Early the next morning, Song Wanchu went to pay respects to Grandma Chu, followed by six people.
Bai Zhi and Luo Cen, with the highest status as representatives of the Crown Prince, walked on either side of Song Wanchu.
Ying Lan and Xia He were equally insistent and vied for the positions closest to Song Wanchu.
To mediate, Song Wanchu had Bai Zhi and Xia He walk one on each side of her.
Luo Cen and Ying Lan walked behind.
Nan Zhi and Su Yue were the most aggrieved. They had gone from being her personal maids to mere attendants.
Song Wanchu didn't like to make a show. Usually when she went out, she only took either Nan Zhi or Su Yue.
Even the girls from the Chu family only took at most two maids when they went out.
Suddenly having four more people around her, with eight pairs of eyes fixed on her, made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
But none of these four was an easy person to deal with.
As the Crown Prince's female officials, she had no authority to order them around.
If she didn't take Ying Lan and Xia He, Liang Yuzhou would surely get jealous and accuse her of being partial.
The group marched in a grand manner towards the Cihui Courtyard.
At the courtyard gate, they ran into Chu Yuexi, a girl from the Chu family, who was also coming to pay respects.
She was the daughter of Uncle Chu Shangyan, the second younger brother of her uncle Chu Shangxu, and was fourteen years old.
Although Song Wanchu wasn't as close to her as she was to Chu Yueying, they would still exchange a few words when they met.
Chu Yuexi would also politely address her as "Sister Wanchu".
But today when she saw Song Wanchu, Chu Yuexi tightened her face, gave her a cold look, and said nothing.
With the Crown Prince's female officials around, and being a well - behaved girl, Chu Yuexi stepped aside to let Song Wanchu pass first.
As Song Wanchu walked past her, she clearly heard Chu Yuexi mutter under her breath, "It's really different being favored by the Crown Prince. Even when coming to pay respects to Grandma, she has to put on airs."
Song Wanchu felt as if a needle had been pricked into her heart. It didn't hurt, but she could feel the presence of the thorn. It churned in her flesh, making her feel as if there was a fishbone stuck in her throat.
Bai Zhi glared at Chu Yuexi. "What did you just say?"
The Crown Prince had given strict instructions to take good care of Miss Wanchu, ensuring that she wouldn't be wronged in any way, and that she wouldn't hear any sarcastic remarks.
Bai Zhi wasn't an ordinary maid. When she put on a stern face, there was an intimidating aura about her. Chu Yuexi was frightened and timidly took two steps back. Her look towards Song Wanchu was tinged with resentment.
Apparently, she thought that Bai Zhi's outburst was instigated and approved by Song Wanchu.
Song Wanchu felt really bad.
She didn't want to have a quarrel with the old lady's granddaughter right in front of Grandma Chu's house early in the morning.
"Aunt Bai, she's still young. Please, for my sake, don't argue with her."
Bai Zhi's sharp eyes swept across Chu Yuexi's face. "Miss Wanchu is not someone anyone can casually point fingers at and talk about. You're not a little girl anymore. You should know what to say and what not to say. If you talk nonsense again next time, I'll take you to your parents and let them teach you some manners."
Chu Yuexi shrank her neck in fright, and tears were about to fall.
In the Chu family, she was a precious young lady. Who would dare to make her feel wronged?
She had just whispered a complaint because she disliked Song Wanchu's airs, but was now scolded by the Crown Prince's female official.
She didn't dare to cry out loud. With tears in her eyes, she entered the room.
The maid beside Grandma Chu had already told her everything that had happened outside.
After Song Wanchu paid her respects, inquired about the old lady's health, and took her leave, Grandma Chu called Chu Yuexi over.
"Feeling wronged?"
Chu Yuexi pouted and started sobbing. "I didn't say anything wrong. That female official gave me a dirty look. People might even think Sister Wanchu is the Crown Princess. She's so full of herself."
