As the night gave way to dawn, Qing Tao pushed open the window and a burst of fresh air from the outskirts flooded into the room, dispersing the scent of sandalwood. Song Chuyi had already dressed under Hong Yu's attendance and glanced at the green leaves of the phoenix tree outside before turning to ask Mrs. Xu: "Mom, hasn't Uncle Qin returned yet?"

  With Qin Chuan's personality and Song Chengyu's current attention to her, she should have called Qin Chuan back immediately.

  Mrs. Xu held the tooth powder with a worried expression and shook her head, looking at Song Chuyi who wanted to speak but hesitated.

  Last night, Song Chuyi took Hongyu to collect the bedding and luggage, but something seemed to have happened afterwards. However, Song Chuyi didn't reveal anything to her, and she was a bit flustered.

  Watching Song Chuyi about to go out again, she hurriedly caught up with some hesitation: "Miss, there's something I don't know if I should ask or not"

  Xu Ayi has been by her side for nearly two months, working diligently and conscientiously.

  "I also have something to ask Mom." Song Chuyi stopped in her tracks and turned around, her expression unchanged but her words rapid: "Is Mom's master me or Grandma?"

  Mrs. Xu was shocked and held the tooth powder, unsure of what to do, staring blankly at Song Chuyi, unable to utter a single word.

  Song Chuyi let out a soft sigh and turned her back to walk away, but she didn't stop talking: "Mom doesn't have to answer me now, it's the same when you figure it out later. When you answer my question, I will naturally dispel your doubts too."

  Qing Tao followed Song Chuyi out, looking back at her with some worry: "Miss, after all, Mrs. Xu has been following the old lady for decades"

  Song Chuyi's footsteps didn't stop, but there were tears shining in her eyes.

  Yes, Xu's mother has been following Song old lady for decades and has feelings, so Song old lady attaches great importance to her, transfers her to serve by her side, and will support her in her old age.

  But what about the people around Cui?

  What about Lianyi? What about Liangui? What about those loyal servants who followed the Cui family from Jinzhong to the capital with utmost loyalty? Who will save them?

  Who can compensate them for their ruined lives?!

  Her grandmother had always been good to her, even when she was arrogant and annoying at first, her grandmother still had some true feelings for her, so in the end she also helped her complete her marriage with Shen Qing.

  But as soon as she thought that this goodness was exchanged for Cui's life, the wound in her heart grew bigger and bigger.

  Zhang Shu and Xu Ayi were already waiting in the hall, and when they saw her coming, they hurriedly came up to greet her.

  "How did the young lady sleep last night?" Xu's face was somewhat unpleasant, but she still forced a smile: "I just sent someone out to investigate, and for now, nothing has happened here."

  Song Chuyu keenly sensed the other meaning behind her words and furrowed her brow, asking: "Something happened somewhere else?"

  Old Zhang nodded hastily, his hands shaking: "In a hot spring villa not far from us, more than ten people died. I heard that the villa was Chen Ge's old home."

  Not far from here?

  It means that there are still Tartars hiding in the town, Ye Jingchuan has been gone for a night, how can there be no movement at all? Didn't his guest say that he would ask the county magistrate to mobilize manpower?

  She was still in a daze when Zhang Shu rubbed his palms together and came over with some difficulty: "There's another thing I need to report to the young lady, there is currently a young lady and a young master living in the Chen Ge's villa, last night more than ten guards died in their villa, the remaining people are not enough, they want to come to our place"

  Auntie Xu also handed over a note, sighing and saying: "Now that we have soldiers guarding here, I'm afraid there will be even more people coming to ask for your hand in marriage later on. Miss, it's better to make plans early."

  Song Chuyi nodded slightly, took the letter and glanced at it, then turned to look at Xu Ayi and said: "Ayis, you go with Zhang Shu and ten guards to bring Miss Chen and Young Master Chen over."

  Qing Tao hesitated: "If we accept the first one, who can guarantee there won't be a second or third? With more people, it's hard to know their true nature. What if something happens?"

  It's hard to know what people are thinking, who knows if someone will take advantage of the disaster to make a profit, and mix in with the crowd to plot something sinister?

  Song Chuyi waved her hand to stop Qing Tao, and said in a soft voice: "Qing Tao, go and tell the soldiers outside that they should set aside fifty people to guard the temple not far away. If there are still people coming to surrender later, let them all go to the temple."

  Ye Jingchuan only left them with about a hundred people, and now they had to split fifty of them off. Qing Tao felt a bit painful, but knew this was the most appropriate solution, so she nodded randomly and went out to make arrangements.

  Qin Chu's remaining guards were uneasy, and after discussing it among themselves, they called in Qing Tao to advise Song Chuyi: "Miss is indeed kind-hearted, but the Tartar soldiers are brutal and have no humanity. Our formation here has many people, and we're afraid that we've already caught their attention. If we divide our forces again like this, I'm afraid something unexpected will happen."

  The awaited ones were the Tartar invaders.

  "Don't worry." Song Chuyi waved the letter in her hand and handed it to Qingtuo: "You go find that hundred households again, tell him to deliver this letter to Ye Jingchuan within two hours."

  Song Chuyi has always been decisive and rarely makes mistakes. Qing Tao saw her calm and composed, and his unease dissipated by half. He let out a sigh of relief, nodded, and took the letter to find that soldier.

  Auntie Xu just came in, with a look of relief on her face: "It was too scary, those violent soldiers were completely inhumane. If it weren't for the Chen family's servants fighting to protect their masters, I'm afraid Miss Chen and Young Master Chen would have been in danger."

  "Is everyone settled in?" Song Chuyi asked, then beckoned Xu to come forward: "Nanny, I have something for you to take care of. This matter cannot be handled sloppily, you must do it well."

  Listening to Song Chuyi's serious tone, Xu Niangniang didn't dare relax and attentively listened with bated breath.

  "It's broad daylight now, even if those bandits are bold, they wouldn't dare to launch an open attack. You and Zhang Shu bring some men, bring enough seventeen guards, and also bring twenty or thirty long workers to help, go together to Chen's house and other larger villas nearby, take all their valuable things back with a large cart."

  Auntie Xu listened with some confusion, scratching her head in puzzlement: "Use a large cart to transport? Won't that be too showy? Wouldn't that let everyone know we're helping them move their assets?"

  Besides, others may not necessarily take out the gold, silver and jewels accumulated in their homes. Moreover, other households have crops such as wheat, sweet potatoes, chickens and ducks, how can these things be transported?

  Mrs. Xu couldn't help but want to shake her head. In such a critical situation, it's good enough if they can save people with their own hands, why bother about their property?