Chapter 51 Red-crowned Crane… Oh Well, Siskin Holds the Lucid Ganoderma

Even if Wei Huan did not remind them, Old Madam Song and Madam Song would also suspect that Song Zaishui was faking it up. But such a suspicion could neither be supported with any evidence nor be asked directly. This Miss had even done the thing such as self-destructing her appearance. If they actually pushed her too hard, God knows what was going to happen.

They held back from taking action for fear of making things worse so that things got stagnated.

Madam Song, as Song Zaishui’s lineal Granny, was indeed afraid that something bad really happened to her niece. While she was also suspecting that Song Zaishui was just pretending to be sick, she still discussed with Old Madam Song, “If Zaishui is not faking it up, Shall we just let her go back to the capital as soon as possible? So as not to miss the best timing of treatment? It is true that we do not have famous doctors here who are good at treating traumatism.”

Hearing “miss the best timing of treatment”, although she did not hear the words “Ji Qubing”, Madam Song’s facial muscles twitched and her eyes dimmed for a moment. She said after a while, “Song Zaitian is about to arrive. Our family also does not have proper people to send this child back to the capital. Even if she is accompanied by the guards, it would still be too pitiful for a girl to hit the road alone. Not to mention she is injured! Although she injured herself on purpose, she was injured on the Little Bamboo Hill! Don’t let other people think that it is because our family doesn’t want to take the responsibility so that we hurriedly send her away. Let’s just wait until Song Zaitian to arrive.”

After a pause, she said, “As for whether it is a real injury or a fake injury, let Song Zaitian ask. After all, she is not a child of our family. And some things will embarrass us if we put them bluntly.”

The matter of Song Zaishui was troublesome, but Old Madam Song was still more concerned about her lineal kin. Therefore, after discussing a bit, she decided to keep on asking Song Zaishui to stay here until Song Zaitian arrived. She then started to talk about another thing, “There is news from Biwu. There are traces of the whereabouts of Mo Binwei now, and this man is worth a personal visit by Changfeng.”

Madam Song immediately put the matter of her niece aside and said with surprise, “Thank you, Mother! When will Changfeng depart?”

“Changfeng just came back from the Little Bamboo Hill, so let him rest a bit. Let’s get Mo Binwei back before Shen Zhou arrives.” Old Madam Song thought for a moment and said, “The truth of the great victory in the north of the province cannot be publicized, but… maybe we can talk to the Shen Family about it.”

In that case, Mo Binwei, as the witness, would be needed.

When Wei Changying came down from the Little Bamboo Hill, she had a bit of lucky strike. Before she got home, commoner Xin Yong tacitly joined her, and she was informed that her Grandma had found out the whereabouts of Mo Binwei. She only had to wait for Wei Huan to find out where did Xin Yong come from and then be courtesy to him several times to show the Wei family’s urgent need of talents and let Xin Yong show his aloof from politics and material pursuits. After that, everything would be all right.

And Mo Binwei, Old Madam Song had asked Lv Zifang about his preferences, temperament. After she personally decided the way of recruiting him, it could be expected that there would be no accident.

These things had little to do with Wei Changying, but the news that Deng Zongqi was staying in Fengzhou was soon known to her.

As the First Miss of the Wei Family, of course, she couldn’t accept favors without thinking of repaying them.

Wei Changfeng did not go to find Mo Binwei, but he went to the inn first. He talked till his mouth parched and tongue scorched that he finally brought Deng Zongqi to Ruiyu Hall for recuperation.

Old Madam Song was of course very grateful to Deng Zongqi, who saved her own granddaughter in front of the threat of the snake. She specially asked Chen Ruping to go to the guest house on her behalf to thank Deng Zongqi. But the elders always thought more. As soon as Chen Ruping came out of the yard, there were guards riding horses to the capital to inquire about his backgrounds.

It was just that all this was expected by Deng Zongqi. He knew that even if he managed to get into Ruiyu Hall, he would only have a few days left to him. The Wei Family might not be able to find out what his uncle said after he was summoned, but the fact that Honored Consort Deng took good care of him was known to many people in the capital.

Had it not been for the fact that the Honored Consort had been out of favor these years and the Deng Family also belonged to the middle class among the aristocratic families, the Deng family would not have attracted much attention these years. Thus, the Wei Family might have guessed his purpose without any special inquiry. So he needed to get things done before the Wei family knew about it.

