The Duchess of Ao was not celebrating a birthday, so she had not invited many people.
Most of the visitors to the manor were familiar faces. However, Song Chaoyu had not expected the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to attend. They had merely sent their congratulatory gifts with great fanfare, stating that the Crown Prince was to accompany the Emperor on an inspection of winter conditions, and the Crown Princess’s mother was ill, requiring her to return to care for her.
But Prince Chang had come.
In truth, Song Chaoyu felt that she could have asked the Crown Princess about this matter; she hadn't necessarily intended to see Mu Changxi, nor had she expected to.
The Old Madam had not expected it either. She frowned and pulled Song Chaoyu aside, "Fourth girl, does His Highness Prince Chang still have feelings for you?"
Song Chaoyu felt her cheeks grow warm. "What is Grandmother saying? As if we had any private dealings."
"What are you thinking, girl?"
The Old Madam understood Song Chaoyu well and gently tapped her forehead. "You are in the manor every day, either accompanying me or your姨娘 and little brother Qing. How could I suspect you? I just find it strange, inexplicably strange. There are so many noble ladies in the capital, why must Prince Chang be entangled with you?"
Song Chaoyu thought that perhaps, one day, she would tell the Old Madam that she and Prince Chang were old acquaintances, but not now.
It seemed the Crown Princess had personally instructed the Duchess of Ao about this matter. Seeing her and her granddaughter whispering, the Duchess of Ao walked over with a smile. "I've been looking for you two. So, you were here, grandmother and granddaughter?"
She personally took the Old Madam's arm. "Several old friends have come today and are waiting for you! Let's see if you are still as spirited as in the past, and let's have a drink!"
She then naturally looked at Song Chaoyu. "This must be your fourth girl, right? Since you're here, have her go with the嬷嬷 by my side to the back courtyard to get something. I have something to give to your newborn little brother! You say, Lord Song's late-born child, and your Song family isn't even holding a proper celebration, and I can't even deliver my gift!"
The Old Madam naturally understood her meaning and smiled, agreeing with Song Chaoyu. "If there are gifts to be received, then go to the Ao Duke's family warehouse and search thoroughly. If you see anything good, just bring it back!"
"Hahaha!"
The two old ladies left, supporting each other, and Song Chaoyu felt a touch of envy for their friendship.
Song Chaoyu also followed "Granny Liu," who was by the Duchess of Ao's side. She heard that this Granny was from the palace and had followed the Duchess of Ao for many years, being most loyal.
At this moment, she said nothing more, merely leading Song Chaoyu towards the back courtyard. "Fourth Miss, just follow this old servant."
They walked past the crowd and into a secluded corner of the courtyard.
When Granny Liu pushed open the door of a small room, Song Chaoyu indeed saw Mu Changxi!
This time, Mu Changxi had probably "learned his lesson." He didn't meet Song Chaoyu in the courtyard but in a room.
In the center of the room, a table was laid out with tea and snacks. The eunuch, Xiao Ruizi, served them, thinking that Fourth Miss would finally get to drink his flower tea.
After Granny Liu sent Song Chaoyu in, she stayed outside but did not close the door.
Song Chaoyu understood her intention: even if there were no one else here, it was still improper for Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi to be alone together in a room.
Seeing Song Chaoyu, Mu Changxi was the first to take a bite of the tea snacks placed nearby. "The Crown Princess said you had an urgent matter?"
Song Chaoyu nodded. Mu Changxi noticed that even after entering the room, she was still heavily bundled up and chuckled. "You don't need to be so afraid of me. Aren't you hot wearing such a thick cotton scarf and outer coat?"
Although the door was open, the charcoal fire in the room indeed made it warm.
Song Chaoyu, as instructed, removed the cotton scarf knitted for her by Concubine Liu. Mu Changxi naturally saw the unhealed wound on her neck and immediately frowned, asking, "What happened there?"
She sighed and sat opposite Mu Changxi. "I was just about to ask you about that Hai Yupei. What kind of secret does it hide? Do you know that jade pendant almost cost me my life!"
The words "cost me my life" caused Mu Changxi's pupils to contract sharply. "Was it that Rui Ji? She injured you and your maid, all for the Hai Yupei?"
Song Chaoyu had not told Mu Changxi about that person, but he knew, which made Song Chaoyu's heart tremble. "Could it be that after His Highness Prince Chang returned to the capital, he actually planted spies in the Song manor?"
But even so, others shouldn't know about this, unless—
Song Chaoyu stared at Mu Changxi, but he avoided the topic. "To be honest, I didn't expect that Hai Yupei would bring you such misfortune. Otherwise, I would never have given it to you."
Song Chaoyu asked Mu Changxi, "Are you going to tell me the origin of that Hai Yupei?"
Mu Changxi nodded and actually told Song Chaoyu.
The royal family of the Southern Kingdom was not as clean as it appeared on the surface.
That Hai Yupei was actually given to Mu Changxi by the King of the Southern Kingdom when he was drunk.
It was the遗物 of a noble consort of the Southern Kingdom. Fifteen years ago, this consort had died by poisoning herself after giving birth to a stillborn child in the Southern Kingdom's palace.
However, over the years, there had been rumors in the Southern Kingdom that the noble consort had not actually died back then.
She had, knowing that her child would be persecuted after being born a prince, faked her own death and that of her child, then secretly took the child out of the palace and fled to an unknown place.
When Mu Changxi went to the Southern Kingdom back then, the King of the Southern Kingdom had been very fond of him.
He felt that Mu Changxi always reminded him of the lost noble consort and child. In fact, the King of the Southern Kingdom had always treated Mu Changxi generously.
So, when Mu Changxi came of age, he gave the precious Meihua Hai Yupei to Mu Changxi.
Later, somehow, rumors arose among the people of the Southern Kingdom that the noble consort of that year was the daughter of a great merchant of the Southern Kingdom. The great merchant had left behind a great treasure, hidden somewhere beneath the sea.
And that Hai Yupei was the key to unlocking the treasure.
At this point, even Mu Changxi seemed to laugh at the absurdity of it. "What treasure? If there truly was one, it wouldn't be for others; the King's army of the Southern Kingdom would have discovered it long ago."
He raised his eyes and stared seriously at Song Chaoyu. "I have not yet ascertained the identity of that Rui Ji. But in any case, she wants the Hai Yupei for two reasons. One is for the treasure, and the other is for the noble consort and the young prince from that year."
He shook his head and sighed. "In fact, that noble consort and the young prince are no longer in this world. She gave birth to a monstrous stillborn child and was personally executed by the King of the Southern Kingdom. How could there be any chance of survival?"