Qing Zhuo carefully lifted his eyes to glance at Song Chuyi. He knew that the Sixth Miss Song had been somewhat unhappy recently. By rights, as a young Daoist priest, he wasn’t at all skilled in figuring out young ladies’ thoughts or emotions. But thanks to his master, he now knew even when the Sixth Miss Song yawned.

Song Chuyi said nothing, her head lowered as she pondered something. After deliberating for a while, Qing Zhuo tentatively said, “The new ones are just the same as Qing Luo and Han Yan. They were personally trained by the Celestial Master’s wife and are not inferior to Han Yan and the other in any way. Sixth Miss can use them with complete confidence.”

The wife of Celestial Master Zhang was also an expert at training female warrior-priests. Under her tutelage, the young women retained their feminine nature while losing the delicate pretensions of ordinary women. Song Chuyi had heard Princess Duanhui mention this before.

She nodded noncommittally. “When Qing Luo and Han Yan left initially, they said they were only borrowing them for a while. Why suddenly won’t they be coming back?”

It wasn’t that she was being oversensitive—she just felt there must be a reason behind this. Maids given to her should rightfully have their comings and goings decided by her. Zhou Weizhao had never interfered in such matters before. Now suddenly saying the people were gone, she found it inexplicable.

Qing Zhuo wanted to scratch his head again. How was he supposed to explain this? After thinking it over, he could only tell her truthfully, “His Highness was afraid they weren’t serving you properly, so he replaced them with more reliable ones.”

Speaking so plainly—not serving properly, not reliable—Song Chuyi thought of how Qing Luo and Han Yan had abandoned her to rush toward Zhou Weizhao back in Yangquan. Her expression grew even colder, yet at the same time she felt an indescribable sense of reassurance.

She couldn’t tame Qing Luo and Han Yan, couldn’t control them from pursuing what their hearts desired. But Zhou Weizhao had very decisively stepped in to handle this matter for her. Thinking of the somewhat inexplicable sulking she had been doing lately, her feelings became rather complicated.

Zhou Weizhao truly was extraordinarily attentive toward her.

Seeing Song Chuyi remain silent, Qing Zhuo thought for a moment and couldn’t help but say, “Sixth Miss, our master isn’t very good with words. If there’s anything that displeases you, please be understanding. Though he may not be good with words, his intentions toward you are absolutely genuine.”

What a loss it was—handsome appearance and high status, treating the Sixth Miss Song impeccably well, yet unfortunately handicapped by that mouth of his. If only he would learn from Second Young Master Ye’s ability to constantly produce sweet words! Instead, it fell to him, a warrior-priest, to worry on his master’s behalf. Really…

He calmed the irritation in his heart and looked at her with utmost sincerity. “You’ve heard him mention the cat he raised in the mountains, haven’t you? After that cat died, our master never raised any other cats or dogs. This comparison may not be appropriate, but you can also see from it our master’s peculiar temperament—he truly means well toward you. Speaking somewhat presumptuously, please stop being angry with him, Sixth Miss. He doesn’t even know what he did wrong, and every day he not only has to busy himself with scheming and plotting but also worry about you. He’s quite pitiful.”

His performance, complete with words and gestures, made Master Qingfeng unable to resist squinting and secretly glancing over. Tsk tsk tsk—he himself wasn’t good with words, but his subordinates certainly had plenty of eloquence.

Song Chuyi nodded with a slight smile. After Qing Zhuo left, she turned to look at Master Qingfeng, who had immediately averted his gaze. “Master, aren’t you busy?”

Master Qingfeng buried himself in a pile of books. Upon hearing this, he deflected with vague sounds, lowering his head with an appearance of extreme concentration, as if he hadn’t heard what she said at all.

When Song Chuyi couldn’t help but smile as she stood up to leave, he spoke up to stop her. “When your heart is at ease, life is better lived.”

He had spoken these words idly. Song Chuyi was a rather likable young lady. If she were a boy, Master Qingfeng would actually like her even more than he liked Song Yan.

Song Chuyi accepted his good intentions graciously. Returning, she summoned Qin Ying and Chang Gui, who attended Song Yan. Song Yan was going to Hubei, and Old Madam Song and Old Master Song had already given advance notice to officials along the route. With his visiting cards in hand, Song Yan would have an easier journey. Originally they hadn’t wanted to be so high-profile, but current circumstances forced it—Song Yan’s every move was destined to be scrutinized with particular attention. If they still avoided the itinerary as they had when he went to and returned from Sichuan in the past, that would no longer do. There was no guarantee people wouldn’t secretly follow and make underhanded moves, which would truly be unfortunate.

Qin Ying had followed Song Yan the longest. His martial skills were learned from his father Qin Chuan and were quite formidable. Yet Song Chuyi first instructed him to go to Sichuan. “Take the gifts for Master and the senior disciples ahead on behalf of Fourth Young Master. When the time comes, please ask Master and the senior disciples to look after him.”

Tang Mingzhao had a distinguished reputation in Sichuan. His words probably carried more weight than those of local officials. Song Yan had always respected him greatly. Song Chuyi wanted Tang Mingzhao to keep track of Song Yan’s itinerary in his mind, so that if Song Yan failed to arrive on time, their side could take action first, or at the very least report back here that all was well.

Qing Ying had always feared Song Chuyi more than Song Yan. Not daring to voice the slightest objection, he respectfully acknowledged the order and turned to find Lin Hai to request travel funds and personnel.

The remaining Chang Gui had been sent by Cui Yingshu. Ordinarily both perceptive and sensible, he was very good at advising Song Yan. Song Chuyi instructed him to find an escort agency and hire some men.

He was somewhat surprised. Song Jue had even given Wangfeng to Song Yan. All together, Song Yan had at least seven or eight people around him who knew martial arts. Although the great scholar Tang Mingzhao’s place had strict rules forbidding household servants from accompanying students, the Song family would certainly not skimp on escort personnel. Even so, they still needed to additionally hire an escort agency?

Song Chuyi, however, thought it perfectly natural and lifted her chin toward him. “Go on. Better safe than sorry.”

After dismissing Chang Gui, Song Chuyi called Ziyun and Qing Tao in. “Qing Luo and Han Yan won’t be coming back anymore. In a few days, new replacements will arrive. Tell Nanny Jin who serves at First Aunt’s side.”

Qing Luo and Han Yan had both been temporarily requisitioned by the Crown Prince. Hearing that neither of them would be returning, Qing Tao and Ziyun both changed color slightly. They exchanged glances, and it was Ziyun who spoke first, frowning with some concern. “Miss, they…”

Qing Luo and Han Yan had greatly annoyed Qing Tao back in Yangquan. Her words carried some reproach. “Could it be that they… could it be that they’ve developed other intentions?”

Thinking of Song Chuyi’s melancholy disposition these past days, Qing Tao’s expression grew even more unpleasant.

Song Chuyi, however, smiled and shook her head. “It’s not that. They’ve returned to Longhu Mountain.”

As long as the Crown Prince hadn’t developed other feelings for those two, that was fine. Qing Tao breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Song Chuyi’s smiling demeanor, she knew her mistress had the situation well in hand and didn’t say anything more about it. After all, though Qing Luo and Han Yan were highly skilled in martial arts and had been fairly obedient these past six months or so, they still couldn’t compare to the bond forged through constant companionship with Luyi and the others. As long as the replacements were also martially skilled, there really wasn’t much difference.