Lady He stood somewhat dazed before her mother-in-law, suspecting there was something wrong with her ears, unable to react for a moment.

It wasn’t until Old Madam Shen called out to her that she snapped back to attention, furrowing her brow as she asked again, “Mother, what did you say?”

Old Madam Shen glanced at her with some displeasure, but didn’t rebuke her as she usually would. With a cold face she said, “I just said, go visit the Earl of Changning’s residence. Their Eighth Miss has returned. If there’s anywhere you can help, help more.”

Lady He’s eyes widened in alarm—after all this time, everyone more or less understood in their hearts the cause of Eighth Miss Song Chuning’s mother Lady Li’s death. It definitely couldn’t be separated from Cui Shi’s involvement.

Now that both Shen Xiaohai and herself hoped their son could establish a relationship with Song Chuyi, perhaps even become a good match, Old Madam Shen was telling her to get close to Eighth Miss Song?

Could her brain have been damaged by something? So what if Eighth Miss Song had the Li family behind her? In the Earl of Changning’s residence, she wasn’t favored in the slightest!

Seeing her remain silent for half the day, Old Madam Shen somewhat dissatisfied rolled up her hand and coughed twice into it, drawing her attention back before saying, “It’s not a big deal anyway. Moreover, after all, she’s a younger cousin from the family branch who personally entrusted me. As her great-aunt, can I really disregard it?”

Lady He understood the meaning between her words. She instinctively felt somewhat disdainful, but after she recovered, she looked at Old Madam Shen in shock, hesitantly asking, “Mother, the younger cousin you mentioned, could it be that one of yours…”

It was precisely thanks to that connection that they had been able to do some business with Prince Duan. Lady He’s feelings were complicated, not knowing how to respond if it really was Old Madam Qin who had asked for this favor.

Old Madam Qin nodded. “Isn’t it? Now Madam Rui’s health has also improved considerably. She even said she’ll return to the capital with Prince Duan to celebrate New Year this year.”

Lady He drew in a sharp breath. Whether it was Old Madam Qin, Madam Rui, or Princess Consort Duan, she couldn’t afford to offend any of them. But she couldn’t help feeling somewhat strange—why would Old Madam Qin suddenly send word for them to visit Song Chuning?

She instinctively felt the matter wasn’t simple. On the surface she smiled and placated her mother-in-law. “Yes, with the Earl of Changning’s young master’s full moon celebration approaching, I’ll find an opportunity to visit this Eighth Miss Song.”

Old Madam Shen nodded, earnestly instructing her, “Don’t think our family climbed up entirely by clinging to coattails. At least the third branch is thriving splendidly, not relying at all on the Imperial Dowager Consort in the palace—they fought their way up on their own.”

How could Lady He dare look down on Old Madam Qin? She hastily said with a bitter smile she wouldn’t dare. “Your daughter-in-law knows. Third Master Qin is brave and strong. Back then on the battlefield, he struck fear into people’s hearts.”

But in her heart she still couldn’t help curling her lip—if the Imperial Dowager Consort in the palace hadn’t whispered pillow talk to Emperor Chenghua back then, could Third Master Qin have gotten onto the battlefield? Could Fourth Branch’s eldest lady have become Prince Duan’s wet nurse?

Now the Qin sisters around Prince Duan wielded enormous power—wasn’t that also thanks to an Imperial Dowager Consort? To say the Qin family didn’t rely on nepotism—who were they fooling?

After pacifying Old Madam Shen, Lady He left and took Meixiang to find Shen Xiaohai in the front study.

Just as she turned past the corridor, she saw Shen Qingyun coming out of the study, full of vigor and quite proud. She smiled and received Shen Qingyun’s greeting, but when she turned back she couldn’t help grinding her teeth.

Recently Shen Qingyun had been increasingly valued by Shen Xiaohai, while Shen Qingrang kept running outside every other day, no one knew what he was busy with. It was truly vexing.

Shen Xiaohai was somewhat surprised to see her come. Putting back the book in his hand, he asked her, “What happened? Why did you come here looking for me out of the blue?”

Lady He’s sharp eyes caught sight of a thick stack of account books on the desk. Her heart grew even more bitter, though she didn’t dare show it on her face. She smiled and relayed what Old Madam Shen had just said to Shen Xiaohai.

At the end, she said somewhat puzzled, “I’ve never heard of this Old Madam Qin having any friendship with the Li family. Why would she suddenly speak up for Eighth Miss Song? And tell us to help her—how can we help?”

Shen Xiaohai’s face also grew serious with surprise. After thinking carefully, he couldn’t help saying, “My mother said it was Old Madam Qin’s intention?”

Old Madam Qin was Prince Duan’s mouthpiece. Didn’t her words represent Prince Duan’s intentions?

Prince Duan was suddenly paying attention to a young girl, and personally saying he wanted them to look after her?

Lady He nodded. “Mother said exactly that. She said Eighth Miss Song just returned to the capital, and told us to look after her more, help wherever we can.”

But in her heart she disapproved. If she had to choose, she naturally felt Song Chuyi was better—her status and position were there, she had support from her maternal family and was favored by the Earl of Changning’s residence.

Shen Xiaohai thought the same way. He hesitated for a while before saying, “Leave this matter aside for now. You just properly prepare for the Earl of Changning’s young master’s full moon banquet.”

“The gifts are all selected. I even discussed it with the Princess Consort of Zhennan.” Lady He nodded in agreement. “It’s just somewhat regrettable that Old Master and Old Madam Song aren’t here. Only First Master Song and First Madam Song are presiding over the situation.”

“That doesn’t matter. It’s not like they won’t return. Once your gifts arrive, are you afraid Old Master and Old Madam Song won’t know about it when they return?” Shen Xiaohai smiled mockingly, comfortably leaning back against the chair. “I think that Eighth Miss Song is also somewhat strange, captivating Qingrang’s heart and mind. Last time he nearly made a big mistake because of her. This time, better not tell him that Eighth Miss Song has returned, lest he stir up trouble again.”

These words struck a chord in Lady He’s heart. Her initial hesitation stemmed precisely from the fear that her son couldn’t distinguish priorities and would run off to befriend Eighth Miss Song again, inevitably offending Song Chuyi.

She hastily agreed, then hesitated. “But what about Mother and Old Madam Qin…”

Old Madam Shen had always placed great importance on her maternal family, especially those successful members of the Qin family. The two Qin family girls who became Princess Consort Duan and Prince Duan’s wife—she constantly praised them endlessly. Whatever they asked for, Old Madam Shen always spared no effort.

Once, Shen Xiaohai had been the same way. But now he didn’t want to be anymore.

He leisurely placed both hands behind his head and yawned. “We’ll see. She’s just a little girl. When the time comes, just say you visited, won’t that be enough?”

He only sought wealth and prominence. But several times he had nearly been pulled into the whirlpool surrounding Prince Duan, unable to climb out. If he hadn’t been clever last time and had Old Madam Shen and Lady He go beg Imperial Dowager Consort Zhuang, who knows what might have happened. This losing proposition—he no longer wanted to engage in it.

At least following the Song residence, the possibility of taking the wrong path was much lower. Especially if they became in-laws—how could they not advance further?