Cui Shaoying never imagined that the West Residence, supposedly on fire, would have gathered so many people. It seemed as if all the servants and household staff of the West Residence had been assembled together, standing magnificently around the base of the walls like a circle, surrounding him and the person who had just entered with him in the middle. He instinctively first looked toward Xinghai Tower—there was only a faint glimmer of firelight visible before it went silent. The sea of lanterns on the flying bridge still swayed and glowed brilliantly in the wind, yet thick smoke continued to rise steadily from below.
There was no fire at all. Someone was deliberately burning wet wheat stalks below to create thick smoke, making the people of the East Residence believe the fire had truly spread fiercely. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He exchanged a glance with Cui Yu, who had come with him, both feeling something was amiss. But he didn’t think in any other direction—he only assumed something must have happened at the West Residence and strode toward Xinghai Tower.
Second Old Madam, at such an advanced age, had been roused from her bedcovers and was so frightened she broke out in cold sweat. When the cold wind blew on her, she couldn’t help shivering several times, yawning one after another, feeling her nose so frozen she could barely breathe smoothly. Hearing that Old Madam Cui had already been rescued but was frightened and currently in Rong’an Courtyard, she hurriedly changed direction toward Rong’an Courtyard.
But when she entered, she didn’t see Old Madam Cui. Instead, she saw Song Chuyi sitting at leisure against a beauty couch. She couldn’t help but pause slightly in surprise before looking toward the east side room, turning that direction as she spoke: “How is Sister-in-law? Has someone gone to fetch a physician?”
“Grandmother is fine. At this moment she’s probably at Xinghai Tower discussing matters with Uncle Ying.” Song Chuyi stood up and followed behind Second Old Madam. Seeing Second Old Madam turn around with a face full of confusion, she laughed once and continued her previous words, adding: “Discussing that matter you came to talk about today, Second Grandmother—the matter of adding silver to buy shares for dividends is about the copper mines, isn’t it?”
Song Chuyi saw Second Old Madam’s pupils suddenly contract sharply—this was a reaction people only had when extremely frightened. She had guessed correctly. Second Old Madam Cui was completely aware of it; Cui Shaoying had not concealed it from her at all.
Second Old Madam Cui steadied herself by holding onto a screen, already knowing in her heart that things had gone badly. Yet she bit her teeth, suppressing the terror and turmoil in her heart, and looked at Song Chuyi with feigned warmth, trying to extract information: “Good child, what are you saying? What copper mines, what dividends? Who told you all this?”
When Song Chuyi first met Second Old Madam Cui, she had only felt that Second Old Madam and Third Old Madam were no different—both were kind and amiable old ladies who, having reached an advanced age, wore Buddha-like countenances and appeared to concern themselves with nothing. But now, looking at the fierceness she couldn’t hide in her eyes and her increasingly gentle voice, Song Chuyi’s heart couldn’t help turning cold. This was not at all what a pampered and privileged old lady should be like. This was a wolf—a wolf ready to open its jaws and devour people at any moment.
“Second Grandmother.” Song Chuyi stopped in place, looking at her as she bent down with difficulty, tilting her head up and sighing as she asked: “Why did you indulge Uncle Ying in getting involved with these things he shouldn’t have touched? You know that His Highness the Grand Imperial Grandson came to Yangquan precisely to quell the rebellion, and Commander Lai came to Yangquan to assist His Highness the Grand Imperial Grandson in quelling the rebellion. You’re opposing the court and helping those rebel forces—what benefit is there in this?”
Second Old Madam Cui’s murderous intent suddenly arose in her heart. Her normally well-maintained fingernails couldn’t help wanting to dig into Song Chuyi’s bright, piercing eyes. She used all her strength to restrain the impulse to strangle Song Chuyi, instead placing both hands on her shoulders and forcing out a smile even uglier than crying: “What are you saying? These words cannot be spoken recklessly. If outsiders knew, our Cui family would be finished. Who taught you to say these things?”
It seemed the Cui family’s second branch still hadn’t put much thought into her or the Song family, which was why they were still coaxing her like a child. Song Chuyi didn’t fall for Second Old Madam Cui’s act. She stood firmly in place, unmoving, staring at Second Old Madam Cui: “Whether I’m speaking nonsense or not, we’ll have proof shortly. Second Grandmother, our West Residence’s fire was fake. The purpose was to lure you over without anyone knowing, to avoid alarming your accomplices outside.”
Second Old Madam Cui glared at her with fury in her eyes, not understanding why this little girl was so impervious to reason. She instinctively felt that it was abnormal for such a small girl to say these things—it was more like she was speaking mad ravings. Yet what Song Chuyi said was substantive. She feared that Old Madam Cui, Cui Yingtang, and Cui Yingyu had truly discovered something. She lifted her robe and hurriedly tried to walk out.
Song Chuyi called out to stop her from behind: “It’s too late. Uncle Ying has already been taken away by Commander Lai of the Imperial Guard.”
These words struck Second Old Madam like a bolt from the blue. She swayed unsteadily, turned around with a pale face to look at Song Chuyi, and cried out in shock: “What nonsense are you spouting?! How is this possible?!”
When Lai Chenglong came to Jinzhong, Cui Shaoying had already sensed something was wrong and had sent people to deliver messages, telling the sites where copper coins were being processed and manufactured to halt operations temporarily and wait until the storm blew over.
“If Commander Lai hadn’t found Grandmother and told her that Uncle Ying was leading the second branch in doing this, we wouldn’t have known either.” Song Chuyi spread her hands, looking at Second Old Madam Cui: “Commander Lai said Uncle Ying had the escort agency deliver goods, but actually it was to send messages out, telling the copper mines over there to restrain themselves and temporarily not cause any more commotion.”
A child couldn’t say so much unless it was truly factual. Second Old Madam Cui felt as if struck by thunder. This time she truly felt difficulty breathing and collapsed into a chair, momentarily unable to move, her mind in complete chaos.
“Second Grandmother, you and Uncle Ying are truly going to destroy the Cui family this time.” Song Chuyi walked over and sat down in the chair beside her, turning her head to look at her: “Maintaining rebel forces requires a lot of money, doesn’t it? That’s why you set your sights on the copper mines? But why did you need to support those rebel forces? This is a capital crime that will result in confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan.”
Second Old Madam Cui felt she couldn’t breathe. She clutched her throat, trying to catch her breath, and struggled to ask Song Chuyi: “Where are your grandmother and your two uncles? Quickly, quickly have them come. I must see them, I must see them!”
Song Chuyi shook her head and sat in the chair, sighing: “They’ve all been taken away by Commander Lai of the Imperial Guard. He received a secret report saying that someone in the Cui family was doing copper mine business and secretly funding the rebel army.”
Second Old Madam Cui’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. She spat viciously on the ground: “Secret report?! Secret report?!”