The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 83 - Competing in Ruthlessness

The daffodils arranged in the room had finally bloomed, standing tall and elegant in the glass vase, bringing not only beauty to the eyes but also lifting everyone's spirits.

Luyi removed the bed's screen and replaced it with a winter daffodil painting suited to the season. She even went out of her way to bring in a pot of bougainvillea from outside, hoping it might improve Song Chuyi's mood a little.

Although the Second Master hadn't treated her young mistress particularly well, he was still her father. As the saying goes, "There are no parents without fault." Furthermore, if something really happened to the Second Master, it might cast a shadow over her young mistress.

The maids seemed weighed down by worries, with Ziyun especially troubled as she remembered the letter Song Chuyi had sent to Changsha earlier.

Once in the study with Song Chuyi, Ziyun absentmindedly ground the ink for her. After much hesitation, she could no longer hold back her fear and finally asked, "Miss... if the Old Lady found out it was you..."

The last letter from Lady Fang last month had mentioned Song Yi's situation. It turns out that Song Chuning truly harbored resentment over Song Yi's betrayal and had long prepared her revenge.

Lady Fang had intended to gain favor with Song Chuyi, but Song Chuyi was unimpressed.

She had sent out two letters: one to Zhou Weizhao in the capital and the other directly to Lady Fang in Changsha. In the letter to Lady Fang, she made it clear that she didn't care if Lady Fang exposed the matter with Song Yi, as she would not intervene. But in the letter to Zhou Weizhao, she instructed him to have Qingzhuo and Hanfeng seize the opportunity to dispose of Lady Fang.

Some people are only useful in emergencies, but afterward, one must avoid entanglements with them. Lady Fang was exactly this type; the only thing she cared about was her son. She had endured Prince Duan's wetnurse for her son's sake and had even betrayed Song Chuning when Song Chuning threatened her with her son.

Who's to say Lady Fang wouldn't betray her one day if her son was threatened again?

However, neither her arrangements for Zhou Weizhao to deal with Song Chuning nor her indifference to Song Yi's troubles should reach the ears of the Song family, and especially not Prince Duan's faction.

The only way to ensure safety was for Lady Fang to disappear forever.

"As long as you don't tell and I don't tell, the Old Lady will never know." Song Chuyi raised her hand to stop her and frowned. "Let's not bring this up again."

Ziyun shook her head in distress, biting her lip as she gathered the courage to advise, "But, Miss, the Noble Consort, and the Old Lady have already approved your approach. The Noble Consort even arranged for Eighth Miss to be brought back to the capital. You don't need to dirty your own hands... You could still..."

Song Chuyi appreciated Ziyun's kind intentions and concerned that Ziyun might make a mistake due to lack of insight, finally turned to her and explained sincerely, "But soon I realized I may have underestimated the people supporting Eighth Miss. Although we have the Noble Consort in the palace, she has both Noble Consort Xian and Consort Liang. Together, their influence far outweighs that of my elder sister... Even if we were to carry out our original plan and handle her within her own estate, it wouldn't be that simple. She's well-prepared, with a dedicated medical maid and even guards skilled in martial arts."

Had it not been for Lady Fang's voluntary betrayal, she might not have managed to gain the upper hand before Song Chuning left Changsha.

Moreover, despite our current advantage, Song Chuning remains defiant, ready to fight like a cornered beast.

She spread out the letter in her hand and showed it to Ziyun, saying, "Look, this is the letter Big Brother just sent from the capital."

The letter had arrived only a day before Old Lady Song's. It detailed how a large number of carrier pigeons had suddenly flown from Song Chuning's courtyard, and while everyone in the household was busy catching them, a fire had broken out in her courtyard.

Using arson as a distraction—she's calculated everything precisely.

It's likely that, realizing her own condition, and with the entire Song family on high alert around her, she devised this two-fold scheme. Not only could she make the Song family the talk of the town by taking advantage of the fire, but she could also draw the attention of Prince Duan's faction, while ensuring the Song family wouldn't dare act against her for the time being.

Ziyun couldn't help but gasp in shock, reading the letter over and over in disbelief before finally frowning. "How could Eighth Miss be so ruthless... If we hadn't been prepared, this fire she set might not only have endangered others in the estate but also cost her own life!"

"The northern winds in the capital during winter are fierce, and Song Chuning even poured a generous amount of kerosene. Once the fire started, how many of her attendants in that courtyard could possibly escape?"

"So, with someone like her, besides staying vigilant, one absolutely cannot afford to be soft-hearted," Song Chuyi scoffed, handing the letter to Ziyun. "Here, this one doesn't need to be hidden from the Old Lady. Come with me, and we'll let her take a look."

When they arrived, Old Lady Song had just woken from her afternoon nap, with Nanny Huang serving her red date and lotus seed tea.

Already in a poor mood due to Song Yi's situation, her face darkened even further upon reading the letter Song Jue had sent through Song Chuyi. Unable to contain her anger, she slammed her hand down on the table.

The teacups on the table rattled, spilling a few drops of tea.

"Can't there be a single day of peace!" Old Lady Song's heart swelled with deep resentment and frustration, and she sneered, "I wonder what sins were committed in a past life for the King of Hell to send us a beast lower than even pigs or dogs!"

It hadn't been that long since the arson involving Song Yan, and the rumors in the capital had only just died down. Song Chuning was clearly unwilling to let the Changning Marquisate have any peace, scheming tirelessly for the Song family's ruin.

Had this fire truly taken hold, who knows how many censors would have denounced the Song family, claiming their ancestors were morally lacking, lacking in fortune, and thus constantly plagued by misfortune and disaster.

Even the official positions of Old Master Song and the other Song family members would inevitably be affected, especially now with Song Yi's recent troubles.

Song Chuyi took the handkerchief from Nanny Huang and gently wiped the Old Lady's hands, her tone calm and steady as always, "Grandmother, we can't allow her to continue causing such trouble. Although the fire didn't spread, it won't be easy to brush off with the neighbors... It's already drawn attention."

Old Lady Song sneered and called for Nanny Huang to bring her paper and brush.

"This scourge should no longer be tolerated, not for another moment." As she spoke, she paused to ponder a plan, then turned to Song Chuyi. "Didn't they say she'd had a cold for over a month? If it still hasn't been cured, it's clear her illness is severe."

Since her illness is severe, succumbing to it would seem quite natural and easy to explain publicly.