The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 139 - Departure

Su Zhi, teary-eyed, kowtowed again to Song Chuyi, pleading, "Sixth Miss, with all due respect, we watched you grow up. You're clever but you still have your principles, unlike Eighth Miss..." She paused, her voice trembling with fear and resentment. "She's inhuman..."

To convince Song Chuyi, she recounted the incident of Song Chuning throwing the cat, then took a deep breath before continuing with a bitter smile, "Later, I saw that poor cat. Though it was barely alive, it could still survive. But then... Eighth Miss had it caught again and personally smashed it to pieces with a large vase used for storing scrolls..."

This incident spread throughout the second branch, making everyone avoid Song Chuning in fear, even more so than Li Shi. Su Wen nodded hastily, seeing the shock on Song Chuyi and Qingtao's faces. "There's more. Eighth Miss often calls the Old Lady 'old hag' behind her back... She once nearly trapped Third Young Master in the courtyard on a freezing day... We were so frantic that we went crying to the Second Lady, who was terrified, but the Eighth Miss acted as if nothing had happened... She's not afraid of the Second Lady at all..."

Counting the days, that incident happened during the turmoil caused by Fifth Lady, Wang Shi's issue. Song Jie was going through a tough time, and yet Song Chuning didn't spare him, likely because she resented his friendship with me. Song Chuyi let out a slight chuckle, but inwardly, she became more alert to Song Chuning's animosity.

Qingtao was so shocked she almost cried out, her eyes wide with disbelief. After a long pause, she finally touched her jaw, deeply fearing Song Chuning. A cold, emotionless snake, who showed no affection even towards her own mother, was truly terrifying.

Ziyun was stunned, recalling the little cat—she had seen it. Her grandmother had taken her to Old Lady's courtyard where she heard about the Persian cat's litter, and she even held one. Hearing about Song Chuning's terrifying actions, she couldn't help but touch her own neck.

Song Chuyi carefully listened to everything Su Zhi and Su Wen said, then turned to Cuijiao, "You heard what these two sisters said?"

Cuijiao, trembling all over, nodded. She didn't know about the other incidents, but she had seen the cat incident with her own eyes. Remembering it now sent another shiver down her spine.

"Since you heard, you must know what kind of person your mistress is. You can't rely on her, can you?" Song Chuyi gently coaxed, keeping her voice calm. "Even if you don't trust me, you trust Sister Ziyun, don't you? If you tell me the truth, I promise you a future. How does that sound?"

Cuijiao, always timid, had been shaking with fear ever since learning that Song Chuning had hired assassins. Seeing Ziyun's expression and hearing Song Chuyi's words, she quickly nodded and agreed, saying "Yes" multiple times.

Satisfied, Song Chuyi nodded and asked her what Hongyu and Song Chuning discussed earlier that day.

Cuijiao, relieved by the question, breathed a sigh of relief. She had fetched Hongyu last night and was present in the room today, so she had plenty to share. Carefully, she recounted everything Hongyu and Song Chuning discussed, ensuring she left nothing out.

Song Chuyi listened in growing alarm. Hongyu had revealed everything, from Lianyi's affairs to the advice given to Ye Jingchuan and the plot involving Miss Chen and the Crown Prince. Qingtao couldn't help but curse, "Traitor!"

No time to waste. Song Chuyi quickly rose, "Qingtao, come with me to Ningde Courtyard. Ziyun, stay here and settle them in."

Ziyun acknowledged with a curtsey, and Song Chuyi set off with Qingtao. At this hour, Song Chengru should also be at Ningde Courtyard...

Yushu was in the courtyard watching the maids catch cicadas. Seeing Song Chuyi, she smiled and approached, "How timely. The estate just sent a cart of watermelons. Old Lady was about to send me to fetch you."

Song Chuyi responded absentmindedly, following Qingtao as she lifted the curtain and walked inside. Ningde Courtyard had ice basins in all four corners, with large windows open to let the cross-breeze blow away the summer heat. Feeling slightly more at ease, she saw Song Chengru was indeed present. She greeted him respectfully and then recounted the details about Song Chuning. Finally, unable to conceal her urgency, she said, "Even though I didn't do anything incriminating at the estate in Tongzhou, being associated with the people of Zhennan Palace and His Highness the Crown Prince's heir can only lead to trouble. Eighth Sister frightens me—if she really had the same kind of dream as I did, by some twist of fate..."

Hearing that Song Chuning was involved not only in the fire in Song Yan's room but also in hiring assassins in Tongzhou, both Song Chengru and Old Lady Song turned pale. How could a six-year-old possess such cunning and malice?

Song Chuyi was right to be concerned. Song Chuning might have had the same dream as her, but while Song Chuyi used her knowledge to protect and help, Song Chuning seemed to use it for harm...

Song Chengru immediately stood up and instructed Nanny Huang, "Go to the main courtyard of the second branch and bring the Second Master and Eighth Miss here!"

However, Nanny Huang and her entourage found the courtyard empty. Only a few cats and dogs remained; there was no sign of Second Master or Eighth Miss. The urgency of the situation made Nanny Huang return swiftly to report.

Old Lady Song clutched her chair's armrest, exclaiming in shock, "Gone?! How could they just disappear like that? Where did they go?!"

Nanny Huang, hands respectfully folded, carefully replied, "Before lunch, Second Master ordered two carriages—one for their belongings and one for Eighth Miss to ride in..."

Old Lady Song, chilled to the bone, began coughing violently in her anger and collapsed into her chair. Equally enraged, Song Chengru immediately sent for the First Lady and ordered someone to fetch the imperial physician. He then went to the front study to see Song Ren and Song Jue.