Chapter Thirty-Five: She Was a Vision of Beauty Even Without Makeup

"Giving them silver?" Song Tang felt a jolt of surprise and asked, "What is she giving them silver for?"

Song Si lowered her head, her voice dropping even further. "I don't know either. I just felt it was suspicious, so I thought I should tell you, Eldest Sister."

Watching Song Si, who was usually quite timid, a sense of warmth stirred in Song Tang’s heart. In her previous life, when Madam Sun forbade Song Si from going to the Marquis's estate to "beg for favors," Song Si had written her a letter urging her to take care of herself. At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to it, but thinking back now, Song Si was a sensitive and observant person, perhaps one of the few in the entire Song household who actually cared about her.

"Thank you, Third Sister. I understand. Go on back now. Don't mention this to anyone, and don't ask around about it either," Song Tang said gently, patting Song Si’s hand. She was worried that Song Si might foolishly try to investigate, and if she alerted Song Wei, it could put her in danger. Song Wei giving such a large sum of silver to a servant was definitely no trivial matter. She had to uncover what scheme Song Wei was plotting; she could not allow her to stir up any more trouble.

After sending Song Si away, Song Tang summoned Zishuang and instructed her to investigate Song Wei’s recent movements. Zishuang, highly efficient, managed to extract information from a servant within half a day.

"Reporting to you, Miss. The servant said the Second Miss wants them to tamper with things on the day of the wedding so that your sedan chair and hers can be swapped."

"Swapped?" Song Tang repeated, instantly grasping Song Wei’s intention. "She actually plans to swap brides!"

"Swap brides? How could the Second Miss dare to have such thoughts?" Caidie, standing to the side, was stunned.

Song Wei was truly resorting to any means necessary to climb the social ladder. She was bold enough to think that, amidst the chaos of the wedding day, she could swap her sedan chair with Song Tang’s to achieve her goal. Once the deed was done and the marriage was consummated, Song Wei would be the Lady of the Marquis's estate. What a cunning calculation.

Song Tang sneered silently. "It seems my cousin is planning to put on quite a show."

"Miss, what should we do?" Zishuang, a woman of action, waited for further instructions. Caidie chimed in, asking, "Miss, should we tell the Madam?"

"No need. Telling her would be useless. We will handle this ourselves." Song Tang did not trust Madam He to dispense justice at all. Even if she told her, Song Wei might just turn the tables on her, and she didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble.

After a moment of thought, Song Tang said to Zishuang, "Do nothing for now. Don't alarm them. Keep a secret watch on Song Wei’s every move to see if she has any other tricks up her sleeve. We will act on the night before the wedding."

"Yes, Miss." With her orders, Zishuang went back to lurking on the rooftops near Song Wei’s quarters. Zishuang’s skills in light-footed movement were exceptional, and the servants of the Song estate had never discovered her presence. However, that night, Zishuang encountered an old acquaintance on the roof.

"If you aren't busy staying by the Marquis’s side, what are you doing here at our Earl’s estate?" Zishuang’s tone was sharp.

Wan Xing lowered his voice and said with a smile, "The Marquis sent me to gather some information."

"Gather information? Does it really require a personal bodyguard like you to show up?" Zishuang eyed him askance, clearly not believing him. In truth, gathering information was usually the job of his younger brother, Wan Jian, but after Wan Jian told him he had seen Zishuang that afternoon, he had come himself that night.

"Naturally, it is because the Marquis considers the affairs of the Eldest Miss Song to be of great importance," Wan Xing replied, still smiling and completely unfazed by Zishuang’s unfriendly demeanor. Zishuang disliked his grinning face most of all; it was clearly a mockery of the fact that she hadn't been able to beat him in their previous sparring match.

"Then you watch your side, and I’ll watch mine," she said, turning her head away to ignore him.

Wan Xing, remembering the message the Marquis had entrusted to him, quietly edged closer to Zishuang. Zishuang, who had never been so close to a man, immediately struck a heavy blow to his arm. Wan Xing winced, his mouth forming a circle, but he endured it without making a sound.

Zishuang glared at him. "Get lost!"

"It doesn't hurt," Wan Xing said, rubbing his arm without moving an inch.

"I told you to get lost, didn't you hear me?" Zishuang landed another heavy punch. Wan Xing took it squarely again, still not moving. Zishuang was speechless.

Seeing that Zishuang was about to leave, Wan Xing hurriedly said, "Stop messing around, I have important business."

"Speak," Zishuang said impatiently, unable to understand why this man was so annoying.

Wan Xing’s expression turned serious. "The Marquis told me to bring a message to the Eldest Miss Song: he has already made arrangements regarding the bride-swapping plot of the Second Miss. Tell her not to worry too much; she should eat and drink as usual and pretend she knows nothing."

"The matter of swapping brides concerns our young lady’s future. How can she just stand aside?" Zishuang scoffed, her eyes full of worry.

Wan Xing saw her concern and added softly, "The Marquis has his own plans. The Eldest Miss only needs to wait and see. It is best not to act rashly these next two days, lest the greater plan be ruined."

Zishuang bit her lip and finally nodded. "Understood. I will convey the Marquis’s words to my lady. You shouldn't stay here long; if you are discovered, it might cause trouble."

Wan Xing nodded, and his figure soon vanished into the night.

The next day, after Song Tang woke up, Zishuang relayed the message from the Marquis word for word. After hearing it, a cold smirk curled the corner of Song Tang’s lips. "It seems the Marquis also wants to see how this play unfolds!"

"Miss, are we really going to do nothing?" Zishuang asked, still uneasy.

Song Tang nodded slightly. "Since the Marquis has already made arrangements, we will follow his lead for now and wait for the situation to develop. If it truly comes to a critical moment, that is when we will strike."

She knew that Zishuang was skilled; if Song Wei actually succeeded in the swap, she wouldn't be the one bowing to Mu Ziyu anyway. At that point, Zishuang could just step in and cause a scene. She was curious to see how this bride-swapping farce would ultimately end.

In the blink of an eye, the wedding day arrived.

"Miss, wake up." Before dawn, Song Tang was pulled out of bed by Caidie.

"Today is your big day. We must hurry and prepare; the matron from the palace will be here soon," Caidie said while helping Song Tang out of her sleepwear. The bathtub nearby was filled with flower petals. Exhausted, Song Tang sat in the tub and dozed off for a moment.

Once bathed, Song Tang sat before the mirror to be dressed and groomed. In the reflection, her brows and eyes were like a painting, her face breathtakingly beautiful even without a touch of makeup. The palace matron arrived shortly after. She had been sent specifically by the Empress—only one was sent, and Song Wei did not have one.

When Matron Wang entered and saw Song Tang, a flash of astonishment crossed her face. "Eldest Miss Song, your skin is as white as snow. You are truly a natural beauty."