Early the next morning, Yushu came in smiling, holding a jewelry box. She handed it with a smile to Ziyun at Song Chuyi’s side, then smiled at Song Chuyi: “This is from Old Madam for you. She says that three days from now is the happy occasion of Duke Yingguo Manor’s eldest daughter. She wants you to send this as an addition to her dowry.”
When Duke Yingguo’s Princess Consort, Madam He, had come to the Earl’s Manor together with the Princess Consort of Zhennan last time, she had used her family’s eldest daughter’s marriage as the pretext, saying that Song Chuyi’s zodiac sign was suitable and happened to match what the feng shui master had said about the bed-sitting child.
Previously Old Madam Song had flatly refused, but these past few days Duke Yingguo’s Princess Consort had repeatedly sent the manor’s matrons and servants over. With First Madam helping to smooth things over at Old Madam’s side, she had reluctantly agreed.
Of course, this was just the surface explanation.
Song Chuyi lowered her head, somewhat puzzled—she had originally wanted to tell Old Madam Song about Third Lady’s matter last night, but it had been delayed because of Song Yi’s sudden return. So if it wasn’t about Third Lady’s matter, why would Old Madam Song agree to Madam He’s invitation?
She hung her head without saying a word. Yushu, whose mind was exquisite and perceptive, couldn’t help but think of other matters and couldn’t resist advising in a low voice: “Sixth Young Miss shouldn’t be too sad either. There are no parents in the world who aren’t right—where is there a father who truly shows favoritism? Both are flesh that fell from Second Master’s body. He loves them both…”
Yushu had always been well-trained at Old Madam Song’s side. She must have heard something, which was why she now had such words to console her. Song Chuyi smiled sweetly and softly said she understood, then watched Yushu stand up to take her leave.
“Old Madam said to have you come over after you’ve washed and dressed. They’ve cooked several kinds of congee today—there’s the spicy kind you like, as well as eight-treasure congee and Job’s tears with red rice. The side dishes are also all styles you love to eat.” After Yushu finished speaking, she curtsied and left along the same path she’d come.
Watching Yushu leave, Hong Yu quietly slipped in to comb Song Chuyi’s hair. Her mind was meticulous and she was willing to work hard at learning. She had always done the best job at hair combing.
The glass mirror reflected her red and swollen eyes and the dark circles beneath them. Song Chuyi watched her help put on her vest, seeming somewhat distracted, and frowned, calling out: “Hong Yu?”
Who knew that with just a gentle call, the sandalwood carved comb in Hong Yu’s hand would clatter and fall to the ground.
This was truly quite unusual for the always steady Hong Yu.
Song Chuyi watched her bend down and hastily pick up the comb, then turned to look at her: “Where did you go last night? Why do you look as if you didn’t sleep all night?”
After the incidents with Nanny Wang and Huang Yao, the servants in the side chamber all performed their duties very dutifully. Hong Yu somehow suddenly felt guilty, thinking perhaps her own young miss had sent someone to follow her. Was she now coming to call her to account?
In her anxiety, she hurriedly dropped to the ground with a thud. Thinking of Huang Yao’s fate, she inevitably felt somewhat like the proverbial lips and teeth that share cold—if the lips are gone, the teeth will feel cold. Trembling, she told her: “Young Miss, last night… last night I went to see Eighth Young Miss…”
Song Chuyi’s eyes widened. For a moment she couldn’t quite say what feelings were in her heart. With a complex expression, she glanced at the kneeling Hong Yu and sighed: “And then? What did she say to you?”
She couldn’t quite remember what mistake Hong Yu had committed in her previous life that caused Li Shi to drive her away from her side, but since Li Shi would drive her away, it meant she had been loyal.
But at this point, Song Chuyi didn’t dare to completely confirm her loyalty. She was now like walking a tightrope—one misstep could send her tumbling into the abyss with no chance of recovery. She truly couldn’t tolerate any variables.
Hong Yu kowtowed solidly to Song Chuyi several more times, tentatively glancing at Song Chuyi with a crying tone, shrinking her head somewhat fearfully: “Nothing much… it’s just that Eighth Young Miss cried terribly, saying she didn’t know why her mother suddenly died, and didn’t know where she had offended Old Master, Old Madam, and you…”
Playing pitiful and acting innocent—in these two aspects, Song Chuning could be said to have received Li Shi’s true teachings, even surpassing her master. Her acting skills were probably better than those of leading actresses.
Song Chuyi’s face showed no expression, completely unmoved. She raised her chin slightly to have Hong Yu continue.
“The rest… there wasn’t much else.” Hong Yu was most afraid of Song Chuyi keeping her face dark and not speaking. She couldn’t help becoming more and more nervous as she spoke: “It’s just that Eighth Young Miss asked me to plead with you on her behalf. She’s alone in the manor now with no one to talk to. She wants to come often to speak with you…”
Someone like Song Chuning still needed others to talk to her? Still needed to plead with someone?
Ziyun and Qing Tao exchanged glances, both worriedly and hesitantly looking away.
Song Chuyi only felt she’d heard the biggest joke. She looked at Hong Yu and suddenly asked lightly: “So what are your thoughts?”
Someone as clever as Qing Tao had long ago glimpsed the leopard through the bamboo tube and guessed that Nanny Yu’s matter couldn’t be unrelated to Song Chuning. Ziyun was also shrewd, using scattered clues to guess the general situation. And even if Lüyi couldn’t guess, she still harbored natural hostility and wariness toward Li Shi and Song Chuning.
And Hong Yu—perhaps before she had been too…
Hong Yu shook her head, kneeling on the ground somewhat trembling. The quietness in the room finally made her unable to bear it. She choked up for a while before tentatively voicing her thoughts: “Young Miss, although Li Shi was hateful, in the end she’s dead now. Eighth Young Miss is just a child after all. She’s even ten months younger than Fourth Young Master. I… I think Young Miss shouldn’t be too…”
Disappointment surged in Song Chuyi’s eyes. She no longer looked at Hong Yu on the ground even once. Turning back, she said lightly that she understood and had Ziyun lead her out: “Since you didn’t sleep well last night, you should rest well today. Qing Tao will comb my hair.”
Hong Yu bit her lip somewhat uneasily, but in the end didn’t dare say anything more for fear of angering Song Chuyi. She followed behind Ziyun and went out.
“Young Miss…” Qing Tao reached out to take the rose hair oil, poured a drop onto the sandalwood comb, first combed Song Chuyi’s hair smooth, then began to braid her hair.
“Have Nanny Xu send her to the Tongzhou estate.” Song Chuyi closed her eyes, feeling extremely exhausted. “With Nanny Xu protecting her there, she’ll do well.”
Hong Yu wasn’t blind. That day when Nanny Yu died by hitting her head at Taoran Residence, it was because she had accepted clothes from the head maid at Song Chuning’s side. Even if she hadn’t guessed the connection between these two things, Lüyi should have told her. It was just that her compassionate heart wouldn’t allow her to believe a six-year-old little girl could be so utterly conscienceless.
Song Chuyi didn’t blame her for being soft-hearted. She just felt disheartened that despite knowing Song Yan had nearly lost his life that time, she could still have the kindness to forgive the mastermind behind it.
She couldn’t tolerate having such a head maid by her side who could be swayed by a few words from others, much less dared to gamble on the possibility that she wouldn’t be with herself and Song Yan.
For the sake of her previous hard work and dedication, and that she hadn’t yet made any actual mistakes, she would let her go to the Tongzhou estate. Nanny Xu would take good care of her.