Lady Song Three felt somewhat resentful towards Lady Song One.
In the past, Lady Song One used to go everywhere with them, but in recent years she had gradually grown distant. When adding items to Jiang Yan’s dowry chest, Lady Song One merely sent someone to inform them as a formality, then went to Duke Ying’s mansion with her eldest daughter-in-law Madam Tan, leaving them behind.
She remarked sarcastically to Lady Song Four: “Our eldest sister-in-law has become quite quick-witted, rushing over so early.”
Lady Song Four smiled faintly without responding, but thought to herself: If you hadn’t been so eager to stand out and compete, allowing your daughter to take the lead in provoking Dou Zhao as soon as she arrived, how could Song Yantang and Dou Zhao treat us aunts with mere superficial courtesy?
She silently reminded herself to perhaps learn from Lady Song One and distance herself from Lady Song Three.
As the two harbored their thoughts, Princess Ningde and Old Madam Lu arrived.
Dou Zhao, surrounded by a group of maids and servants, went to greet them.
Lady Song Four couldn’t help but marvel. Later, when discussing this with her husband, she said: “It seems the servants’ rumors were true. Jiang Yan may be the eldest legitimate daughter of Duke Ying’s household.”
Song Tongchun frowned secretly and complained: “How could Second Brother do such a thing? Who is Song Han’s child after all? Second Brother was so well-behaved those years, could Song Han be a child he adopted from somewhere?” The more he thought about it, the less Song Han seemed like a child of the Song family. “Yantang goes without saying – elegant in demeanor and accomplished in both civil and military arts.
Even Song Qin and the others are very intelligent, effortlessly excelling in both studies and martial arts… But I’ve heard Song Han is quite stupid.He’s studied the Four Books and Five Classics for so many years but hasn’t taken the examinations. And look at his appearance – he only bears four or five parts of resemblance to Second Brother and Yantang. Isn’t there a saying that children resemble those who raise them? Perhaps those few parts of resemblance are just from being raised in my Second Sister-in-law’s chambers since childhood.
No wonder Yantang would rather spend extra money to reclaim Second Sister-in-law’s dowry.” At this point, he lowered his voice to caution his wife, “Let’s keep this between us. Don’t speak of it to others! Passing off an illegitimate child as legitimate or falsely claiming a child of a good family – either charge would be enough to get Second Brother into serious trouble. If the Song family’s reputation is ruined, we’ll suffer misfortune too.”
Lady Song Four said with displeasure: “Don’t I understand that much? Rest assured, I won’t tell anyone.”
Hearing this, Song Tongchun pondered and said: “In that case, tell your sisters-in-law from your maiden family to give a wedding gift when Jiang Yan gets married.”
Lady Song Four agreed.
Of course, she wouldn’t tell others.
But how could her mother and sisters-in-law be considered “others”?
Soon, rumors questioning Song Han’s parentage began to quietly spread among Duke Ying’s in-laws and old acquaintances.
Song Han, of course, knew nothing of this.
Song Mo had long since lost interest in such matters.
He received a personal letter of apology from Prince Liao, and Geng Li’s attitude was extremely humble.
Returning to the inner chamber, Song Mo couldn’t help but remark to Dou Zhao: “No wonder he’s so ambitious. Just based on this point alone, he can be said to have a mind that embraces all under heaven.”
When Jiang Yan was kidnapped, Song Mo momentarily suspected Prince Liao in his anger. But once he calmed down, he immediately sensed something was amiss.
Prince Liao was at a crucial time for gaining supporters. His desire to take Jiang Yan as a wife was merely to gain the support of Duke Ying’s household and maintain good relations with Song Mo. Even if Song Mo had refused him, given his current circumstances, it was unlikely he would risk alarming everyone by forcibly kidnapping someone.
Song Mo focused his investigation on Shi Chuan.
He quickly understood what had transpired.
Dou Zhao, however, hated Prince Liao most for forcing Song Mo’s hand.
If not for him, how could Song Mo have shot and killed the Crown Prince in his previous life? How could he have been reviled by all under heaven? How could he have killed his father and brothers?
Seeing Song Mo’s tone reveal a sense of appreciation for Prince Liao, her scalp tingled. She forced a smile and said: “That’s true. Before ascending the throne, who doesn’t embrace all under heaven? But once enthroned, who doesn’t ‘discard the bow when the birds are gone’? These dragon sons and grandsons, not one of them is easy to get along with.”
Song Mo laughed but had to admit Dou Zhao’s words had a reason.
The two set this matter aside for now, focusing on preparations for Jiang Yan’s wedding.
Song Han, however, was fretting over whether or not to attend Jiang Yan’s wedding.
By rights, since Jiang Yan was nominally Duke Ying’s household’s cousin, he as the Second Young Master of Duke Ying’s household should just go and give a wedding gift. But with over a month until the wedding date, Princess Ningde and Old Madam Lu had already started frequenting Duke Ying’s mansion. Those relatives and friends would surely compare Jiang Yan’s wedding to his own. If he went, it would be like standing there naked for people to slap in the face.
But if he didn’t go, with his cousin getting married and all the Song family relatives and friends attending, only he would be missing. Wouldn’t others mistakenly think he no longer had any influence over Duke Ying’s household?
He recalled how a few days ago when he went to Daxiangguo Temple for a vegetarian meal, he had to wait outside for a vacant seat.
In the past, this would have been unimaginable.
Feeling a lump in his throat, he immediately returned to Sitiao Hutong.
Without Duke Ying’s household as an umbrella of protection, he was just a commoner without an official position.
He had to enter officialdom and govern a region.
