He certainly wouldn’t believe it entirely, and would at the very least develop some negative feelings toward Song Chuyi first.

After all, Li Shi had never made a single mistake in her outward treatment of her all these years—she had been even better to her than to her own daughter, Song Chuning.

Seeing Song Chengru remain silent, Song Chuyi curved the corners of her mouth in what passed for a smile. “You see? At that time, you would definitely think I was making trouble over nothing.”

“I know that both you and Grandmother are clever people, Grandfather, but clever people often think more than ordinary people do.” Song Chuyi continued looking at Song Chengru, very earnestly laying everything bare before him. “If I had made a fuss directly, forget about whether I could prove she did it—even if I proved it, you and Grandmother would probably think I was somehow complicit. So I couldn’t get involved. I could only lay the facts before you and let you judge for yourselves.”

What they judged for themselves would be the truth.

Song Chengru was somewhat surprised that this granddaughter was shrewd to this degree. He couldn’t help wanting to applaud her.

If only this were a boy…

He sighed inwardly and waved his hand, telling her to continue grinding ink.

Song Chuyi actually had the patience to continue. She truly kept her head lowered and carefully ground ink for a good half hour without even lifting her eyelids once.

“Your elder brother is coming back. He might arrive just in time for the royal hunt.” After watching coldly for a long while, Song Chengru suddenly spoke. “What do you think—should we have him go?”

Not having him go didn’t seem quite right. After all, he had just been promoted to the Yulin Guard, and by rights he should go to carry out defense duties.

“He can’t go.” In front of Song Chengru, Song Chuyi always spoke plainly and never concealed anything. “Setting aside whether the events from my dream will happen, Prince Duan still hasn’t left the capital to return to Fujian for this hunt and is lingering suspiciously. He’s such a vindictive person—if he wants to strike at our family, with several uncles away from home, he’ll definitely target Brother first, since he’s been in the spotlight recently.”

Song Chengru gave an almost imperceptible nod, then shifted the topic elsewhere. “The Grand Heir will also be returning to the capital soon. I’m afraid it truly is a turbulent season.”

The Crown Prince’s legitimate son had his fortune told by a Daoist master from Mount Longhu in Jiangxi as soon as he was born. The master said that only if he left home to avoid the world and had his name registered under a Daoist’s name could he live peacefully his entire life.

The current Emperor held the Daoist masters of Mount Longhu in exceptionally high regard. Though reluctant to hear this, he ultimately had the Crown Prince register the Grand Heir’s name under the Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu. After the boy fell gravely ill at age five, he was sent to Mount Longhu.

Counting from then, it had now been a full seven years since he went to Mount Longhu.

This Grand Heir never successfully returned in her previous life—he died on the road back to the capital to mourn the Crown Prince. It was said he encountered a mountain flood and was buried among the rocks.

She didn’t know whether, in this life, with the Grand Heir changing the timing of his return to the capital, he could avoid this fatal calamity.

After a moment of silence, Song Chengru suddenly asked her, “Do you hate her very much?”

She understood in an instant that Song Chengru was asking about Li Shi. After thinking for a moment, she put down what she was holding and pressed her lips together as she looked at Song Chengru. “Grandfather, do you want to hear the truth, or a lie?”

Song Chengru understood her meaning and sighed. At the same time, he felt somewhat pleased. Compared to Old Madam Song, this granddaughter clearly trusted him more—or rather, feared him more. She knew she couldn’t tell lies, so she obediently told only the truth.

To understand how to weigh advantages and disadvantages and calculate people’s hearts so well—saying she had been a Duke’s wife for over twenty years truly hadn’t been in vain.

The next day, after viewing the Lantern Festival displays, Song Yi came out from paying respects to the ancestors at the ancestral hall with his parents, then kept Song Chuyi and her sisters behind.

“Father is going to take up a post in Changsha—this is an honor from the Imperial family…” After his customary platitudes, he changed the topic. “While I’m away from home, you must not let your guard down. You must bring joy to Grandfather and Grandmother and be respectful and filial to your mother. You must all get along harmoniously with your brothers and sisters. In our family, cousins are the same as blood siblings—in the future, you must always watch out for and help one another.”

Everyone respectfully agreed. Song Chuyan was held in his mother’s arms, sucking his finger and babbling as he looked at the roomful of people.

Song Yi glanced at his eldest daughter, who stood silent, then at his youngest daughter with tears brimming in her eyes. His heart softened, and he gathered Song Chuning into his embrace.

Song Chuning glanced at Song Chuyi, then buried her head in Song Yi’s embrace and began to cry. “Father, once you leave, Mother will like me even less. She’s always only liked Elder Sister…”

Even at this moment, she didn’t forget to tattle. She truly had a little girl’s nature. Sensing his daughter’s dependence, Song Yi felt even more reluctant to leave. He stroked her hair and comforted her gently. “It won’t be like that. I’ll speak to your mother. When I’m free and it’s almost New Year’s, I’ll have someone bring you to Changsha to celebrate…”

Song Yan stood behind Song Chuyi, looking between Song Chuning and Song Chuyi, then quietly reached out to tightly grasp Song Chuyi’s hand.

Li Shi had been sitting listlessly beside Song Yi the entire time. Even when she occasionally spoke, it was with a forced smile. Seeing this scene, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

After comforting his youngest daughter, Song Yi finally looked toward the pair of children left behind by his late wife and beckoned them forward.

“Xiao Yi…” The moment Song Yi met her eyes that so resembled Cui Shi’s, he couldn’t help but tremble. His heart filled with prolonged panic and bewilderment. After a long while, he finally let out a low sigh. “You’ve grown up. You must be obedient before your grandmother.”

Thinking of Song Yi’s past kindnesses, Song Chuyi’s eyes finally reddened slightly, and she slowly nodded.

“When Father isn’t home in the future, if anything comes up, speaking to your mother is the same.” Seeing his daughter’s reddened eyes, Song Yi felt distressed, and even more guilt welled up in his heart. “If you suffer any grievances, write and tell Father. Father will stand up for you… But you mustn’t be headstrong and cause trouble with others, and you definitely can’t injure yourself again—another fall like that is no joke…”

Li Shi’s eyes were already swollen like walnuts. She forced a smile and reminded Song Yi, “It’s getting late. The children should sleep.”

Song Yi nodded, gave more instructions, and specifically admonished Nanny Xu who had come with Song Chuyi, “Light the lantern carefully, and be careful not to let your miss run around and fall.”

The expression on Li Shi’s face grew increasingly defeated. The tears she had just stopped fell again with a plop onto her hand.

Song Yi had so easily accepted Old Madam Song’s arrangements, without even asking a single “why.” She suddenly realized that her position in Song Yi’s heart might not actually be as important as she had thought.

Just like Cui Shi back then—Song Yi had also once sincerely treated her well, truly and genuinely loved and cherished her, placing her at the tip of his heart. But when the novelty wore thin, he could turn around and cast her aside.

She had guarded him desperately for several years and married him by hook or by crook, but these days weren’t as perfect as she had imagined.

Before, she had thought that if she could just marry him, seeing him once every ten days or half a month would be enough. But after truly marrying him, she wanted to be together every day… People truly were greedy creatures.