The Cui residence had people watching it so she couldn’t go there, but the estate on Yu Shi’s side should be somewhere Han Zhi wouldn’t have the capacity to monitor. Ma Yongfu and the others should know this too, yet they hadn’t gone even to that location—it was likely truly because Han Zhi’s people were watching too closely.

Song Chuyi felt inexplicably uneasy. Thinking it over, she currently only had Qing Ying available to use by her side, but Qing Ying had already become far too conspicuous and absolutely couldn’t show her face.

She sat still for a long while. Although she had reported to Old Madam Song about requesting people from Cui Shaoting, aside from Song Yi’s matter where she had mentioned using those people to Old Madam Song, at other times she had simply pretended these people had already been returned to the Cui family. Now naturally she couldn’t possibly risk seeking their help—because of the Zhang family’s affair, Old Master Song had recently been frantically busy as well. After all, he was the chief examiner who had handled this matter in Yangzhou, and now that Emperor Jianzhang had ordered him to continue serving as chief examiner, he was so worried his hair was nearly falling out completely.

Gripping the exquisitely crafted small box in her hand, then looking at the brush holder on the pen rack, Song Chuyi finally made up her mind. She wasn’t entirely without options at present.

Han Zhi had pushed her step by step to this point—it couldn’t possibly be solely to call her to account over Song Chuning’s matter. As time went on, his fox tail would eventually show itself.

Ziyun and Luyi had just directed the servants to carry in a basket of honey peaches when they saw Song Chuyi standing by the window watching. They couldn’t help but smile broadly: “Miss, the Princess said the honey peaches from her estate have ripened. She’s sent some over for Old Madam and the masters of the household to taste something fresh.”

The April sunlight poured through the gaps in the banyan tree’s branches and leaves in dappled patches across the ground, adding some warmth to the slightly cool morning. Song Chuyi smiled as well, gripping the box in her hand tightly, and instructed Ziyun: “Take the bamboo basket Second Brother sent last time to divide these up and send them to First Aunt, Third Aunt, and Fifth Uncle’s place. I’ll personally deliver Old Madam’s portion.”

Old Madam Song was just worrying about what Song Yi had said yesterday. Seeing Song Chuyi’s appearance, her mind was half at ease. Smiling, she had Yushu take the basket: “This bamboo basket is quite unique. I’m impressed you thought of it.”

“These are all from Second Brother. I heard he and Second Young Master Ye went searching together at the street markets outside. I found them novel and interesting, so I brought them to make you laugh, Grandmother.” Song Chuyi then took out two fine porcelain bottles with white backgrounds depicting soaring cranes from the bamboo basket: “This is honey peach dew that Aunt sent over. Grandmother, you should try something fresh too.”

Old Madam Song couldn’t help but think of yesterday’s vexing matter again—now Song Chuyi was clearly reaching the age where she should be discussing marriage prospects and meeting potential matches. She really should worry about her marriage arrangements. Otherwise, if the Han family and Shen family continued making such a fuss, damaging her reputation in the future would truly be more loss than gain.

Thinking of this, she naturally thought of Ye Jingchuan, who had always been very attentive to Song Chuyi. Her heart stirred: “Speaking of which, Second Young Master Ye hasn’t visited our household in quite some time. He’s made progress now. I heard he’s even planning to take the military examination this year. At least the Princess won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

As she spoke, she turned back to ask Nanny Huang: “I remember our estates also sent up quite a lot of strawberries and cherries the other day? When the time comes, tell the First Madam to send some to Aunt and to the Zhennan Prince’s residence and Duke Yingguo’s residence.”

After Nanny Huang smiled and agreed before going out, Old Madam Song grasped Song Chuyi’s hand and told her with slight worry in her expression: “About yesterday’s matter, don’t take it to heart. Your father is simply too estranged from you and only remembers your preferences from before.”

The relationship between this father and daughter had always been distant and awkward more than close. These past two years, she had worried and worried, mediated repeatedly, but it was completely useless.

Song Chuyi pressed her lips together. These past few years she had been very obedient to Old Madam Song and Old Master Song, but only in this matter concerning Song Yi could she not pretend to be compliant.

Song Yi was indeed her father. The best outcome would be for him to live well without illness or disaster while serving as an official, but after learning about Cui Shi’s matter, to expect her to be as close to him as before—she truly couldn’t do it.

Old Madam Song could generally tell what she was thinking from her expression. She sighed deeply, wanted to say something, but ultimately didn’t speak again. In any case, she and Old Master Song were still reasonably healthy. They had to hold on until the day Song Chuyi married and established herself. Once everything was properly arranged, as long as Song Chuyi and Song Yi could get along on the surface, that would have to suffice.

When Song Jue received the message, he found it quite incredible. Scratching his head, he ran to the back courtyard to find Song Chuyi: “Why on earth would you want me to deliver things? Could it be that Ye Jingchuan has come up with some devious scheme again?”

Song Jue now held an idle clerk position in the Ministry of Rites, but he was still deathly afraid of Ye Jingchuan. He was different from Song Jue after all—Song Jue studied martial arts and could still suppress Ye Jingchuan somewhat. In front of Ye Jingchuan, he only ever came out on the losing end.

This time, First Madam Song had specifically told him to deliver fresh seasonal fruit from the estate. Beyond his shock, he felt somewhat apprehensive—wouldn’t sending a servant directly to the back courtyard have been sufficient? Why did it have to be him? Aside from Ye Jingchuan, who constantly ran to other people’s homes under the pretext of delivering fruit or local specialties, he had never seen any household that specially dispatched their young masters to deliver things.

Song Chuyi was just grooming the fur of the cat Xiang Mingzi was raising. Hearing this, she smiled and said: “I did indeed hear Grandmother mention the reason. It seems Second Young Master Ye said he hit it off with you at first sight in Tongzhou. Grandmother feels that since you’re similar in age, it’s good for you to interact more. Since Grandmother has said so, there’s no harm in your making this delivery.”

Song Jue still felt something was off somewhere, but he couldn’t quite say where. Scratching his head with a bewildered expression, he went out.

Ziyun couldn’t help laughing while complaining to Song Chuyi: “Actually, we could still have sent Bilian. She’s unfamiliar to people and is just a young maid. People outside wouldn’t pay attention to her. Why go to such trouble instigating Old Madam to have Second Young Master personally make a trip?”

Song Chuyi couldn’t help but sigh: “Without going to such trouble, how would Ye Jingchuan come running to our door? Spring hunting is coming up soon. I’m afraid he runs to the outskirts of the capital every day. Only by having Second Brother make a trip will he realize I’m looking for him. As for Bilian, I have more important matters to instruct her about.”

Ziyun was right. Bilian was young and unfamiliar, completely inconspicuous, which was precisely why she needed Bilian to do something more important. However, regarding Zhou Weizhao’s side, aside from Ye Jingchuan, whether seeking out Cui Shi or Yu Shi would make too much commotion and inevitably alarm Han Zhi. It was better to have Ye Jingchuan, who had always gotten along well with Zhou Weizhao, go instead. That way it wouldn’t seem so abrupt. After all, in Han Zhi’s eyes, Ye Jingchuan was probably just an idle wastrel second-generation heir. He wouldn’t focus too much attention on Ye Jingchuan.