They had just said Miss had become clever, so how did she suddenly seem foolish again? Hong Yu, her heart pounding rapidly, couldn’t help but speak up once they left Ningde Courtyard: “Miss! How could you… That’s the eldest young master!”

Song Jue was the pride of the new generation of the Song family. He wrote excellent essays, yet also excelled in martial arts. Moreover, he didn’t rely on his family’s shadow—he had been selected for the Yulin Guard through his own merit.

The Yulin Guard were the emperor’s eyes and ears.

Among all the dandy young masters who relied on their families’ connections, Song Jue, who had been selected through his own abilities, was uniquely dazzling.

Furthermore, he was the Song family’s legitimate eldest grandson, his status incomparably precious.

On ordinary days, First Madam watched over him like her own eyeballs, afraid he’d melt if held in her mouth, afraid he’d fall if held in her hands. Now Song Chuyi had actually suggested that Old Madam Song send him on a trip to Qingzhou—First Madam would certainly be displeased.

Song Chuyi’s forehead hair was lifted lightly by the wind, revealing her full, rounded forehead and her two expressive eyes.

“It’s fine. Once he goes, it will be good.”

In her previous life, it was also around this time that Eldest Young Master Song Jue had gone with several other young men from the Yulin Guard to familiarize themselves with the hunting grounds and prepare to draw the most current topographical map. But he never came back.

He died.

All six of the Yulin Guards who went together died.

Song Chuyi thought of how her eldest sister-in-law Li Qingzi’s face had been ashen with grief at that time, thought of how her originally always clean and tidy eldest brother’s body had been incomplete. She exhaled deeply.

Hong Yu didn’t understand these words. Just as she was about to say something more, Qing Tao tugged at her and said to Song Chuyi: “Miss, First Madam has come again.”

First Madam managed the household affairs at the manor—she had many people to oversee and much to do. What matter would be worth her making another trip? Song Chuyi looked over following Qing Tao’s gaze and saw First Madam leading several people toward them with a pleasant expression.

For a moment, she froze on the spot.

The person beside First Madam—she was all too familiar with her. It was unmistakably her mother-in-law from her previous life, currently the Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo’s heir, He Shi. In the blink of an eye, First Madam had already brought He Shi before them. Song Chuyi lowered her brows and eyes respectfully and came forward to curtsy.

In her previous life, she had been the princess consort for over ten years, then the duchess for several more years. Her etiquette and comportment flowed like clouds and water, comfortable and natural—not only pleasing to the eye but also startling to behold.

“Oh!” He Shi swallowed her surprise. Her face had already bloomed into a warm smile: “Isn’t this Sixth Sister? We haven’t seen each other for just a month—how is it you seem to have grown up so much? I almost didn’t dare recognize you.”

Song Chuyi kept her head lowered, looking straight ahead, a proper smile blooming at the corners of her lips, revealing two dimples: “But the Princess Consort looks so much younger that I almost didn’t dare recognize you either.”

A seven-year-old little girl actually knew to compliment people at their weak spots.

What He Shi loved hearing most were words praising her youth. The Princess Consort looked at her unexpectedly.

Having been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for so many years, Song Chuyi naturally knew what words He Shi loved to hear.

The smile on He Shi’s face deepened considerably, though her mouth said: “No wonder you all dote on her. Look at that little mouth—one truly can’t help but love her.” She smiled again and said: “Your Seventh Brother also came today. You all should play together.”

As one of the few surviving families of old nobility, Duke Yingguo’s Manor and Earl Changning’s Manor had forged a deep friendship. The two families had been in contact for decades.

This was very rare. After all, many of the legitimate branch brothers of Old Master had already ceased contact with each other.

It was also because of this that Song Chuyi had the opportunity to be childhood sweethearts with Shen Qingrang.

He Shi had just finished this sentence when a young boy came running from the distance. He ran extremely fast, his red robes dancing like a gust of wind sweeping before everyone.

“Who wants to play with her? She cries at the drop of a hat and loves to bully people!” He glared at Song Chuyi and pulled at his mother’s hem, indignant.

Song Chuyi remained with lowered brows and downcast eyes, without the slightest excess expression.

Only now did she remember—when he was young, Shen Qingrang truly was unwilling to play with her. He thought her delicate, thought she cried too easily, and also thought her coarse and ill-mannered.

First Madam’s face now truly showed undisguised surprise. In the past, hearing such words, Song Chuyi would certainly have fled in shame and anger, covering her face, even crying publicly.

He Shi felt somewhat embarrassed. Turning back to see Song Chuyi standing there quietly, her heart was both surprised and annoyed.

Surprised that Sixth Miss Song, who usually couldn’t keep her composure, had kept it this time and was moreover generous and natural. Annoyed that it made her own son seem all the more arrogant and insensible.

“Shut up!” She scolded lowly, then turned back to explain to Song Chuyi with some apology and kindness: “He probably got up too early and still has some morning grumpiness. Little Six, don’t hold it against him.”

A twelve-year-old still having morning grumpiness. Song Chuyi sneered inwardly. This mother-in-law of hers actually wasn’t bad—like all mothers-in-law under heaven, both resenting you for stealing away her son while also rejoicing that you bore her grandchildren.

“Yesterday Grandmother taught me the rules. Among them was ‘boys and girls should not sit together after age seven.’ I deeply agree.” From beginning to end, Song Chuyi never once looked toward Shen Qingrang, as if he completely didn’t exist. She said steadily and properly: “I imagine Seventh Brother thinks the same.”

Shen Qingrang had been pampered since childhood and raised like a girl. At Earl Changning’s Manor, which had familial friendship ties, he didn’t need to observe these rules and played extremely well with these sisters. How could he have any concept of boys and girls not sitting together after seven?

Before everyone could react, Shen Qingrang laughed strangely and glared at Song Chuyi with sarcasm: “I didn’t expect the word ‘rules’ to exist in your vocabulary.”

Song Chuyi still didn’t raise her eyes to look at him. She curtsied to First Madam and He Shi and took her leave: “I won’t delay First Aunt and the Princess Consort any longer. If I’m late, I may delay the Princess Consort’s matters.”

Her etiquette and comportment were faultless.

Shen Qingrang, who had been ignored from beginning to end, found his words set off like a clown against Sixth Miss Song’s disdainful backdrop. Aside from himself, it seemed no one had heard what he said.

He Shi watched dumbfounded as Song Chuyi gradually moved away with her two maids, asking First Madam suspiciously: “How does she seem somewhat…”

In the end, she couldn’t find an appropriate adjective.

She just felt something was off and couldn’t help but look back again. The little girl’s retreating figure was quickly swallowed up among the flowers and trees, no longer visible.

This was completely unlike Song Chuyi’s usual style! Song Chuyi clearly liked clinging to Seventh Young Master Shen very much—how many times had she even clamored to go back to Duke Yingguo’s Manor with He Shi and Shen Qingrang?

Not only was Hong Yu shocked and at a loss, even the usually taciturn Qing Tao couldn’t help but look at Song Chuyi’s face again and again—clearly Song Chuyi was still the same Song Chuyi, so how had her temperament suddenly changed?!