The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 17 - Dissatisfied

Song Chuyi knelt in the courtyard of the Old Lady's residence with a cold expression. The bamboo planted nearby swayed with the wind, its branches extending beyond the courtyard, lush and green.

So full of life.

Unlike her courtyard in the Duke of Ying's residence in the previous life, which was filled with withered flowers and broken walls.

The First Lady came out of the Old Lady's room and saw Song Chuyi staring blankly in one direction, her usually empty eyes showing a rare look of expectation—that was the back of the Second Master holding Song Chuning's hand.

The expectation in Song Chuyi's eyes disappeared in an instant, her gaze returning to emptiness. She knelt straight and firm, not relaxing for a moment.

At that moment, the First Lady felt a pang of sadness. She squatted in front of Song Chuyi, gently touching her head, "Why are you so stubborn? It's just a small matter. Admit your mistake and it will be over. Why won't you admit it?"

Nanny Huang came over with small steps, first saluting the First Lady, then bending down to help Song Chuyi, "Sixth Miss, the Old Lady is asking for you."

The First Lady couldn't say more to Song Chuyi, so she patted her hand, "Go on, don't make the Old Lady angry."

"I didn't know you were so sharp-tongued before." The Old Lady frowned at Song Chuyi, who was pursing her lips and not speaking, "Just a few days ago, I was told you had become much more sensible. Why are you so willful today?"

Song Chuyi lowered her head without speaking, the jade pendant at her waist shining brightly under the light.

The Old Lady waited for a while but didn't hear her speak, so she snorted, "Come here, let me see!"

Song Chuyi took a few steps forward and stood in front of the Old Lady.

Although her hair was a bit messy, her face was not injured like Song Jie's. The Old Lady felt relieved but still asked sternly, "Do you know your mistake?"

Song Chuyi still didn't speak, but a large tear fell from her eye.

The Old Lady was startled and couldn't keep a stern face anymore. She pulled her closer and scolded, "Crying, you still know how to cry. Now you're scared? Where did that fierceness go when you rushed to bite someone? After what happened with your Fourth Sister, I thought you had come to your senses. Who knew you were still so reckless."

The servants were ultimately afraid of the Fifth Lady and didn't dare to stop her forcefully. The Fifth Lady, used to causing trouble, rushed straight to Song Chuyi.

But this time, she didn't gain any advantage because Song Chuyi bit her wrist fiercely.

She bit so hard that the Fifth Lady's hand was left bloody and mangled. If Song Chu You hadn't come crying to pull her away, the Fifth Lady's hand might have been bitten off.

The Old Lady didn't understand where her granddaughter's hatred came from. Although the Fifth Lady was annoying, she had nothing to do with Song Chuyi.

"Grandmother..." Song Chuyi knelt down with a thud, her voice low and her eyes confused, "I had a dream..."

Yu Shu quickly led the maids out, leaving only Nanny Huang standing by.

"In the dream, I was disliked, had a bad temper, and did many things that made people roll their eyes. I even forced Father to marry me to Shen Qi..."

The Old Lady looked at the kneeling Song Chuyi with a complex expression.

Last time, when the Song sisters visited the Li family, Song Chuyi had a dispute with the Princess of Yunxiu from Prince Zhennan's Mansion because she wanted to follow Shen Qingrang. In the end, the Princess of Yunxiu went home crying.

Now, what Song Chuyi said sounded like a fantasy, but the Old Lady knew it could happen.

"I got married, and you and Father no longer cared about me. Shen Qingrang didn't like me but pretended to... Later, my child died..."

Song Chuyi stumbled and hugged the Old Lady's leg, finally crying uncontrollably, "Grandmother, I'm so scared... I don't understand, I didn't do anything wrong, why do they treat me like this..."

In fact, Song Chuyi did understand. She had long understood why.

Being the descendant of the Cui family and holding the position of the legitimate daughter was her original sin.

The Old Lady didn't react for a long time, but her granddaughter's heart-wrenching cries made her panic. She hadn't felt this way in many years.

"In your dream, did something happen to your elder brother too?"

After a long time, the Old Lady found her voice.

Song Chuyi's sobs gradually stopped. She looked up at the Old Lady, her tear-filled eyes showing fear, "Yes... Grandmother, how did you know?"

The Old Lady smiled. She had lived for so many years and could tell what was true. Not to mention, a seven-year-old girl couldn't make up such a lie. The fear and despair in Song Chuyi's eyes just now couldn't be faked.

And the reason Song Jie was so treasured by the Song family was not only because he was promising but also because he was a qualified heir, kind-hearted, and responsible.

If nothing had happened to Song Jie in Song Chuyi's dream, she wouldn't have ended up like that. Moreover, thinking back, Song Chuyi's suggestion to send Song Jie to Qingzhou the other day was indeed too strange.

"Tell me in detail what happened in your dream." The Old Lady helped her up and personally took the handkerchief from Nanny Huang to wipe her face.

Song Chuyi had spoken intermittently before, but now she recounted everything she could to the Old Lady.

Finally, she looked into the Old Lady's eyes, earnest and fearful, "Grandmother, I didn't lie... I woke up thinking it was all a dream, but then Third Aunt said the exact same words as in the dream. In the dream, she questioned me the same way... I was really scared..."

The Old Lady's face was somber, and she tightened her grip on Song Chu Yi's hand. She seemed incredulous but felt that these events vaguely had precedents.

"You said earlier that in the dream, your aunt... passed away not long after?"

The Old Lady tried to suppress her emotions, but her voice still trembled.

Song Chuyi nodded, her face dark, "In the previous life, it was Manager Lin who went to Qingzhou... He came back and reported that Aunt's health was not good. After more than three months, someone from Qingzhou came to report her death..."

The Old Lady let out a heavy sigh, "So, you suggested that your elder brother go to Qingzhou to avoid this disaster?"

Song Chu Yi's hands couldn't stop trembling. She leaned on the Old Lady and shook her head, "Grandmother, I don't know if it will work. I didn't dare to speak about the dream... I knew the First Lady wouldn't believe me, no one would... Grandmother, please believe me, I didn't lie to you."