Qing Ying hurried through the door, holding a stack of letters in her hands. However, she didn’t hand them to Song Chuyi. Instead, she bent slightly and said to Song Chuyi, “Miss, Madam Qin has arrived.”
Madam Qin was a famous talented woman. Speaking of her status, it was no different from Princess Duanhui’s—she was the legitimate younger sister of the former Princess Tai. Later, when Prince Tai met with disaster, Princess Tai’s natal family was also implicated. This young lady was confiscated into the Court of Imperial Entertainments. After being registered there for three years, the Empress released her from servitude, and from then on she traveled throughout various regions.
Her grandfather had once been the Grand Secretary who achieved the “Triple Crown” by placing first in all three levels of the imperial examinations—counting through all the Great Zhou dynasties, such achievements could be counted on one’s fingers. She had grown up following her grandfather, writing an excellent hand, and playing the konghou superbly. While in the Court of Imperial Entertainments, she had once composed a piece called “Song of Fading Blossoms”—it was this very piece that moved the Empress to grant her freedom.
Although she had been in the Court of Imperial Entertainments, she was not despised by the people of the realm. This was because she was truly an extraordinary woman. At such a young age, she had traveled alone through more than half of the Great Zhou’s rivers and mountains. With the support of the Hangzhou Prefecture Magistrate’s wife, she had opened a girls’ school specifically to teach women reading and reasoning. During those years, the number of Hangzhou women enrolling in the school had surged dramatically.
This was a person whose name alone inspired admiration among women throughout the realm. Song Chuyi was no exception. Without hesitation, she stood up and ordered, “Please invite her in quickly.”
Madam Qin was completely different from what she had imagined. She wasn’t beautiful—at least not the kind of ethereal, otherworldly beauty described in literati writings. On the contrary, Madam Qin’s face always bore an affable smile. On her slightly rounded face, her two eyes were exceptionally clear and bright. Song Chuyi somewhat understood why she was so well-liked. To find someone whose eyes could remain this clear and pure at this age—there were truly very few.
Madam Qin’s gentle gaze fell on Song Chuyi. She first looked her up and down, and the smile on her face deepened further. She took two steps toward Song Chuyi and grasped her arm before she could curtsy, her voice as warm as her gaze. “I’m merely from a fallen household—Sixth Miss needn’t show me such grand courtesy.” She paused, then looked at Song Chuyi again. “Sixth Miss, you truly resemble your mother remarkably.”
Song Chuyi had no idea that Madam Qin had actually known her mother. She hesitated a moment before responding, “Madam Qin knew my mother?”
Madam Qin looked at her earnestly. “I knew her. Back then, I was able to escape the Court of Imperial Entertainments largely thanks to her.” Seeing Song Chuyi’s shocked expression, she couldn’t help but laugh. After laughing, she felt somewhat sad, and her voice dropped accordingly. “Don’t listen to what people outside spread around—about how at the tender age of thirteen, one performance of ‘Song of Fading Blossoms’ moved the Empress… That’s all nonsense. In reality, it was your mother who took pity on me when she attended a palace banquet. Seeing I was nearly beaten to death for refusing to go on stage, she passed word to Princess Duanhui, and Princess Duanhui then pleaded with the Empress on my behalf…”
Song Chuyi had known nothing of this old matter. Only now did she understand why Princess Duanhui would invite Madam Qin to be Cui Hualuan’s teacher—they had long-standing connections. No wonder Madam Qin, whom even Princess Duan couldn’t persuade at the time, had appeared at the Cui family in Jinzhong.
“All things considered, both Princess Duanhui and your mother are my benefactors.” Madam Qin gracefully picked up the flower tea before her and took a sip, then raised her head to look at Song Chuyi again. “I came originally to advise you not to hold it against Hualuan, not to damage the harmony between sisters. But after just one look at you, I knew I needn’t say any more.”
Song Chuyi lowered her eyes without answering. Madam Qin was right. Even if not for her grandmother’s sake, she had to consider her uncle and aunt. As long as Cui Hualuan didn’t reach out to harm Song Yan, even if she poked a hole in the sky, she wouldn’t be angry.
“You’re much cleverer than Hualuan. She’s several years older than you, yet she’s not your equal.” Madam Qin sighed. “Perhaps it’s also because my abilities are limited and I haven’t taught well enough.”
Song Chuyi slowly shook her head. How could Cui Hualuan compare with her? No matter who it was, if they had memories from two lifetimes, if they had experienced dozens of years from glory to falling into the mud with great ups and downs in their previous life, they would see many things more clearly. That she could have her current level of insight was merely because she had lived two lifetimes.
“Is Madam here about Cousin’s matter?” Song Chuyi looked up at her, saying without evasion, “In this matter, Cousin’s anger is justified. It was indeed I who spoke ambiguously first, then later agreed with the Prince Consort and His Highness to depart ahead. If I were in Cousin’s position, I would also be angry.”
“But the way she acted, she lost the kindness expected of an older sister and the grace expected of a young lady from a great family. From the moment she went to Yangquan, she was wrong in every way.” Madam Qin shook her head. “She’s not truly confused—she knows perfectly well that even if she were to blame someone for this matter, she should first blame His Highness the Crown Prince. Yet she deliberately chose the person who could do the least about it to resent. Speaking of this, it’s not a good thing. But this matter will naturally trouble Old Madam and the Princess, so I shouldn’t say more. I came to see Sixth Miss and fulfill a bit of Tingting’s wish from those years.”
Song Chuyi was somewhat astonished to hear this. She looked up at Madam Qin. “Is Madam about to travel far?” Why did these words sound as if she were about to leave?
Indeed, she was a most perceptive person. Madam Qin felt some amazement at how the Song family had raised such an exquisite girl. She couldn’t help but reach out to adjust the bauhinia flower hairpin that had slipped halfway down her head. With a smile on her face, she nodded. “Staying in one place all the time would drive a person mad. Knowledge is like learning—like rowing upstream, if you don’t advance, you retreat. I must make another journey while I still can.” She paused, looking at Song Chuyi and nodding slightly. “Constant yielding is not a good thing. Hualuan has been praised for so long that she can’t bear even a little setback. With this temperament, wherever she goes in the future, she’ll be ground down. Fortunately, her heart is good—once someone enlightens her, she understands. You’re cousins. For word to spread that you developed ill feelings over a man would truly be…” Madam Qin laughed coldly. “Would truly be laughable beyond measure. In this regard, you’re far superior to her. For young ladies, don’t always place all your hopes on others. Mountains you rely on may crumble, people you depend on may leave. In this world, apart from yourself, no one else is reliable.”
Song Chuyi had never heard anyone speak like this before. She stared wide-eyed at Madam Qin, momentarily not knowing what to say in response. Fortunately, Madam Qin didn’t need her to respond. Having said everything she wanted to say, she rose to take her leave.