In the drawing room, Yuan Xueâe, a ten-year-old girl, was sitting alone with her hand holding a tea bowl, praying in secret, âI wish this Miss Song is an easy-going person!â
She and Song Yixiao entered Prince of Hengshanâs mansion on the same day but they never met with each other.
Today, she was asked to pay her a visit by her brother Yuan Xuepei. âWe are relatives of the prince, but our grandma and uncle both have their own lineal descendants. In this case, how much concern do you expect they can show for us? As a result, you shall not treat Auntie Wei impolitely.â Said Yuan Xuepei.
That was to say, they would rather turn to the person-in-charge than rely on those of high status.
Yuan Xueâe always listened to her brother so she certainly followed his advice accordingly.
Yet, she was used to being bullied by her step-grandma and uncle when she was in the house of Marquis Boling, so she was inevitably anxious and fearful at the last moment. âNow I am living in the house of the Prince. Seriously, as the legitimate niece, I shall be more justifiable than her. However, I have become distant from my motherâs maiden family since my parents passed away. Now my uncleâs current wife is the birth mother of Miss Song. If we donât get along, how can this auntie not show partiality to her own daughter?â
While she was in a trance, she saw a group of people coming from outside. The leading girl, who had black hair, beautiful eyes and fair skin, looked so pretty and clever. As she caught sight of Yuan Xueâe, she hurried to apologize with a smile, âIâm so sorry! I have kept you waiting for a long time because my mother had something to tell me just now!â
As she was speaking, she advanced to greet Yuan Xueâe.
Yuan Xueâe, feeling relieved with a sigh, hastened to rise and greet in return, âItâs okay. I came here unasked. Please donât blame me for that!â
âYou are being absurd.â While Song Yixiao ordered the servant to bring new tea, she said sincerely, âI feel uneasy about being accepted into the Princeâs mansion so I donât dare to disturb the others. I am so honored to have you here!â
âI am so flattered. You are such a doll! It would be lovely if we can be friends!â
They both wanted to make friends with each other. Therefore, they became rather close after a quick conversation, who appeared like blood sisters.
Having had a confab, Yuan Xueâe started to talk of her intention of visit, âI am living in the Shibi Building outside the cherry-apple trees. Now we are neighbors. How about going to the girlâs school together from now on?â
Although Cui Jianlian had been sent back to her own home, Song Yixiao wouldnât refuse such a good will, âSince you donât mind being with me, how can I say no to you?â
After ending the topic, Yuan Xueâe was leaving, âYouâve just come back. I will leave you to rest.â
Song Yixiao tried to ask her to stay for longer but as she insisted on leaving, Song Yixiao had to see her off outside the gate. Then they had a small talk hand in hand before Song Yixiao saw her walk away.
Having been back to the inner chamber, Ms. Zhao said in confusion, âPrincess Consort said that thanks to Miss Yuanâs brother, you could get away this time. I thought this lady came here to talk about it. How come she didnât bring it up at all?â
âWhy did she bring it up to me?â Song Yixiao couldnât help laughing, âIt is not me who should return the favor!â
She hadnât acquainted with Yuan Xueâe and her brother. Yuan Xuepei asked Jian Xubai to help Song Yixiao only in order to gain the promise of Wei Mengying. In fact, it was a transaction. Yuan Xueâe came here only to befriend Song Yixiao. It would ruin her purpose if the transaction was involved.
Ms. Zhao said surprisingly, âThen she came here to?â
Didnât she come here only to have a chat with Song Yixiao?
âDidnât she talk of it just now?â Song Yixiao said with an ironic smile, âBoth of us lived under the roof of Prince of Hengshan. If she doesnât befriend me, who else can she turn to?â
âA little maid came to report that Zhiqin could get off bed now.â Ms. Zhao hastened to change the topic, âYour ladyship, would you like to summon her?â
Song Yixiao heard it and immediately put down the tea bowl, âHow can I ask her to work presently? Iâll go to see her myself!â
Zhiqin was recovering well and looked much better now, except that her seriously injured parts still couldnât be restored. Although she tried to look fine in front of Song Yixiao, such a nine-year-old girl as her was inevitably deeply stricken for suffering the misfortune!
Song Yixiao spent quite a while accompanying her with a forced smile before she left.
