Early the next morning, Song Jue accompanied Song Chuyi to the Cui mansion to pay New Year respects. On the road, Song Jue’s face looked rather unpleasant. “Last night they sent her out of the city by carriage overnight. Were you frightened?”

Although he knew Song Chuyi never had much to fear, after hearing First Madam Song’s description, even he had trouble sleeping. He still felt somewhat uneasy.

Song Chuyi didn’t feel particularly afraid. She had already seen Ran’er, who looked exactly like he had in her previous life—what else could frighten her?

Madam Cui personally greeted her at the second gate. Upon seeing her, she immediately embraced her and looked her over from left to right. Seeing that she showed no signs of travel weariness from her long journey, but instead appeared even more refined and pretty, she delightedly reached out to pinch her cheek and laughed, “This shows that Qingzhou’s climate suits you well. Otherwise, with such a rushed back-and-forth journey, I truly feared you’d be worn out from the bumpy ride.”

As she spoke, Madam Cui had already led her to stand before the flower hall. “Inside are your maternal aunt and your two cousins, as well as several young ladies from the Chen mansion and Duke Yingguo’s mansion. You’ve returned from your long journey, and in a few days you’ll inevitably have to attend their flower viewing parties, so now is a good time to socialize.”

Upon entering, Song Chuyi first paid respects to Old Madam Chen and the wife of the heir of Duke Yingguo’s mansion, then turned to find her maternal aunt, Yu Shi.

Yu Shi had already been beckoning to her. Only after seeing her appearance did she feel reassured. Noticing the pearls in her hair ornaments had shifted, she personally straightened them for her.

Because Cui Shaoting’s appointment as Supreme Commander of the Three Frontiers and Vice Minister of War had already been issued, Yu Shi’s status had risen accordingly, making her the focus of everyone’s attention.

Seeing both Princess Duanhui and Yu Shi doting on Song Chuyi so much, those around them each formed their own calculations.

Old Madam Chen turned and looked heavily at Chen Mingyu, her gaze carrying a vague warning.

The wife of the heir of Duke Yingguo’s mansion, He Shi, was delighted as she pushed her second daughter Shen Huiyi beside her and gave her a meaningful look—before coming, she had already instructed her daughter to be sure to establish good relations with Song Chuyi. Now seeing the Cui family’s attitude toward Song Chuyi, her previous plans became even more resolute.

But Shen Huiyi remained rigid and didn’t move. She glanced at Chen Mingyu, who was also looking toward her with interest. The eyes of this Elder’s legitimate granddaughter clearly contained some understanding, along with a trace of inexplicable mockery.

Recalling what they had said yesterday in the Juyi Tower facing the street, then thinking of her mother’s repeated instructions last night, she felt her self-esteem and inferiority complex simultaneously exploding in her heart, blasting her rationality to smithereens.

He Shi pushed her daughter several times without getting a response, becoming somewhat irritated. Just as she was reaching out to pinch her daughter’s waist, Song Chuyi over there went out.

“Why don’t you hurry and follow her out!” He Shi still wore a warm smile on her face as she nodded to Madam Chen who had just entered, but her brows were already knitted together. She lowered her head and warned her daughter in a low voice, “If you don’t know what’s good for you, don’t ever come out with me again!”

The north wind howled in the corridor, stirring up snow from the ground and red plum blossoms from the branches to fly about chaotically. Song Chuyi stumbled the moment she stepped outside. Seeing Luyi shivering from the cold, she couldn’t help but frown. “Why aren’t you resting over there? What are you running over here for?”

Prominent family mansions always had special places for visiting servants to rest. Luyi shook her head and yawned from the cold, her face showing some urgency as she drew close. “Miss, I heard that the landlord whose daughter died is making trouble at our house, bringing his whole family to cry at our front gate.”

Song Yi was currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice jail. If these people wanted to cry, they should have gone to the Ministry of Justice to cry and make them judge Song Yi more harshly. Yet now they were coming to the Earl’s mansion to make trouble—clearly they wanted to create the false impression that the Earl’s mansion was bullying others with their power and influence.

Even more so, perhaps Prince Duan behind them wasn’t satisfied with just Song Yi alone and wanted to use this opportunity to make things bigger, having the censors impeach Song Chengru for failing to manage his household properly and allowing subordinates to harm others.

Song Chuyi’s lips curved in mockery, her eyes flashing with understanding.

What a pity—they probably really thought she had been blinded by hatred.

“Don’t worry. Has the eldest young master already returned?” Seeing Luyi’s concern, Song Chuyi couldn’t help but tease her, “Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up.”

Luyi stamped her feet, feeling her young miss’s brain might have broken. “Miss, although you dislike Second Master, he is still your father! If he’s truly convicted, won’t you and Fourth Young Master be dragged down for life?”

Song Chuyi raised her hand and tapped her forehead. “Do I need you to tell me that? If even you understand this principle, how could I not? Rest assured, nothing will happen. Go back and wait for me first. I’ll say a few more words with my aunt and then we’ll leave.”

Chen Mingyu stood far away behind the threshold watching her. Seeing her turn around, she smiled broadly and pulled the stiff-faced Shen Huiyi forward a few steps. “We haven’t seen each other for many days, and little sister has become even more beautiful. In a few years when you’ve fully matured, I’m afraid the noble ladies of the capital won’t dare hold flower viewing parties anymore.”

Shen Huiyi’s face became even more rigid. She laughed coldly twice and looked at Song Chuyi critically. “At such a young age, talking about maturing or not maturing?”

Chen Mingyu had always been skilled at using words and even expressions to manipulate others as her pawns. Song Chuyi glanced at her, nodded at them, and walked inside, with no intention of saying more to them.

Those who walk different paths cannot work together. Last time because of Tang Mingzhao, she had already let Chen Mingyu off once, but the Chen family probably couldn’t afford the price of a second Tang Mingzhao.

The Cui sisters were being held in conversation by several ladies who had arrived late. Seeing her return, Yu Shi smiled, “You only said half your piece—why did you run outside?”

Song Chuyi sat down beside her. “Big brother sent someone to tell me there’s something at home and he needs to go back first. He said he’ll come pick me up this evening.”

Yu Shi nodded thoughtfully and turned to ask her, “Just now you said you wanted to see me about something. I’ve been waiting to ask what it is.”

“It’s nothing much.” Song Chuyi lowered her voice a little. “I heard that when Uncle was in Fujian, he had a group of guards who regularly ate and lived with the soldiers, always known for their formidable prowess. Now that Uncle and Aunt have both come to the capital, they should have brought them back too, right?”

Yu Shi guessed what Song Chuyi was planning and couldn’t help but tap her forehead. “You, you—you always say half and hide half. What are you scheming with them for? Does the Earl’s mansion lack guards and servants for you?”

Then Yu Shi realized something was wrong. Song Chuyi probably didn’t just want to use people for coming and going—she was probably recruiting soldiers and buying horses behind the Earl’s mansion’s back.

She looked at Song Chuyi in surprise and lightly furrowed her brows.