That was a relic Cui Shi had left her, part of her future dowry. Song Yi was not unaware of this, yet he still opened his mouth to tell her to lend such an important item to Shen Qingrang. Shen Qingrang had also heard Song Yi say this was Cui Shi’s relic, yet still dared to shamelessly join Song Yi in taking it for granted that they could demand it from her.

She had originally thought she had spoken clearly enough and her attitude had been obvious enough, but Song Yi was evidently overconfident—since her rebirth, she had never taken Shen Qingrang to heart, and after experiencing so many events, it was even less possible she would consider him as a future marriage candidate. She had originally truly felt that the unfortunate marriage in her previous life was both their faults, but now that Shen Qingrang was pestering her like this, she no longer thought so.

She remembered that in her previous life, Shen Qingrang had been the same way. When he had leisure time, he always liked to send things to her—all sorts of trinkets that girls liked, all things that easily led to misunderstandings.

Her reputation grew worse day by day. In the end, even Old Madam Song had turned away the people who came from the Cui family to propose marriage—they all worried she had already done things that would bring shame to the family.

Since ancient times, rumors could melt metal and accumulated slander could destroy bones. Killing without shedding blood was nothing more than this. When her reputation had deteriorated to the extreme, and with her heart blinded as if by lard, she had thrown herself at Shen Qingrang like a moth to flame, throwing herself at him so brazenly that all of the capital knew. Old Madam Song and Song Yi, neither bearing to see her die, could only give up on her while fulfilling her wish by letting her marry Shen Qingrang.

She took a deep breath and was about to speak when somewhat urgent knocking sounded from outside. Song Yi frowned and told someone to enter. Qing Ying stepped forward two steps, curtsied, and reported: “The Eleventh Princess has arrived to add to Fourth Miss’s dowry. She is currently at Old Madam’s place, and Old Madam is looking everywhere for Sixth Miss.”

The look in Shen Qingrang’s eyes toward Song Chuyi became even more fervent. He had always remembered his parents’ words—the more favored Song Chuyi was in the Song family, the more immeasurable her value became. Just look at how when the Eleventh Princess came, Old Madam first busily looked everywhere for her. This showed she truly loved her.

He stepped forward two paces to stand beside Song Chuyi, smiling and turning his head to glance at her: “Then shall I accompany Sixth Sister over together?”

Song Yi also knew this couldn’t be delayed. He nodded to show his agreement, then instructed Song Chuyi: “Don’t forget to give that bow to Xiao Qi. I’ll head to the front first.”

He was completely convinced he was finding his daughter a good man, a good home. When he spoke of it, he was righteous and confident.

But Song Chuyi didn’t move her feet even once. Slowly but firmly, she shook her head: “That was left to me by Mother and is not suitable for lending out. Consider me petty then. What kind of bow can’t be found at workshops outside? If the Crown Prince’s Grandson likes it, he can freely go select one. I’ll provide the silver.”

The room fell so silent for a moment that it made one uneasy. Song Yi had never anticipated that Song Chuyi would so unhesitatingly slap his face. He involuntarily slapped the table, his entire body trembling: “It’s just a bow! Letting you lend it for use—it’s not like I won’t return it to you. When did you become so… so perverse?!”

Shen Qingrang’s face also turned alternately green and white. Song Chuyi’s earlier words could still be considered a tactful refusal, but her later words were blatantly slapping Duke Yingguo’s manor in the face. Did they lack the bit of money to buy a bow?!

He couldn’t help but recall these several interactions with Song Chuyi—almost every time he had hit a wall, every time he had offered his face only to be harshly slapped by her. The embarrassment on his face simply couldn’t be hidden. Instead, he suddenly found that girl from several years ago—who, though bad-tempered, had always shown him sweet smiles—incomparably adorable.

Song Chuyi had never been afraid of Song Yi. She hadn’t been in her previous life, and after being able to control her own affairs in this life, she was even less afraid. Without changing expression, she repeated what she had just said and made to take her leave: “Grandmother is looking for me. If Master has no other matters, I’ll take my leave first.”

Having been slapped with such a blow by Song Chuyi in front of Shen Qingrang, Song Yi felt so ashamed he had nowhere to stand. Only after a long while did he recover himself and awkwardly smiled at him: “She’s been spoiled by her grandmother. Her temper has always been like this. When I have time, I’ll talk to her again. Don’t take her words to heart.”

But Shen Qingrang knew it wasn’t like that. Song Chuyi truly detested him.

Yet he didn’t understand how Song Chuyi had suddenly come to detest him to this degree. In the past, he had never given Song Chuyi a good face either, yet Song Chuyi had still eagerly thrown herself at him. Even after suffering grievances and crying, she would awkwardly come looking for him again. But now that he had already lowered his status to accommodate her, she instead had her tail raised to the heavens.

Song Chuyi’s complexion was poor. Qing Ying knew what was troubling her and sighed, for once adding an extra word: “Miss has reached the age. These matters are unavoidable troubles. Such troublesome matters will only increase in the future, not decrease.”

Having said this sentence, she said no more. She pulled an envelope from her sleeve and handed it to Song Chuyi: “This was delivered from outside today, placed together with a pile of floral notes and invitations.”

Song Chuyi pulled it out to look. Her face, which had originally had some color, instantly turned deathly pale.

Although Zhou Weizhao had already investigated this child’s origins and background thoroughly and clearly, digging through even eighteen generations of ancestors, Song Chuyi’s heart still couldn’t help feeling alarmed and pained.

That there truly existed someone in this world who resembled him so closely—and that Han Zhi had deliberately raised him in comparison to Ran’er from her previous life, teaching him to read and write, teaching him calligraphy and painting, teaching him what to say and do at what times—made Song Chuyi’s heart feel even more uncomfortable.

She clutched that thin letter paper, her pale white fingers faintly trembling. Only after a long while did she come back to herself.

She had already struggled out of her nightmare, but people like Han Zhi and Shen Qingrang insisted on expending all their efforts to pull her back into that dream. These people, for their respective purposes, wanted to obtain her, yet never once considered whether she was willing. They only treated her as an object that could be used and discarded.

Qing Ying was just thinking whether to advise her further when she looked up and saw her suddenly break into a smile. That smile was fleeting yet impossible to ignore, involuntarily making one’s goosebumps rise.

Behind them, Old Madam Song had sent Yushu personally to find her. Upon seeing Song Chuyi, she first grabbed hold of her and breathed a sigh of relief: “Everyone behind us is in chaos looking for you everywhere. You really can keep your composure!”

While speaking, she quickly pulled her toward Ningde Courtyard.

The Eleventh Princess was a junior and still had no official title, so the female family members had only come to pay respects before being led by the First Madam to take seats and drink wine in the flower hall. Only Old Madam Song, Xiang Mingzi, and the eldest young madam remained in Ningde Courtyard to accompany her.