Song Ning raised his hand and, guided by his senses, tapped Song Youyi’s small head again.
“You aren’t allowed to talk nonsense even at the border,” he urged. “Don’t speak ill of your eldest sister behind her back. You must show her more respect.”
Song Youyi ducked her head slightly, hugging his arm as she grumbled, “I know, I know.”
“Actually, our eldest sister is very broad-minded,” she said, her voice light, as if speaking casually.
Yet, as she spoke those words, the expression on her face told a different story. The corners of her mouth curved slightly, and something was hidden deep within her eyes.
She was just saying it for fun; if she actually had to marry her eldest sister, she wouldn’t be saying such things.
Song Ning couldn’t pick up on her hidden meaning. He simply nodded, thinking his younger sister was becoming more and more sensible.
Xia Ling, however, watched Song Youyi’s expression from the side, seeing through her completely.
She said nothing, merely lowering her head and mimicking Xia Shuang by playing the mute.
The three of them passed through the hanging flower gate and walked out of the Song Mansion’s main entrance.
A carriage was waiting quietly by the door. It was an extremely refined carriage.
The body was made of high-quality nanmu wood, and the black lacquer finish gleamed with a warm luster under the morning sun.
The carriage compartment was somewhat small. Carvings adorned the windows on both sides, but the curtains were unusually thick, completely obscuring the interior.
It made one wonder if any light could be seen from the inside at all.
The two horses pulling the carriage had their manes neatly groomed and stood spiritedly, occasionally letting out a snort.
The Song Family’s female housekeeper stood beside the carriage.
She was a 40-year-old woman wearing an indigo dress, her features poised and her eyes reflecting her competence.
Seeing Song Ning and the others emerge, she smiled and stepped forward, bowing as she spoke.
“Everything has been handled, Second Miss. The carriage is prepared according to your instructions, and the gifts are loaded onto the vehicle behind us. Here is the gift list for your review.”
She presented a red card with both hands.
Song Youyi took the card, scanned it, and said with a faint smile, “Thank you for your hard work.”
The housekeeper smiled and stepped to the side.
If he were getting married, Song Ning would have had to sit in a separate sedan chair. But since this was just delivering a Reply Card, there was no need for such formality, as long as he didn’t show his face.
Song Youyi let go of Song Ning’s arm, her demeanor instantly shifting in front of others.
She stood perfectly straight, a faint smile on her lips and a gentle look in her eyes.
Combined with her slightly pale yet beautiful face, she appeared pitiable and fragile, the very image of a well-bred, scholarly young lady.
She gave a few instructions to the housekeeper before turning to look at Xia Ling and Xia Shuang.
“I will go with my brother to deliver the Reply Card today,” she said softly. “The two of you don’t need to come along. I will take care of him.”
Xia Ling opened her mouth, her beautiful eyes blinking, unsure of what to say. Xia Shuang’s brow furrowed slightly.
“No,” she said, her voice stiff. She hugged the sword in her arms tightly, her cool, pretty face very serious. “You don’t know… martial arts. Unsafe.”
Song Youyi looked at her without expression.
“What martial arts?” she asked indifferently. “Isn’t bringing this many people enough? This is the Capital City, at the feet of the Emperor, and we are going to the home of the Minister of War. Do you think anyone would dare cause trouble?”
Xia Shuang didn’t speak this time, but she kept shaking her head, her green dress swaying as her stubborn eyes remained fixed on Song Youyi.
Listening from the side, Song Ning gave Song Youyi a gentle pull.
“Let them come along,” he said. “How much care can you provide? I’ve grown used to having the two of them around. It won’t hurt for them to join us.”
A frail younger sister taking care of a blind older brother felt strange no matter how one looked at it.
Upon hearing her brother say this, Song Youyi’s expression softened, and her voice turned gentle again. “Whatever you say, Brother.”
She helped Song Ning toward the carriage. Song Ning paused and spoke over his shoulder.
“The two of you, get in.”
