Outside, the wind rustled through the trees, sweeping away the summer heat with the cool night breeze. But the three people inside the room seemed oblivious, their faces stern and unmoving.

  After a long silence, Song Chengru finally spped the back of Song Yi's head and angrily scolded him, "It's te at night, do you think your mother doesn't need to sleep? Have you forgotten everything about filial piety? She hasn't even had dinner yet!"

  Old Lady Song, still breathing heavily from her anger, rested her head on one hand, exhausted. Guilt and remorse surged within Song Yi as he kowtowed three times before leaving.

  Old Lady Song looked at her husband, puzzled. "The maid in Little Eight's room said that on the night Nanny Yu went to set the fire, Little Eight had someone deliver a peach. Later, on the day Nanny Yu ran into the pilr and died, Little Eight had someone bring clothes. You said this might not be a coincidence. So why are you letting Little Eight go with Second Son now?"

  Releasing a tiger back into the wild would only bring endless troubles. If Song Chuning was truly as cunning as it seemed, capable of murder and arson, and able to cover her tracks at such a young age, who knows what chaos she might cause if she went with Song Yi...

  The scarier thought is that the second branch of the family has two such intelligent and conflicting girls, ensuring there's no peace in the future. In her opinion, Song Chuning definitely cannot follow Song Yi to Changsha; it would be best to send her to an estate for proper care... or even a family temple. Comparing the two granddaughters, it's clear who is more favored—Song Chuyi is not only smart and lively but also close to her, and her younger brother is now Song Yi's only son. But Song Chuning... Old Lady Song felt a chill, unsure of what kind of person Li Shi had shaped her into.

  "Look at him now. If we told him his precious daughter might turn out like her mother, he'd go mad," Song Chengru said, frustrated and annoyed. "Let's discuss this tomorrow."

  Old Lady Song, having been through so much without having dinner, felt her stomach growling and instructed Huang Momo to set the meal. Fortunately, the kitchen had kept the food warm, so it wouldn't take long.

  "I had pnned to dine with Xiao Yi and Yan'er, but the maids and nannies in Yan'er's room all need to be repced, and their residence hasn't been decided yet," Old Lady Song sighed, putting down her bowl. "Who knew that while Xiao Yi was at Tingyun Pavilion, the second son would come back and give me such a fright."

  Song Chengru's expression was grim as well. All other matters aside, if Song Yi caused Song Chuyi and Song Yan to grow cold towards him, that would be a significant issue...

  Song Yi, with his unshaven face, stood by the window with his hands behind his back. Hearing a noise, he turned sharply to see the tearful and pitiful Song Chuning standing at the door.

  "Why aren't you coming in?" He swallowed his bitterness and grief, trying to soften his voice so as not to scare the poor girl who had just lost her mother. "What are you afraid of when you're with Father?"

  Song Chuning shrank back, a rge tear falling to the ground, her voice soft and tearful, "Father..."

  With Li Shi's sudden death, and all the loyal servants like Nanny Yu either dead or imprisoned, it was unclear how this daughter of the so-called vilin had managed these past days. Song Yi recalled Li Shi's usual tenderness and care, and how she had tirelessly looked after Song Chuyi during a high fever, even going to Qingliang Temple for a peace charm, neglecting her own daughter...

  His heart softened instantly. He quickly stepped forward, picking her up and soothing her, "What's wrong? Don't you recognize Father? Why didn't you come over?"

  Song Chuning wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her head in his chest and sobbing, "Father... Mother is dead... They all say I'm a curse... I thought you didn't want me either..."

  His daughter's tears trickled down his colr, breaking his heart. At this moment, he couldn't bring himself to hate Li Shi for Cui Shi's death, even if it were true. After all, Li Shi had been his companion for seven or eight years, had given him a daughter, and did everything for him. He held his daughter tightly, pushing thoughts of Song Yan and Song Chuyi aside. Thinking of Cui Shi's children filled him with bitterness, guilt, and fear, making him instinctively resistant.

  "Don't be afraid," he patted his daughter's head, repeating gently, "Don't be afraid, Father will take you to Changsha... It's beautiful there, and there's a big persimmon tree in my courtyard. You'll love it."

  From the moment she ordered Nanny Yu to kill Song Yan, she knew she couldn't stay in the capital. Whether successful or not, Song Chuyi would either retaliate furiously, or the Cui family would pressure them, and failure would mean the Old Lady and Old Master would detest her.

  Now that Song Yi indeed pnned to take her to Changsha, she felt a small surge of satisfaction. Though many things were different from her dream, and Song Chuyi had benefited greatly tely, things could and would change. She cautiously poked her head out, full of fear and grievance, "Father... will Sixth Sister and Fourth Brother go too? Why did Mother die? Why do Sixth Sister and Fourth Brother no longer care about me... My nannies are all gone, and I'm alone in the courtyard at night... I'm so scared..."

  The world is harsh and people's affections cold. Li Shi hadn't been dead for long, and already her daughter was being neglected... Song Chuyi and Song Yan were cold-hearted even towards an innocent, weak sister. How much more so towards a father with such entanglements? They must hate him too, he thought.

  He shook his head, unable to bear the thought, feeling an even stronger aversion to being close to Song Yan and Song Chuyi. He couldn't wait to take Song Chuning and leave for Changsha at dawn.

  "Don't be afraid..." He forced himself to sound comforting to his overly frightened daughter. "Father will find you a new nanny to take good care of you. As for your Fourth Brother and Sixth Sister, since they don't like you, you needn't be close to them... Just stay away from them."

  Song Chuning's biological mother killed Song Yan and Song Chuyi's biological mother. Even if they wanted to get close, it was impossible. It would be better for them to stay away from each other and see each other as little as possible.