The lanterns were hanging high in front of the Tang family mansion. After Fu Laiqing spoke the words in his mouth, his face turned even redder than the lanterns.
Qi Cheng, seeing his embarrassed expression, clicked his tongue. “What’s wrong, can’t hold it in anymore?”
Fu Laiqing glared at him.
Qi Cheng wasn’t particularly upset about his friend’s admiration for the Qian family’s daughter. He admired Qian Qiyue, but mostly felt that the two families were well-suited for each other, and it wasn’t a matter of “only her.” Moreover, if Fu Laiqing found someone he liked, he would just feel happy for him.
After a few teasing remarks, Qi Cheng became serious and said, “Since you like her, why don’t you go to the Qian family and propose?”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he continued. “Qian Qiyue is already of age. If it weren’t for her family doting on her, she should have been married off by now. And Mrs. Qian isn’t just considering me for her daughter’s marriage—out of respect for our years of friendship, I can step aside, but not everyone will. Many people are hoping to form a marriage alliance with the Qian family.”
Qian Baokun held the position in the Ministry of Revenue, and the Qian family was an influential family in Lingnan. Many families in the capital wanted to marry into them.
If he doesn’t marry her, there are plenty of others who would.
Mrs. Qian could always find a suitable match for her daughter among them.
Qi Cheng patted his friend’s shoulder and said earnestly, “If you really like her, make a move sooner rather than later. Have Old Madam go to the Qian family to propose. Don’t wait until someone else beats you to it. Then you’ll just be morally wrong, and even Lord Cao will break your legs if he finds out.”
Fu Laiqing slapped his hand off his shoulder, giving him a look of annoyance. “Who’s trying to steal someone else’s partner!”
He just hadn’t realized his feelings before.
He had never liked anyone before, and when he first fell for Yi Yang County Princess, it ended abruptly before it even started. He thought his attention toward Qian Qiyue was simply because she was the princess’s friend. But when both of them fell into the water that day, he only had eyes for Qian Qiyue, and that’s when Fu Laiqing realized that he had already developed feelings for that proud and beautiful little peacock from the Qian family.
Qi Cheng nudged him. “Well, how about it? Want me to help you out? You’re her lifesaver today…”
“Don’t mess around!” Fu Laiqing quickly warned. “I know my limits with the Qian family, don’t get involved and ruin her reputation!”
He paused, then said to Qi Cheng, “When you get back, tell Aunt not to discuss the marriage proposal with the Qian family anymore. We don’t want any misunderstandings later. And also…”
“Also what?”
“Can you ask Aunt to find out which families Mrs. Qian is considering?”
“Pfft!”
Qi Cheng couldn’t hold back his laughter, and seeing Fu Laiqing’s face turn red with both shame and anger, he laughed even harder. Finally, he almost couldn’t stand up from laughing.
Seeing the servants of the Tang mansion glance over, Fu Laiqing, both embarrassed and angry, covered Qi Cheng’s mouth and forcefully dragged him into the carriage.
……
After everyone else had left, Song Jinxiu stayed behind a moment longer at the Tang mansion. He quietly spoke to Yuejian, who had somehow found a painter. He described the face of the person who had bumped into Tang Ning and the others that night, and the “painter” quickly sketched several portraits.
“Lord Song, do any of these look like him?”
Song Jinxiu stepped forward and looked at the sketches. His face gradually changed. After a moment, he pointed to one of them and said, “This one. He looks about six or seven parts similar, but his eyes are a little longer, and his jaw is slightly wider.”
The painter quickly made a few more strokes, and the person in the portrait changed its expression.
Song Jinxiu, still shocked, whispered, “It’s him. He’s not very tall, a bit chubby, and wears a coarse short shirt. When he runs, he has a slight hunchback.”
Yuejian took note of this and gave an order. Soon, someone stepped forward to deliver the finished portrait to the Canglang, who was still outside searching. The painter then bowed to Tang Ning before retreating.
Song Jinxiu remained stunned, unable to stop himself from looking at Tang Ning. “When did you get such a good painter by your side?”
Tang Ning’s expression was calm. “He’s not my person. He’s from the Privy Council. My brother and his people are often involved in investigations, so they naturally have skilled portrait artists.”
Song Jinxiu, who had been surprised, suddenly stiffened.
Tang Ning glanced at Yuejian, who approached with a box in hand. “Tonight, I thank Lord Song for helping my young lady. This is a Jinhuacheng Mud Inkstone that my young lady obtained some time ago. Please accept it as a token of my gratitude.”
Song Jinxiu looked at her in disbelief. “I didn’t help you for these things. I didn’t chase after you on purpose tonight either. I just saw you in danger and was afraid something would happen to you, so I ran after you. I didn’t think of anything else…”
“I know,” Tang Ning replied calmly. “But one should not refuse gifts. I have no more ties with Lord Song. You helped me, so I must thank you.”
Song Jinxiu’s face turned pale. “Tang Ning, do you really want to distance yourself from me like this? I’m your brother, and you won’t trust me even a little bit?”
Tang Ning turned her head to look at his painful expression, a mix of confusion and amusement in her eyes.
She had fallen out with the Song family, partly due to grievances from her past life, and the Song family had been ruined because of her. Everyone knew they could never go back to what they were. Yet, why could Song Jinxiu still act as if nothing had happened, saying the word “brother” as if nothing was wrong?
Tang Ning looked at Song Jinxiu’s face and suddenly smiled. “Lord Song, does it matter whether I trust you or not?” She saw that he was about to speak, so she lifted her lips, “I heard that you had a wedding in your family not long ago. Lord Song was also noticed by the emperor because of someone’s recommendation.”
“Now that you’re no longer burdened by the Song family, you should be soaring, with a bright future ahead. Why dwell on the past?”
Song Jinxiu’s lips trembled. All the words he wanted to say were blocked in his throat. His fingers were clenched so tightly in his sleeve that they turned white. He looked at the girl in front of him, her gaze as cold as ice, and felt a chill run through his body.
She knew about Song Shulan.
She knew he had used Song Shulan to secure his future in court.
“Tang Ning, let me explain. Song Shulan, she…”
“You don’t need to explain to me. Song Shulan is your sister. How you arrange her future is your own business. I’m not interested in what happens between you two.”
“I don’t like it when you bring up the past, and I don’t want to owe you any favors. Or is Lord Song still not satisfied with this inkstone for what you did tonight?”
Tang Ning turned to speak, “Yuejian, go get some more things from the treasury.”
Yuejian turned to leave.
Song Jinxiu pressed his lips together and interrupted, “Enough, you don’t have to humiliate me. I’ll take the inkstone!”
Yuejian stepped forward, holding the brocade box.
Song Jinxiu took it, and his hand gripping the box turned pale.
Even though he had long known that this girl before him was no longer the Tang Ning of the past, and that she would no longer treat him as she did before, calling him “brother” and speaking gently, Song Jinxiu still felt a pang in his chest.
The sudden rush of memories filled him with guilt and shame. He wanted to make up for it, to tell her he would never treat her like he did before, but she would never believe him again.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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