Song Chaoyu did not know how to answer the Prince of Chang's words.
She seemed to hear the Prince of Chang sigh, but when she looked up slightly, she only saw him with his eyes closed, resting, making her feel she had misheard.
It was not far from here back to the Song family, but the carriage moved very slowly.
Silence filled the carriage for a moment, and it was Song Chaoyu who finally spoke, "Thank you, Your Highness, for the Haiyu you sent to this humble girl."
"No need."
The Prince of Chang's tone remained cold, "It is merely to thank you for saving the Crown Princess."
Song Chaoyu felt a touch of bitterness, "This humble girl is undeserving. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have already sent this humble girl many things."
"Do you like it?"
But the Prince of Chang changed the subject, as if he chuckled again, "Plum blossoms are the most noble. That Haiyu should suit you."
Are you Han Xi or not?!
Song Chaoyu almost blurted out the question.
Seeing that Song Chaoyu did not reply for a long time, the Prince of Chang finally opened his eyes, which had been closed in rest, "You seem to be very afraid of this king. Since seeing this king at the palace banquet that day, your eyes have been different from others. What are you afraid of?"
Afraid of what?
Should Song Chaoyu tell the truth?
She gave a bitter smile, fearing she no longer had the ability or opportunity to lie, "When I first met the Prince of Chang, I felt that Your Highness greatly resembled an old friend of this humble girl, hence I was very surprised and very puzzled."
"Oh? Is there such a thing?"
The Prince of Chang seemed amused and turned to look at Song Chaoyu, "Who is it? What is their name?"
His name was Han Xi.
However, Song Chaoyu did not want to utter this name to the Prince of Chang. She suddenly realized that the Prince of Chang's full name was Mu Changxi, wasn't it?
They both had the character "Xi" in their names. Could it just be a coincidence?
"Never mind."
The Prince of Chang shook his head, "If you don't want to say it, then don't. We will arrive at the Song mansion soon anyway. You should not run around carelessly in the future. The Song family is a family of upright scholars. This king will help you keep today's matters confidential."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Song Chaoyu still kept her head bowed low. She felt the Prince of Chang's gaze on her but dared not look up at all.
It was not until the carriage stopped not far from the back gate of the Song mansion that the suffocating silence in the carriage ended.
Song Chaoyu stood up on her own, "Thank you, Prince of Chang!"
The Prince of Chang waved his hand, "Go ahead."
There was no need for further words; that kind of presence was enough to make Song Chaoyu not dare to look up again.
She hurriedly got out of the carriage and pulled Xun Lu to the side.
The Prince of Chang's carriage did not linger and soon left the vicinity of the Song family.
Watching the carriage leave, Song Chaoyu's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Was meeting the Prince of Chang today just a coincidence?
He saved someone and left. Why did he have to let her onto the carriage? Was it just to send her back?
"Miss!"
Just as Song Chaoyu was thinking, Xun Lu beside her suddenly tugged at Song Chaoyu's sleeve, "Let's hurry back, shall we? Today truly frightened this servant!"
Song Chaoyu nodded and slipped in through the back gate with Xun Lu.
When they returned to the courtyard, Tiao Hong breathed a sigh of relief, "Miss, you're finally back! Why did you take so long?"
Seeing that Song Chaoyu and Xun Lu's expressions were not quite natural, she quickly stepped forward and took Song Chaoyu's hand, "Miss, did something happen?"
Xun Lu glanced at Song Chaoyu and did not tell Tiao Hong the truth, "It's nothing. We just took a detour because we were afraid of being discovered, which delayed us a bit!"
Tiao Hong did not ask further. Song Chaoyu changed out of her maid's clothes but was somewhat absent-minded.
She took a nap in the afternoon and only felt a little more energetic before dinner.
Song Yuan was to return for dinner, and as usual, the family ate together.
But when everyone was seated, they saw Song Yuan walk in from outside in a huff.
"Master, what's wrong? Did something displease you in court today?"
The Second Concubine stepped forward, concerned, wanting to take the clothes from Song Yuan's hand, but Song Yuan directly handed the clothes to the First Madam.
The Second Concubine's hand froze in mid-air.
The First Madam's face showed a hint of smugness as she took the clothes, "Master, what is wrong?"
Song Yuan sat down at the table, and a young servant brought a basin of water for him to wash his hands.
He glanced at Song Chaoyu before coldly snorting, "I didn't expect the Prime Minister Lin family to be so unreliable! Do you know what trouble the second young master of the Lin family has caused?"
What?! Lin Zhaofeng is in trouble so soon?
Song Chaoyu was shocked in her heart.
She then heard Song Yuan continue to rage, "This morning, a woman from a pleasure boat lodged a complaint at the Kyoto Prefecture. She claimed that the second young master of the Lin family, Lin Zhaofeng, had committed evil deeds and caused a death on their pleasure boat. She spoke with such detail, and there were other people on the pleasure boat who could testify. How could this second young master have done such a thing?!"
Has retribution come so quickly?
Song Chaoyu almost thought she had misheard.
However, Song Yuan continued, "All morning, remonstrance officials and censors have been constantly impeaching Prime Minister Lin for not educating his son properly. The Emperor personally ordered people to investigate this matter. I think this second young master of the Lin family is most likely finished!"
"Ah?"
The First Madam also became worried upon hearing this, "What is going on with the Lin family? What about the eldest young master of the Lin family? Has he been affected? Will it affect his engagement with our Jiao'er? How did this matter escalate to this point?"
Her heart was only concerned with Song Yanjiao.
Song Yuan also frowned, "That should not be the case. Prime Minister Lin immediately stated that the investigation could proceed freely. If the second young master truly has a problem, it is because he did not educate his son properly, but his Lin family will never condulge him. Moreover, the Emperor values the eldest young master of the Lin family, Lin Muyang, and I believe he will not be implicated."
"Alas—"
Song Yuan sighed and glanced at Song Chaoyu, "It's just a pity. Originally, I thought that if the fourth girl could also marry into the Lin family, she would be of help to Jiao'er in the future. Now it seems that whoever marries that second young master of the Lin family would truly be disgraced."
Yes, what else does this father of hers have in his eyes besides the word "face"?
Song Chaoyu felt no disappointment, but rather happiness because this matter was resolved.
Upon hearing Song Yuan's words, the First Madam also glanced at Song Chaoyu and said sarcastically, "Alas... what a pity! It was an opportunity for the fourth girl to fly up the branches and become a phoenix, but now it's gone."
"Let's eat."
It was the Old Madam Song beside them who shot the First Madam a glance, "Since the matter has nothing to do with our Song family, there's no need to talk about it anymore."
Only then did the First Madam lower her head.
Song Yuan also said to Song Chaoyu and Concubine Liu, "It's alright, fourth girl is still young. The third girl's marriage is not yet settled, so there's no hurry for the fourth girl. We can find someone slowly in the future. There are so many young noblemen in the capital, there will surely be good ones."
He then glared at the Second Concubine, "I heard that the third girl was not satisfied with the family that was arranged for her the other day? She is of concubine birth. To marry into another family as the main wife, although that family's official position is a bit low, and they do have prospects, why are you not satisfied?"