Song Zaishui always stayed in the rear courtyard. Across the courtyard, it was not easy to get in touch with her and gain her trust. But Deng Zongqi was well prepared when he was in the capital. Even if he really needed the opportunity to accomplish his tasks, this time Deng Zongqi’s fortune was not bad.

The servants sent by the Deng Family to serve him along the way accidentally broke a piece of jade while sorting out Deng Zongqi’s luggage. This jade was obviously so important that although Deng Zongqi was recovering from his injuries and was in someone else’s house, he angrily picked up the tea bowl and hit it on the servant’s head and ordered him to get out!

The servants of the Wei Family who stood next to him wanted to convince him not to get angry when he was injured and asked the origin of the jade that whether it could be made up by the Wei Family. Deng Zongqi just sighed and said, “This yellow Suet Jade, which portrayed siskin holds the Lucid Ganoderma, is not a masterpiece, but a gift from a good friend who used to carve it with his own hands. I begged him to give it to me, yet I didn’t expect that I was burdened by a stupid servant this time. What worries me is how to explain to him when I get back to the capital.”

When these words spread to the rear courtyard, Old Madam Song said, “Just put the broken jade together and find a skillful craftsman to carve another piece according to its appearance. If he doesn’t want it, see if we have a suitable jade in our family storeroom to give him so that he can apologize to his friend when he returns to the capital. In any case, he saved Wei Changying. Although the thing was broken by his servant, our family should make it up for him.”

Deng Zongqi was invited to the front yard for recuperation by Ruiyu Hall because he saved Wei Changying. The matter that his beloved jade was broken and Old Madam Song decided to make up for him was naturally told to Wei Changying.

Wei Changying went to Mingse House to visit Song Zaishui. There were only such a few things in the boudoir, and it was rare to find anything fresh. So she just told her casually, “Grandma is going to choose a piece of ancient jade to give to Mr. Deng, but she doesn’t know if he will take it. As a matter of fact, However, Mr. Deng’s friend is also a weirdo. I have heard of Phoenix holds Lucid Ganoderma, Finch holds Lucid Ganoderma, Red-crowned Crane holds Lucid Ganoderma…. But I’ve never heard of the siskin holds Lucid Ganoderma!”

Song Zaishui’s smile was immediately stagnant and said, “Siskin holds Lucid Ganoderma?”

“Yes.” Wei Changying said, “The siskin of the saying that mantis catches the cicada while siskin is behind. Why does a siskin hold Lucid Ganoderma? Cousin, do you think it’s weird?”

“Of course, It’s weird.” Song Zaishui thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up and sent all her servants out. She then sneered and said, “I originally wanted to draw the red-crowned crane holding the Lucid Ganoderma, but at that time I was too young to be good at painting so that I drew it a bit fat. In the end, my second brother, who didn’t have good eyesight, mistakenly saw the red-crowned crane as the siskin!”

Wei Changying was stunned for a long time before she said, “Second… the second cousin?!”

“You said that Deng Zongqi kept looking at you on the mountain that day.” Song Zaishui was really sharp and immediately thought of the truth, “I’m afraid he thought you were me and wanted to get your attention, didn’t he?” She asked, “Was this siskin holds the Lucid Ganoderma what he was wearing that day?”

Wei Changying threw up her hands and said with a wry smile, “How did I know that this jade would have something to do with you? I was just thinking that this guy was so rude. And I didn’t look at him much, let alone pay attention to the ornaments on him.”

Song Zaishui held her cheek and sighed, “I knew you were unreliable. Forget about it. It’s a good thing he is right in front of us now….”

“Don’t be muddled, cousin!” Wei Changying was surprised and said hurriedly, “How could you go there?”

“Of course, I can’t go there myself.” Song Zaishui mused, “But there is a chance to let the guards go there for me.”

Wei Changying said with concern, “Cousin’s guard? Is he reliable? It is hard for the second cousin to manage to get someone to send a message to you….”

“There is a guard who is originally the second brother’s.” Song Zaishui frowned and said, “In the past, the second brother always asked that person to send me messages. I wonder why did he change the person this time? Not to mention that he is the young master of the Deng Family. I have never heard that he is a friend of the second brother.”

Wei Changying said, “Is it because my uncle keeps a close eye on it this time? Besides, cousin is not in the capital, and writing letters is the only way of communication. The second cousin can’t tell all of his best friends to you in letters every time, can he?”

