Speaking of Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi, Old Madam Song couldn’t help but laugh. “Speaking of this, I have some news to tell you.” She paused, and even her eyes began to shine. “Just yesterday, the Li family sent someone to announce the good news—Mingzi is pregnant, already three months along.” As she spoke, First Madam Song happened to come in with a gift list to discuss with her about sending sugar money to the Li family. Old Madam Song took the gift list and looked at it, then in the midst of her busy schedule, let out a breath and looked at Old Master Song. “With this, even if I die, I have nothing to fear. I’ve done right by Linlang…”
Old Master Song was also overjoyed, but hearing Old Madam Song speak this way, he couldn’t help but chide her. “Don’t always keep these inauspicious words on your lips. You’ve never done wrong by her.” Thinking further, he felt somewhat wistful. “After a while, when all these matters are settled, let’s go visit Linlang together. She’s all alone, it must be quite lonely.”
Old Madam Song had weathered many storms in her youth, and now she had already reached the age of seventy. How could she still fear death? Half her body was already buried in the earth. She was only worried about the younger generation. Now seeing that Xiang Mingzi’s future was secure, her relationship with Li Er as sweet as honey, and Song Jue and the others taking care of her as natal family members, plus her other most cherished granddaughter Song Chuyi being treasured like a pearl by Zhou Weizhao and able to stand on her own—what she said was the truth. Even if she died, she would have face to go see her daughter and daughter-in-law.
Hearing Old Master Song speak this way, she didn’t correct herself. She looked at him deeply before continuing his words. “Good. If these matters are settled, I’d also like to go see Linlang.”
She knew her own body well. Her days were probably numbered. In recent years, her health had declined day by day. If before she truly closed her eyes for the last time, she could genuinely see these children doing well, then she would be content.
First Madam Song’s heart leaped hearing this. Others might not know, but she did—Old Madam Song’s reactions were now countless times slower than a few years ago. When people told her things, she needed a long time to process them. Recently she had also become more drowsy day by day. Even a slight breeze gave her headaches and chills. Yesterday when seeing Song Yan off, she had only eaten a few bites before she couldn’t eat anymore, saying her heart felt oppressed and stifled. First Madam Song felt panicked inside, but on the surface she busily said, “What are you saying, Old Madam? You must live to a hundred years and see Ren’yi marry! You can’t only favor Mingzi and Xiao Yi.”
Old Madam Song patted her hand and smilingly said yes. She put on her reading glasses and glanced at the gift list before passing it to Old Master Song. “For the first three months we send sugar money. Take a look—are these things acceptable?”
According to the customs of the capital, when a married daughter became pregnant in the first three months, the family should send sugar money for the daughter to buy sugar. Though it was called buying sugar, it was actually to buy things for the daughter and the child in her belly to nourish them—just taking an auspicious meaning. What was really sent were medicinal herbs and gifts. Old Master Song took it and glanced over it before nodding. “Very proper. When the time comes, have Jue’er and A’Jie personally deliver it.” He then instructed First Madam Song, “If the son-in-law is busy with no one to look after her, have Jue’er ask if Mingzi can come back to stay for a while.”
Although with the Earl of Changning’s household’s capability, even if they wanted Mingzi to come back and stay, the Li family wouldn’t have anything to say about it, since the young couple had deep marital affection, asking their opinion was being considerate of the Li family and preventing Mingzi from being in a difficult position with her mother-in-law later. Otherwise, if a married daughter always wanted to run back to her natal home, it would inevitably displease her husband’s family.
First Madam Song quickly nodded. “I was just about to tell Father—I had the same thought. After all, Madam Li is following Lord Li on his external post and isn’t in the capital. It’s just the young couple in the capital. I was worried about no one looking after her and wanted to discuss it with them. If the son-in-law is willing, we could have him move in too. That would be convenient.”
First Madam Song was handling affairs more thoroughly and properly. Old Master Song smiled. Seeing Old Madam Song’s face full of smiles, his heart relaxed slightly before he headed to the study.
Song Jue hadn’t returned yet, but Old Master Song was waiting in the study. Seeing Old Master Song, he quickly stood up with a face full of worry. “Liang Tong and several censors went to the Ministry of Justice to make trouble. They made quite a scene—Left Censor-in-Chief Tao Dinghu and Meng Jiming were nearly forced to commit suicide to prove their innocence.” He sighed and looked at his father with deep concern. “Are we really letting them make such a fuss? Won’t the peace faction rise from the ashes again?”
The peace faction had never been completely extinguished. Old Master Song raised his eyebrows and was about to speak when Song Jue returned. After paying respects to his grandfather and father, he said, “Because Prince Gong’s case is now under suspicion and being investigated, Liang Tong and the others made a fuss demanding that Lord Zheng and Academician Chen and the others be released. The Imperial Guard has now released them.”
After Emperor Jianzhang collapsed, the Imperial Guard, which had always taken orders directly from the Emperor, completely lost its function. It must be because there was no one to command them. Now whatever the Cabinet said, the Imperial Guard listened to, actually appearing more benevolent than before.
“They’ve been released?” Old Master Song sat down and drank a sip of tea. “Good that they’ve been released. Only now that they’ve been released can this play truly begin to perform.”
Academician Chen, who was now taking the stage, didn’t know they had already become actors in others’ eyes. After washing up and stepping over the brazier, he took the pomelo tea Lady Chen handed him and drank it while wiping his hair and quickly calling the steward in.
Once called in, he immediately asked about what had happened recently. Hearing that all this was planned by Xu Da, he couldn’t help but beam with joy, feeling he had vented his frustration.
Having sat in prison for so long, even his bones ached. He had been terrified of carelessly dying in the Imperial Guard’s hands, but it seemed just as Xu Da said—every step had been calculated by their lord in advance.
“Where’s Xu Da?” He gestured for a beautiful maid to come forward and wipe his hair, while looking at the steward with a relaxed smile. “Why isn’t he staying at our house?”
The steward bent his waist slightly, moved closer, and lowered his voice to whisper in Academician Chen’s ear. “He’s busy with the Prince of Dongping’s affairs…”
Academician Chen showed an understanding expression. He set down his teacup, made an acknowledging sound, and turned the brush in his hand, thinking he should go pay a visit to Lord Zheng and also make rounds to the various Elders’ residences—lobbying more people would make things much easier when the time came to act.
“Oh right.” He remembered something else and asked the steward, “Wasn’t it said that they’ve already decided to search the realm for famous physicians to diagnose His Majesty? Have they found anyone?”
The steward stood respectfully to the side with both hands hanging down and nodded. “The Cabinet lords have already ordered the government offices to post proclamations.”