When she spoke of her daughter, apart from terror and distance, there was barely any closeness to be seen. Old Madam Li finally sensed something was wrong. Others who possessed such a clever and resourceful daughter would be overjoyed, yet Li Shi appeared more frightened than happy.

“What’s going on?” She beckoned Nanny Yu forward and listened carefully to the full story.

A girl who had just turned six after the New Year possessing such ruthless thoughts was indeed frightening. Old Madam Li frowned. “Could she be possessed by something?”

Li Shi’s eyes brightened, then she shook her head slightly. “I had that suspicion before, but it doesn’t quite seem like it…”

She only felt her head aching. This was flesh that had fallen from her own body—she felt both grief and terror. The children left behind by that bitch Cui Shi hadn’t been dealt with yet, and now her own daughter had problems.

Old Madam Li made up her mind. “Master Yuankong, the abbot of Huangjue Temple, is the most venerable and respected. In a few days, find an opportunity to take Aning to see him.” She looked at Li Shi and emphasized heavily, “Whether she’s possessed or this is her true nature, neither is a reason for you to distance yourself from her. Your stepdaughter clearly doesn’t feel close to you anymore—do you want to earn your biological daughter’s resentment too?”

“What can I do?!” Li Shi spoke with renewed anger, feeling her mother was saying nothing but useless platitudes. “She’s now protected by Old Madam like the apple of her eye, and all my people have been lost. What else can I do?!”

“She’s not there, but isn’t there still a younger brother in your grasp?” Old Madam Li didn’t get angry. Seeing Li Shi lower her head, she sneered coldly. “She spends all day with Old Madam—you spend all day with her blood brother. The greatest sorrow for a sister who has lost her mother is to have a brother who’s alienated from her.”

Li Shi stood frozen in place, her mouth slightly open.

“You must be genuinely good to him, just as you were to Song Chuyi before—attentive in every way, considerate and caring.” Old Madam Li sneered. “Whatever Old Madam Song doesn’t think of, you must think of for him first. From major matters like his future teachers and classmates to minor matters like his food, clothing, and daily life—you must control everything. In the future, there will come a day when Song Chuyi will cry without tears!”

Truly, ginger grows spicier with age. Nanny Yu’s eyes were opened wide, and she looked at Old Madam Li with eyes full of respect.

Li Shi also revealed a smile, her melancholy swept away completely. “How did I not think of that… You truly are formidable!”

Old Madam Li kept a straight face as she looked at the cups and saucers shattered all over the floor. “And you still have the nerve to talk! Every time you break things—don’t you know our family’s circumstances? You’re just inviting your sister-in-law’s gossip! Don’t stay for several days either—go back tomorrow morning. Others may not know what your family’s Old Madam is like, but I do. If you really stay at home for three to five days, you’ll have plenty to suffer later!”

With matters having reached this point, Li Shi didn’t dare disobey. That night she stayed in her mother’s room, and the next day returned to the manor in high spirits.

Everyone had thought she would surely stay three to five days this trip. No one expected her to return the very next day. Old Madam Song asked about it once, and the anger she held toward her diminished slightly.

Li Shi then took the opportunity to say that Song Chuning had recently been frequently afflicted by flower spirits and needed to visit Huangjue Temple to pay respects to Master Yuankong.

This was common in large households and happened to accord with Old Madam Song’s wishes—the First Madam had mentioned earlier wanting to go to Huangjue Temple to inquire about divine matters on behalf of Consort Song.

“That will do. Have your sister-in-law pick a day, and you mothers and daughters can go together.” Old Madam Song agreed, then told her to help the First Madam organize a three-story small building in the garden. “In a few days, the several instructress nannies we’ve invited will also arrive. It can be cleaned up just in time for the young ladies to study.”

Li Shi quickly agreed. Her mind stirred—seeing Song Chuyi wasn’t around, she felt somewhat puzzled. “Why don’t I see Little Six? This year’s spring garments should also be made. The manor’s seamstress is new and will need to come measure her before starting work.”

At the mention of Song Chuyi, the smile on Old Madam Song’s face deepened considerably. “She’s in the study grinding ink for her grandfather. It’s the same if we call someone to measure her tomorrow.”

Li Shi smiled along, but her heart was unbearably bitter.

Song Chengru was organizing memorials submitted by colleagues when he suddenly dropped one on the table with a slap.

Song Chuyi had recently been gradually entering the study with Song Chengru more often. She knew this meant he wanted her to look at it. She reached out to take it in hand and, after flipping through it a few times, couldn’t help but smile.

When she smiled, she revealed two small canine teeth, and two dimples appeared faintly at the sides of her cheeks—exactly what an ordinary little girl should look like.

Song Chengru couldn’t help but smile along with her. “You seem quite happy?”

This memorial was submitted by the Prefect of Tai’an in Shandong, stating that the Grand Heir’s party had stayed in Tai’an for over half a month and detailing the expenditures, requesting approval from the Ministry of Finance.

The Emperor had merely smiled upon reading it, approved it, and tossed it to the Ministry of Finance.

“The Grand Heir is indeed a clever person. Knowing to take a detour back—didn’t Grandfather say that taking the official road would be more dangerous than fortunate?” Song Chuyi was in excellent spirits. “He knew to take the route through Taiyuan… It seems His Highness will soon enter the capital.”

Since the Grand Heir had changed the timing and could successfully return to the capital, that meant the remaining matters could still be accomplished with effort.

Song Chengru nodded, then heard Song Chuyi ask again, “Grandfather, do you have any leads on the spy in the manor?”

This was ultimately a fierce tiger lurking behind the Earl’s manor. The slightest carelessness could result in being devoured alive, skin and bones. It couldn’t be taken lightly.

Song Chengru seemed somewhat melancholic. Actually, there weren’t many people in the Song family qualified to enter the study. After eliminating those who were impossible, it became quite obvious who the finger pointed to.

“It’s just that we don’t know who else stands behind her.” Song Chengru’s expression was grave.

Song Chuyi pulled out a pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Song Chengru. “Grandfather, take a look at what this is.”

Song Chengru poured out from the pouch an exquisitely ornate gold-inlaid tortoiseshell bracelet. After examining it carefully, his expression changed several times.

“When Nanny Qiu asked me about it, I felt something was off.” Song Chuyi’s eyes flashed with mockery. “I just didn’t expect Fifth Madam’s heart to be this ruthless. If this item were discovered, not only would I have no good ending, but the manor would be more or less implicated. If Prince Duan’s faction took the opportunity to make trouble and incited the censors to impeach us…”

It would be utter disaster.

Privately possessing contraband items from the confiscated estate of a treasonous criminal—ten heads wouldn’t be enough to chop off.

Though Song Chengru’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes already revealed killing intent.

Fifth Madam had never treated the Song manor as the home that sheltered her. Instead, she constantly created chaos and discord like beating dogs and scolding chickens. Everyone had tolerated all of this.

But for her heart to be ruthless enough to want to drag the entire Song family down with her—her intentions were unforgivable!

This bracelet was so delicate and beautiful—if an ordinary young girl who loved beauty found it, she would certainly be tempted by its prettiness and wear it. One day, when someone with ulterior motives exposed it…

Song Chuyi saw through Song Chengru’s intentions and quickly said, “Grandfather, she can’t be killed yet!”