Song Chengru immediately understood his granddaughter’s meaning. Suppressing his anger, he sneered a few times and asked her, “Who gave you this item?”

“It was Nanny Qiu from Fifth Sister’s side.” Song Chuyi lowered her eyes and, after thinking, added, “This nanny is quite strange. In front of Fifth Sister, she doesn’t act like a servant but more like a proper elder. I’ve seen her pinch and strike Fifth Sister several times.”

“That woman used the pretext that Fifth Sister wanted to thank me for helping her out that day and gave me this bracelet. She repeatedly urged me to wear it. At first, I didn’t notice anything wrong, but after she pressed me again and again, I went back to examine it carefully and broke out in a cold sweat.”

She didn’t mention Song Jue. Regardless, she couldn’t believe Song Jue truly wanted to harm her. And someone as overly clever as Song Chengru wouldn’t overlook any detail. He was already somewhat distant from Fifth Branch’s grandchildren due to Fifth Madam, and if he knew Song Jue had been used as an intermediary, he might become even more estranged from her. That would make Song Jue’s life too difficult.

To let such a person attend to one’s own biological daughter—clearly Fifth Madam Wang Jinsi truly didn’t consider herself part of the Earl’s manor, and didn’t even regard the several children carrying Fifth Master’s bloodline as her own children.

With such a mother, how innocent were Fifth Branch’s several children!

Song Chengru came out to see Old Madam Song, his expression quite ugly. “That woman can’t be indulged any longer. This is absolutely outrageous!”

Old Madam Song, his wife of many years, understood immediately who he was talking about. She let out a long sigh, her face showing reluctance, and said hesitantly, “I’m truly disappointed in her too, but first, she is the biological mother of several children, and second, Empress Dowager Rongxian stands behind her. Even on New Year’s Day when we entered the palace, Empress Dowager Rongxian asked me how she was doing now. If not for concern about His Majesty, she would have brought her into the palace long ago.”

Wasn’t the matter with Prince Tai enough to make Empress Dowager Rongxian give up?

If not for this Empress Dowager, Fifth Madam would have died ten times over in Song Chengru’s eyes.

He endured the towering rage in his heart and spoke of how Nanny Qiu had given Song Chuyi contraband items, adding with lingering fear, “Fortunately, she picked Xiao Yi. If it had been any other young lady, the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Even so, Old Madam Song couldn’t help but gasp in shock and ask in alarm, “What?!”

She suppressed the terror in her heart and examined the bracelet repeatedly in her hand. She truly discovered the Duke Chengguo manor’s inscription inside, and couldn’t help but gasp in anger. “This person truly has no conscience! Our Earl’s manor has treated her with the utmost benevolence and righteousness. Fifth Master has treated her impeccably. How can a person’s heart be this black?!”

Song Chengru sneered coldly. “After all, she was raised by Empress Dowager Rongxian. Who knows what goes on in her mind? Back then, who in the entire capital dared to accept this hot potato? Many people knelt before the Empress begging and crying to refuse, but we took her in out of consideration for Duke Chengguo’s face. Not only is she ungrateful, but all these years she’s treated us like enemies. Truly one type of rice feeds a hundred types of people. She can’t be touched, but all the people serving at her side must be completely replaced—not one should remain!”

Old Madam Song didn’t dare delay and immediately agreed. Then thinking of that Nanny Qiu, she said, “That old woman can’t be kept.”

She always knew what should be done at what time. Since this Nanny Qiu had been the one to deliver this bracelet and had urged Song Chuyi to wear it, it meant she knew something about this matter. Regardless of how much she knew, she couldn’t be kept as a future calamity.

Song Chengru nodded with satisfaction and added, “Warn Fifth Master to visit Wang Shi’s quarters less in the future. Replace all the people serving the children with our own family’s people. From now on, their upbringing will be entrusted to First Master’s wife.”

Old Madam Song naturally now wished for her son to stay as far away from Wang Shi as possible. Who knew if she might suddenly go mad and target her son, harming the entire family?

She immediately set about doing this, instructing Nanny Huang that it must not be delegated to others and to act immediately.

“We’ve given the Empress Dowager face for so many years. If she still pursues this matter, I’ll dash my head against her Changning Palace! Let’s see how she explains it to the people of the world!” She was truly furious and had developed some resentment toward Empress Dowager Rongxian.

Song Chengru saw that her face had turned pale with anger and quickly patted her back, laughing as he said, “Look at you. After all these decades, your temperament still becomes impetuous at critical moments. Why go to such extremes? Do you think all the men in our manor are dead?”

Old Madam Song felt somewhat better, drank the tea he handed her, and sighed again. “Fortunately it was Xiao Yi…”

“This little girl is excellent. She’ll be extraordinary in the future.” Song Chengru also nodded. “In the future, she definitely won’t remain a small fish in a pond. Confining her to the inner quarters would be a waste. With her knowledge and insight, if she were a man, she would definitely be a pillar of our Song family’s future.”

Old Madam Song felt Old Master Song was biased against women and was about to refute him when she saw Nanny Huang rush in hurriedly and say, “Old Master, Old Madam, that Nanny Qiu has escaped!”

Song Chengru and Old Madam Song looked at each other and cried out in unison, “What?!”

“We took people over there, but the people serving Fifth Miss said that old woman went out this morning and still hasn’t returned.” Nanny Huang lowered her head. “We rushed to her room—all her valuables have been packed away.”

Such a coincidence?!

Coming out of the study, Song Chuyi was also shocked to hear this.

Song Chengru immediately instructed Nanny Huang, “Go inform the First Madam that the roof tiles in Fifth Branch’s main courtyard are unstable recently and need major repairs. Have her lead people to thoroughly inspect Fifth Madam’s residence. As for Fifth Madam, for now have her stay here with Old Madam.”

“Right!” Old Madam Song also immediately summoned Steward Lin’s wife and said, “I trust you—don’t disappoint me. Take people to inventory all of Fifth Madam’s dowry and furnishings, and seal them in the manor’s storage for now.”

Both Nanny Huang and Steward Lin’s wife sensed something was wrong. Not daring to delay, they immediately went their separate ways to handle their respective tasks.

“Grandfather, quickly go notify Yingtian Prefecture.” Song Chuyi also reacted. “Our household has an escaped slave!”

This matter couldn’t be concealed. If their speculation was correct and Prince Duan had some collusion with Wang Jinsi, then this Nanny Qiu might very well be going to seek refuge with Prince Duan.

By characterizing her as an escaped slave now, in the future when she bore that reputation, even if she saw officials, she would first receive a hundred strokes of the威棍 (authority rod), and the credibility of her words would be greatly reduced.

Prince Duan was extremely perceptive. Knowing that Nanny Qiu had already been exposed, he naturally wouldn’t have other designs on her.

Song Chengru nodded, immediately wrote a note and had Steward Lin deliver it to Yingtian Prefecture. He also used this pretext to thoroughly investigate all the servants of Fifth Branch, controlling everyone who had any connection to Nanny Qiu.