Chapter 933: Chapter 933: Seeds of Suspicion
Bai Shuilian truly felt a bit of resentment. She couldnât understand how, since entering the manor, she had hardly seen Song Ci. She never even appeared in front of her, yet Song Ci seemed to hate her as if she had dug up her ancestorsâ graves.
Were she to ask, Song Ci would likely shrug with a frivolous and arrogant expression: Liking someone needs no reason, does disliking someone need one?
Bai Shuilianâs words were mere venting, yet unexpectedly, Song Zhiqing took her seriously.
"Your idea isnât half bad. Why donât you go to the Guanyin Temple for a while, to pray, copy scriptures, and recuperate? Iâll fetch you back after some time."
Bai Shuilian was utterly shocked: "???"
Of all the things I said casually, this is the one you take to heart?
Tears welled up in Bai Shuilianâs eyes, and she forced a bitter smile: "So, youâve found someone new, and now I am just an eyesore? Very well, I will go."
Song Zhiqing hurriedly embraced her and said, "Thatâs not what I meant. I just thought since the old Madam dislikes you, if you go to the temple to pray and copy scriptures, she might favor you a bit."
"Sanlang, if it were that simple, Iâd be willing to live in the temple for a lifetime, but would she agree? I even bore you a pair of dragon and phoenix twinsâa sign of great fortuneâyet still couldnât earn a smile from the old Madam. What can mere prayer and scripture copying do?" Bai Shuilian laughed at his naĂŻvetĂ©, shaking her head, "Itâs futile. From ancient times, the legitimate and the concubine cannot coexist. How could the official wife tolerate the concubineâs offspring?"
These words struck a chord within Song Zhiqing. He replied indifferently, "Thatâs not entirely true. Fatherâs concubines beside him, she never tormented them."
Bai Shuilian laughed: "Thatâs because they couldnât bear children, thus posed no threat. Doesnât Sanlang understand?"
Song Zhiqingâs heart was stirred, and he fell silent.
Within him was a battle of emotions, with Song Ciâs heart-piercing words on one side and Bai Shuilianâs provocative words on the other.
Suddenly, he asked, "Yiâer and the others suffered so much from this ordeal. Do you think it really was all Shuangluoâs doing?"
Bai Shuilianâs heart leapt, seeing Song Zhiqingâs eyes fixed on her. She could not help but display a hint of confusion, asking, "What does Sanlang mean by this?"
"Iâm just a bit skeptical. Sheâs merely a maid, has only been with you for just over a year since arriving at the manor. No matter how scheming she is, she wouldnât have many allies. Could she really have accomplished this alone?"
Bai Shuilian was secretly alarmed, yet her eyes showed a flash of cold severity: "Are you saying someone conspired with her to harm Yiâer and the others?"
"Do you think thatâs likely?"
Bai Shuilian pondered, saying, "This incident happened days ago. I donât know why Sanlang suddenly thinks of this now. In fact, while Iâve been lying injured all these days, thereâs been a lingering question in my heart. Shuangluo resented me, harming Yiâer would have been enough, so why involve Fourth Young Master?"
Song Zhiqing frowned.
He spoke blandly, "Wasnât that all just an unfortunate disaster? The clothes I changed into were even found by you. After visiting Yiâer, I went to see Zhouâer, all at your request."
With this said, there seemed to be another implication.
Bai Shuilianâs expression remained unchanged, but she offered a faint bitter smile, "You only had two or three sets of clothes in the Quiet Garden. I had only been in the manor a short while and didnât dare trust others too much. Shuangluo was in charge of my personal things. How could I guard against her? In fact, youâre right, it wasnât just Shuangluo who harmed Yiâer and the others, I too am at fault. If it werenât for my carelessness, if I werenât worried about Madam saying youâre favoring one over the other, I wouldnât have told you to visit Zhouâer. Itâs all my fault, and now with Yiâer like this, I truly have a debt I can never repay."