Note: If you want the continuity of this story consider to join Ko-Fi/WillowDreamer to access advance Chapters and To Support The Daily Update
Pay one time and unlock the full story and Future Chapters from the Shop
Account books were extremely private. Song Yihuan was aware of her status and dared not touch matters related to the Ning Prince Manor.
But how could a small legitimate daughter born of a concubine like Song Yihuan change something her elder sister had decided? Song Nanxin said impatiently:
"I'm not asking you to take it back. Wouldn't it be fine if you came to my place to look at it when the Heir isn't here? If I don't say it and you don't say it, who will know? Only if I live well in the Ning Prince Manor can I take care of you and Xuan'er, understand?"
Hearing the threat in her elder sister's words, Song Yihuan could only say, "Okay."
Having gotten the result she wanted, Song Nanxin finally stopped bothering Song Yihuan and waved her away.
Song Yihuan, supporting herself, stood up and walked out with unsteady steps. Unexpectedly, just as she stepped out of Yixiang Courtyard's door, a tall, imposing figure approached, startling all the maidservants and momos guarding outside Yixiang Courtyard.
"Greetings to the Heir."
The Heir? Ji Lingchuan?
Song Yihuan's heart tightened. She never expected to coincidentally run into Ji Lingchuan at this moment. Unable to retreat back into the room, with no way to avoid him, she lowered her head and bent her knee, preparing to bow. However, her body, still weak, stumbled forward. The next moment, a steady pair of large hands firmly supported her arm.
A deep, clear voice resonated above her head: "Be careful."
The warmth of his palm transmitted through her clothes, sending a jolt through Song Yihuan's heart. She quickly struggled free from his hands, retreating two steps to create distance, and lowered her head even further, responding: "Thank you, Heir, this humble girl is fine."
The voice was like the collision of jade, like a clear mountain spring, refreshing to the ears.
Ji Lingchuan's hand met empty air, and his gaze fell upon the woman kneeling before him with her head bowed. Only then did he realize he had mistaken her identity.
He had come to Yixiang Courtyard to see his wife. Rounding the corner, he saw a slender figure emerging from the room. The woman was partially turned away, her head bowed, making it impossible to see her face. But he vaguely remembered his wife wearing a yellow garment today, quite similar to the woman before him.
Seeing her almost fall, he instinctively helped her, only realizing his mistake upon hearing her voice.
Learning it was his wife's younger sister, Ji Lingchuan's expression softened somewhat. He lightly "hmm"-ed, then prepared to step past her and enter the room. However, as he passed her, a faint, almost indiscernible fragrance wafted into his nose.
Ji Lingchuan's steps suddenly halted. He looked again at the figure still squatting before him with her head bowed.
The woman was thin, her hair pulled back. Because her head was bowed, a small section of her fair neck was exposed, making her appear fragile and easily vulnerable. She was wearing a goose-yellow skirt, completely different from the woman he had bumped into at the medical hall. He still remembered that the medical hall woman's skirt was embroidered with many apricot blossoms.
But Ji Lingchuan wouldn't mistake that familiar scent. His gaze locked onto her, and he said, "You, raise your head."
The man held a high position and had led troops for years; his voice carried a hint of undeniable authority. Song Yihuan had thought she could finally relax, but his tone made her body stiffen again.
At this moment, let alone Song Yihuan, the maidservants and momos outside, and Song Nanxin inside, were all very nervous. The scheme last night seemed seamless, but upon closer inspection, it was suspicious everywhere. Ji Lingchuan was extremely astute; could he have discovered something?
In desperation, Song Nanxin suddenly opened the door and walked out, smiling, "What a coincidence, I was just mentioning my sister to Mother Consort and the Heir, and unexpectedly you two ran into each other."
Pulling Song Yihuan up from the ground, Song Nanxin said, "Heir, this is my sister Song Yihuan, whom I just mentioned. Yihuan, haven't you greeted your brother-in-law?"
She secretly pinched Song Yihuan's hand, emphasizing the words "brother-in-law." This was not only to remind Song Yihuan but also Ji Lingchuan.
