Song Chaoyu smiled and winked at her grandmother, "Grandmother, don't worry, I'll bring back some peach crisps from Yueliang's shop! I know you love them, but you still need Granny Yin to watch you! Now that you're older, even Physician Fan says you need to control your sweets!"
"Ai!"
The old lady complained with a smile, "When I was young, your grandfather managed me. Now that I haven't had a couple of happy years, you girl are here to manage me! Fine, fine, this is my fate. Go out and have fun. If you don't have enough money, just get it from the accounting office or put it on my account. You girl, you should also buy yourself some things! You can't be so plain if you're going to be someone else's princess in the future."
Song Chaoyu knew the old lady meant well. After a few more instructions to Granny Yin, she left the old lady's courtyard.
—
Since she had spoken to the old lady, no one stopped Song Chaoyu when she left the Song family mansion.
She generously had a sedan chair prepared and then really went for a stroll on South Street before entering an inconspicuous small teahouse on South Street.
In a small private room in the corner of the teahouse, Song Jiaojiao had been waiting for a long time.
But she knew Tiaohong was someone by Song Chaoyu's side, and Song Chaoyu had always kept her distance from her, so she wasn't afraid.
Only when she finally saw Song Chaoyu enter did she stand up and force a smile at Song Chaoyu, "Fourth Sister, you're here?"
"Sit down!"
Song Chaoyu smiled, "Did you get hurt coming out of Prince Ning's mansion today? Fortunately, it was in time, and I managed to save you. Otherwise, if you were wandering alone in the capital, wouldn't it be heartbreaking?"
Song Jiaojiao was stunned, "Fourth Sister... how did you know... I was kicked out?"
Song Chaoyu asked the waiter to bring the menu and handed it to Song Jiaojiao, "Didn't Second Sister come home yesterday? I heard she seemed to have that intention, and I thought it wasn't easy for you to follow us from Jiangzhou all the way to the capital."
She looked at Tiaohong's empty hands and asked Song Jiaojiao, "Where are your belongings?"
Speaking of this, Song Jiaojiao was filled with anger and resentment towards Song Yanjiao, "Hmph! Wasn't it that Princess Ning? She's my second sister, after all, how could she be so ruthless? She actually said that the food and lodging I've had at Prince Ning's mansion all this time need to be returned to their mansion! So she confiscated all my things. Isn't she leaving me no way to live?"
Even Song Chaoyu was surprised. When did this Song Yanjiao become so stingy?
It seemed a bit different from the Song Yanjiao of her previous life. She wondered if her rebirth had influenced Song Yanjiao's trajectory too much.
But it was more likely that this was her true nature.
It was just that in her previous life, things had gone too smoothly, so she could keep up the pretense.
It was good this way, letting her true colors show early, making her easier to deal with in the future.
Song Chaoyu sighed and looked at Song Jiaojiao, "What do you plan to do now? Do you want to go back to Jiangzhou?"
Song Jiaojiao gave a wry smile and spread her hands, "I don't even have travel expenses on me now, how can I go back? I originally planned to return to the Song family, but I also know that the old lady dislikes me, and the First Madam sees me as a thorn in her side. I also wanted to find my sister Xiuxiu, but I haven't seen her since I came to the capital, and I'm afraid she'll think I've lost face and won't let me into the Prime Minister's mansion. Fourth Sister, can you think of a way for me?"
Song Chaoyu lowered her eyes, pretending to think. After a moment, she said, "Do you want to go to Prince Ning? You came all the way from Jiangzhou to the capital, isn't it all for Prince Ning?"
Song Jiaojiao's eyes lit up, "Of course, I want to go! But now... how do I go? I only know he's in the nearby Qianzhou City, but I've never been there!"
"Have you thought it through?"
Song Chaoyu stared at Song Jiaojiao, but suddenly remembered how she had wanted to enter Prince Chang's mansion before.
For a woman like this, who only knew how to cling to high society, Prince Ning was probably an even greater "temptation," right?
Song Chaoyu reminded Song Jiaojiao one last time, "If you leave with Prince Ning like this, I'm afraid your reputation will be completely gone. A woman who elopes from the capital and stays by Prince Ning's side will not be able to explain herself to Princess Ning in the future."
"Tch—"
Song Jiaojiao sneered dismissively, "Am I afraid of her? She's the one who kicked me out, so don't blame me for going to Prince Ning!"
Speaking of Prince Ning, Mu Hansu, Song Jiaojiao's eyes lit up, "The first time I saw Prince Ning, I knew in my heart that this was the person I wanted to follow in this life. No matter what method I use, I will return to Prince Ning's side, and no one can stop me!"
With her words, Song Chaoyu was relieved.
She turned back and signaled Qiū Qíng to take a bag of silver, which she handed to Song Jiaojiao, "Since that's the case, I'll fulfill your wish. This is some loose silver for your travel expenses. There's also a map to Qianzhou City. The official road isn't too far, and Qianzhou City is not far from the capital, so there shouldn't be any bad people. You just need to keep following the official road, and you'll find Prince Ning."
Song Jiaojiao's eyes suddenly filled with surprise.
But she didn't immediately take the bag of silver. Instead, she looked at Song Chaoyu doubtfully, "Fourth Sister... why are you helping me?"
Song Chaoyu sighed and put on a helpless expression, "I am also a daughter born of a concubine, and I have never been able to control my own destiny. I see that you were living under someone else's roof in Jiangzhou, and you have no one to look after you in the capital. I just feel that we are somewhat in the same boat, so I'll help if I can. If I enter Prince Chang's mansion in the future, and you want my help, I'm afraid it will be impossible."
These words did not arouse Song Jiaojiao's suspicion. Instead, she looked at Song Chaoyu gratefully, "No wonder Sister Xiuxiu said in her letter that you are a good person! Fourth Sister, thank you! Don't worry, if I truly win Prince Ning's heart in the future, I will definitely help you!"
With that, she unceremoniously accepted the silver.
Song Chaoyu had done what she needed to do. She stood up and nodded with a smile, "It's getting late, and I should return to the mansion. I wish you a smooth journey, my dear sister, and hope you find Prince Ning soon!"
With that, Song Chaoyu turned and left.
On the way back to the mansion, in the carriage, Tiaohong quietly asked Song Chaoyu, "Miss... you intentionally wanted her to go find Prince Ning, didn't you?"
Knowing that Tiaohong understood her intentions, Song Chaoyu did not deny it.
Tiaohong also sighed, "Ai! I hope that when we go to Prince Chang's mansion in the future, our Miss won't have to face so many women every day like Second Miss!"