Chapter 26

“Are you certain it’s the first day of the new year in Baiyue year 1301?” Song Jianshuang was greatly shocked. Right now, it was already late autumn of Baiyue year 1300. The Beginning of Winter was only a few days away, and there were only three months left until the new year.

Qiu Liang nodded. Seeing how shocked Song Jianshuang was, she suddenly had a bad feeling.

“Do you have a portrait of your father at home?”

If Director Song was released without guilt and restored to his post, there was a high chance he would also be in the great hall.

“Wait a moment.” Seeing how turbulent Qiu Liang’s emotions were, Song Jianshuang did not ask for the reason. She got up and went to the study. Before long, she returned carrying a scroll.

The scroll unfurled. It was a portrait of Director Song that Song Jianshuang had personally painted in her spare time.

The brows and eyes were vivid, about eighty percent similar to the real person.

Qiu Liang looked at it for a while, then closed her eyes and carefully recalled. Sure enough, Director Song had also been among the officials.

Seeing Qiu Liang’s expression change again and again, Song Jianshuang slowly clenched the hand hidden in her sleeve and asked, “Qiu Liang, did something happen to my father again?”

Could it be that after the new emperor ascended the throne, he would settle accounts with old ministers who had not supported him, and the Song family still could not escape?

“I originally thought I was the only one hanging from the rope. Now we’re grasshoppers tied to the same rope.” [read the original at bailiantales.com]Even with someone sharing the same trouble, Qiu Liang did not feel the slightest bit relaxed.

Director Song was deeply valued by the current emperor, and he would be restored to his post. With each new emperor came new ministers. One did not even need to think to know what his fate would be. His situation would only be more dangerous than hers. If Director Song could not survive, could the Song family still be preserved? And what would Song Jianshuang’s ending be?

Most likely, it was a dead end.

Qiu Liang herself could still walk away, but if Song Jianshuang was also involved…

The great waves in her heart surged again and again, finally turning into a sigh.

She could not bring herself to watch Song Jianshuang wait for death with open eyes. This matter had to be avoided. Even if it could not be avoided, they still had to avoid it.

“What do you mean by that?” Song Jianshuang did not understand. What did “grasshoppers tied to the same rope” mean? Had the Song family implicated Qiu Liang…

Before Qiu Liang could speak, the little maidservant knocked on the door and said, “Miss, Eldest Young Master is here.”

The Eldest Young Master was Song Jianshuang’s elder brother, Song Wanglei. Qiu Liang had met him once yesterday.

“Should I avoid him?”

Song Jianshuang looked at the shadow cast on the doors and windows, then nodded. “If it gets too late, rest properly. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

It was already night. She did not know what her elder brother had come to find her for.

Qiu Liang’s emotions had fluctuated too much tonight. She ought to sleep well. There was no need for her to wait long.

The door opened. Qiu Liang walked out and bowed slightly to Song Wanglei. Without speaking, she went next door.

Song Wanglei frowned, casually closed the door behind him, and said angrily, “Little Sister, I heard you opened a shop on Zhuque Street. Is that true?”

“It is true.”

“If you lack silver, you can tell me, or go directly to the accounts and ask the shopkeeper to withdraw some. Close the shop.” Song Wanglei’s tone was impatient, his face full of irritation.

He had only learned yesterday, after being called back, that Madam Chu had returned to her maternal home. First, he was scolded by his mother, Madam Song. Then when he went to the Chu family to fetch his wife, he was scolded by his elder brother-in-law. In the end, he did not even get to see his wife.

Today, while outside, he heard others saying that Song Jianshuang had opened a divination shop. The frustration in his heart immediately found an outlet, so the moment he returned to the residence, he came looking for her.

Song Jianshuang frowned slightly and patiently said, “I did not open the shop to earn money. Elder Brother is busy with many affairs, so there is no need for you to concern yourself with it.”

This shop had to remain open, especially after she learned that the emperor would pass away in three months.

