Zhou Weizhao instinctively reached out to cover Song Chuyi’s eyes. He knew that Song Chuyi might not be afraid—she had witnessed too many matters of life and death. As she had once said, in her dreams, she herself was already a dead person. Yet he always thought that when he was by her side, it would be better if Song Chuyi saw less bloodshed, witnessed fewer of these terrible things. He knew she had the ability to fight alongside him, but he also hoped she could enjoy all the special treatment that ordinary young ladies deserved.
Song Chuyi accepted his goodwill. Even though she had already caught sight of Chen Mingyu’s eyes filled with venomous resentment, she still pretended she had seen nothing. Following Zhou Weizhao’s intention, she turned around and gently shook her head. “She still doesn’t know that I no longer need her.” Chen Mingyu thought that by dying this way, there would be no witness left to go before the Empress and testify against Fan Liangdi, not knowing that Fan Liangdi had already died long ago.
Zhou Weizhao didn’t particularly care about this point. This Miss Chen’s heart was truly too vicious. Years ago in Tongzhou, she had unhesitatingly pushed Song Chuyi out the door as a target, and later at the hunting grounds, she had nearly caused Song Chuyi to be injured by assassins. Toward such a person, Zhou Weizhao genuinely had no favorable feelings whatsoever. Moreover, Chen Mingyu was, after all, nothing more than a young lady who could only stir up trouble in the inner chambers with petty schemes and manipulations. He had never taken her seriously before, until today, when she mercilessly struck at Lu Chonghua thinking she was Song Chuyi, that Zhou Weizhao finally developed murderous intent toward her. And now that the person was dead, whether she was killed by his hand or committed suicide, he didn’t care, nor did he feel any regret.
Song Chuyi finally understood where Qing Zhuo’s frequent remarks that “His Highness treats you differently” came from. It seemed it wasn’t just Qing Zhuo speaking favorably on his master’s behalf—Zhou Weizhao truly didn’t take other people to heart. She paused and looked at Zhou Weizhao with some puzzlement. “Aren’t you going to check on Miss Lu?”
Lu Chonghua had specifically gone to the Song residence today, then come to this estate together with Song Chuyi. Previously, because of Han Zhi, this estate naturally had to be as concealed as possible. But later, after Song Chuyi purchased another property separately, this estate could be brought into the open. Ma Wangkun and Ma Changjiang’s wives and children all lived here, and from the outside, it looked exactly like an ordinary civilian residence. It was perfectly reasonable for Song Chuyi to come check on the servants who worked for her.
That was why when Lu Chonghua insisted on clinging to her today, she had gone along with it and brought her here, and also intended to have her meet Zhou Weizhao—she truly wasn’t very skilled at handling relationships between male and female cousins. The very term “male and female cousins” immediately told people that complications could easily arise, not to mention that the Lu family’s arrival in the capital at this particular juncture was, as Old Madam Song had said, as obvious in intent as Sima Zhao’s heart known to all.
Zhou Weizhao raised his eyebrows and looked at her with some puzzlement. “I was just about to ask you, why did you bring her here?”
Song Chuyi lowered her eyes and remained quiet for a moment before honestly telling the truth. “This Miss Lu is your mother’s own niece. I’m afraid I can’t properly manage the appropriate boundaries.”
Qing Zhuo, who had just finished dealing with Miss Chen’s corpse, drew in a sharp breath and glanced worriedly at his master several times.
Fortunately, Zhou Weizhao didn’t need his concern. He smiled. “I’ve already written to my maternal grandfather about this matter. Mother’s attitude is also very clear. Rest assured, what I’ve said has always counted.”
Yes, from several years ago until now, whatever Zhou Weizhao said had always counted. Although Song Chuyi had never particularly worried about the Lu family young lady, Zhou Weizhao’s straightforward and decisive attitude without any hesitation truly made what little sense of security she had left become even more solid. A faint smile surfaced on her face. “In that case, I’ll go check on Miss Lu myself.” After all, she was the one who had brought her here—the girl had truly suffered an undeserved calamity on her behalf.
Zhou Weizhao nodded lightly and was about to agree when something seemed to occur to him. He called Song Chuyi back to ask her, “Didn’t you say before that Ma Changjiang and Ma Wangkun said those people wanted to find something from Chen Mingyu—half a seal?”
The ease and smile in Song Chuyi’s eyes vanished completely. She widened her eyes and immediately turned back to look at Qing Zhuo. “Where is the person?”
When Chen Mingyu had pulled out her hairpin to stab herself, the strike had been both vicious and swift. At the time, Song Chuyi had only thought Chen Mingyu did it to retaliate against her refusal to let her take someone as a witness, but she had forgotten that Chen Mingyu still had an important item on her person. This person probably also didn’t want to let that item fall into her hands.
Although getting this item herself wouldn’t be particularly useful, it was still better than having it discarded along with Chen Mingyu’s corpse. Song Chuyi immediately instructed Ma Changjiang and Ma Wangkun, “Have Qing Ying thoroughly search her body!”
For such an important item, given Chen Mingyu’s habitually suspicious nature, the most likely scenario was that she had hidden it on her person. Song Chuyi turned her head to glance again at Great-Aunt Chen, who remained crouched in place, flustered and helpless, and let out an extremely soft sigh—this old lady was actually upright and unlike anyone from the Chen family. Of course, this great-aunt was said to have married into the Chen family while holding a memorial tablet, and later simply took her husband’s surname and was addressed with the term “great-aunt” that could only be used by members of the main family line. Song Chuyi thought for a moment, then stepped forward a few paces to stand before her, asking softly, “Did Miss Chen ever mention to you anything her grandmother left for her?”
Song Chuyi knew the question was probably pointless. Chen Mingyu wouldn’t have said anything—she had always only trusted herself. Even if this Great-Aunt Chen had shared her fate through life and death, Chen Mingyu couldn’t possibly have completely trusted her.
Sure enough, Great-Aunt Chen shook her head in confusion. “What her grandmother left her was nothing more than some gold and silver, adding up to only three or four thousand taels.”
Song Chuyi hadn’t yet had time to speak when Qing Tao, who had just gone to change clothes, came rushing in from inside, running so hard her chest ached as she told Song Chuyi, “Miss, we must return to the estate quickly! Fourth Young Master sent someone to say… your… your imperial marriage edict has been issued!”
Song Chuyi looked up at Zhou Weizhao in bewilderment, not having expected the imperial marriage bestowal to come so quickly. But she had no time to think further. From here back to the Earl of Changning’s residence in the northern part of the city was truly not a short distance—she had to set off immediately.