It seemed Song Yanrou had been finding fault with her from the very beginning, likely due to this matter of the pillar.
The pillar had a good relationship with Song Chaoyu when he was at the estate. Now that he had "hooked up" with Song Yanrou, Song Yanrou might have developed feelings for him.
In her previous life, Song Yanrou eventually married the legitimate son of a minor official under Mu Hansu's command, becoming a pawn used by Mu Hansu and Song Yanjiao.
In this life... who knew how things would change?
Before Song Yanrou could speak, Song Chaoyu said to them, "Don't mind me. Grandmother ordered us to reflect here, so I will reflect properly. I'm not hungry, so Third Sister may eat alone."
The pillar glanced at Song Chaoyu. Song Yanrou also rolled her eyes at Song Chaoyu, saying, "If you don't want to eat the good intentions of someone bringing you food, so be it. I'll eat alone!"
The pillar also felt that Song Chaoyu was not as close to him as she had been at the estate.
Furthermore, the things he had stuffed into Song Chaoyu's school trunk a couple of days ago had elicited no response.
On the contrary, Song Yanrou, the third young lady of the Song family, was very enthusiastic towards him.
The pillar then shifted his focus from Song Chaoyu and concentrated on coaxing Song Yanrou.
After eating the pastries, Song Yanrou had the pillar stay with her for a while longer before letting him leave.
Then, she didn't kneel properly but instead slumped onto the cushion and began to doze.
—
After a night passed, when Granny Yin opened the door to the ancestral hall, she saw Song Chaoyu and Song Yanrou looking like entirely different people.
Song Chaoyu remained kneeling upright, her figure unmoving before the ancestral tablets of the Song family.
Song Yanrou, on the other hand, had already slumped onto the cushion and was fast asleep, her body covered by Song Chaoyu's outer garment, sleeping soundly.
Granny Yin stepped forward, took Song Chaoyu's outer garment, and handed it back to her. She then personally helped Song Chaoyu up, saying, "Your old servant knows that yesterday, the young lady was wronged. Today, the old madam's intention is for the third and fourth young ladies to return and rest well, and not to go to the study hall. The old madam sent some food to the Painting and Calligraphy Courtyard. It would be best for the young lady to return and have breakfast with Concubine Liu before going back to sleep."
Song Chaoyu got up and thanked Granny Yin, only then realizing her knees had gone stiff from kneeling.
Granny Yin was not as polite to Song Yanrou as she had been to Song Chaoyu.
She coldly called Song Yanrou up, did not personally help her, and merely conveyed the old madam's instruction that they should not go to the study hall today before letting Song Yanrou leave the ancestral hall alone.
When Song Chaoyu returned to the Painting and Calligraphy Courtyard, Concubine Liu had hot water ready for her.
Concubine Liu was doting on Song Chaoyu, but Song Chaoyu's stomach rumbled even more from the aroma of the food.
What the old madam had sent them was bird's nest porridge and date cakes made by the old madam herself. It was also served with blanched fresh bamboo shoots, which were hard to come by this season, making it a most refreshing meal on a summer morning.
As Song Chaoyu ate and was about to wash up, Xun Lu excitedly ran in, "Young lady, your servant just went to check on the second concubine's place! What the old madam sent them was just plain congee and side dishes, not as abundant as ours!"
Song Chaoyu frowned, "Why did you run over there? If they find out you went to the second concubine's place at this hour, they might think we're looking for trouble."
Xun Lu lowered her head, "Your servant... was just going to inquire."
She was becoming too presumptuous.
Song Chaoyu was a bit tired and couldn't be bothered to say much to her.
After lying down, she heard them leave. Tiao Hong said to Xun Lu, "Sister Xun Lu, it really wasn't appropriate to go to the second concubine's place at this time. You understand our young lady's thoughts the best. She's just tired today, so please don't take it to heart, Sister Xun Lu."
Unexpectedly, Xun Lu did not appreciate it, "What business is it of yours? I've been by the young lady's side since I was little, so I naturally understand what the young lady wants and doesn't want better than you. You just do your own job and don't meddle in others' affairs, and that would be the best!"
What an arrogant girl.
Song Chaoyu turned over and listened as the commotion outside gradually faded. Only then did sleepiness overcome her, and she drifted off to dream.
In her dream, she seemed to have returned to the estate, watching the sun rise and set with her brother Han Xi.
Then, suddenly, Han Xi's familiar face became unfamiliar.
Everything on the estate in her dream also blurred.
As everything gradually disappeared, many people suddenly appeared beside Han Xi.
They shouted, "Long live Prince Chang!"
Song Chaoyu woke up from her dream with a start.
The cicadas outside chirped incessantly. She had only slept for a little over an hour.
That dream left her with no more sleepiness.
After thinking for a moment, she still got up and called Tiao Hong and Xun Lu, "Since there's nothing to do today, one of you two will stay in my room and pretend to be asleep, while the other will go out with me."
Xun Lu's eyes widened, "What are you going out for, young lady? And from what you're saying, are you planning to sneak out?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, "Yes, I want to go see that Lin Zhaofeng."
"Hiss—"
Xun Lu gasped, "That won't do, will it? How can the young lady just go meet the second young master Lin as she pleases? And at this hour, he's probably out somewhere indulging in pleasures with various women. How can your status permit you to go?"
Song Chaoyu frowned and glanced at Xun Lu, "One must fight for their own future. Am I to really marry such a scoundrel in the future? I must do something, mustn't I?"
Only then did Xun Lu lower her head.
Tiao Hong, however, volunteered, "Young lady, I'll stay here. Let Sister Xun Lu accompany you to take care of you. Don't worry, young lady, you've only slept for an hour, and no one will come to disturb you. It's just that you must be extremely careful when you're out, lest you be discovered."
Song Chaoyu nodded and then changed clothes with Tiao Hong.
The people in their Painting and Calligraphy Courtyard didn't go out often, and when they did, it was usually for some purchases. Moreover, Concubine Liu treated her servants kindly, so the young gatekeeper at the back door, seeing they were from the Painting and Calligraphy Courtyard, didn't stop them or even ask many questions.
But once they were outside, Xun Lu was at a loss, "Young lady, we heard that the second young master Lin is currently on a pleasure boat by the river, but I don't know how to get there!"
She had followed Song Chaoyu to the estate and was not familiar with the capital.
Song Chaoyu, however, was different. "Follow me."
Although she hadn't truly traveled through the entire capital in her previous life, she had read many books.
One of them, a gazetteer of the capital, contained a detailed map of the city.
Therefore, the roads of the capital were already etched into Song Chaoyu's mind.
Xun Lu felt that Song Chaoyu was displeased with her recently and didn't dare to say much, so she followed behind Song Chaoyu.
Changyang Street, where their Song family was located, was not far from the pleasure boats and painted barges at the southern gate of the capital.