The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 20 - Experience

Nanny Huang immediately realized that she had misunderstood, and couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated as she patted her hand. "Sister, the Sixth Miss will be moving to keep the Old Lady company! This is a joyful occasion!"

A loud clap of thunder suddenly erupted, and at that moment, everyone truly felt as if they had been struck by lightning.

Nanny Wang's tightly stretched face, which looked like tree bark, could no longer maintain its composure, and her eyes nearly popped out in shock.

Huangyao turned even paler, with cold sweat dripping down her forehead and seeping into her hair before falling to the ground.

Even Nanny Xu took a long time to process the news, staring blankly at Song Chuyi.

Nanny Huang, thinking they were all overwhelmed with joy, smiled brightly and said to Nanny Xu, "Hurry and pack up Sixth Miss's belongings. Once the Old Lady checks the almanac and picks a good day, the move can take place."

(Translator Xiaobai: You're reading this for free on XiaoBai's Wattpad. Please do not copy and paste this on other sites without my permission)

.....

The windswept fallen flowers through the corridor, and the birds hanging under the eaves flapped their wings, screeching noisily, which irritated HuangYao. After serving Song Chuyi to sleep, Nanny Wang knocked on her door late at night.

With a heart full of unease, Huangyao hurried to the main courtyard, her brow slightly furrowed. Recently, things had not been going her way. She initially thought that Song Chuyi was bound to face misfortune this time, but who would have guessed that ever since she got sick, her luck had taken a turn for the better? Not only did she avoid punishment, but she also earned the privilege of being personally taught by the Old Lady.

Thinking of Song Chuning, also a legitimate daughter, Huangyao couldn't help but feel bitter.

Her parents were both born into the Marquis household, and when they sent her to serve in the second house, they hoped she could attach herself to Song Chuning. But Song Chuning didn't take a liking to her. Instead, Li Shi did and sent her to serve Song Chuyi.

Having grown up exposed to the inner workings of the Marquis' back courtyard, Huangyao knew well that Song Chuyi wasn't a promising mistress—losing her mother at a young age, with her maternal family far away and a stepmother from a reputable family now in place, how could she have any future prospects? So when Li Shi gave her a subtle nod, Huangyao was tempted.

She had acted carefully, and Song Chuyi had always treated her even better than Luyi and Hongyu, never forgetting to share her good food and clothes. Li Shi, too, frequently rewarded her with small favors, recently even promising her the future role of head maid in Song Chuning's room.

But who would have thought that when she took advantage of the chaos and pushed Song Chuyi, believing she would surely fall into disgrace, Song Chuyi's fortunes would suddenly change! What bad luck! Huangyao cursed inwardly, standing in front of Li Shi in fear.

"Tell me what happened," Li Shi sat calmly on the couch, her expression untroubled and even with a faint smile, but something about it sent chills down Huangyao's spine. "How is it that in the blink of an eye, your Sixth Miss is moving to Ningde Courtyard?"

Terrified, Huangyao's knees gave way as she knelt and repeatedly kowtowed. "My Lady, please spare me! I followed Nanny Yu's instructions, and the Sixth Miss did as told, causing a ruckus with the Fifth Lady. But after that..."

Li Shi looked at her calmly and let out an indifferent hum.

"And then what?"

Huangyao, growing increasingly fearful, shivered and quickly replied, "I don't know what happened afterward. As soon as Sixth Miss entered the Old Lady's courtyard, Yushu and the others kicked me out... I only heard that Sixth Miss was being punished. I have no idea why things turned out like this."

Li Shi frowned, her face darkening as she turned to Nanny Yu and said, "She's a troublemaker. She can't stay."

Li Shi had initially planned to deal with her when they left the Marquis household for their new posting, but now it seemed waiting wasn't an option.

The Old Lady planning to keep Song Chuyi by her side was a slap in the face for her as the stepmother!

She had spent more than five years cultivating a reputation of benevolence, caring for Song Chuyi with meticulous attention. Who didn't praise her for it? If this matter spread, what would people think of her?

Huangyao, drenched in cold sweat, kept her head down and didn't dare say a word. Now that she'd heard Li Shi's hidden intentions, there was no escaping her fate.

Meanwhile, the First Lady was also surprised by the news and turned to ask her maid Jinling, "Are you sure you heard correctly? Maybe she's just staying at the Old Lady's to recover for a few days?"

"How could I be mistaken about something like this?" Jinling smiled as she helped the First Lady remove her hair ornaments. "Sixth Miss is really... blessed with the luck of fools."

As a close confidant of the First Lady, Jinling didn't hold back her words.

But this time, the First Lady didn't laugh.

A fool?

That child had shown more shrewdness than anyone these past few days.

The Old Lady was no ordinary person—she came from a prestigious background and, with her many years of experience, favored clever girls. Could a fool win her favor?

It was worth noting that, in the nearly thirty years since, only two girls had ever been personally taught by the Old Lady: her own daughter Song Linlang, and the Marquis' eldest granddaughter, the First Lady's daughter, Song Chuchen. Apart from them, although she adored her granddaughters, the Old Lady had never raised a girl herself. This was an unprecedented show of favor.

"Being raised by the Old Lady is a great fortune," the First Lady sighed.

Jinling laughed as she carefully wiped the First Lady's face with a damp cloth, "Who knows? Maybe this reckless Sixth Miss will offend the Old Lady by tomorrow and get thrown out again. She's always been a bit too brash. Once the Old Lady's novelty wears off, she might find Sixth Miss too noisy. And as for our Second Lady, I doubt she'll be too pleased."

If the Second Lady was displeased, she would likely find a way to vent her frustration. After all, it was easy for a stepmother to control her predecessor's children.

Of course, if Sixth Miss managed to hold onto the Old Lady's favor, that would be a different story, but Jinling didn't see that happening.

Not having accompanied the First Lady outside recently, Jinling wasn't aware of the changes in Song Chuyi. Relying on the fact that Song Chuyi had bitten Fifth Lady, she still viewed her as a firecracker who could be easily manipulated.

But Nanny Qiu glanced at the First Lady and hesitated, "I'm not so sure... I found Sixth Miss quite skilled today."

The First Lady paused and nodded in agreement.

To be fair, even she didn't have the skill to walk away unscathed from the Old Lady's wrath. For someone as young as Song Chuyi to not only survive it but do so without appearing overly submissive or calculating—that was impressive.