Madam Song softened her voice: “What are you standing here for?”

Song Nian said, “Yinsu saw Mother bringing Second Sister to Father’s place, so I came here to wait for Mother.”

She just hadn’t expected to hear such words.

“Come back to my room with me.”

Bringing the two sisters back to the room, Madam Song asked, “You heard what I said to Ming Xiang just now. What are your thoughts?”

Madam Song looked at Song Nian somewhat nervously.

Though she also loved Song Nian, Song Yao was her first child, into whom she had poured all her energy and affection. Even if Madam Song didn’t want to admit it, she had to acknowledge she favored Song Yao more.

Especially when she thought about Song Yao’s awkward current situation—past marriageable age yet not favored by Song Lan’an—she became increasingly anxious.

Moreover, Song Lan’an had previously considered casually marrying Yao’er off to that scholar surnamed Hu, forcing her to muster her spirits to scheme for Song Yao.

Song Nian listened to Madam Song’s words, her expression indifferent: “What does Mother think this child would think?”

“Your sister hasn’t yet discussed marriage, and now you…”

Song Nian said flatly, “Does Mother perhaps want this child to reject the match with Duke Yingguo’s manor to set Second Sister’s mind at ease?”

“When did I ever have such intentions?”

“Then what does Mother mean?”

Madam Song clutched her handkerchief and choked, becoming vexed at heart.

“How can you speak to your mother like this?”

Song Yao stepped forward, looking at Song Nian tearfully: “Now that you have your betrothal settled without fear or worry, how can you not consider my difficulties?”

“Second Sister.”

Song Nian sighed softly: “When Sister-in-law entered the family, I said that when a new bride enters the door, it’s to seek a virtuous reputation, and she would certainly find good matches for us both. Was this not so?”

Song Yao bit her teeth and said nothing.

“I also told Second Sister to get along well with Sister-in-law. But what did Second Sister say?”

“Second Sister said that our marriages—how could they be decided by a new bride with poor speech? Those were your words, weren’t they?”

“What do you mean by this now?”

Being confronted by the usually docile and gentle Song Nian before their mother, Song Yao felt both ashamed and angry: “Just because you’ve made a match with Duke Yingguo’s manor, you straighten your back like this? You haven’t even married over yet—why must you put on the airs of the Duke’s manor?”

“And don’t forget, that Ming Seventeen is merely a branch of the Ming family, not even from the Duke’s manor’s direct line. You’re already acting like a fox borrowing the tiger’s authority before you’ve even entered the family—aren’t you afraid of making others laugh themselves sick?”

Seeing Song Yao even speak such mad words, Song Nian was truly too lazy to continue talking with her.

She turned to look at Madam Song, her tone gentle: “Mother, before Father, you accused Sister-in-law of improperly arranging Nian’er’s match before Second Sister’s. Did you consider that if Sister-in-law were narrow-minded, wouldn’t this implicate this child?”

Madam Song said awkwardly, “A young lady from Duke Yingguo’s manor—how could she be petty?”

“If the one who made the match with the Ming family today were Second Sister, would Mother stand up for Nian’er like this?”

“Naturally I would.”

Song Nian only saw her mother’s eyes darting away, unwilling to look at her, and couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

“This child still has some embroidery work to finish, so I won’t disturb Mother and Second Sister.”

Finishing, Song Nian turned and left.

“Mother, look at her.”

Song Yao cried: “Even my own younger sister looks down on me. How can your daughter face anyone in the future?”

“Stop crying. I’ll send out invitations to other madams today to ask if anyone has suitable candidates, and settle your marriage as soon as possible.”

“Mother, what if…”

Clutching her collar, Song Yao stammered hesitantly: “What if we wait for Father to return before making plans?”

“Hmph.”

Madam Song snorted coldly: “How would he plan for you? Find you another student of humble birth? If you can endure the hardships of a poor, humble family, I won’t stop you.”

“Mother!”

Song Yao hurriedly waved her hands, quickly saying she would leave everything to Madam Song’s handling.

