Lady Fang’s heart jolted with arm as she pursed her lips and stared at Song Chuyi, momentarily at a loss for words. She had anticipated that seeking the patronage of the Changning Marquis Manor would not be an easy task, but she hadn’t expected that within just a few exchanges, the Song family would already assign her a task.

  However, she didn’t dare show any reluctance—not even a hint of hesitation. After all, if she sought their patronage, she had to demonstrate sincerity. The Song family’s willingness to extend an olive branch required her to grasp it firmly herself.

  Her eyes rested on Song Chuyi. The young girl, though tender in age, was stunningly beautiful, hinting at an extraordinary beauty once she came of age. Yet beneath her seemingly gentle and harmless demeanor y a sharp intelligence. Her words carried yers of meaning, capable of ensnaring the unwary with ease.

  If Lady Fang wished to secure her pce with the Song family, she would need to sever ties with the Chen family completely. This initial task from the Changning Marquis Manor was a test: would she fully align with them, or continue straddling the fence?

  The room grew uncomfortably silent. First Lady Song rested her chin on one hand, seemingly oblivious as she closed her eyes and feigned a nap. Meanwhile, Song Chuyi calmly and gracefully arranged the colorful tassels on her waist accessory, her smile unwavering.

  Beads of sweat began to form on Lady Fang’s forehead. It took her a long moment to gather her voice before she could respond softly, “We truly wish to atone for past mistakes. Since Sixth Miss has entrusted this to me... I will spare no effort.”

  Song Chuyi’s smile grew even gentler—a kind of warmth that only someone in control could exude toward a pawn already in their grasp. Lady Fang felt a chill at the young girl’s cunning and depth, and she couldn’t help but worry for herself and her husband, Fang Xiaoru.

  It was no wonder their meticulously id pns of three years had fallen apart, unraveling despite all their efforts. If even the young women in the Changning Marquis Manor’s inner court were so shrewd and perceptive, how much more formidable must the older, experienced figures like Grand Secretary Song be?

  Even fate seemed to favor the Song family. Lady Fang thought of Chen Mingyu, who was two years older than Song Chuyi and set to hold her coming-of-age ceremony at the end of the year. Suddenly, she found herself doubting Old Lady Chen’s grand ambitions—likely, they would end up as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket.

  Song Chuyi was clearly someone born to ascend to greatness. Compared to her, Chen Mingyu’s petty schemes and tactics seemed ughably inadequate.

  Having resolved herself, Lady Fang no longer hesitated. Instead, she proactively asked Song Chuyi, “If I guide her to start lending money at interest…?”

  Song Chuyi’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she responded calmly, “Precisely. Guide her to lend at interest—just enough to taste the profits. Once she becomes accustomed to it, the rest will naturally fall into pce.”

  Lady Fang hesitated, then nodded firmly. The implications were clear: someone like Third Lady Chen, whose greed already bordered on obsession, would undoubtedly lose herself in the allure of profit once she took the bait.

  Song Chuyi continued, her tone measured, “She’ll need to be subtle at first. Let her lend to her inner circle before gradually extending outward. Once she’s used to it, we’ll lead her into expanding the scale.”

  Lady Fang understood the strategy instantly. If Third Lady Chen became too deeply entrenched in the pursuit of wealth, it would not only undermine her standing in the Chen family but also open the door for the Song family to gain leverage.

  “Understood. I’ll handle this personally,” Lady Fang assured, bowing slightly.

  Song Chuyi’s serene expression deepened into a smile. “Good. Lady Fang, your dedication won’t go unnoticed. Once we’ve achieved our goals, your efforts will be appropriately rewarded.”

  Lady Fang’s heart settled slightly. It was clear that this task was a crucial test of her loyalty. If she performed well, she could secure her pce firmly within the Song family’s sphere of influence.

  As the conversation concluded, First First Lady Song stirred from her nap, her demeanor unchanging as though she had been entirely unaware of the exchange. Yet Lady Fang knew better—every word had surely been heard and evaluated by the seemingly indifferent matron.

  Lady Fang left the manor with a determined mind, ready to execute her task. Meanwhile, Song Chuyi watched her retreating figure, a faint yet knowing smile lingering on her lips.

