The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 9 - A Journey

Song Chuyi still didn't sleep well that night, spending most of it in a hazy state of dreaming. By morning, she was feeling sluggish. Nanny Xu, deeply concerned, assumed that Song Chuyi was still shaken by the incident with Song Chumi and began preparing materials to perform a soul-calling ritual that evening.

Song Chuyi tried to smile, but the corner of her lips barely moved—she feared Nanny Xu might call her soul back, only to pull her out of her current "beautiful dream."

As they conversed, Hongyu lifted the curtain and quietly entered the room. "Miss, the Old Lady has already lit the lamps."

Song Chuyi nodded, allowing Nanny Xu to help her put on her coat, then led Hongyu and Qingtao to Ningde Courtyard.

Last night, Yulan had been on duty. As she exited the house, she happened to meet Song Chuyi. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her face appeared weary, suggesting she hadn't rested all night.

Song Chuyi was puzzled. The maids in the Old Lady's quarters had the easiest jobs, and even when on night duty, the senior servants were there to assist. Why did Yulan look as though she hadn't slept a wink?

Yulan greeted her with a bright smile. "I heard you were ill, Sixth Miss. I worried all day. Now that I see you're doing much better, I'm relieved."

She had recently taken leave to visit her family and had only returned yesterday.

Song Chuyi smiled. "It wasn't a serious illness. I'm fully recovered now. But, Yulan, you look a bit under the weather yourself."

The smile on Yulan's face faded slightly as she dismissed it lightly, "The Old Lady asked for tea a few times during the night."

Asking for tea several times meant that the Old Lady had hardly slept at all.

Just then, another maid, Zilan, lifted the curtain and smiled. "Sixth Miss, you're here? The Old Lady was just asking about you!"

However, her smile seemed somewhat forced.

Among the four senior maids serving the Old Lady, Yushu was the most favored, but the other three were also highly regarded. Yet today, they all seemed to be masking their worries.

Song Chuyi's mind flashed with a memory, and a sense of understanding slowly dawned. She sighed quietly. She remembered that around this time in her past life, a message had arrived from Qingzhou, saying that Song Linlang's health was in decline.

Song Linlang was the Old Lady's only daughter, and the news of her illness had sent the Old Lady into a deep depression. It wasn't long before a second message arrived from Qingzhou, this time bearing news of her death.

The Old Lady was reclining on her couch, breathing heavily, her eyes red-rimmed. As soon as she saw Song Chuyi, she pulled her into a tight embrace. "Why didn't you wait until after breakfast to come over? It's still cold, even though spring has arrived. What if you catch a chill?"

"I wanted to accompany Grandmother for breakfast," Song Chuyi said, looking up at the Old Lady with feigned confusion. "Why are your eyes red, Grandmother? Did someone upset you?"

Nanny Huang hadn't slept all night—since Old Lady Song's beloved daughter was unwell, the old lady was worried and restless. Nanny Huang had spent the night comforting her, and it was only when she saw that Old Lady Song was feeling a bit better that she felt some relief. Now, hearing Song Chuyi's question, she felt uneasy and quickly gestured to Song Chuyi to stop talking.

Old Lady Song's expression indeed darkened further, and she let out a deep sigh.

Before Old Lady Song could say anything, Song Chuyi had already taken her hand in her small ones, looking at her sincerely and offering comfort: "Don't be sad, Grandma. No matter what happens, I'll always be here with you."

The little girl's heartfelt affection was plain to see, her clear eyes brimming with sincerity.

Old Lady Song was reminded of her own daughter Song Linlang, back when she was still a young maiden, swearing she'd never leave her side. Her heart softened, and she almost shed tears as she embraced Song Chuyi.

Just then, the First Lady came in to pay her respects and was taken aback by the scene.

She knew that the Sixth Miss had always held a special place in the old lady's heart, but in recent years, with Song Chuyi becoming increasingly spoiled, Old Lady Song hadn't shown her such affection for a long time.

But just because she behaved a little better yesterday... is it really enough to bring about such a change?

Old Lady Song, noticing the First Lady's arrival, released her hold on Song Chuyi.

"How is it?" Old Lady Song asked the First Lady, her face holding a trace of hope.

The First Lady hesitated, then after a long pause, shook her head with some difficulty: "The master has been very busy lately, with the spring hunt in April approaching. His name is also on the list of those attending... It's not that he doesn't think of Fourth Sister..."

Old Lady Song cut her off with a wave, her face darkening further.

"You may go," she said, not even sparing the First Lady a glance. "I understand."

The First Lady's expression turned slightly sour. She knew that Old Lady Song was displeased, but there was little she could do, so she awkwardly excused herself.

Song Chuyi had a rough idea of what was happening. Her aunt, Song Linlang, had been married to Xiang Yunzhang, the governor of Qingzhou, for eleven years. In the fourth year of their marriage, she gave birth to a daughter, but had no other children since.

In recent years, she had been forced to stop her husband's concubines from taking medicine to prevent pregnancy, and last year, a favored concubine had already given birth to a son. Meanwhile, Song Linlang's health had only worsened, and every message from Qingzhou brought bad news.

This time seemed especially serious. Song Chuyi squinted, recalling that it would only be about three or four months before news of her aunt's death would arrive from Qingzhou.

In her previous life, Old Lady Song had wanted her eldest son to visit Song Linlang—not just for a simple visit, but to give her daughter some face. After all, Song Linlang had been married for eleven years without producing a legitimate son, so her life in the Xiang family had been difficult.

Old Lady Song's heart ached for her daughter and wanted her son to go and show support.

But her eldest son, though willing, was too busy and ultimately couldn't go.

As a result, he missed the chance to see his sister one last time. In Song Chuyi's previous life, he regretted this deeply, even once weeping in front of Old Lady Song—a nearly fifty-year-old man crying in genuine sorrow.

Old Lady Song, too, seemed to age a decade in an instant, her vitality draining away.

Recalling this, Song Chuyi sat on the daybed and reached out to gently massage her grandmother's temples, her voice soft: "Are you missing Aunt, Grandma?"

Old Lady Song sighed deeply. The little girl's tender hands were soft and gentle, applying just the right amount of pressure. Old Lady Song felt both comforted and heartbroken, and she patted Song Chuyi's hand without saying a word.

"If Father can't go, can't Big Brother go?" Song Chuyi asked, her wide eyes fixed on her grandmother. "Big Brother doesn't start his job with the Yulin Guard until after the new year..."

Old Lady Song's eyes lit up—yes! The old master couldn't go, as it wasn't proper for a father to travel far just to visit a younger relative. The eldest son was busy, the second son was rushing back from Cangzhou, and the third son was still away on duty, but she still had her grandsons!