A young servant ran over to deliver a message. "Miss Song, Master Shi, the old lady of the prefect's mansion up ahead has come to the Pine Crane Temple to pray for blessings. Our carriages and horses have met. Old Lady Chu has ordered everyone to get off the carriages and horses and make way for the old lady Yue."
Yue Chengkong, the prefect, was the most powerful official in Yunzhou, commanding two thousand troops. He was like a local emperor.
The Chu family was the wealthiest merchant family in Yunzhou. One was the most powerful, and the other was the richest. As the top - level nobles, one would expect a close connection between the two families.
However, Chu Shangxu and Yue Chengkong didn't have much personal friendship.
There had never been any marriage alliances between the two families.
Maybe they were afraid that a powerful alliance would turn them into local tyrants and arouse the emperor's suspicion.
Or perhaps, since Old Lady Chu's three brothers were all high - ranking officials above the third rank and the Chu family was a royal merchant with a strong background, they disdained to curry favor with the Yue family.
Moreover, Yue Chengkong was a controversial figure in Yunzhou. The Chu family kept themselves clean. For all these reasons, the two great families only maintained the most basic courtesy.
Old Lady Chu asked everyone to wait respectfully by the roadside for the Yue family's carriages, showing respect and courtesy.
The Chu family members lined up by the roadside, quietly lowering their heads and waiting for the Yue family's carriages to pass.
"Stop the carriage."
The gorgeous vermilion carriage stopped. The carriage curtain was lifted, and an elderly, wealthy - looking seventy - year - old woman got out of the carriage, supported by two maids.
She had fair skin and an air of nobility. Her drooping eyebrows showed a bit of dignity.
Old Lady Chu stepped forward and saluted her.
Old Lady Yue chuckled. "We don't meet often. Why are you being so polite?"
Her eyes scanned the younger generation of the Chu family one by one. Not knowing her intention, Old Lady Chu introduced them politely.
"...This is my youngest granddaughter, Ying'er."
Old Lady Yue glanced at Chu Yueying indifferently.
Suddenly, her gaze shifted and landed on Song Wanchu's face.
"This young lady is so elegant and noble. She doesn't seem to be from our small place."
Old Lady Chu said, "This Miss Song is the niece of my daughter - in - law. She's here to stay for a few days."
Song Wanchu saluted her, neither over - deferential nor over - arrogant.
"Oh, so it's Miss Song."
There was a hint of meaning in Old Lady Yue's tone.
Song Wanchu couldn't tell whether she was disgusted or friendly, but she vaguely felt that Old Lady Yue knew that she had once been the noble concubine of the heir of the duke's mansion.
But Old Lady Yue didn't focus on her anymore. Instead, she warmly held Old Lady Chu's hand.
"We're getting older. All we hope for is to have our children and grandchildren around. My useless son only has two sons and a daughter. I've been feeling quite lonely these years. It's not like you. You have a large and prosperous family, and even relatives' younger generations come to stay. You're truly enjoying a happy life."
Old Lady Chu did have a large family. She had three sons and two daughters. Her three sons had given her five grandsons and seven granddaughters. The only regret was that her eldest son hadn't had a first - born grandson yet.
However, Ning's pregnancy was stable, and she would give birth to a legitimate son next year.
Old Lady Chu felt that her life was complete.
But having been shrewd all her life, she knew that Old Lady Yue didn't just envy her when she said these words.
She read between the lines.
But she carefully chose not to respond directly.
"Old Lady Yue prays sincerely. I believe the Yue family will have more children soon."
This statement seemed flawless.
The smile in Old Lady Yue's eyes faded a bit.
She made her words more direct. "I find your grandchildren so lovely. When you're free some other day, bring them to my place and let me have some fun."
After a pause, she added, "Also, let Miss Song come along."
The two families didn't have a deep relationship in the past. Old Lady Yue's sudden suggestion made Old Lady Chu's eyes flicker a few times. She responded more carefully, "My children and grandchildren are usually quite unruly. If they enter an official's mansion, they might make a fool of themselves and offend the people there."
Old Lady Yue didn't care. "Children should be more casual. It's not like they're going to the palace. Why be so restrained?"
Old Lady Chu just smiled and remained politely silent.
Old Lady Yue asked again, "I'd like to invite a Taoist priest from the Pine Crane Temple to my home to perform a ritual to ward off disasters. Taoist Priest Qiu is highly respected and not easy to invite. Do you have a suitable candidate?"
"I do have one." Old Lady Chu replied quickly this time. "There's a Taoist Priest Qingzhou. Although he's young, he's steady and has some skills. He's performed rituals at my place a few times, and I've felt much more at peace."
"If Old Lady Chu approves, it must be excellent."
Old Lady Yue still smiled amiably. After chatting for a few more words, she got into the carriage and left.
Old Lady Chu let out a slight sigh of relief. She looked at Song Wanchu and her expression became solemn.
The Chu family continued on their journey.
Inside the carriage, Song Wanchu was still thinking about the conversation between the two shrewd old ladies.
Although it seemed like a casual chat, in fact, Old Lady Yue was testing the Chu family's attitude and showing a desire to get closer.
The Yue family, the prefect's family that everyone in Yunzhou wanted to curry favor with, but Old Lady Chu wanted to keep her distance.
Su Yue suddenly said, "That old lady of the Yue family has such a scary look in her eyes. It gives me the creeps."
Nan Zhi frowned. "How should I put it? I think she's just like those strict old maids in the palace."
Song Wanchu listened to the two girls' words and fell into deep thought.
Just as they were about to enter the city, Song Wanchu's horse seemed to be suddenly frightened. It neighed loudly and reared up on its hind legs. No matter what, it refused to move forward and just kept spinning in place.
The team in front didn't know what had happened and quickly pulled away.
The coachman whipped the horse's back a few times, but the horse became even more restless.
Fortunately, the horse didn't run or jump too wildly. Although the carriage was a bit bumpy, Song Wanchu still managed to sit steadily.
Shi Luohan was most concerned about Song Wanchu's safety. He jumped off his horse, lifted the carriage curtain, and grabbed Song Wanchu's wrist.
"This horse is acting strangely. Get out first."
Shi Luohan put one hand around her waist and was about to carry her out. Song Wanchu's eyes fluttered slightly, and she didn't dodge.
Nan Zhi and Su Yue also jumped out of the carriage.
The bay horse was still stomping its feet and rearing up restlessly.
The coachman checked the horse's legs and cursed, "Who is so wicked to smear itching powder on the horse's hooves?"
Song Wanchu looked at the horse's hooves and indeed found a lot of light - blue powder on them.
She looked back along the ruts and found a small patch of light blue on the ground not far away.
"Brother, the horses in front are all fine. Someone must have calculated the time and sprinkled the itching powder on the ground when our carriage passed, deliberately forcing our carriage to stop."
To calculate the time, be quick - handed, and remain undetected, this person must be highly skilled.
Shi Luohan's face turned cold. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "It must be Liang Yuzhou!"