In this life, she was truly ill. The old dy's maids had come several times, so how could they not tell if she was genuinely sick or pretending?

  Thanks to being able to live again, she had the chance to fall ill and reflect on her past and present lives.

  The little girl looked up, her eyes bright and clear, with a calmness and acceptance beyond her years. Where was the arrogance and unruliness from before?

  Clearly, she was ill, but she knew to soften her stance. She had to cim she wasn't sick, risking offending the third household.

  The old dy's heart softened, and she let out an almost inaudible sigh.

  Yushu, perceptive as always, immediately excimed and bent down to feel Song Chuyi's forehead.

  She was the old dy's personal maid, more respected than the concubines in the household. The third dy's heart skipped a beat, and she looked puzzled.

  "Isn't she still feverish?" Yushu said with concern. "Old dy, dies, I noticed the sixth young dy looked unwell when she came in. I was just about to report it."

  Was she really ill?

  Yushu was the old dy's personal maid, and her actions indicated the old dy's intentions. The third dy was taken aback but followed Yushu's lead and stood up. "What? This child isn't just causing trouble; she's really sick?"

  As she spoke, she walked over to Song Chuyi and saw her dark eyes, pale face, and dry lips, clearly showing signs of a serious illness.

  Was she really sick?

  The third dy felt a bit uneasy. To be honest, she was furious with this little girl. It's common for sisters to quarrel, but her own daughter was foolish and heavy-handed.

  However, she had already visited the second household several times, bringing food and toys, hoping to smooth things over.

  But after all her efforts, she heard that the girl wasn't sick at all and was pretending out of resentment that Song Chumi wasn't punished.

  When she heard this, she was immediately enraged.

  Even a cy figure has some temper. Do you really think that without a mother, everyone has to bow down to you?

  But now she realized that it wasn't actually like that.

  Did she really get sick because of that argument?

  After all, she was a little girl who lost her mother... Thinking about how good Cui Shi was back then, Third Lady Yun felt guilty and pulled Song Chuyi closer to take a good look at her, compining, "If you're sick, why did you say you weren't..."

  She remembered who had come to give her the news. Wasn't it someone from this girl's own room?

  Even her own people dared to twist the truth, so it's no wonder this girl was so unruly. Life must have been tough for her.

  But although she felt something was wrong, she didn't want to continue. After all, although Song Chuyi was pitiful, she wasn't her own child, so there was no need to offend her sister-in-w for her.

  Old Lady Song snorted heavily and said, "Alright, Fourth Girl and Sixth Girl, each of you copy the 'Women's Commandments' ten times. I'm tired, everyone go back."

  She raised her hand high and put it down gently. Both sides were punished, yet it seemed like neither side was punished.

  Yun Shi was a bit confused for a moment.

  The heir's wife kept her eyes down and pretended not to hear, but before leaving, she gave Song Chuyi a deep look.

  Such a young girl, always spoiled, but today she was so obedient? And it seemed she knew the old dy wouldn't let her suffer.

  If she really made a fuss, the old dy might not stand up for her. But she looked so pitiful and aggrieved, saying she was sick when she wasn't, trying to keep the peace, and the old dy ended up defending her.

  So young, yet she knew exactly how to please the old dy, every word hitting the mark, such deep scheming?

  She felt a bit heavy-hearted but then ughed at herself for caring too much.

  She was the heir's wife, the future mistress of the Changning Marquis's household, with two daughters and a son. Her eldest daughter was a noble consort in the pace, and her second daughter was married to the Pingyang Marquis's household. What did it matter if a girl from a different branch had deep scheming?

  The morning breeze brought a chill, and Song Chumi passed by Song Chuyi, hesitated for a moment, and finally stopped, with some reluctance and a hint of guilt, saying, "Last time, it was my fault. I'm sorry for making you sick for so long."

  Song Chuyi was a bit surprised, then quickly reacted, sincerely smiling and shaking her head, "It's not your fault, Fourth Sister. I was the one who spoke rudely first."

  Although Song Chumi was a bit harsh, her temper was indeed too bad. She had scolded Song Chumi without stopping, provoking her to the point of losing control.

  Many things change when you talk them out.

