Grand Secretary Chen, with all his intricate schemes, could only sigh and ment his unfortunate luck, likely regretting that Cui Shaoting managed to escape his trap. But he didn't realize that while he was spinning a web around the Cui family, someone else was weaving a net around him, one even more meticulous and precise, enough to ensnare him and his allies completely.

  A thousand-mile dam breaks from a tiny ant hole, and often, disruptions arise from the least expected sources. Song Chuyi chose to start with Fang Xiaoru, which might seem irrational, but it was actually a highly strategic move.

  Song Jue gently patted Song Chuyi's head, sighing slightly—whether in admiration of her cleverness or pity for the Chen family's fate was unclear.

  Yushu soon led Song Yan over, and upon seeing them, she smiled, "It's perfect timing. Fourth Young Master couldn't find Sixth Miss at Guanju Courtyard and was getting anxious, and here you are."

  After greeting Song Jue, Song Yan came over to stand beside Song Chuyi. Although he no longer impulsively held her hand like he did when they were younger, he still stood close to her out of habit.

  Together, they went to Ningde Hall, where First Lady Cui and Lady Yu were chatting with the Old Lady. When she saw Song Yan, the Old Lady eagerly pulled him to her side, examining him closely. Noticing his refined features and polite manners, she couldn't hide her joy and began asking about his life over the years—though she had sent people to check on him regurly, she still had endless questions now that he was in front of her.

  The Old Lady simply smiled, motioning for Song Chuyi to sit beside her. "You came from your grandfather's? Is he still in the study?"

  Song Chuyi nodded, gnced at First Lady Cui, and conveyed the Old Master's instructions to the Old Lady. In a low voice, she added, "Uncle said Assistant Minister Wang specifically asked him to entertain the Japanese envoys tomorrow, not only to teach them the etiquette but also to emphasize the merits of the Ninth Princess..."

  There was no need to spell it out; a hint was enough for the wise to understand. The Old Lady's smile faltered slightly as she realized Song Chuyi's point and nodded, "The Ninth Princess is certainly a good choice."

  After being married to Song Chengru for many years, the two were attuned to each other's ways. This was clearly an opportunity they had no reason to refuse. Moreover, Noble Consort Song had indeed been worrying over the Eleventh Princess tely. With her carrying the Song family's bloodline, if she ended up far away in Japan or with an opportunistic family, it would only invite trouble.

  First Lady Cui, overhearing hints of a marriage alliance, gave the Old Lady a surprised look, then gnced at Song Yan and hesitantly asked, "Old Lady, have you already chosen someone? I thought you wouldn't decide so quickly and hadn't even had a chance to discuss it with Chuyi and Yan..."

  Now it was the Old Lady's turn to be surprised. She looked at Song Chuyi and Song Yan, who were also gncing her way, and shook her head with mild exasperation. "First Lady Cui, you're too quick with your words... I've gone through the lists, but making a final decision isn't that simple. It's not like picking radishes and cabbages where just anyone who looks good will do." After the incident with Li Shi, she knew well that character was of utmost importance. While Song Yi had made many foolish decisions, he was still the father of Song Chuyi and Song Yan. The awkward situation couldn't continue forever. Finding him a sensible and competent wife would not only help mend his retionship with the children but also draw his focus away from them—his interference often only deepened the children's resentment.

  Song Chuyi quickly grasped the situation—they were pnning to select a new wife for Song Yi. It made sense; the family had been preoccupied in recent years. First, there had been the girls' marriages, then the period of national mourning, which had prohibited weddings. Moreover, Song Yi's household already had a few well-behaved concubines, which had deyed the matter until now.

  Had it not been for Song Yi's recent foolish act of secretly accepting Duke Ying's tokens, the Old Lady might not have thought of finding him another wife. It wasn't out of anger; rather, Song Yi was impressionable. If he married someone like Li Shi again, the family would be in constant turmoil, so the Old Lady had to be extremely cautious.

  Lady Yu patted First Lady Cui's shoulder, noticing that Xiang Mingzi, seated on the Old Lady's left, was blushing. Irritated, she turned to First Lady Cui and reminded her, "It's inappropriate to discuss such matters in front of the children!"

  First Lady Cui opened her mouth, realizing betedly that she had misspoken. Though Song Chuyi was level-headed, it wasn't suitable to discuss her father's remarriage in her presence—especially with Xiang Mingzi in the room.

  Everyone agreed it was fine for Song Chuyi to listen in, but since no final decision had been made, they quickly ushered the young ones out.

  After leaving, Xiang Mingzi clutched Song Chuyi's hand and gnced at her with concern, trying to comfort her. "It was bound to happen eventually... Even my father still tries to surround himself with beauties, so naturally, your Second Uncle might do the same..."

  But Song Chuyi wasn't troubled by it. The Old Lady had learned her lesson from the Li Shi incident and would be extremely careful in choosing Song Yi's wife. Even if they were unlucky enough to end up with another like Li Shi, she couldn't stir up the same trouble anymore.

  Rather than worrying about this, she was more concerned about whether Song Yan would struggle with the idea. After all, he had suffered so much because of Li Shi, nearly losing his life at the hands of Song Chuning, her daughter. It was only natural he might not have a favorable view of a stepmother.

  But Song Yan had already come to terms with it. During his three years in Shuzhong, he had learned much beyond the teachings of the sages. Tang Mingzhao, his mentor, didn't confine himself to schorly knowledge and would often take him to observe the lives of common people in the streets. Song Yan had gained a profound understanding of human nature.

  As for Song Yi, his nominal father, Song Yan had long since given up on him. As long as the stepmother wasn't as malicious as Li Shi, treating him and Song Chuyi as obstacles to be eliminated, he wouldn't even lift an eyelid. Besides, having a stepmother would be advantageous, especially for his sister, since the stigma of being an unmarried daughter in a household without a mother was never pleasant.