Song Chuyi had been talking with Qingying for just half an hour when Cui Huayi, growing impatient, came around the trellis to find her, muttering, "Every time you discuss these things, you hide away. It's so dull. I don't know how you developed this personality... You're just like Big Sister..."

  Unlike Cui Yingshu, Cui Shaoting raised his daughters very differently. It was said that the eldest daughter, Cui Hualuan, who remained at the ancestral residence in Jinzhong to serve her grandmother, was the epitome of nobility—graceful and poised, well-versed in literature, embodying elegance and refinement. She was not even of age yet, but she had already caught the attention of many prominent families.

  By comparison, Cui Huaying and Cui Huayi, though also of noble birth, seemed more down-to-earth and carefree.

  As they talked, Cui Huayi tugged Song Chuyi back to the gathering and, propping her chin in her hand, asked how she pnned to dress for the divine procession at Huangjue Temple: "I heard you have a cloak made of red fox fur, with not a single stray hair on it. You should wear that—it's both vibrant and fitting for the occasion!"

  That red fox fur cloak was an heirloom given to her by Old Lady Song, indeed very precious, but it would be far too fshy for the event. Song Chuyi shook her head with a smile and noticed Ziwei approaching in haste, bringing a few young maids with her.

  "Finally found you, dies!" Ziwei breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing them, taking Cui Huaying by one hand and Xiang Mingzi by the other. Facing Song Chuyi and Cui Huayi, she smiled, "Hurry, hurry! The Eleventh Princess is here and specifically requested to meet you all."

  Lady Shen was very pleased with the Eleventh Princess. Though she couldn't immediately petition Emperor Jianzhang on behalf of her son for the marriage due to the Ninth Princess's impending departure, she had already reached an understanding with Noble Consort Song and the Song family in private.

  Hearing this, the group of dies quickly guessed that this was an opportunity arranged by Noble Consort Song for the Eleventh Princess to see her future mother-in-w, so they all smiled and agreed.

  Ningde Courtyard was livelier than ever, with a group of pace maids stationed outside and ughter filling the main hall inside. When Song Chuyi entered, she heard Lady Shen conversing with First Lady Cui, "Please convey my regards to the Old Lady. It's been so many years, and I still haven't had the chance to meet her... Next time there's an opportunity, I'll certainly visit."

  First Lady Cui nodded with a smile and beckoned Song Chuyi and the others over, "Come and greet your Aunt Shen."

  Lady Shen gave each of them a gift upon meeting, then held Xiang Mingzi's hand for a while and csped Song Chuyi's hand, turning to Noble Consort Song and First Lady Cui with a smile, "No wonder they say the Old Lady knows how to raise people. I've known the two young dies of the Cui family, thinking they were the freshest blooms, but who knew the Old Lady had two even more beautiful flowers hidden here!"

  Lady Shen's words were warm and pleasing, perfectly bancing cordiality with closeness to the Cui and Song families. Noble Consort Song, hearing this, beamed with joy, pointing at her and ughing, "Speaking of that, who could compare to you girls when you were young? Back then, whenever you young dies came into my house, the whole room seemed to light up!"

  The Eleventh Princess, freshly dressed and groomed, came out and sat beside Noble Consort Song. After Song Chuyi and the others greeted her, she pulled Song Chuyi close to whisper, "Aunt, I heard from Mother that there was an argument between the Prince of Commandery and Consort Fan... Apparently, it was over an issue with a nanny at the Jinxiang Marquis Residence. Consort Fan killed a nanny there, accusing her of stealing jewelry bestowed by the Emperor..."

  Since Lady Fan had gone to great lengths to bring this nanny all the way from Huzhou with the aid of an escort agency, it showed that the nanny must be someone significant, perhaps holding some leverage over Consort Fan. Otherwise, why would Consort Fan react so quickly, rushing to the Jinxiang Marquis Residence to handle the potential threat?

  Song Chuyi found it strange. Lady Fan's actions were too btant—after all, the Jinxiang Marquis Residence was not entirely under her control, especially with the turmoil following Han Zhi's incident and the people sent by the Prince of Commandery to assist. If she wanted to use this Nanny Zhang against Consort Fan, she should have been much more cautious. Why allow news of Nanny Zhang's arrival in the capital to spread so openly?

  Otherwise, like now, with Consort Fan having silenced Nanny Zhang, Lady Fan would have gained nothing. But perhaps not entirely—there was still the fact that the Prince of Commandery and Consort Fan had quarreled...

  Zhou Weiqi hadn't anticipated that Consort Fan's visit to the Jinxiang Marquis Residence would be purely to stir up trouble. He was utterly exasperated after hearing Nanny Fang's report, and when he discussed it with Consort Fan that evening, his words held a tinge of anger, "Aunt just lost her son, and now Cousin is about to marry far away. Even if there were past grievances, you should feel that the enmity has been avenged. Why continue to press her? With all this fuss, how can Aunt hold her position in front of the servants?"

  Consort Fan gave a cold ugh. To her, Lady Fan didn't need to hold any position in the Jinxiang Marquis Residence, but she restrained herself with her son, not being entirely overbearing. "She brought someone all the way from her hometown in Xingyang, and that person wasn't honest. I'm merely helping her clean house. Is that wrong?"

  Zhou Weiqi had already heard from Nanny Fang that this Nanny Zhang had once served as Lady Fan's wet nurse. It was clear that Consort Fan intended to humiliate Lady Fan by pinning a false accusation on Nanny Zhang.

  He looked at Consort Fan with a headache. "Please restrain yourself... No matter how close Uncle is to us, there are still limits. Normally, you're so calm and wise; why can't you see through this here? I haven't even figured out how to expin Cousin's death to Uncle..."

  A faint, disdainful smile appeared on Consort Fan's lips. "I've told you, don't worry about your uncle. Han Zhi isn't his only son—one dies, and there are still others to carry his coffin and offer rites. He doesn't even care; why are you so worried for him?"

  Zhou Weiqi was about to say more, but suddenly, a previous thought fshed in his mind, and he stood there as if struck by lightning, completely frozen.

  It seemed that Consort Fan had only decided to visit the Jinxiang Marquis Residence after hearing that Lady Fan's wet nurse had arrived from their hometown in Xingyang... Her reason for killing this Nanny Zhang was too flimsy, too strange...

  As this disturbing thought dawned on him, he felt goosebumps rise all over his body, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to react.