In te autumn, the leaves, already on the verge of falling, had changed from green to yellow, transforming from vibrant life to a faded, withered state. They danced down like rain, fluttering through the air and quickly forming a thick yer on the ground.

  The desote scenery made one involuntarily sense the biting cold of winter approaching. The First Lady tightened her cloak around herself and paused for a moment by Song Chuyi's Guanju Courtyard as she passed through the garden. Only then did she feel a bit warmer, and a rare smile appeared on her face: "It's already been sent off... I hope she can take care of herself."

  Originally, Old Master Song intended to eliminate future troubles and was particurly wary of Song Chuning, the ticking time bomb, after the incident with Song Chumi. He even wrote a stern letter to Song Yi in Changsha, demanding that Song Chuning be sent back to the capital.

  However, Old Lady Song ter mentioned that Chen Jinxin also needed to stay out for an extended period, so it was best to send Song Chumi to keep her company. If there were concerns about her leaking anything, they could just have someone watch her closely. Since then, everyone around Song Chumi had been repced, preventing any further mishaps.

  Ultimately, it was the First Lady who handled this matter. After reporting the news at Ningde Courtyard, she sat in Song Chuyi's room, alternating between surprise and joy: "Thanks to the heavens, your elder sister... I hope she can smoothly give birth to a little prince this time, and I won't have to worry."

  However, the timing of her pregnancy was not ideal, coinciding with the incident involving Princess Shijia, which led to some unsettling rumors in the pace. This made Concubine Song feel quite anxious.

  It had already been over half a month since they left the pace, and it was only logical that there should soon be a resolution regarding the Princess Shijia incident. Song Chuyi was a bit lost in thought; the First Lady called her several times before she came back to her senses. Seeing the expression on the First Lady's face, she smiled: "Auntie, there's no need to worry. After so many years, there's finally good news in the pace; the Emperor and the Empress must be pleased. My elder sister is blessed and will surely give birth to a little prince safely."

  The First Lady understood the hint and refrained from asking further. The two previous trips to the pace had been made by Old Lady Song, and she couldn't quite grasp if something was amiss, so she came to Song Chuyi to probe for information.

  It was just a subtle inquiry. After the incident with Princess Shijia, she had keenly sensed that things were complicated and dared not let her mind wander, fearing that she might make another mistake. After all, her daughter-in-w was about to give birth, and her daughter was pregnant again—what a double happiness! She only hoped they could safely deliver sons; she didn't dare to ask for more.

  After sitting for a while, just then, Nanny Jin came in to say that the carriage of Third Lady Song had already entered the Main Gate. The First Lady hurried to her feet—she had to go and calm things down with Yun Shi, or else there might be chaos at home.

  As soon as Song Chuyi saw off the First Lady, she noticed Yun leading a little maid toward her. When she saw her, she sighed in relief: "The Old Lady is looking for you; the Princess of Zhennan has arrived."

  At such a time of tension, how could the Princess of Zhennan come in person? Song Chuyi wrapped herself in a cloak again, instructed Luyi to go pick up Song Yan ter, and then took Ziyun and Qingtao to Ningde Courtyard.

  Old Lady Song was chatting with the Princess of Zhennan when she spotted Song Chuyi and quickly called her over: "Quickly greet the princess."

  The Princess of Zhennan had already smiled and pulled her in: "What's there to greet? We're all family; if we keep bowing to each other, it'll never end."

  So, Song Chuyi had no choice but to sit next to the Princess of Zhennan, pursing her lips and revealing two small dimples.

  The Princess of Zhennan turned back to talk to Old Lady Song with a smile: "I really shouldn't have come rushing over, but after my girl returned home, she fell ill and even after summoning the imperial physician, there was no improvement. Later, someone said she might have lost her soul, and I remember your family has a nanny who knows how to call souls back, so I specially came to borrow her."

  "It's not a big deal; you could have sent someone over to inform us. There's no need for you to make this trip in person," Old Lady Song said with a smile as she turned to instruct Yushu: "Go to the First Lady's pce and tell her to have Nanny Qiu accompany the princess."

  After the pleasantries, the Princess of Zhennan sighed heavily, full of worry: "I originally thought the same, but now..." She gnced at Song Chuyi and continued, "The Jinyiwei are patrolling the city, and I'm afraid that if I just send a servant, it might cause misunderstandings. It's better for me to come in person."

  This was a message exchange. Old Lady Song maintained her expression and instructed Yun to bring some of their specialty pastries. After she watched the people leave, she sighed: "I heard they've gone to several families? I was so scared by the incident in the pace that all the servants at home have been kept on a tight leash, not allowed to go out freely, fearing they might get involved in something..."

  The Princess of Zhennan nodded solemnly: "I heard that among those suspicious individuals found in the residence of Princess Shijia st time, there was even an illegitimate grandson from the Zhang family... Coincidentally, this young man from the Zhang family returned from Shu half a year ago."

  After verifying historical records and medical books, the court judges concluded that the poison was a rare toxin from Shu.

  The little eunuch in the Eastern Pace confessed under severe punishment, admitting that for convenience, and because he had received rewards from Princess Shijia, he hadn't used a silver needle to test the poison on the Crown Prince first.

  With various eyewitnesses and material evidence, combined with the fact that both the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince's heir had been poisoned, the Emperor was extremely furious, and Princess Shijia could be said to have been pushed to a desperate situation.

  Upon mentioning this, Song Chuyi couldn't help but feel concerned for Zhou Weizhao—he could actually gauge the Emperor's mindset so accurately. It's said that the dragon's heart is hard to measure, yet Zhou Weizhao seemed to have a worm inside Emperor Jianzhang's belly, predicting every reaction of his... This was truly frightening.

  She could predict Empress Rongxian's every move due to her understanding gained from her previous life and this life's careful observation, but Zhou Weizhao... what gave him such abilities? Could it really be innate talent?

  "All these years, the Emperor has treated the Empress Dowager with utmost respect and filial piety. He has been very fond of Princess Shijia as well," Old Lady Song said, her head lowered and her tone heavy. "Yet they have been brooding over events from many years ago, harboring resentment towards the Emperor, even not sparing the Crown Prince and the Heir... It's gone too far."

  Even if Empress Dowager brought this matter to light, ciming that she and Princess Shijia were wronged, no one in the world would believe her with so much evidence against her.

  Everyone has seen how the Emperor and Empress have treated her over the years; the Empress Dowager has already lost the people's hearts, and she no longer has any leverage.