One of the day, Song Ning brings Song Qin to the shop to meet their eldest sister. They walk in and most of the sop assistants know who they are. Everyone greeted each other. Song Ning see that her sister is attending to a customer. Hence the siblings walk around the shop and look at the garments.
"Ning'er. I haven't see you for awhile."
Song Ning have a shock when she hear the voice of her brother-in-law behind her. She step back and bow.
"Brother-in-law… yes it's been awhile."
She look up to see the handsome face of the eldest son. He is the face of the shop and most female customers look for him. He is handsome with gentleness. Tall and slim with an oval face. His eyes are round and bright. When he smile, he charm most women. Song Ning got nervous as she look across the room and see that her eldest sister is looking in their direction. She look for her little brother for help however he is engross with the book in his hand. He is not paying any attention. While Zhang Nan Yu move nearer as he looks at the girl that he prefer to marry.
Even though Song An his bride-to-be and Song Ning are both beautiful to look at. Song Ning doesn't have a fiery temper nor she impose on others to make them uncomfortable. Besides that Song Ning smile more and frown less. Also Song Ning is able to get along with children well. Besides that their little brother is care by Song Ning like her own child. He wants to have many children after his marriage thus marrying Song Ning will be a better choice for him but the elders in the family clan rejected his proposal as the child engagements contract was signed and thus they dare not break the contract. It is important to honour what was promised. Therefore Song Ning will have to marry his brother Zhang Nan Feng as plan.
Nan Yu pretend to reach out for the item behind Song Ning. He touch her hand which makes her jump. She nervously walk away and call for her little brother. Nan Yu have previously express his liking to her privately but Song Ning always acted she don't understand anything and will look for her sister. He sigh and straighten up. Turning around he see Song An looking at him from the counter. She looks like an ice beauty that is not reachable. He smile at his wife-to-be and walk up to her.
"Yu ger, i will be going outside to have lunch with my siblings."
"Hmm that is nice."
"Would you like to join us?"
His eyes light up and agree. He hurry to give his shop assistants instructs. While Song An coldly look at her fiancé she swing the brush in-between her fingers. She then look at her siblings who are looking at some garments. She knows that it is not her sister's fault but she cannot help it to feel jealous at the attention she is receiving from Nan Yu.
That night, they got home and Song Ning clean up her brother before he starting reading a book. Song An waits for Sing Ning to finish what she wants to do and watch her walk outside. She follows behind and ask Song Ning to sit down with her. The pair of sisters sits in the courtyard watching the sky.
"It's been a long time since we watch the sky."
"Yes it's a long time."
"Song Ning… would you like to go to the capital?"
"Capital? Why?"
"The Zhang family have a shop there… i can ask the old lady a position for you at the new location. It will be good for you."
"What about Qin?"
"I can take care of him, if you like. If not, he can follow you there. We can transfer him to continue his studies in the school of imperial studies."
Song Ning look at her sister's face. She understand it's a nicer way to get her to stay away from Nan Yu.
"Also Nan Feng is in the capital. Both of you can built up a relationship before the marriage."
Song Ning understands her sister's intention. She nod her head.
"I will follow sister's instruction."
Song An reach out to touch her sister's hands. She smile weakly.
"I will ask Song Qin tomorrow who will he like to follow…"
The following day Qin'er firmly choose to follow his second sister. Song An is not surprise nor disappointed. She visited the Zhang family in the afternoon and ask the old lady Zhang for the opening post for her sister. She also give them an ideal that the second daughter of the Song family perhaps can meetup the second son Nan Feng in the capital.
"Hmm in this case, we will inform the shopkeeper in the capital to expect Song Ning. Feng'er is now working for the main branch in Yamen. I hardly see any letters from him. Maybe Song Ning can advise him to write him frequently or come back home for the holidays."
"I will convey this message to Ning'er."
"Song An… is there something wrong with your sister?"
"Why do you ask madame?"
"After your parents passed away. She hardly come here. What is she doing outside, do you know?"
"She is … teaching some noble ladies on paintings."
"Is she? Well that is not a choice of work but dealing with nobility is difficult."
They are both quiet for awhile. The old lady look at Song An. In her heart is understand that the sisters have a disagreement between them but she is not going to say anything to make it worst.
"In any case… get her to come here for dinner before she goes off to the capital."
Song An agree with a smile and a nod.
