Guests who could be called “honored guests” by the Earl of Changning’s residence were truly rare. Song Chuyi stepped down from the carriage using the footstool, pulled her cloak tighter around herself, and asked, “Which honored guest?”

Luyi and Qing Tao followed closely on her left and right, while also instructing the young maid to retrieve the foot warmer from the carriage. Hearing Song Chuyi’s question, they couldn’t help but look toward the matron.

“It’s Miss’s maternal uncle and aunt,” the matron dared not keep her in suspense, showing full courtesy to this young lady. “They arrived this morning. Our Old Master and Old Madam insisted they stay for dinner at our residence before returning.”

Song Chuyi’s steps paused, as if somewhat surprised. After a moment’s reaction, she nodded. “You were thoughtful, thank you for letting me know.”

She then turned to glance at Qing Tao.

Qing Tao knowingly handed over a purse for the matron to buy herself drinks, which pleased her immensely.

After entering the garden and crossing the arched bridge, she saw Ziyun already waiting at the courtyard gate, holding a glass lantern in her hand. Seeing their group, she laughed and came forward to greet them. “When you left, you said you definitely wouldn’t return until tomorrow, but suddenly we received word that you’d arrive home tonight—it gave me quite a fright.”

“Nothing serious. It just happened that the young master from Prince Zhennan’s residence was there as well, so we traveled back together.” Song Chuyi walked through the snow. “Why are you waiting outside in person?”

“Old Madam just sent Sister Yushu over with a message, asking you to change clothes and come over once you’re back.” Ziyun brought out her receiving-guests attire, smiling as she said, “Both maternal aunts are currently talking with Old Madam in her room.”

So Madam Cui had indeed come along as well. Song Chuyi nodded, changed her clothes, drank a sip of hot tea, and then headed toward Ningde Courtyard with Ziyun and Qing Tao.

The young maids were gathered together warming themselves by the fire. Seeing her, they quickly stood up smiling to greet her, competing to hold up the door curtain for her, calling out in succession that Sixth Miss had arrived.

Upon entering, she saw Madam Cui sitting on Old Madam Song’s lower right, along with an unfamiliar noble lady—she hadn’t met this maternal aunt during her previous visit to the Cui residence, so she didn’t recognize her.

From the adjacent room, Song Chubin came out with the two sisters Huaying and Huayi, smiling warmly as she called out, “Sixth Sister.”

“You’re finally back!” Old Madam Song smiled and beckoned to her, summoning her forward to look her over carefully. “The wind is strong on the road. Going back and forth so hurriedly, you must be frozen.”

She watched as Yushu helped remove her cloak, then instructed her, “Go quickly and pay respects to your two maternal aunts.”

Madam Cui immediately steadied her, smiling as she turned to Yu Shi. “Weren’t you always clamoring to meet Tingting’s daughter? Now that you’ve seen her, where’s your gesture?”

As she spoke, Song Chuyi had already gracefully bowed down before Yu Shi. Yu Shi quickly helped her up, too busy to respond to Madam Cui’s teasing, first smiling at Old Madam Song. “Indeed, Old Madam has raised her excellently. At first glance, she’s the spitting image of Tingting when she was young.” Then she complained to Madam Cui, “Stop causing trouble in front of me, or my niece will think I’m not as good an aunt as you are.”

At first glance, Yu Shi was clearly a proper southern lady, slender in build with delicate features, resembling the sisters Huaying and Huayi perfectly. After sighing in admiration for a moment, she hurried to present Song Chuyi with a meeting gift. “I really didn’t know what would be best to give. These two items were what Huaying’s maternal grandmother gave me for my dowry when I married. Take a look and see if you like them.”

Huayi immediately laughed. “It’s true, it’s true! Mother spent two or three days picking out your meeting gift. These two sets made my sister and me quite envious. Quick, open them and have a look.”

Song Chuyi did as told and opened the exquisitely crafted brocade box. The box actually slid open in a fan shape, displaying more than ten gemstone hairpins of various designs in a row, each one exquisite and unique in style, dazzling to behold.

“This is far too precious!” Old Madam Song looked at Yu Shi. “She’s just a child—you can’t spoil her like this.”

Yu Shi waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t you know me by now, Old Madam? These things just sit at my home being looked at but never used—keeping them at my place would truly be a waste. Xiao Yi is young; wearing these is perfectly suitable for her. Keep them for her to wear when she comes of age—wouldn’t that be better than letting them gather dust at my place?”

Madam Cui also opened the other brown box, saw it was a set of emerald jewelry, closed it and handed it to Song Chuyi, then smiled at Old Madam Song at the head seat. “She’s right. She doesn’t wear them anyway. Old Madam, don’t feel bad about the things for her sake.”

Old Madam Song had Yushu put them away, then smiled and called Huayi and Huaying forward. “Since your mother is so generous, I as an elder certainly can’t be stingy. I’ll also give you two items to play with.” She nodded at Nanny Huang.

Nanny Huang smiled and went with Yushu into the canopied bed area, bringing out two brocade boxes together and presenting them before Old Madam Song.

“This is a double-fish jade pendant carved from Hetian jade, perfect for weighting your skirts.” Old Madam Song handed the first brocade box to Huaying, then smiling, opened the other. “This is a set of ruby jewelry, keep it for adding to A’yi’s trousseau.”

Yu Shi had sharp eyes and could clearly see that inside the double-fish jade pendant was also a yellow Tianhuang stone. She quickly said, “This is truly a priceless treasure. Old Madam, you’ve really spent too much.”

“Just keeping them for the children to play with.” Old Madam Song didn’t think much of it. Seeing Yu Shi still wanted to decline, she smiled and teased, “Besides, this is also a thank-you gift to you, Aunt.”

The First Madam also chimed in cheerfully, “That’s exactly right. A matchmaker’s thank-you gift should certainly be grand, shouldn’t it? Aunt, please stop declining.”

Matchmaker’s thank-you gift? Song Chuyi raised an eyebrow, feeling something was off. She glanced sideways and happened to see Song Chubin’s face flushed bright red, understanding somewhat as she looked back at Old Madam Song—Song Chubin had a gentle and weak nature. If she married into a prominent Beijing family to become the mistress of the household, she certainly wouldn’t be able to maintain control. Old Madam also worried she would suffer grievances as the wife of a legitimate second son who couldn’t inherit the title, so she simply entrusted the matter to Yu Shi. The Yu family had an excellent reputation in Jiangyin. With her making introductions and connections, marrying Song Chubin off to the south to become the wife of a scholarly family would both ensure Song Chubin’s material comfort and spare her from worrying about household management—scholarly families generally had simple populations, incomparably better than prominent families of notable clans in the capital.

“Old Madam and Madam, please don’t tease me.” Yu Shi quickly shook her head with a smile. “I’ll just do my best.”

Both sides were shrewd people who effortlessly drew their relationship much closer through this marriage arrangement. The atmosphere in the room became even more lively and cheerful than before, everyone enjoying themselves harmoniously, all happy and satisfied.