The matter of Qing Luo and Han Yan had no impact on Song Chuyi. She had previously laid out the pros and cons and let them choose for themselves whether to stay or go. At that time, they had chosen to stay.
But later they couldn’t control their unwillingness. Since they couldn’t control it, keeping them around would only be a disaster. It was better, while they hadn’t yet done anything wrong because of this unwillingness and obsession, for everyone to part ways now. That was for the best.
The days finally arrived at the fourth day of the tenth month. The Earl of Changning’s residence was so busy that everyone was rushing about frantically. In the kitchen alone, rice and flour were being moved in pile after pile. The number of stewardesses had increased from four to eight. Though they sought to keep things low-key, counting up relatives and old friends still amounted to twenty tables. Even the garden’s covered pavilions had to be utilized. Round tables and such were all brought out, freshly lacquered, and currently drying in the sun. Everywhere was filled with joyous chaos.
Though there were still two days until the actual date, guests arriving in an endless stream had nearly worn down the residence’s threshold. Old Madam Song was already too weary to receive people, so First Madam and Second Madam and the others went out to entertain them.
She herself stayed nestled on the daybed with Song Chuyi, showing her the gift lists from the waist-bending gifts these madams had sent, while also instructing her. “Though your status is extremely high, even the Crown Princess must maintain social relations. Above, there are the Emperor and Empress’s longevity celebrations; below, there are your sisters-in-law’s birthdays and so on—the list goes on. By looking at the gifts people have sent you, you’ll have an idea in your heart, so when the time comes you can adjust accordingly, adding or subtracting as appropriate.” She then first pointed to two thick gift lists for her to see. “These are the waist-bending gifts from the Princess Consort of Prince Lu and the Princess Consort of Prince Su congratulating you. These two ladies will probably stay in the capital for some time. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with them in the future, so you should have a plan in mind.”
Prince Lu and Prince Su still showed no signs of leaving the capital to return to their fiefs. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to return—now it was Emperor Jianzhang who was detaining them and not allowing them to go. After the matter with Prince Gong, it had perhaps made Emperor Jianzhang realize that hostages and family affection were all nonsense. Prince Gong’s legitimate and illegitimate sons were all being raised in the palace, and he hadn’t even planned to do anything to Prince Gong yet, but Prince Gong had still committed such treasonous acts regardless of his sons’ lives. If someone truly harbored disloyal intentions, keeping however many sons as hostages would be futile.
Song Chuyi wasn’t worried about Prince Su and Prince Lu, though. Though she had been busy to the point of chaos recently, she had still made several trips to the palace. According to Empress Lu’s meaning, Emperor Jianzhang suspected Prince Lu and Prince Su, but Prince Lu and Prince Su truly had no such intentions. They even planned to reduce their guard forces—they were all intelligent people, and Prince Gong’s matter had come about so strangely that they had certainly all sniffed out something amiss.
And once a prince significantly reduced his guards and couldn’t interfere with the appointment of officials in his fief, what he could do would be limited.
Emperor Jianzhang might have initially harbored doubts because of Prince Gong’s matter, seeing everyone as if they wanted to rebel. But once he thought it through clearly and dealt with Prince Gong’s matter cleanly, he would eventually understand sooner or later.
Old Madam Song had many things to say to her—from major matters like getting along with the Empress and Crown Princess, down to minor details about proper etiquette. She wanted to pass on all the experience she had accumulated over her lifetime, so that Song Chuyi could handle whatever might happen in the future.
When she had spoken until the sun had gradually reached its zenith, she paused and glanced at Nanny Huang. Gripping Song Chuyi’s hand, she called out to her. “Xiaoyi, there’s something else to give you.”
Song Chuyi had just handed the gift lists to Qing Tao. Hearing this, she raised her head, thinking Old Madam Song was going to add more private assets to her dowry. She couldn’t help but smile. “Grandmother, you’re going to completely empty your private treasury for me…”
Old Madam Song smiled and gently scolded her. With a sweep of her eyes, Nanny Huang led everyone out. Only then did she take Song Chuyi’s hand and pull out a roll of sheepskin parchment from beneath the pillow behind her and hand it over.
Previously, Old Master Song had also given Song Chuyi several rare unique editions to add to her trousseau. She thought it was another ancient text or painting from somewhere. But as soon as she opened it, her face flushed bright red. Faster than lightning, she covered it with her hand, calling out somewhat frantically and urgently, “Grandmother…”
Like a startled little rabbit, even her eyes had reddened. The tangled thoughts in Old Madam Song’s heart instantly dissipated, leaving only indescribable heartache and tenderness. Strongly suppressing the choking in her throat, she looked at her. “When you return later, the nanny sent from the palace will also teach you these things…”
Being separated by a generation, and with Old Madam Song’s advanced age, it shouldn’t have been her place to teach Song Chuyi these things. But Old Madam Song wasn’t at ease entrusting this to anyone else. She had finally thought to give it to Nanny Xu but, after thinking it over, still wasn’t reassured.
“Second Madam is a good person, but ultimately there’s a separation—she’s not your birth mother. The Princess is too embarrassed, and she also needs to send your dowry ahead to Yong’an Palace…” Old Madam Song touched her head. “Don’t be afraid. Women must all pass through this trial.”
Song Chuyi’s fingers holding the sheepskin scroll trembled violently. Watching Old Madam Song’s trembling appearance, a tear dropped from her eyes and fell onto the parchment with a splat.
She had actually been through this before.
She had even given birth to a child—what was there to be afraid of?
She thought this, yet her hands shook even more violently, and her tears fell even more urgently.
Memories from her past life overlapped with Ran’geer’s face flashing through her mind, forcing even her voice to choke up. “Grandmother…” She gripped the sheepskin scroll tightly in her hands, gripping it so hard that veins stood out on her hands. “You don’t need to…”
For an old titled lady of an earl’s residence to discuss these matters with her was neither proper nor easy on the old woman’s dignity. She didn’t know how much Old Madam Song must dote on her to set aside her pride and, at this age, teach her these things—even when Xiang Mingzi had married previously, these private intimate matters had been taught by First Madam Song.
Old Madam Song squeezed her hand firmly, looking at her with a warm and loving expression. “It’s necessary!” As she spoke, she gathered her into her embrace and carefully explained everything in detail. At the end, she added, “Your temperament is different from Mingzi’s. Whoever else explained this to you, I would worry the explanation wouldn’t be thorough enough, causing you to suffer later.”
She stroked Song Chuyi’s hair for a while, then sighed. “Xiaoyi, don’t be afraid. Wherever you go, don’t be afraid. No matter where you go, you will always be Grandmother’s granddaughter, always be the Sixth Miss of the Earl of Changning’s residence.”
Song Chuyi actually truly didn’t have much shame. To say she would be embarrassed would really be too affected. But fear was genuinely present. Shen Qingrang had never been one to cherish and be tender with women. Even if he had such inclinations, they would be directed toward Song Chuning. She vaguely felt that this life’s wedding night would be completely different from the last life’s. It was precisely this difference that made her heart restless and uneasy.
She drew in a careful breath and embraced Old Madam Song’s arm, nestling affectionately in the crook of her elbow.