Song Chuyi turned her head slightly, casting a gnce at Chen Mingyu. Her delicate features were adorned with a calm smile, showing not a hint of resentment or dissatisfaction over Cui Huaying's spotlight today—which, for those who knew her well, only raised suspicions. Chen Mingyu was never one to stand idly by while others basked in glory; that had always been her nature.

  Yet, in this current situation, the best approach was to stay calm and avoid stirring anything up. Besides, there was still no news from Cui Shaoting's side, and it was unclear what Lai Chenglong had uncovered. Any hint that she knew the details of this scheme couldn't show on her face. If Grand Secretary Chen, that old fox, caught even a whiff of it, things would get truly complicated.

  With this in mind, she simply turned her head and responded to Chen Mingyu's remark with a smile, "My cousin was raised by the Cui family and brought up by my grandmother, so it's only natural she turned out so well."

  From the beginning, Song Chuyi had kept her attitude toward Chen Mingyu polite and distant, neither overly familiar nor servile. Her response now struck the same perfect bance. Chen Mingyu gnced at her as if watching a pitiable yet amusing character, finding Song Chuyi's dignified manner both pathetic and ughable. Yet outwardly, she maintained a friendly smile and nodded. "Indeed, the Cui family has flourished over several reigns; we can't compare to them."

  Dealing with Chen Mingyu's duplicity was exhausting. If it weren't for the resilience honed by her past and present lives, Song Chuyi might not have been able to engage so easily with the venomous soul hiding beneath such a lovely exterior.

  Fortunately, this grueling time passed quickly. Upon reaching the main hall, they saw Old Lady Chen conversing with Princess Rongcheng. Never one to miss an opportunity, Chen Mingyu abandoned Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi, hurrying to her grandmother's side, where Old Lady Chen introduced her to Princess Rongcheng.

  Relieved, Xiang Mingzi grabbed Song Chuyi's arm and whispered, "Finally, she's gone. That Chen girl is truly hard to tolerate."

  Though she hadn't been present at the hunting grounds attack, Xiang Mingzi had heard from Qingying and Qingtao about Chen Mingyu's despicable actions, leaving her with a strong distaste for this hypocritical noblewoman. Every encounter with her felt stifling, and as they walked to the hall, Xiang Mingzi had merely lingered like a silent bystander, unwilling to engage with Chen Mingyu at all.

  Song Chuyi chuckled and patted Xiang Mingzi's hand, just as Aunt Yu called out, "Xiaoyi, come here. The princess wants to see you."

  Ye Jingkuan had been dispatched on a mission, but even Princess Rongcheng was not fully informed of its nature. Still, she hadn't been left completely in the dark—Ye Jingchuan's frequent comings and goings had already led her to guess that something was amiss. Both her brother-in-w and nephew seemed particurly invested in matters reted to Sixth Miss Song.

  Smiling, Princess Rongcheng took Song Chuyi's hand and looked her over, then turned to Princess Duanhui and Aunt Yu, grinning. "A few years ago, she hadn't quite come into her own, but now, as she's grown older, she's truly blossomed. It's hard to look away! The Cui family certainly knows how to bring up beauties."

  Everyone burst into ughter, and Princess Duanhui pyfully patted her, saying, "You're such a grown-up now. How can you say such frivolous things in front of the younger generation?"

  Old Lady Chen, seasoned and shrewd, knew well that there were no fools among the royals. As the legitimate daughter of Emperor Jianzhang and Empress Lu, and the Crown Prince's elder sister, every word and action of Princess Rongcheng held significance. Her warm attitude toward Song Chuyi was, in some sense, a reflection of the stance of both the Qinging Pace and the Eastern Pace.

  The st time Song Chuyi visited the pace, the Empress hadn't given a clear response. Now, with Princess Rongcheng showing particur favor to Song Chuyi, Old Lady Chen could clearly discern the Empress's leanings toward the Song and Cui families. Her heart sank slightly, but she didn't let it show on her face. After all, like an autumn grasshopper, the days were numbered. She maintained a kindly smile, turning slightly to listen to Old Lady Du beside her.

  Chen Mingyu, however, could hardly contain her expression. She nearly let out a cold sneer, thinking how futile it was for the Princess to waste her efforts on the cold mountain that was the Song family.

  Song Chuyi observed their expressions but pretended not to notice. After sitting for a while, she excused herself to look for Cui Huaying. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Qingying lifting her skirts, hurrying through the covered walkway, and took a few steps forward to meet her.

  "Is there news?" she asked, anxious, before Qingying could speak, worried it might be a message from Zhou Weizhao or Old Master Song.

  Qingying shook her head, then, catching her breath, smiled brightly. "It's Fourth Young Master who has returned! Steward Lin welcomed him at the docks today. He arrived a full three days early. Someone from the estate came to let us know, and Old Lady requested that you and Miss Mingzi return early for dinner so that the family could be together. She doesn't want you deyed here until te." Though she had never met Song Yan, Qingying had heard plenty about his virtues from Qingtao and others, and knowing how much Song Chuyi cared for him, she was genuinely happy for her.

  Song Chuyi was momentarily stunned. After a long pause, she asked in disbelief, "Who did you say?"

  The prestigious Tang Mingzhao Academy was a coveted institution for schors, but entry wasn't easy. One of the requirements was three years without returning home. It had been exactly three years since she had seen her younger brother. She had been counting down the days in her heart, yet now that the moment had arrived, she found herself a bit at a loss.

  Without waiting for Qingying's reply, she turned and returned to the main hall to bid farewell to Aunt Yu. "When I have some free time tomorrow, I'll bring Yan'er along to celebrate with you."

  Aunt Yu was also surprised. "Wasn't he supposed to arrive in three days? That boy sure knows how to time things!" She quickly called over Meiying to pack some fresh charyeok rolls and buttered shortbread for Song Chuyi to take with her. "Last time, the folks who returned from Shuzhong mentioned that Yan'er adored these, and it just so happens we have some today. Take these with you. I'm quite tied up here today, but I'll visit tomorrow with your aunt."

  First Lady Cui, too, could hardly sit still. If it weren't for the fact that today was Cui Huaying's important day, she wouldn't have let Song Chuyi leave alone to return to the Marquis of Changning's residence. But as she was here as a companion to honor Princess Rongcheng on Cui Huaying's special day, it wouldn't do to prioritize Song Yan over her niece. She could only echo Aunt Yu's words, offering a few reminders before allowing Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi to depart.

  Watching this, Old Lady Chen's eyes sharpened as her smile deepened. She had been worried about a loose end, but now the "fish" far away in Shuzhong had returned. It was time to cast the net and catch them all.