The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 52 - Spider Silk

Li Shi's elder brother had long been waiting at the door. Upon seeing Song Yi, he smiled and came over to take his arm. After exchanging warm greetings, he personally set off the firecrackers that Song Yi had brought and cheerfully instructed someone to take Li Shi and the others to the back hall.

The Li family maintained a simple and elegant atmosphere; their home was not decorated extravagantly. In the garden, a ginkgo tree thrived, its branches and leaves sprawling and seemingly covering half the backyard, creating a charming scene.

Surrounded by Old Master Li and others, Song Yi enjoyed wine and food in the front hall with the guests, while Li Shi led Song Chuyi and a few others to the back hall to pay their respects to Old Lady Li.

Old Lady Li was much younger than Old Lady Song. She wore a stone-blue cross-collar gown with a matching blue skirt, looking refreshing and tidy. Upon seeing Song Chuning, her smile deepened as she reached out to beckon her forward, embracing her warmly and saying, "Why do you still look like a little monkey that hasn't grown up? You're so light; your grandmother can lift you with one hand!"

In the past, due to Li Shi's deliberate guidance, many things were blurred and indistinct. Living a second life made Song Chuyi realize how many matters were her own one-sided feelings.

She regarded Li Shi as a true mother and relied on her maternal family as if it were her own. However, in the end, these feelings were like an iceberg that melted away upon seeing sunlight.

Song Chuyi held Song Yan's hand, seemingly unaware of Old Lady Li's intentional neglect.

Li Shi glanced helplessly at her mother, coughed a couple of times, and smiled, "Although this girl was sick for a while, mother, you've been a bit biased. Can't you see that our Chuyi has been standing here for quite a while too?"

Old Lady Li looked at her and then turned to call Song Chuyi and her brother forward, asking them about their well-being before squinting at Song Yan and saying, "Yan'er has indeed grown a bit taller and stronger. I suppose you've been comfortable at your maternal grandfather's place."

Her expression toward Song Yan was clearly different from how she looked at Song Chuning.

Though small, Song Yan had been raised by Cui Shi for over a year and keenly sensed Old Lady Li's hostility. He pursed his lips and remained silent.

Old Lady Li, however, wouldn't stop there. She said lightly, "You seem to be happy at your maternal grandfather's, but you don't know how lonely your sister has been in the mansion. Even your mother has borne so much blame for your sake. I really don't understand what your maternal grandfather is thinking, worrying your mother is one thing, but it's also caused a separation between you siblings..."

Such blatant attempts to sow discord between the Cui family and Song Yan...

However, seeing the anxious and guilty expression in Song Yan's eyes, Song Chuyi couldn't help but sigh deeply in her heart. She had indeed felt a knot in her heart previously; the Cui family took Song Yan away but seemed to forget her, leaving her behind in the Song mansion. At that time, she had just lost her mother, and her stepmother quickly came into the picture, leaving her living in a state of unease and inferiority under Nanny Xu's worried frown.

So every time Old Lady Li mentioned how the Cui family took Song Yan away and left her behind, her heart would be saddened for a long time.

Song Chuyi let out a soft hum, her expression forlorn and dejected as usual.

Old Lady Li's expression softened considerably. She pulled her into an embrace and sighed, "Oh, my poor little Chuyi, after all, Yan'er is a boy, and it's natural that your maternal grandfather dotes on him. But don't be afraid; we love you too."

Song Chuning also came up to hold her hand and placed it in Old Lady Li's palm, smiling innocently, "That's right, sister, don't be sad. Grandmother loves you."

Song Yan fidgeted with his clothes, feeling somewhat awkward; after all, he was just a five-year-old child. With guilt toward his sister in his heart, he looked at her with a pained expression.

Li Shi reached out to pull him close, softly coaxing him, "It's okay, it's okay. Your grandmother is just teasing you; she's not really upset with you. You're just a little child, whether you go to your maternal grandfather's place is not up to you. Even I am happy for you. After all, that's your biological grandmother; she will surely treat you well. How could we be unhappy because of this? I hope for your happiness..."

This whole family of the Li family was truly adept at performing their roles.

Old Master Li came in to announce that the food and wine were ready, inviting them to have something to eat.

Unlike Old Lady Li, Old Master Li did not display much warmth toward Song Chuyi and Song Yan.

Old Lady Li cast her a displeased glance and coldly instructed her to take the children out first, leaving her and her daughter in the room.

Once the others had exited, Li Shi approached and sat next to Old Lady Li, somewhat dissatisfied as she shook Old Lady Li's arm, "Mother, why did you just now act so coldly? The children are sensitive; what if she noticed something?"

"If she can notice it, it just means you're foolish." Old Lady Li glared at her, "How many years have you spent? You can't even handle a seven or eight-year-old girl, doesn't that just show how useless you are?"

Li Shi helplessly massaged her mother's shoulders and back: "Slow and steady wins the race. Isn't that what you taught me, mother? Why are you throwing a tantrum like a child?"

After all, daughters are like warm little jackets, and her touch was just right. Old Lady Li straightened her back comfortably and scolded, "Who's throwing a tantrum? I heard from Nanny Yu that you've been troubled by my in-laws lately, so I wanted to probe this girl's background! You really don't appreciate kindness."

Mentioning this, Li Shi couldn't help but feel a bit downcast: "I shouldn't have agreed to Old Lady Song's request to take her in back then; now, nothing goes smoothly. Look at today, even when coming to our house for the New Year, Old Lady Song sent someone close to her to follow her..."

A shadow flashed across Old Lady Li's face: "Ning'er is also her granddaughter, but she doesn't seem to be so worried. She is getting more and more confused as she gets older. She is confused, but you can't be confused. You have to know clearly who your daughter is. I heard that you got angry with Ning'er and even injured her hand. How can you be a mother? Have you been acting for so long that you forgot who your biological daughter is?!"

Speaking of this, Li Shi truly felt a bit more worried. She no longer concealed her thoughts in front of her mother, bringing up Song Chuning's unusual behavior with concern: "She's so young, yet so scheming; it really surprises me. I'm not afraid of her being scheming, but I just feel... girls at her age should be more innocent..."

Old Lady Li, however, had a different view from her daughter. She seemed unconcerned: "I've heard Nanny Yu mention these things as well. While it's rare, it also shows that Ning'er is clever."