If it were someone else, they would certainly think Song Chuyi was being overly affected. After all, regarding matters of liking or not liking, could one truly cut open their heart and liver to show you as proof? And as for understanding or not understanding—to bring this up after already agreeing to join hands with someone was inevitably too late. But Zhou Weizhao was different. He understood very well the anxious and apprehensive psychology of those who had experienced bitter pain. He let out a deep sigh, looking at Song Chuyi and saying: “Then what else do you want to know? Actually, I don’t understand myself very well either. However, there’s one point that can probably be confirmed.” He looked at Song Chuyi earnestly, smiled slightly and said: “At least I won’t turn hostile in half a month like that Young Master Wang.” He paused for a moment. Seeing Song Chuyi’s serious expression, he advised her again: “Xiaoyi, you can’t always carry the vigilance from your previous life when looking at people. There may be those who act as thieves for a thousand days, but there’s no one who can guard against thieves for a thousand days, right?”
Song Chuyi remained silent for a while without speaking. After thinking for a moment, she changed the subject: “I always feel there’s something suspicious about this matter.”
Zhou Weizhao’s eyes showed some helplessness. He naturally knew Song Chuyi was avoiding the topic. However, it takes more than one cold day for a river to freeze three feet deep. He had never expected that Song Chuyi, who had endured such bitter pain, would immediately let down her guard. He had always known how to get along with Song Chuyi. She was like a small wounded beast who couldn’t tolerate others’ expressions of concern and warmth. She was only suited to hide away and lick her wounds alone. If anyone else came to comfort her, it would only make her unbearable.
He followed along with Song Chuyi’s words: “You mean there’s more to this story?”
Seeing that he didn’t continue pursuing what she had just said, Song Chuyi let out a gentle breath of relief. Nodding, she said: “Initially, I was overwhelmed by anger and didn’t think that much. But after calming down and thinking carefully, I discovered there are many questionable points about this matter. For instance, Brother-in-law Wang—since he could pretend for so long in Jinzhong without revealing his true colors, why would he show his true form as soon as he returned to Jinling? Although that’s his territory, A’Yan is still there after all. The Wang family even specifically wrote a letter to Jinzhong saying they would take good care of this younger brother-in-law and so forth. They see each other constantly. Given the Wang family’s usual style and Young Master Wang’s manner in Jinzhong, he shouldn’t be such an impulsive and rash person. Yet they did exactly that, and did it so obviously right in front of A’Yan.”
Zhou Weizhao looked at her with eyes full of appreciation, his heart swelling with pride at Song Chuyi’s perceptiveness. He bent his finger to play with the ink monkey that had climbed out from Song Chuyi’s desk and was hugging her brush, while smiling at Song Chuyi: “Cuiting told me the same thing. He said he felt the Wang family’s actions were greatly different from usual and didn’t match their family’s customary style in Jinling city.”
Song Chuyi’s suspicions grew even stronger. Her brows furrowed tightly as she looked toward Zhou Weizhao: “Old Master Chen went precisely to Jinling, serving as Minister of Revenue there.”
It wasn’t that Song Chuyi loved making associations. It was truly that some matters had to be thought through carefully. Back when there was no enmity, Elder Chen had still been able to target the Cui family to eliminate Song Chengru from the Cabinet, indirectly dragging the Song family into the water, shaking the foundations of both families in one move. How much more so now that enmity had been formed?—Although Song Jue had handled matters cleanly and decisively, and Song Chengru had also displayed his old fox’s skill at being on good terms with everyone on all sides, with the Song family appearing completely untainted on the surface, between intelligent people, certain matters didn’t require evidence. The four words “knowing in their hearts” were already sufficient.
Zhou Weizhao immediately followed up: “I’ve already written to Cuiting, telling him to persuade A’Yan to go to Zhenjiang. The Cui family’s affairs have the Cui family’s elders to intervene. It’s truly not something A’Yan should manage.”
This coincided perfectly with Song Chuyi’s thoughts after calming down. The reality was that currently only Song Yan was alone in Jinling, and Jinling was the Wang family’s territory. Even if no one intervened, Song Yan wouldn’t gain any advantage. Not to mention that now the Chen family people had also arrived in Jinling—perhaps this matter was even related to them.
Song Yan had originally gone to seek learning from Master Qingfeng. There was truly no need for him to get mixed up in this matter—first, he was young and his power was limited, so he couldn’t accomplish much; second, even if he wanted to manage it, if the Wang family bit down stubbornly, he couldn’t control them anyway. He could easily fall into others’ traps. Going to find Master Qingfeng was instead the safest option. No matter what, first get far away from Jinling. If Cui Huaying was truly living poorly at the Wang family, when the Cui family elders arrived in Jinling, they would naturally make decisions on her behalf.
Song Chuyi appreciated his thoughtful consideration and gently thanked him. Zhou Weizhao smiled and shook his head: “Your younger brother is my younger brother. However I treat you, I will treat him the same way. Xiaoyi, I hope you can understand my intentions.”
Song Chuyi lowered her head and said nothing more. After Zhou Weizhao left, Qing Luo brought up a bowl of milk, softly advising her: “Miss is being too anxious and apprehensive…”
Now that Qing Luo had followed her for a long time, and given that she was skilled in martial arts and knowledgeable about medicinal cuisine, she had gained Song Chuyi’s considerable trust. Since they had figured things out and were willing to stay by Song Chuyi’s side, they naturally served her wholeheartedly. Even in getting along with Qing Ying and the others, things were far more harmonious than before.
Nanny Xu came in to serve Song Chuyi in washing up. Hearing this, she gently shook her head at Qing Luo—how could some matters be made clear through advice? Time would reveal people’s hearts. Human hearts were ultimately made of flesh. If there was truly fate between them, the union was decreed by heaven.
Cui Hualuan, however, had never particularly believed in fate. She finally did something she herself found shameful for the first time—she blocked Zhou Weizhao on the deck as he was about to disembark.
Qing Zhuo was deeply worried about how his Highness could become closer to Sixth Miss Song. Suddenly encountering Miss Cui, he was nearly frightened out of his wits. Not knowing where to look, he hurriedly lowered his head and stepped back several paces, observing his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, treating himself as a wooden post.
Cui Hualuan paid him no attention. Danzhu and Danqing boldly stepped forward several paces to block Qing Zhuo outside. She glanced at Zhou Weizhao and first called out “Cousin.”
This address of “cousin” truly couldn’t be considered presumptuous in claiming kinship. Given Princess Duanhui’s relationship with the Crown Prince and Grand Prince, such a form of address was perfectly normal. Zhou Weizhao responded with complete amiability on his face.
Such courtesy was entirely different from the lively attitude he showed toward Song Chuyi. Cui Hualuan endured the difficulty and embarrassment in her heart, her gaze looking past him toward the back—Song Chuyi lived right there.
“Did Cousin come to see Xiaoyi?” She struggled to bear the discomfort in her heart, nearly crying out. She stubbornly raised her head to look at Zhou Weizhao. She had waited for a long time, thinking perhaps she should just wait until they reached the capital and have her mother help her obtain a definite answer. But the longer she waited, the more she discovered how different Zhou Weizhao treated Song Chuyi. This difference made her heart uneasy. She couldn’t care about anything else—she only wanted to first ask clearly.