After Song Chuyi left and Nanny Huang half-coaxed, half-persuaded Song Chumi away, Old Madam Song leaned back against the cushions, sighing with an unbearable headache. She truly felt somewhat vexed, and at the same time couldn’t help but feel a growing aversion toward Song Chumi—any proper young lady of a respectable family would never burst into her elders’ room recklessly to speak such ridiculous and shameless words about mutual affection! At the same time, she felt she had been too negligent, having allowed things to develop to this point. Moreover, if Song Chumi hadn’t caused this scene herself, Old Madam Song probably still wouldn’t know anything about it…

Thinking about it, she was fortunate that First Madam had been working tirelessly these past days selecting candidates, which had made Song Chumi lose her composure and expose everything. Otherwise, if something truly happened, she really would have no face to meet the Song family ancestors.

Old Master Song had already been anxious about the Crown Prince’s grave illness, and now being blindsided by his own granddaughter’s antics, his heart felt unbearably heavy. After thinking for a moment, he stood up and walked toward the door, not forgetting to instruct Old Madam Song: “Keep a close watch on her these days. When her mother returns, have her mother try to reason with her. If she truly cannot be persuaded, send her to the family temple.”

The Song family could never grant such an ignorant and reckless request; otherwise, it would be like placing the entire family on a roasting fire.

Old Madam Song’s heart jumped. She instinctively wanted to speak up and plead for Song Chumi, but then closed her mouth. If Song Chumi truly would abandon her family and cast aside all her relatives for the sake of a man, such a girl would indeed be better off settled in the family temple.

“Will you take your noon meal here, or shall I have it sent to your study?” Old Madam Song asked. “If you’re eating here, I should have people prepare early. Since Little Yi and Brother Yan are moving to their new courtyards, we should also host a banquet for them.”

Although this incident with Song Chumi had occurred, they still had to enter the palace on the fifteenth, four days from now. And Song Yan should be departing for Shu around a month from now. There was no reason to be cold and quiet about it, which would make the household servants suspicious.

Song Chengru nodded, stopped in his tracks, and turned back to look at Old Madam Song: “Since that’s the case, let’s hold a proper banquet. Summon all the children in the family. Don’t bother with it here at your place—go to Chuzhou Pavilion instead. The place is spacious and tranquil, surrounded by water on three sides. The children will surely enjoy it. With Little Four causing such a scene today, the other girls are probably all feeling uneasy… It would be good to set their minds at ease.”

He paused, then continued: “I’ll go to the study for a bit. Later I’ll instruct the eldest and Brother Jue to investigate the rumors outside and find out which Young Master Zhang it is and what his intentions are. If it truly amounts to nothing, that’s fine. But if the Zhang family really has ulterior motives, this matter won’t be so easily put to rest.”

Although they had different political views, previously he believed he and Elder Zhang had maintained a relationship of mutual non-interference. But if the Zhang family truly had some hidden agenda and had set their sights on the inner quarters of the Earl Manor, then the Earl Manor was not something to be slaughtered at will.

Old Madam Song forced the corners of her mouth up in a smile and sighed: “We were just saying that with Xingfu gone, we could relax for a while, but the tree desires stillness yet the wind does not cease. Look—hasn’t trouble come knocking at our door again?”

A surge of anger instantly welled up in Old Master Song’s heart. He fell silent for a moment without speaking, then turned and walked out.

Nanny Huang settled the ceaselessly crying Song Chumi and returned, personally bringing a bowl of loquat dew for Old Madam Song to clear her internal heat. Old Madam Song took it and drank a sip, then heard someone outside announce that First Madam had arrived.

First Madam’s expression looked very displeased. As soon as she sat down, she brought up the matter to Old Madam Song: “I’ve gotten to the bottom of everything. They didn’t meet at our house originally—apparently they’ve known each other since childhood. He’s Elder Zhang’s illegitimate grandson, ranked seventh, and had dealings with Third Sister-in-law’s natal family. Through those interactions, they became acquainted. Remember in April when because of the Li family matter… Little Four went to stay at Third Sister-in-law’s natal family for a while? It was probably during that time…”

He was actually from a concubine line! Song Chumi truly had an eye for people.

Old Madam Song curled her lips in a cold laugh, setting the loquat dew on the table with a sharp clink, then asked: “And then what? Since they all knew, why didn’t they report it?”

First Madam’s expression became somewhat complicated. After hesitating for a long while, she finally answered Old Madam Song: “Apparently Little Four herself has been pestering Third Sister-in-law about it. Third Sister-in-law naturally didn’t agree, but also didn’t dare let the matter come out so you would know… On one hand, she tried to persuade Little Four in letters, while on the other hand, she instructed her natal family to scold these two maids and forbid them from letting the matter get out.”

So Third Madam Yun Shi had known all along?!

Old Madam Song was so shocked by this mother-daughter pair that she couldn’t speak. After a long while, she finally snorted: “No wonder Little Four could keep her composure—so her mother had already bound her up. Since this mother knew about it all along, we’ll wait until she returns to discuss it further.”

Since Old Madam Song as the grandmother had said this much, First Madam as merely the eldest uncle’s wife naturally had no objections.

“By the way, Little Yi and Brother Yan are moving to Chuzhou Pavilion and Guanju Courtyard today. My intention is for everyone to have a lively meal together, treating it as a housewarming celebration for them. Don’t bother with those vexing matters for now—focus on arranging the evening banquet properly.”

This also carried the meaning of putting Song Chubin and the other girls at ease. First Madam naturally understood and hastily agreed, then brought up the Eldest Young Madam: “Her condition has become even more cumbersome since entering the eighth month, and it’s inconvenient for her to move about. Better not to have her join in the commotion…”

Old Madam Song nodded in agreement: “That’s sensible. Her health is most important. Tell her to rest easy and take care of herself.”

The two discussed for a while and had roughly drawn up the arrangements. First Madam then took the opportunity to bring up the matter of sending gifts to the various princely households and the family’s longtime friends for the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month.

The princes were all still very young—even the eldest, the heir of Prince Duan, was only just over four years old and didn’t live in the capital’s princely residences. Therefore, the princely residences were only managed by senior stewards, and the gift-giving had established precedents every year. There was nothing to make exceptions about this year. After listening for a while, Old Madam Song told First Madam to decide on her own.

They had just begun discussing the gift lists for Prince Zhennan’s residence and Duke Yingguo’s residence when Yulan came in to report that Cui Yingshu and Madam Cui had arrived.

Both women couldn’t help but freeze—they hadn’t received any calling cards beforehand. Why had they come so suddenly?

“I’ll go welcome them!” First Madam hurriedly stood up. “Outside there’s the Old Master and Brother Jue. Uncle should be going to the front hall first to pay respects to our Old Master. I’ll go welcome Madam Uncle and then instruct the kitchen to prepare a banquet.”

Old Madam Song came to her senses and nodded, watching First Madam leave. She instructed Yulan to invite Song Chuyi and Song Yan.