The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 61 - Farewell

He wouldn't fully believe it. After all, Li Shi had outwardly never made a mistake towards her and treated her even better than her own daughter, Song Chuning.

Seeing Song Chengru silent, Song Chuyi smiled, "See, by then you'll surely think I'm making trouble for no reason."

"I know you and grandmother are smart people, but smart people tend to overthink." Song Chuyi continued, sincerely sharing her thoughts with him, "If I make a fuss directly, whether or not it's proven to be her doing, you and grandmother would probably think I'm involved. So I can't get involved... I can only lay things out before you and let you judge for yourselves."

What one figures out on their own is what truly matters.

Song Chengru was a bit surprised at how sharp his granddaughter was, almost wanting to applaud her.

If only she were a boy...

He sighed inwardly and waved for her to continue grinding ink.

Song Chuyi, surprisingly calm, lowered her head and meticulously ground ink for half an hour without lifting her eyes.

"Your brother is coming back. He might just make it in time for the hunt," Song Chengru suddenly said after a while of cold observation, "Do you think he should go?"

Not letting him go didn't seem right, after all, he had just joined the Yulin Guard and should be responsible for security.

"He can't go." Song Chuyi, always straightforward with her grandfather, said bluntly, "Even without considering the events from my dream, Prince Duan not leaving the capital to return to Fujian is highly suspicious. Being so vindictive, if he wanted to target our family, with our uncles not at home, he'd surely go after my recently prominent brother first."

Song Chengru nodded almost imperceptibly, then shifted the topic, "The Crown Prince's grandson is also returning to the capital soon... truly a tumultuous time."

Upon birth, the Crown Prince's legitimate son had his fortune told by a Taoist priest from Mount Longhu in Jiangxi, who said he needed to become a monk and have his name inscribed under a Taoist to ensure his safety.

The current emperor holds the Taoist priests of Mount Longhu in high regard. Although he was reluctant, he allowed the Crown Prince to have his son's name registered with the Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu. After a severe illness at the age of five, the boy was sent to Mount Longhu.

It has been seven years since he went to Mount Longhu.

In her previous life, the Crown Prince's grandson never successfully returned, dying on the way back to the capital to mourn the Crown Prince—reportedly caught in a flash flood and buried under rocks.

Will changing his return time in this life help him avoid that fatal disaster?

After a moment of silence, Song Chengru suddenly asked her, "Do you hate her?"

She quickly realized he was asking about Li Shi. After thinking, she put down her work, pursed her lips, and looked at Song Chengru, "Grandfather, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Song Chengru understood her meaning, sighed, but felt some pleasure. Compared to Old Lady Song, this granddaughter clearly trusted or feared him more, knowing she couldn't lie and would only tell the truth.

Her understanding of weighing pros and cons and manipulating people's hearts showed that her twenty-odd years as a duchess hadn't been in vain.

The next day, after watching the Lantern Festival, Song Yi stayed with his parents after worshipping at the ancestral hall and kept Song Chuyi and her sisters with him.

"Father is going to Changsha on an external assignment. This is a blessing from heaven..." He spoke the usual platitudes and then changed the topic, "I won't be home, but you cannot be careless. You must make your Grandfather and Grandmother happy and be respectful and filial to your mother. Maintain harmony with your brothers and sisters. In our family, brothers and sisters should be as close as biological siblings, always supporting each other..."

They all respectfully agreed. Song Chu Yan, being held by her aunt, sucked her fingers and looked around at everyone.

Song Yi looked at his silent eldest daughter, then at his teary-eyed younger daughter. His heart softened, and he held Song Chuning.

Song Chuning glanced at Song Chuyi and buried her head in Song Yi's arms, crying, "Father, with you gone, mother will like me even less... She always prefers Sister..."

Even at this moment, she couldn't help but complain. Truly a little girl's nature, sensing her daughter's dependence, Song Yi felt more reluctant, gently stroking her hair and soothing her, "That won't happen. I'll remind your mother. When I have time and it is almost the New Year, I will send someone to pick you up to Changsha to celebrate the New Year..."

Song Yan followed behind Song Chuyi, looked at Song Chuning, then looked at Song Chuyi, and quietly reached out and held Song Chuyi's hand tightly.

Li Shi had been sitting next to Song Yi listlessly, and she was forcing herself to smile when she spoke occasionally. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but frown.

After soothing his younger daughter, Song Yi turned to the children left by his late wife and beckoned them forward.

"Xiao Yi..." Seeing her eyes, so much like Cui's, he couldn't help but feel a surge of long-lasting panic and confusion, finally sighing, "You've grown up. Be obedient to your grandmother..."

Remembering Song Yi's past kindness, Song Chuyi's eyes reddened, and she slowly nodded.

"When I'm not home, you can talk to your mother about anything." Seeing his daughter's teary eyes, Song Yi felt heartbroken and guilty. "If you're wronged, write to me. I'll stand up for you... But don't be stubborn and cause trouble, getting hurt again isn't a joke..."

Li Shi's eyes, swollen like walnuts, managed a smile, reminding Song Yi, "It's late, the children should sleep..."

Song Yi nodded, giving some more instructions, and specifically telling Nanny Xu who accompanied Song Chuyi, "Hold the lantern carefully, and don't let her run around and get hurt."

Li Shi's face looked more haggard, fresh tears falling onto her hands.

Song Yi readily accepted Old Lady Song's arrangement without a question. She suddenly realized her importance to him might not be as significant as she thought.

Just like Cui Shi in the past, Song Yi had sincerely treated her well, loving her deeply, but when the novelty wore off, he could easily abandon her.

She spent years holding on desperately, using any means to marry him, but life wasn't as fulfilling as imagined.

She once thought marrying him and seeing him every ten days or half a month would be enough. After marrying, she longed to be with him every day... People are indeed greedy.