The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 187 - Demons of the Heart

While the Song family worried over the excessively generous gifts they had received, the Chen family was equally troubled. Their concern wasn't over receiving fewer gifts than others, but rather over the Empress and Eastern Palace's complex stance toward the Song family.

The gifts were bestowed on both families simultaneously, yet all the items given to the Song family were specifically for Song Chuyi, each one a high-quality palace-made treasure. Every single item was so eye-catching that it was hard not to speculate on the underlying intentions.

Old Lady Chen massaged her temples, feeling a throbbing headache. She noticed a look of sadness on Chen Mingyu's face as she knelt close, clinging to her waist. "Are you saying that His Highness risked his life at the hunting grounds to save this Sixth Miss Song?"

Indeed, that must be it. Otherwise, why would the Crown Princess, usually reserved and rarely one to join in such matters, especially after working so hard to keep the Lu family away from the Yangzhou corruption case, suddenly show such interest and reward Song Chuyi?

Chen Mingyu rested her face against Old Lady Chen's side, her arms wrapped around her waist, and quietly nodded. "I told Grandfather before that His Highness treats Sixth Miss Song differently."

It had been obvious from the start. In the Tongzhou countryside, they shared an exceptional understanding, and this time at the hunting grounds, their cooperation was flawless. She had seen with her own eyes how Zhou Weizhao rushed to Song Chuyi's side, pulling her away from the assassin's blade.

Old Master Chen had once said that no man would favor a girl with too much scheming who couldn't be controlled, advising her to behave and let the family arrange her future. But she knew things weren't so simple. At least, Song Chuyi had never hidden her scheming side from Zhou Weizhao, yet he still treated her favorably. Meanwhile, she herself had restrained her actions and maintained propriety from beginning to end, but she hadn't even caught Zhou Weizhao's attention.

Her voice grew weary and desperate as she hugged Old Lady Chen. "Grandmother, you see, if it weren't for His Highness, how could the Crown Princess have taken interest in a girl with such an unlucky destiny?"

The Crown Princess adored Zhou Weizhao as if he were her life. Had it not been for him constantly speaking well of Song Chuyi, there was no way she would bestow gifts alongside Consort Fan.

Chen Mingyu felt resentment and frustration. She prided herself on being equal to Song Chuyi in status, beauty, and talent, yet Song Chuyi always stole the spotlight...

Even in terms of ties with the Eastern Palace, her family should theoretically hold more sway than the Song family, given that Lord Chen was both the Crown Prince's tutor and a loyal supporter. Yet, due to the Song family's hesitation, the Crown Prince had gone out of his way to be overly generous to them in an attempt to win them over.

Old Lady Chen gently adjusted the kingfisher hairpin in Chen Mingyu's hair, her tone growing stern. "This doesn't give you the right to act on your own! And look how poorly executed it was. Raised by the same grandmother, yet Sixth Miss Song still surpasses you, which only shows Old Lady Song surpasses me. You've brought shame not just to yourself but to me as well."

Chen Mingyu lowered her head, her eyes reddening as she choked out a response. Yet within her heart, a new resolve took root like untamed weeds—she would not always be outdone by Song Chuyi, no, she would not!

Seeing her acquiescence, Old Lady Chen's tone softened again. "In a few days, we'll send a card to the palace to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress. You'll come with me."

They could take the opportunity to gauge Her Majesty's views. The Crown Princess and Consort Fan showing goodwill toward the Song family simultaneously—what could it mean?

Smoothing Chen Mingyu's hair, Old Lady Chen sighed with a hint of mockery. "Besides, why fixate on the Heir Apparent? The Eastern Palace has more than just one son."

For instance, the Yangzhou incident had nothing to do with the Heir Apparent but was entirely orchestrated by Consort Fan and her son. This clearly showed that he was no ordinary person. Given the Crown Prince's favoritism toward Consort Fan and her son, it was still uncertain who would win the succession. The Crown Prince was already petitioning to have that young man named a Prince of the Commandery (Prince Jun).

If the Heir Apparent were blind to what was precious, she believed Consort Fan and her son would see it clearly.

Chen Mingyu remained silent, frowning. Since childhood, she'd understood her grandparents' plans and had devoted herself to the goal of becoming the Heir Apparent's princess consort. After meeting Zhou Weizhao, her heart had become entirely set on him. Even if Consort Fan's son received more favor, she found it hard to shift her affections—especially since she refused to lose to Song Chuyi.

Song Chuyi, her imagined rival, was oblivious to all of this. It wasn't that she was indifferent, but she had no capacity for romantic notions. For someone who had once perished due to her entanglements, she had no heart left for such thoughts.

Her rapport with Zhou Weizhao, she considered a fleeting, circumstantial connection. Calculating the years from her past and present lives, she was over forty years old; developing feelings for a young man barely into his teens seemed nothing short of absurd.

As she pondered the conspicuous gifts, a dreadful thought surfaced, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

If the Empress truly intended to use her as a pawn to secure the Song family and strengthen the Eastern Palace, to whom would she be promised? Would it be Zhou Weizhao or Zhou Weiqi? What could the Crown Princess and Consort Fan possibly mean by this?

Determined, she resolved to find a time to ask Zhou Weizhao about it. Just as she glanced over, she saw Bilian bringing in another box. Surprised, she asked, "Didn't Grandmother say to keep the rewards stored away for now? Why bring something else?"

Bilian smiled and shook her head. "This isn't from the palace. It's from the Duke's manor."

Other than Duke Ying's household, what other Duke's family would be so attentive to both the Song family and Song Chuyi? She frowned slightly in annoyance. "What is it?"

Bilian gently opened the clasp, revealing a bracelet of jadeite beads, each one vibrant and well-matched.

The bracelet was adorned with a coral Buddha head, tied together with fine, rice-sized pearls, with pink tourmaline and additional tourmaline drops hanging from the bottom. It had an exceptional, lustrous glow—a piece that had clearly aged gracefully and held great value.

Song Chuyi's face turned deathly pale, and she abruptly stood, slamming the lid shut with a sharp click.

She could never forget this bracelet—for it had once been a token from the Shen family to solidify her engagement, the bracelet she had happily worn on her wedding day, vowing never to take it off.

But in the end, she had taken it off and tied it around her son Ran's tiny wrist, praying he would grow up safely... Only for it to be pulled out of the icy lake waters along with his lifeless body. That eerie image still haunted her dreams in the dead of night, a lingering demon in her heart, impossible to dispel.