When Song Chuyi arrived at Ningde Courtyard, not only were the First Madam and her two maternal aunts present, but even the newly married Second Madam Yin Yunduan was also making pleasant conversation. The room was filled with a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
Song Chuyi couldn’t help taking an extra look at Yin Yunduan—this truly was an excessively intelligent and rational woman. Knowing what she wanted, she wholeheartedly pursued it, not letting anything else disturb her focus. Though she clearly didn’t like Song Yi and loved someone else in her heart, she could hide it tightly without revealing even a hint, devoting herself wholeheartedly to treating Song Yi well. In just these ten-plus days, she had already thoroughly subdued Song Yi, coaxing him to listen to everything this new madam said.
Song Yi had not only become much thicker-skinned now—or rather, not so much thick-skinned as finally aware, under Yin Yunduan’s guidance, of his responsibilities as a father. Day and night he inquired after their well-being, asked about Song Yan’s studies, and even occasionally dared to speak to Old Madam Song about Song Chuyi’s matters. Even if he didn’t dare speak up, there was still Yin Yunduan. Thus in just half a month’s time, Yin Yunduan had gotten along extremely harmoniously and pleasantly with everyone in the Song household, high and low. She was also generous with money. Though she came from the declined Earl Guangen’s household, she had none of the penny-pinching poor habits about her. Where money should be spent, she was willing to scatter silver freely, and even the servants liked her.
She said she would live her days well in the future, and she truly was single-mindedly heading toward that goal of living her days well.
Unity of knowledge and action. Song Jue had even tapped her head and lectured her at the time: “Few people in the world know what they want. Even fewer know what they want and work toward that direction. You should also think carefully about what exactly you’re seeking. The Old Ancestor and others want you to marry Ye Er—you also need to see whether you like him or not.”
What was she seeking? This question had been placed before her since the day of her rebirth, yet she had always tried to avoid it. She only wished for Song Yan to be safe and sound, and for the Cui family to be well without being implicated. Now Song Yan was indeed safe and sound, and the Cui family hadn’t been affected at all, but what she herself wanted had become a difficult problem.
She stepped forward and paid her respects to each person. Old Madam Song then asked her: “Have the gift lists all been adjusted according to what we discussed yesterday?”
Madam Cui couldn’t help laughing: “Old Madam is being too meticulous. When Old Madam sees Xiao Yi, she’ll be so delighted she won’t care about gift lists or anything like that. We’re all family—talking about such things is truly too formal.”
“Propriety cannot be abandoned.” Old Madam Song shook her head. Seeing that Song Chuyi had already revised the gift lists, she told her: “Your uncle sent back a letter saying that when the time comes, he’ll have A’Yan go help as a best man to escort the bride.”
Song Chuyi couldn’t help being somewhat surprised. By rights, those escorting the bride should be male members of the Cui family. The Cui family was prosperous with many people—how would they need Song Yan?
Yu Shi saw her confusion and added with a smile: “Your uncle too, insisting that his teacher is in Jinling, wanting A’Yan to escort the bride and take the opportunity to visit his teacher.”
Cui Shaoting studied under Master Qingfeng, the fellow disciple of Tang Mingzhao. When he said this, it certainly wasn’t to have Song Yan visit his martial uncle, but rather to add another layer of support for Song Yan.
Tang Mingzhao was the great Confucian scholar of the age, and Master Qingfeng was no less accomplished, though the two senior and junior brothers had completely different temperaments. He probably heard about Song Yan previously being plotted against by Han Zhi and was afraid Song Yan was learning too rigidly, planning to pave another path for Song Yan.
This could only benefit Song Yan’s prospects without any harm. Song Chuyi naturally had no objections. Seeing Old Madam Song also wearing a face full of smiles, she agreed and then asked Yu Shi: “Aunt, are we still departing on the ninth day as planned?”
According to the date calculated by the household’s fortune teller, the ninth was suitable for travel and visiting friends. It was also right after the New Year, and relatives and friends in the capital had all finished their visits, so it was set for that day.
Madam Cui turned the ring on her middle finger and looked at her: “We came this time precisely to tell you—it’s been postponed by one day. We’ll leave on the tenth. Isn’t the Empress holding a prayer ceremony on the ninth to pray for blessings for the people in Jiangxi who suffered from the snowstorm? We all must go and make an appearance.”
After leaving Ningde Courtyard, Yin Yunduan took Song Chuyi’s hand and went to the main courtyard. She gave her another round of instructions about being careful on the road and such idle talk. As for the gift list Song Chuyi was bringing to Jinzhong, she didn’t even ask—some matters could be asked about, while some shouldn’t even be touched. She had always been able to distinguish this very clearly.
Speaking of which, this truly was a stepmother who couldn’t be more worry-free. Song Chuyi smiled and accepted her good intentions, then heard her say: “After the New Year begins, the official document from the Ministry of Personnel should come down. Your father will probably be assigned as Prefect of Yanzhou Prefecture. When the time comes, I’ll accompany him to take up the post.”
With Yin Yunduan as a capable helpmeet, Old Master Song and Old Madam Song were also at ease letting Song Yi go out. Jiangxi and Zhejiang were prosperous and stable. If Song Yi went there, never mind making advances and establishing merit—maintaining stability should still be achievable.
Song Chuyi nodded. It was just that Song Yi would probably take up his post around March. By that time, she would probably still be on her way back from Jinzhong. It was estimated that they wouldn’t be able to see Song Yi and Yin Yunduan again for these next two years.
Yin Yunduan also brought up this point: “It’s just that when you return from Jinzhong, your marriage will be more or less settled. Your father and I will be far away in Zhejiang, so we might not be able to return for your engagement. However, when you marry out, we’ll definitely rush back no matter what. Rest assured.”
As she spoke, she took from He Chun behind her a gold and jade auspicious meeting pattern box decorated with gold tracery and scattered silver powder and handed it to Song Chuyi: “Consider this a gift from me. Think carefully about what I said to you before.”
Nowadays everyone who saw Song Chuyi wanted her to think carefully about her future. Even Song Jue had been constantly nagging in her ear lately. Song Chuyi increasingly felt time pressing urgently and her heart tangled, though on the surface she still just smiled faintly as usual: “I understand. Thank you for Mother’s guidance.”
However, Yin Yunduan could see she hadn’t taken the words to heart at all, or perhaps she had heard them but still couldn’t think it through. She couldn’t help shaking her head. This child Song Chuyi was intelligent. Privately, Yin Yunduan didn’t want Song Chuyi to marry into the imperial family. That way, Song Yi and she would be bound together with Song Chuyi, with no other choices. If a struggle arose then, the Song family as Song Chuyi’s natal family would of course also have to choose sides. This was something that once you were pulled in, you couldn’t extricate yourself.
However, these matters truly weren’t for her to decide. Thinking this through, she said no more and asked Song Chuyi which people she planned to bring along to serve her, how the luggage preparations were going, and such matters. After asking everything, she gave another round of instructions about things she hadn’t thought of, helped her add some items, and only then let her return.