Song Jue didn’t dare delay, and couldn’t bother pursuing the matter with Ye Jingchuan anymore. He turned around to call for people—fortunately, nowadays whenever Song Chuyi went out, she had about ten guards following her, who now came in handy at just the right moment.

Song Chumi and Chen Jinxin lived separately, each occupying their own courtyard, separated only by a courtyard wall in between.

Song Jue led people to inspect from outside. Seeing that several guards were stationed in front of each of their courtyard gates, his worried heart eased slightly. He personally stepped forward to inquire about the situation. All reported that aside from a woman from the kitchen who had delivered lunch but hadn’t entered the gates, nothing else had occurred. Only then did he completely breathe a sigh of relief.

Before coming, Old Madam Song and First Madam Song had repeatedly instructed him that he must keep strict watch over the gates, especially at Song Chumi’s place—absolutely nothing could go wrong. If something really happened, he would have no face to return and see his grandmother and legitimate mother.

Because of the incident with the old woman Li, Song Jue still felt somewhat uneasy in his heart. Besides specifically instructing Uncle Zhang and Nanny Xu to strengthen defenses and strictly register all comings and goings in the future, he also urged Song Chuyi to return to the manor earlier.

Song Chuyi was the beloved treasure of the Song family elders. If anything went wrong with her, he truly wouldn’t know how to account for it. Moreover, he also needed to return and discuss with Grandfather and Father whether they should send several more personnel to this separate estate—although he didn’t know why Fourth Sister Song Chumi had also been placed under strict supervision, Grandfather always had his reasons for doing things and wouldn’t act without purpose.

Originally, Old Madam Song had agreed to let them stay here for one night and return the next day, not needing to rush too much—the wind was strong and the rain heavy, fearing that if they weren’t careful, they would catch cold.

But now with the incident involving the old woman Li, and with Ye Jingchuan and Zhou Weizhao also present—although Zhou Weizhao had brought several Daoist soldiers, Ye Jingchuan had come alone—if these two were together and something happened, no one could bear the responsibility. After thinking it over, Song Chuyi agreed to return earlier.

Nanny Xu beside her felt very apologetic and couldn’t help blaming herself again: “If I hadn’t been lax in supervision and hadn’t insisted on keeping this group of women detained at the separate estate to torment them, this incident wouldn’t have been provoked. Not to mention nearly harming An’an—if their courage had been even greater, wouldn’t even you, Miss, have suffered misfortune…”

Whether the Li family had truly given up on this group of women was still very difficult to say at present. It was precisely because of thinking of this point that Song Chuyi would rather wrongly execute a thousand than risk keeping this group of people nearby.

“Forget it.” Song Chuyi comforted her: “No one could have anticipated this. After all, they had been obedient and compliant these past days, yet they chose precisely this moment—”

Chose precisely a moment when everyone was unprepared and happily celebrating to pull such a move. If they had truly succeeded, by now everyone would probably be crying without tears.

Song Chuyi vaguely felt that the only person who could pick the timing so precisely was Song Chuning. Added to the fact that the people Madam Cui had sent to Changsha had all returned in defeat, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat apprehensive in her heart—once a mad dog went mad, even if it fell into dire straits, it could still viciously bite off a chunk of your flesh, making you wish you were dead from the pain.

And thinking of Song Chuning, she thought again of Song Yan and Song Jue far away in Shu—given Song Chuning’s temperament and character, it was hard to say whether she might do something if she learned that Song Yan and Song Jue had gone to Shu.

“Your Highness.” After sitting in a daze thinking for a long while, she turned back to look at Zhou Weizhao, who had been silent all along, her eyes carrying a trace of unease: “Could you help me with a favor?”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Weizhao smiled, his teeth so white they were somewhat dazzling: “I remember saying at the beginning that I still owed you a favor. If we add this time with my father’s matter, what I owe you is far more than just one favor. I’ve been worrying about how to repay you. If there’s something I can help with, naturally I’ll do my utmost.”

Ye Jingchuan frowned, feeling rather uncomfortable—ever since last time at Tongzhou when his deal with Song Chuyi had been intercepted by Zhou Weizhao, Song Chuyi seemed to have developed a habit of looking for Zhou Weizhao whenever she encountered problems.

Yet he also knew that without Prince Zhennan’s and Ye Jingkuan’s permission, he truly would find it difficult to accomplish anything. After thinking it over, he stopped being angry and instead concernedly leaned over to hear what favor Song Chuyi wanted Zhou Weizhao to help with.

“You should know my father took one of my younger sisters to Changsha.” Song Chuyi carefully considered her wording, looking seriously at Zhou Weizhao: “I’ve thought about it for a long time and always feel that leaving her outside like this isn’t a long-term solution. I’d like to ask you to think of a way to help me bring her back to the capital.”

Although Song Yi had said he would bring Song Chuning back to the capital after the New Year to apologize bearing thorns on his back, given Song Yi’s degree of partiality, as long as he stubbornly refused to relent for even one day, Old Madam Song and Old Master Song, concerned about breaking the rat while injuring the jade vase, couldn’t really do anything to Song Chuning.

And what was important was that Song Chuning truly posed too great a threat. Leaving her far away in Changsha, heaven knew how many things she could accomplish.

Both Zhou Weizhao and Ye Jingchuan knew she was talking about that Song Chuning born of Li Shi. After thinking for a moment, he agreed: “I’ll have Qing Zhuo and Han Feng make a trip together.”

Since Song Chuyi had come to request his help with this, it meant she didn’t want to do this matter openly and aboveboard, or rather that doing it openly couldn’t be accomplished. Qing Zhuo and Han Feng under his command did indeed have some skills.

Song Chuyi nodded. Seeing Nanny Xu bringing Luyi and Qing Tao to pack everything up, she allowed Nanny Xu to drape a thick cloak over her, poking her head out from the hood to look at Ye Jingchuan and Zhou Weizhao: “Let’s travel together. Returning now, we’ll arrive at the city gates around dusk.”

After all, the Song family had brought sufficient guards, plus those several Daoist soldiers beside Zhou Weizhao—no matter what, it would be more secure.

Zhou Weizhao accepted her goodwill and nodded in agreement. Seeing that Song Jue also wasn’t riding a horse, after slight consideration he pulled Ye Jingchuan to board a carriage with Song Jue—northern winters had strong winds and heavy snow, and the roads were slippery. Since Song Jue had changed to riding in a carriage because he feared Ye Jingchuan riding a horse, naturally they couldn’t make things difficult for the Song family.

Fortunately, nothing else happened along the way. They entered the city peacefully and safely, and Song Jue breathed a light sigh of relief, bidding farewell to Ye Jingchuan and Zhou Weizhao—even at this moment he still didn’t know that the young Daoist beside Ye Jingchuan was truly the important one. He only felt he had at least brought back his sworn younger brother Ye Jingchuan in one piece.

Zhou Weizhao didn’t want to create more trouble, and naturally Ye Jingchuan wouldn’t specifically bring up this matter either. Smiling, he cupped his hands toward Song Jue: “In a few days I’ll come with Mother to visit and express our thanks.”

Song Jue quickly shook his head and instructed the coachman to hurry. Because someone had already been sent home early to deliver the news, at the west corner gate, besides the gatekeeper, servants were already waiting. After the threshold was removed and the carriage entered through the second gate, they quickly came to help Song Chuyi descend from the carriage.

“Miss, you’ve returned at just the right time. Our manor has received a distinguished guest.”