Volume One, Chapter Five: The Urgent Ghost

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Song Xianwan felt as if the Fifth Madam regarded her arrival at the Marquis Residence as a challenge to snatch something away from her.

Upon hearing this, Nurse Kang hesitated but eventually shook her head and said, "Those are just old, trivial matters. You only need to know that the matriarch’s heart is on your side."

Seeing Nurse Kang unwilling to say more, Song Xianwan smiled and nodded, choosing not to press further.

As she left Jinghe Garden, Song Xianwan’s mind was uneasy, pondering over the situation.

Gu Shuya’s hostility was not without reason. Could it be that her mother harbored some grudge against her?

Lost in thought, she failed to notice the person ahead.

Suddenly, a snowball filled with weeds struck Song Xianwan’s head, followed by a woman’s angry and frustrated voice.

“Qin Songting, do you have any conscience?!”

“Why did you make His Majesty arrange a marriage for me with someone else? You clearly know how I feel about you…”

The woman’s sobs were pitiful, and as her emotions surged, she raised her hand to strike Qin Songting’s face.

Song Xianwan took a deep breath. This woman was quite bold to dare hit Qin Songting.

However, Qin Songting did not let her succeed. His curved blade slid out, the hilt pressed against the woman’s wrist, and the sound of bones breaking echoed as he snapped her hand.

“Did I give you too much face?”

Qin Songting sneered, his eyes cold and ruthless. He withdrew his hand and narrowed his gaze, warning the wailing woman.

Her face turned pale as she looked at Qin Songting with a sense of betrayal. She never imagined he could be so heartless.

Impatience flickered in Qin Songting’s eyes. He despised dealing with matters of love—it was such a waste of time.

“You were the one who initially rejected the marriage. Now you want to marry me again? How shameless you are…”

The man raised an eyebrow and slowly spat out the words: “Shameless.”

The woman was so infuriated by his words she seemed close to vomiting blood. His words were undeniably true. At this moment, Song Xianwan recalled who the man standing before her was.

The Marquis of Yongning’s residence had once arranged a marriage for him—with Ran Shaoqiong, daughter of the Ran family from Zizhou.

Though the Ran family held no official position in the court, their legacy was profound. Their ancestors were renowned Confucian scholars, and the famous Shang’an Academy in the capital belonged to the Ran family.

This marriage was a flawless match for both families. Had there been no mishap, they might now have children running about.

However, after Qin Songting passed the imperial examination, he requested an external appointment that lasted at least two or three years. The Marquis Residence wanted them to marry early so she could be taken care of during his posting.

But Ran Shaoqiong refused. She had expected Qin Songting, with his talents, to remain in the capital, but he was sent to a harsh, frigid region.

Unwilling to suffer hardship, she feigned illness to stay in the capital.

This naturally displeased the Marquis Residence. The old matriarch saw through Ran Shaoqiong’s intentions and knew she was one who could only share comfort, not hardship.

Hence, the old matriarch decided to break off the engagement.

She handled it discreetly, preserving the dignity of both Ran Shaoqiong and the Ran family.

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However, this affair sowed enmity between the Marquis Residence and the Ran family.

“Songting, you know my health is frail. If I had gone with you to your post back then, I might not have survived.”

Ran Shaoqiong suppressed her anger, but deep down she regretted terribly. She never expected Qin Songting’s meteoric rise—within a year, he was back in the capital.

Now, he had become the Minister of Justice. Such a splendid match—how foolish she was to refuse it.

“Your tears aren’t even as many as cat pee. Isn’t that disgusting?”

With a sarcastic remark, Qin Songting glanced sideways at Song Xianwan, who was watching the scene with interest.

A cold smirk played on his lips as he teased, “My cousin is frail; don’t let her catch cold in the wind.”

Song Xianwan, suddenly summoned by his words, found no escape.

Ran Shaoqiong’s gaze could have torn Song Xianwan apart.

The man, however, seemed oblivious and strode directly towards Song Xianwan.

He reached out, thoughtfully pulled up the hood of her cloak, then tightened the tie so fiercely that Song Xianwan nearly gasped for air.

“No need, cousin, I can manage on my own.”

Looking at his amused expression and Ran Shaoqiong’s furious eyes, Song Xianwan tugged at the tie, hoping to free herself from the standoff. But Qin Songting was in high spirits and refused to relent.

“It’s only natural for an older brother to look after his younger sister. What’s there to fear?”

After watching the spectacle for some time, he wasn’t about to back out now.

“Songting, who is she?” Ran Shaoqiong approached, wanting a clear look at Song Xianwan’s face.

Keeping her head down, Song Xianwan wished to avoid trouble. Now she understood the saying: it’s better to avoid the Fifth Master than the eldest young master.

Even random passersby would be kicked by him.

“Miss, Madam is asking you to return,” a breathless maid called out from nearby, breaking the tense moment. Ran Shaoqiong’s expression shifted.

She had accompanied her mother to the Marquis Residence to deliver gifts today and had sneaked over to look for Qin Songting while her mother wasn’t watching.

Since Qin Songting’s return to the capital, she hadn’t seen him. This was her last resort.

“Songting…”

Ran Shaoqiong was about to speak again, but the maid urged her to hurry. If her mother discovered her lingering with Qin Songting, she would be severely punished.

Stomping her foot, she had no choice but to leave, clutching her injured wrist in resentment.

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After they left, Qin Songting did not release Song Xianwan. She lowered her head, playing dead, wishing she could vanish entirely.

“My dear cousin, are you satisfied with this little romantic debt I’ve paid?”

Qin Songting’s voice came softly, melodious and clear as if he were enjoying himself. Yet Song Xianwan had no mind to appreciate it.

“I didn’t see anything.”

She glanced at him briefly, then quickly lowered her gaze.

Qin Songting looked at her, suddenly released his grip, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Cowardly and uninteresting.

The pressure on her throat eased, and his footsteps gradually faded away.

Song Xianwan raised her head and watched his disappearing figure. Her clear, sharp eyes held no trace of fear.

“Miss, that eldest young master is really frightening.”

Fuling hurried forward to steady Song Xianwan and dabbed the snow from her forehead with a handkerchief.

“Indeed, he’s terrifying.”

Qin Songting’s eyes were as dark as deep water, like a bottomless icy pool.

Daring not to meet his gaze, Song Xianwan felt as if her thoughts were completely exposed.

Moreover, his mouth could say anything—there was not a hint of noble upbringing in his words.

Taking the handkerchief from Fuling, Song Xianwan left the place with her attendants.

Behind a nearby tree, Ran Shaoqiong watched her retreating figure, her eyes filled with fury.

“Cousin?”

Hearing the whisper, the maid Suqiu replied after a moment’s thought, “I only heard that the Marquis Residence welcomed a cousin last year, said to be born from the Third Aunt.”

“So she’s a sickly one.”

Ran Shaoqiong snorted coldly and recalled Song Xianwan’s identity from Suqiu’s words.

It was said that Song Xianwan’s illness began in the womb, struggling for breath with each step, and her days were numbered.

“No matter who she is, if she dares to compete with me for Qin Songting, I won’t let her live in peace.”

Ran Shaoqiong’s words silenced Suqiu.

When the Marquis Residence broke the engagement, Ran Shaoqiong had been pleased, but she never expected Qin Songting to return in less than a year.

Now, with his high rank and immense power, countless people in the capital were desperate to marry into his family.

Even if this man was a harbinger of death.