Song Youyi’s steps faltered slightly. She looked up at the carriage compartment. It wasn’t large; she had specifically ordered it that way.
She had originally intended to have some private time with her brother, but now two more people were going to squeeze in.
“It will be too crowded with four people,” she advised. “I didn’t arrange for such a large one.”
Xia Shuang took the initiative and spoke to Song Ning.
“I will go. Riding.”
Since she could protect Song Ning, she didn’t care how she traveled, so she wouldn’t squeeze into the small carriage.
After receiving Song Ning’s approval, she turned and left, her movements agile as she vanished from sight within a few steps.
Xia Ling stood in place, hesitated for a moment, and then followed them into the carriage.
The curtain was lifted and then dropped, sealing out the light from outside. The interior was much darker than the exterior, and one could only see the faces of others by the faint, filtered light.
The corners of Song Youyi’s mouth curved up slightly. This was her arrangement—the thick curtains were intended to block out the light.
Song Ning couldn’t see any of this, so the brightness of the carriage had no effect on him.
Song Youyi helped Song Ning sit in the primary seat and sat right next to him. Xia Ling shrunk into the corner, trying to make herself as small as possible.
“Brother, your two maids are very obedient,” Song Youyi remarked, her tone neither hot nor cold.
She glanced at Xia Ling in the corner. Her gaze was indifferent, yet it sent a chill down Xia Ling’s spine.
“It’s not a matter of being obedient,” Song Ning replied with a smile. “I think of them as sisters. They are both my sisters.”
He meant it. Xia Ling and Xia Shuang had been by his side since they were children.
He was the one who had taught them to read and write, and he had put a lot of effort into treating Xia Shuang’s throat. He had always viewed them as younger sisters.
The other maids in the mansion were very envious; the two sisters were provided with excellent food, clothing, and housing.
Living with Song Ning, they were treated almost like young ladies themselves.
Hearing this, Song Youyi’s face immediately fell. In a place where Song Ning couldn’t see, her face became bone-chillingly cold, her lips pressed into a hard line that looked almost frightening.
Especially in this dim environment, it was enough to make anyone’s heart turn cold.
Xia Ling took one look and didn’t dare look again. She lowered her head, staring at her own feet, wishing she could shrink into the corner and disappear.
‘Xia Shuang, oh Xia Shuang, you should have just taken me with you to ride the horse! Why am I even here?!’
The carriage rocked gently as it began to move. The wheels rattled and the copper bells jingled.
Inside the compartment, Song Ning and Song Youyi sat side by side. Both were dressed in white.
Song Ning wore a moon-white robe, while Song Youyi wore a plain white dress with a thin white cloak over it.
Sitting together, one handsome and the other frail, they truly looked like immortals stepped out of a painting.
Xia Ling huddled in the corner, silently watching the two of them pressed together. This scene inexplicably reminded her of many years ago.
It had been just like this—a small carriage, her small self huddled in the corner, watching the Master and that little girl sitting together. Only back then, that little girl would glare at her.
And now? Now, that look was no longer just a glare. Xia Ling couldn’t quite describe it, but she felt it was even more terrifying.
The curtains blocked most of the light, leaving only a few thin streaks to filter through the gaps, falling on the floor, the seats, and the two people.
Song Ning, unable to see, sat upright and began to instruct her.
“Are the gifts all ready this time? Even though we are old family friends, we must not neglect the proper etiquette.”
Song Youyi leaned against him, giving a soft “Mm” in response.
“They are ready. Don’t worry, Brother.”
As she spoke, she leaned her body closer to him. The distance between them shrank.
Song Ning continued his instructions, and she replied to each one, her voice soft and obedient.
However, her actions were completely at odds with her docile voice.
She moved closer, inch by inch, until she was almost pressed against him. Then, she held her breath.
Her movements were light and slow, as if she were afraid of startling him. She turned her head slightly, bringing her face extremely close to his—so close she could see the curve of his eyelashes.
Her nose nearly touched his ear, but she didn’t make a sound. She was very skilled at this, as if she had practiced it intentionally.
