After calculating everything, the one who gained the most benefit from this entire affair turned out to be Song Chuyi!

Second Madam had offended First Madam, making it difficult to settle accounts regarding yesterday’s matter with Huang Yao. For the moment, she couldn’t even spare attention for Song Chuyi’s affairs.

Qing Tao was startled by her own thoughts and looked toward Song Chuyi with fear.

Song Chuyi had already turned her head to look at her, a pair of bright, gleaming eyes staring directly at her without any avoidance, filled with scrutiny and warning. The look made Qing Tao’s heart panic.

Qing Tao instinctively lowered her head, feeling that Song Chuyi’s gaze sent chills down her spine. Her heart pounded rapidly, and she nearly knocked over a cup.

Huang Yao, who had made such a grave mistake just yesterday, crept in at this moment and called out softly, “Miss.” Wringing the hem of her clothes, she said, “Half an hour ago someone came to report that Second Master had already reached the dock. He should be entering the manor gates right about now.”

In the past, because Huang Yao was clever, these tasks of gathering information were usually done by her. This time, although Song Chuyi hadn’t instructed her, she had gone on her own initiative.

Unexpectedly, Song Chuyi didn’t give Huang Yao a cold shoulder. Instead, she smiled pleasantly. “I forgot to tell you to do that. Fortunately, you still remembered.”

She smiled very sweetly, the two dimples on her cheeks appearing, making people unable to help but relax.

Huang Yao looked at her in surprise. Seeing that she was indeed smiling warmly, her heart eased somewhat. She moved forward to push Luyi aside and fawningly picked up a golden “Jade-Filled Pool” hairpin to distract her. “Miss, since you’re meeting Second Master today, why not wear this? This one makes you look both wealthy and beautiful. You’ll surely outshine all the other young ladies. Even Second Master, Madam, and Fourth Young Master will be pleased to see it, won’t they?”

Song Chuyi glanced at it and nodded, then smiled. “You truly know my preferences. In a moment, you and Qing Tao will accompany me to welcome Father.”

Huang Yao hadn’t expected that merely going to gather information would earn her such favor from Song Chuyi, and that she would even be allowed to accompany her to greet Song Yi. She was so delighted she didn’t know what to do for a moment, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, this servant will stay by Miss’s side!” While at it, she made a defiant face at Luyi in provocation.

However, Qing Tao felt her heart grow ice-cold, with sweat breaking out in her palms.

Song Chuyi led them to the east courtyard, where Li Shi had already brought several concubines along with Song Chuning and was preparing to go out. Because Song Yi was returning today, she had specially applied the peach blossom makeup that was currently popular in the capital, making her powdered face and rosy cheeks appear charming and lovely.

Song Chuyi stepped forward first to pay her respects. Song Chuning rushed over calling out, “Elder Sister,” her voice seemingly filled with infinite anticipation. “I wonder if Fourth Brother has grown taller? Is he as tall as me?”

Song Chuning was only eleven months younger than Song Yan, making them the same age.

Li Shi glanced at the dazzling golden “Jade-Filled Pool” hairpin on Song Chuyi’s head and smiled gracefully, with a hint of indulgence as she laughed with the concubines. “Look at these two little girls—instead of asking about their father first, they’re concerned about Brother Yan.”

The concubines all smiled and said some auspicious words.

Before long, Su Zhi entered with a smile, lifting the curtain. “Madam, Second Master and Fourth Young Master have already paid their respects at Old Madam’s quarters and are now heading to our rooms.”

Hearing this, Li Shi hurriedly led everyone out to greet them at the entrance. She saw Song Yi leading a child about the same height as Song Chuning approaching. She quickly grasped the child’s hand, her face full of kindness and concern as she fussed over him. “Was the boat journey comfortable? Did the servants attend to you properly? Mother has worried about you for more than a year…”

She left Song Yi standing to the side.

Song Chuning rushed over to embrace Song Yi, happily calling out, “Father!” while pouting. “Mother only dotes on Fourth Brother and Elder Sister, not on me at all!”

The little girl had her hair in two loops, looking like a delicate porcelain doll with particularly spirited large eyes. Despite being travel-worn and exhausted, Song Yi couldn’t help but break into a smile. “If your mother doesn’t dote on you, Father will! I brought you many gifts from Jinzhong—a green phoenix zither from Purple Hairpin Pavilion, a sandalwood table, and also…”

At this point, he remembered his eldest daughter. Thinking that by now she should have already rushed over, he couldn’t help but look back.

Song Chuyi appeared no different from when he had left, yet something seemed changed—her appearance hadn’t altered, her features were still the same features, but her entire bearing seemed completely transformed. The arrogant and domineering air she used to carry had completely vanished, and she stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens.

Somewhat surprised, he beckoned to her. “Xiao Yi! Come here quickly!”

Xiao Yi…

This was the only person in both her past and present life who would call her by her childhood name.

Song Chuyi suppressed the bitterness in her heart and stepped forward properly to pay respects to Song Yi.

Her posture was even more beautiful and graceful than those county princesses at Prince Zhennan’s Manor who had specially hired etiquette nannies to teach them proper conduct. Li Shi caught this scene from the corner of her eye, and her movements paused.

Song Yi, however, was gratified as he patted Song Chuyi’s head and held both their hands, one on each side. “Alright, don’t stand here in the wind. Let’s go inside first.”

Since Song Yi had returned from his long journey and there would be a family banquet to attend in the evening, Li Shi first dismissed the concubines and sent the children to the warm room.

Only then did Song Chuyi have the opportunity to look carefully at her younger brother.

In her previous life, she had devoted all her attention to Shen Qingrang. Song Yan had spent more time at their maternal grandparents’ home, so the two had few opportunities to meet. However, Song Chuyi remembered that Song Yan was very attached to her. Perhaps because their mother had died early and he had gone to live with their maternal relatives, he greatly lacked a sense of security. When the household children played games, he would always carefully hold onto the corner of her garment, wanting to be on the same side as her.

Thinking of the pitifully few times she had spent with Song Yan in the past, and remembering his blood-red eyes when he came to see her at the very end of her previous life, she couldn’t help but grasp Song Yan’s hand, her eyes reddening involuntarily.

She had so many, many things to say. These were words Cui Shi would never hear, that she dared not let Song Yi hear, and even less dared to say to others—she wanted to say she knew she had been wrong, that she shouldn’t have mistakenly trusted her stepmother and stepsister, shouldn’t have trampled her own dignity to cling to a man who didn’t like her at all, and even more so shouldn’t have disregarded the brother who had originally been closest to her in this world.

But now, looking at Song Yan’s clear, pure eyes without a trace of impurity, she suddenly couldn’t say a single word.

Fortunately, everything was still in time. Fortunately, heaven had opened its eyes and let her live again. These things would never happen again.

Song Chuning’s brows furrowed slightly, an ominous premonition inexplicably rising in her heart.

She always felt that her Sixth Sister had changed—in just two short days, her conduct showed considerable method, and her rules and etiquette seemed to have been mastered without a teacher.

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