Around noon, Song Zhiwei changed into an ordinary blouse and skirt, pinned up her hair, and headed to Madam Wang’s courtyard with her two maids.
After paying her respects as etiquette required, Song Zhiwei exchanged a few words of concern with Madam Wang before following her instructions and going to a nearby small courtyard.
This was Gu Chunran’s courtyard. It appeared even smaller than the one Song Zhiwei occupied, yet the furnishings inside were far more valuable. Any single decorative item in the room was probably worth two or three years of Song Zhiwei’s monthly allowance. Not to mention that even the fabric Gu Chunran’s maids wore was superior to the clothes Song Zhiwei wore today.
But Song Zhiwei noticed only these things, and nothing more. When she saw Gu Chunran sitting silently at the round table, putting on an aloof act and not even greeting her, Song Zhiwei didn’t try to start a conversation either. Instead, she smiled warmly at Nanny Yu, who clearly oversaw instruction today, and sat nearby.
Nanny Yu was one of Madam Wang’s dowry servants. Like Concubine Liu, she had grown up alongside Madam Wang and shared a lifelong bond with her.
Upon seeing Song Zhiwei, Nanny Yu greeted her warmly. “I had not met you before, young miss, but now that I have, I can see the rumors were true. You look like an immortal. At a glance, one can tell you are not an ordinary young lady confined to the inner chambers.”
Song Zhiwei smiled faintly. “You flatter me, Nanny Yu. I’m nothing more than a young girl.”
Nanny Yu exchanged a few more polite pleasantries and offered several compliments about Gu Chunran. As a result, Gu Chunran could no longer sit there sulking in silence and pretending not to hear anyone.
The atmosphere noticeably relaxed before Nanny Yu finally began instructing Song Zhiwei in the finer points of etiquette. She explained the general layout of the Princess Royal’s residence and reminded her to stay close to Madam Wang at the banquet. She then went over how to sit and stand, what greetings to offer people of different ranks and styles, and what courtesy to show when meeting the Princess Royal herself.
As she spoke, she demonstrated each action, then had Song Zhiwei practice it.
Although Song Zhiwei had an excellent memory, etiquette consisted of countless tiny details. So, despite paying close attention, by evening she felt she had only memorized the general outline.
“It’s all right. There’s still plenty of time. As long as you practice naturally at home and become thoroughly familiar with it, you won’t make mistakes when the day comes.” Nanny Yu comforted her gently.
Song Zhiwei understood this was like rehearsing before an important leader’s official visit. She nodded seriously.
“I’m hungry already. How much longer are we going to do this today?” Resting her chin in her hand, Gu Chunran spoke impatiently from the side.
Nanny Yu quickly replied, “We’ll stop here for today.”
After Nanny Yu left, Song Zhiwei and Gu Chunran headed to Madam Wang’s courtyard together.
As they walked side by side, Gu Chunran suddenly said, “You’d better behave yourself that day. Stop entertaining foolish fantasies and don’t do anything improper.”
Song Zhiwei frowned. She had no desire to stir up trouble, but she also wouldn’t accept such an accusation for no reason. Her expression cooled. “And what exactly do you mean by that? When have I ever done anything improper?”
All afternoon, Gu Chunran had watched Song Zhiwei speak politely and smile pleasantly at Nanny Yu, showing such courtesy even to a servant that it appeared almost ingratiating.
Caught off guard by the sudden coldness in Song Zhiwei’s attitude toward her, she froze for a moment. When she recovered, her face flushed red. “You know perfectly well what you’ve done. Did you really think nobody knew? Have you forgotten the reason you fell into the water that day?”
Song Zhiwei stopped walking.
Gu Chunran halted as well, standing there as though she were courageously speaking the truth.
Song Zhiwei’s eyes were naturally light in color. When relaxed, they usually carried a gentle warmth. But at this moment, those eyes seemed dark. Within them lay all the emotions she had been suppressing these past weeks: anger, anxiety, restraint, and the suffocating frustration she had nowhere to vent. Her voice was colder than ever, so calm it carried a distinct chill.
“So you’re saying you knew that Meng Qiyue pushed me into the water. You even knew she did it deliberately to harm me.”
“You deserved to be pushed into the water!” Gu Chunran shot back, lifting her chin stubbornly and refusing to yield. “You had no sense of self-respect! A man like my brother, do you really think you were worthy of him?”
But her eyes had already begun darting about uneasily. At first, she had only meant to dampen Song Zhiwei’s spirits. She truly didn’t want her mother to bring Song Zhiwei to such an important banquet, only for her to embarrass herself in public. Who knew whom she might secretly contact or what shameless thing she might do?
Sister Yue had said it herself: the poorer a family’s circumstances, the more willing people were to throw away their dignity to climb the social ladder.
She only wanted peace of mind. Yet somehow, faced with Song Zhiwei’s quiet questioning, she felt both afraid and guilty.
Song Zhiwei pressed her lips together tightly. The look in her eyes was no longer as calm as before. If she had previously regarded Gu Chunran as nothing more than an insignificant passerby in the manor, her gaze now held a faint trace of disgust.
“I merely gave some gifts sincerely and expressed my gratitude. As for everything I did, I believe there was nothing shameful or improper about it.”
“On the other hand, you’re repaying kindness with hostility. You’re nothing more than a vicious dog.”
Gu Chunran froze where she stood. What did she just say? She called me a vicious dog?
Since the day she was born, Gu Chunran had never heard anyone speak to her like that. Even when young ladies from noble families fell out, they would at most trade a few veiled barbs and sarcastic remarks. They would never openly tear away all pretenses and speak so bluntly to each other’s faces.
“Crude! Vulgar!” Furious, Gu Chunran hurried after her, intending to give her a piece of her mind. But by then, Song Zhiwei had already entered the main hall. Left with no opportunity to continue the argument, she could only force herself to swallow her anger.
Madam Wang had arranged a table full of dishes inside.
Gu Xiaozhou was already seated at the table. Looking obedient and well-behaved, he immediately stood up and bowed properly when he saw Song Zhiwei lift the curtain and enter.
“Thank you, Cousin, for saving me.”
Gu Xiaozhou was only six years old. Watching such a small child perform a solemn formal bow was both amusing and adorable, and it instantly dispelled much of the hostility lingering in Song Zhiwei’s heart. Her expression softened, and she gently patted his head. “You don’t need to thank me.”
Seeing this, Madam Wang asked warmly, “How did today’s lessons go? If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always discuss it with your aunt.”
Song Zhiwei simply shook her head. “There were no problems. Nanny Yu taught everything very well.”
Madam Wang nodded.
Nanny Yu had always been steady and meticulous.
At that moment, Gu Chunran pushed aside the curtain and walked in. Her face was expressionless, as though someone owed her money.
Madam Wang frowned slightly at the sight, but she said nothing in front of Song Zhiwei. Instead, she smiled and said, “Everyone’s here now. Tonight’s meal is just a simple family dinner. There are no elder relatives present, so feel free to relax a little.”
Song Zhiwei smiled and agreed.
The dishes suited her tastes quite well. They were all foods she normally enjoyed, without any unusual or exotic delicacies.
As Song Zhiwei took a few bites, a maid’s voice suddenly came from the doorway: “Madam, Master has returned.”
It was her Second Uncle.
Song Zhiwei had never met him before. She had heard he was stationed with the Northern City Military Command and wasn’t at the manor when she first arrived.
Madam Wang immediately rose, looking somewhat flustered. She glanced around the room, seeming momentarily unsure of what to do.
Song Zhiwei also stood up at once, preparing to receive him properly.