  The Great Zhou Dynasty strictly prohibited private moneylending among the popuce. Though the practice persisted despite repeated bans, being caught carried severe consequences. Lady Fang realized that the Song family intended to use this to deal a heavy blow to the Chen family. Even if Third Lady Chen were secretly lending money without the knowledge of her household, Grand Secretary Chen would still be implicated for failing to maintain order in his home and mismanaging his family.

  Song Chuyi’s calm voice interrupted Lady Fang’s thoughts:“For now, this is enough. Once she tastes the sweetness of profit, I’ll instruct you on the next steps.”

  A chain trap! Lady Fang’s eyes widened in astonishment, gncing at First Lady Song for confirmation. However, First Lady Song had awakened from her nap, but she appeared completely unbothered, her gaze focused on the Lotus Sutra spread before her.

  This young girl—so seemingly fragile and harmless—had an astonishing degree of freedom. Lady Fang couldn’t help but compare herself. Despite being the matriarch of her household, she still had to consult with Fang Xiaoru repeatedly before making decisions. Yet here was Song Chuyi, whose words were treated as ironcd edicts, spoken with the unquestionable authority of a ruler.

  Regardless, Song Chuyi had spoken, and First Lady Song showed no opposition. Determined to align herself with the formidable tree that was the Changning Marquis Manor, Lady Fang hurriedly nodded in agreement.

  After Lady Fang left, First Lady Cui and Lady Yu returned together about a quarter-hour ter. Taking a seat, they first sipped their tea, only to furrow their brows and sigh.

  First Lady Song, somewhat puzzled, asked, “The royal temple is divinely blessed, and the only noblewomen here today are Princess Zhennan and Princess Duanhui, who have always been on good terms. Why does Princess Duanhui seem so upset?”

  First Lady Cui spat in disdain before anyone could ask further:“Though it’s improper to speak ill before the Buddha, these people…”

  Lady Yu shook her head and added, “At first, the conversation merely revolved around arranging marriages for the emperor’s grandsons. It’s true that the Crown Prince’s son, His Highness the Heir Apparent, is of the right age to marry. Although the celestial master once said early marriage wasn’t suitable for him, it wouldn’t be too soon to consider matches now. But then they started dragging in talk about ‘heaven’s decree,’ which was utterly distasteful…”

  First Lady Song frowned deeply, instinctively gncing at Song Chuyi, and asked in astonishment, “Heaven’s decree? What kind of talk is that?”

  Before they had left, Old Lady Song had warned against bringing Song Chuyi near Master Yuanhui, lest the monk say anything unpleasant. But Song Chuyi hadn’t even appeared before the master—so what was this nonsense about?

  Who else could it be referring to as cursed with a camitous lone star fate? First Lady Cui cast a helpless look at Song Chuyi and grumbled:“Who else but that old bald donkey, Yuanhui? He said that the star governing Chuyi’s fate has grown increasingly brilliant, indicating imminent bloodshed. He even cimed that only an extraordinarily noble destiny could suppress it, and that if such a match were found, it might keep the star dormant for life.”

  First Lady Song, despite her slower wit, immediately caught the sinister implication of these words. What did they mean by an “extraordinarily noble destiny”? How many people in the world possessed such a fate?

  Who would suppress it? The Emperor? The Crown Prince? The Heir?

  These words btantly implied that Song Chuyi’s fate was a nemesis to those of exalted status.

  Even worse, the earlier mention of royal marriages tied into this. The suggestion of pairing her with one of the emperor’s grandsons was like pcing Song Chuyi on a stake and lighting the fire. Which of the imperial sons wasn’t considered exceptionally noble? Asking them to share their destiny to suppress Song Chuyi’s camity? The mere notion would incite fury, and the implicated parties might tear both the Changning Marquis Manor and Song Chuyi apart.

  The more serious implication was the potential for misunderstandings. Outsiders might think the Changning Marquis Manor harbored ambitious designs. The accusation could arise that they had bribed or coerced a monk to make such statements, plotting not only to rid Song Chuyi of her lone star curse but also to align themselves with the Crown Prince's heir.

  First Lady Song gasped, drawing in a sharp breath before exciming, “This is… such a malicious scheme!”