Within the Earl’s Manor garden, flowers clustered in brilliant profusion, a dazzling sight. Yet the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Yingguo, threading through them, had not the slightest leisure to appreciate the scenery. With a trace of worry, she worked hard to persuade the First Madam: “Though they’re in mourning, in this season, where can one truly observe all the rules? To speak somewhat irreverently, when the Dowager Consort passed away a few years ago, His Majesty merely decreed that for three months there should be no weddings or banquets with music and dance. Yet below, everyone had their own ways around it—who truly obeyed? Didn’t the Meng family in Shu marry off their daughter during that very time? Nothing came of it. Turning back to our capital’s young ladies—do they truly not socialize for three years? Don’t they also have to adapt to circumstances?”

Princess Consort of Zhennan trailed far behind. Normally, hearing such words would merely make her smile, but now she was so anxious she nearly wanted to chime in agreement.

Fortunately, she ultimately remembered Ye Jingkuan’s instructions before coming and merely tilted her ear slightly to listen for the First Madam’s response.

The First Madam had always had good relations with Madam He. Hearing these words, she didn’t feel there was anything wrong—Duke Yingguo’s Manor and Changning Earl’s Manor had always been on close terms, with frequent exchanges among the women of the inner residence. In the past, Madam He had often interacted with Song Chuyi. Since this time she said there was a young lady in the manor getting married and was inviting young girls like Song Chuyi over to press the bed, this was also a common occurrence.

Yet she still shook her head, smiling as she declined: “I know this is your kind intention. But those two children have just lost their mother—no matter how you put it, it wouldn’t be good for them to immediately appear in public. Moreover, for such a joyous occasion, if they went, there might be a clash…”

Madam He couldn’t help feeling anxious. Apart from Old Madam Song, Song Chuyi was the only person who had contact with Chen Jinxin—she must know something.

They had no way to approach Old Madam Song, and this matter probably wasn’t suitable to alarm Old Madam Song anyway, so they could only work through Song Chuyi. But if Song Chuyi couldn’t leave the manor, how could they extract any information from her mouth?

“Whether it clashes or not, we don’t really have such notions where we’re from.” Madam He’s heart felt heavy. She grasped the First Madam’s hand and sighed deeply: “You know my family’s situation. Though on the outside I appear glamorous, we sisters all know the truth… You also know my circumstances. Though I’m raising Rang’er, he still has an elder half-brother in front of him. Your daughters have all married out and can’t easily come. I was thinking that if a few other young ladies could come, it would at least add luster and glory…”

The First Madam also sighed. She knew Madam He’s difficulties—childless for many years, she had helplessly stopped her medicine, allowing the eldest son by a concubine to be born. Seven years later, she finally gave birth to her legitimate eldest daughter, after which she bloomed consecutively and bore a legitimate son.

This time Madam He’s daughter had become engaged. According to capital customs, unmarried girls should gather together to add to the trousseau.

Actually, it wasn’t such a big matter. After pausing for a while, the First Madam said: “Since that’s the case, I’ll go back and speak with our Old Madam again. If it can be arranged, I’ll send word to you.”

Since the First Madam said this, Madam He couldn’t very well continue asking. Afraid of arousing the First Madam’s and Old Madam Song’s suspicions, she smiled and nodded: “Whether it works out or not, I’ll remember your kindness. It’s truly that in the capital, there happen to be too few girls born in the Year of the Tiger, just as the fortune teller calculated. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to trouble you.”

Ziyun brought tea to Song Chuyi, somewhat puzzled: “Why would the Princess Consort and the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Yingguo suddenly invite you to some trousseau ceremony?”

Though most people in the manor knew what Li Shi was really like, outsiders didn’t know. In outsiders’ eyes, Song Chuyi was currently in three years of mourning. Where was there any precedent for inviting someone to be a guest at such a time?

Since the Songtao Courtyard incident, Song Chuyi had grown much closer to Ziyun. Seeing her ask this, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow. For the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Yingguo to actually persuade Princess Consort of Zhennan to come together as lobbyists was truly extraordinary.

Moreover, why did they insist on having her—a girl in the midst of heavy mourning—come to press the bed and carry the bucket? Though they said a fortune teller had calculated it, she just felt something was off.

She understood Madam He’s temperament better than anyone. Unless forced to, she would never press this hard—she would just muddle through when possible. So why were they so determined to get her out of the Earl’s Manor?

In other words, what did she currently possess that both Princess Consort of Zhennan and the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Yingguo coveted together?

Qing Tao inserted hesitantly: “Miss, could it be about the Tongzhou matter?”

Though they had immediately clashed with the Li family upon returning, she could still hear a bit about court movements through Song Jue. She’d heard that though Xingfu was quite troubled now, he remained unworried.

But this also didn’t quite make sense…

Princess Consort of Zhennan could still come to the door to ask for peace of mind because of Ye Jingchuan’s matter, but what was the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Yingguo after? Could their family also be entangled in the Tongzhou affair somehow?

She was just getting a headache when she saw Hong Yu enter with tears brimming in her eyes, saying not a word before dropping to her knees with a thud.

Hong Yu had always been steady-natured and had never lost her composure like this. With this kneeling, both Qing Tao and Ziyun were startled, simultaneously stepping back.

Song Chuyi had previously left her at Taoran Residence to watch Nanny Yu. Seeing this scene, her heart began to pound—unless she had made some error, Hong Yu wouldn’t be in this state. She signaled Qing Tao to help Hong Yu up and asked in a heavy voice: “Did something happen?”

“Miss…” Hong Yu looked at her with tear-filled eyes, wishing for a hole to crawl into: “Nanny Yu… she… she took her own life.”

Today a little maid from the main house said she was bringing Nanny Yu a change of clothes. In a moment of kindness, she had let someone bring the clothes in. Who knew that shortly after, while everyone was dozing, Nanny Yu had crashed into a pillar…

Song Chuyi had repeatedly instructed that nothing could happen to Nanny Yu, yet she had bungled the matter. Hong Yu hung her head, not daring to cry aloud, cursing herself a thousand times over in her heart. Miss had trusted her so much, yet she had let something go wrong with Nanny Yu—the only one who could prove that the mastermind behind it all was Song Chuning…

Qing Tao was somewhat upset. She looked at Song Chuyi, then at Hong Yu, but ultimately couldn’t say anything harsh—she couldn’t compare to Luyi and Hong Yu’s friendship from childhood. If she spoke now, she might be thought to be kicking someone when they were down.