Bilian hadn’t expected her reaction to be so extreme. Frightened, she stumbled back two steps, staring helplessly at the gold-lacquered box in her hands. The contents were clearly luxurious and magnificent, the items inside obviously precious at first glance—why did her young lady react as if she’d seen a flood or wild beast? She had never seen Song Chuyi lose composure like this before. For a moment, she was completely stunned, looking anxiously at Qing Ying and Ziyun beside her.
Ziyun was also startled by Song Chuyi’s reaction, but being much more experienced, she hurried forward to help Song Chuyi sit down, turning back to question Bilian, “Who sent this thing? How dare you bring items of unknown origin and depth to Miss’s quarters?!”
Anything related to Duke Yingguo’s Manor was never well-received with Song Chuyi—this was tacitly understood by everyone serving in her chambers. At first, Bilian had tried to curry favor and run errands for Song Yi, but recently she had gradually learned better. How could she still do something so foolish?
Bilian’s face flushed red, nearly bursting into tears from fright as she lowered her head trembling. “It was sent from Second Master’s quarters, saying Duke Yingguo’s Manor specifically sent it for Miss.” She had thought this item precious, and Second Master had vaguely hinted at that meaning, figuring this time the item might not provoke Miss’s displeasure, which was why she had accepted it—moreover, it was delivered by Steward Lin’s wife, so she hadn’t dared refuse.
Song Chuyi’s complexion grew even worse. For Duke Yingguo’s Manor to send over an heirloom item out of the blue, what it represented was self-evident. After the incidents with Shen Huiyi and Chen Mingyu, they had actually directly resorted to this move!
Her face deathly pale, a vicious air gradually rose in her extraordinarily beautiful eyes as she abruptly stood up. “To Ningde Courtyard!”
Ningde Courtyard was brightly lit, the lanterns along the corridor all illuminated in a continuous line. It was already early May, and the fuchsia hanging from the courtyard walls were in full bloom. Upon entering the courtyard, green privet hedges densely carpeted the corner like a green rug, and in the dim yellow lamplight, the hibiscus flowers possessed a strange brilliance.
Song Chuyi had no mind to appreciate these beautiful scenes. Entering the room, she sat silently beside Old Madam Song, her hands trembling slightly.
Old Madam Song noticed something amiss and reached out to grasp her hand, finding it alarmingly ice-cold. She couldn’t help but be shocked, asking, “What happened?!” Then she turned to call Yushu, “Quickly send someone to ask who was accompanying her. How could she go back once and return frightened like this?! Did she offend some deity on the road?!”
Song Chuyi gripped Old Madam Song’s hand, her mouth trembling as she couldn’t help crying, burying her head in her bosom. “Father sent me something.”
What item could anger someone like this?! Old Madam Song was both furious and shocked. She nodded at Yushu, who went out and beckoned Ziyun and Qing Tao, who had been following, to come in.
Qing Tao held a gold-lacquered box painted with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns.
Before even seeing the contents, Old Madam Song’s eyelid twitched first. She knew all too well what this pattern signified. Her tone instantly became severe as she instructed Yushu, “Open it and let me see what’s inside!”
That muddled fool Song Yi—who knew what muddled thing he’d done now! Setting aside the fact that Song Chuyi’s marriage likely couldn’t be decided by them at all, even if it could, Song Yi had no business privately accepting someone’s betrothal token—he still had a living grandfather and grandmother above him. To accept someone’s gift without even informing them first—what kind of reasoning was this?!
Yushu opened the clasp, and the string of eighteen jade beads immediately entered Old Madam Song’s view. Her eyes narrowed sharply, feeling her brow throb several times before easing. A breath stuck in her chest, neither rising nor falling.
She wasn’t unfamiliar with this item. Back when their relationship was good, Madam He, the Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo’s heir, had worn it several times. They had all heard of its origins—supposedly it was bestowed by Empress Qin during the founding dynasty.
Now this item appeared in Song Yi’s possession, and Song Yi had given it to his daughter. The implication was self-evident. She furiously slammed the table beside her, nearly fainting on the spot, and said in a heavy voice, “Go! Go fetch Second Master for me!”
First Madam happened to enter to discuss the menu for the farewell banquet day with Old Madam Song. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but look toward Song Chuyi with shock and uncertainty—it was truly rare to see Song Chuyi cry like this. Could some major incident have occurred?
Old Madam Song took the menu and glanced at it, seeing both substantial dishes like white jade pork knuckles, wine-braised duck, and honey-roasted duck, as well as sweet items like cream pine nut rolls and jade bean cakes. She didn’t examine the rest carefully, carelessly nodding and returning the menu to First Madam. Sighing, she turned to comfort Song Chuyi. “You don’t need to worry about this matter. Grandmother absolutely won’t let you suffer any grievance. It’s also Grandmother’s fault for indulging your father and the Shen family too much, letting them think that acting as matchmaker gives them the right to decide things for our family’s young ladies. You go wait in the inner chamber, and I’ll have your cousin come keep you company.”
Old Madam Song knew what Duke Yingguo’s Manor’s marriage proposal meant to Song Chuyi—it clearly meant re-entering a pit of fire. Old Madam Song already felt Song Chuyi had been greatly wronged by this matter of her fate, and now Song Yi, with his muddled mind, wanted to betroth Song Chuyi to Duke Yingguo’s Manor again. Wasn’t this clearly making Song Chuyi fulfill the first fate reading again?!
After Song Chuyi withdrew to the inner chamber, First Madam hesitantly asked, “What happened to Xiaoyi?”
Old Madam Song cast her gaze upon the still-uncovered gold-lacquered box and laughed coldly. “Because some blind people insist on doing things that clog one’s heart!”
First Madam also gasped in shock upon seeing the string of eighteen jade beads lying in the box, her eyes widening as she opened her mouth in surprise. “This is… Second Uncle accepted this on Xiaoyi’s behalf?”
Setting aside whether Song Chuyi was willing or not regarding this match with Duke Yingguo’s Manor, whether Old Master Song and Old Madam Song had other plans for Song Chuyi’s marriage—right now, they hadn’t even figured out the meaning behind the palace’s generous rewards. If the Song family immediately betrothed her away wholesale, how would the palace view the Song family?! How would the Eastern Palace regard the Song family?! They might well think this was deliberately opposing them, clearly intent on breaking with the Empress and Eastern Palace at any cost. What was Second Master Song’s brain filled with?! How could he agree to Duke Yingguo’s Manor’s marriage proposal at this time?!
First Madam’s complexion looked rather poor as she sighed softly.