Old Madam Song had good intentions. She always feared that Song Chuyi and Song Yan would harbor resentment because of Cui Shi’s matter. Back then, they had indeed all been at fault, and now with Song Yi behaving this way, one couldn’t help but feel disheartened. According to her thinking, they should simply clean out the Second Branch’s main courtyard and have the two siblings, Song Chuyi and Song Yan, live in separate side courtyards.
Song Chuyi thought about it briefly before declining—Song Yi was not yet forty and would inevitably remarry sooner or later. When that time came, the main courtyard would still need to be vacated. Moreover, according to the Earl Manor’s rules, boys who reached nine years of age had to have separate courtyards. Better sooner than later.
“Grandmother, it wouldn’t be proper for us to live there either, since there would be no adults present… It would be better to just clean out two courtyards in the garden.” Song Chuyi shook her head: “Besides, if Father heard about it, he would probably be displeased.”
Song Yi was currently in a state where anger and disappointment were intertwined. If he heard that she and Song Yan wanted to move into the Second Branch’s main courtyard, given his suggestible nature, he would probably think there was some conspiracy behind Li Shi’s death.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but let out an internal scoff of derision. Though both were his daughters, in his heart now, Song Chuning was the one who truly needed his protection and care.
At the mention of Song Yi, Old Madam Song’s right eyelid suddenly twitched. She took the handkerchief beside her to press down on her eyelid, and also to suppress the anxiety in her heart, silently sighing.
“Very well then.” After thinking it over, she selected two places: “I see there’s a Chuzhou Pavilion in Peach Blossom Cove that’s quite secluded—that can be for A’Yan to live in. Across the arched bridge from Peach Blossom Cove, there’s also a Guanju Court that’s quite nice, though there are many flowers and trees around, so there will be many mosquitoes in summer. They’ll need to thoroughly clean it first.”
Both were in the garden, facing each other across a bridge, making it easy to visit. Song Chuyi was very satisfied and smiled in agreement.
Old Madam Song then called Yushu to fetch the almanac, planning to choose an auspicious date for them to move in.
After a moment, she remembered the matter of servants and asked Song Chuyi if she had suitable people in mind to attend to Song Yan—most of the people Song Yan had originally brought back from the Cui household had been dismissed by Li Shi under various pretexts. Those remaining were all mediocre servants given by Li Shi. Never mind after this incident occurred—even if nothing had happened, Old Madam Song couldn’t bear to see such servants attending to him.
Song Chuyi nodded and shared her plans with Old Madam Song: “I have several third-rank maids who have been training under Ziyun and the others for a few months. They all seem quite good, and their ages are suitable. I was thinking of having them serve A’Yan first. As for the manservants and page boys, we can select them from the estate…”
Old Madam Song knew that Song Chuyi must have thought everything through carefully and had nothing to criticize, so she agreed. She then assigned one of her steward nannies, Nanny Jiang, to go manage the young maids for Song Yan.
After talking all morning, Old Madam Song’s energy quickly began to flag. Song Chuyi took the opportunity to take her leave. Just as she turned around the corner of the covered corridor, she ran directly into Song Yi.
Upon seeing her, Song Yi looked as if he had seen something even more terrifying than a ghost—he actually widened his eyes and retreated several steps.
Song Chuyi was momentarily unable to react. After clearly seeing Song Yi’s expression, she couldn’t help feeling both amused and annoyed. Her mind raced as she suppressed her outward emotions and respectfully performed the proper greeting to Song Yi.
The girl before him was clearly no different from the daughter he had known and doted on in the past, yet somehow, looking at her seemingly eloquent eyes now, Song Yi inexplicably found her features terrifying.
He curled his hand and placed it by his mouth, coughing a few times, then somewhat unnaturally told her to rise. Beyond that, he had nothing else to say.
After quite a while, he glanced at Song Chuyi, who still stood calmly with her head bowed respectfully, before finally forcing out: “How has your health been lately? I heard that despite your young age, you’ve been coughing up blood…”
As he spoke, he realized that bringing this up would inevitably lead back to Li Shi’s matter. Feeling even more uncomfortable, he stopped speaking and instead asked about Song Yan: “Why didn’t A’Yan come with you?”
Song Chuyi understood Song Yi’s current thoughts all too well. Strangely, she didn’t even feel sad anymore, only felt her heart was as calm as the water in the old well in the courtyard, unable to stir up even a ripple.
“A’Yan finished breakfast earlier and went to the study hall with Third Brother.” Song Chuyi became even more composed: “Is Father going to pay respects to Grandmother?”
Song Yi curled his hand and coughed a few more times, perfunctorily responding: “Yes.”
He hurriedly brushed past Song Chuyi and walked forward. After going some distance, as if feeling his actions were too obvious, he stopped and turned back to look at Song Chuyi, making awkward small talk in fits and starts: “By the way, that you still know to care for your younger sister at this point… I am very gratified. You are ultimately different from your maternal aunt…”
Caring for Song Chuning?! Song Chuyi immediately sensed something amiss. Temporarily setting aside the issue of entangling with Song Yi about what exactly was wrong with Madam Cui, she steadied herself and smiled while fishing for information from Song Yi: “After all, she and I are both Father’s daughters… It’s just that Grandmother has many matters here, so I couldn’t go in person…”
“That’s nothing to worry about.” Song Yi felt a great weight lift from his heart and smiled while stroking his well-maintained beard: “That you were able to send your head maid already shows rare thoughtfulness.”
Luyi hated Song Chuning to the bone, while Qing Tao and Ziyun had always served by her side. The only one who had been to Song Chuning’s place was Hong Yu. And when Hong Yu had secretly gone to Song Chuning’s place last night, it was already late—it would have been impossible to encounter Song Yi. The only possibility was that she had gone again today.
Song Chuyi couldn’t tell if she felt more disappointment or anger. She had always wanted to tolerate Hong Yu for the sake of the previous life, even thinking that if Hong Yu could change her habit of being soft-hearted with everyone…
But now it had all become a joke.
She forcibly suppressed all the emotions in her heart and respectfully waited for Song Yi to turn the corner and disappear before abruptly turning toward the covered corridor.
Qing Tao knew of Song Chuyi’s plans and felt quite indignant on her behalf—even as a latecomer, she could see that Song Chuyi’s situation wasn’t easy. What was Hong Yu thinking, to repeatedly run off to sympathize with others instead?
Walking back to the covered corridor with her head down, she saw Luyi holding a watering can, watering several potted plants by the wall. Song Chuyi called out to her, and she dropped the watering can and came over.
“Where’s Hong Yu?” Song Chuyi looked around but saw no trace of Hong Yu, and her heart finally began to sink.
Luyi also sensed something was wrong. She widened her eyes and glanced at Qing Tao and Ziyun, but seeing them both turn their heads away, she felt utterly confused.
“She went out a while ago and hasn’t returned yet.” Looking at Song Chuyi, she felt somewhat intimidated and scratched her head in bewilderment: “Does Miss need her? I’ll go find her and bring her back.”