Father was already standing alone, and now he was trapped in prison. She needed to use this shop to do certain things.

For herself, and for the Song family.

“You are an unmarried young lady. What business do you have opening a shop? Not only are you showing your face in public all day, you are also dealing with people from every walk of life. Our family already comes from humble origins. If you continue making such a fuss, what face will the Song family have left in the future?” Song Wanglei completely unleashed his temper. It was as if they were still children, and if his younger sister did something wrong, he would sternly stop her.

An elder brother was like a father. With Father absent, he had to support this family.

After this string of belittling and scolding words fell into the room, Song Jianshuang suddenly lost all desire to continue speaking. “I’m doing this for Father. If Elder Brother has nothing else, please go back and rest early.”

Song Wanglei did not quite believe her. “Little Sister, tell me honestly. Did Father instruct you to do this, or did you decide on your own?”

After calming down slightly, he also knew that his attitude earlier had been somewhat inappropriate. It was only because too many troublesome matters had piled up together, leaving him no peace.

“I’m tired. Elder Brother, please return.” Song Jianshuang looked at Little Chengzi.

Little Chengzi hurriedly said, “Eldest Young Master, please go back. Our miss has been tired outside all day and should rest.”

Master and servant both looked as if they were driving a guest away, stirring up the anger in Song Wanglei’s heart again.

“I will tell Mother about this. Conduct yourself properly.”

After Song Wanglei left, Little Chengzi said unhappily, “Eldest Young Master’s temper is getting more and more aggressive. Ever since Young Madam entered the household, he hasn’t spoken properly to Miss. How did Eldest Young Master become like this?”

Yes. How had he become like this? Ever since Elder [stolen content]Brother married a wife from an aristocratic clan, he had begun looking down on his own origins. His words were filled with contempt toward humble families.

In truth, Song Jianshuang knew that after Madam Chu entered the household, Elder Brother’s business had become much easier to conduct. But to belittle one’s own origins for the sake of gold and silver was something she could not agree with.

The silver earned through relying on connections with aristocratic clans did not sit well with her, so not long after Madam Chu entered the household, Song Jianshuang stopped taking silver from the accounts.

From childhood until now, her savings amounted to only a little over two thousand taels, and now, she had poured all of it into the shop.

Success or death. There was no turning back.

Song Jianshuang rubbed her brow and stopped thinking about these things. “Go invite Miss Qiu over. Forget it, I’ll go over myself.”

The two rooms were next to each other, separated only by a wall.

“You quarreled with your elder brother?” Song Wanglei’s voice had not been quiet just now, and Qiu Liang had heard it.

A bitter smile appeared on Song Jianshuang’s lips. “Different paths cannot conspire together, that’s all. There’s no need to worry. The shop will remain open.”

What she was most worried about was not the shop. Elder Brother had always been like this, loud thunder but little rain. At most, he would argue with words. He would not actually take forceful action to stop her.

As for Mother, there was no need to worry too much either. Song Jianshuang was confident she could persuade her.

Right now, what she was most worried about was Father, and the safety of the entire Song family.

Qiu Liang also knew that if they did not speak clearly tonight, neither of them would be able to sleep peacefully. After thinking about it, she still did not reveal her secret.

“When I read your bones just now, I calculated a palace coup. It will happen on the first day of the new year. The emperor will die, and Princess Wen’an will go with him. All the civil and military officials will be held hostage inside the great hall. Whether it will be fortune or disaster is hard to say.”

Among the officials were Director Song, and also her.

Even now, Qiu Liang still could not understand how, with her identity, she could become an official and appear in the palace. It was far too unbelievable.

Song Jianshuang’s heart tightened. “Did you calculate which prince it was?”

Qiu Liang shook her head. She had seen the appearance of the prince who killed his father and usurped the throne, but she did not know whether he was the First Prince or the Second Prince.

After all, she had never seen either of them.

