The "Prince Chang" whom Ti Le had interacted with was not Mu Changxi.
Therefore, when Ti Le was mentioned, there was no ripple in Mu Changxi's eyes.
He asked as if casually, "How is she now?"
Song Chaoyu was somewhat at a loss for how to answer. "She's well, and not well. She managed to keep her life and return to the capital to see Ti Ya and you. But over the years, she has suffered a lot and endured much hardship. Many things can never go back to how they were."
Can never go back to how they were?
Mu Changxi felt that Song Chaoyu's words were directed at him, not just about Ti Le.
He also said meaningfully, "What's past is past. We must look towards the future; that's the right way."
His gaze was calm, as if nothing could affect his emotions. "Alright, it's getting late. You should go back. Remember, apart from your grandmother, you must not tell anyone about my visit here."
Song Chaoyu nodded, feeling inexplicably melancholic.
She always felt... that things could never go back to how they were.
That Hanxi would never return to her side.
—
As they exited the post station, Tiao Hong approached Song Chaoyu, almost in tears. "Miss, you scared us to death! Those people kept chasing us, and we got lost while running. I even sprained my ankle! Luckily, Qiu Qing stayed by my side, or I wouldn't have known what to do!"
Song Chaoyu felt a pang of concern for Tiao Hong and tugged her hand. "You're so careless! You're not allowed to do that again! Not only are we supposed to live and die together, but if you had waited a moment longer, they would have seen Princess Ti Le, and wouldn't Princess Ti Le have protected us? You ran off like that, and I was worried to death!"
Tiao Hong lowered her head, her eyes immediately turning red. "I will definitely learn more from Qiu Qing in the future and won't be so impulsive again. I've made you worry for so long. If it weren't for Prince Chang, I wouldn't have found my way back!"
Speaking of that...
Song Chaoyu looked at Qiu Qing. "Did you notify Prince Chang? When did they arrive in Jiangzhou?"
Qiu Qing was taken aback, realizing that Song Chaoyu implicitly assumed she was the Prince's informant.
She felt this was reasonable and wasn't displeased. She replied, "It wasn't me. I didn't know His Highness was in Jiangzhou. It was just that when we were in danger, Xiao Rui Zi appeared."
So that was it.
Song Chaoyu quickly apologized to Qiu Qing. "I won't say such things again." Qiu Qing also looked gratefully at Song Chaoyu, then helped Tiao Hong towards the inn.
It was already late. Song Chaoyu hadn't expected that upon entering the inn, they would see the old madam sitting in the main hall.
"Grandmother, why did you come down?"
Song Chaoyu hurried forward, seeing the old madam approaching, and felt a pang of sadness. "You've been traveling for two days; you should rest early!"
In the past, the old madam always felt that Song Chaoyu was a somewhat cold child.
Although she did everything perfectly on the surface, she actually harbored some reservations about the Song family, and even about her as a grandmother.
But now, hearing Song Chaoyu's genuine concern, the old madam no longer felt that way. She merely sighed, "How could I sleep when you hadn't returned, child? You're so stubborn! Now that you've found Tiao Hong and Qiu Qing, you must be at ease, right?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, and was then pulled by the old madam towards the stairs. "That's good! Come, let's go to sleep! We still have to travel tomorrow, so let's not all return to the capital with dark circles under our eyes and scare your father."
Looking at her grandmother's retreating back, Song Chaoyu smiled knowingly.
In her previous life, her grandmother had always been strict and demanding in her memories.
In reality, she now knew that her grandmother also had her childlike and interesting side.
—
Perhaps it was because of Mu Changxi, or perhaps because of Ti Le.
The rest of their journey back to the capital was completely trouble-free.
Finally, they arrived safely in the capital. As the gates of the capital came into view, the First Madam breathed a sigh of relief. "My heavens, we've finally arrived! This journey has been so exhausting. Home is truly the best!"
From a distance, Song Chaoyu saw Song Yuan standing at the city gate with two women.
One of them was the Fourth Concubine from the estate, and the other was a young woman Song Chaoyu had never seen before.
The First Madam saw the people accompanying Song Yuan and sat up, staring fixedly in that direction. "Mother, look, besides the Fourth Concubine, who else is with Father?"
The old madam merely raised her eyelids, as if she had already known about this. "After dealing with that Concubine Liu, Rui Ji, I said that the estate would eventually have new additions. This person is someone he has chosen himself, and her family background is pure and clean, so I allowed him to take her in. You, as the mistress of the household, should be more magnanimous!"
Before the First Madam could reply, the old madam looked at Song Chaoyu. "Why didn't your father bring your mother?"
This was also Song Chaoyu's confusion.
Now, the Second Concubine had been sent to a nunnery, and Song Yanrou had already married during their absence from the capital. Logically, even if Song Yuan were to bring his concubines to welcome them, he wouldn't not bring Concubine Liu.
Song Chaoyu suddenly became nervous. "Grandmother, could something have happened to my mother and brother? I received a letter from my mother the other day saying my brother had diarrhea. I wonder if he's better now."
The old madam naturally knew Song Chaoyu was worried about them.
Thus, as soon as their carriage reached the capital gates, the old madam alighted first.
"Mother, you've finally returned! The household finally has a backbone!"
Song Yuan's filial piety was always evident.
He stepped forward, and the Fourth Concubine and the Seventh Concubine also paid their respects to the old madam and the First Madam.
The old madam's first words were to ask on Song Chaoyu's behalf, "Why haven't I seen the Fifth Concubine? She wrote the other day saying Xiao Qing'er wasn't feeling well. Did something happen?"
"No, no!"
Whether it was Song Chaoyu's imagination or not, she felt that Song Yuan spoke to her very cautiously now. "It's just that Xiao Qing'er has been having diarrhea lately. Concubine Liu is worried about her child and said she'd let us come. Physician Fan is attending to them, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Mother, please rest assured, and Fourth Sister, you can rest assured too!"
The old madam nodded, signaling for everyone to get into the carriage, and then asked, "Has the Third Miss's marriage also been settled? Did anyone make fun of our Song family?"
"No, no."
In Song Yuan's view, everything had been peaceful lately. "Mother, please rest assured, everything is fine!"
However, no matter what others said, Song Chaoyu's heart remained uneasy.
She just wanted to get back quickly and see Concubine Liu and Xiao Qing'er.