Looking at her granddaughter shedding tears, Grandma Chu felt a complex mix of emotions.
She pulled Chu Yuexi to sit beside her and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
"How has your Sister Wanchu treated you on a daily basis?"
Chu Yuexi was taken aback for a moment and then answered truthfully, "Sister Wanchu is very kind. She often sends gifts to me and my mother. She's gentle, dignified, and very capable. All the sisters like her."
"Then where does your resentment towards her come from?"
Grandma Chu hit the nail on the head. Chu Yuexi was stunned for a long time.
She didn't understand where that resentment came from either.
"I... I accidentally heard my mother chatting with Auntie. They said Sister Wanchu was really lucky. Even though she's been married once, she still caught the Crown Prince's eye. That's something many noble ladies dream of but can't have."
Suddenly, she had an epiphany. When her mother and aunt were talking about Sister Wanchu, although they seemed to be praising her on the surface, they were actually being sarcastic.
She was old enough to tell the difference between sincere words and sarcasm, and unconsciously, she had been influenced by her mother and aunt's opinions.
"You're jealous that Wanchu has won the Crown Prince's favor. You think she's been married before and doesn't deserve the Crown Prince's love, don't you?"
"I..." Chu Yuexi felt a sudden sense of shame.
The hidden secret in her heart had been exposed by her grandmother in one sentence.
She didn't dare to have any improper thoughts about the Crown Prince.
But such a handsome and powerful man, someone she saw from time to time, how could a young girl in the bloom of youth not have a little fantasy?
"Yuexi, Grandma is asking you. You can list so many of Wanchu's merits. Isn't it natural for the Crown Prince to like her?"
"Natural." Chu Yuexi answered in a very soft voice. Her cheeks were burning, and she hung her head in shame.
"Has Wanchu's beauty, dignity, and gentle nature changed because she's been married?"
Grandma Chu continued to press.
"No."
"Then why do you think that just because Wanchu has been married, she doesn't deserve the Crown Prince's love?"
Chu Yuexi was too ashamed to look into Grandma Chu's eyes.
"Being liked by the Crown Prince is not what Wanchu wants. She's been trying to avoid him, but the Crown Prince has been pursuing her relentlessly. Just because she's a remarried woman and has caught the eye of a nobleman, people don't dare to talk about the Crown Prince, so they talk about her instead. Yuexi, do you think this is right? Is this fair to your Sister Wanchu?"
Chu Yuexi shook her head repeatedly.
She deeply realized how prejudiced her complaint today had been towards Sister Wanchu.
How sad Sister Wanchu must have felt when she heard that.
Ashamed of herself, she shed tears of regret.
"Alright, you've cried enough. You should thank your Sister Wanchu. She has a broad mind and didn't argue with you. She even pleaded for you. If it weren't for her, you would have had your mouth slapped by those two female officials today. Do you understand?"
Grandma Chu said with a straight face, scaring her.
Chu Yuexi's face turned pale. She covered her delicate face with both hands. "I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. I'll go and apologize to Sister Wanchu right away."
The little girl cared about her appearance. Her powdered face was all streaked with tears. She said she would go back to touch up her makeup before going to find Song Wanchu.
As soon as she left, Grandma Chu smiled and said to the maid beside her, "Why don't you go and invite Wanchu in?"
Song Wanchu hadn't left. She had been eavesdropping outside.
She was worried that Grandma Chu would scold Chu Yuexi.
It turned out that Grandma Chu had expected she wouldn't leave.
She was truly prescient.
Song Wanchu returned to Grandma Chu's room.
Grandma Chu held her hand and let out a long sigh. "Wanchu, I can stop the mouths of the Chu family, but I can't stop the mouths of the whole world!"
When she said this, she raised her voice. Through the bead curtain, Bai Zhi and Luo Cen could hear her clearly.
Song Wanchu understood that Grandma Chu had said this deliberately for the Crown Prince to hear.