The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 102 - The Arrival

With the bandits eliminated, everyone in Tongzhou breathed a sigh of relief. After returning the reserve troops, Ye Jingkuan anxiously went to see the Heir Apparent.

He felt more awe than closeness towards this nephew of Princess Rongcheng. Perhaps it was because, during his years in the Taoist temple, the Heir Apparent had cultivated an aura that was hard to ignore.

However, when he emerged from the room, all his previous unease and fatigue had vanished, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, filling him with hope and joy.

At the same time, he became highly wary of Zhou Weizhao. Despite his young age, the Heir Apparent was meticulous and thorough, always having a plan for everything. Even for something as simple as lighting a fire, he had found the most suitable person to do it. Truly unfathomable.

If the future of Zhennan King's Mansion was not tied to the Crown Prince, tonight's favor would forever hang over their heads like a sword, ready to bring ruin at any moment.

But for now, the immediate crisis was resolved. The rest would be for his father to worry about. He glanced back and then went to find Ye Jingchuan, thinking it was time to return to the capital.

However, Ye Jingchuan was not in his room.

Ye Jingchuan had gone to see Song Chuyi. He felt guilty about the incident where Lianyi was almost discovered and even more so after Song Chuyi was attacked at night. He realized how difficult her situation was.

Filled with determination, he went to ask Song Chuyi if there was anything he could do to help her.

Song Chuyi was quite troubled. The letter from the Cui family stated that Cui Yingshu would come to the capital, departing the day after the letter was sent. She calculated that if traveling by water, Cui Yingshu should arrive in about seven or eight days.

Therefore, she planned to stay in Tongzhou for a few more days and then expose Li Shi upon returning to the capital.

However, while she settled into the villa, Miss Chen persistently came to see her. Qingtao, being more outspoken than Hongyu, eventually lost her temper and sarcastically mocked Miss Chen for pushing someone to block the disaster that night. Miss Chen's face turned as red as blood.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that even if she had the thickest skin, she wouldn't come again. But to their surprise, she showed up the next day at the same time, still smiling as if nothing had happened.

Song Chuyi, while seeing her in a new light, also became extremely wary. This Miss Chen was ruthless, patient, and most importantly, shameless—qualities rarely seen in the daughters of noble families in the capital. Most girls from prestigious families cared about their reputation, but Miss Chen seemed to care not at all, which was truly remarkable.

Song Jue and Song Ren were still waiting at the villa to return to the mansion with her, so she couldn't make a fuss and reveal Miss Chen's attempt to harm her. However, Ye Jingchuan's question suddenly gave her an idea.

Many things would damage her reputation if she did them herself, but if Ye Jingchuan did them, it would be much more carefree and unrestrained.

"There's something I need your help with," Song Chuyi said, tapping the table and smiling brightly. "Weren't you curious why I rushed out that night?"

Ye Jingchuan had always been puzzled by this. Song Chuyi was so smart; why would she run out at such a dangerous time? Hearing this, he nodded honestly.

"I didn't go out on my own; I was pushed out," Song Chuyi said with a smile as if it were a trivial matter. "The person who pushed me was Miss Chen."

Ye Jingchuan had never understood why his two younger sisters in the mansion were always bickering. The affairs of the inner courtyard seemed like a tangled mess to him, with each side having their own reasons, making it impossible to tell who was right or wrong.

Because of this, he hated being dragged into such matters. Since he was twelve, Ye Yunxiu and Ye Yunyi had never dared to come to him for judgment again.

But now he suddenly realized that the affairs of the inner courtyard were not just like those in his own home, where sisters quarreled and acted spoiled, trying to get their brother to scold the other.

Song Chuyi's stepmother could bribe thugs to take her life, and Miss Chen could push someone out to die for her own safety.

These women, when ruthless, were even more terrifying than men. He remembered the first time he killed someone outside the pass; he couldn't sleep all night. Yet, Miss Chen could come to see Song Chuyi the next day as if nothing had happened. "What kind of heart does she have?"

"How do you girls grow such ruthless hearts, each one more so than the last?" he wondered aloud, finding their thoughts unfathomable. But then he felt a sense of injustice and asked, "So, what do you want to do?"

"Just go to her and say you saw her push me out. Isn't that enough?" Song Chuyi smiled, her pale face lighting up with the smile. "I think even if she has the thickest skin, hearing that from you should make her pack up and leave."

Ye Jingchuan had been with Zhou Weizhao when they came to the rescue. If Ye Jingchuan had heard something, then what about Zhou Weizhao, who was always close to him?

Seeing Ye Jingchuan rush out, Hongyu was a bit worried. "Miss, is it appropriate to ask Young Master Ye to do this?"

After all, the Prince Consort was still around.

Zhou Weizhao had likely already explained the entire plan to Ye Jingkuan, who wouldn't be angry over such small matters. Song Chuyi waved her hand dismissively, just as the door burst open, and Nanny Xu, almost beaming with joy, rushed in. "Miss! Your uncle and aunt have arrived!"

Cui Yingshu!

Calculating the time, they must have traveled day and night without rest. Song Chuyi felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from her shoulders, like dragging a heavy load for thousands of miles only to have someone take it from her. Her throat felt tight, and she wanted to cry.

Her mother's brother, her uncle whom she had only met a few times in her previous life, had come all the way to the capital for them...

Song Chuyi's eyes welled up, and a tear finally fell.

Nanny Xu was also happy for her. She wiped Song Chuyi's tears with a handkerchief while crying herself. "Miss, don't cry. Your uncle is here, and we can seek justice for your mother. This is a good thing!"

Qingtao couldn't help but smile. Her father had gone to deliver the message to the Cui family, and now that they had arrived, it meant her father would be coming back too. Having completed such a significant task for Song Chuyi, she knew Song Chuyi would not forget her father's help in the future.

Hongyu was so overjoyed she didn't know what to say. Her family had been taken back to Jinzhong by Cui Yingshu after Song Chuyi was born, and she hadn't seen them for years.