When Song Chuyi left, she went to see Ma Wangkun one more time. He had mostly recovered by now and could even get up early every day to stroll several laps around the outer courtyard on his own. Upon seeing Song Chuyi, he showed both reverence and couldn’t help but bring some trust—Song Chuyi had summoned countless physicians and sought numerous famous doctors for him throughout this whole ordeal. Some days ago, she had even specifically brought over his wife to see him, saying that even their daughter’s match had been arranged. Previously under that cunning fox Cui Shaoting, he had merely held the thought of not daring to cause trouble and taking each day as it came. Now under Song Chuyi, he wished he could exert all his strength for her.

Qing Ying laughed at him: “Even if you want to help the young miss with tasks, there’s no rush at this moment. Wait until you’ve completely recovered—there will be plenty of places that need you. Rest peacefully. In a few days when Ma Yongfu and the others return, we’ll let you all gather together.”

These past days, the affairs of Duke Yingguo’s residence and the Marquis Wuning household had undoubtedly become the hottest topic in the city. Whether it was storytellers under the bridges or theaters and wine shops outside, everyone was making articles out of this matter. Later on, the rumors became increasingly fantastical—even the story that Miss Tong had long been secretly meeting with Seventh Young Master Shen was told with vivid details. Old Madam Song was sitting on the couch listening to it as a joke, with a cold smile on her face as she said to Madam Cui: “This can also be considered their just desserts. For families like ours, family conduct is most important. The Duke Yingguo’s heir apparent himself is that sort of person… No wonder he taught such a son.”

Madam Cui and Yu Shi only learned about this matter afterward. When they found out, they were quite startled, not knowing how a perfectly fine matter between Duke Yingguo’s residence and the Marquis Wuning household could implicate the Earl of Changning’s residence. Now knowing the reason, they couldn’t help but gloat a bit: “In any case, their family and the Marquis Wuning household are like a mung bean meeting a turtle—neither can stand the sight of the other. Now that they’ve become in-laws, at least it saves them from coming out to harm others in the future.”

Madam Cui and Yu Shi had looked down on Shen Qingrang during the hunting grounds. After returning to the capital, Shen Huiyi and Chen Mingyu did such things. In the eyes of these two, Duke Yingguo’s residence was now no different from a den of wolves and tigers.

Yu Shi thought of Chen Mingyu and felt her breathing become somewhat uneven. For a moment forgetting that this time she had come to discuss with Old Madam Song about asking her to be Cui Huaying’s auspicious matron, she opened her mouth and spoke about the Chen family’s affairs: “If Xiaoyi hadn’t stopped me, I really would have gone to ask Old Madam Chen how she raised her granddaughter. Always talking about virtue, appearance, speech, and works—I think apart from appearance, everything else is lacking.”

Old Madam Song couldn’t help but recall again how Old Madam Chen was two-faced—on one side revealing information to her, then turning around to curry favor with Noble Consort Xian. Old Madam Chen had been famously fond of stealing the spotlight and playing the good girl in her youth. Among a group of young ladies, there couldn’t be anyone more outstanding than her. Anyone who was would be squeezed out by her until they couldn’t even cry. The granddaughter she had now taught was cut from the same cloth. The difference was that Old Madam Chen in her maiden years had been sharp and exposed, whereas this current Miss Chen was still wrapped in a layer of gentle and magnanimous skin, making her even more impossible to guard against.

“This time it’s also because we ourselves don’t know how to teach children. If Little Four hadn’t been confused and become a knife in her hand, and she hadn’t done things so cleanly and beautifully without being caught in the act, how could this matter have been so easily let go?” Old Madam Song herself felt unwilling in her heart: “Old Madam Chen’s family has grand schemes. This Miss Chen is destined to climb high branches in the future. No wonder she’s willing to spend so heavily to protect her. But while we can let her go now to try to avoid stirring up trouble, later when she’s inside the palace, these tricks may not work so well.”

To get ahead in the deep palace, who isn’t a crafty fox? Moreover, the Eastern Palace right now is already a pool of muddy water. Whether one can get out whole after stepping in is itself a question.

Song Chuyi entered just as Old Madam Song was saying this sentence. Guessing it was probably about Chen Mingyu’s matter, her footsteps paused for a moment.

Zhou Weizhao was right—now wasn’t a good time to move against Chen Mingyu. Even if she wanted to teach her a lesson, she’d have to wait just a little longer.

Madam Cui had already spotted her and beckoned her over. Looking her up and down, she asked: “Where have you been?”

They were just like Old Master Song, unanimously concluding that this affair with the Shen family was related to Song Chuyi—otherwise, there were plenty of dissolute young masters carousing around the capital. Many of them did things even more outrageous than Shen Qingrang. In the previous dynasty, there was even one who had an illicit affair with a widowed princess, yet never had it been heard of creating such a citywide storm that became known to every household in an instant.

To say there wasn’t Song Chuyi’s behind-the-scenes instigation in this, Madam Cui and Yu Shi absolutely could not believe it.

Yu Shi glanced at Madam Cui somewhat helplessly. Madam Cui always said everything Song Chuyi did was good, but she herself worried for Song Chuyi in her heart—this matter must have been done using that group of people Cui Shaoting left behind.

That group of people in Song Chuyi’s hands—who knew exactly how many things they’d done for her by now? Just what she knew of, each matter was more formidable than the last, each more sensational than the previous. For a young lady to be involved in these matters was ultimately not something to be happy about.

But she was completely helpless—every time she wrote a letter to her husband about this, her husband replied with a tone of sharing in the glory, saying he believed everything Song Chuyi did had its reasons and that she wouldn’t act recklessly.

Besides feeling choked with frustration, she had no other recourse. Moreover, Song Chuyi was indeed formidable—Prince Duan, such a great calamity, his downfall was merely a matter of these past six months or so.

“Went out to watch the excitement.” Song Chuyi waved the gold-dusted round fan in her hand. Her beautiful, delicate face carried a smile, but her eyes were ice-cold and hard, without the slightest emotion.

Having spent much time together, how could Madam Cui not know the meaning of this smile? She took her hand and had her sit beside herself, saying softly: “It is right to go watch this excitement. But don’t be impatient—with this move of yours, their excitement will be enough to watch for a lifetime.”

The Marquis Wuning household had always stood there as a stage play. Once this Miss Tong married into the Shen family, if the Shen family didn’t have daily chaos and perform several great dramas, it would probably disappoint the surrounding crowd’s wish to watch the excitement.

Not long after these words were spoken, First Madam came in from outside with a smile, saying that the Princess Consort of Zhennan had also come. She said that last time at the banquet, she had mentioned giving another recipe for pickling bayberries. This time, hearing that Madam Cui was also here, she simply took this opportunity to deliver it.

Old Madam Song was somewhat surprised but knew this was merely a pretext. There should be news from the Shangqiu Shen family’s side. She nodded lightly and laughed: “Then why not quickly invite her in? Perfect timing—we have many people gathered today. Let’s simply hold a small banquet. Bring out all those camellias of Brother Jue’s to admire.”