Li Shi was indeed a shrewd person. She didn’t speak ill of Old Madam Song, didn’t say Song Chuyi was ungrateful and didn’t remember the kindness of her as a mother. She only clearly stated her own difficulties and placed herself in the position of a loving mother. This made people feel sympathetic first, giving rise to several parts of guilty conscience.

If it weren’t for Song Chuyi having already told Old Madam about the “dream” she had in advance, then even Old Madam would have been moved by these heartfelt words.

Fortunately, preparations had been made ahead of time. Song Chuyi lowered her head and curved her lips upward.

After a long silence, Old Madam Song finally spoke.

“Who said I want to bring her over to raise because you didn’t take good care of her?”

Li Shi looked up at Old Madam Song with reddened eyes: “Naturally it’s because this daughter-in-law has been inadequate in some aspects, which provoked Old Madam to act this way.”

“Nonsense!” Old Madam Song kept a stern face as she had Nanny Huang pull Li Shi up, earnestly instructing her: “I’m also thinking of you both. You’ve been married in for five years. Everything is fine, except you still haven’t been able to give Second Master a son.”

One sentence struck Li Shi’s sore spot and hit her weak point. She lowered her head somewhat guiltily—after all, heirs were a major matter. She had been married in for over five years and until now only had Song Chuning, which truly couldn’t be justified.

Fortunately, Old Madam Song was an enlightened mother-in-law and had never used this matter to make things difficult for her.

Since Old Madam Song rarely brought it up, she found it even harder to say anything more.

“I know you’re a good person, but you also can’t simply spend all your thoughts on Little Yi. These years have truly been hard on you—managing the Second Branch’s affairs, serving Second Master, and also caring for both Little Yi and Concubine Lin’s daughter Yan’er.” Old Madam Song grasped her hand and patted it.

Li Shi then began to sob, as if having suffered many grievances and finally having a chance to vent.

Nanny Xu quickly stepped forward to console her, smiling: “Second Madam is usually the most benevolent and considerate person. How can she not see our Old Madam’s good intentions? This is also for Second Master’s and your sake!”

Li Shi looked toward Song Chuyi with some difficulty, appearing extremely reluctant: “But Little Six has been thoroughly spoiled by me. I’m afraid she’ll trouble Old Madam.”

Song Chuyi walked forward a few steps and intimately took her hand, her voice sweet and soft as always.

“Mother, don’t worry. Grandmother explained many principles to me last night. Each time, Eighth Sister gets angry because I’m closer to Mother. If Mother has time in the future to care more for Eighth Sister, she’ll be happier, and Mother can also give me younger brothers and sisters sooner. This is also good for our Second Branch. I understand all this.”

Li Shi then knew this matter couldn’t be changed, so she thanked Old Madam again with a tearful voice. Turning to leave, she pulled Nanny Huang aside to instruct: “Little Six doesn’t like sweet foods—those sugar waters and desserts, she doesn’t touch them at all. She doesn’t like eating meat either… At night she also likes to kick off her blankets…”

Nanny Huang listening couldn’t help feeling touched, and couldn’t help sighing again that Li Shi truly was a rare kind person. She turned back and related everything in detail to Old Madam Song.

Song Chuyi listened from the side, not saying a word.

She would let Li Shi perform. The better Li Shi’s mask looked, the more disgusting it would be when the mask was torn off to reveal her ugly features.

Old Madam Song nodded slowly and pulled Song Chuyi to sit beside her.

“It was too late yesterday, and I was troubled by your fuss. There were many things I didn’t have time to tell you.”

Song Chuyi nestled in her embrace, quiet as a little cat.

She truly was different from before. If not for that dream, such a change would really be hard to believe. Old Madam Song sighed and asked her: “After having such a dream and waking up, were you filled with resentment? Wishing Seventh Young Master Shen would die immediately, wishing you could kill all those people who bullied you in the dream?”

Song Chuyi didn’t cry this time, but neither did she nod. She seemed somewhat hesitant.

Only then did Old Madam Song console herself by stroking her head, showing the loving care an elder has for a junior: “That you hesitate means your heart hasn’t been completely filled with anger and hatred.”

“What Grandmother is about to tell you next, perhaps you won’t fully understand yet, but you must remember it well, understand?”

Song Chuyi nodded silently.

“When your aunt was about as old as your Fifth Elder Sister, your grandfather and I began busily looking for a suitable match for her. Your aunt had no sisters growing up, only brothers. As the only girl, she was spoiled rotten by us. When we looked for matches for her, she insisted on personally reviewing them. She looked at many—the young gentlemen of the capital were almost all examined—yet there was never one she liked. I felt something was wrong and didn’t want to let her drag it out, so I planned to arrange an engagement for her. Who knew she had already set her heart on someone herself.”

Old Madam took a sip of tea that Nanny Xu handed over, moistened her throat, and continued: “She was stubborn and had been accustomed to acting coy and willful. She pestered me and your grandfather, insisting she would marry no one but him. Your grandfather and I could only indulge her. But we were still uneasy, so we sent people to your aunt’s husband’s hometown in advance to investigate the family’s background and reputation. Your aunt’s husband’s family was also from scholarly lineage, with some reputation in Shu. We then agreed to this marriage.”

“We thought that as long as your aunt’s husband was ambitious and treated her well, that would suffice. As parents, what we hope for is nothing more than our children living well. Your aunt’s husband also swore before us that he would only take concubines if he had no son by forty. Since he had expressed his intentions so clearly, your grandfather and I felt even more at ease. Even knowing he would have to go far away to take up his post later, we allowed them to marry. Since your aunt married until now, in total she’s only returned to the capital once. You also know that in this lifetime… she probably doesn’t have the fate to come back again.”

Old Madam’s voice grew lower and lower, tears forming in her somewhat clouded eyes.

Song Chuyi finally heard something was amiss—in the rumors, her aunt’s husband treated her aunt extremely well. They were an original couple, loving without doubt. But listening to Old Madam’s meaning, it didn’t seem to be so?

“She’s been married for eleven years now, and until now has only one daughter under her knee… And your aunt’s husband, as early as the year before last, had already taken several concubines of good birth. Counting it all up, your aunt’s husband is only thirty-three. This doesn’t even count those chamber maids your aunt voluntarily gave him in the third year of their marriage.” Old Madam’s words carried some mockery: “I resent your aunt’s husband—he broke his promise and transferred his affections. But I resent your aunt even more. Back then, if she had been willing to listen to me and your grandfather even a little, she wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.”

“By the seventh year, your aunt and your aunt’s husband were already without affection. I once wrote to ask her if she wanted me to help her get a divorce. She categorically said no. Your eldest uncle and third uncle personally went to back her up, but she didn’t appreciate it and stubbornly maintained face as she sent them back. I was truly furious—angry that for the sake of a man, she didn’t want her family anymore, abandoned her parents, and even threw away the dignity of being the legitimate daughter of the Earl’s household.”