FYM - 28

By early morning, the snow that had fallen throughout the night finally ceased.

The accumulated snow in Zhaoying County was thick, and it was likely even more treacherous for riding horses deep in the mountains. Yet Song Mingzhen rose early, full of ambition, determined to venture into the forest to make up for yesterday’s losses. Having escorted his injured sister back after midday, he hadn’t hunted again, and now his haul was likely far less than those of the noblewomen who had stayed in the outer zones hunting pheasants and rabbits. How could he possibly be content with that?

Song Shuyan, who had personally witnessed the dangers of the fifth and sixth zones the day before, naturally worried about her second brother. Song Mingzhen only laughed: “I’m not like you, so delicate that a gust of wind could knock me over. Yesterday, Third Brother managed to shoot a white tiger while escorting you, and he came and went without trouble. Why shouldn’t I be able to do the same?”

His words were bold and confident, ringing with self-assurance. However, Song Shuqian, their third sister who happened to overhear as she passed by, sneered quietly. After Song Mingzhen left to prepare his horse, she sidled up to Song Shuyan and mocked coldly: “Fourth Sister, there’s no point in trying to dissuade him. Second Brother is desperate for fame and glory—so much so that he dares to compare himself to Lord Fang. Do you really think he’ll listen to anything you say?”

With that, she adjusted her hairpin and sauntered away, leaving Zhui’er fuming silently behind her.

On the second day of the winter hunt, participants were required to gather at the hunting grounds first, waiting for the signal before entering the forest. As the Song family arrived, they coincidentally encountered the Fang family’s young men at the entrance. Mounted on their horses, the Fang sons exuded martial prowess, their imposing presence starkly different from the scholarly refinement of the Song family.

Fang Xianting, naturally, stood out among them, drawing all eyes like stars orbiting the moon. Perhaps because of their private meeting the previous night, Song Shuyan’s feelings toward him had subtly shifted. At times, she felt closer to him; at others, she felt just as distant as before. Just as she was about to avert her gaze, she noticed something unusual—his left hand, visible beneath the snug sleeves of his military attire, was wrapped in several layers of white cloth. It seemed… like an injury.

—How had he been injured?

Hadn’t he been fine just last night…

She was momentarily lost in thought, her gaze lingering on him a fraction longer than usual. Beside her, Third Sister let out a disdainful snort, her expression nearly tearful. Stepmother Lady Wan lightly patted her daughter’s hand, then turned her sharp, icy gaze toward Song Shuyan—a warning not to entertain improper thoughts. Song Shuyan immediately lowered her eyes, retreating behind her siblings, almost invisible.

Meanwhile, Song Mingzhen had already approached the Fang brothers, exchanging warm greetings. Seeing the Song elders present, the Fang brothers dismounted to pay their respects. Song Dan reciprocated politely, and upon seeing Fang Xianting, he couldn’t help but bring up yesterday’s events. “Lord Fang saved my youngest daughter,” he said graciously. “I should have visited your residence earlier to express my gratitude, but being here at Lishan has made things inconvenient. Once we return to Chang’an, I will certainly bring a generous gift to thank you properly.”

“It was a small gesture,” Fang Xianting replied humbly, bowing slightly. “Lord Song need not concern yourself with it.”

After exchanging further pleasantries, Song Dan turned and beckoned: “Shuyan, come and thank Lord Fang.”

This was entirely expected. Song Shuyan stepped forward obediently, passing by her third sister, who shot her another venomous glare. Keeping her head bowed, she ignored it, lifting her gaze only when she reached her father’s side. Her expression was calm as she looked at Fang Xianting, though her heart stirred faintly.

…It was her tender age, after all.

Perhaps some remnants of youthful naivety still lingered within her.

“Thank you, Young Master, for saving my life,” she said, bowing deeply. Beneath her composed exterior, her heartstrings were gently plucked, though she wasn’t sure what melody she hoped to hear. His response came swiftly, but his demeanor was no longer as warm as it had been during their snowy encounter the night before. Instead, he reverted to his usual aloofness, nodding slightly and saying: “Miss Song, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Zing.

…The string emitted a muffled sound, far from melodious or pleasing.

Her eyes fell once more, her expression remaining placid, betraying nothing. Behind her, her family continued to watch—Stepmother Wan and Third Sister’s gazes prickling like thorns. She neither showed joy nor sorrow, knowing that appearing indifferent was safest.

His gaze shifted away first, signaling his intention to take leave. However, Stepmother Wan interjected at this moment, calling out, “Young Master Fang,” and stopping him. Smiling sweetly, she added: “Yesterday, my second and fourth daughters played so happily outside, but my timid third daughter was too frightened by the events involving her younger sister to join in. If Young Master finds himself free later, might you kindly select a gentle steed for her to ride? It would be better than her staying by the elders’ side all day, wouldn’t it?”

Her words were circuitous, carrying many implications. First, she subtly implied that Song Shuqing and Song Shuyan were frivolous and reckless, while portraying her own daughter as modest and well-behaved. Asking the Marquis of Jin’s heir to select a horse was especially audacious—who could fail to recognize the ulterior motive behind such a request?

