The narcissus flowers arranged in the room had finally bloomed, standing gracefully and blooming in the glass vase. Not only were they pleasing to the eye, but they also lifted one’s spirits somewhat.

Luyi removed the screen from the bed and replaced it with a seasonally appropriate winter narcissus painting. She also deliberately brought in a pot of bougainvillea from outside, thinking to improve Song Chuyi’s mood a little.

Although Second Master wasn’t particularly good to their young miss, he was still her father after all. As the saying went, there were no parents in the world who weren’t right. Moreover, if something truly happened to Second Master, it would probably have a bad impact on their own young miss as well.

All the maids seemed rather heavy-hearted.

Ziyun especially so, because she recalled the letters Song Chuyi had sent to Changsha previously.

Following Song Chuyi into the study, she absentmindedly ground ink for Song Chuyi. After much internal struggle, she finally couldn’t hold back and asked Song Chuyi somewhat fearfully, “Miss… if Old Madam were to find out that you…”

Last month, Madam Fang’s final letter had been about Song Yi’s matter. It turned out Song Chuning truly harbored a grudge because Song Yi had abandoned her, and had prepared early on how to deal with him.

Madam Fang had wanted to sell Song Chuyi a favor, but who knew Song Chuyi wouldn’t buy it.

She had sent out two separate letters—one to Zhou Weizhao in the capital, and one sent directly to Changsha to be delivered to Madam Fang.

In the letter to Madam Fang, she stated plainly that Song Yi’s matter was up to her whether to expose it or not—she wouldn’t interfere.

The letter to Zhou Weizhao, however, instructed him to have Qing Zhuo and Han Feng seize the opportunity to eliminate Madam Fang.

Some people could be used temporarily when circumstances were urgent, but absolutely couldn’t be kept on afterward. Madam Fang was such a person—the only thing she cared about was her son. It was for her son that she endured humiliation and served under Madam Qin Senior, and it was for her son that she desperately helped Song Chuning before later betraying Song Chuning because Song Chuning threatened her with her son.

There was no guarantee that one day Madam Fang wouldn’t be threatened again over her son’s matter and betray her as well.

But whether it was about asking Zhou Weizhao to deal with Song Chuning or coldly watching Song Yi’s troubles unfold, neither should be known by the Song family, and especially couldn’t be known by Prince Duan’s side.

And the only foolproof method was for Madam Fang to disappear forever.

“As long as you don’t speak and I don’t speak, Old Madam will never know,” Song Chuyi raised her hand to interrupt her, furrowing her brows. “Don’t mention this matter again in the future.”

Ziyun shook her head somewhat worriedly. Biting her lip, she still gathered the courage to warn her, “But Miss, Consort Song and Old Madam had already agreed with your approach before. Consort Song even found a way to bring Eighth Miss back to the capital. Actually, you didn’t need to dirty your own hands—you could have…”

Song Chuyi appreciated her good intentions and feared that Ziyun and Hong Yu might make unnecessary mistakes in the future. After thinking about it, she ultimately turned her head to look at her and explained earnestly, “But I soon discovered that I might have thought too simply about the people behind Eighth Miss. We have Consort Song in the palace, but they also have Consort Xian and Consort Liang. These two together carry far more weight than Elder Sister. Even if we followed our original plan, trying to find an excuse to deal with her in our own estate wouldn’t be so simple. She had specialized medical women and even servant women who knew martial arts by her side—one could say her preparations were quite thorough.”

If not for Madam Fang’s initiative to switch sides, she truly might not have been able to gain the upper hand before Song Chuning left Changsha.

Moreover, even having gained the upper hand now, Song Chuning still wouldn’t give up and was thinking of making a final desperate struggle.

She unfolded the letter in her hand to show Ziyun. “Look at the letter Elder Brother just sent from the capital.”

This letter had arrived only one day earlier than Old Madam Song’s. It said that a large number of carrier pigeons had flown out from Song Chuning’s courtyard, and while everyone in the estate was busy catching the pigeons, her courtyard suddenly caught fire.

Arson again—she was using this trick once more, her abacus clacking away loudly.

She probably knew something was wrong with her body, and with the Song family guarding against her tightly from top to bottom, so she thought of this method that killed two birds with one stone. She could use the fire to make the Song estate the talk of the streets and alleys, attract the attention of Prince Duan’s faction, and temporarily keep the Song family from daring to move against her.

Ziyun couldn’t help but gasp, looking at Song Chuyi in disbelief. She read the letter over and over again, finally unable to help but frown. “How can Eighth Miss be so ruthless? If we hadn’t prepared in advance and she succeeded in setting this fire, has she considered that not only would other people in the estate suffer, but she herself might lose her life too!”

How strong the north winds were in the capital’s winter, and Song Chuning had deliberately poured quite a bit of lamp oil! Once the fire started, how many of the people serving in her courtyard could escape?

“So with this kind of person, besides maintaining high vigilance, you absolutely must never be soft-hearted.” Song Chuyi smiled mockingly and handed the letter to Ziyun. “Here, this one doesn’t need to be hidden from Old Madam. Come with me to show Old Madam the letter.”

When they went over, Old Madam Song had just woken from her afternoon nap, and Nanny Huang was serving her red date and lotus seed tea.

Her mood was already somewhat poor because of Song Yi’s matter. When she saw the letter Song Jue had sent that Song Chuyi gave her, her expression could no longer be controlled and turned gloomy. She stretched out her hand and slapped it hard on the table.

The teacups on the table were jolted, splashing out a few drops of liquid.

“Can’t give me a single day’s peace!” Old Madam Song’s heart surged with extremely deep resentment and vexation. She sneered coldly, “I really don’t know what sins I committed in my past life for the King of Hell to send me such a beast worse than pigs and dogs!”

How long had it been since the arson incident with Song Yan a few years ago? How long had the gossip in the capital died down? Song Chuning clearly couldn’t stand to see the Changning Earl’s estate doing well and was scheming with all her heart for the Song family’s downfall.

If this fire had truly succeeded, who knew how many censors would impeach the Song family for lacking ancestral virtue and insufficient merit, thus招致 repeated fires.

Even Old Master Song’s and the several masters of the Song family’s official positions would be affected to some degree, not to mention that Song Yi had just gotten into trouble now.

Song Chuyi took the handkerchief from Nanny Huang’s hands and wiped Old Madam Song’s hands, her voice still flat and even. “Grandmother, we can’t let her continue causing trouble like this. Although the fire didn’t start, the neighbors on both sides probably can’t be easily placated—she’s already attracted attention.”

Old Madam Song let out a cold laugh and called out for Nanny Huang to fetch paper and brush.

“Don’t keep this disaster around any longer—not for another moment.” As she spoke, she contemplated countermeasures for a while, then turned her head to look at Song Chuyi. “Didn’t we say before that she caught a cold and was ill for a month? That it couldn’t be cured for so long shows the illness is severe.”

Since the illness was severe, falling ill and not recovering was very logical and easy to explain to outsiders.