Shen Xiaohai was indeed as anxious as Song Chuyi had guessed, but the reason wasn’t fear of being implicated in clan extermination—the Earl of Jinxiang’s manor had only suffered a rebuke after all, and Duke Yingguo’s manor at most would receive similar treatment. What he feared was having the entire realm know he had direct connections with Xingfu. Xingfu was a man who had committed countless evils and was now a rat crossing the street. If it were revealed that he had once partnered in business with Xingfu, those aristocratic families and nobles with whom he regularly associated might no longer treat him as they had before.

Thinking of this, he recalled the news spreading through every street and alley in the capital today—reportedly over four hundred thousand taels of silver and more than thirty thousand taels of gold had been confiscated from Xingfu and Xing’an’s homes, plus countless antiques, famous paintings, rare treasures and curiosities. The Imperial Guard had spent a full half month confiscating everything, only finishing the search of Xingfu’s home yesterday.

That Xing’an fellow was incompetent yet insatiably greedy. After being arranged by Xingfu into the position of Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Insignia, he became more rapacious with each passing day. This investigation revealed that his banknotes alone filled four or five entire boxes.

This time, Xingfu and Xing’an would likely have all nine generations of their clans dug up and their corpses flogged.

However, after sitting with his legs crossed for half the day, he suddenly felt things might not be as bad as imagined. At least he still had two paths to walk—though Xingfu had fallen, Chen Xiang had not. Chen Xiang had also come down from the border before; his own hands were far from clean, not to mention he and Xingfu had been friends for so many years. This time, he was also the one responsible for confiscating Xingfu’s estate. If he couldn’t confiscate anything detrimental to himself, then it wouldn’t do to seize others’ tails and pull hard, would it?

He resolved to visit Chen Xiang later when night fell, then recalled another path. Though he felt Chen Xiang should accommodate him, it was still more reassuring to prepare two-handed approaches to matters.

Speak of the devil—just then He Shi came in to discuss the children’s affairs with him: “The carriages have all been properly arranged to send them back to the Earl of Jinxiang’s manor. Uncle’s side sent over many thank-you gifts—I’ve already given the list to Mother to put away. Because the children cried so terribly, Mother still suffered some fright after all. I’ve already had a name card sent to summon an imperial physician to examine her.”

Because although the Earl of Jinxiang’s manor had been surrounded, it had only been rebuked and not had property confiscated, her inner fear and terror had lessened somewhat. Therefore her actions were not as panicked and flustered as yesterday’s.

Shen Xiaohai furrowed his brow and nodded, thought for a moment, then asked again: “Her old ailment hasn’t acted up, has it? Remember to have the imperial physician take extra care.”

Old Madam Shen had the chronic ailment of heart palpitations. Every time she suffered a great fright or shock, she would inevitably fall ill, and once ill, it would take at least ten days to half a month to recover.

But now there were only four days until the fifteenth. If Old Madam Shen truly suffered an attack of her chronic heart palpitations, how could she go to the palace to petition Dowager Consort Zhuang? Therefore he couldn’t help feeling somewhat anxious.

Fortunately, hearing this, He Shi shook her head: “She hasn’t fallen ill, just suffered a fright and has been somewhat listless. Once the imperial physician comes and prescribes some calming medicine, she’ll be fine.”

“If that’s the case, then good.” Shen Xiaohai nodded, and rarely instructed He Shi with a pleasant expression: “These next few days, pay careful attention and look after Mother well. On the fifteenth, you’ll accompany Mother into the palace to visit Dowager Consort Zhuang. As for what to say, I’ll discuss it with Mother.”

He Shi rarely saw him so calm and agreeable. Somewhat surprised, she opened her mouth and couldn’t help asking: “Your Lordship’s meaning is to have Old Madam petition Dowager Consort Zhuang on our behalf, to put in a good word for us?”

On the other end, upon receiving this news, Old Madam Song couldn’t help but sigh with feeling: “Xiaoyi seems just like a tapeworm in the Duke Yingguo heir’s belly—she guesses everything so accurately, matter by matter.”

Of course—after all, in the dream she had lived with this family for decades. She probably knew clearly how many intestines were in their bellies. Song Chengru smiled and shook his head, asking with some puzzlement: “Why is Xiaoyi so late today and still hasn’t come over? In the past at this hour, she would have long since come to pay her respects to you.”

“She took her morning meal here with Brother Yan, but later Third Madam had something and called her away.” Old Madam Song pondered with some confusion: “However, unless there’s something major, Third Madam rarely comes to this side.”

But the one who had summoned Song Chuyi this time was not Third Madam, but rather Chen Jinxin.

Chen Jinxin’s hair hung loose and uncombed. She reclined lazily against cushions, supported by Third Madam to sit up. Her face was so thin as to be somewhat excessive, her cheeks even sunken. Seeing Song Chuyi, she revealed a faint smile.

“Sixth Miss Song.” She smiled at Song Chuyi, her voice as thin and weak as her person: “Taking the liberty of disturbing you today, I’m truly sorry.”

The corners of her eyes tilted upward. Her slender eyes were unusually bright yet contained not a trace of vitality. When she looked at Song Chuyi, it was as if Song Chuyi were merely a tree or a flower—lifeless, dead objects—coldly devoid of much life.

Song Chuyi still vividly remembered that resolute determination when she had jumped into the lake in the dead of winter regardless of everything. Looking now at her eyes lacking vitality, she suddenly felt somewhat alarmed. Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, she gently shook her head: “It’s no disturbance. If Sister Chen is willing, you can come find me to chat anytime.”

Chen Jinxin pressed her lips together in a smile, yet her eyes remained so calm that not half a ripple could be seen. With fingers withered as dried wood, she felt for something from under the pillow and reached out to hand it to Song Chuyi: “Third Madam told me about the secret letter matter. Thank you, Sixth Miss, for not holding my grandmother’s concealment against us and helping us resolve that life-threatening trouble. I don’t have much to give you either. Take this little trinket to play with, Sixth Miss.”

Song Chuyi hesitated, not daring to reach out and accept. Though Chen Jinxin’s body was still visibly unwell to the naked eye, her spirit seemed much improved. At least she was no longer in that state where she barely spoke once in half a year. Having regained consciousness, her mental faculties were naturally better as well. Now suddenly giving her something, Song Chuyi truly didn’t know whether she should accept or not.

Chen Jinxin seemed able to see through her thoughts. She pushed her hand forward again, straining to raise her voice slightly: “Take it. It’s nothing that would put Sixth Miss in a difficult position, just a small token of my feelings.”

With words spoken to this point, refusing to accept would instead seem affected. Song Chuyi reached out to take it and, under Chen Jinxin’s gaze, opened the box. With just one look, she couldn’t help crying out in surprise, nearly losing her composure as she stood up.

Chen Jinxin’s “small token of feelings” was truly so precious that one’s hands would tremble before daring to believe it.

Inside this small box was actually a hand-copied Analects that Wang Xianzhi had transcribed for his great-grandson! Its preciousness could well be imagined!