First Madam Song was startled by Song Chuyi’s words and instinctively shivered. She immediately pressed further: “Why bring this up out of nowhere? Could something else have happened?”
Originally there hadn’t been anything, but now there was a death god far away in Changsha, thousands of miles distant, who could still reach all the way into Shu to strike at Song Jue. Who knew what other vicious schemes she might employ to destroy the Song family and harm Song Jue?
If things were truly as she suspected—that Song Chuning had gained the support of Prince Duan’s faction by leveraging her memories from the previous life—then both she and Song Yan were probably already in that person’s grasp.
But she would never allow herself to fall into such circumstances again. No matter what, she absolutely would not repeat the foolishness of her past life, stupidly waiting as Song Chuning raised her step by step like a pig, then slowly bled and butchered her.
Yes, raising pigs.
Song Chuning’s ferocious face from the previous life still lingered in her mind, impossible to shake. Many times when she closed her eyes, she could see Song Chuning standing above her, speaking those words from back then.
“Have you ever heard how farmers raise pigs? Usually, they first feed them well with good food and drink, not willing to waste any leftovers but using them to supplement the pigs’ meals. If the pigs fall ill, they’d probably cry in distress. Mother and I treated you the same way we’d raise a pig—when it’s plump and fat, that’s when it’s time to butcher and bleed it. Look, now your meat—Song Yan, the young heir—hasn’t it all been carved off piece by piece by us?”
She shook her head to drive away this disgusting image and looked up at First Madam Song with unusual seriousness, sighing: “Since Aning has already struck twice at Eldest Brother, there will be a third time. I’m simply taking precautions.”
This would thoroughly plant the seeds of suspicion. When Song Jue returned and First Madam Song questioned him and discovered there truly had been danger on the road, her disgust and fear of Song Chuning would only deepen. Naturally, for the safety of her grandson and son, she would urgently push Consort Song to quickly arrange Song Chuning’s return to the capital.
Old Madam Song glanced at Song Chuyi but said nothing.
First Madam Song, however, hurriedly nodded in agreement. Harboring fear and loathing toward Song Chuning in her heart, she couldn’t help but speak with such urgency that her voice changed pitch: “What deep hatred could there be? Why must she bite down on a piece of meat like a mad dog and refuse to let go? The Song family is, after all, the place that gave birth to and raised her!”
So what?
In the previous life, she had wholeheartedly treated Li Shi as her mother and Song Chuning as her own sister, yet hadn’t they still consumed her flesh and drunk her blood while finding it insufficient?
But First Madam Song had gotten one thing right—she said Song Chuning was a mad dog who wouldn’t release a piece of meat once she bit down on it. That was absolutely correct. Song Chuning was the type of person who, once she hated someone, would fight to the death. Unless either you died or she died, she would absolutely never give up.
But she was different from Song Chuning. She had no interest in raising pigs, nor in lifting someone to the heavens only to strike them down and trample them to death at their happiest moment. She had to strike Song Chuning down so thoroughly that she could never rise again, before she became a major threat.
Such a formidable character with deep scheming and methods, who also carried memories from a previous life—if allowed to continue unchecked, she truly might overturn the heavens.
First Madam Song, not hearing Old Madam Song speak, grew even more uneasy. She called out “Mother” once, then said anxiously: “This daughter-in-law wishes to send word to the palace.” She studied Old Madam Song’s expression, then quickly added: “With you and Father both away from home, I’m truly frightened of Xiao Ba. If she sets her sights on the little one or Qingzi, this daughter-in-law truly couldn’t go on living.”
Old Madam Song couldn’t help but shudder in alarm. With a grave expression, she nodded in agreement: “You’re right. This matter is of utmost importance—it’s better handled sooner rather than later. However, when she returns, you must be extremely careful, or she might cause some other trouble.”
Song Chuning’s methods and schemes were such that even three First Madams might not be able to withstand them.
Song Chuyi laughed once and grabbed First Madam’s hand, shaking it affectionately: “Eldest Aunt needn’t be so frightened. I have a method here that guarantees she won’t be able to stir up any storms.”
If Song Chuning were truly brought to the capital, she would first have to stay at the Earl of Changning’s manor for several days. But with her cunning and schemes, who knew whether some catastrophe might occur during those days?
First Madam Song, whose worry had caused sores on her lips, heard this as if hearing celestial music. She urged Song Chuyi: “Tell me quickly! With the old master and mistress gone from home, and you leaving as well, I’m truly terrified.”
“Since Eldest Aunt intends to send word to the palace, why not also request that Her Ladyship the Consort put on a full show and simply bestow two female officials? Wouldn’t that be better?” Song Chuyi narrowed her eyes slightly, concealing the gleam within them. Her voice remained level as she continued: “With noble personages from the palace supervising her, even if she wanted to act presumptuously, she probably couldn’t.”
First Madam couldn’t help but invoke Buddha’s name. She grasped Song Chuyi’s hand and repeatedly called her “good child.”
Both daughters of the second household were frighteningly clever, but Song Chuyi was far more humane and likeable than Song Chuning. Song Chuning looked more like a monster.
Old Madam Song waited until they had finished speaking, gave First Madam Song a few more instructions, then pulled Song Chuyi toward Ningde Courtyard.
“You mischievous, clever girl!” she scolded, but then felt somewhat bewildered: “Why did you suddenly become so ruthless?”
Previously there had been no movement at all. Song Chuyi had been able to restrain herself and had never complained even half a word in front of them. But now she had actively stirred up First Madam’s fury, causing First Madam to probably rush anxiously to entreat Consort Song.
Song Chuyi supported her as they walked. When she raised her head, she was struck in the face by an extended plum blossom branch, leaving several droplets of dew and flower petals. She pressed her lips together, her face showing unquestionable determination and resolve. When she looked at Old Madam Song, her gaze was frank and unflinching: “If I give her more time, it would be no different from seeking my own death. If she can strike at Eldest Brother, one day she might directly target Brother Yan. Even worse, on this trip to Qingzhou, she might even try to kill me directly.”
Old Madam Song’s lips moved, but in the end she didn’t say a word.
Song Chuyi was right. With someone as wolfish and heartless as Song Chuning, you simply didn’t know what she was thinking or when she might raise a blade to stab you in the back.
Now that Song Chengru had traveled far to Jiangnan and she herself couldn’t preside over the Song family, leaving this disaster in Changsha would indeed be no different from seeking their own destruction.
In truth, she didn’t feel the slightest bit sorry for the fate that awaited Song Chuning. But through Song Chuning, she seemed to perceive Song Chuyi’s attitude toward Song Yi, and couldn’t help feeling somewhat melancholic.