Shen Qingrang was once again shocked by his own foolish fiancée. After hearing the message his sister had someone bring out from inside, he stood dumbfounded by the shore, feeling as if his head was just as dizzy and muddled as the reflection in the water, never having a moment of clarity.

He had always felt that Miss Song the Sixth was unsuitable in every way—too clingy, following him around everywhere at all times, and too delicate, constantly crying and making a fuss at the slightest thing. She also had a bad temper, often scolding her own younger sister for no reason whatsoever.

But now he knew he was wrong. In this world, there actually existed a girl as stupid and annoying as Tong Shao—she wasn’t even one-tenth as pretty as Miss Song the Sixth! His eyes were full of bloodshot veins as he stumbled along in a daze, following the young maid to the second gate. There he saw Shen Huixin rushing up to him, sighing urgently: “Go quickly and talk some sense into that fiancée of yours! We really have no way to deal with her. It’s fortunate that Miss Song the Sixth has a good temper and can keep her composure, otherwise with all this commotion, how could the Earl of Changning’s manor save face? If the Earl of Changning’s manor loses face, Father’s plans will be completely ruined!”

The whole family was serving Tong Shao as if coaxing the Empress Dowager herself, all because she had an unreasonable grandfather who helped his relatives without regard for right or wrong and was utterly confused, along with an unreasonably troublesome grandmother who acted like a shrew willing to throw all dignity away.

Shen Qingrang clenched his fists, closed his eyes with extreme forbearance, his face iron-blue as he followed Shen Huixin toward the back courtyard.

Meanwhile, Song Chuyi finally encountered Madam Fang. She keenly noticed that this time Madam Fang was no longer following Old Madam Chen step by step. She was forcing a smile to dismiss several younger relatives who had come to pay their respects, sitting alone on a bridge watching the schools of fish below fighting for food.

Song Chuyi whispered a few words in Cui Huaying and Xiang Mingzi’s ears, then walked up the arched bridge herself and sweetly called out “Aunt” to Madam Fang. Madam Fang jumped up like a startled rabbit. When she recognized Song Chuyi, her face showed some confusion as she forced a smile and nodded: “Oh, it’s Miss Six. Have you come to fish for fun? I’ve disturbed your pleasure.”

She was somewhat afraid of the Song family. Now the Ministry of Personnel was about to organize the capital evaluation again, and Fang Xiaoru couldn’t eat or sleep at home every day worrying about it, so anxious he seemed ready to faint at any moment. She herself had a string pulled taut in her mind, afraid that somehow the Fang family would also be implicated and exposed.

Old Madam Chen should currently be sitting idly chatting with the Duke of Yingguo’s wife, Madam Cui, and others in the flower hall. The troublesome Chen Mingyu had also been coaxed away by the combined efforts of Cui Huaying and Xiang Mingzi. Song Chuyi brushed the stray hair from her forehead, a trace of worry coloring her brow: “Is Aunt worried about Miss Fang? I heard my grandmother and elder aunt mention this matter…”

The verdict for the Wang family had long been handed down—all males sixteen and older would be executed after autumn, males under sixteen would be exiled three thousand li, and all female family members would be sold into slavery.

Madam Fang’s eyes blinked as tears began swirling in them, but she forcibly held them back. She wanted to secretly buy back her daughter but couldn’t even manage that—Fang Xiaoru watched her like a hawk, absolutely forbidding her from pulling strings. Even now she didn’t know whether her daughter and grandson were dead or alive. The grandson was only two years old… going into exile with brothers who were also so young, nine times out of ten he would be finished…

She turned away and haphazardly pressed a handkerchief to her eyes, shaking her head with a hoarse voice: “His Majesty is sagacious and discerning. The Wang family harbored ill intentions and were improper as officials. This is their karmic retribution as disloyal and unfilial subjects…”

“I heard that a few days ago Old Madam Chen bought the female family members of Vice Minister Li’s household, saying they were pitiable…” Song Chuyi tilted her head, looking at Madam Fang’s face as it suddenly turned around, seeming somewhat confused and puzzled: “But Miss Fang that day also seemed to be sold together with the Li family’s female relatives…”

Yet the Chen family didn’t buy her! The Chen family would rather buy Vice Minister Li’s family’s female relatives, would rather pity the Li family’s people, but were unwilling to extend a hand for the loyal and devoted Fang family who had followed them for so many years!

Song Chuyi was being clever. The Chen family would help the Li family naturally because the Li family held something valuable, and also because the Li family’s crimes were far, far lesser than the Wang family’s. Rescuing the Li family’s people could even earn them a reputation for loyalty and kindness before His Majesty and the Crown Prince. But if they had bought Wang Ying’s daughter-in-law, the implications would be completely different—His Majesty would suspect the relationship between the Chen and Wang families.

But Madam Fang, in her anger, couldn’t think of these things. She ground her teeth until they made clicking sounds, her throat dry and painful, a tear falling without warning with a splat.

Song Chuyi seemed frightened, taking two steps back before waving her hands: “I… I spoke carelessly… I only heard my grandmother sigh that Miss Fang was pitiful, bought by an official from Lingnan, and her son had also died…”

Her grandson was dead?!

Yet that bastard Fang Xiaoru had never mentioned it, still saying he would make arrangements secretly to try his best to ensure his daughter and grandson lived comfortably—this was what he called living comfortably?!

Madam Fang could barely stand, supporting herself with one hand on the railing, swaying precariously.

Song Chuyi hurriedly stepped forward to supportively hold her, while sighing earnestly: “Miss Fang is so pitiful. I heard that on the day of the house raid, Miss Fang was chained up and paraded through the streets for half a day, and the young master only lasted two days in prison before he passed away…”

Madam Fang’s eyes were already splitting with fury, gasping for breath as Song Chuyi helped her awkwardly to a lakeside pavilion to sit, leaning against a round pillar and breathing heavily.

“Grandmother also went to look that day, but Old Madam Chen said not to trouble Grandmother, that she would buy Miss Fang. Who knew later Old Madam Chen didn’t buy her…” Song Chuyi lifted hot water from a nearby stove to make tea, personally serving it to Madam Fang to help her calm down: “When she returned, Grandmother sighed all day, saying she should have extended a hand to help with this favor…”

Madam Fang’s eyes were blurred with tears, yet she still bit her teeth and remained silent.

Song Chuyi sat down across from her, leisurely sipping the fragrant Hangzhou white chrysanthemum tea, smiling meaningfully: “Who knows when Uncle and Aunt will finally see reason. Actually, compared to the Chen family, our Song family can be considered far more loyal and righteous.”

Madam Fang’s heart jumped, raising her eyes to look at the girl before her who smiled so warmly and pleasingly, uncertain whether these words were meant as an overture or a threat.

But Song Chuyi had already stood up and curtsied to take her leave: “The young ladies outside are waiting for me, so I cannot keep Aunt company. It’s just that Uncle may not understand, but after this matter, Aunt must still think more for the children at home. If such things happen again, who will the Chen family push forward? This time there won’t be a Wang family to serve as a scapegoat and shield!”