Although Ah Ke was somewhat reluctant, she had always respected her mother and did not wish to go against her wishes. She glared at Li Yuanzhi with a huff, then took her mother’s arm and turned to leave, followed closely by the group of palace maids.
The guards seemed to be enchanted, instinctively trailing behind the mother and daughter, quickly disappearing into the courtyard.
The noisy room returned to silence.
Li Yuanzhi let out a long sigh of relief. Thinking of the glare Ah Ke had given her as she left, she felt inexplicably confused, unsure of how she had offended her.
Lady Wu was so beautiful; it was clear she was not jealous of her. Now, she was highly favored in the harem, and being in the cold palace posed no threat to her…
After pondering for a long time without understanding why, Li Yuanzhi decided to stop thinking about it. She walked over to close the door and continued to sit by the window in a daze.
“Brother Song has ultimately severed ties with Father… From what that matron just said, it seems Father is the one who has failed, but I wonder if he is in danger…” Li Yuanzhi propped her chin on her hand, murmuring to herself at the table, “It shouldn’t be the case. Brother Song knows he is my father; would he really kill him?”
However, soon her expression turned worried, clearly not so certain: “But my father caused him so much suffering back then, nearly costing him his life, and even tried to seize the Golden Serpent Camp… Would he really spare my father? Even if he is willing to let him go, what about his beautiful confidantes? Would they let him off?”
The more she thought, the more anxious she became, the more troubled she felt. Li Yuanzhi suddenly stood up, kicking the table leg: “Hmph, if Brother Song really did something to my father, I… I…”
After thinking for a long time, she could not come up with what she could do. Instead, the hard table leg made her eyes well up with tears: “Li Yuanzhi, oh Li Yuanzhi, don’t be foolish. Back then, he… he bullied you and then never contacted you again. Now, who knows where he is, lingering in some beautiful confidante’s bed, probably having long forgotten that there is a poor little girl waiting for him here…”
“Wait, Brother Song is not that kind of person.” Remembering the moments spent with Song Qingshu, Li Yuanzhi felt a surge of spirit, comforting herself. But soon, she deflated again, “Someone has already come to offer white silk poison wine today. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. By the time Brother Song remembers me, I might have already become a wisp of vengeful spirit in this cold palace.”
Thinking again of her father’s uncertain fate and her family’s ruin, Li Yuanzhi grew increasingly sorrowful, eventually collapsing onto the table and crying softly.
“Indeed, you are an emotional girl. If your father knew that you were thinking of Brother Song more at this moment, he would be furious.” A familiar voice suddenly came from beside her.
“Not at all! My father loves me so much.” Li Yuanzhi instinctively replied, suddenly shivering all over. She abruptly raised her head, looking at the man she had been longing for, her face filled with disbelief.
Li Yuanzhi hurriedly rubbed her eyes, as if afraid she was mistaken: “Brother Song, am I… dreaming?”
Song Qingshu felt a surge of compassion and could no longer hold back, pulling her into his embrace: “Sister Yuanzhi, Brother Song has come late, making you worry for so long.”
In the warmth of a broad embrace, feeling that familiar scent, Li Yuanzhi finally confirmed that everything was real and could not help but cry, her delicate fingers wrapping around his shoulders: “Brother Song~”
Song Qingshu gently stroked her soft hair, soothing her: “Alright, alright, everything is in the past. From now on, Brother Song will protect you well and will not let you suffer any grievances.”
The two held each other, sharing their heartfelt feelings for a while. Suddenly, Li Yuanzhi remembered something and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes: “Brother Song, how long have you been here?”
“A little while,” Song Qingshu replied somewhat sheepishly.
“How long is a little while?” Li Yuanzhi blinked her big eyes, as if she could see through his ambiguity. Song Qingshu let out a bitter smile and had no choice but to say, “When I arrived, I happened to run into that old nun bringing the white silk poison wine.” Li Yuanzhi immediately scolded, “Then why didn’t you come to save me?”
“Uh, I was just about to step in to save you, but who knew Ah Ke would arrive? I came here to negotiate peace with the Southern Song, and my identity should not be exposed, so I didn’t show myself,” Song Qingshu explained.
“Ah Ke?” Li Yuanzhi was taken aback, momentarily unable to respond to whom he was referring.
“She is the Lady Wu you all speak of.” Noticing the confusion in her eyes, Song Qingshu clarified.
“You actually know her given name?” Li Yuanzhi exclaimed, “She has been pestering me about you. Do you two have something going on?”
“Absolutely not!” Song Qingshu replied with confidence this time, speaking with righteous indignation.
“Is that so?” Li Yuanzhi’s expression clearly showed disbelief, but she did not continue to press the issue. Instead, she asked, “Since you shouldn’t expose your identity this time, if Chen Yuanyuan hadn’t come just now, wouldn’t I have been beaten by Lady Wu?”
“How could that be!” Song Qingshu hurriedly explained, “I had already decided to step in. Who knew it would be so coincidental that someone else came to your rescue? This just shows how fortunate you are, Sister Yuanzhi.”
“Fortunate?” Li Yuanzhi let out a bitter laugh, “Is being orphaned considered fortunate?” She had always wanted to ask about her father’s whereabouts, but she did not dare to speak up, fearing an answer that would break her heart. Although she knew her father was at fault first, if Song Qingshu truly killed him, she could never forgive him.
Song Qingshu, being the person he was, could tell from her tone what she was worried about. He kissed her cheek and gently said, “Your father is still alive and well. However, given what he has done, I cannot act as if nothing has happened; otherwise, I would not be able to face my many subordinates. But you can rest assured, he is only under house arrest. You can visit him anytime, and after a few years when the situation stabilizes, I can even restore his freedom.”
“Thank you, Brother Song~” Having grown up in an official family, Li Yuanzhi naturally understood some of the rules of this world. In times of chaos, it has always been a game of life and death. Without herself, given Li Kexiu’s actions, even if he were killed, no one would find it inappropriate.
Even if the roles were reversed between Song Qingshu and Li Kexiu, Li Kexiu would undoubtedly kill Song Qingshu without hesitation. Li Yuanzhi had no confidence in being able to protect her lover’s life. She knew that being under house arrest was the best outcome for her father, and all of this was a concession made by her lover for her sake…
Feeling a surge of warmth in her heart, Li Yuanzhi directly wrapped her arms around her lover’s neck and offered her soft, moist red lips. Song Qingshu, already feeling pent-up frustration from last night with Lu Wushuang, could hardly contain himself upon seeing the tenderness in the girl’s eyes. He felt a loud thud in his mind and could no longer hold back, lifting her and heading toward the bed.
Just as they were about to reach a critical moment, Li Yuanzhi pressed down on his hand and said pitifully, “This cold palace is too ominous; I don’t want to be here.”
Song Qingshu’s eyes turned red, panting heavily as he asked, “Then where do you want to go?”
Li Yuanzhi’s eyes sparkled like crescent moons, filled with mischievous delight: “I want to go to Lady Wu’s bed.”