The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 72 - Reversal

Song Chuyi stepped forward to help Old Lady Song sit down, her voice soft and gentle. "Grandmother, do you know what I thought about in my final moments in that dream?"

Old Lady Song turned to her, her eyes glistening faintly with tears.

"I thought, 'What a pity that there won't be anyone who wants to avenge me. Otherwise, I'd drag them down with me...'" Song Chuyi's expression was calm, but her eyes, usually bright, suddenly dimmed. "I guess Aunt must have felt the same."

Old Lady Song's eyes widened, and she gripped Song Chuyi's hand tightly.

"Don't be sad, Grandmother, and don't think of Aunt as unfilial or weak," Song Chuyi said, squeezing her grandmother's hand in return. "I've experienced death in that dream, so I can imagine some of Aunt's thoughts. Compared to her friends, her life was indeed too hard. She was a strong-willed person, and this marriage was something she chose herself... She could only blame herself and Uncle. And finally, she saw Uncle's true nature. That's why she made up her mind to take the poison the day before we arrived, even bribing a physician to assist her."

Old Lady Song's face was marked with sorrow, and her eyes, muddied from days of sleeplessness, filled with tears as she nodded slowly.

"She wasn't blaming or taking revenge on you, either." Song Chuyi exhaled deeply, feeling a heavy weight settle in her heart as well. "She had seen through it all and felt life was too exhausting. In the end, she used her death to pave a way for Cousin—being poisoned by Xiang Yunzhang's concubine, combined with their previous attempt to burn her daughter, how could we bear to let Cousin remain with the Xiang family and face the same fate?"

"Aunt may have made a significant mistake in her youth, but at the end of her life, she finally decided to end that mistake with her own hands. She finally saw Uncle's true nature. You used to blame her for always yielding to him, didn't you? Now, she no longer submits. We should feel a sense of relief for her, as she has finally found her release."

Old Lady Song suddenly realized how profoundly Song Chuyi's dream had affected her—while most people might gradually forget even the most intense dreams over three or five years, Song Chuyi hadn't. It was as though her experiences in the dream had etched themselves into her very bones, haunting her every step.

She now understood Song Chuyi's past fears, occasional anger, and lingering distress. She reached out and drew Song Chuyi into her arms. "You're right... since she put so much thought into setting up this plan, if we truly care for her, we must ensure she finds peace in the afterlife."

Besides, neither Xiang Yunzhang nor the Xiang family is unjustly wronged. Years ago, a young, healthy Song Linlang met her end because of them. Everyone must bear the consequences of their actions. Song Linlang, who once naively chose such a man, had paid the price with years of suffering and her life. Now, it was time for Xiang Yunzhang and the Xiang family to pay theirs.

With her resentment over Song Linlang's suicide slightly relieved, Old Lady Song felt a bit more invigorated and instructed Yushu to set the table for a meal.

Yushu was thrilled—Old Lady Song had refused food and water for two days, and despite Lady Li visiting daily, it hadn't eased her grief. Now, with Old Lady Song requesting a meal, Yushu couldn't hide her joy as she briskly went to instruct the maids to bring the dishes.

"You'll join me as well," Old Lady Song said, tapping Song Chuyi's head affectionately. "You've hardly been eating properly these days, slacking off with me. A young girl like you needs to take care of her health; otherwise, you'll suffer for it later. Do you think you're made of steel, unbreakable and indestructible?"

Song Chuyi smiled, nestling into her grandmother's embrace, but just then, Nanny Huang entered to announce Lady Li's arrival.

Lady Li's visit today was likely regarding Xiang Yunzhang, so Song Chuyi stood up. "Grandmother, I'll return to my room for my meal."

There were some things Old Lady Song preferred not to let Song Chuyi hear. Given her unique experiences in the dream and everything involving Lady Li, the young girl had grown increasingly quiet and reserved. Old Lady Song worried about her, not wanting her to hear even more unpleasant matters and risk becoming even more withdrawn. Nodding, she said, "Have Nanny Xu arrange a balanced meal for you. Don't just pick one or two favorites; you need to eat a little of everything."

Song Chuyi agreed, and with Qingtao and Luyi, she turned down the covered corridor to the west wing and went straight into the inner room.

Shortly after, Ziyun entered, placing a bowl of ginseng tea in front of her before pulling a letter from her sleeve and handing it to Song Chuyi.

Taking the letter, Song Chuyi frowned slightly, puzzled even before she opened it. This wasn't from Zhou Weizhao...

However, Ziyun was meticulous in her tasks, so it was unlikely she'd brought the wrong item. Opening the letter, Song Chuyi couldn't help but smile—it was from Ye Jingchuan, and it was about the Shen family.

Ye Jingchuan, seemingly worried she might be deceived, went on at length about Shen Qingrang's unreliability. Song Chuyi smiled and tossed the letter casually into the charcoal brazier. She appreciated Ye Jingchuan's good intentions, but his concern was a bit unnecessary. Once bitten, twice shy. Especially with Xiang Yunzhang, the present-day Shen Qingrang, as a reminder, her vigilance could only rise, not fall.

Seeing the ginseng tea had cooled to just the right temperature, Ziyun handed it to her, gently urging her to drink it. Then, observing Song Chuyi's expression, she added, "It seems Lady Xiang is outside the magistrate's back gate with her grandchildren, wailing in protest."

The magistrate's offices, both the main and back entrances, opened onto the street. The back gate area, where snacks and street food were sold, was always bustling. Lady Xiang, who had risen from the fields to her current status, was clearly willing to throw decorum aside. After years of being a matriarch, she hadn't forgotten the classic tactics of making a scene—crying, yelling, and threatening suicide.

Song Chuyi picked up the bamboo tube, letting her pet monkey, the inky "Mo Hou," climb out. It nimbly scrambled onto the brush stand and grabbed a brush. She asked, almost idly, "Are they still out there crying?"

Ziyun curled her lip with disdain. "They're crying about how 'an official rank higher crushes people,' claiming that our marquis's residence is deliberately retaliating and falsely accusing them."

Lady Xiang might have had a hint of cleverness, but she had begun her wailing far too late. The court of public opinion was already set in stone; as they say, "three make a tiger." The people of Qingzhou had already pegged Xiang Yunzhang as a modern-day Chen Shimei. No matter how she cried, it would be in vain.

(Translator Xiaobai: Chen Shimei is a notorious character in Chinese folklore, symbolizing betrayal. In the tales, he abandons his loyal wife to marry a princess for power. When confronted, he denies his past and even tries to kill his wife to keep his secret. Judge Bao famously condemns him, and Chen Shimei has since become a byword for a man who abandons his family for personal gain.)