The room instantly became so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Song Chengru and Old Madam Song said nothing. Lady Li had already hurriedly pulled Song Chuyi aside to check if she was injured.

After observing expressions for quite some time, Third Madam thought Song Chengru and Old Madam Song disliked Song Chuyi. She covered her mouth with a laugh and raised her voice slightly: “Little Six’s hot temper has always been like this. I suppose this girl offended you? Or you didn’t like how light a gift your mother sent? Look at how pitiful this little maid is—just forgive her!”

Third Madam Yun Shi was someone who liked to hold grudges. In the previous life, because Chuyi had feigned illness and gotten Song Chumi punished, she held that grudge for an entire lifetime, taking every opportunity to kick her when she was down.

But in this life, Song Chuyi had thought that after the matter of paying respects at Old Madam’s residence, everything had changed.

Hearing these words, Lady Li’s hand paused. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Old Madam Song’s increasingly hostile expression. Her heart felt vindicated, but her face showed benevolent reluctance: “Third Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Little Six isn’t so lacking in discernment. Her former rashness has all been corrected.”

Old Madam Song disliked scheming among daughters-in-law, and even more disliked adults using tactics against children.

Last time at Ningde Courtyard, Third Madam had glared coldly at Song Chuyi, losing the compassion expected of an aunt.

“Enough!” Old Madam Song rarely showed displeasure, but now she looked toward Third Madam, disappointment evident in her eyes: “A servant doesn’t know her place, and that’s worth you scolding your niece? Your father and I aren’t dead yet!”

Third Madam had often received some scolding in the past for being outspoken, but those were never painful—she’d never been reprimanded like this by Old Madam, especially not in front of so many people. Her face immediately flushed red, and in her urgency, tears nearly fell.

After reproaching Third Madam, Old Madam Song turned to look at Huang Yao, who stood helplessly to the side, and rebuked her: “Why haven’t you left yet?! If you continue being so clumsy in the future, watch yourself!”

Huang Yao hadn’t expected Old Madam to unhesitatingly define the incident as her own clumsiness. With a bellyful of prepared words still stuck inside, she couldn’t help but glance at Lady Li in both shock and fear.

The smile on Lady Li’s face also stiffened for an instant—anyone with eyes could see that the shock and grievance on Huang Yao’s face earlier had been directed at Song Chuyi. Yet Old Madam scolded Huang Yao without a second thought, apparently not suspecting Song Chuyi in the slightest. Such favoritism was excessive.

Thinking this, she felt genuinely alarmed, and the look she gave Song Chuyi carried three parts wariness mixed with seven parts scrutiny.

The room grew somewhat quiet for a time. Old Madam had just reprimanded Third Madam, and no one wanted to embarrass her further or risk touching Old Madam’s sore spot, so no one spoke up again.

Just then, the Eldest Young Madam, Li Shi, arrived with all the young ladies. Upon entering, they swarmed forward to pay respects to Old Master and Old Madam.

Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss were generous and endearing, Seventh Miss and Eighth Miss were innocently naive, while Ninth Miss and Tenth Miss were held by their wet nurses, reaching out their hands wanting Old Madam to hold them. In an instant, the atmosphere was restored.

Old Master Song was fond of his granddaughters and smiled with kind affection. Among these girls, he particularly favored Song Chuning, Lady Li’s daughter—five-year-old Song Chuning was ordinarily much more obedient and well-behaved than the trouble-making Song Chuyi.

Song Chuning leaned against him as usual, smiling as she asked: “Grandfather, Grandfather, I just saw Sister Huang Yao next to Sixth Sister crying as she left. Did she get into trouble?”

Lady Li felt somewhat panicked. She didn’t know if Song Chuning would say something shocking, but she had always feared Old Master Song and didn’t dare interrupt. Her heart rose to her throat as she nervously watched Song Chuning.

Old Master Song had no time to care about a maid who’d made a mistake. Moreover, his thoughts were entirely occupied with what Song Chuyi had said. Hearing this, he simply nodded: “She dropped something your mother gave Little Yi. Too careless!”

He too had unconsciously begun following Old Madam Song in calling Song Chuyi “Little Yi,” and this change had occurred in just a few hours.

Song Chuning’s brow furrowed slightly—although she felt confident, these past few days everything had not gone as she’d foreseen. She was becoming restless.

With these young ladies creating a commotion, Third Madam’s dignity was somewhat restored. Forcing down the bitterness in her heart, she took a purse from a maid beside her and smiled at Song Chuyi: “Little Six, you’re moving today. Third Aunt doesn’t have much to give you, but inside here is a rose gold ring for you to play with.”

Third Madam still held a grudge about Song Chumi’s earlier incident. Although it was later proven to be a misunderstanding and Third Madam knew perfectly well what had actually happened, she still blamed Song Chuyi, giving only a gold ring.

Such a gift was rather modest for a place like the Earl of Changning’s Manor.

Ordinarily, Song Chuyi would definitely have flown into a temper—having lost her mother, though doted on by Lady Li, she always felt something was missing, unconsciously feeling inferior. Whenever something happened, she became as sensitive as a hedgehog, bristling at the slightest provocation.

But at this moment, she steadily stepped forward and respectfully received the not particularly exquisite purse with both hands, her smile sincere and grateful: “Thank you, Third Aunt.”

Everyone could see the gratitude on her face was genuine, not feigned.

Old Master recalled how Song Chuyi had knelt before him earlier, tears in her eyes as she said she would certainly cherish her current life and never be greedy for more.

She hadn’t said this to curry anyone’s favor, but was truly acting accordingly. Knowing and doing in unity—Old Master Song grew even more pleased looking at Song Chuyi.

Old Madam Song glanced at Third Madam and beckoned Song Chuyi to her side with a smile, laughing at the Eldest Young Madam: “Your mother-in-law hasn’t sent her gift yet. As her daughter-in-law, you must make up for it!”

Li Shi was the First Madam’s legitimate daughter-in-law and also her niece, having always had an excellent relationship with First Madam. Hearing this, she quickly stood up, her face showing some bashfulness: “When I heard the news the other day, this granddaughter-in-law already prepared a gift. Mother-in-law surely prepared something even better separately.”

First Madam was cautious with a touch of shrewdness, always meticulous in her actions. But Eldest Young Madam Li Shi was entirely different—gentle and shy, the most soft-hearted and kind.

Everyone in the manor liked her, and Old Madam valued her highly.

At her words, Old Madam smiled: “The things you give are never poor. Let me see what it is.”

Eldest Young Madam quickly stood up, the floral ornament on her forehead swaying, making her delicate, fair face appear even more charming. She lifted the red cloth from the tray held by a maid and smiled: “Some days ago when the Young Master entered the Feathered Forest Guard, he was awarded a bolt of misty gauze. I saw the color of that gauze was excellent, so I took it to make a set of clothes for Sixth Sister.”

As she spoke, Nanny Xu had already taken the garment over for Old Madam Song to examine.

It was the color of azure after rain, looking like smoke and mist when held up to the light. The cross-collar was bordered with a circle of pearls, making the slightly plain garment shimmer with flowing light and color, beautiful beyond words.

Old Madam Song couldn’t help but exclaim in praise: “This needlework is excellent—it’s no less than what’s made in the Imperial Workshops. Azi, your hands are truly skillful!”