Yu Shi had always known Song Chuyi was no simple character—to be able to bring down Li Shi in one fell swoop while still remaining favored by Old Master Song and Old Madam Song, this kind of ability wasn’t something just anyone possessed.

She pulled Song Chuyi to her feet and, using the excuse of having Song Chuyi accompany her to change clothes, dragged her into the side room. With a serious expression, she asked, “Tell me honestly, what do you want these people for?”

The people Cui Shaoting had recruited were no kind-hearted souls. They were all mountain bandits, robbers, and pirates who had wandered the Min region. He had taken a liking to their fierce, daring, kill-without-hesitation attitude and pulled them into the military, forcing them to fight Japanese pirates.

Later, when he received orders to transfer to the capital, for some reason he had specifically kept twenty-some of these people by his side, bringing them along to serve in the capital mansion, with some sent to help at shops in the capital.

Now that Song Chuyi had brought this up, Yu Shi couldn’t help feeling rather anxious. “Those people are not easy to control. You’re so young—whatever the matter is, even if your grandfather and grandmother can’t resolve it, you still have us. Don’t go doing reckless things on your own.”

Truth be told, she wasn’t afraid of Song Chuyi being reckless—Song Chuyi clearly wasn’t someone who acted foolishly. She was afraid Song Chuyi was too young to control those vicious scoundrels.

Song Chuyi naturally knew what Yu Shi was worried about. She lowered her head in thought for a long while, and when she raised it again, her gaze remained resolute. “Some matters aren’t convenient to trouble Grandfather and Grandmother with. Aunt, please help me just this once.”

Yu Shi didn’t dare agree—her wanting people was a small matter, and it wasn’t that she couldn’t give them to her, but if these people truly caused some incident under her command, she and Cui Shaoting would probably be drowned by the gossip from the Cui family.

Moreover, for a young lady, she really shouldn’t have any connection with such people.

She sat in the chair and pulled Song Chuyi down to sit beside her, speaking gently and reasonably. “It’s not that your aunt won’t help you, it’s just that some things truly aren’t for your aunt alone to decide. Since you’ve opened your mouth to ask me for people, you must certainly know these people’s backgrounds, right? These people were all bandits and robbers who raided homes and villages in the past. To say they kill without blinking and are full of evil wouldn’t be wronging them. Now your uncle is still keeping them probably precisely because he’ll need these people who don’t fear death when he goes to the border in the future. But what are you? You’re a precious noble lady. Even if you have some difficulty, you shouldn’t have any connection with them. If I give you these people now and something happens in the future, your uncle would probably be the first to not forgive me. Do you understand?”

If she didn’t know these people’s backgrounds, Song Chuyi wouldn’t have asked Yu Shi. She grasped Yu Shi’s hand in return, her words earnest. “I understand Aunt’s concerns.”

Madam Cui pushed open the door and entered at just that moment. Seeing the two of them there, she smiled. “I was wondering where you two had gone—turns out you’re hiding here for some peace and quiet. Those several young ladies outside are all going to attend flower viewing parties with you and your cousins. You should go get acquainted with them.”

After she finished speaking, her focus clearly wasn’t really on these young ladies at all. She frowned again. “Hurry and come out with me. Your two uncles are looking for you.”

Cui Shaoting and Cui Yingshu were indeed already waiting for them in the main hall. Seeing Song Chuyi, they coughed seriously several times.

Only then did Yu Shi understand that Song Chuyi had probably already sought out Cui Shaoting and Cui Yingshu earlier. Coming to find her now was in hopes she would act as a mediator to add her support from the side.

Cui Shaoting said nothing, but Cui Yingshu first glared at Song Chuyi. “Haven’t seen you for a few months, and your courage has truly grown remarkably!”

Madam Cui felt rather confused—clearly a few days ago when they learned Song Chuyi would return to the capital, she had been so happy and agreeable, so why did Cui Yingshu seem furious today?

Yu Shi sighed and whispered a few words in her ear.

Madam Cui immediately raised her eyebrows in fury, turned around, and tapped Song Chuyi’s forehead harshly. “Have you lost your mind?! What kind of people are those—how dare you get involved with them?!”

Cui Shaoting’s reaction was somewhat calmer than Madam Cui’s and Cui Yingshu’s. He glanced at Song Chuyi and decided to play the good cop. “Those people have very heavy underworld habits. You won’t be able to command them.”

But this time Song Chuyi was stubborn and refused to back down. “Since I’m asking specifically for this group of people, I naturally know their backgrounds and won’t act recklessly. Besides, even if you uncles don’t help me, I’ll still go find people elsewhere!”

Cui Shaoting and Cui Yingshu exchanged glances, both feeling somewhat troubled.

And truly, with Song Chuyi’s abilities and capabilities, you really couldn’t stop her from finding such a group of death-defying people elsewhere. But then those people would be even harder to control and their backgrounds even more unclear.

Madam Cui was somewhat anxious, wishing she could crack open Song Chuyi’s head to see what she was thinking. “Everything’s fine—why must you have these people help you? I can find other people for you just the same!”

Song Chuyi shook her head and looked toward Cui Yingshu and Cui Shaoting. “I want precisely this group of people.”

Cui Yingshu had no solution for her. After deliberating for a while, he said, “Then how about this—you meet with them first. If you can persuade them to willingly help you with your affairs, we’ll agree. How about that?”

Song Chuyi naturally had no objection and nodded without a second word.

Today the Cui mansion was entertaining guests with mutton hotpot. Cui Shaoting had specifically borrowed several people who used to be butchers. Cui Yingshu leisurely brought Song Chuyi to stand behind a fence. “Take a look—do you really want these people to help you with your affairs?”

A burly, heavily built man with a fierce face was currently holding a sheep upside down and shaking it. Blood from the freshly gutted sheep’s belly flowed all over the ground, staining the surrounding snow completely red.

Song Chuyi ignored him, pushed open the fence gate, and walked several steps toward that group of fierce-looking demons who were enthusiastically slaughtering sheep. She first raised her hand to point at Cui Shaoting who had hurried over. “I’m his niece. I have business to discuss with you.”

Cui Shaoting rolled up his hands and placed them near his mouth, coughing several times, still unable to resist wanting to laugh a bit. “This little girl at least knows to use my power first. Next, she’ll probably try to entice them with benefits.”

One tall, thin man with a pockmarked face threw down the knife and sheep in his hands, casually wiped his hands on his clothes, glanced at Cui Shaoting, and said somewhat impatiently, “What is it? I’m still rushing to slaughter sheep!”

“I know why you follow my uncle—nothing more than the high military pay for fighting Japanese pirates in Fujian, and more importantly because you left criminal records from your previous banditry.” Song Chuyi paid no mind to his crude rudeness, nor did she care about their somewhat alarmed expressions. She continued speaking on her own. “If my uncle is willing to expunge your records now, would you be willing to follow me and help me with my affairs? I can give you substantial compensation.”

The pockmarked man looked at her with alarm and uncertainty, then looked at Cui Shaoting and Cui Yingshu who had walked over. After pausing, he couldn’t hold back. “Are you sick?! Are you toying with us?!”