Song Chuning, who wanted to be treasured in his palm and treated well, was at this moment also thinking somewhat of this childhood companion—since she was small, her favorite person had never been her father or mother, nor her close sister friends or the maids serving by her side. The only one she truly liked and felt she could rely on was Shen Qingrang.
Because no matter how much time passed, she could never forget that when everyone else went to care about Song Chuyi, only Shen Qingrang, regardless of when or under what circumstances, would always genuinely and truly put her first.
Last time, her maternal grandmother Old Madam Li had written a letter specifically mentioning this matter, saying that Shen Qingrang had schemed against Song Chuyi to vent anger on her behalf and was nearly beaten to death by the Zhennan Prince’s heir.
She didn’t know if, with the capital in such turmoil these days, life at Duke Yingguo’s residence would be difficult. With Prince Zhennan’s heir’s temperament—someone who would fish coins out of a boiling oil pot to spend them and dare to scheme against people on the King of Hell’s register—he must be hoping even more than before for Shen Qingrang to grow close to Song Chuyi. After all, he’d been doing exactly that for all these years. Now that Song Chuyi’s status had risen with the tide, wouldn’t he be even more determined in this conviction?
When Madam Fang entered from outside, she saw her with both feet placed on the foot warmer, a thick velvet blanket covering her knees, lost in thought. She couldn’t help but exclaim: “Why so quiet today?”
Song Chuning couldn’t even be bothered to lift her eyelids to look at her. The failed attempt regarding Song Jue’s matter had been gnawing at her, and several times she’d nearly been unable to resist writing a letter to incite the Li family to find a way to expose Wei Yanzhao’s affairs.
Madam Fang seemed to know she was unwilling to talk much with her. After waiting a moment without receiving an answer, she didn’t feel awkward and continued speaking on her own: “I know you’re angry with us about your elder brother’s matter, feeling it’s all because we weren’t dedicated enough. But you can’t entirely blame us. After all, who would have anticipated that your elder brother would not only alternate between waterways and land routes, but also reverse everything—sleeping during the day and traveling at night?”
What use was saying all this now? Song Jue would probably enter the capital in just a few more days! She should have known better than to make Song Jue the target. She should have gone directly after Song Yan or Li Qingzi in the Song residence—the results might have actually been better. After all, if something happened, she wouldn’t be the only one bearing responsibility. At least there was Prince Duan as a great mountain above her.
When Madam Fang couldn’t get her to speak, she couldn’t help but raise her voice slightly: “I didn’t come today just to speak these useless idle words. If you truly want the Song family to meet misfortune, we have another opportunity here. Do you want to hear it or not?”
Song Chuning finally became interested, propping her chin on one hand with relish as she raised her chin toward Madam Fang: “Let’s hear it.”
Madam Fang felt relieved in her heart. Grand Madam Qin still had matters requiring this young mistress’s help, otherwise she wouldn’t be willing to humor her like this.
“I heard your grandfather is about to depart for Jiangnan to summon those salt merchants and wealthy traders for disaster relief.” Seeing Song Chuning’s eyes suddenly brighten, Madam Fang added: “Moreover, he won’t even be able to spend the New Year in the capital—he’ll be setting off in the next few days.”
Song Chuning scoffed, looking at Madam Fang as if she were looking at a fool: “So you want to set your sights on him? He’s a senior minister of the Cabinet. Even if he goes to Jiangnan, it’s on official business. He’s an imperial envoy—how many people will be in his entourage alone?”
Unless they wanted to seek their own death, who would be so foolish as to try to strike directly at Song Chengru?
Madam Fang was somewhat helpless, waving her hand to indicate she had more to say: “At least let someone finish speaking! Your grandfather’s side is indeed difficult for us to target, but you also know how difficult to deal with those Jiangnan salt merchants are. He definitely won’t have the energy to spare managing the Earl’s residence in the capital. Besides, even your grandmother and your cousin will be going out as well.”
Old Madam Song? She was already so old—what matter of such importance would require her to personally go out, and on such a long journey? Could it be something on the Cui family’s side that absolutely required her presence? But that didn’t make sense either. Old Madam Cui’s seventieth birthday celebration was still far off…
Song Chuning finally became somewhat impatient: “If you have something to say, say it clearly all at once. Don’t make people guess back and forth uncomfortably.”
“I heard they’re rushing to Qingzhou to see to your aunt’s illness.” Madam Fang no longer kept her in suspense and honestly laid everything out clearly: “That aunt of yours has always been plagued by constant misfortunes, hasn’t she? She’s probably not going to make it. After all, your grandmother only has this one daughter—naturally she can’t let go.”
Song Linlang had already died in the dream long ago. She had never paid much attention to this matter. Only now, thinking about it, did she realize she indeed hadn’t received any mourning announcement from Qingzhou.
But dragging it out—wouldn’t she die eventually anyway?
She furrowed her brow in thought for a moment, then smiled like a weasel that had already caught a chicken: “Hasn’t the Prince always been very afraid that someone else might obtain this great fortune? Since it’s already been determined that it cannot be used for our benefit, why not destroy it? Is that what you mean?”
Although she had dreamed and knew the outline of how all events would develop, because Song Chuyi also knew, reality inevitably had some subtle differences from the dream at times. Therefore, she couldn’t predict everything accurately every time—such as with Song Yan’s matter, and now with Song Jue’s matter. If Prince Duan didn’t provide her with information, she wouldn’t even know that both Song family elders were about to leave town—now that Song Yi’s relationship with the Song family had become so strained, the Song family wouldn’t write specifically to inform him of many matters.
Since Prince Duan was willing to provide her with this information, it meant he supported her doing something with it.
It just so happened that she had always deeply loathed Old Madam Song, no different from how she loathed Song Chuyi. If she could eliminate both of them in one stroke this time, it would truly be an unexpected delight.
Madam Fang nodded meaningfully: “Since you think this way, then that’s how it should be. After this matter is concluded, you should let go of some of your obsessions and properly think about how to help the Prince with his affairs.”
After pausing and seeing Song Chuning had no reaction, Madam Fang could only ask again: “In your opinion, should we strike on the journey there or on the journey back?”
Song Chuning revealed a vicious expression. Thinking of the dispute between the Song family and Xiang Yunzhang after Song Linlang’s death in the dream, she suddenly laughed coldly again.
“No, this time we don’t need to lift a finger at all. We only need to pass along a message to Xiang Yunzhang, the Prefect of Qingzhou.”
Given Xiang Yunzhang’s posture in the dream of being willing to die rather than yield, combined with a few provocative words from others and the Song family’s condescending attitude, trouble was inevitable. When the time came, she would just wait and watch how Old Madam Song and Song Chuyi, unfamiliar with the place in Qingzhou, would be bitten to death by Xiang Yunzhang, that local snake.
Madam Fang knew that Song Chuning must have thought of some vicious scheme again, and couldn’t help but shiver violently with goosebumps all over her body.