Song Chuyi sat in the round-backed chair. The sunlight streaming in from outside playfully fell upon her face, yet it couldn’t brighten her complexion.

Ever since Song Chuning had pointed at her nose and cursed that her mother was stupid in her previous life, she had suspected something was amiss. After being reborn, she had always kept this matter in mind.

Song Yi was truly too foolish. If he hadn’t acted so hastily, she wouldn’t have detected something suspicious so quickly. To replace her wet nurse for no good reason, without any proper justification that necessitated the replacement—who wouldn’t be suspicious?

Coupled with the fact that Old Madam Song had nodded in agreement, and the mother-son relationship had been distant these seven or eight years, even the stupidest person could smell something abnormal.

The servants attending to Cui Shi were all house-born servants of the Cui family, with their slave registration in Cui Shi’s hands. Logically speaking, they were just like her dowry—the in-laws would never touch them to avoid suspicion.

Yet the Song family, who had always valued propriety, had done precisely that, risking a falling out with the Cui family. What did this mean? It meant there was an even more serious matter to cover up, and propriety could no longer be considered.

Knowing that Nanny Xu had already revealed everything she knew, Song Chuyi nodded and began giving detailed instructions about matters after Nanny Xu’s departure.

At first, Nanny Xu was filled with reluctance and grievance, but as she listened further, she couldn’t help widening her eyes. She then straightened her posture and listened to every word with extreme seriousness.

By evening, everyone serving in the side hall had heard the news. Qing Tao was clever and knew what should and shouldn’t be asked, simply doing her work as usual.

However, Hong Yu and Luyi couldn’t help wanting to come plead on Nanny Xu’s behalf to Song Chuyi. Even knowing that Nanny Xu wasn’t being sent away for committing a wrongdoing, the separation and unknown future ahead still made people uncomfortable.

It was Qing Tao who stopped them, risking offending the two by earnestly voicing her own perspective. Finally, she sighed and said, “If there were still room for negotiation, would the young lady stand by and watch Nanny be sent away? Right now, the one most distressed is probably the young lady herself. The two elder sisters shouldn’t go make the young lady unhappy.”

Nanny Xu happened to come over to give Luyi and Hong Yu instructions. Hearing these words, she praised them with admiration, looking at Qing Tao with a smile. “The young lady truly has a discerning eye for people. You really are excellent. I only hope that in the future you’ll look after these two girls more. Though they’re loyal, they ultimately can’t match your cleverness and quick-wittedness.”

Qing Tao nodded with a flushed face.

Nanny Xu earnestly instructed the three about future matters, especially warning them to watch whoever was sent to serve them later and guard against any ill intentions.

Luyi and Hong Yu understood the gravity of the situation and repeatedly agreed, though their hearts felt hollow and empty.

Nanny Xu comforted them with a few words. The defeated expression on her face had also disappeared. She calmly packed up all her belongings and went to Ningde Courtyard with quick, light steps to express her gratitude.

Old Madam Song had recovered over the past few days, and her spirits were much improved. Upon seeing Nanny Xu, she amiably asked a few questions, then told her to sit.

Nanny Xu still bent at the waist, humbly saying she wouldn’t dare.

This made Old Madam Song sigh inwardly, feeling that separating this mother and daughter was indeed somewhat unkind. She asked Nanny Xu a few questions, then said, “Don’t take it to heart. It’s not that you’ve done poorly—it’s just that the estate also lacks people. Your husband is capable. In the future, if you both do well outside, things will be much better.”

Nanny Huang also smiled in agreement, afraid that Nanny Xu would plead on her own behalf.

However, Nanny Xu suddenly knelt down firmly, looking at the old madam with a face full of pleading.

Nanny Huang thought she was going to plead for herself and anxiously went to help her up, coaxing and persuading with a smile. “You must be overjoyed! Hurry and get up now.”

Old Madam Song stared at her intently, her gaze unpredictable and shifting.

“Old Madam,” Nanny Xu persisted in kneeling on the ground, kowtowing to Old Madam Song. “I dare not disobey your orders. I… I’m just worried about Sixth Young Lady.”

Old Madam Song slowly waved her hand, and Nanny Huang stopped moving.

Yushu, Yulan, and the others had already led the junior maids in a line out the door.

Nanny Xu mustered her courage to look into Old Madam Song’s eyes, pleading sorrowfully. “A few days ago, Second Madam called me over privately, and I knew then that I probably wouldn’t be able to remain by the young lady’s side for long. I just didn’t expect it would come so quickly.”

Old Madam Song’s heart stirred upon hearing this, though her face remained impassive. She nodded, indicating for Nanny Xu to continue.

“A while ago, Second Madam called me over and asked if the young lady had shown any abnormalities recently.” Nanny Xu seemed to be carefully recalling the scene at that time, her brow furrowed tightly. “She said the young lady’s words and actions have been vastly different from before, wondering if she had encountered something unclean. She also had me over for detailed questioning, asking whether I had been loose-lipped and said anything improper to the young lady.”

What constituted improper words? Old Madam Song’s gaze flickered, and doubt arose in her heart.

Nanny Xu became more emotional as she spoke. “She also said Huang Yao was very good, and in the future when going out, I should have Huang Yao accompany her as much as possible. But Huang Yao clearly wasn’t dedicated in her work.”

Huang Yao and Nanny Wang!

Old Madam Song thought of those two bold and cunning servants, and the anger in her heart gradually began to rise.

“Second Madam also strangely told me to have Fourth Young Master interact with Sixth Young Lady as little as possible.”

Nanny Huang’s eyes widened. The look she gave Nanny Xu held some unease. Her granddaughter would be following Song Chuyi in the future, and Song Chuyi’s future circumstances would basically determine her granddaughter’s life.

Old Madam Song finally spoke, her voice flat and emotionless. “Oh? She said to have Brother Yan have less contact with Xiao Yi? Did she give a reason?”

“She said Sixth Young Lady was jealous that only Fourth Young Master was taken to Jinzhong, so Sixth Young Lady was very dissatisfied with Fourth Young Master.” Nanny Xu was somewhat indignant. “But Sixth Young Lady isn’t like that now. She clearly doesn’t harbor such thoughts.”

Old Madam Song certainly knew better than anyone that Song Chuyi absolutely wouldn’t harbor such muddled thoughts now.

She let out a cold laugh.

She had wondered why Song Yi had suddenly thrown a fit and insisted on making trouble for no good reason—it turned out someone had used him as a blade, wanting to cleave it down on Song Chuyi’s head.

The resentment in her heart from that year’s incident had not yet dissipated, and now Li Shi was up to these scorpion-like schemes again. It truly made her unbearably annoyed.

Nanny Xu kept kowtowing to Old Madam Song. “I dare not say Second Madam harbors any ill will, but she seems to think our young lady is no good. Old Madam, our young lady has truly improved. Her mind isn’t muddled.”

The image of Song Chuyi with tear-blurred eyes yet still sensibly nodding surfaced in Old Madam Song’s mind. She thought again of how these past several days, the girl had sat on the embroidered stool by her bedside reading to her and coaxing her to take medicine. Her heart softened.

Kind people are bullied; gentle horses are ridden.

Even if she didn’t consider how Song Chuyi relied on her so much, she still had to maintain this young girl’s wellbeing for the sake of the deceased Cui Shi.

She let out a cold laugh and said to Nanny Huang, “Go see if First Madam and Second Madam are available. Tell them to come dine with me this evening.”