The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 138 - Black Heart

When Song Chuyi received the news, she was reading by the southern window. Ziyun, who was pouring her a cup of flower tea and placing it on the table, turned pale with worry. "Miss, he's got them. If they reveal anything..."

If Ma Wangkun were truly to confess to Song Chuyi's plan from two years ago—the ambush on Song Chuning and Wei Yanjun—Han Zhi could easily take that testimony to Shuntian Prefecture. With solid evidence like that, any charge would be irrefutable. Worse, it might implicate Cui Shaoting; if they traced Ma Wangkun and his men back to being private soldiers of the Cui family, clearing their names would be near impossible, no matter how hard they tried.

Just then, Qingtao entered. Though she wasn't aware of what Ziyun and Song Chuyi were discussing, her expression looked equally troubled. Kneeling before Song Chuyi, she said quietly, "Miss, there's news from the estate in Tongzhou. The message was brought by my father."

The Tongzhou villa rarely sent messages to the Marquis of Changning's estate unless something truly urgent arose, especially when Qingtao's father himself was involved. Song Chuyi raised an eyebrow, already sensing something ominous, and asked, "What's happened?"

"Yesterday, the Marquis of Jinxiang's heir stopped by the villa to ask for water and discovered a stockpile of weapons on the estate..." Qingtao's eyes lowered, her voice steady but hands slightly trembling. "One of his attendants recognized these weapons as the very ones used in the ambush on Wei Yanjun and others in the capital outskirts. They say... they say it links back to people from our villa."

Han Zhi clearly understood her vulnerabilities, targeting them one by one. It seemed he'd learned more from Song Chunian than she'd anticipated, even leveraging Nanny Xu, Lianyi, and An An against her.

Recalling her past life, Song Chuyi remembered how Han Zhi, desiring an heir but unwilling to be bound by a noble wife, had concocted a plan to retain the son but eliminate the mother. He was utterly ruthless, completely devoid of compassion.

This revelation shook Ziyun to her core. For the first time, she felt like she was standing on unstable ground, her body visibly trembling. "Miss, it's likely that Ma Wangkun couldn't hold out and has confessed..."

Yet, Qingtao remained calmer, her experience with Song Chuyi sharpening her wits and her resolve. Though visibly shaken, she maintained clarity as she shook her head. "From the start, Ma Yongfu's group was instructed to act without any connection to the Tongzhou villa. There was never any link, nor would there be any weapons there! This is clearly Han Zhi's attempt at framing us."

It was both a setup and a warning.

Han Zhi, after countless attempts to link the matter to the Tongzhou villa, clearly used his knowledge from Song Chuning about her connections with Lianyi and Nanny Xu to threaten her.

Song Chuyi placed her well-maintained, slender hand on the polished black table, her eyes flickering with thought before she nodded and asked Qingtao, "Did your father say anything else?"

Since Han Zhi had allowed someone to pass on a message, it was unlikely he only wanted to convey news; surely, he'd also proposed terms.

Qingtao bit her lip. "He said you should personally go to the Tongzhou villa. If you don't... he'll make sure the Marquis of Changning's family name echoes through the capital, just like his."

Han Zhi hardly had the courage to implicate the Marquis of Changning family at this point—it was simply one more layer of pressure on her, hoping she'd take the bait.

Song Chuyi's expression, hidden in the sunlight, was unreadable. After a pause, she chuckled.

"Did he mention the time?"

Ziyun was startled, gripping Song Chuyi's hand as if on the verge of tears. "Miss, you can't go! If he... if he accuses you directly..."

Qingying, however, gently held Ziyun back, shaking her head slowly. "An An and Nanny Xu are still in his hands. If he really pins this on the villa's people, miss and the family would be in a tough spot to explain it away."

Old Lady Song has always assumed that Song Chuyi would confide everything in her. If she knew that Song Chuyi was aware of Song Chuning's fake death, covered it up, and later arranged an ambush, it would inevitably create a rift.

Qingtao glanced hesitantly at Ziyun and Qingying, then bit her lip and whispered, "Tomorrow, by the latest. If he doesn't see you then, he said he'll expose everything."

Song Chuyi's mind changed subtly. Once, she had wanted to bring Han Zhi down in one calculated move, but now she felt a strange thrill at seeing him trapped in a game of cat and mouse. There was no need to end things swiftly when she could make him suffer—someone as heartless as he didn't deserve a quick death.

"Go out and tell your father to pass on a message: tomorrow, I will meet as agreed." She closed her book and handed it to Qingying, then asked, "Did you deliver the other message?"

Qingying nodded. "Yes, I entrusted it to Second Master Ye."

At the time, Ye Jingchuan had been visibly reluctant, muttering how he couldn't believe he was being used as a mere messenger. But ultimately, he took the letter and left, promising to deliver it.

Watching Song Chuyi, Qingying found herself momentarily distracted.

Unaware, Song Chuyi gripped the small box in her hand more tightly, a steely glint in her eyes. "Ziyun, come with me to Ningde Hall. Qingying, you and Luyi pack my things; we'll set out for Tongzhou at dawn tomorrow."

It wasn't unusual for Song Chuyi to visit the Tongzhou villa, so Grandmother showed no surprise but did hesitate. "It's a shame your eldest brother is on duty, and your second brother is also required at the office..."

After some thought, she sighed, "Fine, let Jue'er accompany you."

After all, Song Chuyi wasn't the child she had been three years ago. Now, traveling without a family chaperone could easily lead to gossip. Lately, Grandmother had been concerned about Song Chuyi's marriage prospects and certainly wouldn't let her travel alone.

A girl's reputation was of utmost importance. Once stained, it was nearly impossible to clear it; caution was essential.

Understanding her concern, Song Chuyi smiled and leaned close, agreeing obediently. On her way out, she happened to meet Song Chumi coming to pay her respects. In just a few days, Song Chumi had become gaunt, her face even paler than when she'd first returned from the villa. Upon seeing them, she merely nodded woodenly.

Her wedding date was drawing near, yet she showed none of the joy or shyness of a bride-to-be, looking more like someone on the verge of death. Ziyun felt uneasy, casting a glance back at her, sensing an unexplainable apprehension.