Song Jianshuang’s brows drew together. “This matter is of great importance. What else did you calculate?”

“Uncle Song and I were both in the great hall. Princess Wen’an was stabbed through the throat by the prince. That’s all.” The images Qiu Liang saw had not provided too much information, and she could not sort out much that was useful.

In short, there was a huge pit right in front of them, and only three months remained. Either they would be dragged into it, or they had to jump away.

Once a person calmed down and brushed aside fear, they could finally think properly.

She could leave the capital, but the Song family could not. Not to mention that Director Song was still in prison.

“You were also in the great hall?” Song Jianshuang was truly shocked. Once a palace coup was mentioned, she could predict that Father would certainly be unable to stay out of it. But Qiu Liang being there as well was something she had never expected.

“Yes. I don’t know what is going on either.”

This was exactly what Qiu Liang could not understand. Entering court as an official was something she had never considered, and it was also not something that could happen just because she thought about it.

Song Jianshuang was silent. If Qiu Liang really appeared in the palace hall, perhaps it had something to do with the path she had chosen. If so, should that path still be continued?

Seeing her silent and her face turn pale, Qiu Liang inexplicably felt somewhat unable to bear it.

“Maybe we can find a chance to see which prince it is, then support him instead. Don’t people talk about merit in following the dragon?”

Song Jianshuang shook her head. “If we rely on one side, we become the mortal enemy of the other. Moreover, the First Prince is not only mediocre, but also obstinate and self-important. He treats human lives like grass and is not a wise ruler. Although the Second Prince has some ability and has spread a reputation for wisdom, he is deeply suspicious, and in private, he is also cruel. One careless step means eternal damnation.”

These words were what Father had once told her.

Director Song had also understood the temperaments of the two princes well, which was why he had not rushed to choose a side. His thinking was that no matter which prince inherited the throne, whoever became emperor, he would be loyal to that person.

In this way, the new emperor would not pursue the matter too much. That was the most stable path. Merit in following the dragon was not so easy to obtain.

Once one stood on the wrong side, the entire family would be finished.

But if they knew which prince would inherit the throne in the future, then there would be no question of standing on the wrong side.

Qiu Liang also thought of this point. “Then what if we secretly support him? We don’t need to think about merit in following the dragon. We just need peace and safety, and to avoid standing against him.”

At first, Song Jianshuang thought this suggestion was acceptable, but then she overturned it again. “Father is currently in prison. Even if he expresses his stance, it will be useless. When a minister loses his usefulness, he becomes a discarded piece to either prince. Even if your face-reading skill is exceptionally outstanding, in the eyes of the two princes, you are merely a weak woman. If you can be used by him, all is well. If not, you die.”

This world was always harsher toward women.

Qiu Liang sighed. So there was no path to take.

The two could not think of a good solution, so they could only take one step and see one step for now.

After Song Jianshuang returned to her room, Qiu Liang could not fall asleep no matter what. One moment, she thought of each flying away when disaster came. The next, her mind was filled with the image of her marrying Song Jianshuang.

She actually could not bear it.

Feeling troubled, Qiu Liang walked out the door. The bright moon hung high, and there was still a little maidservant carrying a lantern in the courtyard.

“Miss Qiu can’t sleep either?” [bailiantales.com]Little Chengzi held a lantern in one hand and several books in the other as she greeted her.

Either?

Qiu Liang tilted her head and looked next door. The candlelight in the room had not been extinguished, and a figure sat upright at the table.

So she was not the only one unable to sleep tonight.

“Chengzi, what books are you carrying? Can you lend me one?”

“Miss Qiu is too polite. Take any you like.” Little Chengzi casually pulled one out. Qiu Liang accepted the book and turned back to her room.

It was not until midnight that the candlelight in the two rooms was extinguished one after the other.

When she woke in the morning, Qiu Liang was still holding that book. It was a history book, one that spoke of Baiyue’s national history.

Her chest felt a little hot, because from that history book, she had seen another possibility.