After Song Chaoyu was dressed, Xun Lü continued to chatter on.
Speaking of today, she didn't know if heaven was helping them.
Originally, Song Chaoyu had been thinking about how the other members of the Song family would look at her dressed like this for dinner.
To deal with Song Yanrou, Song Chaoyu only needed to use provocation once more. But when facing others' questions, she still had to think carefully.
Before dinner, the young servant of Song Yuan returned. Song Yuan had been kept in the palace by the Emperor for dinner and would not return home until very late.
Since Song Yuan would not be coming, most of the Song family members would eat dinner in their own courtyards, and there was no need to see Song Yuan.
Song Chaoyu took this opportunity during dinner to send Xun Lü away: "I've noticed that Auntie hasn't had a good appetite for the past two days. You can go to the small kitchen in the main courtyard and ask if there are any appetizing ingredients prepared today that haven't been cooked, and send them to Auntie. I'm going out in a moment, and neither you nor Tiao Hong are allowed to follow me, understand?"
Xun Lü was eager to do so and readily agreed. After Xun Lü left, Fan Jiangyue emerged from Concubine Liu's room: "Ayu, what do you need my help with?"
After Song Chaoyu made arrangements for Fan Jiangyue, she quickly changed out of her clothes and secretly left through the back door of the Painting Study.
—
Song Chaoyu went all the way to the Old Madam's courtyard. When she arrived, dinner was just being served.
Song Chaoyu had been visiting the Old Madam frequently these days, so the Old Madam liked her more and more. Seeing her enter at this moment, she quickly beckoned: "You've come at just the right time, girl. My courtyard's small kitchen made delicious crab roe buns. I was planning to eat them secretly, but you found me out! Come, come, you're in for a treat today."
Autumn should be a time of abundant crab roe, but Song Chaoyu smiled and sat in front of the Old Madam: "Grandmother is secretly eating crab roe again? Didn't Physician Fan say? Grandmother's health isn't good, you can't be greedy for cold things!"
"Just this once!"
The Old Madam gave Song Chaoyu a chiding glance before saying to Granny Yin, "Quietly, who else in the Song mansion dares to manage me like this girl?"
Granny Yin also cared for the Old Madam and smiled broadly: "Your servant thinks Fourth Miss should come more often! The Old Madam's temper is like a child's these days, she doesn't listen to anyone. Now that Fourth Miss is here, the Old Madam can finally listen a little, which is naturally good!"
The grandmother and granddaughter were getting along harmoniously today.
Although Song Chaoyu said that, she couldn't bear to see the Old Madam looking so pitifully at the crab roe buns, and finally let the Old Madam eat some.
The Old Madam also cared about Concubine Liu now, saying that if she hadn't been greedy today, she would have dragged Concubine Liu to eat with her. She mentioned that the plum cakes Concubine Liu made last time were very appetizing, and asked about Concubine Liu's current situation.
Until the grandmother and granddaughter finished their meal and Granny Yin brought out tea and snacks, a small maid from the Eldest Madam's side ran in: "Old Madam, the Eldest Madam asks you to go to the back courtyard!"
Looking at the sky outside, the Old Madam frowned: "It's so late, why go to the back courtyard?"
The little maid shook her head: "Your servant doesn't know, the Eldest Madam only asked your servant to inform the Old Madam."
The Old Madam then stood up and looked at Song Chaoyu: "Fourth girl, accompany this old woman?"
Song Chaoyu nodded and smiled: "Alright, Grandmother. It's good to digest after eating, but you must walk slowly. Physician Fan said that after eating, if you need to walk, you can't go too fast."
The Old Madam smiled and tapped Song Chaoyu's forehead: "You girl, you listen to Physician Fan about everything now, and you manage me, this old woman, so tightly. With you by your auntie's side, I feel happy and at ease!"
She also nodded to the little maid: "Where in the back courtyard? Lead the way!"
The little maid nodded and led them towards the back courtyard.
The Eldest Madam was very clever. She didn't go directly to the long pavilion wooden bridge where Song Chaoyu and Zhuzi had arranged to meet, but instead had the lights extinguished at a place not far away, waiting for the Old Madam to arrive.
On the way, Song Chaoyu also met Tiao Hong. She was originally Song Chaoyu's maid, so the Old Madam had no suspicion.
Tiao Hong nodded to Song Chaoyu, and Song Chaoyu knew that Song Yanrou must have kept her appointment today!
Her heart, which had been hanging because she couldn't be sure, finally relaxed.
Moreover, Song Chaoyu had also casually asked the maid who was leading the way. The maid only said that the Eldest Madam was there, but Song Yanjiao seemed not to be.
Whether it was because the Eldest Madam felt Song Yanjiao was not suitable to be present, or because Song Yanjiao had been actively involved with Lin Muyang and Mu Hansu lately, as long as she wasn't there, it would avoid many troubles.
Today, what she wanted to do seemed likely to succeed.
She followed the Old Madam all the way to the back courtyard. The little maid led them behind the rockery, and the Old Madam's frown deepened: "So mysterious, what is she up to?"
The Eldest Madam, who heard the Old Madam's voice behind the rockery, quickly came out: "Shh, Mother, speak softly, today we are going to—"
However, her words stopped abruptly the moment she saw Song Chaoyu following the Old Madam.
"How are you here?!"
The Eldest Madam was extremely surprised and, disregarding the Old Madam's presence, asked Song Chaoyu in astonishment.
Song Chaoyu raised her eyebrows and asked the Eldest Madam in confusion: "Are you asking me? What do you mean? Shouldn't I be here?"
She blinked her eyes, her expression extremely innocent: "I was having dinner with Grandmother just now, and then I came with Grandmother. If Mother feels my presence here is inconvenient, then I will return to the Painting Study first."
"That's not what I meant."
Seeing the Old Madam's expression change, the Eldest Madam quickly shook her head: "I just found it a bit strange that Fourth Miss is still here at such a late hour."
The Old Madam frowned and stared into the Eldest Madam's eyes: "I'm afraid it's you who is strange today? What's going on? Why did you call me over so late? Is there something important happening in the mansion?"
The Eldest Madam, who had received news from Xun Lü and had a whole speech prepared, found herself unable to say anything upon seeing Song Chaoyu.
She could only swallow a mouthful of saliva, and then pointed towards the direction of the back garden's long pavilion wooden bridge: "I just heard... that there will be a thief entering the house tonight, so I thought it would be better to catch the thief with Mother here."
Thief?
This word was also fitting. A flower-picking thief, wasn't that also a thief?
Song Chaoyu lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.
The Old Madam's frown deepened: "What trick are you playing?"