  Seeing that she really wasn't as unreasonable as before, Song Chumi smiled slightly, then awkwardly pulled her, "I wasn't bming you, but your temper is really like a firecracker, easily ignited. Take this incident, for example, without any evidence, how could you assume I bullied Eighth Sister? She's five years old, can she not speak clearly? If I really bullied her, she could have told the Second Aunt or even the old dy. Did she need you to stand up for her?"

  Song Chuyi's eyes felt a bit sour. She knew Song Chumi was genuinely trying to teach her a lesson. But in her previous life, she hadn't listened to a single word.

  Huang Yao's expression gradually changed. She had thought they would argue again, but who knew they would end up apologizing to each other and even bringing in Eighth Miss. But as a servant, she couldn't interrupt, so she stood by anxiously.

  Finally, when the two parted, Huang Yao gnced at Song Chuyi's face and compined, "The old dy and the madam didn't say anything about you, but Fourth Miss acted all high and mighty."

  Song Chuyi stopped in the corridor and turned her head, "Are you saying Fourth Miss was wrong?"

  Seeing her respond, Huang Yao quickly nodded, "Of course! Miss, think about it, you only argued with her for a bit, and she hit you so hard... Fourth Miss must be really ruthless. Just now in front of the old dy, and Third Lady also embarrassed you..."

  Trying to sow discord between her and the third branch again. Previously, she had argued with Song Chumi because Huang Yao and the others had rushed over, angrily reporting that Song Chumi had bullied Song Chuning.

  She had always treated Song Chuning as her own sister, sharing all the good food and fun things with her first. Hearing she was bullied, she had naturally rolled up her sleeves to help.

  But in the end, Song Chuning was fine, while she was accidentally pushed off a rockery by Song Chumi, fell to the ground, and was sick for half a month.

  And today, it was said she wasn't sick at all, almost offending the third branch and making the old dy think she was inherently bad.

  With these seemingly loyal but actually treacherous maids around, if she hadn't lived another life, she would still be deceived.

  She had lost so miserably and died so unjustly in her previous life, and it wasn't without reason.

  Luyi frowned and scolded Huang Yao, "Are these words you can say?!"

  Huang Yao was a bit defiant, pouting and retorting, "I'm just standing up for Miss! Aren't they just bullying Miss because they're kind-hearted?!"

  Every word tied Song Chuyi to the current Second Lady, Li Shi.

  "Enough!" Song Chuyi interrupted them, "What's the point of arguing here?!"

  Wow, Sixth Miss actually knew the words "What's the point of arguing"? Huang Yao's doubts deepened, but she didn't speak again, lowering her head like she had done something wrong.

  Song Chuyi didn't look at her and said, "I need to go to the ancestral hall."

  The Song family's ancestral hall had been newly renovated. Stepping over the high threshold, she saw the spacious walls adorned with portraits and biographies of the Song family's outstanding ancestors.

  Maids were not allowed in such a noble pce and waited outside.

  Cui Shi's memorial tablet was the newest, its bright red color striking.

  Cui Shi died when Song Chuyi was two years old, so she had only a faint memory of her. In her previous life, she had never kept her birth mother in mind, but after experiencing a tragic life, giving birth, raising, and losing a child, she suddenly missed her biological mother immensely.

  Cui Shi might not have been able to help her distinguish between good and bad people or guide her on every path, but she would never have harmed her.

  Thinking of the clothes and shoes Cui Shi had sewn stitch by stitch and the Buddhist scriptures she had copied, all filled with a mother's deepest love and reluctance, Song Chuyi's tears finally fell in rge drops.

  The loving mother's thread in hand, the wandering son's clothes on his back. Before leaving, she sewed tightly, fearing the dey in return. Who says an inch of grass can repay the warmth of spring?

  The wind blew through the hall, making the curtains sway. Song Chuyi's small body remained in a kneeling position, unmoving.

  Luyi's heart softened, her eyes almost tearing up with Song Chuyi.

  Huang Yao's face, however, was extremely ugly, absentmindedly kicking the small stones under her feet, wishing she could rush in and urge Song Chuyi to leave quickly.

  Mother, may your spirit rest in peace. I will protect my brother and our family.

  I will fulfill your wishes.