A faint sense of disorientation swept over Song Chuyi. She couldn’t help but recall her past life—after her son drowned, when she had desperately needed a physician, it had also been Lady He who sat high and aloof on her couch. She herself had sobbed and groveled on the floor, clutching at Lady He’s skirt, begging her to send for an imperial physician.

  At the time, she had been completely in the dark. She only knew that the physician summoned by Song Chunning had arrived agonizingly te, and she couldn’t even see Shen Qingrang or Song Chunning. All she could do was cry and beg Lady He to save her son.

  In the end, her son had been Lady He’s own grandson. No matter how much Lady He had come to loathe her by then, she had still sent a post to summon the imperial physician—though by the time he arrived, her son had already breathed his st, his little body ice-cold.

  Memories surged over her like an unstoppable tide. Song Chuyi was momentarily distracted, her past and present lives blurring together, until Lady He’s sobbing brought her back to herself. She straightened slightly and smiled faintly. “You want me to show mercy?” she said. “Why not go beg the Marquis of Wuning’s household instead? You’re a clever woman, Lady He. Surely you know exactly who is the one stirring up trouble behind the scenes now, sending the debt collectors to your door.”

  The Marquis of Wuning’s household only wished the people of Duke Ying’s manor were dead—if Lady He dared show up there, she would probably be thrown out before she crossed the threshold. At those words, Lady He’s heart went cold, her face sck with despair as she sat there, utterly desote.

  She did not understand why her husband had to drag their once-decent life to this point. If only they hadn’t harbored such malicious thoughts at the start, if only they hadn’t clung to Prince Duan’s faction, hadn’t schemed against the Song family… If even one of those things hadn’t happened, Duke Ying’s household would not have fallen to this miserable state. But Shen Xiaohai had not known contentment. He had dreamed of boundless wealth and glory, without the ability to achieve it, and now, he had driven the entire Duke Ying’s manor to ruin.

  Lady He’s heart was dead ash. Even the light in her eyes had dimmed.

  Song Chuyi tapped her slender fingers lightly on the table. When she saw Lady He gnce at her, she smiled casually and said, “That said… There may be a way out.”

  Lady He’s eyes lit up instantly, like a dying ember suddenly rekindled. She grasped at the hope in front of her as if it were a lifeline, immediately following up eagerly: “What way?!”

  The situation had grown far too dire. Emperor Jianzhang and the Empress were still turning a blind eye, likely only because of the te Duke Ying. But if the debt collectors kept making a scene, the Emperor and Empress would not be able to ignore it much longer. Even Dowager Consort Zhuang had started to avoid them, sending only a few medicines to help the old madam recover, but refusing to see their family.

  Song Chuyi smiled gently and said, “Then allow me to speak pinly.”

  She gnced at Lady He, seeing how the woman’s entire being was focused on her, not daring to even breathe too loudly. The corners of Song Chuyi’s lips curved faintly. “You and I both know exactly why Duke Ying’s household has ended up in this state. To be frank, this matter is far from over. You should be grateful you came here today—had you not…”

  Lady He’s hands broke out in a cold sweat. She fought the pounding in her temples, listening intently to Song Chuyi’s words, not daring to miss a single sylble.

  “If you hadn’t come,” Song Chuyi continued calmly, “then I would have no choice but to treat Duke Ying’s household as Master Yuanhui’s remaining allies and deal with them accordingly.”

  The realization struck Lady He like a bolt of lightning. Hadn't Emperor Jianzhang already publicly decred that talk of ghosts and gods was nonsense? Hadn't they turned Master Yuanhui into a ughingstock? Yet Song Chuyi was implying it wasn’t over. The Song family’s revenge on them had not yet ended!

  She gnced at Song Chuyi—a girl of merely twelve years old—yet her words were measured and precise, leaving nothing on the surface, but saying everything between the lines. For the second time, Lady He felt thankful she had mustered the courage to come.

  Nodding repeatedly like a chicken pecking rice, she urged Song Chuyi to continue.

  Old Lady Song leaned back against her cushion, presiding over the conversation like a quiet mountain. Her eyes were narrowed to slits, almost as if she had dozed off.

  Song Chuyi’s gaze met Lady He’s steadily. Strangely enough, though she was smiling, Lady He’s shoulders stiffened; she didn’t dare rex in the slightest.

  “I’ll only say this once,” Song Chuyi said softly. “Whether you and your husband choose to do as I say is up to you.”

  Seeing Lady He nodded frantically, she smiled again. “Since the Heir is such good friends with Master Yuanhui… I wonder if he could persuade Master Yuanhui to join him for a cup of tea?”

  After all, Shen Xiaohai had followed Master Yuanhui for many years. Their connection dated back to the days when they both served under Prince Duan. While Master Yuanhui didn’t think much of Shen Xiaohai, he would usually give him some face.

  Lady He looked at Song Chuyi in confusion, not understanding what she meant. She shook her head helplessly. “But with our household’s situation now…”

  Shen Xiaohai had already tried to seek help from Master Yuanhui, but the man hadn’t even given him the time of day.

  Song Chuyi nodded slightly. “You need not worry, Lady He. Before, Master Yuanhui had his hands full, busy currying favor with the Prince of Commandery and framing me, so naturally, he had no time to spare for the Heir. But now… everything has settled. He will agree to give him this courtesy.”

  Lady He’s breath caught in her throat. She was beginning to understand Song Chuyi’s meaning, and her eyes widened in shock. She had come here to beg Song Chuyi to let the Shen family off—not to throw herself into Song Chuyi’s net and become her weapon.

  And yet, Song Chuyi’s meaning was now clear. She intended to use them to set a trap and strike back at Master Yuanhui…

  Lady He gritted her teeth, torn between hesitation and fear. If they followed Song Chuyi’s pn, they would thoroughly offend that cunning monk. But if they didn’t… she thought about how Duke Ying’s household was faring now—the debt collectors appearing every few days, the neighbors treating them as a joke…

  Outside, First Lady Song had sent Nanny Qiu to inquire whether the guest should be invited back to Ningde Courtyard now that the meal was finished.

  Old Lady Song opened her eyes at the perfect moment and looked at Lady He. “Does Lady He have anything else to say?”

  If she refused, she could leave now.

  Lady He clenched her teeth, finally hardening her heart. She nodded toward Song Chuyi. “I’ll do as Sixth Miss says. I… I’ll go back and speak with the Heir. I will persuade him.”

  "That would be best." Song Chuyi nodded as if this were the most natural thing in the world, her tone calm and unquestionable. "Otherwise, if anything goes wrong along the way… both sides will suffer the consequences. Wouldn’t you agree, Lady He?"

  Such a young girl, yet every word she spoke had to be carefully weighed to grasp the meaning behind it. Lady He drew in a deep breath and nodded firmly.

  Only then did Old Lady Song smile faintly and instruct Nanny Qiu, who had been waiting outside for orders: "Tell the First Lady to accompany our guest to the main hall for some tea. I’ll be along shortly."