"Quite the natural-born actress." The poised, reserved young lady was naturally Eldest Miss Xue, Xue Baochai. Noticing the aura of a noble young lady in her every gesture, Song Qingshu secretly compared her to actresses from a later age. Her acting skills would have made all those popular starlets cry for mercy.
"Second Brother." A soft, delicate female voice came from beside him. Only then did Song Qingshu notice the frail young lady nearby. A faint veil of sorrow hung between her brows, yet she showed not the slightest trace of bitterness. Instead, it only made her seem all the more pitiable and lovely.
"Sister Lin." Song Qingshu naturally recognized her. Back when he had been appointed prince of Qi, the civil and military officials of the entire court had come to his residence to offer congratulations. Lin Ruhai, then still the Salt Censor, had brought her along.
At the time, aside from the willow-branch frailty that had left a deep impression on him, her lack of vitality had also been particularly noticeable. Song Qingshu had seen then that she was constitutionally weak. She would struggle even to live to thirty; if she suffered any great sorrow or joy along the way, she might not even reach twenty.
Unfortunately, he had had no way to help her then. But now that Zhang Sanfeng had taught him the Rootless Tree Art, which could prolong one's life to a certain degree, he could teach it to her when he found the chance. Ren Yingying's complexion had grown much rosier after practicing it. He could not simply stand by and watch Lin Daiyu fade away.
Noticing that he had been staring at her, Lin Daiyu's jade-white cheeks reddened slightly, and she lowered her head in flustered embarrassment.
"Don't frighten Daiyu." Grandmother Jia shot