People will always sympathize at appropriate times with those weaker than themselves, even knowing that person once brought harm to themselves or those around them.

Hong Yu looked at Song Chuning, whose eyes had swollen red from crying, her heart softening into complete mush. In a muddle, she agreed: “Don’t worry, don’t worry, Eighth Young Miss. Don’t cry anymore. I’ll help you ask…”

Song Chuning pulled on Hong Yu’s lapels, escorting her all the way out of the side courtyard before reluctantly letting go.

Hong Yu’s heart ached even more as she watched. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Song Chuning again, and ran swiftly into the night.

Behind her, Song Chuning instantly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, instead revealing an extremely mocking smile—many things were different from the dream, but some things hadn’t changed. For example, the personalities of the head maids around Song Chuyi. Lüyi was fierce and loyal, Hong Yu was soft-hearted and steady.

Sure enough, with just a few words she had made Hong Yu’s eyes fill with tears. This Hong Yu’s heart was truly still as soft as in the previous life. This kind of temperament, if it could be placed in her own hands, would be a sharp knife that could sooner or later viciously stab Song Chuyi.

Song Chuyi valued the head maids around her greatly. If she knew that one of the head maids she valued most actually had a relationship with herself, who knew what kind of feelings she would have?

She leisurely looked at the increasingly bright morning star in the sky, swept her sleeves, and entered her room.

When Hong Yu returned to her room, Lüyi was already waiting inside—tonight it should have been Hong Yu’s turn to attend overnight, but she couldn’t be found anywhere, so Ziyun had substituted for her, staying in Song Chuyi’s room.

Lüyi had always been of one mind with Hong Yu. They had been close since childhood with deep affection. At this moment, though somewhat reproachful, she only stepped forward with concern to ask: “Where did you go? Just now Young Miss even asked about you. Without any word or trace, how did you suddenly disappear? Today was supposed to be your night to attend. Fortunately Ziyun substituted for you, otherwise when Young Miss asks about it, how would you explain?”

Lüyi had always been extremely protective of Song Chuyi. If she heard that she had gone to Song Chuning’s place, who knew how furious she would be. Hong Yu hesitated for a while but ultimately didn’t tell the truth, casually finding an excuse to deflect.

Lüyi didn’t become suspicious but still lectured her: “You—your heart is just too soft, and you’re soft-hearted without distinguishing right from wrong! How much suffering our young miss has endured, it’s not like you don’t know. If not for Li Shi, would she and Young Master have had to suffer so much? You don’t believe it, and instead speak up for them. Doesn’t this make Young Miss feel disheartened?”

But Li Shi had already received her deserved punishment and was already dead! Once a person dies, all matters are settled. Moreover, the sins don’t extend to children—Song Chuning was innocent after all.

Hong Yu still silently lowered her head without speaking as she always did. Lüyi also didn’t notice anything wrong and sighed, bending down to blow out the candle.

But Song Chuyi had not yet slept. She sat by the window propping up her chin.

That Song Chuning could actually persuade Old Master Li to help her send a letter, and could calculate Song Yi’s thoughts so clearly—it was truly unbelievable. She clasped her hands together somewhat anxiously—what if Song Chuning truly was like herself, having lived again…

But immediately she wanted to laugh coldly. If she could live again because heaven saw she had suffered too much, then what about Song Chuning? Could it be that heaven saw she had lived too happily, too ignorant of worldly suffering, and called her back to suffer?

Qing Tao gently pushed the door open. Seeing Song Chuyi turn her head, she reported softly: “Young Miss, Fourth Young Master has already been sent to Old Madam’s room. Sisters Ziwei and Zilan are watching over him.”

For Song Yan to continue living with Old Madam Song wasn’t a solution, and he absolutely needed capable people around him. These matters were urgent and couldn’t be delayed any longer.

Song Chuyi thought for a moment and instructed Qing Tao in a low voice: “Have your father look at the estate to see if there are any capable young servants. Help me select a few.”

As for the maids, she could only select from within the manor. Fortunately, there were now several head maids in her side chamber who were training little maids. The people seemed clever and loyal, so they could be given to Song Yan to use for now.

Qing Tao had mentioned this matter to herself before. She quickly nodded in agreement: “Yes, I’ll have my father hurry with the selection. Young Miss, just now when I came from Old Madam’s place, I heard Sister Yulan say… say that Second Master said he wants to take Eighth Young Miss to his post…”

Immediately she saw Song Chuyi’s face change dramatically and hastily comforted her: “Second Master only heard the Li family’s one-sided story first, so that’s why he said that. When he learns about the grievances Young Miss suffered and the truth, he definitely won’t do this anymore…”

Song Chuning was so young yet her thoughts were so malicious. If she truly followed Song Yi to his post, not only could she escape punishment, but she could also rest and recuperate. Heaven knew how difficult she would be to deal with after a few years. Thinking of this, Qing Tao felt anxious for Song Chuyi.

The Li family, Song Chuning…

Song Chuyi clenched her fists tightly and exhaled heavily a breath of foul air.

The reason Li Shi dared to be so arrogant and unrestrained was precisely because she relied on the Li family’s power and Old Madam Li’s indulgence. Although Old Master Li claimed ignorance with every word, Song Chuyi didn’t believe it at all.

Originally she had wanted to plan gradually, but looking at it now, the Li family and Song Chuning couldn’t wait to force her to make a move.

She recalled what Third Lady had told her before, the corners of her mouth holding a trace of cold smile—the struggle between the Xingfu faction and the Crown Prince’s faction was already in full swing. Regardless of which side, they were now determined to obtain those secret letters around Chen Jinxin.

Whether it was Chen Xiang, the Princess Consort of Zhennan, or Duke Yingguo’s Manor, they would come within the next few days at most.

Did Song Chuning think that by avoiding this place and flying far away to Changsha she would be fine? Who knew what her feelings would be when she learned the Li family had been destroyed and henceforth she no longer even had a maternal family?

Want to kill Song Yan and make her grief-stricken? She stood up and watched Ziyun put a handful of lily incense into the incense burner, her eyes so cold they held no emotion whatsoever.

Perhaps Song Chuning thought that evading Old Madam Song and Old Master Song meant everything would be fine, thought that with Song Yan’s revenge, she herself could only be helpless with Song Yi around.

But she probably calculated everything yet failed to calculate that she was no longer the simple person she once was, and didn’t need to rely on Old Master Song and Old Madam Song to do what she wanted to do.

Since the Li family so wanted to get involved, since they so wanted to eliminate herself, Song Chuyi, and Song Yan… Song Chuyi held a cold smile. Then she would find them something to do. She believed that regardless of which side it was, they would be very happy to help her with a small favor.