Song Zhimian returned at the usual hour, just as before, with nothing out of the ordinary.
After learning of Song Zhimian’s return, Madame Ding questioned in detail the person who had been secretly following her.
“It was the same as yesterday—she went to the Directorate of Supervision. Since donating jewelry is different from donating silver, it’s handled in the adjacent room.
I personally saw the young mistress enter the room where jewelry is appraised,” the follower whispered.
“Did she go anywhere else?” Madame Ding pressed.
“No! I followed her the entire time. Yesterday she even went to Chun Buwan, but today she didn’t even go there,” the follower quickly replied.
Madame Ding nodded, signaling for the person to leave.
“Madame, what should we do next…?” The nanny beside her, Mama Ding, leaned in closer.
“That Deputy General Wu should be arriving in the capital soon, shouldn’t he?” Madame Ding asked softly.
“In about ten days or so. I heard Deputy General Wu is rushing back on horseback!” Mama Ding chuckled lightly.
Madame Ding nodded, then reached for the teacup on the table.
“Send some fabric to the young mistress.
Once the Gengtie has been exchanged, she’s considered betrothed and can no longer wander around outside!
Let the young mistress stay quietly in her courtyard and focus on needlework!
For instance, things like shoes, socks, and undergarments for her future husband—shouldn’t these be personally made by the future general’s wife?” Madame Ding said indifferently.
Mama Ding immediately understood what Madame Ding meant.
That evening, the steward of the Song residence delivered a batch of fabric to Song Zhimian’s courtyard.
Song Zhimian said nothing, signaling for Cuiguo to accept the fabric.
“Madame… is truly too much!” Cuiguo’s hands trembled with anger as she looked at the fabric.
But Song Zhimian didn’t seem bothered.
“She can send it if she wants, but that doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily use it!” Song Zhimian laughed.
“But…” Cuiguo looked at Song Zhimian’s calm, unruffled eyes, feeling anxious and unsure of what to say.
In fact, over the past few days, Cuiguo had been secretly looking for opportunities whenever she went out.
She wanted to find out where the carriage services were, how much it cost to rent a carriage, and which direction to take once outside the city gates…
Though young, Cuiguo genuinely cared for Song Zhimian.
Originally, she had wanted to persuade Song Zhimian not to donate the jewelry but to pawn it at a shop for some silver instead.
Then, they could secretly find a chance to flee the capital and settle down in some small town.
A hundred taels of silver could buy an ordinary house in the countryside.
Even slightly better land only cost eight taels per mu.
As long as they could escape the capital, the young mistress and she could find a way to survive. Even if they had to live in poverty, it would be better than marrying an old widower who had already lost several wives!
But…
After accompanying Song Zhimian on her outings for two days, Cuiguo finally understood why Madame Ding felt at ease letting the young mistress go out.
The Marquis controlled the Xunfang Camp, and the city guards were his subordinates. For the young mistress to leave the capital… it was too difficult!
Seeing Cuiguo staring at her with a worried expression, Song Zhimian smiled and reached out to stroke Cuiguo’s hair.
“Cuiguo, when did you come to my courtyard?” Song Zhimian asked.
Cuiguo thought carefully before answering.
“The year I turned seven, after my grandmother passed away, Madame brought me here and had me do some flower-watering work in your courtyard.”
Song Zhimian hummed in acknowledgment.
Cuiguo was referring to her own biological mother, and Cuiguo's grandmother had been her mother's wet nurse. Later, for some unknown reason, Cuiguo's grandmother suddenly fell seriously ill.
Then… her mother also passed away from a severe illness, and the people her mother had left behind gradually disappeared from Song Zhimian's sight one by one.
In the end, only Cuiguo remained.
Perhaps, in the eyes of those people, Cuiguo was insignificant, someone who could be dismissed at any moment for a minor fault…
"Cuiguo!" Song Zhimian suddenly grabbed Cuiguo's hands tightly.
Cuiguo was taken aback. "Miss, do you have something to instruct?"
Song Zhimian nodded, then gently stroked Cuiguo's youthful face.
"I want to eat Ma's pastries. They say the osmanthus red bean cakes baked at the Si hour every day are the sweetest."
Cuiguo immediately nodded.
"Alright, I'll go buy them first thing tomorrow morning.
Oh, I should go inform the steward first that I'll be going out early tomorrow. That way, I won't have to waste time arguing with the servants and miss the pastry's baking time."
With that, Cuiguo hurried off to find the steward.
Watching Cuiguo's retreating figure, Song Zhimian sighed softly, then casually flipped through the fabrics the steward had sent over.
Well, there are still a few days left. Might as well put on a show!