After going back to the drawing room, Song Yixiao saw some embroideries on the table, which were given by Yuan Xueâe when she left. With her eyes getting colder, she still ordered, âPut them away. Pick some similar things in my box and send them to the Shibi Building as a return present.
Yuan Xuepei also had something to do with Zhiqinâs disability so Song Yixiao actually didnât want to make friends with Yuan Xueâe. However, Wei Mengying was right that she couldnât act willfully at the moment.
After all, Yuan Xueâe was a legitimate child of a marquis. Now she extended an olive branch first. If Song Yixiao didnât take it, she would be put into a disadvantaged position. A girl who had to live under the roof of Prince of Hengshan with her father dismissed from the official post even belittled a decent relative of the Prince, which would do harm to Song Yixiaoâs reputation. Moreover, Wei Mengying wouldnât allow her daughter to be so silly!
âThere are many days yet.â She must be patient.
Song Yixiaoâs conflicting feelings were unknown to Yuan Xueâe. This young lady even felt happy herself, âNot only the teachers have been much more careful about guiding me in the lessons but also the servants of the Prince of Hengshan have served me evidently more attentively since I started to go to girlâs school with Yixiao.â
They didnât treat her badly on purpose before but even Lingdang knew that she came to live in the princeâs mansion due to Yuan Xuepeiâs repeated requesting the Dowager Consort instead of being invited by Prince of Hengshan. In addition, due to the gap between the marquis and the prince, the people in the Princeâs house all showed indifference for her to some degree.
Now Yuan Xueâe and the princess consortâs birth daughter, Song Yixiao always spent time together, just like real sisters. Of course, those people didnât dare to treat her in a careless way.
Under this circumstance, Yuan Xueâe liked Song Yixiao more. She was only ten years old herself, but Yuan Xuepei was 14 years old, who was old enough to be engaged. Yet, this matter was postponed because he had to help ease the unrest in Wuhuan for some experience and credits so as to gain an official post.
However, Yuan Xueâe had heard of other people talk about her brotherâs marriage for a few times.
Now she couldnât help wondering whether her brother liked Yixiao. She believed that there wouldnât be any problem for her to get along with Yixiao if she was married to Yuan Xuepei.
If Song Yixiao found out her thought, she would persuade her into dropping it. For one thing, given Zhiqinâs injuries, she would not marry Yuan Xuepei for sure. For another, considering the current situation in the Marquis Bolingâs family, Yuan Xuepei could never marry a girl who lived under the roof of others. For him, he would surely choose those noble ladies backed by their fathers and brothers so that he could suppress his step-grandma and uncle in light of his wifeâs power!
However, Yuan Xueâe was still young and inexperienced. In her eyes, since she and Song Yixiao had an agreeable time together, it would be great that Song Yixiao could become her family. In this case, of course she must seize the right time.
For example, after the date when the troop departed was fixed, she proposed to Wei Mengying, âMy brother is a junior. It is inappropriate to let a senior to see him off. Yet, I donât feel like seeing him off alone. May I ask Yixiao to accompany me?â
Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao didnât know her intention, who both thought of it as a trivial matter. Hence, they agreed on the suggestion.
On the departure day, Yuan Xueâe decided to talk less with her brother and make him pay attention to Song Yixiao. Unexpectedly, when the troop finally passed by them, Yuan Xuepei fixed his eyes only on his sister among the crowds. He didnât care for anyone else at all.
He kept telling his sister to take care repeatedly and almost cried in public!
Currently, he didnât even glimpse at Jian Xubai next to him, let alone Song Yixiao, the girl who he thought was under the protection of Jian Xubai.
Jian Xubai had waited for Yuan Xuepei for a long while but the latter one just didnât want to go. Worse still, he and his sister seemed to embrace each other and sob together. He felt quite speechless when he was surprised to hear a voice expressing thanks to him.
He harnessed the horse and retreated. Then he saw Song Yixiao standing before him and recognized her, saying, âItâs you! You have returned to the princeâs mansion?â
âThank you for your help.â Song Yixiao gave a curtsy and said with a smile.
Although Jian Xubai did her the favor out of Yuan Xuepeiâs request, he went to the Songâs house himself and also asked the Empress Dowager for help. It was okay if they didnât meet. Now that they met coincidentally, Song Yixiao should express her gratitude to him.
