Madam Li pulled Song Chuyi close, her face showing a wistful expression. “What a pity that we only met that once, and afterward I went with my husband to take up a post elsewhere. That parting turned out to be our final farewell.”

As she spoke, she raised her hand to wipe her eyes, then instructed her daughter, who had been standing quietly, to come forward and greet Song Chuyi.

When Song Chuyi met her gaze, she couldn’t help but be startled—Madam Li wasn’t just putting on an act. She was genuinely crying, as if she truly had been very close with Cui Zhanmei.

The two Miss Lis had already stepped forward to greet Song Chuyi. After determining their relative ages, Song Chuyi addressed the two Miss Lis as elder sisters, and when the slightly younger one came forward, she gently called her younger sister.

With just that one word, Madam Li and the two Miss Lis all burst out laughing. Seeing Song Chuyi’s bewildered expression, Madam Li smiled and pulled the little girl close to explain: “This is your eldest brother’s daughter. Her pet name is Yan’er. She should be calling you aunt, so you’ve really gotten the short end of this deal.”

Old Madam Song smiled and instructed Yulan to bring out meeting gifts. She gave Li Xintong a set of jade headpieces, Li Xinwu a set of nine sandalwood combs of varying sizes, and for little Li Yan, a set of Hangzhou silk clothing.

Since Old Madam Song was being so generous, First Madam Li naturally wasn’t stingy either. With a smile, she had a maid bring over a large black lacquered box decorated with gold.

Song Chuyi was startled by such an enormous gift and looked at Madam Li in shock.

Madam Li was amused by her reaction and quickly said, “Don’t be afraid. It’s just that the box is large and intimidating—there really isn’t that much inside.”

As she spoke, she had the maid unlock the box and personally lifted the lid, revealing eleven or twelve exquisite small boxes of various sizes arranged inside. She smiled and said, “These contain things that young ladies like. They were trousseau additions my family elders gave me back then. When I heard you were here, I specifically brought them for you.”

Old Madam Song glanced at them and looked somewhat surprised, furrowing her brow. “These were trousseau additions the Princess Consort of Zhou gave you. They’re too precious.”

Madam Li sighed and closed the box, gesturing for Song Chuyi to keep it, then turned to look at Old Madam Song. “However precious they are, aren’t they meant to be used by people? If the person is gone, however precious they are becomes meaningless. Back then when Linlang wanted them, I wasn’t willing to give them up. Now thinking about it, I truly regret it so much my intestines have turned green.”

Old Madam Song narrowed her eyes and after a long while finally let out a heavy sigh. “You’re very thoughtful.” She then told Song Chuyi to put them away.

First Madam Li looked at the old madam seated in the place of honor and asked softly, “Is it today?”

Old Madam Song nodded. “Yes, we’ll burn her remains today. Afterward, I’ll take her back to the capital.”

Madam Li lowered her eyes and said nothing for a long time. After a while, she stood up and bowed to Old Madam Song. “Aunt, let me see her off.” By the time she finished speaking, her eyes were already glistening with tears.

Back when she was unmarried, she got along best with Song Linlang. On her curio shelf, she still kept a small wood carving that Song Linlang had carved for her herself.

Old Madam Song, touched by her devotion, also stood up and, supporting herself on Song Chuyi, nodded. “I’ll take you there together. Since you came today, if she knows in the netherworld, she’ll surely be happy.”

Roaring flames rose up, and the air filled with the scent of lamp oil mixed with wheat straw.

Old Madam Song and Madam Li stood not far away, watching fixedly as Song Linlang turned to ash inch by inch.

Old Madam Song could no longer feel grief. Over the past half month, she had practically exhausted all her tears and emotions. Now, when she was truly sending off her most beloved daughter, she discovered she could no longer summon much feeling.

But Madam Li cried with some heartbreak. She had never had many close friends to begin with, and these years as she followed her husband to various posts, she’d lost contact with the sisters she’d been close to—it was with great difficulty that her husband Li Yu was finally transferred to Shandong as Governor, but her best childhood friend was dead.

And she died in such an unclear, such an unjust way.

“He really is a worthless wretch!” She spat viciously at the ground, her face darkening.

Li Xintong and Li Xinwu whispered secretly to Song Chuyi: “Didn’t they say Aunt Song was murdered? Just burning the body like this—won’t that let that mother and son pair off too easily?”

Speaking of which, Xiang Yunzhang and Old Madam Xiang had refused at all costs to hand over Song Linlang’s remains initially—the physicians at Hechun Hall had all said it was arsenic poisoning. If the Song family had a coroner or physician examine the body, wouldn’t everything be discovered?

But Third Master Song, who had a bellyful of anger and was in a rage, wasn’t about to reason with them. Xiang Mingzi having no news at all was already enough to make him seethe, and the Xiang family insisting they weren’t afraid of divorce yet still refusing to hand over Song Linlang’s body made him so furious that one Buddha was born and the second achieved nirvana. Without hesitation, he led over twenty guards and marched magnificently into the rear yamen.

Xiang Yunzhang couldn’t afford to lose face like this. Common people watching the excitement had gathered layer upon layer outside, and he didn’t dare lock up Third Master Song like a criminal—after all, Third Master Song had broken into the rear yamen and taken away his own sister after they’d already discussed divorce. In the end, he had to back down and hand over Song Linlang’s body.

Thinking of this, dimples appeared at the corners of Song Chuyi’s lips, and the loose strands of hair by her cheeks playfully curled.

“Don’t worry, Mother and my grandmother have already made preparations.”

Li Xinwu sighed wistfully. “What a pity that Aunt Song’s daughter is still at the Xiang family… Who knows how they’ll treat her.”

Li Xintong was older and thought more deeply. Hearing this, she frowned and said, “Even if they really wanted to do something, at this critical juncture they wouldn’t dare to actually do anything.”

Old Madam Song glanced in their direction but kept her head turned toward Madam Li. “The Earl’s manor won’t swallow this grievance. So we’ll still have to trouble you and your husband.”

Madam Li came back to her senses and personally stepped forward to help Old Madam Song walk back, her tone sincere. “What are you saying, Aunt? Even if ordinary commoners came to report to the authorities, if there’s an injustice it should be thoroughly investigated and clarified to give them justice. What’s more, Linlang died so miserably. I think even if Xiang Yunzhang paid with ten lives, it would still be too light.”

Old Madam Song had never intended to spare Xiang Yunzhang. He still wanted to advance his career and make his fortune? Still wanted to dream his dreams of having sons and heirs? Still thought that without Song Linlang, from now on he could live as he pleased with his beloved wives and beautiful concubines?

He didn’t know whether he was truly naive or had been spoiled and indulged by Song Linlang to the point of having no limits. Did he really think that without the great tree of the Changning Earl’s manor behind him, he could still hold up his own household?

Without the protection of the great tree that was the Changning Earl’s manor, who in the official circles knew who he was? Who cared about the life or death of a mere petty prefect?