As soon as she returned to her room, Nanny Xu took the bundle out and searched it thoroughly from top to bottom. But the fact was that inside was indeed clean and contained nothing—except for a few articles of clothing and some pastries, there truly was nothing else.
Hong Yu looked at that pile of items and felt her eyelids twitching. Somewhat repulsed, she picked them up and threw them all outside into the courtyard.
“Could it be another act put on for the old master and old madam to see?” Qing Tao was also somewhat puzzled. She poured a cup of tea for Song Chuyi and passed it over, muttering, “But why choose precisely this moment?”
Song Chuyi’s brow moved slightly. She turned her head to instruct Hong Yu, “Hong Yu, go find Nanny Xu. Have Nanny Xu inquire about who Second Madam dispatched to deliver these things.”
Lady Li would never do anything without reason. To ask her to believe there wasn’t something suspicious inside—that would be harder than asking her to believe pigs could climb trees.
The fiery clouds on the horizon faded away. The clouds that had been golden and dazzling earlier transformed into a heavy dark green color, setting off the sky about to darken, adding several touches of eerie beauty.
Because the past few days had been turbulent, dinner was prepared especially early. Before the sky had completely darkened, someone from the kitchen came to ask if the meal could be served.
Song Chuyi was indeed somewhat hungry. She had just nodded to indicate the meal could be brought when she heard from outside that Miss Chen had come again.
Nanny Xu’s hand movements paused. She lifted her head to look at Song Chuyi. “Miss, she came once before when you went to see the Grand Prince.”
Perhaps it was to ask about that Inspector from last time? This Miss Chen looked to be a clever person. She surely couldn’t be coming to mooch a meal, right? Song Chuyi raised her eyebrows and signaled Qing Tao to lead her in.
Miss Chen was all smiles. The laugh lines beneath her eyes became increasingly prominent, and her almond-shaped eyes were brimming with laughter as she smiled at Song Chuyi. “Speaking of it, I’m not afraid of younger sister laughing at me. After my afternoon nap I had a nightmare. The more I thought about it, the more panicked I became. Originally I was thinking of coming to talk with younger sister to ease my feelings. Who knew that now my heart is even more anxious.”
The kitchen had already delivered the meal to the adjacent room and was waiting. Song Chuyi couldn’t very well ask for details at this moment, so she could only smile as well. “Elder sister came in such a rush, you must not have eaten yet? Why not dine together?”
Miss Chen seemed to be hoping for precisely this invitation. The smile on her face deepened as she slowly nodded. “Since that’s the case, then I’ll shamelessly impose.”
However, after finishing the meal, Miss Chen had already described the circumstances of her dream at least four or five times and showed no intention of leaving. And going over it again and again, it was nothing more than saying how terrifying her dream had been.
As evening approached, Hong Yu led people to light the lamps in the room, and the lanterns at the courtyard entrance were also all lit.
Only then did Miss Chen somewhat bashfully take Song Chuyi’s hand. “Younger sister, tonight can I stay with you? When I was at home before, I always had my wet nurse accompanying me.”
Her wet nurse had been killed by Tatar raiders while protecting her.
Song Chuyi finally understood what scheme this Miss Chen was plotting. She had probably heard news of Tatar raiders gathering and feared her own location wasn’t safe enough, so she simply came here.
But actually, this Miss Chen was truly overthinking things. After all, she was the legitimate granddaughter of Second Grand Secretary Chen. How could she possibly not be valued by Song Ren or even Ye Jingguan?
Moreover, there were already no fewer than forty people patrolling back and forth in this rear courtyard. The small courtyard she lived in and the small courtyard Miss Chen lived in—no matter how you looked at it, there was no difference between them.
However, since the person had already spoken thus, there was no reason to drive her away. Song Chuyi looked at the sky, then readily nodded her head.
The moon rose to mid-branch. The surroundings became increasingly quiet because the houses were all empty—so quiet you could hear insect chirping.
Miss Chen insisted on staying by Song Chuyi’s side, propping her head up with one hand while reading a book.
Who knew how much time had passed when clamor finally erupted outside—footsteps, followed immediately by earth-shaking battle cries.
Miss Chen was so startled her face turned pale as she stood up, pacing back and forth restlessly.
“His Highness’s side…” Miss Chen looked at Song Chuyi with a deathly pale face. “Nothing will happen, will it?”
At a time like this, frightened herself yet still having the presence of mind to worry about Zhou Weizhao’s safety—Song Chuyi found this somewhat strange as she thought to herself, though on the surface she smiled reassuringly at her. “His Highness has so many elite Imperial Guards by his side.”
Her words had not yet fallen when suddenly there came a thunderous bang from outside. The courtyard gate immediately began to teeter precariously.
Miss Chen was so shocked her face lost all color. She grabbed Song Chuyi’s hand in a death grip, staring fixedly at the door.
Nanny Xu, Qing Tao, and Hong Yu all started with alarm, then immediately closed the doors inside the room.
It was precisely at this moment that whistling sounds came through the air. Sharp arrows pierced through the window paper, shooting into the room.
“Get down!” Song Chuyi immediately reacted, pulling the inescapable Miss Chen to immediately lie prostrate on the ground together.
These people weren’t Tatar raiders! The Tatar raiders hadn’t been carrying bows and arrows at all!
Song Chuyi’s thoughts spun rapidly. She saw Miss Chen staring at her with an extremely strange expression.
After one volley of arrows, the courtyard gate began banging loudly again, followed immediately by a resounding crash—the courtyard gate must have been smashed through.
Song Chuyi had not yet had time to savor the meaning of Miss Chen’s expression when she was suddenly pulled up forcefully by Miss Chen.
The place where the two of them had been lying prostrate was right beside the round table in the center of the room, extremely close to the door at this moment. Miss Chen stared at Song Chuyi once more, then suddenly reached out to wrench the door open, using both hands to push Song Chuyi out through the doorway!
She must have also guessed that this force wasn’t Tatar raiders but was coming for her. In the instant Song Chuyi’s thoughts flashed, she saw the courtyard gate completely smashed open—
“Hey!” Ye Jingchuan’s mischievous, cheerful duck-like voice suddenly rang out. Immediately following, Song Chuyi saw his face suddenly magnified before her eyes. “With all this chaos outside, are you an idiot? Why are you running out here?”
Song Chuyi’s mind was somewhat chaotic for a moment. Unable to react in time, she stared blankly at Ye Jingchuan’s upside-down face.
“Get inside!” Just as she reacted, she was pushed without mercy, directly shoved back into the room.
It was Zhou Weizhao’s voice!
She widened her eyes and scrambled up, immediately surrounded by Nanny Xu, Hong Yu, and Qing Tao.
“Miss!” Qing Tao was so anxious her voice carried tears as she looked her over from top to bottom.
Nanny Xu was also so shocked she rarely displayed emotion, trembling as she pulled Song Chuyi behind her, looking vigilantly toward Miss Chen standing by the round table.
It was this Miss Chen who appeared so soft and weak, yet just now had been so ruthless as to push Song Chuyi out to use as a shield! If not for the Grand Prince and Ye Jingchuan—
Nanny Xu felt dizzy before her eyes, nearly unable to stand from anxiety.
This entire turn of events from start to finish added up to less than half a tea’s time. Song Chuyi looked at the sky outside reddened by firelight, following Nanny Xu’s gaze to look coldly at Miss Chen.