When Song Chuyi arrived at Ningde Courtyard, Old Madam Song was sitting in the place of honor with a stern face. The joy she had shown when seeing Song Chuyi and the others earlier had vanished completely. Her entire being emanated coldness. First Madam Song, Third Madam Song, and Fifth Madam Song sat below her, also unsmiling and appearing preoccupied with heavy thoughts.
She had just returned, and Yu Shi had also stayed with Cui Hualuan and Cui Huayi. Logically, they should be holding a welcoming banquet in the evening. These aunts and madam-in-laws shouldn’t still be sitting in Old Madam’s quarters at this time, nor should Old Madam have this attitude.
She found it rather strange. After paying her respects to Old Madam Song and the others, she was pulled to sit beside Old Madam Song, who straightened her clothes and said softly: “Someone from Jinling has come to see you.”
Someone from Jinling? In her previous and current life combined, she had met very few people from Jinling. Hearing this, she thought for a moment, then combined it with her grandmother’s and her aunts’ expressions, and asked softly: “Is it someone from the Chen family?”
If it weren’t someone from the Chen family seeking out the main branch, even Song Chuyi couldn’t think of who else would want to see her at this time.
Old Madam Song let out a cold laugh and nodded with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “Exactly right. It’s Old Madam Chen and a great-aunt from the Chen family clan, saying that if you don’t see them…”
First Madam Song’s expression was ugly as she picked up the thread: “Saying if you don’t see them, today they’ll dash themselves to death on the stone lions at our Earl of Changning’s gate.” These words truly infuriated First Madam Song beyond measure. She had never seen people speak this way! She had just added a granddaughter! And these people came rushing over to say such things about death and life—it gave one a headache to hear.
The hint of a smile on Old Madam Song’s face disappeared. Cold as frost, she snorted: “The barefoot aren’t afraid of the shod—they’ve come specifically to bring bad luck to our Song family.”
Old Madam Chen truly hadn’t come to bring bad luck to the Song family this time. If the Song family was willing to see them, they would naturally want nothing more than to kneel down. But the Song family wasn’t even prepared to let them through the door. If they didn’t say such things, they definitely wouldn’t be able to see anyone’s face. She supported that great-aunt from the Chen family who was about her age, lowering her voice: “Great-aunt, you don’t know—our family and theirs have had old grievances in the past… This time the Elder also schemed against their family’s descendants. Coming here, we’re probably coming in vain. Why do you insist on seeking this hardship?”
She wasn’t unfamiliar with the Song family’s temperaments. Not to mention Old Madam Song’s age-earned wisdom—even that young girl from the Song family was an extremely vengeful and difficult character to deal with. This time Elder Chen had planned for her younger brother to die. If Elder Chen hadn’t had an incident, the one in trouble would have been Song Six’s brother. With her temperament, coming to beg her now—what use was it?
The great-aunt calmly waved her hand and looked at Old Madam Chen, frowning: “If you don’t see the people first, how do you know whether they’re willing to lift a hand to help?”
Old Madam Song truly didn’t want to see them, but Old Madam Chen’s status was now special. Elder Chen had been escorted back to the capital but hadn’t been tried yet and wasn’t convicted. If Old Madam Chen died at the Song family’s residence, it would inevitably stir up gossip again. She rubbed her forehead, suppressed the disgust in her heart, and instructed First Madam Song to go bring them in.
Third Madam Song and Fifth Madam Song went out together to first arrange the evening’s welcoming banquet, feeling it was truly incomprehensible: “What is this? After scheming against our family, they’re now prepared to come beg us? This… this is too fanciful, isn’t it?”
Fifth Madam hadn’t joined the family very long ago, but she got along very well with her several sisters-in-law. Hearing Third Madam say this, she also shook her head: “Coming to the door at this time, saying such unpleasant things—no wonder Old Ancestor is angry…”
Old Madam Chen naturally also knew her words had been unpleasant. As soon as she entered, she knelt down before Old Madam Song.
The two were of the same generation, and their statuses had been equivalent in the past. With this kneel, even Old Madam Song was startled. She frowned and quickly had Nanny Huang help her up: “Elder Sister, this truly shortens my life! For no good reason, why are you kneeling to me, Elder Sister?”
The Chen great-aunt timely took over the conversation, looking at Old Madam Song neither servile nor overbearing: “Old Madam, just let her kneel. She’s kneeling this once for her husband and the Chen family. Perhaps the Song family will magnanimously spare them. Even if you don’t spare them, this is what they owe the Earl of Changning’s household. This matter was the Chen family’s fault to begin with.”
Song Chuyi raised her eyebrows, her gaze settling on this great-aunt who looked vigorous and spirited, appearing no more than fifty-some years old. She said softly: “Then Old Madam Chen is truly kneeling to the wrong people. What Elder Chen violated is national law. The one who impeached him is Imperial Censor Shi. Although our family and the Wang family are the aggrieved parties, we didn’t file charges… Old Madam saying she would dash herself to death on the stone lions at our gate is enough to make us tremble with fear. Now after this kneeling of yours, won’t outsiders think it was our Song family who relentlessly forced people to death?”
The Chen great-aunt’s gaze also fell on Song Chuyi. She secretly praised her in her heart. Chen Mingyu was two years older than her, yet whether in eloquence or acuity, she was far inferior. This young girl before her was a formidable character. She shook her head, looking at Old Madam Chen biting her teeth, then said: “Sixth Miss Song is overthinking it. What benefit would there be for us in doing this?”
Song Chuyi smiled, stood up, and gestured for Nanny Huang and Nanny Wu to step forward and forcibly help the two of them up. She smiled: “What benefit? There are plenty of benefits. If I haven’t guessed wrong, if my grandmother hadn’t agreed to see you today, were you really planning to dash yourselves to death on the stone lions at our gate?”
The Chen great-aunt and Old Madam Chen exchanged glances, their gazes heavy as they looked at her. For a moment they didn’t respond, but their eyes revealed a resolute determination, clearly affirming Song Chuyi’s words. They had indeed come with a determination to die.
The smile at the corners of Song Chuyi’s lips deepened, but her eyes were icy cold: “Let me guess again—do the two old madams have sharp weapons hidden on them?”
As soon as her words fell, Old Madam Chen’s complexion changed drastically. She pressed her lips together, looking at Song Chuyi’s face as if seeing a ghost. Even the Chen great-aunt, who had maintained extreme composure since entering, couldn’t help but change expression and took two steps back.
“Who gave you this idea?” Song Chuyi leisurely straightened the tassels on her clothing and looked up at them calmly: “If you truly died at our Song residence right now, our Song family would indeed inevitably be dragged into the vortex. Quite a good plan you’ve made.”