That day of the dinner is uncomfortable for Song Ning. She eat quietly. She did not want to talk much and Nan Yu keep putting food onto her bowl. She cannot reject it thus she eat in silence. Old lady Zhang see that the eldest son is full of affection for the second daughter of Song family. However this is a case of non negotiable of another brother marrying two sisters. She knows that with Song An's character, the Zhang family won't have peace if they allow the Nan Yu to marry two sisters. Sharing a husband is difficult what makes it worst is the wives are sisters. However the good thing is that Song Ning is a sensible girl. She never go agains the rules that the ancestors have set. Thus if everything goes well, a few years time Nan Feng under the pressure of the family will marry Song Ning. Old lady Zhang also have talk to Nan Yu many times over the years. He did not say anything to upset old lady Zhang but he did say that what if his brother did not want to marry Song Ning. Will he able to marry her to carry out the honour of the contract engagement? Old lady Zhang did not answer him but simply ask him to pay more attention to his future wife.
After dinner, Song Ning and her little brother is at the courtyard playing with the niece and nephews of the Zhang family. They are laughing and running around. The more Nan Yu look at her the more he likes her. He feel that he should talk to her one more time before she goes to the capital. He wait for her to be alone. Finally he spot her walking with a towel towards the kitchen area. He follow her. Quietly like a mouse. He look around. Before she steps into the kitchen, he stop her by grabbing her wrist. Song Ning did not panic. She stare at him and wonder why is he so stubborn.
"Come."
He forcibly pull her along in the dark corridors. Finally into one of those rooms. He close the door after he drag her in.
"Brother Yu…"
"Don't worry. I just want to talk to you."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Do you really want to go to the capital?"
He ask as he walks near her. She keep moving back till there is no more space for her to walk. She wants to walk off on her right but he block her way with his long arms.
"Did your sister force you to go?"
"NO no one force me. I ask to go."
"Why?"
"I want to see the capital and see brother Feng."
"Do you like him?"
"Everyone likes him…"
"I mean YOU… do you … have those romantic feelings for him?"
"… no… Please let me go. Song Qin is waiting for me…"
Before she continue her sentences, he plant a kiss on her lips forcefully. Song Qin who have never been kiss before feels strangely suffocating. She hit his chest but he becomes like a tree that wraps around her. Finally he let her go and she is catching her breath.
"Since you don't like him. Like me instead, i can talk to …"
"NO! Are you mad??? You are going to marry my sister in less than a year!"
"I want to have a chance with you."
"Brother Yu there is no chance!"
She push him away and walk out of the room. He follows her behind in ferrous manner. Even he is angry, his handsome looks is never cover by the ugliness that he is doing now.
"Song Ning!"
He grab hold of her hand. She try to get him off but he is holding on tightly. At that moment she realise that up ahead stands her sister and her little brother.
That night there is a down pour and old lady Zhang arrange rooms for them to sleep in. Song Qin is arrange to sleep with one of the nephew as they are similar in size. The bed is big enough for both of them. While the sisters go a room near to Song Qin. That night they did not sleep. Each lost in their thoughts. Suddenly Song An speaks.
"If you like Nan Yu, say something…
"No i don't like him that way."
"He wants you. He wants to … sleep with you."
Song Ning turn her head to look at her sister. How can she say those words.
"I offer myself to him before the wedding to let him… have my body. However he is not interested. He says he wants you…."
Song Ning still remain silence.
"Maybe you can be his mistress…I promise i won't be angry."
"Eldest sister! Do you know what you are saying?"
"Or maybe after he sleep with you a few times he won't be interested in you any longer…"
Song Ning can only shake her head and wonder what is going inside the mind of her sister.
"I won't do anything that you said. I will pretend i never hear anything that you said awhile ago. Song Qin and i will leave as plan. Please be happy with your wedding."
"I will be happier if you don't turn up."
Song Ning hearing that burst off crying. Song An slowly turn her head to look at the sister that she grew up with. Tear form in her eyes, she did not regret saying that but she regret hurting her only blood relation in this world.
That morning after breakfast, the Song family leaves the mansion in peace and quiet. Nan Yu only can look in a distance at Song Ning. His eyes is fill with sadness. Last night he was made to kneel at the ancestor hall. He was made to write a hundred times that he will marry Song An and live in peace with her. He write those words over and over again with tears in his eyes. As the rain falls, the pain in his heart begins to build a wall around it. He decided to hold off the wedding till he meets his brother.