Shen Huiyi considered herself someone very good at reading people’s expressions—as long as she was willing to. As the least favored and valued third child, she had always timidly followed behind her elder sister and older brother.
Elder Sister was the first child, and He Shi had spent most of her energy on her. As for her older brother, needless to say, he was the legitimate son He Shi had hoped for so many years to have, so naturally she protected and doted on him like the apple of her eye. Only she alone had been born without expectation. On her father’s side, there was also the eldest illegitimate son to be concerned about, so even less would anyone place their gaze on her. Since childhood she had already learned to speak and act by reading everyone’s expressions.
Just like this moment—she noticed that Song Chuyi seemed interested in the topic of Chen Mingyu. Her smile involuntarily deepened on her face, and she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Her tone became even more lighthearted: “Elder Sister Chen said that although this spring hunt has been postponed for three or four years, she doesn’t feel it’s a pity at all. A few years ago she was really too young and couldn’t play to her heart’s content even if she wanted to. This time at the spring hunt, she’s determined to hunt a fox and bring it back.”
She didn’t find it strange that Song Chuyi was paying attention to Chen Mingyu. In fact, she also felt that Chen Mingyu was easy to get along with and very likable. Just like last time when she had been scolded by He Shi and became angry, it was Chen Mingyu who patiently coaxed her bit by bit: “What your mother said isn’t without reason. If Song Sixth really becomes your sister-in-law, it would only have benefits for you, no detriments. Think about it—her maternal family is capable, and the dowry in her hands will certainly be extremely abundant. Since ancient times, there’s never been a sister-in-law who didn’t curry favor with her younger sister-in-law. If she really marries into the family, could she possibly not dote on you and be close to you? When the time comes for you to marry, you’ll probably receive double the usual dowry additions. Isn’t that good? If it were me, I would also want such a person to become my sister-in-law.”
Shen Huiyi knew that Chen Mingyu’s last sentence was sincere. Having associated with Chen Mingyu for several years now, she had figured out that even someone as perfect as Chen Mingyu had unsatisfactory aspects. Her unsatisfactory aspects were her mother and her elder brother and sister-in-law. She didn’t know if it was bad feng shui, but after the Chen family married a daughter-in-law like Chen Mingyu’s mother, she grasped money tightly day and night and had fought many lawsuits over it.
The Chen family was now in constant turmoil every day over money matters. As a result, Chen Mingyu, caught between her mother and elder brother, had suffered quite a bit. She’d heard that Chen Mingyu’s elder sister-in-law even suspected she had coaxed silver from her mother-in-law and nearly raised her hand against her.
Shen Huiyi absolutely did not want to live such a life. Finding herself a good sister-in-law and maintaining good relations was a certainty. She had once thought this person absolutely could not be Song Sixth.
But reality always made her hit walls—when Shen Qingrang returned home last time and mentioned the kite-sending incident, not only did He Shi, who loved her son like her own life, not comfort him, she even scolded him for being too presumptuous. She said his tone was too condescending and lectured him that girls needed to be coaxed. She pulled him aside and talked to him for an entire afternoon.
She had already clearly recognized that her family’s decision could not be changed. Combined with the instigation of those around her, at this moment she sincerely showed Song Chuyi another sweet smile: “Next time when we go, Sixth Sister, you should come along too.”
Just then Fenyi entered and gently curtsied to Song Chuyi. Song Chuyi took the opportunity to walk away, only feeling that today’s exceptionally pleasant and amiable Shen Huiyi was truly impossible to adapt to. Upon reaching a corner, she lowered her voice to ask Fenyi: “What is it?”
Fenyi’s face showed a troubled expression as she also lowered her voice to reply: “Second Master just sent someone to pass on a message, saying he wants you to go to the study.”
Song Yi was a very fragile person. Generally, fragile people, once told a few face-losing words, easily bore grudges and felt awkward, which would then lead to a period of alienation and coldness. In the past, as long as she revealed some resentment about past matters in her words, Song Yi would remain quiet for quite a while. But this year seemed somewhat different—Song Yi’s skin seemed to have suddenly thickened.
Song Chuyi lowered her eyelids to look at the embroidered shoes showing just a tip beneath her skirt hem. She sighed softly, said she understood, and instructed Fenyi: “Go to the side room and call my maid over.”
When Luyi heard that Song Yi had called her to the study, she first widened her eyes. After blinking, she felt somewhat bewildered: “Has Second Master been too idle lately? In the past, he never called for you this frequently.”
Song Yi’s study was set up in the Second Branch’s main courtyard. Song Chuyi hadn’t come here for a long time—Song Yi felt guilty, and she was too lazy to make superficial efforts. Therefore, when Song Yi said he would exempt her from morning and evening attendance, she also gladly enjoyed the ease and freedom.
But no matter how many times she thought about it in her mind, she hadn’t expected that Song Yi was actually calling her to meet someone. And it wasn’t even a stranger—it was precisely Shen Qingrang, whom she had personally told Song Yi just a few days ago she didn’t want to get close to.
Shen Qingrang sat properly in the round-backed chair opposite the long table. Seeing her arrive, he quickly smiled and stood up, asking with a face full of spring breeze how she was doing. He wasn’t someone who could endure grievances, yet again and again he had been forced to lower his head before Song Chuyi. A flash of embarrassment passed through his eyes. But after all, he was no longer that reckless and arrogant Crown Prince’s grandson who didn’t know his own weight. He quickly calmed his emotions and still maintained a refined and courteous appearance.
In front of Shen Qingrang, Song Yi wanted to put on fatherly airs again. He covered his lips with his hand and coughed several times, then asked her: “Have you been to Ningde Courtyard?”
Family scandals should not be made public. Song Chuyi had always understood this principle. Upon hearing this, she lowered her eyebrows and eyes and answered yes, then didn’t say another word.
Song Yi couldn’t help but recall the words Song Chuyi had said to him before. She had said that after being reprimanded, she understood that self-respect and shame were very important. His face showed some awkwardness. But at the same time, he also felt he was truly doing this for Song Chuyi’s good—after all, she was a deceased wife’s eldest daughter. Even if Old Madam had personally raised her, so what? In the future, she would inevitably be criticized. It was rare that this Crown Prince’s grandson from Duke Yingguo’s manor was childhood sweethearts with her, having grown up together, and the two families had good relations—this was the perfect match.
“Xiao Qi came to borrow a bow from me. I remember that bow is kept with you.” Song Yi looked at her, somewhat unable to recall when the last time Song Chuyi had looked at him with eyes full of joy was. He paused before continuing his words: “He’ll need it for this spring hunt. You’re just a girl—keeping it is useless for you anyway. Why not lend it to him to use?”
Shen Qingrang also very timely picked up the conversation: “I’ve also heard before that Second Madam had a bow personally made by Master Xun, called unparalleled under heaven. I’ve long wanted to see it. Sixth Sister, be merciful and lend it to me to use. When I’m at the spring hunt, I’ll definitely hunt several rabbits for you and bring them back.”
Neither of these two people had asked whether she was willing or not. They had presumptuously made the decision for her.