Shen Qingrang had displayed his contempt and disgust toward Song Chuyi so clearly back then. Although he had been angry at the time, he had thought it was merely Shen Qingrang being blind and lacking judgment. But looking at it now, it clearly wasn’t as simple as lacking judgment.
On one hand despising someone, on the other deliberately trying to curry favor with them—such two-faced behavior was truly nauseating.
As he thought about it, he felt something else was off. Forcibly restraining his temper, he listened through He Shi’s nonsense, drank two cups of tea in the adjacent room, and finally waited until the Princess Consort of Zhennan saw her guest out. He quickly stood up, lifted the curtain, and returned to the Princess Consort of Zhennan’s chamber.
The Princess Consort of Zhennan, who had originally thought he should have left long ago, couldn’t help but be startled: “Why did you come back?”
“I never left—I was listening from the adjacent room.” He casually replied, then asked the Princess Consort of Zhennan with some puzzlement: “Mother Consort, what exactly do they mean by this? From what I could tell, it seemed they didn’t come specifically for the young master’s full-month celebration?”
Although the excuse they gave was for the young master of the Earl of Changning’s manor and to mend old friendships and such, He Shi’s words just now had clearly been constantly inquiring about Song Chuyi and Old Madam Song, with hardly any mention of the young master.
Especially when the Princess Consort of Zhennan mentioned that Old Madam might not be present on the day of the full-month celebration, the disappointment in He Shi’s words was almost impossible to conceal. She said several times things like how could Old Madam Song go out in such cold weather—she knew about Song Chuyi being raised at Old Madam Song’s side, and certainly also knew that if Old Madam Song wasn’t at the Song manor, then Song Chuyi definitely wouldn’t be there either that day, which was why she was so disappointed.
The Princess Consort of Zhennan took the tea and sipped it. The purple jade hairpin on her head set off her smooth, fair complexion. Hearing Ye Jingchuan’s words, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly: “Who’s saying otherwise? Her intentions clearly aren’t about drinking wine—she’s coming for Sixth Miss Song.”
Ye Jingchuan was somewhat confused. He exclaimed in puzzlement: “Could it be she wants to cause trouble for Sixth Miss Song again?”
But judging from He Shi’s tone, it clearly wasn’t about causing trouble, but rather carried flattery and praise.
“What a foolish child.” The Princess Consort of Zhennan couldn’t help but laugh. She shook her head and tested him with her words: “Can’t you hear what she means? She praises Sixth Miss Song endlessly, constantly saying she likes how Sixth Miss Song acts generously and gently, even saying things like how the children played together since they were small—this clearly shows she wants Sixth Miss Song to be her daughter-in-law!”
He Shi’s scheme might deceive others, but trying to deceive herself was far too childish. She kept claiming it was because she feared affecting the relationship between the two families that she was so anxious, yet her mouth constantly hung on Song Chuyi’s name without cease.
The Princess Consort of Zhennan somehow found He Shi rather laughable—actually hoping she would act as matchmaker. Setting aside the fact that Sixth Miss Song, after what happened at the Shen residence last time, probably loathed the Shen family to the core, and setting aside Old Madam Song being such a shrewd old fox, even she herself could never truly agree to help make this connection—Miss Song was currently in mourning period, and besides, she was still so young.
Ye Jingchuan, however, couldn’t help but think the Shen family and He Shi were shameless.
Actually scheming after Song Chuyi, and so brazenly at that—they really could be that thick-skinned.
If Shen Qingrang could consistently despise Song Chuyi to the end, he would still respect him as a man. But he clearly despised Song Chuyi while superficially trying to curry favor and ingratiate himself—this could be called shameless.
Did he know that if he truly succeeded in deceiving Song Chuyi’s trust and affection, how heartbroken she would be when she eventually discovered it was all a façade?
If he didn’t know, then he was heartless and mindless. If he did know, he could absolutely be called wolfish and cruel.
He wanted to immediately run and tell Song Chuyi, but after leaving the door, he recalled with some melancholy that Song Chuyi had already left the capital.
At this moment, the Earl of Changning’s manor, which was being schemed after, was also somewhat at a loss. First Madam Song received a long gift list handed over by Nanny Jin and felt her head beginning to throb faintly.
Ever since Shen Qingrang had schemed against Song Chuyi last time, the Shen family had disappeared from the Song family for quite a while. It wasn’t that they were unwilling to visit, but rather that whenever they came, Old Madam Song would find various ways to put them off.
Later the Song family had a pile of matters like Consort Song summoning them into the palace, making them even less able to attend to the Shen family. They only heard that the Shen family hadn’t been implicated in Princess Shijia’s affair, but had just kept their heads down and behaved themselves for a period of time.
This time the Shen family borrowed the occasion of the Song family having a son to send such valuable gifts, which left First Madam Song somewhat uncertain for a moment. Could it be the Shen family had developed some new scheme this time? Otherwise, even if it was to apologize to Song Chuyi or mend relations with the Song family, there was no need to make such a grand show of it.
She returned the gift list to Nanny Jin. After thinking for a moment, she said: “Put it away first. We’ll decide what to do when Old Madam returns.”
The entanglements between prominent families were extremely complex. Even if one wanted to cut off all contact until death, there had to be a proper reason. Since there had been no open rupture on the surface, they shouldn’t refuse to accept things people sent over, otherwise it would be blatantly slapping their face.
However, accepting these things didn’t mean she had made any agreement with the Shen family—the Shen family would always have occasions requiring gifts. When the time came, she could add some things and send them back. Everyone would save face, understand her meaning here, and that would suffice.
Nanny Jin took the list and agreed. After going over the inventory of pots, bowls, ladles, and basins she managed with First Madam Song and confirming the accounts were correct, she mentioned other matters: “We’ve already had Xiao Huozhe send word to Fengzao Palace. Seeing as the first of the month is approaching, Her Ladyship the Consort will certainly summon you in.”
First Madam Song couldn’t help but feel relieved, and some trace of a smile appeared on her face.
This was for the best. With that disaster far away in Changsha, who knew what wickedness she might commit? Whether for Song Jue or for her little grandson, they had to first crush this disaster.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but blame Song Yi somewhat—giving birth to such a demon-like daughter yet protecting her like the apple of his eye. In the future he probably wouldn’t even know how he died.
But these words she could only think in her heart. She didn’t dare show any of it on her face. If the Song family elders weren’t still concerned about this son, how could Song Chuning be living so smoothly and prosperously?
She nodded, then especially instructed Nanny Jin: “What I told you before—that girl is somewhat sinister. Aside from the nannies from the palace, absolutely don’t allow anyone else to approach her. Even if they do approach her, they’re not permitted to leave the courtyard. You must remember this carefully for me—not a single mistake can be made. Not a single ant is allowed to leave her courtyard, and not a single ant should be able to enter. I’m saying the ugly words upfront—if this matter is botched, I won’t even acknowledge you.”