Just like that, the matter of Song Yan going to Hubei was settled. Old Madam Song pulled Song Chuyi close and sighed heavily: “I originally thought you surely couldn’t bear to part with him, yet you still agreed. This is a good thing.” She stroked Song Chuyi’s head and drew her into her arms. “Xiaoyi, you’re a good child. You often tell me about your dreams and what happened in them, but look—tomorrow your cousin sister will be getting married. In your dream, she didn’t even know what fate befell her, whether she lived or died was unknown. Perhaps Heaven took pity on you and granted you this dream to let you see the path ahead, to seek fortune and avoid calamity. A’Yan’s situation is the same. With you protecting him, your grandfather and eldest brother aren’t dead—nothing will happen. Nothing will happen to anyone. We will all live peacefully.”
Xiang Mingzi was sitting on Old Madam Song’s other side. Hearing these words, she hurriedly nodded in agreement: “Though you don’t speak of it, everyone has been worried about you lately. Grandfather and Grandmother noticed something was wrong with you long ago. Xiaoyi, take your time.”
Old Madam Song had already picked up the thread of conversation, her tone gradually becoming somewhat urgent: “You too—if you’re not feeling well, why don’t you tell us? If His Highness hadn’t noticed something was wrong with you, we still wouldn’t know that you’ve been able to sleep only a few hours each night with the help of calming incense for over a month. The more Old Madam Song spoke, the more heartbroken she became. “We’re one family, flesh and blood—what can’t be said? Why must you bear everything alone? Xiaoyi, at home you rely on your parents, and when married you rely on your husband. You must understand this principle.”
Song Chuyi had been unable to sleep properly for over a month. If Zhou Weizhao hadn’t insisted on having Doctor Yan examine Song Chuyi, no one would have known that at such a time of prosperity, Song Chuyi harbored such deep worries—so deep that even she herself couldn’t resolve them.
In the hearts of the Song family, and even in the heart of Song Jue who had always regarded her as an ordinary girl, Song Chuyi had never given them cause for worry from childhood to now. She always had ways to handle her affairs perfectly, never causing the slightest trouble for others. Therefore, when Doctor Yan emerged saying that due to prolonged insomnia and excessive worry, Song Chuyi only appeared well on the outside, even Song Chengru couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
The calming incense that Zhou Weizhao had Qing Zhuo deliver had long been lit by Qing Ying. Song Chuyi finally managed to sleep through the entire night, and the headaches of recent days had eased considerably. She clung to Old Madam Song’s arm and acted coquettishly: “I know now. From now on, if anything happens, I definitely won’t hide it from Grandfather and Grandmother anymore.”
She used to think no one was more reliable than herself, but gradually discovered that wasn’t quite the case. Nanny Xu was right—one should always think about the good things in this world. Old Madam Song had never treated her unfairly. Even when faced with choosing between Consort Song and her, she chose her without the slightest hesitation. Being the one chosen, whether it was truly because of Old Madam Song’s affection for her or because of her value, was ultimately something to be happy about.
Moreover, she now truly had someone to whom she could completely entrust her back without any fear.
Old Madam Song pinched her nose, and seeing her little face scrunch up, couldn’t help but smile: “Don’t just avoid hiding things from me—don’t hide things from your brothers either. Xiaoyi, you’ve always had your own opinions, I know that. But isn’t there a saying that ‘distance tests a horse’s strength, and time reveals a person’s heart’? After all these years, even if others have wronged you, Jue has always been on your side. If you have troubles you cannot resolve, things you’re unwilling to tell us or unwilling to tell your future husband, don’t hide them from him and A’Yan either. There’s something I said before that you probably didn’t believe, but now I’ll say it to you again: no matter what, the Song family will always be your backing. We will always stand behind you.”
Even the former Consort Song had never received such a promise from her maternal family. Regardless of whether there were considerations of interest involved, Song Chuyi was already sufficiently grateful. Between her past and present lives combined, the Song family had never wronged her. They had placed all their bets on her, and she would absolutely not let them lose their wager.
After talking for a while, Old Madam Song shooed Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi back to their rooms: “Alright, tomorrow is the great joyous day. You sisters have whispered words to share, so speak to your heart’s content tonight.”
Xiang Mingzi pulled Song Chuyi through the garden, across the long corridor, past the Cherokee rose trellis, and when they were about to reach her courtyard, she finally couldn’t hold back. She stopped and slowly embraced Song Chuyi.
The breeze stirred, and a tree full of yellow sophora flowers swayed in the wind, scattering petals all over their heads and faces.
Song Chuyi froze for a moment, then raised her hand and gently patted Xiang Mingzi’s back.
Xiang Mingzi had already buried her face against her shoulder: “Xiaoyi, thank you.”
Back when she was in Qingzhou, she witnessed firsthand how her father doted on his concubine and destroyed his wife, how he regarded his own daughter as an enemy, wishing he could throw her to the ground and stomp her flat.
At that time, she had never expected anyone to save her. She thought her life would just be like that—either sold by Xiang Yunzhang for a good price, or truly slandered as the ill-omened star who brought death to her younger brother, living out her days looking at the faces of her harsh grandmother and vicious stepmother.
But ultimately, she wasn’t the one who was abandoned. When Old Madam Song and Song Chuyi made their move, they made sure Xiang Yunzhang lost his life. Pulled from the depths to the clouds, she knew that while her grandmother’s affection played a part, Song Chuyi’s strategizing was indispensable. If Song Chuyi hadn’t had that dream, she might have ended up like in Song Chuyi’s dream—who knows in what corner she would be by now.
Along the seemingly endless corridor, all the lanterns were lit in a continuous line, like a winding fire dragon breathing flames in the deep autumn night.
Song Chuyi pulled Xiang Mingzi down the steps and slowly entered Xiang Mingzi’s courtyard. Looking at the yard full of bright red lanterns and festive decorations, she curved her lips slightly: “What is there to thank me for? Stop crying. If you cry anymore, Brother-in-law Li will be frightened tomorrow.”
Accompanying Xiang Mingzi’s bed tonight was also Song Chuyan. Being the youngest, when she saw her sisters, she rushed toward them: “I’ve been waiting for you forever! Why are you only coming now?”
Xiang Mingzi bent down to pinch her face and couldn’t help but laugh: “What’s your hurry?”
Yusheng and the others were already smiling as they came forward to attend to them, helping them inside to wash up. Xiang Mingzi lay side by side with Song Chuyi, tossing and turning, truly unable to sleep. Restless in the candlelight, she looked at Song Chuyi: “Xiaoyi, I’m a bit scared.”
Although the Song and Li families were close friends and Xiang Mingzi was very familiar with the Li sisters, and had even met Li Er many times, when it came to leaving one place to live in another, it was easy to feel anxious and uneasy. Fear of an unknown future was human nature. Xiang Mingzi’s face was shrouded in the candlelight, making her expression difficult to discern.