Early the next morning, Nanny Xu attended to Song Chuyi’s dressing and grooming, then urged her to drink her medicinal soup before going to Ningde Courtyard to pay her respects.

Song Chuyi had just exchanged a few words with Old Madam when First Madam and Second Madam entered one after another.

Because they were going to offer incense at Huangjue Temple today, First Madam had risen early to prepare for the outing. There was a faint layer of darkness beneath her eyes, making her appear quite weary.

Second Madam, however, was in high spirits. Her fair, delicate face glowed with a rosy sheen, and a pair of jade earrings dangled beside her ears, making her face appear even more like a silver basin.

Old Madam Song asked about the preparations for the outing, then nodded: “When you arrive at the temple, take the maids with you and have Master Yuankong examine them all. Also remember to add an offering of incense money for each of the married aunts.”

The three married daughters were all from the first branch, so First Madam naturally smiled and agreed.

Old Madam Song thought for a moment and asked her again: “How is Jue’er’s wife doing?”

Li Shi’s heart suddenly leapt. She abruptly recalled when her daughter had initially told her that Li Qingzi was probably with child. Normally this would be fine, but with Song Yi having just left for his external posting, she suddenly found this news rather grating—lately Old Madam had been using the matter of heirs to pressure her quite frequently.

First Madam, however, didn’t look particularly pleased. With a trace of worry, she shook her head: “I don’t know what’s wrong with this child. Her health has become so poor. Earlier they said she was somewhat unwell. The imperial physician came to examine her, prescribed medicine, and she improved for a while. But these past few days she’s been feeling unwell again…”

Li Qingzi was, after all, her niece. If there were obstacles regarding children, she felt she had failed her son and also felt somewhat guilty. Had she known, she would have found someone with a robust constitution for childbearing…

Old Madam Song also sighed. After a long pause, she said: “If that’s the case, don’t have her go out this time. Let her rest properly in bed. Tomorrow, have an imperial physician specializing in women’s medicine come examine her again.”

In Song Chuyi’s presence, there were some things First Madam couldn’t say much about. She forced a smile and agreed.

Song Chumi and the others also came one after another to pay their respects.

Song Chubin had recently had all her attendants replaced. Though they were much more devoted than Nanny Qiu and the others from before and showed her considerably more respect, Fifth Madam had been nowhere to be seen these past days. Nanny Qiu and the others who originally served her had all disappeared without a trace. Her heart felt quite uneasy, and she kept her head lowered throughout, not daring to speak up.

This temperament was really too unlikable. Old Madam Song’s gaze fell heavily upon her for a long moment. She resolved to urge First Madam to quickly welcome the female officials requested from the palace into the household to teach proper etiquette.

Once preparations were complete, First Madam led them out. After the previous incident with the crazed horses, First Madam had specifically assigned twelve household guards to accompany them. Song Jue also brought four men along.

Huangjue Temple was located in the eastern suburbs of the capital. The household’s carriages arrived two hours after leaving the city.

The guest monk had long since heard the news and came out to respectfully welcome First Madam and the others into the temple.

When the noble and wealthy families of the capital came to offer incense, they often cleared the temple—partly to avoid the coming and going of crowds disturbing the women’s quarters, and partly for safety considerations. This time, Huangjue Temple had already posted notices yesterday announcing the temple would be closed today.

First Madam had just washed her hands and was about to offer incense when she was going to inquire when the abbot would have time to expound on the sutras. Then she heard Jin Ling say that Song Jue had entered.

Song Jue’s expression looked rather poor. He entered, glanced at everyone, then walked straight up to First Madam and said: “The wife of the Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Commission has come together with our in-law’s wife.”

Such a coincidence?!

Where in this world were there such coincidences? First Madam’s face turned somewhat ugly. She knew about the incident where Song Chuyi’s carriage had encountered trouble on the road and she had been given difficulty by the Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Commission. Now this Madam Xiao, whom she had always found somewhat disagreeable, had come to Huangjue Temple together with this Deputy Commander’s wife…

Li Shi, however, glanced at Song Chuyi, her gaze rather uncertain.

The people had already arrived at the entrance—surely they couldn’t pretend not to know? First Madam suppressed her anger. Seeing the guest monk beside her looking troubled, she softened her expression and smiled: “What a coincidence indeed. Although we arranged to clear the temple in advance, their sincere devotion to Buddha shouldn’t be obstructed. Fortunately, they’re all women’s quarters, so it doesn’t interfere with anything. Masters, please do as you see fit.”

The guest monk breathed a sigh of relief and quickly nodded in agreement before turning to go out and receive them.

Shortly after, word came from outside that Madam Xiao and Madam Fang had come specifically to express their thanks. First Madam had been prepared and had them shown in.

Madam Xiao wore a smile on her face. As soon as she entered, she first greeted First Madam and Li Shi, then took First Madam’s hand with a laugh: “No wonder the magpies were calling when I left the house this morning. It turns out I happened to run into you, my in-law!”

She then brought Madam Fang forward to greet everyone: “This is the wife of the Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Commission who came with me.”

Madam Fang greeted First Madam, then immediately asked: “I wonder if the household’s Sixth Miss came today?”

Her purpose was clearly impure. First Madam glanced at her and smiled without much warmth: “Does Madam Fang know our Little Six?”

Madam Xiao looked at Madam Fang somewhat nervously, wanting to smooth things over: “Madam Fang said that yesterday she heard the Deputy Commander mention that the household’s Sixth Miss encountered crazed horses on the road, and she was somewhat concerned.”

First Madam glanced at her and nodded noncommittally: “Madam Fang is thoughtful. Our Little Six is fine—she just suffered some fright.”

In the end, she still didn’t say whether Song Chuyi had come or not.

Madam Xiao immediately recognized Song Chuyi from among the group. Smiling, she beckoned to her, calling her by name: “Sixth Miss, come here quickly so I can have a look at you.”

After returning home, she had heard about how Song Chuyi had made Xiao Siniang suffer losses. Yet in her heart, she always felt this was because Song Chuyi had Old Madam Song’s people serving her, and she didn’t really take the girl seriously.

Having called out like this as an elder, Song Chuyi couldn’t very well pretend she hadn’t heard. Smiling, she stepped forward and curtsied.

Madam Fang’s eyes were sharp and her hands quick—she grabbed Song Chuyi and pulled her to her side. After looking her up and down, she smiled: “You really do have a clever air about you. No wonder such a dangerous scene yesterday didn’t frighten you. My husband came home praising you endlessly, saying you’re even cleverer than my son who’s already entered the Imperial Academy.”

First Madam held back, but ultimately couldn’t restrain herself. She glanced at Madam Fang and frowned: “What is Madam Fang saying? What cleverness does she have as a small child? If it weren’t for the household guards and men protecting her, who knows what would have happened? And afterward, it was only by the grace of His Highness the Grand Prince that she was spared a groundless disaster. What does any of that have to do with her?”

For such a young girl to gain a reputation for excessive cleverness would be no good thing. There would be no end of troubles that could be connected to it.

Song Chuyi also lowered her head somewhat shyly, looking like a frightened little rabbit: “Today, First Aunt specially brought me to offer incense to calm my nerves. Madam Fang praises me too much.”

The smile on Madam Fang’s face froze. She looked at First Madam, then at Madam Xiao, and forced a laugh while making a show of tapping herself: “I misspoke. I just felt that Sixth Miss is remarkably composed for someone so young.”