At least the immediate crisis had been resolved. After several consecutive days of tense nerves, once Old Madam Song relaxed, she felt waves of exhaustion washing over her.
It was quite common for elderly people to lack energy. She leaned against the chair back and sat for a while, then slowly waved her hand for Yushu to come massage her shoulders.
Song Chengru needed to go to the study to await news from Song Ren and Song Jue. Seeing this, he told Song Chuyi to also return to the side hall to rest.
“This evening we’ll hold a welcoming banquet for your elder brother. Go back first and restore your energy.”
After a whole day of turmoil, even an iron person should be tired. Old Madam Song also urged her to return: “Your grandfather is right. There’s nothing more you need to do here. Hurry back and take a nap.”
Song Chuyi obeyed as instructed. As soon as she returned to the side hall, Luyi and Hong Yu came forward with concern. They didn’t know that Song Chuyi’s carriage had encountered trouble, but Song Chuyi had been out all day without taking them along, so naturally they were extremely worried.
Song Chuyi smiled and drank a mouthful of tea to moisten her throat, asking them if anyone had come by during the day.
Luyi’s expression became somewhat strange, mumbling awkwardly like a mosquito humming: “Nanny Yu from Second Madam’s courtyard came by. She said tomorrow is the first of the month and she’s going to burn incense at Huangjue Temple. She said she wants you to go too.”
They were now somewhat paranoid. Hearing it was from Li Shi frightened them terribly. In the end, it was Nanny Xu who inexplicably sent Nanny Yu away.
Song Chuyi had vaguely heard Old Madam mention this to First Madam, saying that since the household had experienced much misfortune recently, it would be good to burn incense at Huangjue Temple. First Madam would also go at that time, and Li Shi didn’t have the audacity to make trouble under First Madam’s eyes.
Hong Yu also chimed in: “Why not just not go? We could say your health isn’t good…”
Song Chuyi waved her hand. She still needed to pick a time to go out and meet Qing Tao’s parents, to hear what information they had actually discovered. Tomorrow’s trip to Huangjue Temple should be an opportunity.
She had very few chances to leave the residence. Today’s outing was because she was handling business for Song Chengru. As for matters related to Li Shi, she couldn’t very well speak plainly to Song Chengru and Old Madam Song.
“Since everyone is going, it wouldn’t look good if I alone didn’t go.” Song Chuyi shook her head: “Besides, First Aunt will be there, and tomorrow should be Elder Brother escorting us. Nothing will happen.”
Once she made a decision, it was never easy to change. Luyi and Hong Yu stopped trying to persuade her and nodded, attending to her bathing and changing clothes.
She had just finished washing her face when Ziyun came in saying that Baozhu had arrived, adding with some puzzlement: “I asked her what she wanted, but she just gritted her teeth and wouldn’t say a word.”
Song Chuyi didn’t immediately recall who this Baozhu was. Only after Luyi reminded her did she realize she was the chief maid serving Song Jie, Nanny Qiu’s granddaughter.
Nanny Qiu’s granddaughter…
Song Chuyi’s eyes shifted. She handed the handkerchief to Luyi and said: “Then let her come in.”
Baozhu was even smaller than Ziyun, appearing to be only about eleven or twelve years old. She wasn’t particularly attractive, with an oblong face and narrow eyes. She stood in the hall with a bitter expression.
By rights, anyone connected to Nanny Qiu should have already been cleared out by First Madam and Old Madam. How had this Baozhu not been implicated?
As if seeing through Song Chuyi’s current thoughts, Baozhu pulled out an ugly smile, saying with slight mockery: “Sixth Miss must find it very strange that I wasn’t arrested. Speaking of it, I have to thank Third Master for his benevolent heart—he specially pleaded for me. And First Madam, looking at my usual loyal service, spared me this disaster.”
Song Chuyi patiently listened to the end and found Baozhu’s barbed words quite laughable. So she smiled accordingly: “So you came here to show off your capabilities to me?”
Baozhu’s remaining words immediately stuck in her throat, unable to come out. She looked at Song Chuyi and laughed strangely, her tone odd: “How would I dare? Sixth Miss is now a favorite before Old Master and Old Madam. Everyone knows that offending you is equivalent to offending Old Master and Old Madam.”
“Since you know this, did you come just to say these few useless words?” Song Chuyi sneered back: “Or are you planning to seek justice for your godmother? I’ll tell you honestly—right now I’m busy and troubled. If you really came to bother me over such boring trifles, I’ll truly have someone take you before First Madam.”
Qing Tao was also supporting herself with effort to attend Song Chuyi. Hearing this, she immediately said: “Sister Baozhu, you should know that what our miss says is different from what other young ladies say. Since you’ve come to our door, naturally you’re not just here to make a few sarcastic remarks to upset our miss, right? If that’s the case, why not speak directly?”
With this ladder provided, Baozhu’s expression improved somewhat. She hesitated for a long while before finally kneeling on the ground, looking at Song Chuyi with some trepidation: “To be honest with Sixth Miss, when Third Master was selecting a gift for you, I was originally handling it. I chose a butterfly hairpin that Third Master personally bought from the Jewel Inlay Pavilion outside. Later, Godmother said Fifth Madam felt the gift was too light and specially took out a tortoiseshell bracelet inlaid with pearls…”
“Fifth Madam never interfered with Third Master’s affairs, so I felt something was wrong at the time. But the master gave orders, and I had no choice…” Baozhu observed Song Chuyi’s expression: “After Third Master had already sent out the bracelet, I discovered that bracelet was truly problematic. But when I saw you never wore it, I thought the matter would slowly pass. Who knew that starting a few days ago, Godmother disappeared without a trace, Fifth Madam moved to Ningde Courtyard, and almost everyone around her vanished completely. The people around Fifth Miss and Third Master were all replaced. Only then did I understand the bracelet incident had been exposed…”
Song Chuyi pondered for a while and realized Baozhu was truly a clever person.
In a few words, she pushed everything onto Nanny Qiu and Fifth Madam. This was fear of settling accounts after autumn—she had come seeking a way out first. If she went to First Madam, she would surely never return. She couldn’t reach Old Madam, so she wanted to try her luck here with the youngest miss who was also the victim.
“What you’re saying no longer has any meaning now.” Song Chuyi smiled sardonically: “I thought you had some fresh information to tell me.”
Baozhu seemed to have been waiting for precisely these words. She almost lunged forward, grabbing Song Chuyi’s legs in denial: “No, no, no, it’s not just this. Miss probably doesn’t know—our madam also left something with Fourth Young Master.”
With Song Yan?!
Song Chuyi’s expression changed dramatically. Unable to care about kicking her away, she immediately bent down to stare at her and demand: “What did you say?!”
Baozhu breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. It seemed this Sixth Miss still had feelings for her only full brother. She was very good at reading people’s expressions and knew this wasn’t the time to keep secrets. She hurried to say: “It’s true. This matter was done secretly—only Nanny Qiu and I knew about it…”