Song Chuyi suddenly recalled how when they went to Jinzhong, Old Madam Cui had said she would take her to see the Taixu Temple, take her to see the peach blossom forest, and had decorated the courtyard where she stayed with such brilliant splendor and breathtaking beauty, giving her everything she possibly could.
In her previous life, she had never fulfilled her filial duties before the elderly, and even after being reborn, she hadn’t had time to do anything for her. Yet now Old Madam Cui could no longer hold on.
When she went to see Old Madam Cui, it was already the next day. Princess Duanhui came out to meet her upon hearing the news, with faint dark circles under her eyes. Upon seeing her, she pulled her into an embrace, tears streaming down: “Everything was fine originally. First she was happy hearing about Shaoting’s matters, then later when she heard something had happened in Jinzhong, she couldn’t hold on anymore.” She finally couldn’t bear it any longer, holding Song Chuyi: “Your uncle is already on the road. If Mother doesn’t get to see him one last time, how can I face him?”
Yu Shi was also crying with reddened eyes, supporting Princess Duanhui from the side and shaking her head at her: “Xiao Yi’s condition still isn’t stable yet.”
Old Madam Cui’s consciousness was already somewhat unclear. In her dazed state, she opened her eyes and saw Song Chuyi, then immediately called out “Tingting,” reaching out her hand with tearful eyes calling to Song Chuyi: “Tingting, come here, come here and let me see you.”
Princess Duanhui’s heart ached, nearly crying out again. It took her a long time to forcibly hold it in, and after coming out, she cried continuously.
Song Chuyi grasped Old Madam Cui’s hand, not knowing what to do. Hearing Old Madam Cui calling incessantly, she quickly responded: “I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.”
Old Madam Cui smiled then, gripping Song Chuyi’s hand tightly: “They all said I wouldn’t get to see you again, but haven’t I seen you now? Don’t be afraid, Mother is coming down to accompany you.”
Hearing this made Song Chuyi’s heart ache unbearably. After leaving the room and seeing the coffin displayed in the flower hall, she was about to ask when Cui Yingshu would arrive when she heard a commotion of shouting from outside.
Princess Duanhui stopped in her tracks. Hearing people say Cui Yingshu had returned, she seemed somewhat incredulous, standing stunned for a good while before her voice trembled: “What did you say?”
Before she could go out to greet him, Cui Yingshu had already rushed in like a gust of wind. Not yet having time to greet them, he went straight into Old Madam Cui’s courtyard.
Zhou Weizhao followed in afterward. Seeing Song Chuyi crying, he came forward to put his arm around her shoulder, telling her softly: “Uncle first entered the palace to report on Hubei matters, then rushed back the whole way.” He then asked her: “Why are you crying?”
Song Chuyi pressed her lips together. These days she had cried more times than all previous times combined. Especially now that she was pregnant, her emotions were particularly sensitive. Hearing Zhou Weizhao’s question, she somehow wanted to cry again. She struggled to hold it in, and only after a long while did she shake her head.
Zhou Weizhao sighed gently, saying to her: “Grandmother is right. People inevitably all have this day. Later we will be the same. Cherish the present. While Great-grandmother is still here, be filial to her as much as possible, let her pass without regrets—this is true filial piety.”
Old Madam Cui’s greatest wish was just to see her sons. With Cui Yingshu’s return, even this wish of hers was fulfilled. Perhaps she truly felt without regrets, for she could no longer hold on and closed her eyes that very night.
The Cui family hadn’t yet prepared to celebrate the weddings of Cui Hualuan and the others, but instead had to arrange a funeral first. Inside and out, all the lanterns were replaced with white ones. Princess Duanhui could no longer enter the palace either, so she had Princess Rongcheng bring many medicinal ingredients into the palace and specially sent word to Song Chuyi: “The old madam passed very peacefully. She said she hopes you will do well.”
Crown Princess Lu, following her son’s words, stayed by Song Chuyi’s side. Seeing Song Chuyi on the verge of tears, she embraced her and patted her back repeatedly: “What Duanhui said is true. If the old madam has knowledge in the underworld, she surely hopes you will be healthy and smooth in all things. Don’t be excessively sad.”
Nanny Xu and the others also consoled her after wiping away their tears: “Miss, please set your mind at ease. The old madam surely also hopes you will do well. This is unavoidable—people reach their allotted years.” She further consoled Song Chuyi: “Think of happy things. Uncle has returned, and before long the uncle from Xibei will also return. At least nothing major happened in Jinzhong.”
This was the only way to think about it. But when Cui Shaoting and his troops returned victorious to the capital, it was already late autumn.
The maple leaves in the Imperial Garden covered the ground completely. Song Chuyi’s belly was already visible. She was supporting her belly while taking a walk when she heard that Cui Shaoting had already entered the palace with the Prince of Zhennan and Marquis Dingyuan for an audience. Even her hands trembled as she turned to ask Qing Ying: “Uncle truly returned?”
Qing Ying’s face held a smile as she grasped her hand to support her: “Of course it’s true. His Highness specially had someone bring the news in, saying to ask you to go to Qingning Hall. Uncle will go to pay respects to Her Ladyship in a moment, and then you’ll be able to see him.”
When she saw Cui Shaoting again, Song Chuyi could barely recognize him. The Cui Shaoting of before had been gracefully handsome, like a handsome young gentleman. But the current Cui Shaoting had a face full of weathering, clearly having aged more than ten years. She was somewhat afraid to recognize him. Seeing Cui Shaoting stand up with a smile, she felt rather at a loss.
Cui Shaoting smiled and beckoned to her: “What, don’t recognize me?”
He touched the beard on his chin: “I haven’t aged that much, just grew a beard. Without a beard, I couldn’t command respect. The Prince of Zhennan looks much older than me.”
He rambled on, saying many things to Song Chuyi. Finally, standing beside Song Chuyi, he looked at her with gratification: “Xiao Yi, this is wonderful. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so much.”
With Cui Shaoting’s return, battle reports from Xibei kept arriving continuously.
When Yetan’s troops withdrew from Xibei, they were ambushed by the Prince of Zhennan and Marquis Dingyuan, suffering heavy losses. But the Tartar royal court turned a blind eye. The originally agreed-upon support from the royal court and Jurchen tribes never came. Yetan himself nearly died in the bombing and fled back to the Tartars in disgrace.
Zhou Weizhao smiled as he told Song Chuyi about the Tartar affairs: “This time Yetan has completely torn off all pretenses with the Tartar royal court. He no longer even acknowledges his brother who’s being held hostage. Leading his remaining thirty thousand men, he’s declared himself king separately. Now, to deal with Yetan, the Tartar royal court has already agreed to submit to our Great Zhou as vassals, hoping to borrow our military strength to quell this rebellion.”
This was the effect of Cui Shaoting’s groundwork over all these years. The Tartars had long ceased to be united as one. Wolves raised in captivity would eventually eat people—Tuomu and Yecha understood this principle all too well.
Before there was no opportunity, but once the opportunity arose, how could Yetan possibly be willing to remain subordinate to others? He couldn’t wait for Yecha, this burden, to die. Yet Tuomu was still so naive, truly believing one Yecha could restrain Yetan.
Now the Tartar expedition had failed. They withdrew from Great Zhou in disgrace, then internal rebellion arose. With Great Zhou’s planted agents inside fanning the flames and causing trouble from both sides, they likely no longer had the strength to trouble Great Zhou again.