Song Chuyi could understand Old Madam Song’s feelings. Originally, she had been single-mindedly focused on avenging her daughter, harboring a heart full of resentment toward the Xiang family—it was this that had sustained her and prevented her from immediately falling ill. But in the end, she was told by those close to her daughter that this matter truly wasn’t the doing of the Xiang family…

The conflict and unwillingness in her heart, combined with her resentment and heartache, likely stirred her internal organs into pain.

Song Chuyi stepped forward to help Old Madam Song sit down, her voice very light and gentle. “Grandmother, do you know what I was thinking in my dream at the very end, when I was dying?”

Old Madam Song turned her head to look at her, tears faintly glistening in her eyes.

“I was thinking at the time, what a pity there would be no one who wanted to avenge me. Otherwise, I would definitely drag them all to death with me.” Song Chuyi’s expression was flat and emotionless, but her eyes, which usually gathered starlight, suddenly darkened. “I’m guessing Aunt thought the same way.”

Old Madam Song’s eyes widened as she gripped Song Chuyi’s hand tightly.

“Old Madam, please don’t be sad, and don’t think Aunt was unfilial or weak.” Song Chuyi also held Old Madam Song’s hand firmly. “I died once in my dream, so I can guess some of Aunt’s thoughts. Her life, compared to her close friends, was indeed too bitter. She was originally a strong-willed person, and this marriage was something she sought herself… She couldn’t blame anyone else, only herself and Uncle-in-law. What’s more, she finally saw clearly what kind of person Uncle-in-law was. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so determined to poison herself the day before we arrived, and even bribed the physician.”

Old Madam Song’s expression was grief-stricken. Her eyes, clouded from several days of poor rest, filled with tears as she slowly nodded.

“She wasn’t blaming or taking revenge on you either.” Song Chuyi exhaled, feeling her heart somehow grow heavy as well. “She saw through it all and felt life was too exhausting. In the end, she used her life to pave a path for Cousin—she was poisoned to death by Xiang Yunzhang’s concubine, and the Xiang family had previously tried to burn Cousin to death. How could we bear to let Cousin stay in the Xiang family to die?”

“Although Aunt made a great mistake when she was young, before her death, she finally decided to personally end this mistake and finally saw Uncle-in-law’s true face clearly. Didn’t you always blame her for only blindly submitting to Uncle-in-law? Now she no longer submits. We should feel relieved for her, because she’s finally been liberated.”

Old Madam Song finally realized how greatly that dream had affected Song Chuyi—when others had dreams, no matter how frightening or deep the impression, after three to five years they would gradually forget most of it. But not Song Chuyi—the experiences in her dream seemed to have been carved into her bones, following her like a shadow.

She also finally understood Song Chuyi’s past fear, terror, and occasional anger. She couldn’t help but reach out and embrace Song Chuyi. “You’re right… Since she went to such lengths to set up this scheme, if we truly care for her, we can only do everything possible to let her rest in peace in the netherworld.”

Moreover, Xiang Yunzhang and the Xiang family weren’t wronged at all. The healthy, carefree Song Linlang of years past had died at their hands. Everyone should pay the price for their wrongdoings. Song Linlang had been blind in choosing such a man for herself, and she had paid the price for her rashness and irresponsibility with over ten years of painful experience and her life. Now, it was the Xiang family and Xiang Yunzhang’s turn.

The anger in her heart over Song Linlang’s suicide by poison lightened somewhat. She regained some spirit and instructed Yushu to set out the meal.

Yushu was overjoyed—Old Madam Song hadn’t touched food or water for two days. Even though Madam Li came every day, she hadn’t been able to reduce her worries. Now that Old Madam Song was proactively asking to eat, she cheerfully agreed and quickly went out to instruct the junior maids to bring the meal.

“You’ll eat with me too. These past few days I haven’t eaten properly, so you’ve been slacking off along with me.” Old Madam Song poked Song Chuyi’s head with obvious affection. “A young girl—if you don’t take care of your body, you’ll suffer for it later. Do you think you’re made of steel, unbreakable and indestructible?”

Song Chuyi smiled and nestled in her embrace, nodding. Then she heard Nanny Huang come to say that Madam Li had arrived.

Madam Li’s visit this time should be about Xiang Yunzhang’s matter. Song Chuyi stood up. “Grandmother, then I’ll return to my room to eat.”

There were some things Old Madam Song didn’t want Song Chuyi to hear. This young girl, because of her peculiar dream experience and the Li family matter, had become increasingly introverted and composed. She constantly worried and didn’t want her to hear more sordid things, lest her temperament become even more cold and detached. Hearing this, she nodded. “Have Nanny Xu properly arrange your meals. Don’t just pick one or two things you like every day—you need to eat a bit of everything.”

Song Chuyi agreed and, taking Qing Tao and Luyi, turned through the corridor to the west wing and went straight into the inner room.

Before long, Ziyun followed in. She first placed a bowl of ginseng tea from Goryeo in front of her, then pulled a letter from her bosom and handed it to her.

Song Chuyi took the letter but before opening it, furrowed her brow in confusion.

This letter wasn’t sent by Zhou Weizhao.

But Ziyun always handled matters thoroughly and couldn’t possibly have taken the wrong thing. She opened the letter and glanced at it, then couldn’t help but smile first—it was actually sent by Ye Jingchuan, and it was about the Shen family’s matters.

Ye Jingchuan was probably worried she’d be deceived. He used a large portion of the letter describing how unreliable Shen Qingrang was. Song Chuyi smiled and casually tossed the letter into the charcoal brazier.

She appreciated Ye Jingchuan’s good intentions, but his worry was really quite unnecessary. Once bitten by a snake, one fears well ropes for ten years. Moreover, with Xiang Yunzhang serving as a contemporary example of Shen Qingrang, her vigilance would only increase, not decrease.

Seeing the ginseng soup was about the right temperature, Ziyun picked it up and urged her to drink, then glanced at Song Chuyi’s expression and said, “I heard Old Madam Xiang is crying at the back gate of the prefectural yamen with her grandchildren.”

The prefectural yamen’s front and rear offices both faced the street, and the rear yamen area was a gathering place for vendors selling snacks and small foods—it had always been quite lively. Old Madam Xiang, that old woman who had climbed out of the fields, truly knew how to throw herself into it. After being a madam for so many years, she hadn’t forgotten her roots and still remembered her skills of throwing tantrums, making scenes, crying, threatening, and hanging herself.

Song Chuyi picked up the bamboo tube and poured out the ink monkey. Watching it nimbly climb up the brush rack and grasp a brush, she seemed to ask casually, “Are they still crying now?”

Ziyun curled her lips somewhat disdainfully. “They’re crying that officials one rank higher can crush those below, saying our Earl’s manor is deliberately retaliating and has wrongly accused them.”

Old Madam Xiang did have some cleverness, but unfortunately, she was crying too late. Public opinion had already formed. Three people make a tiger—the common people of Qingzhou City had already determined that Xiang Yunzhang was a Chen Shimei. No matter how much she cried, it was futile.