As soon as the door closed, they heard Qing Zhuo deliver this news. Ye Jingchuan didn’t react at first, and only after quite a while did he suspect he had misheard, instinctively asking again: “Who? Who did you just say proposed marriage to Miss Song Six?”

“Seventh Young Master Shen.” Qing Zhuo hadn’t expected his own master to have no reaction, while Ye Jingchuan was the one jumping up in agitation. Suspecting his master still hadn’t caught on even now, he sighed inwardly, then with renewed hope continued to observe Zhou Weizhao’s reaction: “I heard that the heir of Duke Yingguo and Second Master Song were drinking outside when he even gave betrothal tokens, and they’ve already agreed to pick an auspicious day to formally propose marriage at the Earl of Changning’s residence.”

Ye Jingchuan indignantly spat forcefully on the ground: “Bah! As if that worthless coward is worthy?!”

During the hunting grounds incident, that coward Shen Qingrang had completely changed from his usual fawning bootlicking behavior. Just because of Song Chuyi’s supposedly baleful lone star fate and the later assassination attempt, he had kept his distance from Song Chuyi all along. Now how long had it been since those events, and he was already shamelessly clinging to her again?!

Ye Jingchuan recalled Shen Qingrang’s disdainful and contemptuous tone when mentioning Song Chuyi before, and his matter-of-fact attitude treating Song Chuyi as his private property. He jumped up at once: “If I don’t beat him into a cripple, he’ll never understand what it means for a toad to lust after swan meat!”

Zhou Weizhao was also momentarily distracted, and only after a moment did he react, unable to help feeling somewhat amused—he had originally wanted to help Song Chuyi out. So when Consort Fan Liangdi was vigorously promoting Song Chuyi’s merits before the Empress and wanted to bestow rewards on Song Chuyi, he had the Crown Princess also send gifts down, thinking that at least this way the Shen family wouldn’t dare be so bold as to compete with the imperial family for someone, and would at least know to restrain themselves and give up.

But the Shen family had probably misunderstood the imperial family’s intentions this time, or rather, in order to keep going and avoid decline, they had made up their minds to desperately cling to the Song family’s ship no matter what.

He knew exactly how deeply Song Chuyi detested Shen Qingrang, and he also knew what the Shen family’s actions meant. He gently curved the corners of his mouth, wearing a smile that seemed somewhat ambiguous to Ye Jingchuan’s eyes, and sighed softly.

Qing Zhuo scratched his head, unable to figure out what attitude his master had. Looking at him, he didn’t seem the least bit as righteously indignant as Second Young Master Ye, and even seemed rather pleased. But what did this sigh mean?

Ye Jingchuan glared at him and aggressively prepared to go settle accounts with Shen Qingrang: “I’ll make him understand whether Miss Song Six is someone a bastard turtle grandson like him can lay his hands on!”

For the first time in his life, Second Young Master Ye was this invested in a girl. He used to just consider her an exceptional companion, but after the hunting grounds trip and being lectured and admonished by his own elder brother, he suddenly became enlightened. How was he treating her as just a companion—he clearly had feelings for her. He was never one to be shy. Since he liked her, and since his family also had intentions to go along with it and help him succeed, he naturally felt he was the most suitable choice for Miss Song Six.

Zhou Weizhao glanced at him lightly: “Beat someone up? And the person you’re beating is someone who wants to propose to Miss Song Six—what are you to Miss Song Six?” Seeing Ye Jingchuan freeze on the spot, he reminded him: “The matter of Miss Song Six’s fate has already caused an uproar throughout the city. If you charge over now to defend her honor, what will people say about her in the future?”

Ye Jingchuan’s fury immediately deflated, but he still couldn’t calm himself down: “So we just let it go like this? Second Master Song has already agreed. If the Song family elders also agree along with him, then Miss Song Six, she…”

Zhou Weizhao shook his head decisively: “Rest assured, that is absolutely impossible to happen.”

In fact, things were exactly as he predicted. He Shi sat in the flower hall with eyes wide open, feeling that every word Old Madam Song said was like a knife stabbing into her heart, leaving her unable to move.

Before coming, she had thought it would be to discuss the betrothal gifts and wedding date. She hadn’t expected Old Madam Song to not hesitate in the slightest and have her take these betrothal tokens back. What did taking them back mean? It naturally meant refusal. But He Shi was somewhat confused—things had already reached this point, the betrothal tokens had been given, and Miss Song Six had that kind of fate. How did the Song family still have the confidence to be so unyielding?

She forced herself to rally her spirits to listen to Old Madam Song speak. The more she listened, the worse her complexion became.

“I won’t hide it from you—our Little Sixth is still young, and we also want to keep her with us for another two years.” Old Madam Song’s tone shifted as she glanced at He Shi with sarcasm: “Moreover, marriage is about uniting two families in harmony. I won’t even mention what your residence’s heir did with Miss Chen that time—it’s all in the past. But this time, your Second Miss Shen again schemed against our Little Sixth together with Miss Chen. I really cannot see where your so-called sincerity is supposed to come from.”

He Shi hadn’t expected this matter to be exposed so quickly. Her fingertips pressed hard, accidentally digging into her palm and leaving several red marks. Looking at Old Madam Song, her gaze unconsciously shifted away.

Having shown her fear this way, there was no need to mention what followed. She no longer had the courage to bring it up—ever since Shen Qingrang was frightened by the assassins at the hunting grounds, he had come to believe in the numerology theories he had previously scoffed at. Though he said nothing outwardly, in his heart he ultimately felt uneasy about Miss Song Six. Shen Huiyi, trying to please her brother and thinking of her brother and mother, had gotten foolishly entangled in this matter in a moment of confusion…

Old Madam Song’s words were spoken unhurriedly yet left people extremely anxious. She glanced at the restless He Shi: “Madam, take these things back. No horoscopes have been exchanged, no matchmaker has been engaged, and my second son hasn’t given your family any betrothal tokens either. A verbal agreement doesn’t count. From now on, our two families can interact amicably as old friends. In the future, don’t bring up this matter ever again.”

He Shi didn’t want to bring it up in her heart either, but she knew her husband’s thoughts, and she knew that if Shen Xiaohai learned of this matter, Shen Huiyi would probably be completely finished. Tears of fright nearly fell: “No, no, no, I understand that Old Madam is worried Xiaoyi would suffer grievances coming to our family, worried about that unworthy one in my household… I’ll go back and properly discipline her…”

Old Madam Song was impatient to continue speaking with her. She just wanted to cut through the mess quickly, and she also knew what He Shi was afraid of. Her eyes narrowed as she laughed once: “I’m afraid this is not something this old woman can decide. Madam, you might want to think about this—when we returned from the hunting grounds this time, what was different about the things the palace bestowed on our Little Sixth?”

He Shi felt as if struck by lightning, her face deathly pale, unable to say another word.

In the end, she almost staggered out of the Earl of Changning’s residence gates, sitting in the carriage covered in cold sweat, her entire body as if drained of strength, leaning against the headrest for a long time without being able to say a single sentence.

Judging from Old Madam Song’s tone, it was clear she had never intended to form a marriage alliance with the Shen family. This time she had even said such things—if the Shen family still didn’t know when to quit, then it truly wouldn’t be about forming a marriage alliance, but about making enemies with the Earl of Changning’s residence.