Song Chuyi could not tolerate anyone making moves against Song Yan. Never mind that Wang Shi harbored deep-seated enmity with them—even Song Yi wouldn’t be allowed to do so.
In her previous life, Song Yan had been sent to the very gates of death by Wang Shi and Li Shi working together. Recalling those events, Song Chuyi’s entire body radiated a bone-chilling coldness.
She laughed coldly twice. Thinking carefully, she realized with a shock that she probably already knew what malicious scheme that poisonous woman Wang Shi was plotting.
Baozhu knelt on the ground watching her. Seeing how after her initial shock, Song Chuyi had remained silent throughout, her heart quailed somewhat. She tentatively called out, “Sixth Miss?”
Only then did Song Chuyi return to her senses and turn to look at her.
That gaze was misty and hazy, completely different from other young ladies whose eyes immediately revealed their emotions. It made it utterly impossible to guess her current mood. Not having expected that someone as young as Song Chuyi could cultivate such an ability to keep joy and anger from showing on her face, Baozhu felt somewhat startled. The words she had already rehearsed in her mind became stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
After another moment, Baozhu could hear her own heartbeat pounding like a drum. Finally unable to control herself anymore, she straightened up and looked at Song Chuyi with some urgency: “Sixth Miss, I truly haven’t lied to you.”
“I know.” Song Chuyi nodded. Her mood seemed completely unaffected by this matter. She even let out a soft laugh before asking, “Let me guess what Fifth Aunt had you place near Fourth Young Master.”
Guess?! How could anyone possibly guess such a thing?! There were countless ways to harm someone in this world! Baozhu instinctively wanted to laugh, thinking that this Sixth Miss before her must have something wrong with her head.
But Song Chuyi had already slowly stood up. Her gaze, which had previously seemed to contain mist, suddenly turned sharp: “Is it something from the palace?! Or… something belonging to Prince Duan?”
Baozhu’s eyes went wide. Disbelieving, she sat back heavily, feeling as if her mind had exploded with a thunderous crash, everything turning chaotic.
How was this possible?!
Just seeing her expression confirmed it for Song Chuyi. She couldn’t help wanting to laugh coldly several times. Wang Shi had never made any progress—using the same methods from the previous life again in this one, just earlier.
Only this time she couldn’t use Princess Shijia to frame things. It would likely be matched with some other noble of imperial blood instead. She had heard that Prince Duan’s princess was now nearly four years old…
“You and I both know what you came to find me for.” Song Chuyi collected her emotions and turned to look at her coolly: “Now I’m giving you a way out.”
That Song Chuyi could actually guess what Fifth Madam had placed near Song Yan made Baozhu feel as if her heart had contracted into a tight ball. She had assumed Song Chuyi certainly wouldn’t take the bait as she wished anymore. Now hearing Song Chuyi say this, Baozhu’s heart first relaxed with relief. She nodded rapidly: “I’ll go, I’ll go. Will Sixth Miss point me to a clear path?”
Song Chuyi nodded, telling her to return to her duties as before. As for other matters, she needn’t worry about them for now.
After she left half-believing, half-doubting, Qing Tao’s expression looked rather poor as she asked Song Chuyi: “What about that item near Fourth Young Master—are we just going to ignore it? If someone discovers it…”
Of course they had to deal with it.
Song Yan’s current situation couldn’t be compared to his previous life. In that life, Song Yan had mediocre talents. In the household, he could only receive ordinary assignments like a concubine-born son. Song Yi had two other legitimate sons with Li Shi.
And the Song family’s elders had all passed away, so naturally the ones in charge wouldn’t look after Song Yan.
But in this life, Song Yan was still Song Yi’s only son, and the one in charge of the Song family was still Song Yan’s own grandfather.
If Wang Jinsi set her sights on Song Yan, combined with her already scandalous past behavior, there was no escape from death for her.
But all of this was far from enough.
If the people around Song Yan were all reliable, this dirty water couldn’t be splashed onto him at all.
Li Shi had never once been devoted to Song Yan. If there was anything she had been devoted to, it was probably her genuine, sincere desire to truly raise him to be completely useless.
She sat in her chair thinking for a long time, finally feeling there was no need to let Li Shi off so easily.
Without Li Shi’s tacit permission or even encouragement, Wang Shi’s people couldn’t possibly have infiltrated Song Yan’s side.
Having Baozhu directly bring this matter to Song Chengru and Old Madam Song—while Wang Shi certainly wouldn’t get off well, Li Shi would only receive a reprimand.
Such a light punishment certainly wasn’t enough. Such an excellent piece of leverage should naturally be used at the most opportune moment to achieve maximum effect.
After thinking it through from all angles, she decided to personally go see Song Yan’s quarters.
Speaking of which, though Song Yan had returned nearly a month ago, this would only be her second time visiting his rooms.
Song Yan’s residence was located in a two-story small building beside the second branch’s quarters. There were no flowering trees visible around it—mostly evergreens like camphor and ginkgo, giving it an austere and dignified appearance.
However, she came up empty. Song Yan wasn’t in his courtyard.
The supervising nanny from Song Yan’s quarters didn’t arrive until over an hour later to apologize to Song Chuyi. Yet her face showed no panic, carrying a rather casual air: “Young Master went to Madam’s rooms. Thinking he wouldn’t need anything for a while, this old woman went home for a bit.”
She admitted it quite readily. She considered herself Li Shi’s person now and held no respect for Song Chuyi, this legitimate daughter left by the former wife.
Song Chuyi didn’t get angry. With a smile, she nodded lightly and let it pass, then went to look at the other servants.
Song Yan had four senior maids around him, all currently twelve or thirteen years old. Though not very old yet, each was dressed extremely elaborately.
The oldest was called Liulü. When she came forward to serve tea, she couldn’t even hold the cup steady. Posing with her slender waist, she was gasping for breath, clutching her chest in a delicate, frail manner like Xi Shi holding her heart.
The other three were also as precious as daughters of other families’ main branches. They couldn’t handle needlework, and when asked about Song Yan’s seasonal clothing, they knew nothing. Rather than seeming like maids, they seemed like young mistresses.
Her thoughts stirred. Smiling, she turned to look at Nanny Xu: “Nanny, I remember the people serving my brother weren’t these ones originally. But I didn’t know—can supervising nannies be replaced at will?”
Nanny Xu had never seen a master’s quarters in such chaos. Her brow furrowed so deeply it nearly tied itself in knots. With a stern face, she shook her head: “Naturally not. There must have been some mistake in between.”
Song Yan had clearly brought back quite a few people from the Cui family. Just a while ago, they could still be seen serving him. Now they were all nowhere to be found. If there weren’t Li Shi’s manipulations behind this, you’d have to beat someone to death before they’d believe it.
Having achieved her purpose, Song Chuyi didn’t linger. But as she left through the courtyard gate, she turned to look back once more.
Liulü and Zhenzhu had already set up a swing in the courtyard and were playing. That supervising nanny was also sitting grandly in the seat of honor inside the house, calling for people to pour her tea—every bit the posture of a grand matriarch.
A mocking smile spread across Song Chuyi’s face and reached her eyes. She led the iron-faced Nanny Xu along with Qing Tao and Hong Yu back to the side hall.