The Imperial Observatory had set the date for the Spring Hunt departure as the twentieth day of the fourth month. It was said that the weather would be fine for those days, and the spring rains would have ceased.
Consort Song specifically sent word ahead of time, instructing Old Madam Song and Grand Madam Song to bring Song Chuyi when they entered the palace. Grand Madam Song had already heard from Grand Master Song about the marriage alliance matter and knew this marriage alliance duty would very likely fall upon the Eleventh Princess. The entire person had been so anxious these past days that she could neither eat nor sleep. Even Renyi could not make her happy—what kind of place was Japan? Since ancient times, no princess had ever been married off to Japan. But thinking of the princesses married to the Tartars, one could roughly guess the fate of those married to Japan. As long as she thought of her granddaughter of imperial blood ending up displaced from her homeland, her entire person would be in a daze.
It was Zhuying, the palace maid in charge of Fengzao Palace, who personally came to receive them. Upon seeing them, she was not as calm and composed as before. With a stiff face and meticulous manner, she paid her respects, not saying a word from beginning to end. Silently leading them into Fengzao Palace, only then did she let out a long breath: “Old Madam, Grand Madam, please follow me.”
Consort Song had evidently been waiting for a long time. As soon as she saw Old Madam Song and the Grand Madam, she rushed forward, supporting each with one hand, carrying some panic and grievance: “Old Madam… Madam…”
The Grand Madam felt her heart was about to break. Supporting Consort Song to sit on the daybed, a thousand words could only transform into a single sigh as she patted Consort Song’s hand: “The matter is not yet settled. Your Ladyship must still keep an open mind.”
Although the Emperor’s boundless grace allowed high-ranking consorts in the deep palace to summon relatives on the first and fifteenth of each month, those who truly did so without missing once were few. Most only summoned them once every one or two months. Consort Song had previously been the same, yet this time she insisted on summoning her natal family into the palace before the Spring Hunt. One could see she was truly anxious.
Song Chuyi fell behind, standing with lowered brows and eyes.
It was Consort Song who reacted first, wiping her tears and beckoning: “Xiaoyi, come here.”
Actually, in her heart she knew Song Chuyi would help with this favor. Song Chuyi was a clever person and could not fail to guess that although Noble Consort Xian and Prince Duan’s move was meant to destroy the Song family, it also had the intention of removing Song Chuyi, this thorn in their eye. Last time when the Eleventh Princess returned to the palace, she had also said that Song Chuyi had stated that even if there was to be a marriage alliance, the person selected would absolutely not be the Eleventh Princess.
But yesterday the Japanese envoys had again sought an audience with the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, bringing up the marriage proposal again. When attending the palace banquet, she had also vaguely sensed something different—Noble Consort Xian had been completely at ease, as if certain this matter could not possibly fall on her daughter. The Empress’s attitude toward the Eleventh Princess had also become much more ambiguous.
All these signs truly made her unable to sit still. She was indeed an ambitious person, but this ambition was actually not large at all. She merely hoped her son could have a more prosperous fiefdom, her daughter could marry a satisfactory prince consort, and preserve the current splendor and wealth. But Noble Consort Xian and Prince Duan refused to let her have peace. She had finally endured through one Empress Dowager Rongxian, only to now have her own daughter schemed against. It was truly beyond endurance.
Old Madam Song coughed deeply, her voice low, powerful, and vaguely carrying reassurance: “Your Ladyship, be at ease. The matter has not yet reached an irreversible point. The more it is at this time, the more one cannot allow oneself to fall into disarray.”
Consort Song pressed her lips together and nodded, forcing out a smile: “I was momentarily anxious… Xiaoyi, I heard from the Eleventh that you told her you would definitely have a solution. What method is it? Grandmother probably knows that the Japanese envoys went to Chief Grand Secretary Chang’s place yesterday to bring up the marriage alliance matter again…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the Eleventh Princess’s voice suddenly came from outside the hall. Immediately following, the Eleventh Princess in a lake-green palace dress rushed into the hall, rapidly wiping tears.
Consort Song no longer cared to continue discussing matters. Carrying a trace of surprise, she glanced at Zhuyi following behind the Eleventh Princess and asked in a deep voice: “What has happened? Should you not be attending lessons at Qionghua Garden today? It is far from the time class dismisses.”
The Eleventh Princess could no longer care about anything else. Clutching Consort Song’s sleeve, she cried miserably: “Ninth Sister, she… she said the Japanese envoys said they wanted to marry a princess whose zodiac sign matched their something-or-other king. They said they wanted someone born in the year of the pig. In the entire palace, besides me, who else was born in the year of the pig? Clearly they are specifically pointing to me…”
The Ninth Princess truly could not maintain composure. The matter had not yet reached its final moment—Emperor Jianzhang had not even loosened his lips about whether or not to agree to the marriage alliance—yet she had already begun using what she considered an established fact to frighten people.
The Eleventh Princess turned her head to see Song Chuyi and came to pull her: “Little Aunt, didn’t you say last time you had a solution? But what solution can there be now? Aunt Mudan from beside the Empress Mother personally came to Qionghua Garden to convey the Empress Mother’s verbal decree, saying I need not attend classes in the near future…”
Consort Song had not expected the Empress’s hint to come so quickly. In great alarm, she hastily embraced the Eleventh Princess: “What nonsense are you speaking! Right now His Majesty does not even know whether he will consent to the marriage alliance. How could such rumors emerge?”
Yet in her heart she had already believed it. Although the Ninth Princess was arrogant, she could not fabricate baseless lies.
Grand Madam Song’s heart also gave a thump. Shocked until she could not even sit still, she anxiously called out “Old Madam,” her lips trembling, unable to speak.
The Eleventh Princess pulled at Song Chuyi, unable even to cry anymore, as if grasping a lifeline.
Song Chuyi extended her hand to receive the handkerchief Zhuyi passed and helped her wipe her tears. Her tone remained unhurried: “Your Highness, be at ease. In just a few days, the great occasion of the Spring Hunt departure will be here. Even if the marriage alliance is to be decided, it cannot possibly be done hastily within these few days. After the Spring Hunt passes, the one crying then will probably not be you.”
Perhaps because she spoke so confidently and righteously, the Eleventh Princess miraculously stopped crying endlessly. Collecting her tears and sobbing a few times, she finally caught her breath: “Little Aunt, you have already thought of a solution?”
Seeing the Eleventh Princess stop crying, Old Madam Song felt somewhat reassured. Gripping the Eleventh Princess’s hand for comfort, she said: “No matter what, the family will do its utmost. Your Highness must not first be frightened by yourself. Think positively—perhaps the Empress stopped your lessons because she wanted you to peacefully accompany them on the Spring Hunt?”
“The mountain rain is about to come, wind fills the tower.” Consort Song gave a bitter laugh, her hand resting on the Eleventh Princess’s shoulder, but her face turned toward Old Madam Song and Song Chuyi: “This time can truly be called a calamity from the blue. Yet the Ninth Princess, accustomed to being arrogant, repeatedly comes to provoke her. One cannot blame her for losing composure—after all, she is still young…”