The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 57 - Counterattack

Song Chuyi sat in the armchair, the sunlight dancing on her face from outside, but it couldn't brighten her complexion.

In her previous life, when Song Chuning pointed at her nose and called her mother stupid, she had guessed some clues, and she always remembered this after being reborn.

Song Yi was really too stupid. If he hadn't acted so hastily, she wouldn't have noticed the trickery so quickly. There was no proper reason to change her wet nurse, so who wouldn't be suspicious?

Thinking back to how Old Lady Song agreed, and the distant mother-son relationship over the past seven or eight years, even the dullest person could sense something was wrong.

The people serving around the Cui family were all born into the Cui family, and their slave status was in the hands of the Cui family. Logically, they were like her dowry, and the in-laws would never touch them to avoid suspicion.

But the Song family, which always valued rules, did touch them, risking creating a scandal with the Cui family. What does this indicate? It indicates that there was something even more critical to cover up, and the rules could no longer be considered.

Knowing that Nanny Xu had already said everything she knew, Song Chuyi nodded and began to carefully instruct Nanny Xu on what to do after she left.

At first, Nanny Xu was full of reluctance and grievance, but as she listened, her eyes widened, and she straightened up, listening very seriously to every word.

In the evening, the people serving in the side room heard the news. Qing Tao, being smart, knew what to ask and what not to ask, and just went about her business as usual.

Hong Yu and Luyi, however, couldn't help but want to plead with Song Chuyi. Even though they knew Nanny Xu wasn't being sent away for any wrongdoing, the separation and the unknown future were still distressing.

It was Qing Tao who stopped them, seriously explaining her views at the risk of offending them, and finally sighed, "If there was any room for maneuver, would the young lady just watch Nanny Xu being sent away? The one who is probably the saddest right now is the young lady, so you two sisters better not upset her."

Nanny Xu happened to come over to instruct Luyi and Hong Yu, and upon hearing this, she praised Qing Tao, looking at her with admiration and smiling, "Indeed, the young lady has a keen eye for people. You are truly good. I just hope you will take care of these two girls in the future. Although they are loyal, they are not as clever and smart as you."

Qing Tao blushed and nodded.

Nanny Xu earnestly instructed the three of them on future matters and especially reminded them to watch out for the people sent in the future, to guard against any ill intentions.

Luyi and Hong Yu understood the seriousness and agreed repeatedly, but their hearts felt empty.

Nanny Xu comforted them with a few words, and the depressed look on her face disappeared. She calmly packed her belongings and went to Ningde Courtyard to express her gratitude.

Old Lady Song had been resting for a few days and was feeling much better. She greeted Nanny Xu kindly and asked a few questions before letting her sit.

Nanny Xu still bent over humbly, repeatedly saying she didn't dare.

Seeing this, Old Lady Song sighed inwardly, feeling that separating the mother and daughter was indeed a bit unkind. She asked Nanny Xu a few questions and then said, "Don't take it to heart. It's not because you did anything wrong, but the estate over there is short of people. Your husband is a good man, and you will be fine outside in the future."

Nanny Huang also smiled and echoed, afraid that Nanny Xu would plead.

But Nanny Xu knelt down firmly, looking at Old Lady Song with a face full of pleading.

Nanny Huang thought she was going to plead for herself and hurried to help her up, coaxing and persuading with a smile, "You must be overjoyed, get up quickly."

Old Lady Song stared at her, her gaze unpredictable.

"Old Lady." Nanny Xu persistently knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Old Lady Song, "I dare not disobey your orders, I... I just can't stop worrying about the Sixth Miss..."

Old Lady Song slowly waved her hand, and Nanny Huang stopped moving.

Yushu and Yulan had already taken the little maids out of the door.

Nanny Xu mustered the courage to look into Old Lady Song's eyes, pleading sorrowfully, "A few days ago, the Second Lady called me over alone, and I knew I probably wouldn't be able to stay by the young lady's side for long, but I didn't expect it to come so soon..."

Old Lady Song felt a stir in her heart but remained expressionless, nodding for Nanny Xu to continue.

"The Second Lady called me over some time ago, asking if the young lady had been acting strangely lately." Nanny Xu seemed to be recalling the scene carefully, her brows furrowed tightly, "She said the young lady's behavior had changed drastically recently, and wondered if she had encountered something unclean. She called me over to question me in detail, asking if I had said anything inappropriate to the young lady..."

What does she mean by inappropriate words? Old Lady Song's eyes flickered, and she felt a sense of doubt.

Nanny Xu became more emotional as she spoke, "She also said that Huang Yao was very good and should be called to follow more often in the future... But Huang Yao clearly doesn't do her job diligently..."

Huang Yao, Nanny Wang!

Old Lady Song thought of these two bold and cunning servants, and her anger began to rise.

"The Second Lady also strangely told me to keep the Fourth Young Master away from the Sixth Miss..."

Nanny Huang's eyes widened, looking at Nanny Xu with some unease. Her granddaughter was to follow Song Chuyi in the future, and Song Chuyi's future situation would basically determine her granddaughter's life.

Old Lady Song finally spoke, her voice calm and emotionless, "Oh? She said to keep Yan'er away from Xiao Yi? Did she give a reason?"

"She said the Sixth Miss was jealous that only the Fourth Young Master was taken to Jinzhong, and she was very dissatisfied with the Fourth Young Master." Nanny Xu said indignantly, "But the Sixth Miss is not like that now, she clearly doesn't have such thoughts..."

Old Lady Song knew better than anyone that Song Chuyi would never have such foolish thoughts now.

She sneered.

She wondered why Song Yi suddenly had a bad temper and caused trouble for no reason, only to realize that someone was using him as a tool to target Song Chuyi.

The resentment from the past had not yet dissipated, and now Li Shi was scheming again, which made her extremely annoyed.

Nanny Xu kept kowtowing to Old Lady Song: "I dare not say that the Second Lady has any ill intentions, but she seems to think our young lady is not good... Old Lady, our young lady has really changed for the better, she is not confused anymore..."

Old Lady Song's mind flashed with the image of Song Chuyi, her eyes filled with tears yet still sensible, and she recalled how recently, every day, Song Chuyi had been reading to her and coaxing her to take her medicine by her bedside. Her heart softened.

A kind person is often bullied, just as a good horse is often ridden.

Even if not for Song Chuyi's reliance on her, she had to protect this little girl for the sake of the late Cui Shi.

She sneered and said to Nanny Huang, "Go and see if the First Lady and the Second Lady are available, and ask them to join me for dinner tonight."