Song Chuyi had never had the habit of kicking someone when they were down, much less any hobby of watching others in distress—even if that person was someone she had once hated to the bone, the chief culprit who had caused her death in her previous life.
Moreover, Shen Qingrang’s fate in this life had already been sealed from the moment he embraced Tong Shao at Chongyin Workshop. When a naturally cold-hearted, selfish, and irresponsible wastrel young master collided with a spoiled, hot-tempered noble young lady from an aristocratic family who couldn’t tolerate anyone in the slightest, it would be strange if they didn’t cause chaos and mayhem every day. A few days ago when she had some free time, Luyi always took these after-meal gossip topics and told them as jokes. Through this, she learned that Miss Tong hadn’t even entered the household yet but was already inquiring about the matters of the maids in Shen Qingrang’s quarters, even instigating Madam Marquis Wuning to find He Shi and force her to immediately sell off all those maids in Shen Qingrang’s quarters.
In her previous life, even when Shen Qingrang was most loyally clinging to Song Chuning like a dog, he had never completely sent away those maids who had accompanied him since childhood. Those maids were familiar with his temperament and habits, managed everything for him, and each one was no simple matter—even she, the legitimate princess consort, had to be wary of them everywhere. Now hearing they were suddenly to be sold off with their futures completely ruined, how could they comply? The Shen household was already like a pot of boiling water.
Thinking of this, she had even less intention of getting involved. Letting Ziyun stack those invitations into a pile and carry them out, she turned to ask Luyi: “I heard that Fourth Aunt sent a letter back?”
She had heard the old women gossiping about it when she passed through the west corner gate. Although Song Chumi was rather foolish, if this trip home with her mother-in-law could truly clear her head and make her see the path she needed to walk in the future, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. It would always be good if she could do fewer foolish things—after all, Third Master and Third Madam wouldn’t have to worry so much about her anymore.
“Yes. But the letter wasn’t written by Fourth Aunt—it was written by Fourth Aunt’s mother-in-law and sent directly to Old Madam at Ningde Courtyard.” Luyi was very attentive to these trivial matters, answering whatever was asked: “I heard it seemed to say that Fourth Aunt had voluntarily requested to stay in the hometown to serve her, and she felt very apologetic about it, specially writing a letter to praise Fourth Aunt’s filial piety to Old Madam.”
Where was the filial piety in this? If Song Chumi had truly come to her senses, the best outcome now should be that Madam Feng was bringing her back to the capital. But Madam Feng saying that Song Chumi had voluntarily requested to stay in the hometown to care for her meant that Song Chumi’s mind still hadn’t turned around—at least not completely.
Some people truly wouldn’t turn back even after hitting the south wall. Song Chuyi felt like laughing but then stopped. Hadn’t she herself in her previous life only seen through human warmth and coldness and the fickleness of the world in her last few years? She was just relatively lucky to have the chance to start over and turn things around.
She had originally made up her mind not to attend this banquet that was destined to be lively. Who knew that the next day when she went to pay her respects to Old Madam Song, she just happened to hear First Madam Song discussing this banquet with Old Madam Song: “It will certainly be lively. I heard that Imperial Concubine Dowager Zhuang from the palace specially bestowed a pot of ‘Crane Dancing in Auspicious Clouds’ and a pot of ‘Moisturizing Beauty with Smiles’ to enliven this chrysanthemum viewing banquet. I also heard that even Madam Chen, wife of Elder Chen, and Madam Fang will be attending…” As she spoke, even the good-tempered First Madam Song couldn’t help but laugh derisively: “The Chen family attending is fine—at least on the surface they’re clean. But Madam Fang—her daughter is still in the Justice Ministry prison right now. This is far too hasty.”
It seemed the relationship between the Chen and Fang families still couldn’t be dissolved for the time being. That made sense—Fang Xiaoru had followed Elder Chen for too long. His lifeline, leverage, and even his future prospects all rested in Elder Chen’s few words. How would he have the courage to offend Elder Chen? Never mind one daughter—even if something happened to his legitimate son, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
Such an unbreakable relationship was indeed somewhat troublesome to sabotage.
But Song Chuyi always believed that human effort could overcome anything. She first went forward to pay her respects to Old Madam Song and First Madam Song, then asked: “So are we going?”
Old Madam Song and First Madam Song looked at her with some surprise. Ever since Madam Marquis Wuning had been instigated by Shen Xiaohai to come cause a scene at their residence, their family was essentially at odds with the Shen family. Although the Shen family still shamelessly sent invitations, naturally they didn’t need to go. First Madam bringing it up today was merely mentioning it as a joke.
First Madam thought Song Chuyi wanted to see the chaotic scene at the Shen household. After considering for a moment, she shook her head: “Better not to go. After all, the Imperial Concubine Dowager from the palace personally gave them face. Even if the Shen family wants to make trouble, they have to consider the occasion. You won’t see any excitement if you go. Moreover, that bunch from the Shen household all have bad intentions—who knows if they’ll take the opportunity to frame you again?”
First Madam could be said to have had her heart broken by He Shi. She had always been on good terms with He Shi, yet He Shi time and again schemed against the Earl of Changning’s residence for the sake of Duke Yingguo’s residence. Now whenever the Shen family was mentioned, she was like a hedgehog with its hackles raised, bristling with spines all over.
But Old Madam Song knew Song Chuyi’s temperament. She wouldn’t have the interest to specially go see others’ discomfort—most likely she had other plans. Thinking about it, she asked: “You want to go?”
“I want to go meet Madam Fang.” Song Chuyi nodded, naturally taking the forehead band from Nanny Huang’s hands and placing it on Old Madam Song, her hands resting on Old Madam Song’s knees: “Men’s hearts are always harder than women’s. Minister Fang’s side probably can’t be moved by emotion, but perhaps Madam Fang’s side can be.”
Old Madam Song patted her head. Though in her heart she, like First Madam, felt somewhat uncomfortable about Duke Yingguo’s residence, after considering for a while she ultimately nodded: “If that’s the case, take Nanny Huang and Qing Ying and the others with you. In a moment I’ll also send someone to ask if your elder cousins are going—that way you’ll have company.”
First Madam Song also instructed her: “Duke Yingguo’s residence has been unsettled lately. Their family probably regrets this marriage arrangement even more. You’re such a hot commodity—you’ll inevitably attract flies once you go. You must be cautious and careful yourself.”
People always yearned for the better things they couldn’t obtain. The Shen family now viewed Miss Tong as a terrible calamity, so when they looked at Song Chuyi, she would be an egg they could peck at from every angle. Just from the fact that they still dared to shamelessly send invitations to the Earl of Changning’s residence at this time, one could tell just how shameless they really were.
Song Chuyi understood First Madam’s meaning and also knew Duke Yingguo’s residence’s ulterior motives in sending this invitation. After thinking about it, she nodded decisively: “First Aunt, please rest assured. With Cousin from the Cui family accompanying my cousin and me, nothing will go wrong.”