When Song Chuyi returned to the residence, she heard that Song Yi had fallen ill. Apparently, he had sat alone in the West Garden all night last night, caught a cold wind, and upon returning had collapsed in bed unable to get up. First Madam Song was busy requesting imperial physicians to treat him, while secretly breathing a sigh of relief—falling ill at this time was actually good, saving them from him stirring up other troubles.

With two people in the family suddenly ‘ill,’ those opportunists who were accustomed to exploiting gaps and had been sending visiting cards to probe for information and connections now had a measure in their hearts. Combined with the news spreading that Fourth Miss Song would return to her hometown with her mother-in-law, those who were clever and perceptive no longer dared send cards to the Song residence.

However, the Song residence did not become desolate because of this. Every few days, the Emperor would think of Old Master Song and even personally appointed Imperial Physician Sun, the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy, to treat Old Master Song. Plenty of ginseng was also bestowed, and there were separate rewards from the Eastern Palace.

Old Master Song was both delighted and worried. His delight was that Emperor Jianzhang now understood his attitude as a pure minister and was beginning to trust him. His worry was that the Eastern Palace’s offensive was becoming increasingly frequent, clearly unwilling to let such a capable supporter escape.

The matter of Empress and Crown Princess Consort Fan Liangdi of the Eastern Palace coincidentally bestowing heavy rewards had truly sounded an alarm for him. He sat across from Old Madam Song, staring at the silver candlelight autumn screen on the kang table for a while in a daze, then asked her: “If we really can’t avoid it… do you think His Highness the Grand Prince is better, or that Prince better?”

The Crown Prince had formally requested Emperor Jianzhang to enfeoff Zhou Weiqi as a prince. The memorial had reached the Cabinet, and Chief Minister Chang had informed him as well. This time there was an eighty to ninety percent chance it would definitely be approved. He heard that the Ministry of Rites had already begun preparing the prince’s gold册. Emperor Jianzhang had always doted on this grandson. Though not as much as Zhou Weizhao, it wasn’t much less either. And the Crown Prince’s favoritism toward Zhou Weiqi went without saying—it could be called biased. Otherwise, with such a major matter in Yangzhou, he wouldn’t have decided based on his and Consort Fan’s opinions.

Old Madam Song was so startled by Old Master Song’s question that she trembled. The tea in her hand was at her lips but she couldn’t drink it. She set it on the kang table with a slight crisp sound, asking somewhat hesitantly: “Surely it won’t come to that?”

Could it be that the Eastern Palace truly intended to bind the Song family tightly and refuse to let go? But the Eastern Palace’s own situation was still the same—which of the two, His Highness the Grand Prince and that Prince, would ultimately prevail was still unknown. If the Song family placed their bets at this time…

Old Master Song sighed heavily, his tone not at all pleasant as he sneered: “Won’t come to that? If it wouldn’t come to that, Empress wouldn’t have permitted the Eastern Palace to bestow things together. But this is indeed reasonable. Little Sixth’s status… is worth coveting.”

Indeed, never mind the Earl of Changning’s residence, just speaking of the current Boling Cui clan—one Cui Shaoting controlled the military power in Xibei, while Cui Yingshu was both an imperial son-in-law valued by Emperor Jianzhang and Vice Minister of Works concurrently serving as Junior Minister of the Seal Office, right at the height of glory and prosperity. If not for this, where would Shen Xiaohai of Duke Yingguo’s residence get the audacity to compete with the Eastern Palace for someone?

Old Madam Song felt worried. If Song Chuyi were willing to be a chess piece, she wouldn’t fight so hard. She merely wanted to seek stability. An ordinary man is innocent, but possessing a treasure makes him guilty—her status was her original sin. These people schemed and calculated, ultimately all for the Earl of Changning’s residence and the Cui clan behind her.

Seeing her expression, Old Master Song knew what she was worried about. He gripped her hand to comfort her: “Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. No matter what, I will do everything I can to prevent Xiaoyi from bearing so much. If I have the ability, I will let Xiaoyi live the life she wishes to live.” Marry the person she admires, not like in the dream where she mistakenly trusted an ungrateful wretch and spent a lifetime cold, lonely, and betrayed by all.

Old Master Song had never made such a promise even to Song Chuchen. Old Madam Song looked up at him in surprise.

Old Master Song spoke frankly: “That child is good. She could have chosen not to protect us this way, not to protect her brother… If not for her, we couldn’t have reached this point safely and steadily.”

Old Madam Song nodded along: “That’s what I say too. This child has never given us cause to worry.” She paused, looking directly at Old Master Song and continued: “I have an idea in mind, but I don’t know if I should say it.”

“We’ve been husband and wife for so many years—what can’t be said? Go ahead, I’m listening.” Old Master Song held his teacup and looked at Old Madam Song, his gaze peaceful and expression calm.

“When Yan’er returns, I was thinking we might have Xiaoyi return to Jinzhong with him for a visit.” Old Madam Song continued in one breath: “Right now staying in the capital, this bunch of people are eyeing her covetously as if they want to devour her alive. That girl from the Chen family thinks others can’t see her intentions, but I see them clearly—she simply feels Xiaoyi is blocking her path. The Crown Princess and Consort Fan will undoubtedly find reasons to summon Xiaoyi into the palace every few days in the future. It’s truly impossible to guard against. If something really happens, even if we want to remedy it, it will be too late. Better to have her temporarily avoid the spotlight, and consider it going back to check on our in-law mother for us.”

There was one more thing Old Madam Song didn’t say—Song Chuyi’s fate was ultimately a hidden danger. If the Cui family could truly find that wandering divine immortal to resolve it for Song Chuyi, even if in the future Song Chuyi was forced with no choice but to select one of those two from the Eastern Palace, the path would be much smoother.

Old Master Song agreed very readily, nodding almost without hesitation: “What’s wrong with that? Speaking of it, Xiaoyi hasn’t even met her maternal grandmother yet. She really should make a trip to Jinzhong. When A’Yan returns, finding an appropriate time to go would be good.”

The two were just talking when they heard Yushu report through the curtain that someone had come from the palace. They couldn’t help exchanging glances—at this hour, could the Eastern Palace possibly be sending more things out?

But the one delivering things this time wasn’t from the Eastern Palace. It was Zhuying from beside Consort Song. Old Madam Song received her with a beaming smile, amiably had tea served, then asked her: “In a few days it will be the fifteenth. Does the Consort have some matter?”

Otherwise, why couldn’t she wait even a few days and had to send someone with a message now?

Zhuying nodded, habitually lowering her voice: “I won’t hide it from you, Old Madam. The Consort sent me to inquire about some news. Has the Shen family already reached an understanding with Consort Xian’s side? Today at the banquet, Empress let slip some news—it seems Ninth Princess has taken a fancy to this young master from the Shen family…”

This news seemed to have grown legs. Old Madam Chen had said at the time that the Shen family had only revealed their intentions to them, so now apart from herself, only Old Madam Chen should know. Yet Ninth Princess had taken a fancy to the Shen family? Right now the Shen family clearly hadn’t even come to the capital yet…

This was planning to intercept, indeed.