Among those waiting nearby, the fourth son of the Fang family, known for his lively temperament, couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. He exchanged a glance with his eldest brother, both of their eyes twinkling with amusement. Standing aside, Song Shuyan listened to her stepmother’s words, finding them rather inappropriate. Still, she assumed it would be easy to decline. To her surprise, Fang Xianting responded: “It’s no trouble at all. If Miss Third requires assistance, she may send someone to accompany me to the imperial stables later.”

…He had agreed.

Song Shuyan remained silent, but inside, the string of her heart gave another discordant zing, this time sharper and more strained, as if on the verge of snapping. She smiled inwardly, thinking how this man, as stern and towering as a cliff, forever remained cold and aloof. Like the distant “spring mountain,” he was deceptive—appearing close at first glance, yet impossibly far away.

His acceptance startled everyone present, including Song Shuqian herself, who took a long moment to process it. Fortunately, Stepmother Wan quickly recovered, beaming with delight as she replied: “Then we’ll impose on you, Young Master.”

With this unexpected turn of events, Song Shuqian spent the day in high spirits.

Despite her lack of equestrian skill, she paraded her horse back and forth near the viewing platform, casually mentioning the origins of her mount to every acquaintance she encountered. She claimed it was personally selected for her by the Marquis of Jin’s heir from the imperial stables, praising its agility and docility. Some ladies believed her, while others did not, reacting with envy or disdain. But Song Shuqian paid them no mind, her perpetually arched brows lifted even higher that day, clearly basking in triumph.

“Hmph, what’s there to be proud of!” Song’s second daughter, angered, grumbled to her fourth sister while seated on the viewing platform. “Lord Fang only extended her a courtesy out of respect for our elders. Does she really think she’s special?”

Her resentment burned fiercely, her complaints heartfelt. Though Zhui’er, as a servant, dared not insult her mistress, she secretly agreed with the second daughter’s sentiments. This third miss was truly despicable—how dare she try to steal her young mistress’s future husband? That young master was clearly a perfect match for her own young lady!

Throughout it all, Song Shuyan remained silent, never uttering a word. Deep down, she knew better than to covet what wasn’t hers. Soon after, Miss Lou arrived, hesitantly approaching them. Upon seeing her, Song Shuqian expressed surprise and stood to ask: “Why aren’t you out hunting in the forest, Miss Lou? I saw Pei and the others go—it must be lively.”

Lou Tong appeared awkward, guilt evident on her face as she addressed the Song sisters. “After causing you two such fright yesterday, how could I possibly go off seeking enjoyment today? I truly feel terrible about it—I’ve come to apologize.”

In truth, she had already apologized once yesterday. When Song Shuyan was escorted back to Zhaoying County by her second brother, Lou Tong and her family had visited the Song residence, bringing medicine and gifts with heartfelt sincerity. Hearing this, Song Shuqian laughed and replied: “My sister and I aren’t so petty. You didn’t mean any harm—it’s our fault for lacking riding skills.”

With that, she invited Lou Tong to sit with them, clearly harboring no ill will.

Lou Tong was deeply grateful but felt especially remorseful toward Song Shuyan. Sitting beside her, she carefully examined her bandaged hand and asked: “Has your wound healed? Was the medicine I sent yesterday effective?”

It was certainly effective. Last night, Song Shuyan had considered replacing it with the ointment Fang Xianting had given her but ultimately decided against it. The pain had since subsided significantly.

“Thanks to your medicine, I’m fine now,” she replied softly. Recognizing Lou Tong’s genuine remorse—not the feigned politeness typical of noblewomen—her tone softened further. “My brother overreacted yesterday. The injury wasn’t serious to begin with.”

At the mention of Song Mingzhen, Lou Tong sighed, her face twisted in distress. “Speaking of your brother, he truly knows how to terrify people! The look on his face yesterday was enough to scare anyone to death!”

The Song sisters burst into laughter. Song Shuqian teased half-seriously: “Miss Lou doesn’t know—my brother dotes on my fourth sister. If it had been me who got hurt yesterday, I doubt he’d have thrown such a tantrum.”

“He was absolutely livid,” Lou Tong muttered. “If my brothers hadn’t been there to mediate, I think he might have eaten me alive!”

The girls laughed again. Song Shuqian, more vivacious, winked playfully at Lou Tong. “There’s a saying: ‘No friendship without conflict.’ Consider this an unconventional introduction to my brother. One day, I’ll have him apologize properly. Who knows? Maybe the two of you will become close friends. Spend enough time with him, and you’ll see—he’s fiercely protective of those around him.”

Song’s second daughter was clever, and her words carried hints of matchmaking. She sought to secure a favorable marriage for her second brother—they were both born of concubines, and if their stepmother arranged their marriages, who knew what kind of household they might end up in? Miss Lou, as the legitimate daughter of the third branch of the Lou family, would be an excellent match for her brother. If they married, her own prospects as a younger sister would rise accordingly—a very practical calculation.

Lou Tong, straightforward by nature, failed to perceive these underlying intentions. She insisted she had been at fault first and didn’t require Song’s second son to apologize. Song Shuyan listened quietly, thinking that if Miss Lou truly became her sister-in-law…

…It wouldn’t be so bad.

While the girls chatted animatedly, deep in the forest, danger lurked. After the heavy snowfall, the horses’ hooves sank deeper into the ground, often becoming stuck and difficult to maneuver. Encountering agile prey only left hunters watching helplessly, further fueling Song Mingzhen’s frustration after his meager haul the day before.