Chen Mingyu's gaze was suffocating, and the young dies accompanying her mother all cast veiled gnces in the same direction. Cui Huayi and Cui Huaying fnked Song Chuyi on either side, their expressions far from pleasant.

  Ever since Master Yuanhui had spoken those words, people had begun staring at Song Chuyi with scrutinizing eyes, as though she and the Changning Marquis Residence had engaged in some unspeakable conduct.

  However, Song Chuyi herself seemed unaffected. Even knowing she had been plotted against, she maintained her composure and boarded First Lady Song’s carriage with an air of unshaken calm.

  With such an incident occurring and Xiang Mingzi twisting her ankle, it was naturally impossible to participate in the evening festivities of the Bodhisattva’s manifestation. Even descending the mountain became a challenge—by the afternoon, the roads were congested with commoners trying to secure spots to witness the evening’s grand ritual. The carriages could hardly move.

  Fortunately, a group of junior monks came to clear the path, allowing the carriages to make their way downhill. While the city buzzed with festivity, the Changning Marquis Residence fell into silence. Everyone tread carefully. Third Madam awaited at the second gate. As she helped First Lady Song out of the carriage, she sighed. “Old Madam has been waiting for quite some time.”

  First Lady Song nodded and instructed the servants to carry Xiang Mingzi home on a sedan chair before leading Song Chuyi toward Ningde Courtyard.

  Old Lady Song, her heart brimming with anger, couldn’t believe how quickly her worries had become a reality. Seeing Song Chuyi arrive safely, she finally exhaled in relief. She beckoned her granddaughter closer but turned her attention to First Lady Song. “I heard Mingzi got injured?”

  First Lady Song nodded hurriedly, recounting the incident where Yuqing, a servant, was bribed. She added, “I’ve already sent Yuqing to Lady Wei, telling her that if she likes, she’s welcome to come to our residence to request more servants. A few maids are something our family can afford to give. There’s no need to send so many silver notes just to use our people.”

  Old Lady Song sneered. “Send her Yuqing’s contract. Since she likes her so much, she can have her for good.”

  This was a clear, unequivocal sp in the face for Lady Wei and her backers. First Lady Song pondered for a moment and realized that this wasn’t a move made out of anger but a deliberate signal: it was too early for the Wei family or Consort Fan to make moves on the Song family. The Song family wasn’t going to py along. First Lady Song nodded in agreement, sensing that the Old Lady had more to discuss with Song Chuyi. Using the pretext of summoning a physician for Xiang Mingzi, she excused herself.

  Old Lady Song held Song Chuyi’s hand, skipping other topics to ask directly, “I heard Master Yuanhui asked to see you ter. What did he say?”

  Master Yuanhui did possess genuine skill. Pointing at her forehead, he had told her that her fate, once extremely ominous, was now hidden in a fog of uncertainty, making it indecipherable.

  He said that her actions since her rebirth had defied the heavens. People who should have died lived, while those who should have lived perished. As a result, she would face retribution.

  Recalling this, Song Chuyi let out a faint, bitter ugh.

  Yuanhui had cimed that her retribution would be to forever fall into the cycle of reincarnation for the rise and fall of empires. In her next life, she would descend into the animal realm, unable to escape.

  But she wasn’t afraid of any of this. If the alternative was to meekly follow her past life’s trajectory, she’d rather not have been reborn at all.

  Yuanhui was a highly cultivated monk but also a man deeply hungry for power. He wasn’t content to merely spread Buddhist teachings within the temple—he sought to impose his ideology on the world. In her previous life, he had controlled Prince Duan and, through him, the entire empire. He suppressed Taoism, exalted Buddhism, and established temples everywhere. Monks were granted enormous power and nd. By the end, the abbot of Huangjue Temple was more respected than a nobleman with a title, and the nd surrounding the temple for miles was owned entirely by it. Commoners were left with no choice but to farm for the temple, sending grains and silver as tribute.

  This time around, with Prince Duan dead, Yuanhui naturally needed a new candidate to support—one who could vie for the throne. It certainly couldn’t be Zhou Weizhao, who had been raised at Mount Longhu and had an inherent affinity for Taoism.

  Regardless of whom Yuanhui intended to support, he clearly didn’t want her interfering. Perhaps it was due to Noble Consort Xian’s request, or perhaps he feared she might become an asset to one of the imperial contenders.

  “He spoke of karmic retribution and reincarnation, utter nonsense,” Song Chuyi said, wrapping her arms around Old Lady Song’s. She sighed softly, “I’ve caused trouble for the family again.”

  Yuanhui’s words had pced the Changning Marquis Residence under intense scrutiny. Even the Emperor might suspect them of ulterior motives.

  Old Lady Song stroked her head and chuckled lightly. “Trouble or not, the pce he’s vying for is small. When someone wants in, others must be forced out. It’s power, not you, that’s the real culprit. I just wonder if this time it’s Noble Consort Xian behind it, or if the Chen family meddled again.”

  That evening, Song Chengru called Song Chuyi to his study and asked her the same question. “Do you think this was Noble Consort Xian’s doing, trying to give you a warning?”

  “Master Yuanhui is an ambitious man,” Song Chuyi replied instead, speaking about Yuanhui’s character. “In the dream, he aided Prince Duan in seizing the throne and even held an official post, managing affairs by day and chanting sutras at night. He oversaw judicial matters, drafted new ws, and exalted Buddhism while suppressing Taoism. Such a person is determined to become an imperial mentor. With Prince Duan dead and Prince Lu being ineffective and cking favor, Yuanhui will seek a new candidate. Someone like him, who neither covets wealth nor plunders, but craves power, may act for Noble Consort Xian once or twice, but not a third or fourth time. This incident likely wasn’t entirely due to her.”

  Song Chengru’s expression turned grave. He sat in his chair in silence for a long moment before muttering, “The Eastern Pace… Consort Fan?”

  The Crown Prince’s heir's position had grown increasingly secure. As long as he made no major mistakes, his future was assured. With Yuanhui unlikely to back Zhou Weizhao, his focus could only shift to Prince Zhou Weiqi.