While the adults were still talking inside, Xiang Mingzi, feeling increasingly dizzy and overwhelmed, pulled Song Chuyi out to the corridor. Looking at the rge, evergreen Ligustrum trees in the courtyard, she sighed. "I never thought she would actually come looking for me..."

  Shuzhong was thousands of miles from the capital, and Old Lady Xiang, an elderly woman suppressed by the Song family with no means to retaliate, was the st person anyone would expect to make it to the capital, much less step through the gates of the Marquis of Changning's residence. Song Chuyi gently shook Xiang Mingzi's arm. "Don't worry too much. With Grandmother, Grandfather, Uncle, and Aunt here, no one will dare to force you."

  Xiang Mingzi's nose stung, and tears began to fall. "A marriage contract? I've never heard my mother mention it... This is clearly an attempt to sell me off..."

  They were obviously still coveting Song Linng's substantial dowry.

  This suspicion soon turned into reality. The next day, as Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi entered Ningde Courtyard, they overheard the First Lady speaking with Old Lady Song about the matter. "The information we received is accurate. The marriage contract indeed has the names, titles, and seals of three generations on both sides, including those of Xiang Yunchang and Linng..." First Lady paused, then continued, "This marriage was arranged with the Zhao family... Yes, the Zhao family from Jinling..."

  The Zhao family from Jinling? Then why was the contract only now surfacing, still in Old Lady Xiang's possession? Old Lady Song was somewhat taken aback. While Linng did have a weak spot for Xiang Yunchang, she would never compromise on her daughter's future. If Linng's seal was on the contract, it meant she had agreed to the marriage, so why had she never mentioned it to the family? How could Mingzi not even know she had a fiancé?

  First Lady shook her head, then let out a derisive ugh. "It was less than a month ter that Xiang Yunchang sought an official position from Old Lady Zhao... She hadn't realized what kind of person he was and immediately dismissed the marriage arrangement, calling it nonsense on Master Zhao's part. Master Zhao had already died from the incident with the horse thieves, so there was no one to corroborate Xiang Yunchang's story. Xiang Yunchang tried to stir up trouble, but Linng acted decisively, quietly covering up the matter to protect Mingzi's reputation. We learned all this from Yunhe. It all happened within three or four months—the contract was signed, and then Master Zhao died. Old Lady Zhao didn't recognize the marriage arrangement, and they treated it as if it never existed."

  No wonder Song Linng had never mentioned it. Old Lady Song showed no particur reaction, then suddenly thought of something and asked Song Chuyi, who had just entered, "That Zhao who recently bribed Xu Liangcai to get into the Imperial Guards—is he from the Zhao family in Jinling?"

  First Lady was startled, then quickly recalled that the troublemaker was indeed from the Zhao family. She was momentarily speechless. "This... truly..."

  For the Zhao family to revive this marriage arrangement now certainly wasn't good news. It seemed they were hoping to exploit their connection to the Song family—though they cimed Xu Liangcai had pced him there, his crime was severe.

  And now? Were they hoping to use this marriage arrangement as a favor to the Song family, seeking their help?

  The very idea was ughably far-fetched! Old Lady Song found it amusing and couldn't help but chuckle. "It seems Old Lady Zhao is getting more ridiculous with age, coming up with such a scheme..."

  "That marriage contract was left in Shuzhong and handed over to Old Lady Xiang," the First Lady scoffed quietly. "It's not that Old Lady Zhao is muddled; rather, it's Third Lady Chen looking to fish in troubled waters while Old Lady Xiang wants to take advantage. Two fools doing foolish things."

  She had already looked into it: Third Lady Chen was genuinely strapped for cash. Her natal family was full of burdens, constantly turning to her for support, and Third Master Chen held a negligible position within the Chen family. He had neither knowledge nor capability, relying on family funds even for his purchased title.

  Old Lady Chen had limited regard for them, and now Third Lady Chen's son was about to marry. Although the Chen family did offer some assistance, it would be shameful for his parents to contribute nothing, so her thoughts turned to this matter.

  They hoped to use the marriage contract to cim Xiang Mingzi and seize Song Linng's dowry left for her. After all, there was the precedent of the Marchioness of Changning from the previous dynasty, and money emboldened people. Third Lady Chen, being greedy, leveraged Old Lady Xiang's supposed favor to test the waters with the Song family.

  Truly insatiable! Third Lady Song sneered with disdain.

  Old Lady Song found the situation absurd and couldn't help ughing. She turned and instructed Nanny Huang, "Go to the front study and ask the Old Master to write a letter to the Zhao family in Jinling."

  The Zhao family couldn't be that foolish. They had plenty of ways to help their own, and it wasn't as if they cked connections at court. Besides, there had been no sign of the Zhao family coming to the capital in recent days to seek favors.

  Lady Chen, mother of Chen Mingyu, was bold enough to fish for money from a pot of oil. The stories of her behavior had circuted before, but the reality was even more brazen than imagined. Old Lady Song found it amusing—no wonder Old Lady Chen never took the main Lady and Third Lady Chen out in public. The main Lady was money-hungry because she was a widow, but who would have thought Third Lady Chen was just as... reckless.

  After some thought, Old Lady Song smiled at First Lady Song. "Tomorrow, send an invitation to the Chen family to pay Old Lady Chen a visit."

  Old Lady Chen had tried to spark something with Third Lady, but she was like a damp firecracker—nothing to ignite. Without Third Lady Chen, Old Lady Xiang was just a lump of useless mud. Old Lady Song's distaste for this malicious old woman had reached its peak; she no longer wanted to leave her any chance.

  The First Lady cheerfully responded and patted Xiang Mingzi reassuringly. "I told you not to worry. Even if this marriage agreement counted—which it doesn't—we're not a fallen family like the Lian family. Would the Ministry of Rites risk creating a scandal like in the previous dynasty over a peasant woman?"

  Nanny Huang soon returned, reying Old Master Song's message: "Old Master said he knows and will have the letter sent to the postal station tomorrow." Then she added, "I ran into Nanny Jin on my way in. She told me to inform Lady that the day the Bodhisattva appeared at Huajue Temple, Lady Fang was also there."

  After casting the bait for so long, it seemed the fish was finally about to bite.