Song Chuyi had once thought she’d lost all passion for this world and didn’t understand the reason for her continued existence. When she had just been reborn, she had even wondered why she had to live again.

She had already seen through this mortal world; the affection that had ruined her entire life, she could finally let go. What sustained her survival was solely the inextinguishable hatred in her heart.

That hatred was for Cui Shi, for Song Yan, and also for her child who died young.

She had thought that when she saw Shen Qingrang again, she would cry, make a scene, lose composure, wish she could take up a pair of scissors and viciously thrust them into his heart. But in the end she did nothing.

When hatred reached its extreme, she was instead more clearheaded than ever before.

Just like now—she clearly already knew the cause of Cui Shi’s death, clearly already knew that Lady Li was the chief culprit who killed Cui Shi, yet she could still maintain extreme composure and calm.

Song Ren thought she hadn’t heard clearly. He coughed and called to her again, “Xiao Yi?”

She didn’t know from when, but he too had learned from the old master and old madam to address her as Xiao Yi.

Song Chuyi came back to her senses, the corners of her mouth holding a perfectly appropriate smile that made it completely impossible to fathom her current thoughts. “Why is Mother sending me new clothes at this hour?”

Song Ren and Song Jue had summoned her because Lady Li was worried about her and had sent over clothing and bedding.

Song Ren shook his head. He also found it somewhat strange—knowing what time it was now, why would she still take the risk to send clothes that weren’t particularly urgent?

It must be that Lady Li truly doted on this daughter too much and really couldn’t feel at ease. He sighed inwardly and had someone hand the bundle Lady Li had sent to Hong Yu.

The sun gradually slanted westward. The parasol tree outside was rustling loudly in the wind.

Song Ren sighed and hurried Song Chuyi back to her room.

Song Chuyi stopped in her tracks without moving. She looked at First Master Song with some confusion, carefully voicing her doubt. “Uncle, I just heard them say there seem to be signs of Tatar raiders gathering nearby.”

Ye Jingchuan had once said that the Tatar raiders who broke through the pass numbered at least seven to eight hundred. Even excluding the nearly hundred Tatar raiders killed last night, what remained was still an extremely terrifying force.

Moreover, they were fierce warriors, each one able to fight to the death.

Song Ren frowned without speaking. Instead, Song Jue nodded. “Indeed. Tonight will likely be turbulent.”

“The Three Great Camps still haven’t made any movement?” Song Chuyi felt something was wrong. Logically speaking, the Minister of War and others should have already petitioned His Majesty. Xingfu could block them the first time, but could he block them a second time?

Or was Xingfu truly planning to persist obstinately, even going with the flow and watching as the Grand Prince also died at the hands of Tatar raiders?!

But given His Majesty’s current degree of favor toward the Crown Prince and Grand Prince, where exactly did Xingfu get the confidence to withstand the Emperor’s wrath?

Song Jue shook his head. “I don’t know why, but up until now there hasn’t been a bit of news. Even if Xingfu agreed now to mobilize the Three Great Camps, it would probably be too late.”

Since the Tatar raiders were already gathering, they would launch their attack by tonight at the latest, and the Three Great Camps couldn’t possibly arrive here fast enough.

“Then what plans do the Prince Consort and the Grand Prince have now?” Song Chuyi immediately thought of Ye Jingguan, who had been nowhere to be seen since afternoon.

Ye Jingguan was Princess Rongcheng’s consort, and Princess Rongcheng and the Crown Prince were full siblings from the same mother—logically speaking, he was naturally part of the Crown Prince’s faction.

And in her previous life it had indeed been so. The Prince of Zhennan ultimately hadn’t supported Prince Duan, but instead turned to support Prince Gong, the Crown Prince’s younger brother.

Now with the Grand Prince here, whether for the Grand Prince’s sake or for his own younger brother Ye Jingchuan’s sake, he absolutely couldn’t let anything happen to this villa.

“The Prince Consort went to find the Censorial Inspector stationed in Tongzhou. Hoping he can mobilize the Reserve Forces.” When Song Jue reached this point, he stopped continuing and instead turned to look at Song Chuyi. “Do you have any good solutions this time?”

“If he can mobilize the Reserve Forces, that would be the best solution.” Song Chuyi was so calm that both Song Ren and Song Jue found it somewhat frightening. She suddenly pushed open the window and looked outside into the distance, then suddenly turned back to ask, “Brother, have you noticed that all the streets around us are narrow and long? I heard Uncle Zhang say that the space between our estate’s outer wall and the Zhangs’ outer wall across from us is only six feet wide.”

Indeed it was. At the time, there had been quite an argument over this middle passageway being too narrow, even coming to blows.

Song Jue was initially puzzled, but then understanding dawned and his eyes suddenly lit up. He clapped his hands excitedly. “Surround and attack! Ambush from both sides!”

The passageway was narrow, accommodating at most three people passing through. If they came to attack the villa, they could only squeeze through in a line. At that time, if they blocked the alley entrances and stationed archers within their own walls and within the Zhangs’ walls across the way—even if they couldn’t capture them all in one net, they could at least inflict heavy losses!

“Excellent!” Before Song Ren could react, a cheer came from outside.

Ye Jingguan immediately entered with an energetic stride, looking at Song Chuyi with eyes full of appreciation, then turned to Song Ren. “Your estate’s young lady is truly astonishing!”

Song Ren hastily demurred, immediately wanting to have Song Chuyi withdraw.

For a young lady, having a reputation for being too clever spread too far was never a good thing.

Ye Jingguan saw through his intention and quickly stopped him, instead turning to look at Song Chuyi with a smile. “I heard that the night before last, those Tatar raiders fell into your trap before breaking in, then that foolish boy Jingchuan caught them all in one swoop. This shows that Sixth Miss Song truly doesn’t yield to men! Tell me, what other methods do you have?”

“If we fear they’ll become desperate.” Song Chuyi neither avoided nor yielded, looking frankly at Ye Jingguan, suddenly raising her voice. “We could coat the arrows with fire oil beforehand.”

This time even Song Ren couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

Yes, fire oil!

The Tatar soldiers’ clothing was mostly thick and cumbersome. If set on fire, they would inevitably run about in all directions, and the alleys were that narrow—the faster they ran, the faster the flames would spread.

The three men looked at each other, all feeling the situation before them suddenly clear.

Ye Jingguan felt he’d found a treasure. His eyes were practically glowing as he looked at Song Chuyi. After a long moment he finally reacted and praised her with a “Good.”

Song Ren also felt the weight of the stone pressing on his heart lighten considerably.

What followed was no longer something Song Chuyi could participate in. Since Ye Jingguan had mobilized the Reserve Forces, the common people gathered at the ancestral hall should have sufficient power to be protected.

Someone as clever as him would surely know how to minimize the impact of this matter on the Prince of Zhennan’s manor—make it smaller and smaller still.

As for the nearly fifty Elite Imperial Guards the Grand Prince had brought—all were elite troops. Protecting the Grand Prince’s safety would certainly be no problem.

Now the only thing to do was guard the several connecting alleys to prevent them from attacking in multiple directions.