Cui Hualuan had already finished packing her belongings when Qing Tao came to say that Song Chuyi had requested her presence. For some reason, her right eyelid suddenly twitched. After washing and grooming herself, she changed into a crabapple-red snow brocade flowing satin jacket, beneath which she wore a sky-blue twenty-four-panel skirt. She deliberately adorned her ears with two round pink pearl earrings before leisurely making her way to Song Chuyi’s residence—though a young lady might think highly of others in her heart, she still hoped to appear her most beautiful, and Cui Hualuan was no exception to this.
Song Chuyi was staying in the small courtyard where the previous magistrate’s wife had lived. The exterior was covered with Boston ivy. Following the ivy that climbed nearly the entire courtyard wall, Cui Hualuan entered the courtyard and saw people coming and going under the corridor, moving things about. They must be preparing for the return journey to Jinzhong. Cui Hualuan nodded toward Qing Tao, and when she lifted the curtain, she raised her skirt and entered the room.
Nanny Xu was supervising people carrying out a small decorative screen intended for placement in the carriage. Although they had departed hurriedly from Jinzhong to Yangquan at the time, Old Madam Cui had arranged everything that should be arranged for Song Chuyi. The spacious carriage contained a brazier, tea, a tea stove, and all necessary furnishings, all neatly and properly equipped. Cui Hualuan was somewhat surprised. When she saw Song Chuyi emerge from behind the screen, she said, “Didn’t we agree to depart together with Second Uncle? Second Uncle’s official duties can’t possibly be completed and transferred before the day after tomorrow at the earliest.”
It was always unsafe for young ladies to travel, and though there were groups of household servants and guards, with Song Chuyi also bringing along people from the Song family, it would still be more secure to have an elder escort them. She frowned and said, “Isn’t this packing too early? If you pack everything now, won’t these next two days be rather uncomfortable for you, younger sister?”
Song Chuyi shook her head, invited Cui Hualuan to sit, and personally brewed her a cup of rose honey tea before speaking: “Elder Cousin, I’m afraid I can’t wait for you. I must depart tonight.”
Cui Hualuan froze in place, somewhat at a loss for what to do. After a long moment, she finally reacted, furrowing her brow and asking, “Why is this?”
Song Chuyi glanced at those around them, and Qing Tao and Qing Ying both withdrew. Seeing this, Cui Hualuan raised an eyebrow and looked back at Little Nanny Xu, who had already wisely led Danzhu and Danqing outside as well. In an instant, only Song Chuyi and Cui Hualuan remained in the room. She looked at Cui Hualuan and said softly, “First, I need to rush back to receive a letter my eldest brother sent. Second, there’s an extremely urgent matter, so I cannot travel with Second Uncle and you. On the road, I’ll have to trouble Elder Cousin to look after A’Yan.”
To actually leave Song Yan here alone to travel with them while she herself returned to Jinzhong separately? Cui Hualuan instinctively felt something was wrong, but she had no standing to refuse. She knew that Song Chuyi had always been strong-minded, with very firm opinions. Since Old Madam Cui had previously allowed her to come to Jinzhong, and since she had already told Second Uncle that she wanted to return to Jinzhong early, Second Uncle would have no reason to refuse.
But after leaving the room, she couldn’t help but turn back for another look. The Boston ivy seemed to have laid a carpet of green over the entire courtyard, dotted here and there with scattered, already-withered morning glories. Song Chuyi stood under the corridor speaking with Qing Tao about something, her face bearing a leisurely smile. For some inexplicable reason, Cui Hualuan felt uneasy. She turned her head away and returned to her room, instructing Little Nanny Xu, “Nanny, could you please go ask Nanny Xu for me why Xiao Yi needs to leave in such a hurry? It’s only a delay of two days—we here aren’t even in a rush yet.”
The moment Little Nanny Xu left, Danzhu came in bringing tea for Cui Hualuan and said in a low voice, “Miss, His Highness is also packing his luggage. I asked the gatekeeper and learned that His Highness has also had his carriage prepared.”
Cui Hualuan’s brow twitched sharply. The hand holding the hot tea trembled, and the tea inside spilled over—how could there be such a coincidence, with two people suddenly needing to leave at the same time?
She felt inexplicably wronged. Song Chuyi had said she didn’t know anything just the night before last, yet now she was going to return to Jinzhong alone with the Crown Prince. What exactly was this supposed to mean?
The room fell into an eerie silence for a long while before Cui Hualuan finally let out a slow breath and instructed Danzhu, “Go inquire again. Besides His Highness and my younger cousin, has anyone else ordered carriages prepared for departure?”
Danzhu acknowledged and left. Cui Hualuan propped her chin with one hand, gazing out the window, feeling somewhat headachy and weary. If she always maintained the reserve and dignity of a noble young lady, the Crown Prince would probably never remember for his entire life that he even had such a cousin. Even if they met in the future, she would just be an ordinary cousin.
Ye Jingchuan was also having a quarrel with his elder brother. He stepped forward somewhat defiantly, glaring at Ye Jingkuan without the slightest intention of yielding: “Why must you drag Sixth Miss Song along? She has nothing to do with this matter. Those people are targeting His Highness. What kind of sense does it make for you all to bring a young lady on the road? If something really happens, who among you will protect her?”
Ye Jingkuan was getting a headache from his pestering. He flicked a candied chestnut at his head, and when he saw him quiet down while covering his head, he lifted his robe and sat down to look at him: “There’s naturally our reasoning for having Sixth Miss Song come along. The band of river pirates who attacked her on the boat before were not only instigated by the Chen family—there were others behind them as well. Who knows if they might be the same group that wants to assassinate His Highness? Use that brain of yours to think about it. If by any chance there is some connection, and we leave while they take advantage of the chaos to make a move in the city, what then?”
If both of them might be targets coveted by others, then they might as well gather together. The plan was already made anyway—staying in Yangquan would actually be more distracting.
Ye Jingchuan hadn’t expected them to suspect a connection between these two incidents. Half-believing, he asked, “But bringing one more person means one more share of danger. If something happens, everyone will definitely prioritize protecting His Highness first. What about Sixth Miss Song then? Although Qing Luo and Han Yan know martial arts, they might not be able to look after her if things get chaotic.”
It was indeed somewhat more dangerous, but this couldn’t be helped. If things were truly as they suspected, with that group also wanting to kill Song Chuyi, then bringing both targets together would provide full, complete appeal.
Ye Jingkuan was getting a headache from his pestering and waved his sleeve impatiently as he stood up: “If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you capture the tiger cub? Sixth Miss herself isn’t even worried yet—why are you worrying on her behalf? If you’re really that concerned, you might as well just stay by Sixth Miss Song’s carriage. That would save you from being anxious day and night.”
Ye Jingchuan had already planned to stay by Song Sixth Miss’s carriage anyway. In his view, this went without saying. He pressed his lips together and shook his head. Since Song Chuyi had decided to serve as bait, he had no other recourse but to protect her well.