Song Chengru was ultimately someone who had weathered great storms—a true master of human nature. He was only shocked for the time it took to drink a cup of tea before he had sorted through most of the situation’s ins and outs.

“Generally speaking, when a young girl your age has such a nightmare, she’d likely be unable to recover for some time. There are plenty who’ve gone mad like Duke Chengguo’s Ninth Miss. Your mental fortitude being so firm actually frightens this grandfather.” He stared at Song Chuyi intently, not missing a single one of her movements, then suddenly raised his voice in reprimand: “Could it be you’ve been possessed by evil spirits?!”

People in the Great Zhou mostly believed in ghosts and spirits to some degree, and Daoist priestesses and Buddhist nuns frequently came and went in the inner quarters.

Song Chuyi fell to her knees again with a thump, raising her head to look at Song Chengru, her voice clear and completely unshaken by his anger: “I was also frightened at first and laid in bed for more than half a month, having the same dream every day. Later I truly became terrified, which gave me the courage to tell Grandmother.”

She continued: “Grandfather, I have the same dream every day. That dream is long and terrifying. I’m immersed in it, experiencing surprise, worry, and despair along with my dream-self’s fate, as if I’d already lived through an entire lifetime. After I finished being afraid and finished being sad, I discovered I had no more emotions left to spare.”

Song Chengru understood this feeling.

This could actually be considered a good thing. He reached out to help Song Chuyi up, his tone finally gradually softening: “Then why didn’t you first go find your father and mother, but instead came to your grandmother’s place?”

Lady Li treated Song Chuyi with such indulgence it practically bordered on spoiling. Even Song Chengru, who had originally harbored doubts about her intentions toward Chuyi, couldn’t help but gradually dismiss those thoughts.

By rights, if Song Chuyi truly felt something was wrong, she should have first gone to tell Lady Li, since their bond was like that of birth mother and daughter.

Song Chuyi’s thick, curled lashes lowered, concealing the expression in her eyes, her tone flat: “Your granddaughter simply felt that… only people like Grandmother and Grandfather wouldn’t think I’d burned my brain with fever and was spouting nonsense. Telling Mother about these things—she couldn’t solve them for me, and it would only add to her worries needlessly.”

Advancing and retreating with propriety, logic clear. Truly like someone who had been a Duke’s wife for over twenty years.

The gloom in Song Chengru’s heart dissipated somewhat. He sighed and asked again: “Then in your dream, did you know the cause of your eldest brother’s death?”

Song Chuyi didn’t answer Song Chengru’s question first, but instead opened her mouth to ask: “Grandfather, this year at the northwestern military camp, are they making trouble again demanding military provisions, saying someone has been privately embezzling military supplies?”

This time Song Chengru’s mouth truly fell open.

Old Madam Song’s expression also turned serious as she straightened her back and turned to see how Song Chengru would answer.

Song Chuyi lowered her head again, her voice dropping a few notches: “Brother’s death—everyone initially thought it was just an accident, but later discovered it was connected to the northwestern military provisions.”

Song Chengru’s gaze deepened, no longer harboring a trace of doubt. Hearing these words, he said: “Continue.”

“In the dream, Brother was assassinated while surveying terrain together with several other Feathered Forest Guards. The killer was later caught and confessed to being a deserter from the northwest—they said that you, Grandfather, had colluded with Northwestern Commander Zhang Tianhe to embezzle military provisions, so they set their sights on Brother.” Song Chuyi glanced at Song Chengru and continued: “Later His Majesty ordered the Vice Minister of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to jointly try this case. The assassin truly produced letters bearing your seal.”

Someone was actually coming directly for the Song family!

Old Madam Song gasped and blurted out: “My lord!”

Song Chengru’s expression was also very poor. He nodded reassuringly at Old Madam Song, then looked at Song Chuyi and said: “What happened after?”

“The case alarmed His Majesty. His Majesty ordered a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices and had the Crown Prince supervise. Later…”

“Later what?” Seeing her pause, the Old Madam’s heart leapt to her throat, nearly jumping out.

Song Chuyi took a deep breath: “Later, the Crown Prince was assassinated. On the road to Shuntian Prefecture…”

Song Chengru finally lost his composure and crushed a teacup in his hand.

He stood up somewhat restlessly, pacing constantly around the room.

None of this could possibly be coincidence—someone truly had designs on the Song family.

Song Chengru was about to ask more when Nanny Huang outside requested permission: “Old Master, Old Madam, the several madams have all arrived outside… The Heir Apparent, Second Master, Third Master, and Fifth Master have also all sent word that they’ll come a bit later.”

The several masters had probably heard the Old Master was here and came to pay their respects.

This topic could only be dropped for now.

Old Madam Song immediately forced a smile, pulled Song Chuyi into her embrace, and laughed: “Quickly invite them in!”

She also asked Song Chengru: “Will you dine here, or go with the boys to the outer hall and have a separate table set?”

As she spoke, the First Madam had already surged in with several sisters-in-law, and upon seeing Old Master Song, hurriedly performed their courtesies.

Old Master Song simply sat without moving: “Since everyone’s gathered, we might as well dine here—it’s more convenient. We’re all one big family, there’s nothing to be particular about. Let’s just treat it as celebrating another small New Year.”

Hearing this, the First Madam quickly rose with a smile: “Since Father says so, then this daughter-in-law will go down to make arrangements. The estate just sent a batch of golden pheasants the other day. I heard that stewing them with mushrooms makes them deliciously fresh without a trace of grease.”

She had always been extremely reliable in handling matters, so Old Madam Song nodded upon hearing this.

After thinking a moment, she added: “Tell Master Jue’s wife to have her bring all the young ladies over. Since we’re saying we’re making up for the small New Year, naturally it’s better to have the whole family together.”

The Princess Consort hurriedly agreed and left.

Lady Li looked at Song Chuyi leaning against Old Madam Song and smiled: “Little Six just came today, and after thinking it over, Mother didn’t know what would be good to give you.” As she spoke, she took a gold-embossed box from Nanny Yu beside her: “Inside here is an inkstone from Duan, which your maternal grandfather gave me as part of my dowry back then. I might as well give it to you.”

Song Chuyi quickly expressed her thanks, stepped forward to receive it, and handed it to Huang Yao beside her.

But unexpectedly, halfway through the handoff—whether Huang Yao didn’t grasp it firmly or Song Chuyi withdrew her hand too quickly—the box fell to the ground with a thud. The Duan inkstone rolled several times across the square-patterned brick floor and broke into several pieces.

Everyone was stunned.

Huang Yao seemed extremely shocked and aggrieved, staring at Song Chuyi in disbelief, looking her over again and again, trembling as she fell to her knees, crying hurriedly as she begged for mercy.

Song Chengru and Old Madam Song were already in a bad mood after hearing Song Chuyi’s words, and her crying made their expressions even worse.

“What are you crying for?!” Old Madam Song frowned: “How can you not even handle such a small matter properly?”

Failing to handle it was one thing, but her face actually seemed quite aggrieved and resentful.

Old Madam Song was somewhat displeased.