Volume One, Chapter 11: Her Ill Intentions

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Mrs. Song had been quietly listening to their conversation. When she heard Song Xianwan ask Fuling to gather information, she hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure if this matter would have any consequences. However, knowing how relentlessly Gu Shuya wanted Song Xianwan dead, it very well might be connected. With this thought, Mrs. Song finally spoke up.

“Mrs. Song, please don’t hesitate to speak.”

Song Xianwan turned to look at her, signaling for her to continue.

“It’s really nothing much. I heard that before the madam married and moved to Liuzhou, Young Master gave her a set of head ornaments worth a thousand taels. When Fifth Madam found out about it, she was furious.”

“They even nearly went to the point of divorce. It wasn’t until the matriarch intervened and gave Fifth Madam a set of jade jewelry that the matter was settled.”

After finishing, Mrs. Song put down her needle and thread. “The elder sister was getting married, and since Young Master was cared for by the madam before, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to give her some dowry gifts.”

“I truly don’t understand why Fifth Madam would cause such a scene and rather tear the family apart.”

Song Xianwan listened quietly, sharing the confusion in her heart. No matter how expensive a set of head ornaments was, Gu Shuya, who cared deeply about her reputation, would not have insulted her so blatantly just over that. Perhaps it wasn’t really about the ornaments themselves, or maybe there was a deeper meaning hidden in that set.

“Unfortunately, Mother’s dowry is all in Liuzhou now.”

Song Xianwan spoke with a hint of regret.

When Madam Qin brought her to the Marquis of Yongning’s residence, Song Xianwan was gravely ill, almost slipping into unconsciousness. So Madam Qin had no choice but to immediately take her back to the capital for treatment, without worrying about the dowry.

“Before Madam passed, she sold everything that could be sold and converted it into silver, which we brought along.”

“As for the rest, which couldn’t be taken or sold, we left it behind for them.”

Mrs. Song’s thoughts turned bitter at the mention of the heartless Song Shaohua. His late wife’s remains were barely cold before he shamelessly brought a concubine into the household, as if to flaunt it.

“It’s all right. We will return to Liuzhou someday.”

“But Fuling, you can inquire within the residence about the origin of the set of head ornaments Young Master gave Mother.”

Song Xianwan’s fingers tapped lightly on the table as she raised an eyebrow. “I must know where this hostility comes from.”

Fuling nodded in agreement.

After lunch, Song Xianwan expressed a desire to visit the flower house of the Marquis’s mansion. Since Gu Shuya had given her such a grand gift, she naturally wished to reciprocate.

The flower house was not far from Haitang Garden, both tucked away in a quiet corner. It housed flowers for all seasons. Although the oleander Song Xianwan wanted wasn’t yet in bloom, the flower house did have a pot of it growing, with lush branches and petals in fine condition.

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Song Xianwan spoke briefly with the flower house attendant and handed him some silver before carrying the pot of oleander away.

“Miss, why would you want such a poisonous flower?”

Fuling held the oleander pot close, craning her neck backward, afraid of being poisoned by its toxins.

“It's a gift for Fifth Madam.”

Song Xianwan’s words caught Fuling off guard. A gift of oleander to Fifth Madam? She found it puzzling.

Song Xianwan smiled faintly, saying no more. Since she hadn’t yet discovered the reason Gu Shuya wanted her dead, she might as well use this to unsettle her. Perhaps it might provoke some reaction.

The two left the flower house and headed toward Jingyi Courtyard. However, when passing by Liaoting Courtyard, Song Xianwan caught a faint scent of herbs. She instinctively turned to look.

There weren’t many attendants in Liaoting Courtyard. Qin Songting had just returned to the capital, and he disliked being waited on by too many people. Thus, most of the time, his attendant Bailin took care of all his needs.

“Miss?”

Fuling called out as Song Xianwan stopped walking, and only then did Song Xianwan regain her composure.

“Fuling, take this pot of oleander to Jingyi Courtyard and say that I saw it in the flower house today and found it charming, so I especially sent it to Fifth Aunt.”

“The branches and leaves of oleander aren’t poisonous; it’s the sap. Your neck looks like it’s stretched all the way to Haitang Garden.”

Song Xianwan reached out to tap Fuling’s forehead with a helpless tone.

Fuling blushed and nodded. “Miss, aren’t you going to Jingyi Courtyard?”

“I have some matters to attend to. You go and return to Haitang Garden after delivering the flowers.”

With that, Fuling seemed to understand her intention and said no more, carrying the oleander pot away.

Song Xianwan turned and walked toward Liaoting Courtyard but was stopped at the gate by a young servant.

“Cousin? The Young Master isn’t in the courtyard.”

“Cousin!”

Upon hearing this, the servant instinctively looked back, only to see Song Xianwan walking straight into the courtyard as if eager to find Qin Songting.

Just as Bailin’s long sword was drawn, she fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.

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“You really are in the courtyard, Cousin.”

The girl sitting on the ground looked toward the figure behind the curtain, still visibly shaken.

Song Xianwan breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Songting was injured, and severely so. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such a strong scent of blood that she could smell it from outside Liaoting Courtyard.

“Bailin, leave.”

Qin Songting’s hoarse voice came from behind the curtain. Bailin sheathed his sword and turned to leave.

Song Xianwan steadied herself on a nearby table and rose.

A delicate hand extended from the curtain. She saw a jade bead bracelet hanging to the side, clinking softly.

Qin Songting wore only a thin inner garment, his collar open to reveal well-defined, muscular skin. White cloth bandages were wrapped around him, with a few dark red stains seeping through.

His loose black hair fell behind him, and those sharp, hawk-like eyes fixed intently on Song Xianwan.

“Has no one ever told you the consequences of trespassing into Liaoting Courtyard?”

Qin Songting’s face was paler than usual, his eyes dark and heavy with authority.

Song Xianwan was startled and took a step back.

“My constitution is weak. I’ve been an invalid since childhood and am sensitive to the smell of medicine. Passing by Liaoting Courtyard, I caught the scent of herbs and grew worried, so I came to check.”

Before him, she appeared small and fragile, like a fawn caught in a hunter’s trap, seeking a chance to survive.

“Cousin, you… you’re hurt.”

Song Xianwan swallowed nervously and reached out. Her fair fingers were clearly accustomed to a life of ease. Qin Songting grabbed her hand, causing her to stagger and fall onto a chair in front of him, forced to look up.

“You care about me?”

The question, laced with sarcasm, even made Qin Songting chuckle.

Everyone in the Marquis of Yongning’s residence treated him like a cat’s enemy, shrinking away in fear. Only Song Xianwan persistently approached him.

Others might think it was just a gentle beauty throwing herself at him, a mere scandal. But in Qin Songting’s eyes, all he saw was ill intent and hidden motives.

“If you truly care about me, then how about treating my wounds?”