The next day, Cuiguo left early in the morning, but by noon, she still hadn't returned…
Song Zhimian checked the time. Hmm, it was time to go stir up trouble with Madame Ding.
…
"You're saying your maid Cuiguo went out and hasn't come back?" Madame Ding was clearly startled.
She hadn't ordered anyone to take action! Besides, what use could a little girl like Cuiguo be? She wasn't even worth the effort.
"Mother, I must trouble you to have someone investigate where Cuiguo has gone.
Cuiguo has nowhere else to go in the capital besides the Song residence. I'm very curious how a twelve-year-old girl could have offended someone's eyes." Song Zhimian said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Madame Ding's expression darkened immediately.
"Is Miss Zhimian blaming this on me?"
"Whether it has anything to do with you or not, I don't know. But what I do know is that over the past few years, the maids around me have either died or been sold off. I couldn't even protect the youngest cleaning maid.
Could it be that the Song family is a pit that devours people?
Mother, let me remind you—if you want me to marry, fine! I'll marry!
No matter where I go, life couldn't be worse than in the Song residence, could it?
But if you push me too far, and I decide to risk my life to do something, do you think the Song family would avoid trouble?
For example, what if I slit my throat in the wedding sedan on the day of the wedding? Or what if I poison that person on the wedding night? Or perhaps…"
"Enough!" Madame Ding immediately cut off Song Zhimian's words.
Song Zhimian sneered.
"Mother, you'd better pray that Cuiguo is safe. Otherwise, I really don't know what I might do.
Don't think I have nothing left!
I still have my life! Aren't you trying to use me to pave the way for Song Yaoqing?
If I risk my life to do something, would Song Yaoqing… still have a future?"
Madame Ding…
After saying this, Song Zhimian turned and left.
She knew Cuiguo was definitely safe, but she had to react in some way. Otherwise, people might suspect that she had let Cuiguo escape…
Soon, the news that Song Zhimian's only maid, Cuiguo, had gone out and not returned spread throughout the entire estate.
Even Song Kaishan became aware of the matter.
Song Kaishan specifically ordered the Xunfang Camp to investigate, and indeed, they uncovered some information.
"Someone saw a young maid being forced into a carriage on her way back after buying pastries from Ma's shop…"
Upon hearing this, Song Kaishan immediately concluded that Madame Ding was behind it.
"She’s only a few days away from her wedding. Why would you target her only maid now? Isn’t this just stirring up trouble?
Besides, if you disliked that maid, couldn’t you have dealt with her slowly after she left the household?" Song Kaishan was also somewhat angered by Madame Ding’s unauthorized actions.
"Marquis, it really wasn’t me!" Madame Ding felt as though she had no way to defend herself.
Song Kaishan snorted coldly.
"If not you, then who? Who else could openly abduct someone in the capital?
This is a critical time. You’d better behave and not cause me any trouble."
Madame Ding…
Later, Song Kaishan specifically summoned Song Zhimian.
"I will have people search for Cuiguo. Don’t worry for now. Your most important task is to stay at home and prepare for your wedding.
Once there’s any news… I’ll have someone inform you!
The family I’ve arranged for you… is excellent, powerful and influential. Once you marry, you’ll become a general’s wife." Song Kaishan tried to reassure Song Zhimian.
"How wonderful! Then let my sister have it! She and Mother would surely be pleased!" Song Zhimian said slowly.
Song Kaishan…
"Don’t be disrespectful! Parental orders and matchmaker’s words—these are eternal rules. If I say you must marry, then you must marry." Song Kaishan grew furious out of shame.
"Oh! Then I’ll obey your command!" Song Zhimian replied coldly.
Song Kaishan didn’t want to see Song Zhimian anymore and casually waved her away.
As soon as Song Zhimian left Song Kaishan’s study, she saw Song Zhiqing bringing pastries to him.
"Oh! Eldest Sister! You’re here to see Father too!
Well, each visit is one less. Once you’re married, you’ll belong to another family.
Eldest Sister is truly fortunate! Father has arranged for you to become a general’s wife!
Unlike me, I can only stay at home to bring joy to my parents. I’d also like to become a general’s wife!" Song Zhiqing giggled as she leaned close to Song Zhimian and whispered.
Song Zhimian looked at Song Zhiqing’s delicate, charming face and pinched it.
"Then I wish you success in achieving your heart’s desire!"
Song Zhiqing winced in pain and pulled away.
She had intended to get angry, but when she met Song Zhimian’s gaze, she instinctively swallowed her anger.
This useless eldest sister seemed a bit different from before…
"Hmph! A grasshopper in late autumn!" Song Zhiqing glared at Song Zhimian, tossed out these words, and left.
Song Zhimian also turned and walked away.
Yes, tomorrow is the day…