Song Chaoyu put on a well-behaved demeanor and nodded to Song Yuan, "Anyone who saw the Crown Princess in danger would feel as I do. Therefore, I don't want any reward. It makes me happy to bring honor to the Song family."
"Good, good, good!"
Song Yuan said "good" three times in a row, feeling for the first time that Song Chaoyu, the daughter of an outer chamber, was not bad.
---
A few days later, the Eastern Palace sent gifts again. Song Chaoyu had them sent directly to the storeroom without keeping anything for herself.
When Song Yuan found out, he had half of the gifts sent to the Painting and Book Academy.
In the morning, Song Chaoyu still paid her respects to her grandmother as usual, without any hint of negligence.
This left Song Yanjiao and Song Yanrou unable to find any fault with Song Chaoyu, until an announcement came from outside that the Crown Princess had arrived and wished to see Song Chaoyu.
The Old Madam and the First Madam personally went out to greet her. The Crown Princess was wearing a plain robe today and brought some gifts down from her carriage.
After exchanging pleasantries with the First Madam in the main hall, she stated that she wanted to speak with Song Chaoyu alone.
Although the First Madam wished to stay, she could not, and had to leave with Song Yanjiao and Song Yanrou.
After dismissing everyone, the Crown Princess smiled and looked at Song Chaoyu, "I will not repeat my thanks. I assume you are not here to hear thanks, but to leave a message in my palm yesterday?"
That was correct.
After saving the Crown Princess yesterday, there were too many people around.
As the Crown Princess took her hand, Song Chaoyu slowly wrote a few words in her palm: This matter is serious, please have the Crown Princess visit my residence for a chat.
She had taken a great risk in leaving that message. It should have been her who visited the Crown Princess. But she was, after all, the daughter of an outer chamber. If she went directly to the Eastern Palace, she feared people would say she was relying on the favor of saving the Crown Princess to curry favor with her!
She felt that the Crown Princess might not even pay attention to her, and she had not expected the Crown Princess to come so early today.
So Song Chaoyu stood up and slowly knelt before the Crown Princess, "Replying to Your Highness, this humble daughter merely wishes to tell Your Highness to please be careful, Your Highness and the Crown Prince. If possible, please investigate the young eunuch from yesterday; perhaps something can be uncovered."
The Crown Princess's brow furrowed slightly, "I suspected yesterday that you already knew the young eunuch was going to harm me, which is why you came to my side. You, the daughter of an outer chamber, should have stayed away from me. Moreover, the incident happened so suddenly that even the maids and wet nurses by my side did not react, yet you pulled me back. How did you know that eunuch intended to harm me?"
Perhaps it was because in her past life, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were overthrown too quickly by Prince Ning, which made Song Chaoyu not realize that in their position, they could see things more clearly.
She was momentarily at a loss for how to answer.
However, the Crown Princess did not make things difficult for Song Chaoyu, only sighed at her, "Never mind. You saved me, and I will not make things difficult for you. You are right, that young eunuch died in the palace yesterday. They said he died of a cold and a beating, but in reality, he was poisoned. I am telling you this to put your mind at ease. This matter, the Crown Prince and I will both take to heart."
Only then did Song Chaoyu breathe a sigh of relief, then stood up, "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Princess, for believing this humble daughter."
The Crown Princess smiled gently, then took a small box from her sleeve and handed it to Song Chaoyu, "In the capital, it is already difficult for a concubine's daughter. Your life as the daughter of an outer chamber must be even more difficult in the Song family, wouldn't you say?"
She herself was a noble lady from a prominent family and naturally understood the struggles within the inner chambers. "I imagine you did not receive most of the gifts bestowed upon you yesterday. Keep this safe, and do not tell your father or mother. It is from me, so you may keep it for yourself."
Song Chaoyu was stunned for a moment, but did not accept it, "Thank you, Your Highness. The hairpin Your Highness gave me yesterday was already very precious; this humble daughter cannot accept anything else."
"Take it!"
The Crown Princess proactively placed the box into Song Chaoyu's hand, "You will like this. Although you are a concubine's daughter, I quite like you. Feel free to visit the Eastern Palace more often to chat with me in the future!"
With that, she stood up, called for a maid to enter, and then took her leave.
Only after leaving the Song mansion and sitting in the Eastern Palace carriage did the Crown Princess smile at the wet nurse beside her, "This girl is quite interesting. No wonder he was so attentive when he just returned to the capital. Although she is the daughter of an outer chamber, her demeanor and conduct are quite proper. In the future, in the capital, she might become an extraordinary young lady!"
The wet nurse nodded in agreement, and the carriage rumbled away.
---
After smilingly watching the Crown Princess depart, Madam Song asked Song Chaoyu what the Crown Princess had said.
Song Chaoyu knew she could not evade this question.
She feigned a shy smile, "She asked me if I had taken a liking to any noble young masters at the palace banquet and if I would like her to make introductions."
"Heh—"
Madam Song let out a cold laugh and glared at Song Chaoyu, "Noble young masters? With your status, only fit to be a concubine, do not harbor foolish desires! The Crown Princess was merely making conversation; do not disgrace the Song family."
Song Chaoyu nodded, unwilling to engage in a war of words with the First Madam, "This daughter understands."
The First Madam motioned for her to withdraw. After Song Chaoyu hastily returned to the Painting and Book Academy, she closed the door and opened the box the Crown Princess had given her.
Upon seeing the contents, Song Chaoyu was stunned.
It was a plum blossom pendant made of sea jade. Embedded within the white jade, which seemed to have snowflake-like specks, were dots of red. Each red spot was carved into a blooming plum blossom, making it exceptionally beautiful!
It reminded Song Chaoyu of when she was on the estate in the past. Every winter, she would go with Han Xi gege to a plum grove behind the estate to admire the plum blossoms.
Han Xi liked the noble bearing of plum blossoms, appreciating their pride and integrity as they bloomed in the winter.
Song Chaoyu also liked the passion of red plums amidst the snow, and the vitality of red plums blooming freely.
At this moment, for some reason, upon seeing this plum blossom pendant, Song Chaoyu felt that it might not have been a gift from the Crown Princess.
Most of the items sent from the Eastern Palace these days were made of gold and silver. Sea jade was only produced in large quantities in the Southern Kingdom, which was surrounded by the sea on three sides.
The Southern Kingdom... was that not where Prince Chang was held as a hostage?
Song Chaoyu's heart became somewhat troubled, and she eventually took the sea jade plum blossom pendant to find her grandmother.
Her grandmother was surprised that Song Chaoyu had told her about the Crown Princess privately giving her something, and also felt Song Chaoyu's sincerity towards her.
She picked up the sea jade plum blossom pendant and examined it carefully, "This is indeed a rare item. Although the Southern Kingdom also presents sea jade as tribute to our Great Yue, most sea jade contains impurities. Sea jade that is this smooth and only has red and white jade points is truly rare. Furthermore, the carving on this plum blossom pendant is exquisite, with the blooming red plums blending perfectly with the red jade points. It is a rare item, which shows the Crown Princess has you in her heart."