In this lifetime, she had genuinely fallen ill. The nannies and maids from Old Madam’s quarters had come several times—how could they not tell whether her illness was real or feigned?

She had to thank this chance to live again, for only then did she have the opportunity to fall so ill and carefully reflect on her previous and present lives.

The little girl looked up with eyes bright and clear, possessing a quietness and acceptance that didn’t match her age. Where could one still see the arrogance and domineering attitude from before?

She was clearly ill, yet she knew to yield and admit she wasn’t sick, taking the risk of offending the third branch.

Old Madam’s heart suddenly softened. She let out an almost inaudible sigh.

Understanding her mistress’s unspoken intent, Yushu immediately exclaimed and stepped forward, bending down to feel Song Chuyi’s forehead.

As Old Madam’s personal attendant, Yushu commanded more respect than even the concubines in the household. Third Madam’s heart skipped a beat, her face showing confusion.

“But she’s still running a fever, isn’t she?” Yushu’s face showed concern. “Old Madam, honored madams, the moment she came in I noticed Sixth Miss looked listless and unwell. I was specifically planning to report it.”

She was truly ill?

Yushu was Old Madam’s person. Since she was taking action at this moment, it meant it was Old Madam’s intention. Third Madam froze, then followed Yushu’s lead and stood up. “What? This child wasn’t being unreasonable—she really is ill?”

As she spoke, she had already walked to Song Chuyi’s side. She saw that Song Chuyi indeed had dark circles under her eyes, her small face was pale, her lips were dry—she truly looked as if she had endured a serious illness.

She was actually truly ill?

Third Madam’s heart began to flutter uncertainly. Truthfully, she was furious with this little girl. Siblings playing and quarreling was common enough. It was just a fight—her own daughter had been foolish and hit too hard, which was wrong.

But at the time, she had already personally visited the second branch to check on this girl several times, sending food and toys, hoping to turn a major issue into a minor one and a minor one into nothing at all.

Yet after making such great efforts, she received word that this girl wasn’t sick at all—that she was resentfully feigning illness because Song Chumi hadn’t been punished.

Upon hearing that news, she had immediately flared up.

Even clay figures have some temperament. Did this girl think that just because she had lost her birth mother, everyone had to humble themselves before her? Either way, it would be a scolding from Old Madam, so she decided not to care anymore and planned to air this matter before Old Madam—might as well ensure no one came out well.

But now she discovered the reality was different.

Could it be that she truly had become this ill from that quarrel?

After all, she was a motherless little girl. Thinking of how good Cui Shi had been in those days, Third Madam Yun Shi’s heart filled with guilt first. She pulled Song Chuyi closer to examine her carefully and complained, “If you were ill, why did you say you weren’t…”

She suddenly remembered who had come to inform her of this matter. Wasn’t it someone from this girl’s own quarters?

For her own servants to dare reverse black and white like this, it was clear this girl’s tyrannical behavior had its reasons. Her days must be quite difficult indeed.

However, although Third Madam now sensed something was amiss, she was unwilling to continue speaking. After all, though Song Chuyi was pitiable, she hadn’t come from Third Madam’s own belly. There was no need to offend her sisters-in-law for this girl’s sake.

Old Madam Song harrumphed heavily and said, “Enough. Fourth Girl and Sixth Girl shall each return and copy the ‘Rules for Women’ ten times. I’m tired now. Everyone may go.”

Raising the rod high but bringing it down gently—she punished both sides, yet it was as if neither had been punished at all.

Yun Shi was momentarily confused.

The Princess Consort observed her eyes with her nose and her nose with her heart, acting as if she hadn’t heard. But before leaving, she looked deeply at Song Chuyi.

Such a young girl, always spoiled rotten, yet today she suddenly became obedient? And she seemed to have calculated precisely that Old Madam wouldn’t let her suffer a loss.

If she had truly made a fuss, Old Madam might not have taken her side. But presenting herself as pitiful and wronged, claiming illness was no illness to keep the peace—this instead prompted Old Madam to personally speak up in her defense.

So young, yet she completely understood how to win Old Madam’s favor. Every sentence hit its mark. Could her scheming run this deep?

The Princess Consort felt somewhat heavy-hearted, but then laughed at herself for meddling too much.

She was the Princess Consort, the future mistress of Changning Earl’s estate. She currently had two daughters and one son. Her eldest daughter was a consort in the palace, and her second daughter had married into Marquis Pingyang’s household. What did it matter to her if a motherless girl from another branch, no matter how scheming, existed?

The cool morning breeze raised goosebumps all over. As Song Chumi passed by Song Chuyi, she hesitated for a moment before finally stopping. With some reluctance mixed with barely perceptible guilt, she said, “About last time—I was wrong. I’m sorry you were ill for so long.”

Song Chuyi was somewhat surprised, but then she understood. She smiled sincerely and shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Fourth Sister. I was the one who spoke rudely first.”

Though Song Chumi had indeed struck too hard, Song Chuyi’s temper had truly been terrible. She had berated Song Chumi from head to toe with a momentum that wouldn’t cease until she had thoroughly provoked her. In her fury, Song Chumi had lost control of her strength—that was understandable.