Inside and outside the Song Manor, everyone was busy with Song Lan’an’s departure from the capital tomorrow, yet Madam Song was in her room repeatedly sending invitations to the mistresses of great families she knew. In just one afternoon, she sent fourteen or fifteen to the gate house.

The inner courtyard steward, Nanny Song, intercepted these invitations from the gate house and delivered them to Ming Xiang’s hands.

“Truly a case of seeking any doctor in desperation.”

After looking through the invitations one by one, Ming Xiang said, “These few madams have strong temperaments and will certainly look down on someone who only values romantic affairs when the nation faces crisis. Don’t send these out.”

“These three madams…”

Ming Xiang pulled out three more invitations. Seeing this, Nanny Song said, “During the recent turmoil in the palace, these three were all of the Late Emperor’s faction. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, their prospects won’t be good.”

Ming Xiang nodded: “These two also cannot be sent.”

Nanny Song understood—these two families’ status was too high. Sending them would only add to the joke.

Ming Xiang frowned directly at the remaining four or five invitations.

These few manors, though their status could match the Song Manor, were not entirely upright families. Each had matters that gave people reason to gossip, more or less.

These matters weren’t necessarily major, but they weren’t minor either, yet all revealed some impropriety.

Nanny Song sighed softly: “Young Madam cannot hold back all of Madam’s invitations. If Madam doesn’t receive a single reply, she’ll likely think even more that you and the young master are deliberately obstructing Second Young Miss’s marriage.”

“Nanny speaks reasonably.”

Looking at those few invitations, Ming Xiang hesitated slightly before handing them to her.

“Let it be so.”

If she intervened further, she would truly fulfill Madam Song’s words and become one with ulterior motives.

After sending out Madam Song’s invitations, Ming Xiang went with Song Fu to prepare Song Lan’an’s travel items.

Early the next morning, Song Lan’an arrived at the capital’s outskirts to await the supply train from behind. This time, they carried grain and fodder prepared for the frontline military commanders, as well as gold, silver, and precious objects prepared for tribute to Nanqing.

Dongning’s vitality was greatly damaged by this war, with little actual gold and silver available—they could only make do with these objects.

“Is everything prepared?”

Shang Rong’s grandfather walked over trembling. Song Lan’an hurried forward to support him.

“Old Sir, at your age, you shouldn’t… you shouldn’t…”

Shang Chong said, “The duty of a subject—what ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ is there? Get in the carriage. Don’t worry about me.”

The old gentleman was advanced in years. Though his hand grasped the carriage, he couldn’t climb up no matter what. Song Lan’an’s face was grave as he half-knelt on the ground, half-lifting, half-supporting Shang Chong into the carriage.

“Trouble Minister Song to take good care of my great-grandfather.”

A youth from the Shang family with still somewhat childish features on his face, eyes full of tears, grabbed Song Lan’an. Song Lan’an looked at him and nodded faintly.

“Soft cushions have been laid in the carriage. This journey…”

At this point, Song Lan’an suddenly didn’t know what to say. The youth stood beneath the carriage, biting his teeth, silently shedding tears.

Behind him, a middle-aged man stepped forward. His eyes were full of bright red blood vessels as he slowly bowed deeply to Song Lan’an: “On this journey, I trouble Minister Song to care for my father.”

Song Lan’an cupped his hands in salute, returning the courtesy.

Old Master Shang lifted the carriage curtain: “Thirteen, come here.”

The youth walked to the front of the carriage, looking at him tearfully.

Shang Chong raised his hand and lightly patted the youth’s shoulder: “Study well. In the future, you must not become that kind of wastrel who indulges in flowers and wine, gambling and debauchery. Remember to keep goodness in your heart and help those in suffering. If you encounter those in difficult circumstances, give them much assistance.”

“Remember not to bully others with your power, and don’t harbor arrogant thoughts because of wealth and honor. Humility and respectfulness are the proper way to conduct oneself.”

Shang Thirteen nodded tearfully. Shang Chong said, “Go back now. No need to worry.”

Finishing, Shang Chong waved to everyone in farewell.