The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 488 - 455: She Refuses to Be the Most Invisible One Anymore (First Update)
The breeze was gentle, the drifting flowers light, and the golden yellow rape fields in the distance made the spring colors more intense.
Liang Jun stepped forward and made a bow to Song Jiao, "I am Liang Jun. May I ask if the lady is the niece of Minister Song, Miss Song?"
Song Jiao nodded and curtsied, "Song Jiao greets Mr. Liang."
Liang Jun did not look at her with scrutinizing eyes. In fact, his gaze did not linger much on her. Standing upright, he said softly, "There is something I must be honest with the lady about. If you mind, then consider today’s encounter a chance meeting with no impact on your reputation."
Song Jiao listened and found the man’s speech quite elegant and polite. She nodded, "Please speak, sir."
Liang Jun said, "Before meeting you, my mother arranged for me to meet someone else. As for who the person is, I’m not at liberty to say. However, that engagement came to an abrupt end before it could begin. Today is my second time meeting someone in this manner."
Song Jiao was taken aback and looked at him, "Are you interested in that lady? If so, there’s no need to force yourself."
Song Jiao felt her guess was likely correct. Liang Jun was a newly minted Advanced Scholar with impeccable character and good looks. Given his attributes, countless ladies would offer themselves to him. How could it be that he needed arranged meetings? Surely, he was interested in the previous lady, but since it didn’t work out, he remained unmarried, leaving his mother no choice but to urge him to meet others.
Liang Jun chuckled lightly, "It was just one meeting, hardly enough to say there’s interest, more like appreciation."
Song Jiao was still somewhat puzzled, "Every year after the imperial exam, prestigious families vie to snatch up the scholars. Hasn’t someone targeted you?"
Such an outstanding person surely couldn’t go unnoticed. Many had their eyes on Liang Jun, with the Minister’s Mansion being just one of them. However, "Compared to other things, I hope more for a wife who understands my heart."
Liang Jun was a resident of the Capital, though his background wasn’t high. His father was only an eighth-rank official. Last year, after passing the imperial exam with high honors, he had many chances for an advantageous marriage to climb higher. But he retained the scholarly dignity and integrity in his bones and didn’t want to live with regrets.
Having been in the Capital for quite a while, Song Jiao was no longer naïve. She was continuously working on improving herself to marry into a prestigious family. Men likely thought the same; they dream of success, and if they marry a lady from a powerful family, they can rise effortlessly.
Thus, in Song Jiao’s estimation, the chance of Liang Jun marrying into the Song family was slim.
But she didn’t expect Liang Jun to utter words like "understand my heart."
Admittedly, upon first hearing this, Song Jiao was quite surprised.
Simultaneously, her favorability for this man unknowingly increased.
...
By the rape fields, Yang helped Song Jiao’s maid, Yun Duo, spread a mat on the grass and set out the food they brought.
Song Qi, however, watched the two people chatting happily on the field ridge without blinking, pursed her lips, and called out to Yang, "Aunt, are you really comfortable letting my elder sister be alone with that man?"
The words sounded uncomfortable, and Yang looked over, "It was meant to give them a chance to meet. How can they talk with so many people trailing behind?"
"But from what I see, that Liang fellow doesn’t look like a good person, more like a hypocrite."
After Song Qi spoke, she sat down at the mat and casually took a snack to eat.
Yun Duo glanced at her and said softly, "Second Miss, Mr. Liang is chosen by the master as a nephew-in-law. The master’s judgment isn’t poor."
Song Qi glared at her, "When is it a maid’s place to interject when the masters are speaking?"
"..." Yun Duo could only close her mouth and step aside.
Seeing this, Yang spoke out, "The little girl did have a point. Mr. Liang is chosen by your third uncle. He wouldn’t harm your sister, would he?"
The third uncle certainly wouldn’t harm them; she was just annoyed by how well-matched those two seemed.
Scanning the field ridge again, she noticed Liang Jun and Song Jiao were nowhere to be seen.
"Where did they go?"
Song Qi tossed away the half-eaten snack, her pupils narrowing as she stood up.
Yang pulled her arm, signaling her to sit.