If it could be a hereditary position as an Assistant Prefect or Deputy Prefect, that would be even better.
Whether based on his father’s qualifications or Song Mo’s, they could seek an imperial grace appointment for him.
It seemed this matter still required finding his father!
As Song Han pondered in his study, he was told Miao Anping had come to visit. Before the servant finished reporting, he impatiently said: “I’m very busy. Whatever it is, have him speak to the madam.”
The servant swallowed the rest of his words. When he saw Miao Anping, he didn’t dare relay the message directly but instead said tactfully: “Our master is busy at the moment. Please have some tea first, Uncle. When the master is free, he’ll come to chat with you.”
Miao Anping nodded and drank seven or eight cups of tea in the hall without seeing Song Han.
He finally realized what was happening and trembled with anger. With a flick of his sleeve, he went to the inner courtyard and said to Miao Ansu: “I had thought to give you some advice on making a small fortune, but who knew you’d look down on it! In the future, don’t say your maiden family has nothing. It’s not that we don’t care for you, it’s that your eyes have grown on top of your head and you look down on these poor relatives from your maiden family!”
If Miao Anping had any good opportunities, the Miao family would have made their fortune long ago. Why would they wait until now?
Knowing her brother’s temperament well, Miao Ansu could only say: “Although we’ve moved out of Duke Ying’s mansion, we’re still people of Duke Ying’s household. Before we moved out, the Duke instructed the Second Young Master not to tarnish Duke Ying’s household’s reputation. We’re not allowed to get involved in business ventures and the like. I’m afraid we’ll have to disappoint brother’s good intentions!”
Miao Anping left in a huff.
Miao Ansu couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
At this time, Song Mo was also somewhat troubled.
Just before the end of the court session, the Crown Prince had Cui Yijun invite him over. Dismissing the attendants, he took Song Mo to a warm chamber and asked in a low voice: “What exactly happened with your cousin being kidnapped? Don’t try to fool me. Duke Ying’s carriages have silver chi’lin embroidered ribbons. The first thing servants of Beijing’s great households learn when going out is to recognize officials’ ranks. Did you offend someone you shouldn’t have, and that’s why you’re using this excuse to fob people off?”
Who said the Crown Prince was weak and incompetent?
At least these few sentences were quite astute.
Song Mo felt that anything he said would be wrong, so he simply gave the Crown Prince a bitter smile.
The Crown Prince was silent for a while before muttering “I understand” and then dejectedly picking up his tea.
Song Mo very much wanted to ask the Crown Prince “What do you understand?”, but seeing his dejected appearance, he inexplicably felt his emotions becoming complex.
As he left the Eastern Palace, Cui Yijun’s smile faded and he said solemnly to the Crown Prince: “You really shouldn’t have called Song Yantang over to question him. Someone like him won’t say anything.”
The Crown Prince said gently: “If it were me, I wouldn’t say anything either. Moreover, Yantang grew up in the palace since childhood. I’m the Crown Prince, so he’s more distant from me. That one is just a prince, always appearing generous in front of others and skilled in riding and archery, naturally getting along well with Yantang. The palm and back of the hand are both flesh – how can you expect him to choose sides? The fact that he didn’t deny it today and didn’t seek my help is already assisting me. Don’t say such things in the future. There are some things you don’t understand. Yantang is like our brother. If there’s a rift between us brothers, how can you expect him, as the youngest, to help either side?”
There was no one more cunning than Song Yantang in this world, yet the Crown Prince saw him as honest and generous.
Cui Yijun’s hands clenched into fists. He could only lower his head and grudgingly acknowledge.
The Crown Prince rose and smiled as he went to the Crown Princess: “Chong’er changes every day now, it’s quite interesting. Yantang’s He’er is only a day apart from Chong’er, he must be growing very interestingly too. We should have the Crown Princess summon Duke Ying’s heir’s wife to bring He’er to the palace more often.”
Cui Yijun’s eyes lit up and he quickly agreed with a smile.
Early the next morning, the Empress Dowager issued an edict for Dou Zhao to bring Yuan’er to pay respects in the palace every other day.
Song Mo had already told Dou Zhao about the Crown Prince summoning him. Dou Zhao vaguely felt this matter was related to the Crown Prince’s summons.
She calmly prepared for the palace visit.
A cold, sharp glint flashed in Song Mo’s eyes.
Dou Zhao could understand Song Mo’s anger.
Perhaps because of his break with his father, he had always valued family and kinship above all else. First Prince Liao threatened Jiang Yan, now the Crown Prince gave a veiled warning. His heart must be burning with rage.
Dou Zhao quickly grasped Song Mo’s hand and said softly: “When Yan was kidnapped, didn’t we also think it was Prince Liao’s doing? I haven’t met the Empress Dowager and Crown Princess yet. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
Song Mo’s emotions gradually calmed.
He snorted coldly: “They’d better not have designs on you, or I won’t let them off easily.”
One was the Crown Prince, heir to the throne. One was a prince, born of the Empress. Even if Song Mo was angry, what could he do to them?
Dou Zhao assumed Song Mo was just comforting her.
But Song Mo said seriously: “I’m not just saying this in anger. The Emperor is advanced in years and fears most that his sons are unfilial. They are sons in their prime – the Emperor may not be without some wariness towards them. It’s just that doing this would likely ‘kill a thousand enemies but lose eight hundred of our own’. Unless it comes to that point, we needn’t fight them to the death.”
Dou Zhao was stunned.
Song Mo was more calculating than she had imagined.
Was it because of this that in his previous life, even after doing so many shocking and infuriating things, Prince Liao still couldn’t do anything about him?
Dou Zhao gently embraced Song Mo.