Song Yihuan understood her hidden meaning. She confidently raised her head, performed a proper bow, and obediently said, "Yihuan greets brother-in-law."
The moment he clearly saw Song Yihuan's face, Ji Lingchuan was momentarily lost in thought.
This was an extremely beautiful woman, with skin like condensed cream and a pair of doe-like eyes that were moist and seemed to hold a wealth of affection. Her lips were as rosy as a peony in spring, and her expression carried a hint of fatigue, yet it made her appear fragile and pitiable, greatly arousing a man's protective instincts, making him wish to pull her into his embrace and comfort her.
And the woman's address of "brother-in-law" was like a blunt hammer striking Ji Lingchuan's forehead, instantly snapping him back to reality.
He subtly averted his gaze. Ji Lingchuan nodded slightly: "No need for formalities among family."
Song Nanxin did not miss the fleeting glint of admiration in Ji Lingchuan's eyes. She resented Song Yihuan's foxy face, but showed no trace of it on her own, patting Song Yihuan and saying, "Didn't you just say you had something else to do? Why aren't you in a hurry now?"
Her Older Sister had provided an opening, and Song Yihuan took the cue, lowering her head and saying, "Yihuan will take her leave first."
Supported by Fuling, she departed, feeling an intensely sharp gaze following her.
Song Nanxin linked arms with Ji Lingchuan, blocking the man's line of sight, and said with a smile, "Heir, did you perhaps mistake Yihuan for me just now? My sister and I have always been very close since our time in the Marquis Manor. We always had a piece of clothing made from the same bolt of cloth, one for each of us. I still haven't managed to break this habit even after coming to the Ning Prince Manor; I hope the Heir doesn't find it amusing."
Ji Lingchuan didn't know that since she was twelve, Song Nanxin had deliberately cultivated Song Yihuan to be her shadow.
The two sisters ate the same food and drank the same water. Gradually, their figures became more and more alike. Once they wore identical clothes, obscuring their faces and only looking at their physique, it was almost impossible to tell any difference.
This was why Ji Lingchuan had initially mistaken her at first glance.
He was not familiar with this pair of sisters. Hearing Song Nanxin's spontaneous explanation, he didn't think much of it, simply assuming that if the clothes were a gift from his wife, then it was not surprising for his wife's younger sister to carry that fragrance.
Coming back to his senses, he realized he was being held by Song Nanxin. He subconsciously pulled his hand away from her, creating distance between them.
Song Nanxin secretly gritted her teeth and smiled at Ji Lingchuan, "Since the Heir has arrived, please come in and sit down, have some tea."
Ji Lingchuan said, "No need to trouble yourself. I only came to give you this ointment."
He took out the ointment bought at the medical hall and handed it to Song Nanxin. Song Nanxin looked bewildered: "What is this?"
Ji Lingchuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "This ointment can reduce swelling and dissolve bruises; it should make you feel better."
Song Nanxin instantly realized what he was referring to, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions of joy and anger.
She was pleased that her husband, seemingly cold and heartless, was actually meticulous and considerate, caring for his wife in every way. But she was angry that it wasn't her who had received his favor last night, and she regretted even more having done such a muddled thing, leading to her inability to consummate the marriage herself.
Suppressing her inner jealousy, Song Nanxin accepted the bottle of ointment and, with her head lowered, said shyly, "Thank you for your concern, Heir."
After delivering the ointment, Ji Lingchuan turned to leave. Just then, Baizhi ran out of the room, holding a carved, eight-treasure exquisite box, "Your Ladyship, this is bad! Your... your hairpin from the box is missing."
Song Nanxin secretly praised Baizhi's quick actions. She said, "Have you looked carefully? Perhaps you carelessly left it elsewhere."
Baizhi shook her head: "This servant remembers putting the hairpin into the jewelry box when tidying the room this morning. Just now, Fourth Miss entered the inner room when changing clothes. Could it be Fourth Miss..."
Song Nanxin rebuked, "Don't speculate wildly! Yihuan is my sister; how could she do such a thing? Look again carefully."
Fourth Miss? Song Yihuan?
Ji Lingchuan stopped, turned his head, and looked at Song Nanxin: "What's going on?"