"Elder sister is missing, I have to find her." Song Qi instinctively wanted to shake off Yang’s hand.
Knowing she was unruly, Yang couldn’t manage her alone, so she brought up Wen Wan, "Before we set off, your third aunt instructed me to take good care of you."
The phrase "take care" carried significant meaning.
Thinking of her third aunt’s seemingly gentle yet intimidating eyes, Song Qi dared not act out.
Sitting back to eat with Yang for a while without seeing Song Jiao return, Song Qi grew restless again, her gaze turning pitiable, "Aunt, aren’t you worried my sister and Mr. Liang have been gone so long? If something truly happens, how will you explain to my third aunt?"
Without waiting for Yang to speak, she had already stood up, her face full of concern for her half-sister, "You stay here, I’ll go find her."
"Hey, Qi Qi!"
Yang was about to pull her back when Song Qi had already disappeared into the bustling crowd.
The worry for Song Jiao was false; the desire to see what the two of them were doing was genuine.
Song Qi pushed her way through the crowd in the direction where Song Jiao had disappeared.
Suddenly, someone called out to her from ahead.
Song Qi halted and looked up, seeing a young man in fine clothes.
Like flowers falling like rain, the young man stood beneath an apricot tree, seemingly not much older than her, with red lips and white teeth. His eyes were particularly bright, and though his face still bore youthful softness, his exquisite features already hinted at the extraordinary handsomeness he would possess in the future.
To be honest, after coming to the Capital, Song Qi had limited contact with people, especially young men. This young lord, apart from her elder cousin Song Yuanbao, was the only one who stunned her.
The young man, apparently unaware of her thoughts, continued to ask, "Excuse me, miss, have you seen a six or seven-year-old girl pass by here, wearing a pink and purple dress, about this tall..."
Song Qi heard none of it, dumbfoundedly staring at him.
The young man finally noticed something amiss and called her again, "Miss?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Song Qi snapped back, "Huh? What did you just say?"
The speaking young man was Li Run, the Heir of Kang Ding. Seeing Song Qi’s unusual gaze, he didn’t want to continue entangling and quietly said, "Sorry to disturb you," intending to leave.
Just then, a joyful girl’s voice came from not far away, "Brother Heir, I’m here."
The girl held two skewers of candied hawthorn, calling out as she ran over.
Song Qi turned back, and when she saw the little girl’s face, she was shocked and blurted out, "Sanyang?"
The girl had already reached Li Run, handed him one skewer of candied hawthorn, and, as if sensing something, turned back. Her eyes landed on Song Qi, "Oh, was this sister calling me just now?"
The girl had smooth, delicate skin and a fair little face, her eyes lively and clear. When she spoke, they sparkled with a mischievous gleam.
No, no, she’s not Sanyang; she can’t be Sanyang.
Song Qi shook her head, smiling kindly with Li Run present, "Little sister probably misheard."
"My name is Li Huairu." The girl had no guard against her, introduced herself, then used the candied hawthorn to point at Li Run, "This is my brother, the Young Master."
"Brother Young Master?"
Song Qi’s heart stirred slightly.
Li Run didn’t let her finish introducing, smiling as he interrupted, "Now that our fifth sister is fine, let’s go join mother over there."
"Mm."
The little girl’s voice was sweet and soft.
After those two left, Song Qi no longer felt like looking for Song Jiao and Liang Jun, returning absentmindedly.
Yang and Yun Duo were still enjoying the scenery by the rape field. Seeing Song Qi return looking lost, Yang asked, "What’s wrong?"
Song Qi heard the words and, as if caught in a guilty act, shook her head vigorously, "Nothing, nothing at all."
Yang’s gaze turned suspicious, "Did you see Jiaojiao and them?"
"Huh? Uh... no, I didn’t see anyone."
"Then why are you acting so strangely today?"
Song Qi recognized the mole in Li Huairu’s eyebrow; even though she didn’t want to admit it, the person was indeed Sanyang.
But she didn’t want to tell anyone, including her parents.
Sanyang had been missing for so long. Once she returned, her parents would certainly treat her even better and neglect Song Qi herself.
She didn’t want to be ignored anymore, didn’t want to be the one with the least presence.
