For the pre - arranged competition, Zhao Shiliu suddenly fell ill and was absent.
Others might not suspect anything fishy, but Xie Jingchu certainly wouldn't think so.
After all, Ruan Jiu was not Song Qingyu. Apart from being good at business and having beautiful handwriting, she only had a smattering of other things.
If she really had the competition with Zhao Shiliu today, it would be like handing herself over to others.
And Zhao Shiliu suddenly falling ill, if it wasn't Ruan Jiu who drugged her, then who else could it be?
Seeing Xie Jingchu's expression, Ruan Jiu knew that he must be imagining a big drama in his mind at this moment.
So she immediately said, "Don't think too much. I didn't drug her."
Didn't drug her?
Xie Jingchu asked puzzledly, "Then why did she suddenly fall ill?"
Then he waved his hand, "Don't tell me it's all a coincidence."
Just now, her calm expression clearly showed that she already knew that Zhao Shiliu wouldn't come to the competition today.
Seeing that Xie Jingchu was so eager to know the truth, Ruan Jiu hooked her finger at him.
Seeing this, Xie Jingchu immediately leaned his ear over.
Then Ruan Jiu told him everything in detail.
It all started two days ago. After that night, Xiao Wang really called Lan Yu back.
Without Lan Yu's surveillance, Ruan Jiu could naturally do her own things with ease.
The first thing she did was to make an appointment with Zhao Shiliu.
When Zhao Shiliu saw Ruan Jiu, she still looked aloof and cold.
She said coldly, "I wonder what the second Miss Song has invited me here for?"
Ruan Jiu smiled, "Of course, it's about the competition at Chonghua Tower."
"Oh?" Zhao Shiliu didn't expect Ruan Jiu to be so direct. "What does the second Miss Song mean?"
"I wonder how confident Miss Zhao is about winning?" Ruan Jiu asked calmly.
After hearing this, Zhao Shiliu pursed her lips.
She was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Fifty percent."
Although she said so, she clearly lacked confidence.
Because she knew that her title of the number - one talented woman in the capital was only because Song Qingyu was not in the capital in the previous few years.
Back then, Song Qingyu was well - known in the capital. Her excellent skills in playing the qin had even won the admiration of many people.
If they really had a competition, she might not even have a fifty - percent chance of winning.
"Miss Zhao is being too modest. Since you're the number - one talented woman in the capital, how could you only have a fifty - percent chance of winning?"
Hearing this, Zhao Shiliu tightened her fingers and coldly snorted, "Are you mocking me?!"
Ruan Jiu waved her hand, "Miss Zhao misunderstood. What I mean is that we don't have to have this competition."
After hearing this, Zhao Shiliu looked at Ruan Jiu in confusion.
Ruan Jiu then continued, "It's just a marriage, but now it's known all over the city. In the end, no matter which one of us loses, we'll both lose face."
Zhao Shiliu thought for a while.
Indeed, if either of them lost, they would surely be laughed at by others.
"Then what do you mean? Not having the competition?" Zhao Shiliu asked.
Ruan Jiu nodded, "I'll find an excuse to be absent from the competition when the time comes."
"Don't you want to marry the young Marquis Xie anymore?"
Ruan Jiu shook her head again, "Of course I want to marry. But I'm willing to be a concubine while you be the wife."
"What?!" Zhao Shiliu exclaimed in disbelief.
Who would be willing to be a concubine voluntarily!
"I don't want to compete with you, but I also don't want to lose A Jing. After all, A Jing and I are in love and have already made a private vow for life. So how about we both enter the Marquis's mansion? This is the only solution I can come up with."
Hearing Ruan Jiu call Xie Jingchu "A Jing" repeatedly, Zhao Shiliu felt that she was flaunting her affection with the young Marquis Xie.
Seeing Zhao Shiliu's face getting uglier, Ruan Jiu continued, "But Miss Zhao, please rest assured. After you enter the mansion in the future, I'll surely persuade A Jing to treat you well and make sure you'll have no worries about food and clothing.
I've also discussed with A Jing that we'll adopt one of our children under your name in the future, so that your days in the Marquis's mansion won't be too lonely."
Hearing this, Zhao Shiliu involuntarily clenched her hands into fists.
Ruan Jiu's words were clearly telling her that even if she married Xie Jingchu and became the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, because of the affection between Ruan Jiu and Xie Jingchu, she wouldn't get Xie Jingchu's favor.
Moreover, she would even have to raise their child under the name of the mistress of the Marquis's mansion.
If this got out, wouldn't it be more laughable than losing the competition!
Thinking of this, Zhao Shiliu said coldly, "Thank you for the kind intention of the second Miss Song, but you don't have to do this. Please participate in the competition as agreed. Only one of us can marry into the Marquis's mansion."
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips, looking embarrassed, "I originally thought that as women, we should help each other. But if Miss Zhao insists on having a competition with me, then I have no choice but to accept the invitation.
But what if Miss Zhao loses? Not only will you lose this marriage with the Marquis's mansion, but you'll also lose the title of the number - one talented woman in the capital. Isn't it a great loss?"
After hearing this, Zhao Shiliu's pupils suddenly shrank, and her eyelashes trembled like withered branches.
Her fingers tightened and then loosened, and tightened again.
Yes, if she lost the competition, she would no longer be the number - one talented woman in the capital.
Without this title, she didn't know how much ridicule she would face. And in the future, which noble young master would dare to come and propose marriage to her!
After thinking for a while, Zhao Shiliu said in a deep voice, "Since the second Miss Song and the young Marquis Xie are in love, I won't be the one to steal your love. Miss Song, please rest assured. I won't participate in the competition at Chonghua Tower."
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu was instantly overjoyed.
Although she wasn't proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Song Qingyu's reputation was useful.
The advantages and disadvantages were clearly in front of her eyes. Any sensible person would know what to choose.
However, in order to make Zhao Shiliu willingly accept this big loss, she also gave several long - lost qin scores as a bonus.
After hearing what Ruan Jiu said, Xie Jingchu still had some doubts in his heart, "What if she still insists on having a competition with you?"
Ruan Jiu replied with a smile, "Then I won't come today. At that time, I'll marry you as a concubine. After all, it's the concubines who are favored."
Xie Jingchu's eyebrows twitched slightly.
His lips were tightly closed, and a trace of guilt appeared in his eyes.
After a long silence, he suddenly took Ruan Jiu's hand.
"Come with me somewhere."
After saying that, without waiting for Ruan Jiu to speak, he directly led her away.
After a while, Ruan Jiu looked up at the sign on the curtain, frowned slightly, and looked puzzled.
"What did you bring me here for?"
She didn't expect that the place Xie Jingchu would take her to was actually Jinxiu Pavilion.
Xie Jingchu leaned close to Ruan Jiu's ear, and his warm breath blew on her ear, "To try on wedding clothes."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu blushed and lowered her head, looking at her fingers that were constantly fidgeting.
Xie Jingchu saw that she was shy and didn't plan to tease her anymore.
Then he took her hand, their fingers intertwined, and they walked in side by side.
Ruan Jiu looked at everything familiar in Jinxiu Pavilion and felt a thousand emotions welling up in her heart.
She wondered how Chuntao and Qiuniang were doing now?
Just then, a sudden roar came from the door.
"What are you doing bringing her here!"