Song Chuyi didn’t know what kind of person her aunt Song Linlang had been, but from the fact that Song Linlang had set up a trap to drag the Xiang family into hell even as she died, she could imagine one or two things.

However, her daughter Xiang Mingzi was completely different from Song Linlang. Although she had experienced her father’s entrapment, neglect, and contempt, as well as her mother’s death and her grandmother’s abuse and criticism, Xiang Mingzi still quickly pulled herself together. She hadn’t become obsessive and gloomy as Old Madam Song had worried.

Perhaps because Song Linlang had no one to depend on and devoted all her thoughts to her daughter, Xiang Mingzi had indeed been raised very well, and she also had a natural closeness with the Song family members.

When Song Chuyi went to see her, she was crouching at the doorway tending to a pot of plum blossoms. She wore a sky-blue padded jacket with a white vest over it, and below she had tied on a duck-egg blue embroidered skirt. In the vast expanse of snow, her entire figure appeared graceful and elegant.

The people who originally served her had all been detained by Old Madam Xiang. For now, Ziwei and Zilan were temporarily attending to her. Seeing Song Chuyi, they quickly smiled and whispered a reminder in her ear.

Xiang Mingzi stood up and waved to Song Chuyi with a smile, showing her the green plum tree she had pruned. Her eyes curved into crescents, endearingly charming. “Xiaoyi, come quickly and see if I trimmed it well?”

Just yesterday, news had arrived that Old Madam Xiang had been swindled out of a large sum of silver by a group of local thugs and ruffians who had drifted in from some unknown county. Xiang Mingzi being so happy today was undoubtedly because of this.

Thinking of this, Song Chuyi no longer brought up matters about the Xiang family to upset her. After praising her a few times with a smile, she took her leave—Old Madam Song was urging her to come over.

Because Xiang Mingzi liked flowers and plants, Old Madam Song’s room now had several more pots of narcissus, making it seem more vibrant than usual even in the dead of winter. Seeing her, Old Madam Song smiled. “Coming from your cousin’s place?”

These days, Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi were almost always together. She was happy to see the two cousins getting along so well. At this moment, her smile was full, clearly indicating she was in a good mood.

Song Chuyi replied affirmatively and sat down next to Old Madam Song. Old Madam Song then took a letter from Nanny Huang’s hand and passed it to her. “News has come from the capital. Take a look yourself.”

The letter was written by Song Jue, saying that Song Chuning had suddenly fallen ill for some unknown reason, and her condition was quite serious. The Imperial Noble Consort from the palace had sent imperial physicians out to examine her, but there had been no improvement.

She casually placed the letter on the table and shook Old Madam Song’s arm. “But I don’t know how to treat illnesses…”

Old Madam Song knew this was probably Consort Song making her move. However, her heart no longer felt the same reluctance as before—Song Linlang’s matter had taught her a lesson: there was no medicine for regret in this world. When there was danger, it was best to resolve it as soon as possible. It was best not to harbor any wishful thinking.

“I’m not asking you to treat her illness!” She smiled and tapped Song Chuyi’s forehead. After thinking for a moment, she became happy again. “I was just worrying about the furniture for your Fifth Sister’s trousseau—coincidentally, Young Master Guo knows a household that happens to be selling a newly made complete set of boxwood furniture. This trip to Qingzhou has finally accomplished something!”

The day before yesterday, Song Chuyi had heard Old Madam Song mention that Guo Yantang studied under Shandong Academic Administrator Zhang Boxun, which was why he came to Shandong every year. Also, because of the relationship between Shen Yang and Song Linlang, he had stayed at Xiang Yunzhang’s residence for a period of time.

She had originally been somewhat worried that the Prince of Zhennan’s manor might not successfully convince Guo Huaiying to take in Ye Jingchuan. This was practically like a windfall from heaven, and she couldn’t help feeling overjoyed—if the Song family could develop their relationship with Guo Huaiying further through Guo Yantang, it would truly be the icing on the cake.

“But transporting them back over such a long distance would also be troublesome. Besides, since the furniture comes in complete sets, it probably won’t be easy to disassemble. If we’re not careful and damage it, that would be unfortunate instead.” Song Chuyi was thinking this through, so naturally she voiced it. “Grandmother couldn’t possibly not worry about these things, but since you haven’t mentioned a word about it now, does Young Master Guo have some other solution?”

If there were no surprises with Song Chubin’s marriage, it would be settled at the latest after the New Year. This year during New Year, the capital side should be receiving people from Jiangyin.

Fifth Madam Wang Shi had never been willing to plan for her daughter. The wooden furniture for trousseau that people like Song Chumi had been preparing since birth—she hadn’t prepared any of it for Song Chubin. Although the Earl Manor was wealthy, some things couldn’t be bought in a short time. Old Madam Song and First Madam had already worried several times over these items for Song Chubin’s trousseau.

Old Madam Song smiled and tapped Song Chuyi’s forehead. “I knew nothing could be hidden from you, clever little spirit. Yantang says his father will return to the capital next year to report on his work, so he’s decided to return to the capital first to wait for his parents. He can return to the capital with us after the New Year. He also brought quite a few people with him, which would just solve our furniture transportation problem. Speaking of which, that household also has a set of yellow pear wood rose chairs that I think would be hard to find anywhere—I’m planning to keep them for you.”

When Old Madam Song mentioned Guo Yantang, her tone held a rare warmth and closeness that hadn’t been there before. Even toward Shen Qingrang, who came to the Earl Manor as frequently as taking regular meals, she didn’t have this level of intimacy.

This was perhaps truly all thanks to Song Linlang’s blessing, that the Song family had inexplicably picked up such a treasure.

“Return to report on his work?” Song Chuyi caught the point in Old Madam Song’s words that most concerned her, becoming increasingly certain of her guess—it should be this return to report on his work, that’s right. After returning to the capital this time, Guo Huaiying should become the first topic of conversation in every street and alley to start the new year.

Because he would leap up four ranks in succession, directly transforming from a provincial inspector into the Governor of Zhejiang.

Seeing her frown, Old Madam Song thought for a moment and said, “His father is currently the Provincial Inspector of Zhejiang. It’s understandable that you haven’t heard of him. But once I tell you about his father’s background, you might understand. His family also followed the Grand Ancestor in conquering the realm back in the day. It’s just that his elder brother inherited the family’s noble title, so he took the imperial examination to seek his own future. Cen Biliang is his maternal uncle, and Chief Minister Chang is his teaching mentor. For him to still have such ambition, working his way up step by step from the bottom, is truly rare.”

After finishing this passage, she sighed again. “Actually, although both our families rose through military merit, we previously never had any deep connection. It was your aunt and mother becoming close friends with Madam Guo that brought about this affinity. Thinking about it is somewhat ironic—even a younger generation nephew cares more about your aunt than that wolf-hearted, dog-lunged so-called uncle of yours…”

Old Madam Song truly hated the Xiang family with a vengeance. She probably even wanted to eat their hearts, otherwise she wouldn’t have acted so ruthlessly without leaving any face, not even sparing Old Madam Xiang who already had no power to fight back.