Master Yuanhui had died drowning in the spittle of the realm’s people, yet the clever and perceptive all knew without needing to say who had truly brought Master Yuanhui to his death. There were many intelligent people in court after all, and the Song family’s threshold became sought-after once again.
Through this incident, everyone finally saw clearly the Song family’s formidability—subduing the enemy without fighting, killing without shedding blood. They hadn’t spoken a single word, voiced a single grievance, but simply straightened their backs and knelt before Emperor Jianzhang, and victory and defeat had already been determined—on one side was merely a monk with some reputation, while on the other was a cabinet minister wielding great power.
The even more clever ones thought even deeper. Emperor Jianzhang’s previous trust in Master Yuanhui wasn’t false, yet this time when he moved against Master Yuanhui, he left no room whatsoever—entering the Imperial Guard prison, dead in a single night. Ultimately it was because Master Yuanhui had committed a taboo. As a monk, he should have stuck to discussing fate and physiognomy, to expounding Buddhist sutras, but he had to involve himself in matters like the snowstorm disaster. And then when the Song family made such a scene and Cen Biliang roared it out before everyone in the realm, even if Emperor Jianzhang trusted him, how could he save face?
Moreover, over all these years, Emperor Jianzhang had slowly purged disloyal people like Chen Xiang, step by step grasping the Imperial Guard tightly in his hands, making them his eyes and ears. When the Yangzhou corruption case and the Xibei embezzlement case erupted, he also took the opportunity to eliminate a batch of ministers from the previous reign—His Majesty understood clearly in his heart that all of these matters required someone to take the lead. If he suppressed Song Chengru now, who had taken risks to handle the Yangzhou corruption case, who would dare work for him in the future?
The court was treacherous with winds rising and clouds surging, maintaining calm only on the surface. Emperor Jianzhang could see everything clearly, yet he helped neither side, making it plain that he still wanted to balance power and keep all authority firmly in his hands. The Song family was currently one of the most useful blades in his hand. He would only rely on them more heavily, not cast them aside unused.
Thinking of this, everyone couldn’t help but admire how the Song family knew how to curry favor, with every move hitting the mark perfectly. That they had such fortune was truly due to their extraordinarily keen judgment—they deserved it.
Therefore, in the period before Song Yi’s wedding, various invitations and summons flew toward Song Yi like snowflakes. Yet he no longer dared to act foolishly and declined them all, only hiding in his room using family matters as an excuse, refusing all appointments without exception. Previously it was because he always made mistakes by acting on his own initiative. Now that he had gradually been scolded more, he had come to his senses. After all, he had mixed in official circles and risen to the position of prefect. Even if he was somewhat confused about family matters, he still had some instinct for official matters. When Song Chengru submitted his memorial to resign, he had sensed something was wrong. Later it indeed proved to be advancing by retreating, and he increasingly knew that although their family was currently like oil cooking on a roaring fire, it could also be said to be beset with crises on all sides.
Remembering that Song Chengru and Old Madam Song had said that even after marrying he couldn’t idle away his life, he gained some understanding in his heart. When free, he preferred to mix with the estate’s advisors and aides, also listening to events occurring in court. For a time, he actually seemed like a changed person.
Old Madam Song was so delighted she nearly went to the temple to fulfill a vow and worship Buddha. Remembering the recent turmoil with Master Yuanhui, she restrained herself, but her heart was ultimately happy. Pulling along First Madam Song and Third Madam Song, she sighed: “If he truly has become enlightened, then I can close my eyes in peace.”
Otherwise, handing over such a precious granddaughter like a pearl or treasure into his care, she really couldn’t feel at ease. Although ten Song Yis probably couldn’t match one Song Chuyi in cunning and methods, Song Yi ultimately held the advantage in propriety and law. If he truly became stubborn and used Song Chuyi’s marriage to act foolishly, Song Chuyi would probably only suffer the loss.
First Madam Song and Third Madam Song hurriedly followed with pleasant words: “Looking at Second Uncle (Second Elder Brother), he’s truly cultivating himself now. This shows that he really does need someone to restrain him. Once the new daughter-in-law enters the door, things will only get better.”
Yin Yunduan was indeed an excellent child. Thinking of this, Old Madam Song heavily exhaled in relief: “Yinyin has always appeared to be good in the past, and even before marrying over, she’s already made a complete round of needlework, shoe soles, and socks for everyone in our family. This shows she’s one who knows propriety and is sensible. If you all get along harmoniously in the future, consulting with each other, then even if I close these eyes of mine, I can rest in peace.”
First Madam Song and Third Madam Song hastily shook their heads: “Old Madam is still vigorous in your old age and will certainly live to a hundred. How can you speak such inauspicious words…”
Living to a hundred was just fooling people. Birth, aging, illness, and death were always inevitable. She now felt her body was increasingly inferior to before. Going out once often made her feel her heart panic and breath short, and eating a bit more also felt uncomfortably stuck in her throat.
Because of this, her heart grew even more anxious about the destinations of these children and grandchildren. First was Xiang Mingzi—the only treasure her daughter had left for her in this world. If she couldn’t properly arrange Xiang Mingzi’s future, she would have no face to meet her daughter below ground. The second was Song Chuyi.
This little girl had stopped causing her worry since that dream at age eight, yet now the one she worried about most was precisely this overly clever young lady. Girls should certainly be intelligent, but they couldn’t be too intelligent. Where they should be confused, they must be confused, but unfortunately Song Chuyi didn’t yet understand this point.
Old Madam Song heavily sighed, cutting off First Madam Song and Third Madam Song’s words: “I know my own body.” She laughed: “Forget it, let’s not discuss this. Go see what Xiaoyi and Mingzi are doing. Have them come accompany me for dinner. If you have matters to attend to, go ahead and busy yourselves.”
First Madam Song and Third Madam Song left the courtyard and exchanged glances, both inevitably showing some worry. Old Madam Song’s health was indeed gradually deteriorating.
In earlier years, Third Madam Song had often quarreled with the Old Madam over her daughter, but the older she got and the more she experienced, the less resentment remained in her heart. Old Madam Song had ultimately given Song Chumi a chance. Now Song Chumi had married into the Feng family—Eldest Master Feng was courteous and ambitious, his mother was reasonable and sensible, and even the always stubborn Song Chumi had now settled her heart to wholeheartedly live her life…
Only after experiencing matters did one know how sharp the old lady’s judgment was. Back then Song Chumi had disdained the Feng family’s status as insufficiently high, but looking now, what good was high status? Like the Duke Yingguo’s estate, the Shen family—even if one married over, was it good? Now weren’t they still slinking back to their hometown with tails between their legs? Whatever distinguished nobility or aristocratic clans—if descendants weren’t accomplished, it was all useless. The foundation that old Duke Yingguo had worked so hard to establish had been squandered completely in just three generations.
She looked back at Ningde Courtyard, also somewhat worried: “Indeed, we must invite Gentleman Hu to examine Old Madam and prescribe some tonics… But speaking of it, Old Madam is also worried and distressed over Mingzi and Xiaoyi’s matters. Only when those two are settled will Old Madam’s mind be able to rest easier…”