Song Ning was completely unaware and continued talking about the matters of etiquette.
Something was churning deep within Song Youyi’s eyes. That was not the look of a sister looking at a brother.
Xia Ling saw it. Shrunk in her corner, she watched Song Youyi’s sickly little face and the expression in those eyes—obsessive and greedy, as if she wanted to swallow him whole.
That look made a chill run down Xia Ling’s spine.
Then, Song Youyi’s gaze swept over. Cold and indifferent. She raised her hand and curled her finger at Xia Ling.
Xia Ling’s heart skipped a beat, and she understood immediately. She was far too clever, clever enough to understand the Second Miss’s meaning at a single glance.
She didn’t dare resist and crept over quietly. Song Youyi watched her, her lips moving. There was no sound, only the shape of the words:
“You’d better behave.”
“If I find out you’re running your mouth…”
Her gaze shifted down, landing on Xia Ling’s ears.
“Block your ears.”
Xia Ling’s expression changed. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but facing those eyes, she couldn’t utter a word.
At that moment, Song Youyi produced a silk ribbon from somewhere. It was moon-white, thin and soft, the same color as her clothes.
Xia Ling took the ribbon, her hands shaking slightly. She didn’t dare rebel. In the Song Mansion, aside from Mother Song and the Eldest Miss, this Second Miss held the most authority.
What could a lowly maid like her say? As long as the other party didn’t do anything to harm Song Ning, she had no right or standing to interfere in anything else, just like now.
Furthermore, given the Second Miss’s current posture, anyone could see exactly what she meant. It was only because Song Ning was blind that he couldn’t see.
Xia Ling silently tied the ribbon over her eyes, and her vision plunged into a hazy white.
Then she turned around, facing the wall of the carriage compartment, her back to the two of them. She didn’t dare look back.
Song Ning’s voice reached her ears, muffled, still giving instructions. Then came Song Youyi’s response, soft and obedient.
Xia Ling plugged her ears as well. But she could still faintly hear some sounds. The rustling of fabric. Very light, very soft.
“Brother, keep talking,” Song Youyi’s voice came through, sounding no different than usual. “I’m listening.”
Song Ning suspected nothing and continued talking about etiquette and other interesting anecdotes.
While Song Youyi responded, she slowly lifted her feet. Her movements were very light and elegant.
First one foot; she softly removed the embroidered shoe, revealing the white silk sock within. She placed the shoe aside, and then did the same with the other.
The two embroidered shoes were placed side by side, perfectly neat.
She straightened up, her fingers moving to her waist. The knot of her belt was pulled gently, coming undone.
Her outer robe loosened slightly, revealing the moon-white inner garment beneath.
She pulled the outer robe around her to make it looser, letting it drape over her body. Her movements were fluid and silent.
She leaned against Song Ning’s side, her entire body resting against him, and said tenderly, “Brother, let me lie down for a while. You keep talking. I’m listening.”
Then, a hand slowly moved toward his waist…
“Also, don’t be cold toward Qi Chuyao when you see her. Just treat her like a child younger than you.”
“I know her temperament. Don’t lower yourself to her level; she’ll improve in the future.”
“By the way, Qin Junyue should still be in the Capital City, right? We should invite her over when the time comes.”
Song Ning continued to speak, completely unaware. The light in the carriage was dim, with only a few thin rays filtering through the curtain gaps, falling on Song Youyi’s pale face.
A faint flush had appeared on her cheeks, her gaze was dazed and sickly, and a trace of a curve lingered at the corner of her mouth.
She looked at the person before her, so close at hand, yet he would never be able to see her.
But Song Youyi kept her eyes on him, leaning against him, nestled in his arms. she stared at his constantly moving lips and felt his breath.
Song Youyi’s breathing grew slightly rapid, though she controlled the sound for fear of Song Ning hearing anything unusual. Her fingers moved slightly.
“Keep talking. I’m listening.”
“Brother, my face feels a bit hot. Feel it and see if I have a fever?”