Han Zhi had sent people to guard both ends of the alley, with no fewer than several pairs of eyes watching everyone coming and going, afraid of missing anyone—his suspicious nature had always been even heavier than Song Chuning’s. Since he’d grown suspicious of the neighboring house, he naturally wouldn’t relax based on a few words from the neighbors. Though he pretended to believe them on the surface, in his heart he no longer trusted them at all.

Zhou Weizhao let out a cool breath and laughed lightly: “This one’s temperament is just like that one’s.”

Qing Zhuo and Han Feng must have told him about Song Chuning harming Song Yi and getting him thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison. Song Chuyi wasn’t surprised he would say such things. Her eyes narrowed, concealing the suddenly blazing light within them as she laughed coldly in agreement: “Indeed. If we’re just talking about whose thoughts are more malicious, I’m afraid this one is even worse by a degree.”

But she thought more deeply—if in the previous life Zhou Weizhao truly hadn’t died at Prince Duan’s hands but rather at Zhou Weiqi’s, then Zhou Weiqi was no easy opponent either. These two maternal cousins had hearts competing to be more vicious than the other, no doubt in large part thanks to Noble Consort Fan and her elder sister.

Zhou Weizhao sent Han Feng out to check the sky, then frowned: “If we don’t draw people away, you won’t be able to return home today either. This person has a heavy mind—right now he probably even has people watching your home.”

Han Zhi was someone who liked to show off. After showing off and then having trouble arise, he would certainly trace through the threads of the matter carefully. After all, he had recited that ambiguously meaningful poem to her and knew her background—it was inevitable he would suspect her.

Song Chuyi looked at Zhou Weizhao with some difficulty: “But today my grandfather is returning home, and the family is holding a banquet.”

Not going back was completely impossible. Though Old Madam Song knew she’d gone out, she didn’t know exactly where. If a commotion arose, it would only give Han Zhi confirmation instead.

Zhou Weizhao raised an eyebrow and lifted his eyes, immediately coming up with a plan: “No need to be anxious. In a moment I’ll have someone else take your carriage out. You and your maid can change clothes and return another way with Qing Zhuo and Han Feng.”

Counting it up, in this life because she’d helped the Imperial Grandson once, she’d already gained many benefits. Song Chuyi’s heart relaxed and her face showed some smile: “Thank you for Your Highness’s thorough consideration.”

Zhou Weizhao shook his head. Because he’d spent seven or eight years with Zhang Tianshi, he lacked the dissolute air of other noble young masters, his entire being emanating an otherworldly refined elegance: “My master said I could escape my fated calamity all thanks to you. Since you helped me ward off disaster, the help I give you isn’t worth mentioning. Moreover, this time Qing Zhuo and Han Feng bungled the matter. If you yourself hadn’t been alert and he had truly succeeded in recruiting that formidable sister of yours to his side, then I would truly be unable to sleep or eat in peace.”

He’d already helped her bring the person safely to the capital—how could the remaining matters still concern him? Song Chuyi felt grateful in her heart for this kindness but didn’t speak of it further on her face. Seeing Qing Zhuo enter and nod to indicate no one was watching for the moment, she hurriedly stood up.

Qing Zhuo had them board a rented blue-oil covered cart and wound through seven twists and eight turns in Stinking Water Alley, Sweet Water Alley, and Zhuque Street, making circles in each. They even deliberately made a circuit in front of the Li residence in Three Departments Alley. After confirming there was truly no one following them, they switched carriages halfway and sent Song Chuyi and her servant back.

Today Earl Songning’s return to the Earl’s residence was known by everyone. The moment he entered the gate, visiting cards piled up to fill an entire table, and the number of chief attendants, young servants, and companions from various residences coming to inquire about news was countless. This blue-oil covered cart was like a drop of water entering the ocean, not stirring up even a ripple.

Han Zhi received a report saying Earl Changning’s residence showed no abnormalities and no young lady had been heard of going out. The hand holding his chess piece showed prominent veins bulging on the back. In his heart, Song Chuyi was the first one he suspected. Even after hearing the report that there was nothing special, he still refused to believe it, ordering those keeping watch not to slack off or be negligent—in the future, they must keep their eyes wide open and carefully monitor everyone entering and leaving the Song residence.

If they needed to use people, they’d have to go out to find them, wouldn’t they? He didn’t believe they could truly leave not a single trace.

On Song Chuyi’s side, she truly breathed a sigh of relief. Only after entering the west corner gate did she feel her whole person come back to life—Qing Yīng had seen the people keeping watch outside crystal clear. If Qing Zhuo hadn’t been clever this time, she wouldn’t have been able to return intact.

After she went out, she’d switched to an ordinary carriage as usual. The horse was unremarkable and the carriage interior even more common. If Han Zhi wanted to find her based on this, it would be impossible.

Her own carriage was at the Cui family’s home. After waiting a few more days to retrieve it without anyone knowing, then everything would truly be settled.

The entire staff of Guanju Courtyard had now become ants on a hot pan. Though Song Chuyi often went out, she had never returned this late. With at most half a shichen before Cuiming Pavilion would send someone to invite her, even Ziyun couldn’t help but break out in a sweat from anxiety—if Old Madam Song knew she still hadn’t returned, who knew how worried she would be.

Fortunately Song Chuyi finally returned. Several people anxiously looked her over from top to bottom, and seeing that her clothes had changed, they all gaped in astonishment.

“I encountered some matters, so I changed clothes.” Qing Yīng waved her hand at them to indicate everything was fine: “It’s getting late, quickly help the young lady change clothes and arrange her makeup. Otherwise if Old Madam sees the young lady looking like this in a moment, it will be terrible.”

Song Chumi stood coldly in the flower shade, biting her lip, her fingernails digging into leaf flesh until her fingers were covered with juice. After spacing out for a while, she laughed coldly again—Old Madam Song constantly said she herself had no upbringing and had ruined the Song family rules, and had even confined her for nearly three years total because of this. Yet toward another rule-breaker, she showered thousands of indulgences, treasuring her preciously.

This resentment rose to her heart and could never be extinguished again. Harboring such thoughts, her hatred toward Song Chuyi reached the point where she wished she could eat her flesh and drink her blood.

Back then, if Song Chuyi hadn’t stood by and watched her die without helping, if she hadn’t said to her face she would help but then turned around and exposed everything to the Song family elders, she wouldn’t have spent these years living neither human nor ghost.

Before, when she thought Song Chuyi was truly proper and rule-abiding, she could accept it. Even if she couldn’t swallow this grievance, she had to swallow it. But the truth was not so. Song Chuyi actually had the audacity to loiter outside until now before returning home, even wearing strange clothes with a furtive and sneaky appearance. Didn’t this mean she’d done something shameful that required such hiding and concealing? This was clearly “only officials are allowed to set fires, while commoners aren’t allowed to light lamps.”

Her gaze ice-cold, she glanced once at the brightly lit Guanju Courtyard, then turned and walked step by step slowly by moonlight toward Ningde Courtyard.