The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 90 - The Guest

His Highness, the Crown Prince's son, held an extraordinary status. Song Ren, Song Jue, Song Yi, and the others dared not be careless, so they quickly dressed and went out with the imperial son-in-law (prince consort) to greet him.

Nanny Xu nervously clutched her collar as she glanced at Song Chuyi. She had heard from Luyi earlier that Song Chuyi once encountered trouble when she went out, and it was this very Crown Prince's son, the Heir Apparent, who had helped her out of the predicament.

However, Song Chuyi showed no particular reaction and instead lowered her head thoughtfully.

It was difficult not to overthink it—the times and places where this Heir Apparent appeared were always so coincidental. Yet, in her past life, this Heir Apparent had passed away young. While she knew about the past and present lives of others, she knew absolutely nothing about him, leaving her feeling puzzled.

Ye Jingchuan had caused such a great disaster, and logically, the King of Zhennan's residence should be doing everything they could to cover it up, so how had word gotten out? And the news about the Tatar rebels in Tongzhou had only just been reported. Why had the Heir Apparent arrived so quickly and at such an opportune time?

Even the incident with the escort agency and Qi Shengyuan...

Too many coincidences weren't coincidences at all.

The moon had quietly hidden behind the clouds, and the sky outside was dotted with stars. The coolness of the night was as gentle as water.

Seizing a free moment, Song Jue slipped inside to urge Song Chuyi to go back and rest. "We have to wait a while longer. His Highness mentioned that there were still scattered Tatar rebels on the outskirts of the capital, and they almost startled his carriage... Right now, the imperial son-in-law and my father are discussing with His Highness. They won't finish anytime soon. You've been busy all day and must be exhausted. Go rest, and whatever needs to be done can wait until tomorrow."

Whether it was the useless version of herself from her previous life or the more capable version in this life, Song Jue's attitude toward her hadn't changed at all.

He had never based his treatment of her on how valuable or useful she was.

Song Chuyi smiled and nodded, reminding him to drink less, then took Qingtao and Hongyu with her to the backyard.

Nanny Xu had already been anxiously waiting for quite some time. Seeing Song Chuyi now, she finally let out a breath she'd been holding in. Although Song Chuyi wasn't as close to her as she was with the old Nanny Xu, she still treated her well. Having served Old Lady Song for so many years, Nanny Xu knew how to judge right from wrong.

"I've already prepared your bed. After bathing, you should get some rest—it's already the third watch," Nanny Xu said, glancing at her. Seeing that Song Chuyi's expression was calm, the worry in her heart eased slightly. She added, "I'll keep watch outside tonight."

Song Chuyi nodded. Though their side had held the advantage in the recent conflict, it had been her first time witnessing so much death and injury firsthand. To say she wasn't shaken or frightened would be a lie—she'd broken out into a cold sweat.

Now that Nanny Xu mentioned it, she realized how uncomfortable the sweat on her back had made her.

Qingtao fetched the soap, towels, and clothes and tested the water temperature before helping Song Chuyi bathe. As she did so, she asked in confusion, "Why does it seem like Nanny Xu hasn't expressed her stance yet?"

Song Chuyi had been so clear in the morning, yet by evening, she seemed indifferent.

This was how Nanny Xu, who had served Old Lady Song for decades, operated. Her loyalty didn't require her to kneel and bare her soul in front of you.

Song Chuyi smiled and shook her head. "She's already shown her stance."

Given how unstable the current situation was, the fact that Nanny Xu had said she would stand watch tonight was her way of showing she was willing to face whatever came together with her. That was Nanny Xu's answer.

Thinking about this, Song Chuyi couldn't help but feel a bit lost. After all, her maternal family was far too distant, located thousands of miles away. Distant water couldn't quench immediate thirst.

Everything she had now depended on the Song family. If she didn't grow stronger quickly, she wouldn't even have someone to send her news from Jinzhong.

Qingtao, sensing her unease, hurried to reassure her. "Miss, don't worry. Hasn't Second Master Ye already promised to help? Once my father sends the letter to Jinzhong tomorrow, everything will be fine."

Yes, as long as the Cui family knew the truth, as long as they were willing to step forward and take charge, everything would be fine.

Once Song Chuyi was dressed and left the bath, she saw Nanny Xu approaching with a concerned look on her face. "Miss, Miss Chen has arrived and says she wants to thank you."

Nanny Xu didn't like Miss Chen's behavior. She had plenty of chances to express her gratitude earlier but didn't say a word. Now, upon hearing that the Heir Apparent had arrived, she came running over. Who didn't know what her intentions were?

Hongyu, having figured out what was going on, couldn't help but smirk bitterly. "This Miss Chen comes from a reputable family, yet how is she so lacking in manners? This morning, when she was let in, she didn't say a word of thanks, so why come now?"

Everyone knew it was inappropriate to visit others late in the evening. Did she not even understand such basic etiquette?

Nanny Xu, too, looked displeased as she glanced toward the door, her face stern. "Shall we tell her that the miss has already retired? It's almost the third watch—if this drags on, no one will get any sleep tonight."

Song Chuyi didn't hesitate and waved her hand with a smile. "Let her in. Since she came with such good intentions, of course, we should meet her."

It didn't matter who Miss Chen had come for; what mattered was that her grandfather was the Assistant Chief Minister, responsible for overseeing the Censorate.

Soon, Elder Minister Chen would make his entrance—how could she not properly receive his granddaughter?

"It's my fault for disturbing you so late," Miss Chen said, her appearance resembling a lady from a painting. Her eyebrows, though not drawn, were naturally dark, her lips red without needing any rouge, and a delicate beauty mark adorned her brow. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled, making her naturally likable at first glance.

Song Chuyi quickly stood up with a smile to greet her, signaling for tea to be served. "I should've sent someone to find you earlier today, to ask if you needed anything. But so many things came up all at once that it slipped my mind. Please don't hold it against me, Sister."

Upon hearing this, Miss Chen couldn't help but quietly assess Song Chuyi once more.

It was no surprise that the daughters of the noble families in the capital were well-mannered and eloquent. However, what was remarkable about this Sixth Miss Song was the aura she exuded. Despite her young age, she handled matters with great maturity and precision, without seeming overly enthusiastic or excessively humble. She struck the perfect balance, making their conversation pleasant and engaging. She was unlike any other young lady Miss Chen had ever met.

Moreover, Song Chuyi's eyes were like translucent glass, her long lashes fluttering like small fans, framing her especially beautiful eyes. Looking at her, one couldn't help but feel a growing fondness for her.

It was said that the Old Lady of the Changning Marquisate was exceptional at raising her granddaughters, and now Miss Chen could see why this reputation was well-deserved.

Suppressing her thoughts, Miss Chen maintained a warm, gentle smile. "Not at all. Your kindness in sheltering my brother and me is already more than we could ever repay. I simply didn't want to impose without the presence of elders, for fear of being too forward. I had just heard that Lord Song had arrived and thought it proper to come to express my thanks, but it seems I was unfortunate and arrived just as he was called away for an important matter..."