Song Qianqian's reputation soared, and she quickly integrated into the aristocratic circle, paving the way for her future rise to power.
Now, this bead had fallen into her hands. She just didn't know if it was that same luminous pearl.
Song Ci didn't have Song Qianqian's knack for recognizing treasures, but she could find someone to appraise it.
If it was a luminous pearl, she would have hit the jackpot.
At dinnertime, Cui Zhu returned in high spirits to report.
"Eldest Miss... Second Young Master went to Second Young Lady's courtyard. For some reason, they got into a quarrel and even went to Madam. Madam flew into a rage and punished Second Young Master to kneel in the ancestral hall for two hours."
"Serves him right."
Song Ci sneered. Evil people will be punished by other evil people.
However, Song Jingwu, though big and rough, was actually petty and held grudges. Song Qianqian had thrown him under the bus like this, and he would definitely hold it against her.
The relationship between these two siblings had become delicate.
As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman catches them both.
If these two siblings were at odds, her days would be much easier.
Song Ci was so pleased she added an extra half-bowl of rice.
Early the next day, she took Cui Zhu out of the mansion. They hadn't gone far when they ran into Shen Huaizhou's guard.
She followed him to a private room in a teahouse.
Inside, Shen Huaizhou was pacing anxiously, his fat jiggling with each step, swaying like a big fat goose. As soon as he saw Song Ci, he immediately shared the good news.
"Little sister, I have news about our mother..."
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