“Grandmother, when Old Madam Su repeatedly instructed us back then, she said that dowry was the foundation for Miss Chen’s future livelihood.” Song Chuyi thought of how Old Madam Su had kept emphasizing the dowry, growing somewhat suspicious: “Later, Sanniang gave you a letter written by Old Madam Su. Could it be that aside from this letter, there were actually other things as well?”

Could Old Madam Su have hidden something else in Miss Chen’s dowry?

The sun hung high outside, yet Old Madam Song felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine because of Song Chuyi’s words. She immediately turned to look at Nanny Huang: “Jieyi, go to Tingyun Pavilion and bring Sanniang here!”

She could say with a clear conscience that she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to Chen Jingxin, never forcing her for any other interests, and had even risked offending Chen Xiang and the Su family’s eldest matriarch for her sake. If Sanniang and the others had actually concealed things from them, it would truly be too unfair to the Song family!

Though Chen Jingxin’s health had mostly recovered, she had developed a fear of cold. Even in such sweltering weather, Tingyun Pavilion never placed ice basins, and she still had to cover herself with cotton quilts. Her spirits were poor as well—from the time she awoke until now, she had refused to speak again. So if they wanted to know what else Old Madam Su had left behind, they could only ask Sanniang.

After thinking for a moment, Song Chuyi stopped Nanny Huang just as she was about to leave: “If there really is something, I imagine Sanniang won’t loosen her tongue so easily. Why don’t I go test the waters first?”

Song Chengru had once said that Song Chuyi was even better than the First Madam at reading and judging people. Old Madam Song hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Actually there’s no rush—today or tomorrow would both work. But since you insist on going today, then go. Grandmother and brother Yan will wait for you to return before dining.”

At the mention of Song Yan, genuine amusement appeared in Song Chuyi’s eyes, her brows curving until she truly looked like a carefree young lady from a great aristocratic family.

She smiled and agreed, then turned to leave. At the corner of the covered corridor, she encountered Song Chuning, who was dressed in light green clothes with a jade-green hair ribbon.

The moment the two came face to face, they both stopped in their tracks.

All around them, the sea of lights and sea of flowers reflected off one another, yet neither could obscure the gleam in their eyes.

“Where is elder sister going?” Song Chuning wore a smile on her face, but her eyes held no mirth: “Don’t you know that walking at night frequently makes it easy to get your shoes wet?”

“Walking at night frequently, you’re more likely to encounter the night wandering god, isn’t that right?” Song Chuyi stood facing her, equally cold in demeanor: “I remember back then your mother often warned you thus, but it seems you haven’t remembered a single word.”

“Don’t mention my mother again!” Song Chuning suddenly raised her voice sharply, with a harshness completely inappropriate for a girl her age: “If it weren’t for you, would she have died?!”

Facing Song Chuyi before her, she could barely control her emotions. If she weren’t still clearly aware of her current environment and age, she would have already stepped forward and strangled Song Chuyi by the neck.

Those who commit evil in this world always feel they’ve been wronged when they receive their retribution, yet never think about how they once caused others a hundred or thousand times more harm.

Song Chuyi found this genuinely amusing, and so naturally let out a cold laugh.

“She didn’t die because of me.” Song Chuyi savored her sister’s rare loss of composure, whether in her past life or this one, feeling more exhilarated than ever before: “She died by her own hand. You’re so clever—you should understand that if she hadn’t harmed my mother, this day would never have come.”

Such a condescending attitude had always been hers alone in the past. Song Chuning spread open her itching palms, feeling a chill throughout her body: “All I know is that she died from your uncle and aunt’s relentless pressure, died from your refusal to yield!”

Luyi felt all the anger in her body rise up and couldn’t help but speak sarcastically: “Eighth Miss, aren’t you being too unable to distinguish right from wrong? Back then, if your mother hadn’t killed the Second Madam and then hired assassins to pursue our miss all the way to Tongzhou trying to harm her, how would today have come about? She got what she deserved—how can you instead blame our miss?”

The tender young girl before her now, as delicate as a flower on a branch, couldn’t be matched at all with the haggard woman from her dream who had been servile and could be crushed with one hand. Song Chuning couldn’t help but want to laugh.

One day, she would make everyone follow the destiny from that dream.

Cuiqiao kept her head lowered, wanting to pretend she saw nothing. Seeing the situation truly getting out of control, she finally mustered her courage and tugged at Song Chuning’s hem to remind her: “Miss, if we don’t go now, Old Madam will be waiting anxiously.”

Song Chuning didn’t even glance at her. With a cold expression, she brushed past Song Chuyi’s shoulder without looking back: “My mother and Nanny Yu both died at your hands. I hope you can sleep well from now on.”

Having said this, she didn’t wait for Song Chuyi’s response and swiftly passed the corner, turning into Ningde Courtyard.

Luyi was so angry she almost wanted to chase after her for a confrontation, her face flushed red with urgency.

It was Hong Yu who held her back, timidly glancing at Song Chuyi before mumbling without much conviction: “Forget it. After all, Eighth Miss just…”

Luyi was nearly beside herself with rage. She shook off Hong Yu’s hand and stared at her incredulously, asking: “What are you saying?! I wasn’t there for the Tongzhou incident before, but weren’t you?! Don’t you know how beastly in human form Li Shi was, don’t you know how she’s treated our miss all these years? How can you now speak up for her?! She was mocking our miss!”

Song Chuyi looked back at Hong Yu, feeling somewhat like sighing. She reached out to stop Luyi and led everyone toward Chen Jingxin’s Tingyun Pavilion.

But in her heart she knew that Hong Yu’s temperament truly could not be delayed any longer—drastic measures were needed. Hong Yu’s excessively compassionate heart would likely cause unnecessary trouble in the future.

Tingyun Pavilion was in the northeast corner of the West Garden, a two-story small courtyard. A stone path ran through the middle, and the courtyard gate was completely covered in climbing ivy, with flowers intertwining among it, appearing especially serene and peaceful.

At this moment, servants were constantly coming and going—it appeared they were about to dine. The moment Song Chuyi hesitated slightly, she was spotted by a sharp-eyed servant woman who called out “Sixth Miss.”

Hearing the news, Sanniang came out to greet her. Upon seeing her, she hastily moved to bow. Song Chuyi stopped her and walked along the stone path inside: “My timing is rather unfortunate—I’m afraid I’ll disturb elder sister Chen’s meal.”

“What words are these, Sixth Miss?” Sanniang quickly smiled and followed behind her: “Our miss always feels somewhat lonely eating alone. If you would be willing to come keep her company often, she would be so delighted.”

Song Chuyi stopped and turned to look at her, saying with a smile: “But this time I didn’t come for elder sister Chen. I came for you, Sanniang.”