Song Yixiao didnât want to be too close to the duke so she intended to stand behind Yuan Xueâe after saying thank-you.
However, Jian Xubai was still waiting for Yuan Xuepei. He was free at the moment and he had met with Song Yixiao before, so he felt like talking more with her, âIs your sprain recovered?â
âThank you for asking. My ankle has been recovered by far.â Song Yixiao heard him and had to withdraw her leg to step aside.
âYour familyâ¦â Realizing that Jian Xubai seemed to bring up the matter of the Song Family, Song Yixiao hurriedly interrupted him, âI only expressed my gratitude to you just now. I shall wish you a victory in the battle and hope you to return home in triumph!
They were currently surrounded by a sea of people. If Jian Xubai talked about the mess of the Song Family, it would be hopeless for Song Yuan to rise and Song Yixiao, daughter of the Song Family would be disgraced as well.
Jian Xubai was also sensible to talk with her about the battle, saying, âDuke of Ji will lead the battle this time. Undoubtedly, it will be quite easy to take down such a small country!â
Duke of Ji? A thought suddenly flashed through Song Yixiaoâs mind. She blurted out, âDuke of Ji you just mentioned is Su Nianyi, the elder brother of the Empress?â
Seeing that Jian Xubai nodded his head, Song Yixiao felt that her smile was a bit stiff. Upon the foundation of Great Rui, the neighboring countries were terrified by the attack of Great Rui. It was only more than 40 years since the capital was fixed. The ruins left by the flames of battle in the past had faded away. Currently, it was fair enough to say that now was a flourishing age.
Therefore, since Wuhuan dared to carry out a provocation, the government officials all thought that they shouldnât let go of the opportunity to gain credit for pacifying the territory!
Otherwise, the chief commander wouldnât be Duke of Ji, Su Nianyi.
It was not because Wuhuan was hard to tackle but because too many blue-blooded children followed the troop that this experienced and famous general was sent out to war.
The 14-year-old Marquis Boling, Yuan Xuepei and 11-year-old Duke of Yan, Jian Xubai were the typical representatives. Hence, if the Commander-in-Chief was not impressive enough, how could he manage his soldiers and command the operations?
âBut even as the brother of the Empress, he cannot stand the hindrance of some stupid dudes!â Song Yixiao heard in her previous life that this battle should have been ended after one year, which could be even shortened if Wuhuan was not that far away. It would take the troop several months to go on a round trip.
Nevertheless, in fact, the troop didnât return home until six years later!
It turned out that Great Rui took the upper hand after the battle started. A few stupid dudes of high birth, who were eaten up with pride, only led a few cavalrymen to leave the camp and sneak into Wuhuanâs palace for the sake of gaining credit. They wanted to capture the enemiesâ leader first so as to destroy them all.
However, they failed to kill the king of Wuhuan. Instead, they ended up being captured and kept as hostages, who were tied up to the top of the city wall to threaten Great Rui to withdraw!
In light of these several hostages, Wuhuan prolonged the battle and made it last for more than five years. In the end, the people of Great Rui bribed the Prime Minister of Wuhuan into releasing the hostages in secret so that the battle could proceed. It was said that after Wuhuanâs unrest was ceased, Duke of Ji vomited blood before his subordinates and retired for illness subsequent to returning in triumph.
Rumor had it that the poor old general was so seriously depressed in the battle that he became severely ill. As a result, he must rest in peace for a long time so as to live long.
âWellâ¦â Song Yixiao looked up to Jian Xubai, who was riding on the horse. He was dressed in flaked armor and bright silver helmet. As his rope was blown away by the whistling wind, his eyebrows and eyes seemed to contain the chill of battle, but his childishness was still hard to cover. She thought with worry and fear, âWill he be one of them?â
As the legitimate nephew of the Emperor and the duke raised by the Empress Dowager, he was only 11 years old. Hence, even if he fell into a snare and was used as a shield for the Wuhuan people, Great Rui couldnât leave him aloneâ¦
What should Song Yixiao do? She felt increasingly suspicious as she thought of him. If she didnât give him any tip, she would feel quite worried. If she did, what should she say?