Hand them over to Shuntian Prefecture!

Old Madam Song’s entire body trembled. She immediately looked toward Old Master Song, standing up in shock and opening her mouth to speak. But years of unspoken understanding ultimately made her calm down again.

When Old Master Song had returned, he had mentioned that this matter had already alarmed His Majesty. His Majesty now knew that their rear residence was unstable, and this fire incident, no matter what, required an open and honest explanation.

Otherwise, the entire capital would surely be filled with gossip about the Earl’s Manor.

She sat down somewhat listlessly, not understanding how things had reached this point. Changning Earl’s Manor had always enjoyed an excellent reputation—you couldn’t find many in all of the capital who would find fault with them. Yet now, in just a few short days, the entire city was in turmoil.

She knew this matter still had to be blamed on Li Shi, but she also understood that she and her son deserved even more blame. If Song Yi hadn’t been philandering, if she herself hadn’t been negligent and indulgent…

She sighed heavily.

Old Master Song came out after changing his clothes. Seeing her in this state, his heart softened somewhat. After all these years of marriage, he sat in the rocking chair opposite Old Madam Song, his voice somewhat gentler: “Since things have come to this, thinking more about it won’t help. It’s better to mend the fold after the sheep are lost.”

“I understand this principle too.” Seeing her husband come to console her, Old Madam Song felt even more self-reproach in her heart: “In the past when you, My Lord, told me about troubles arising from within, I never thought much of it. But after experiencing Li Shi’s matter, I realize you weren’t exaggerating. Yet though we should mend the fold, I don’t know how to do it properly…”

She glanced at Song Chengru and sighed softly: “Xiao Yi is a clever child. I didn’t notice before, but thinking carefully now, she must have sensed something wrong with Li Shi from the moment she had that dream. Yet she never breathed a word to us—relying entirely on herself, she rooted out the Li Gui family and followed the trail to find Lianyi. They say it was the Cui family’s doing, but we all know in our hearts—how could this not have Xiao Yi’s hand in it? When she wanted to go to Tongzhou before, it turns out it was for this…”

Old Madam Song’s words were somewhat confused, but Song Chengru understood her meaning. Song Chuyi must have detected Li Shi’s wrongness and even her malicious intentions very early on, yet perhaps due to distrust of him and Old Madam Song, or perhaps to be thorough, she had only made this matter public after contacting the Cui family and ensuring everything was foolproof.

She harbored deep hatred for her mother’s murderer Li Shi—but what about her father who also bore responsibility? What about Old Madam Song and himself who had neglected her over the years, even sending her into the tiger’s den, and even the Song family members?

Might she also harbor the same hatred, merely lying in wait for the right moment, waiting to turn around and stab them in the back?

He was so startled by his own speculation that he felt cold, feeling goosebumps crawling up his arms. But then he shook his head. Everything Song Chuyi had done had been to share the Song family’s burdens. Moreover, when the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain intact? The siblings Song Chuyi and Song Yan bore the surname Song after all. Even though they had a mother surnamed Cui, Great Zhou ultimately followed the paternal line—they could only rely on the Song family.

A child as intelligent as Song Chuyi would surely understand this.

“You once said she was a child blessed with fortune.” Song Chengru grasped his wife’s hand, looking at her already aged face, his voice gentle: “Now it seems she truly is. Toward the Song family, she has already done her utmost duty. Moreover, her own younger brother also bears the surname Song. She is a child of loyalty and righteousness—she will know what to do. You mustn’t think wrongly about this. Just treat her with sincerity.”

“You mustn’t think wrongly”—Old Madam Song chewed on these words, finally nodding. Then she became somewhat worried again: “Such a clever child, I wonder what the future holds for her…”

Before Old Madam Song could finish her sentence, Yushu outside knocked on the door and reported: “Old Madam, that Su family’s eldest madam has come again.”

She was truly haunting them like a ghost. Old Madam Song glanced at Song Chengru: “Su family’s eldest madam just came yesterday, saying she wants to take Chen Jinxin back to be a daughter-in-law… Who doesn’t know she’s after the dowry? Her son is to be exiled for ten years, whether pardoned or not—isn’t this clearly trying to trap Miss Chen? I can’t bear it…”

But Song Chengru thought more deeply. He asked suspiciously: “Since she’s already hit a wall once, how does she still have the courage to come again?”

The Su family had already fallen to such a state that anyone could step on them—where did the confidence come from to dare make trouble at the Earl’s Manor again and again?

“I was just about to tell My Lord about this.” Old Madam Song smiled bitterly, her voice lowering: “The eldest daughter-in-law sent people to follow her. They heard she once entered Yujing Tower.”

Yujing Tower—Chen Xiang’s property.

Song Chengru was shocked with alarm. Connecting this to the Tongzhou incident, a layer of worry rose in his heart. Xingfu was likely to stumble this time—the political winds in court were very unfavorable to him lately, and Chen Xiang happened to have an extraordinary relationship with Xingfu… Chen Xiang’s sudden appearance at this time inevitably made one think more.

Perhaps it was because the Song family had more or less distinguished themselves in the Tongzhou matter that they had attracted the attention of Chen Xiang and Xingfu.

But why was Chen Xiang causing trouble through Madam Su? Song Chengru couldn’t quite figure it out. With Chen Xiang’s status and capabilities, he should be able to find better methods.

Unless—there was something Chen Jinxin had that he needed?

But regardless, Chen Jinxin was after all the descendant of a loyal subject, personally entrusted to them by Old Madam Su—she absolutely could not be handed over to Madam Su.

She was already tied to the Song family on the same line. If the Song family dared to hand Miss Chen over today, the upright officials in court would dare to spit on them publicly in the future.

Old Madam Song naturally understood this principle and looked toward Song Chengru: “If we dismiss her too lightly, I fear she’ll come again the next day. If we dismiss her too harshly, I fear provoking the Imperial Guard—this balance is truly difficult to grasp.”

“What’s so troubling about this?” Old Master Song smiled derisively, the whiskers at the corners of his mouth quivering: “Haven’t they already been sentenced to return to their ancestral home? Why haven’t they left yet? Is this how Shuntian Prefecture earns the court’s salary without doing actual work? Someone should remind them how people who should have left long ago are still lingering around.”

In any case, Chen Xiang and Xingfu were already deeply mired in the vortex—he didn’t believe they dared make other troubles at this critical juncture.

Old Madam Song’s eyes brightened, then she smiled knowingly.

This Madam Su coming to make trouble every day was giving everyone headaches. Being able to thoroughly dismiss her this time was indeed something to celebrate—it could at least dispel some of the gloom from recent days.

She beckoned Yushu over and whispered a few words in her ear. Yushu nodded busily and went out.