That night, Su Peisheng went to fetch ice and delivered it to Song's room. The next day, when Wang's maid saw the Fourth Master come out of Song's room, she was so frightened that she forgot to greet him. Then, not long after the Fourth Master left, Zhao Quan led a young eunuch, carrying some cloth and some ice, to the North Courtyard again.

This time, Madam Wang had already gotten up. She saw Zhao Quan leading a young eunuch out of Madam Song's room through the window. Hongying, who was beside her, immediately stepped forward and said to Madam Wang, "Princess, when I was washing my face this morning, I saw Master coming out of Consort Song's room."

Upon hearing this, Wang's face twitched, as if she had been stabbed in the heart. Although she maintained a seemingly harmonious and friendly relationship with Song, they were secretly suspicious of each other, and there was no genuine affection between them.

"Oh, it seems I should go and congratulate my sister." With that, Madam Song got up from the couch, took Hongying's hand, and walked towards Madam Song's room.

As the two women reached the door, they saw Song's maid, Qingping, about to carry several bolts of fine Shu silk inside. They also sensed a chill creeping from the room towards the door. Wang glanced around the corner and saw an ice basin there. She felt even more uncomfortable, but still managed a smile and said, "Congratulations, sister, you've won the Fourth Master's favor again. I'm so envious!"

Seeing Wang standing at the door, Song smiled with a hint of relief and said, "What are you doing standing at the door, little sister? Come in quickly. An'er, serve tea to Princess Wang."

Seeing Hongying staring at the Shu silk in her hand, Qingping finally felt a sense of relief. Usually, Wang Shi would rely on her youth and beauty to ridicule the princess, which even she, a servant, found hateful.

“Yesterday, my sister and I were laughing and joking in the pavilion, and today it has come true. It seems that what Sister Niu said was really true. My sister has been serving the Fourth Master for a long time, and she certainly occupies a special place in his heart.” Madam Wang raised her hand, grabbed the handkerchief from the opening of her cheongsam, and played with it in her hand.

"Sister, don't be anxious. The master is here, so he will definitely think of you," Song comforted her. At this moment, she felt very comfortable and could finally show off in front of Wang.

Hearing Song's "comfort," Wang felt particularly uncomfortable. Song was actually trying to comfort her, as if her favor was so abundant it could overflow and be given to her. After a few more casual, superficial laughs, Wang took her leave.

After Madam Wang left, Granny Li from the Fujin's courtyard arrived, and the entire North Courtyard once again became the focus of discussion in the inner quarters. News of the Fourth Prince staying with Madam Song last night had already spread. Now, the Fujin's personal nanny was leading the eldest princess to Madam Song's place. For some reason, all of this made the women in the Fourth Prince's household extremely nervous on this hot summer day. Because in this inner quarters, any woman's rise or fall would trigger speculation and gossip among all the other women. They had nothing better to do than keep an eye on the man and all the women around him.

As for Madam Song, when she saw Moyaqi standing behind Granny Li, she was so excited that she didn't know what to say. This was Moyaqi's first time in Madam Song's quarters. Although she knew Madam Song was her birth mother, she felt no affection for her. This wasn't surprising, as she had been taken to be raised by the Fujin (Madam's wife) before she was even six months old. The so-called "separation by death" meant that Madam Song and Moyaqi, despite being mother and daughter living in the same household, never saw each other for years—a truly lamentable situation.

"Princess Song, the master instructed that the eldest princess come and keep you company for a while. He will also be coming over to have dinner with you and the eldest princess tonight." Looking at the incredulous look in Madam Song's eyes, Granny Li sighed inwardly.

"Granny Li, do you mean that Moyaqi can be with me today?" Madam Song almost burst into tears, but she managed to hold them back. In contrast, Moyaqi remained silent, watching Madam Song without saying a word. She had doubts about what Granny Li had told her earlier, but couldn't find a suitable opportunity to ask clearly.

"Yes, Princess Song, but only for today. After dinner, the eldest princess will still have to return to the main courtyard," said Granny Li.

Madam Song nodded quickly. Granny Li turned around, gave the eldest princess a few instructions, and then left with her servants.

Seeing Mo Yaqi standing upright in front of her, Song still looked at Mo Yaqi from head to toe and then from toe to head in disbelief.

"What's so interesting? I'm thirsty," Moyaqi said casually, making an excuse as she felt uneasy under Song's gaze. She actually held her birth mother in some contempt, because she was merely an unfavored princess, her status inferior to that of the Fujin (the principal wife). Moyaqi, on the other hand, had been adopted by the Fujin, making her a legitimate princess, and Song had to bow before her. As an eleven-year-old child, Moyaqi hadn't experienced much maternal affection, but she had felt the difference in status from a young age.

"Alright, um... Auntie will pour you some tea." Madam Song swallowed back the words "Mother" that were about to come out. The wish she thought was impossible yesterday had already come true today, and wasn't the eldest princess standing in front of her right now?

Song poured a cup of mare's milk for Moyaqi, and personally handed it to her.

Seeing that she had finished drinking the mare's milk, Song gave her some pastries. But Moyaqi looked at the pastries and didn't take a single one.

"Eldest Princess, shall your aunt teach you needlework?" Seeing that Moyaqi remained listless, Madam Song was anxious and had no choice but to start with what the eldest princess was currently learning.

"The embroidery master Zhao Mama, whom my mother hired for me, is famous in the capital. You embroider better than her?" Mo Yaqi sneered disdainfully. She looked at the room where Song Shi lived, which was far inferior to the furnishings in her wife's quarters.

"Although I am not as good as Granny Zhao, my skills are not bad either. Why don't you take a look at the handkerchiefs and socks that Auntie embroidered?" Madam Song was very confident in her needlework.

“Alright then, it’s pretty boring sitting here anyway,” Moyaqi nodded.

Song gave Qingping a wink, and the latter understood. She quickly went to the inner room to get some of Song's handkerchiefs and socks, and then presented them to the eldest princess for her to see.

And you know what? Song's needlework was truly quite good. The simple kingfisher she embroidered was so lifelike, it looked as if it could almost fly out of the handkerchief.