“It’s possible.” Song Zaishui murmured, “The red-crowned crane… well, the siskin holding the Lucid Ganoderma was carved by the second brother himself. This is the only one in the world, and he didn’t take it with him often. He kept it in a box all the time, and outsiders didn’t know its origin. It can be expected that if the second brother doesn’t tell him about this, Deng Zongqi may also not know the meaning of this thing. Yet, living in the Wei Family, he punished his servant angrily. I’m afraid the man got his orders to break the jade to get my attention!”

She thought for a while and said determinedly, “I have to find a way to ask him about this!”

Song Zaishui immediately summoned her own guards to ask about the preparation for departure. This was a reason that could be used without causing suspects because she was about to return to the capital.

She used this excuse to call the guard who always listened to the order of Song Zaijiang to the rear courtyard and gave him the mission to contact with Deng Zongqi.

Deng Zongqi was recuperating as an honored guest in the Wei Family but not a prisoner, so he was not watched by people all day long. The guard of the Song Family also lived in the front yard for several months and was familiar with the terrain. Within two days, he met Deng Zongqi and reported his words to Song Zaishui using the excuse that he needed to report their Miss about their preparations for returning to the capital.

Song Zaishui and Wei Changying changed their facial expressions right away after hearing the first sentence.

“Mr. Deng said that the Empress already knew that Miss’s rejection of marriage had been rejected by the Old Master several times. She was very angry, and people in the Eastern Palace also started to talk about Old Master behind his back that he didn’t teach his daughter right.” The guard knelt outside the curtain and said carefully.

Wei Changying gasped, took Song Zaishui’s hand and said, “Cousin, what are we going to do now?”

Before that, she sympathized with Song Zaishui because the Prince of the Eastern Palace she was going to marry was dissolute. But there was nothing she could do to help. Even after the matters in the Little Bamboo Hill, she was trying to find a way for Song Zaishui to reject the marriage only because she was afraid that Song Zaishui would continue to take things too hard. As a matter of fact, Wei Changying had some hope for the Crown Prince. Or, to put it another way, she had great confidence in Song Zaishui. After all, Song Zaishui was beautiful and had a good family background and great means of doing things. If this cousin couldn’t even handle the position of the Crown Princess, how many other women in the world could handle it?!

After all, if Song Zaishui wanted to reject the long-agreed engagement, which was also an engagement with the royal family, the pressure was great and the consequences were hard to handle. Although Wei Changying optimistically estimated the power of his grandfather, she still knew that it was not a trivial matter and should not be done recklessly. So she sympathized with Song Zaishui but dared not do anything for her. The only thing she could do was to make gags and try her best to attract the cousin to worry about something else.

But now, both the Empress and the Crown Prince had known that Song Zaishui was unwilling to fulfill the engagement. As a matter of fact, the Empress Gu stepped on the position with the cost of the lives of Empress Qian and the second Crown Prince of this dynasty!

This marriage was also proposed by Empress Gu at that time. Now the Crown Princess-to-be had repeatedly argued that she didn’t want to marry the Crown Prince. If an ordinary mother-in-law heard that her soon-to-be daughter-in-law disliked her son so much, she wouldn’t be able to just let go of this matter, not to mention the Empress. And this was the Crown Prince who was disliked!

Even if Song Zaishui boasted that she was outstanding in girls of her shrewdness and planning that she was not afraid to compare with the peers about this. However, when it came to Empress Gu, she was still extremely cautious!

Wei Changying originally had no other thoughts about the Empress Gu because she was not going to marry the Crown Prince. However, from the attitude of Song Zaishui every time when she mentioned the Empress Gu, she could still see that Song Zaishui’s dread towards this Empress.

Wei Changying immediately felt that the thing had become difficult to solve!

Empress Gu and Crown Prince had already known about this, so even if Song Zaishui now changed her mind and married into the Eastern Palace, could she have a good life? Even though they would be hindered by Song Yuwang and not create troubles for her, who could be so sure about the future? It was possible that not only Song Zaishui would not end well but also Song Yuwang would be tied down!

If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Song Family would not end well. And if the Crown Prince did not ascend the throne, how could Song Zaishui end well?

Originally, she tried her best to reject marriage. But now there would be no way for Song Zaishui to live if she didn’t reject the marriage! But the Empress and the Crown Prince both knew Song Zaishui’s unwillingness, and how useful could the previous method of pretending the unhealed knee injury be?!

Song Zaishui had always been calm and elegant. However, when she heard about this, she still panicked and her voice choked, “How do I know? Am I really so ill-fated?”