The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 13 - Long-term Concerns

After all the calculations, the one who benefited the most from the whole situation turned out to be Song Chuyi!

The Second Lady had offended the First Lady, making it difficult to settle the matter with Huangyao from yesterday. For the time being, she couldn't even pay attention to Song Chuyi's affairs.

Qingtao was shocked by her own thoughts and looked at Song Chuyi with fear.

Song Chuyi had already turned her head to look at her, her bright eyes staring unabashedly, full of inquiry and warning, making Qingtao's heart race with anxiety.

Instinctively, Qingtao lowered her head, feeling that Song Chuyi's gaze was chilling. Her heart pounded so hard that she almost knocked over a cup.

Just then, Huangyao, who had made a big mistake yesterday, slipped in quietly and called out softly, "Miss, someone came to report half an hour ago that the Second Master has arrived at the dock. He should be entering the mansion around this time."

In the past, Huangyao was always the one to gather information because of her cleverness. This time, even though Song Chuyi hadn't instructed her, she went on her own.

Unexpectedly, Song Chuyi didn't show any displeasure towards Huangyao but instead smiled pleasantly, "I forgot to instruct you, but luckily you remembered."

Her smile was sweet, with dimples appearing on her cheeks, making it hard for anyone to stay tense.

Huangyao looked at her in surprise, seeing her genuinely smiling, and felt a bit relieved. She squeezed past Lu Yi and fawningly picked up a golden hairpin adorned with jade flowers, "Miss, since you're meeting the Second Master today, why not wear this? It makes you look luxurious and beautiful, sure to outshine the other girls. Even the Second Master and the Lady will be pleased, won't they?"

Song Chuyi glanced at it and nodded, smiling again, "You know my preferences well. Later, you and Qing Tao will accompany me to welcome my father."

Huangyao hadn't expected that just by gathering some information, she would receive such a good attitude from Song Chuyi and even be asked to accompany her to welcome Song Yi. She was so happy that she didn't know what to do, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, I'll always be with you, Miss!" She even made a playful face at Lu Yi as if to show off.

Qingtao, however, felt a chill in her heart, her palms sweating.

Song Chuyi led them to the east courtyard, where Li Shi was already preparing to go out with a few concubines and Song Chuning. Because Song Yi was returning today, she had specially applied the latest popular peach blossom makeup in the capital, looking charming and lovely.

Song Chuyi stepped forward to greet her, and Song Chuning rushed over, calling out "Sister" with infinite anticipation, "I wonder if Fourth Brother has grown taller now? Is he taller than me?"

Song Chuning was only eleven months younger than Song Yan, and they were the same age.

Li Shi glanced at the dazzling golden hairpin on Song Chuyi's head and smiled indulgently, saying to the concubines, "Look at these two little girls, not even asking about their father first, but caring about Yan-er first."

The concubines all smiled and said some auspicious words.

Before long, Su Zhi came in with a smile, "My Lady, the Second Master and Fourth Young Master have already paid their respects to the Old Lady and are now coming to our room."

Upon hearing this, Li Shi hurriedly led everyone to the door, where they saw Song Yi arriving with a child about the same height as Song Chuning. She quickly took the child's hand, smiling kindly and showing concern, "Did you get used to the boat ride? Were the attendants attentive? Mother has been worried about you for over a year..."

She completely ignored Song Yi.

Song Chuning rushed to hug Song Yi, happily calling out "Father," and pouted, "Mother only cares about Fourth Brother and Sister, not me!"

The little girl, with her hair in two buns, looked like a porcelain doll, her big eyes especially lively. Despite being travel-worn and tired, Song Yi couldn't help but smile, "If your mother doesn't care for you, your father does! I brought you many gifts from Jinzhong, including a Qingluan zither from Zichai Pavilion, a sandalwood table, and..."

At this point, he remembered his eldest daughter, who would have rushed over by now in the past, and looked back.

Song Chuyi hadn't changed much since he left, yet she seemed different—her appearance was the same, her eyebrows and eyes unchanged, but her overall demeanor had transformed. The arrogance and domineering air she once had were completely gone, making her stand out in the crowd.

He waved at her in surprise, "Xiaoyi! Come over quickly!"

Xiaoyi...

This was the only person in her past and present life who called her by her nickname...

Song Chuyi suppressed the bitterness in her heart and walked forward to greet Song Yi properly.

Her posture was more graceful than those county princesses who had specially hired nannies to teach them manners. Li Shi's hand paused when she saw this out of the corner of her eye.

Song Yi, however, was pleased and patted Song Chuyi's head, holding her and Song Chuning's hands, "Alright, let's not stand in the wind, let's go inside."

After returning from his long journey, Song Yi had a family banquet to attend in the evening. Li Shi dismissed the concubines and sent the children to the warm room.

Only then did Song Chuyi have a chance to take a good look at her younger brother.

In her previous life, she had been obsessed with Shen Qingrang, and Song Yan had spent more time at their maternal grandparents' house, so they didn't see each other often. But Song Chuyi remembered that Song Yan was very attached to her, possibly due to their mother's early death and his time spent at their maternal grandparents' house, making him lack a sense of security. When the children played games at home, he always carefully held onto her clothes to stay on the same side as her...

Thinking about the pitifully few interactions with Song Yan in the past and remembering his bloodshot eyes when he came to see her in her previous life, Song Chuyi couldn't help but hold his hand, her eyes turning red. (Translator XiaoBai: This made me tear up a little. I have a younger brother and two twin sisters, and we are all very close.)

She had so many things she wanted to say, things that Cui Shi would never hear, things she didn't dare to let Song Yi hear, and things she couldn't tell anyone else—she wanted to say she knew she was wrong, that she shouldn't have trusted her stepmother and stepsister, that she shouldn't have humiliated herself for a man who didn't like her, and that she shouldn't have ignored the brother who was closest to her in the world.

But now, looking into Song Yan's clear, unblemished eyes, she suddenly couldn't say a word.

Fortunately, everything was still in time, and fortunately, heaven had given her another chance to live, so these things wouldn't happen again.

Song Chuning frowned slightly, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

She always felt that her sixth sister was different—within just two days, her actions were well-measured, and her manners and etiquette seemed to have been learned without a teacher...