The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 19 - Obsession

A delicate young girl from the Marquis's Mansion actually doesn't care about the favor of her grandmother and father.

"What do you care about then?" Li Shi was stunned, blurting out the question.

Song Chuning simply raised her head and smiled slightly at her. "What I care about is the feeling they have when the treasures they love are shattered."

Li Shi exchanged glances with Nanny Yu, both of them taken aback.

"Mother, you've done well so far," Song Chuning continued. "Since they dote on her, you should indulge her even more. Let her do whatever she wants, love what she loves, hate what she hates. Let her become wild and reckless, so arrogant that she loses all sense of propriety..."

"In time, others will deal with her for us. You won't even need to dirty your own hands. When she's fallen, humiliated, and thinks she still has you, Father, and Grandmother to rely on, that's when you stomp her into the dirt. Isn't that more fun?"

Not only Nanny Yu, but even Li Shi was horrified. She pushed Song Chuning away in shock and exclaimed, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Li Shi truly felt like swearing to the heavens. Although she didn't like Song Chuyi and even hated her, she had never thought of instilling such thoughts into Song Chuning.

Having suffered through years of caution and anxiety herself, she had always hoped that her daughter could live carefree and happy, like a true lady of the marquis's family—noble, elegant, innocent, and untouched by anything dirty.

But she never expected her daughter's thoughts to be this terrifying. Even as an adult, hearing such words sent chills down her spine. Yes, she wasn't a good person, but even she didn't harbor such deep malice. Even toward the sisters who had bullied her in her maiden family, she never thought this viciously!

Li Shi also sharply picked up on the disdain and resentment Song Chuning had toward both Old Lady Song and even Song Yi. The way she mentioned them, it was almost indifferent...

Trying to calm her scattered thoughts, Li Shi, worried she might frighten Song Chuning, forced a smile and said, "You must have misunderstood what Mother meant."

"I didn't!" Song Chuning stubbornly pulled her hand away, a hint of impatience on her face. "Mother, don't lie to me. I see how you grit your teeth whenever you talk about Song Chuyi, even though you treat her nicely on the surface. I'm not blind or deaf! As for Grandmother and Father... since they don't like me, why should I like them?"

Li Shi finally realized something was wrong. Though Song Chuning always appeared sweet and innocent in front of others, who would have thought she harbored such dark thoughts?

She was only five years old!

Li Shi stared at Song Chuning with wide eyes, unsure of what to do. In the end, she could only wave for someone to take her away.

Nanny Yu quietly stepped forward and began to massage Li Shi's temples.

"It's not necessarily a bad thing that the young lady is so clever. You won't have to worry as much about her in the future."

Li Shi shook her head, her worry deepening. "It's exactly because of this that I'm more concerned! She's still so young, pampered as a marquis's legitimate daughter, with her father and mother by her side. Who would dare make her suffer? Even if her grandmother and father favor her sister a bit more, I've always been here to care for her. How could she grow up with such a twisted nature? Did you hear what she just said? It's chilling! She doesn't speak like a child who's never faced hardship, more like..."

She couldn't find the right words to describe it and let out a deep sigh.

Nanny Yu, sensing that it wasn't appropriate to comment further on this matter, asked, "Should I summon Huangyao to ask about the situation?"

Li Shi's eyes narrowed at the suggestion, a sneer creeping onto her face. "I almost forgot about that. Find some time to bring her here."

When Song Chuyi was being punished, Huangyao and Qingtao were sent back to the second house by those from Old Lady Song's quarters. After returning, Qingtao silently followed Nanny Yu, looking extremely miserable.

Huangyao, however, gleefully cracked open half a pound of sunflower seeds, feeling content.

She had thought this sixth miss had gotten smarter, but it turned out she was just a firecracker ready to explode at any moment! All those earlier worries had been for nothing.

But then again, the way she bit Fifth Lady was really vicious... Huangyao clicked her tongue a couple of times, spat out a sunflower seed shell, and leisurely wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

She had personally witnessed the Fifth Lady sobbing uncontrollably, and the old lady's livid expression afterward... this time, Song Chuyi might not die, but she would surely be skinned alive. Offending someone as notorious as Fifth Lady meant more rewards were sure to come. Huangyao's eyes gleamed at the thought.

But her pleasant dreams didn't last long. Soon enough, she was jolted awake.

Song Chuyi had been personally escorted back by Nanny Huang from the old lady's quarters!

Following Qingtao step by step, oblivious to Nanny Wang's frantic signals, Song Chuyi hadn't noticed a thing.

How did everything change so suddenly?!

Lu Yi and Hong Yu had been worried sick, discussing with Nanny Xu whether they should visit Ningde Courtyard for information. But recalling Song Chuyi's instructions and Nanny Wang's presence, they refrained from acting rashly.

Now that Song Chuyi had returned safe and sound, their hearts finally settled.

Nanny Xu could barely speak properly. Even after taking a few deep breaths, she couldn't stop the sob in her voice. "Miss! You really scared me!"

Though Song Chuyi still looked as weary as she had in the morning, with dark circles under her eyes, her spirit seemed much improved. She smiled as Nanny Xu examined her from head to toe. After Nanny Xu finished, Song Chuyi chuckled and said, "Alright, Nanny. See? I'm fine."

Nanny Xu's momentary loss of composure quickly faded. She turned to Nanny Huang and forced a smile. "Forgive me for forgetting to invite you in for tea. How careless of me."

Back when the late Madam Cui had a close relationship with the old lady, Nanny Huang and Nanny Xu had also shared a connection. Hearing this, Nanny Huang smiled and replied, "What's the need for such formalities between us? Hurry and help the young miss pack her belongings. She'll be moving tomorrow!"

Moving?!

Nanny Xu was struck as if by lightning. Her first thought was ominous—had Grandmother truly been so angered this time that she was sending Song Chuyi back to the Cui family in Jinzhong?

But she immediately dismissed that idea. Going back to Jinzhong was impossible. Then what... was she being sent to one of the rural estates?

She thought about it, and her heart sank.