It turned out that when many things were openly discussed, the situation transformed entirely.

Seeing that Song Chuyi truly no longer displayed her previous unreasonable behavior, Song Chumi smiled slightly, then awkwardly took her hand. “I’m not criticizing you, but your temper really is like a firecracker—it ignites at the slightest spark. Take this incident for example—without evidence or proof, how could you decide I had bullied Eighth Sister? Though she’s young, she’s over five years old. Can’t she speak clearly? If I had truly bullied her, she could have told Second Aunt, or even told Old Madam. Did she need you to stand up for her?”

Song Chuyi’s eyes stung with tears. She knew Song Chumi was saying this truly for her benefit, teaching her proper reasoning. How laughable that in her previous life, she couldn’t hear a single word of it.

Huang Yao’s expression gradually changed. She had originally thought the two would quarrel when their words didn’t align, yet who knew they would end up apologizing to each other and even bringing up Eighth Miss. But as these were the mistresses speaking, she couldn’t interject. She stood to the side, anxiously scratching her ears and cheeks.

Finally, when the two separated, Huang Yao studied Song Chuyi’s expression and said with some complaint, “Old Madam and the madams haven’t even criticized you, yet Fourth Miss acts like she’s the elder first.”

Song Chuyi stopped in the corridor, turning her head. “Are you saying Fourth Miss spoke incorrectly?”

Seeing her engage, Huang Yao nodded eagerly. “Exactly! Miss, think carefully—at the time you only exchanged a few words with her, yet she struck so heavily. How vicious Fourth Miss must be! And just now before Old Madam, Third Madam embarrassed you…”

She was starting to drive a wedge between Song Chuyi and the third branch again. Before, Song Chuyi had quarreled with Song Chumi precisely because Huang Yao and the others had come running indignantly to report that Song Chumi had bullied Song Chuning to tears.

Song Chuyi had always treated Song Chuning as her own sister, giving her first pick of all good food and toys. Hearing she’d been bullied, she naturally rolled up her sleeves in righteous indignation to help.

But the result was that Song Chuning was perfectly fine, while Song Chuyi had been accidentally pushed off the artificial mountain by Song Chumi. She fell to the ground and was ill for over half a month.

Moreover, today she was nearly declared to have no illness at all, almost offending not only the third branch but also making Old Madam think her nature was inherently wicked.

With these maids by her side who outwardly protected their mistress but inwardly had divided loyalties manipulating her, if she weren’t already Song Chuyi reborn with the memories of another lifetime, she would certainly still be deceived and suffer losses.

That she had lost so miserably and died so unjustly in her previous life wasn’t undeserved.

Luyi frowned and stopped Huang Yao. “Are these words yours to speak?!”

Huang Yao was somewhat indignant, pouting as she retorted, “I’m just feeling unjust for Miss! They’re only bullying Miss and Madam because of their good natures!”

Every sentence bound Song Chuyi together with the current Second Madam Li Shi.

“Enough!” Song Chuyi spoke up to interrupt them. “What kind of behavior is this, bickering and shouting here?!”

Good heavens, Sixth Miss now understood the phrase ‘what kind of behavior’? Huang Yao’s suspicions deepened, but she no longer spoke, lowering her head with the appearance of having done wrong.

Song Chuyi didn’t look at her. “I’m going to the ancestral hall.”

The Song family’s ancestral hall had been newly renovated. Crossing the high threshold, one could see the spacious walls painted with portraits of outstanding Song ancestors throughout history, along with their deeds and biographies.

Maids couldn’t enter such a venerable place and all waited outside the door.

Cui Shi’s memorial tablet was the newest, its vermillion color bright and striking.

Cui Shi had died when Song Chuyi was two years old, so in Song Chuyi’s heart, her mother existed only as the faintest of shadows. In her previous life, she had never kept this birth mother in her heart. But after experiencing a tragic lifetime, after personally bearing, raising, and losing a child, she now suddenly missed her birth mother immensely.

Cui Shi might not have been able to help her recognize an ungrateful wretch or teach her to see clearly every path beneath her feet. But she would never have harmed her.

Thinking of the delicate, densely stitched clothing and stockings that Nanny Xu had brought out in her previous life—sewn by Cui Shi stitch by stitch—and the Buddhist sutras Cui Shi had hand-copied, these were all the deepest love and reluctance of a mother who knew her time in this world was limited. Song Chuyi’s tears finally fell in large drops.

The thread in a loving mother’s hands,

The coat on the wandering son’s back.

Before departure, closely sewn stitch by stitch,

Fearing his delayed return.

Who says the tender grass’s heart,

Can repay the warmth of three springs’ sunshine?

The wind blew through the corridor outside, causing the curtains hanging on both sides to sway left and right. Song Chuyi’s small body maintained its kneeling position, motionless.

Luyi’s heart softened at the sight, her eyes growing hot, nearly crying along with Song Chuyi.

Huang Yao’s expression, however, turned extremely unpleasant. She absentmindedly kicked a small pebble at her feet, wishing she could rush in and urge Song Chuyi to leave quickly.

Mother, may your spirit rest in peace. I will protect my younger brother for you and safeguard our maternal family.

Everything you wished for, I will accomplish for you.