“I’ve always thought that the Chen family were clever people, and that Old Master Chen and Old Madam Chen should have been clever as well. But now it appears that isn’t the case.” Song Chuyi stood up and looked down condescendingly at Old Madam Chen and the Chen family’s senior great-aunt below her. Her expression was blank, as if she were discussing a matter of utmost insignificance. “Since ancient times, it has been unheard of for matters involving the spring examinations to be handled leniently. Although there is no evidence proving that Old Master Chen did not accept bribes, there is also no evidence proving that he didn’t leak the examination questions to his son in advance, and then sell those questions through Third Master Chen, is there? His Majesty, in consideration of past affections, let you off with a light punishment. Yet you didn’t know how to be grateful, didn’t know how to maintain a low profile. Coming to Jinling and not first securing your footing was your first mistake.”
Old Madam Chen’s face flushed red as she listened. At her age, having once been a prominent figure in the capital’s social circles, she was now reduced to receiving instruction and reproach from a junior. She clutched tightly at her clothes, her teeth grinding audibly.
“But if it were only this, the Chen family would merely have suffered a temporary setback. Yet you insisted on scheming against the Earl of Changning’s estate.” Song Chuyi looked at them, her expression genuinely puzzled. “What connection do you have with the Earl of Changning’s estate? Everyone is completely unrelated to each other, yet for no good reason you target a junior, even wanting to kill the Wang family’s eldest legitimate grandson.” Song Chuyi shook her head. “This is your second mistake. And now you’ve listened to someone’s advice and come to our door intending to die in our home, to muddy the waters of the capital—this is your third mistake.”
Old Madam Chen’s face turned pale. When she looked at Song Chuyi, she practically thought she was seeing a yaksha demon. Old Madam Chen herself couldn’t quite understand everything Song Chuyi was saying, but she had understood the third point—she had indeed come to the Song estate with a determination to die, because Eunuch Feng had instructed her that if she died at the Song home at this time, the tide could easily turn again. The Earl of Changning’s estate would have driven to death the family member of Old Master Chen who had come to plead for help, and she was an old madam with an official rank—Old Madam Chen’s rank title had not been revoked. At that time, the Song family would inevitably bear the reputation of being heartless and unfeeling, and when voices multiplied at court, many things would become easier to manipulate.
Though Old Madam Chen had been unkind to Old Master Chen’s illegitimate sons all her life, she had been utterly devoted to Old Master Chen himself. She well understood that if Old Master Chen fell, the Chen family would be finished. Since Eunuch Feng had told her this, she naturally believed it. After all, risking everything was only a matter of one life. If she alone died and it could ensure Old Master Chen’s safety and allow her sons to be preserved, Old Madam Chen was truly willing to give up her life. When she heard Song Chuyi state her intentions clearly, her hands trembled as they reached into her sleeve—inside was a dagger. As long as she was ruthless enough, she could end her life with one strike.
But Song Chuyi didn’t give her this opportunity. She nodded slightly toward the two nannies, and the two nannies stepped forward to restrain Old Madam Chen’s hands. After a few twists, they knocked a dagger to the floor.
Song Chuyi sighed and looked at Old Madam Chen, her eyes actually carrying some weariness and pity. “The words I’ve said to you, Old Madam, why won’t you listen? Even if you die in the Song estate now, so what? True, as you and whoever gave you this idea imagined, the Song estate would bear some gossip for a time, but it would only be gossip. We act righteously and stand firmly. We fear no investigation. Even if His Majesty ordered the Imperial Guard to investigate this matter, how could they determine that someone in our estate committed murder? Since they cannot, what harm is it to us? On the contrary, you would merely become fodder for gossip in the capital. Things have come to this point. No one can save Old Master Chen anymore. You’d better keep your life.”
Old Madam Chen truly was acting more and more without proper judgment. Perhaps it was indeed because one misstep leads to errors everywhere, just like Old Master Chen. If he were truly clever, he shouldn’t have acted so quickly and rashly. They say a gentleman’s revenge is never too late even after ten years. Even if he guessed that the Song family had joined with Fang Xiaoru to frame him, he should have first maintained a low profile and bided his time.
Song Chuyi didn’t wish to speak further with them. She returned to sit beside Old Madam Song, speaking gently and pleasantly. “Actually, things haven’t deteriorated to an irreparable state. Compared to the crime of selling examination questions, this matter is much smaller. At most, the men will be beheaded and the women sold into bondage. But if you continue making trouble, it truly won’t be good for the Chen family.”
Old Madam Chen practically deflated entirely. She raised her head to look at Old Madam Song, tears and snot flowing together. At this moment, she truly couldn’t care about their past grievances. Suppressing the unwillingness and bitterness in her heart, she begged her: “Please show mercy. If Elder Song would be willing to speak a word on our behalf…”
Old Madam Song’s eyes fell on that dagger, her expression somewhere between a smile and not. “Put yourself in my position, older sister. Think about it—would you extend such a hand? Moreover, you wanted to kill my grandson and target our entire Earl of Changning’s estate!” Old Madam Song’s voice rose slightly. “Today you even planned to die in my home to make my family bear the reputation of driving a woman with an official rank to death. Think about it with your heart—coming here now to say such things, aren’t you making things difficult for people?!”
Old Madam Chen wanted to speak further, but the Chen senior great-aunt had already grabbed her and shook her head with pursed lips.
After they were sent out, Old Madam Song couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath. “Fortunately, I listened to your words and received them. Otherwise, if they had really bashed their heads and died outside, this reputation would truly be hard to speak of…”
Eunuch Feng, that deeply calculating old eunuch, had indeed discerned that the Song family was the one pulling strings behind the scenes, but this move he used was truly too vicious. Song Chuyi laughed coldly. “When in Jinling, Old Master Chen had Eunuch Feng help him connect with Lin Yuanchuan. Now Eunuch Feng is giving Old Madam Chen advice. It seems their two families’ relationship is indeed very good.”
Later in the evening when Song Jue came over, Old Madam Song mentioned this to him as well. “It truly is outrageous. As expected, these eunuchs without their roots are sinister. To think of such tactics. If someone really died in our home, although Xiao Yi spoke firmly, how could those censors be easy to deal with? Even if they couldn’t save Old Master Chen, it would affect your grandfather’s and your official reputations.”
Although Old Madam Chen and the senior great-aunt hadn’t succeeded, this matter ultimately left a fire in people’s hearts.
Song Jue’s eyes flashed with cold light, but facing Old Madam Song, he still didn’t reveal it. He comforted her instead. “Don’t be angry. Eunuch Feng himself is in dire straits. He’ll soon have no time to manage such idle affairs.”