Ming Xiang nodded, knowing in her heart that what Song Wan said was not wrong—she couldn’t stop it.

“Hearing you say this, Wan’er, my heart feels somewhat more at ease. When I return today, I’ll tell Mother that I won’t stand in the way of the marriage with the Qi family.”

Song Wan smiled faintly and saw Ming Xiang out of the hall.

Though Ming Xiang felt the marriage with the Qi family was highly improper, there was nothing she could do about it at this time. She could only have someone notify the gatehouse to allow Lady Song to finalize the marriage agreement with the Qi family and exchange the eight characters of birth dates between the two households.

The Qi family had only an empty noble framework, their coffers having been tight for quite some time. In the capital, there truly weren’t many families willing to arrange marriages with them. Those of lower status, they looked down upon; those of higher status looked down upon them. This was why Qi Sulun’s marriage had dragged on until now.

Being able to arrange a match with the Song residence at present, Old Madam Qi was very satisfied. Both households were in a rush, so before even meeting, they had already exchanged the eight characters.

Qi Sulun frowned at his mother, extremely dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement.

“Your son respects Minister Song and knows that Minister Song going to Su River was by imperial order, but this marriage with the Song family is truly improper.”

“How could a household’s mistress arrange marriages for the legitimate daughters at such a time? Setting aside that Minister Song is currently in the center of a whirlpool, even ordinary families rarely scheme for their children’s marriages just after the national mourning period has passed, during such turbulent times.”

Madam Qi hurriedly waved her hand. “What nonsense are you speaking? If your grandmother hears this, I’ll have to endure another scolding for you.”

“Do you think I’m interested in that Song family’s second daughter?”

Flicking her handkerchief, Madam Qi furrowed her brows. “First of all, the Song family’s eldest legitimate daughter is remarried and cannot appear in respectable company. Moreover, what Song Lan’an did this time was not an honorable matter.”

“If you marry that Song family girl, in the future you might even have to bear the infamy along with her.”

“But Old Madam is not wrong either. Though Song Lan’an will be condemned by the world, this time he’s working for the court. Others may not know, but His Highness the Crown Prince surely understands his grievances and difficulties. Perhaps in the future he’ll compensate him in other ways.”

“And if you marry the Song family’s second daughter, he should also look after his own son-in-law somewhat.”

After Madam Qi finished speaking, her eyes carried three parts contempt. “That Song Wan, with her ruined and wilted body, could still enter the Eastern Palace—clearly she’s formidable. Do you know what her residence in the Eastern Palace is called?”

“Clearly the Crown Prince has been so bewitched by this seductress that he’s lost his soul. In the future, the Song family will likely have great fortune.”

Madam Qi’s words carried disdain, and in her heart she resented Song Wan even more for declining the invitation her eldest daughter-in-law had sent years ago. Though that Jiang Yan was short-lived, the other party’s look of contempt for her Qi residence had caused her to harbor resentment for many days.

Now that the Song family’s second daughter was eagerly rushing to arrange a marriage with their family, it finally allowed Madam Qi to release much of the stifled anger she had swallowed back then.

Qi Sulun listened to his mother’s words, his eyes dimming, but he said nothing more.

The Qi residence had declined. These past several generations of household managers, from the family head to the household mistress, had few who could accomplish anything. No matter how glorious the Song residence might become in the future, anyone willing to arrange marriages for their daughters at this juncture was not someone with a clear head. A daughter raised by such a mistress…

Qi Sulun let out a long sigh, only hoping that the Song family’s second daughter was someone clear-headed.

Qi Sulun was not the only one dissatisfied with this marriage—Song Yao herself was also very displeased. As a legitimate-born noble young lady in the capital, she too had heard about the Qi residence’s affairs.

But Mother was right. Though the Qi family’s foundation was thin, at least they still had a title. In the future, she wouldn’t be too far beneath Song Nian and Song Wan.

Being sisters from the same family, if she married one of Father’s students as Father had arranged, how could she hold up her head among her sisters in the future?

“Don’t overthink it. Though the Qi residence isn’t what it used to be, Qi Sulun is legitimate-born and orthodox. Can the Qi residence possibly short you two in food and clothing?”

Lady Song grasped Song Yao’s hand, earnestly consoling her. “He’s the fifth son. When you marry over, you’ll have neither the pressure of managing the household nor the pressure of bearing heirs. The young couple need only live harmoniously and happily together. For us women, if we have a husband who cherishes us and lack nothing in food and clothing, this life can be considered an excellent outcome.”

“Mother is right.”

Gradually persuaded by Lady Song’s words, Song Yao set down the worries in her heart and slowly curved her lips into a smile.

Her mother was correct. As long as her future husband cherished her and the household didn’t short her in food, clothing, and necessities, that would be enough.

Moreover, that Qi Sulun was after all from Duke Liguo’s legitimate line—far superior to that Ming Seventeen, no matter how you looked at it.

The great weight in Song Yao’s heart settled, and she wholeheartedly began preparing for her own wedding. Lady Song then called for Ming Xiang, saying she wanted to prepare dowries for Song Yao and Song Nian.

“The household’s dowries all have fixed amounts. The sum Mother mentioned, the household truly cannot produce at present.”

Purple sandalwood kang tables, carved large chairs, treasure cabinets, canopy beds, screens, vanity mirrors, dishes, cloth—all these had been prepared by the household beforehand. But now Lady Song additionally demanded six shops, plus two thousand taels of silver in cash for each daughter.

“If this were before the war with Nanqing, this amount would be nothing. But right now, the household truly cannot produce it.”

That day at the palace gates when everyone contributed military funds, all the major families in the capital had given substantial amounts. Father had even allocated his private treasury and thirty percent of the public funds to send to the court.

But Ming Xiang didn’t know about this matter—Song Lan’an had never told Lady Song.

“Ha.”

Lady Song snorted coldly. “Song Fu and Song Wan’s weddings could be conducted with great fanfare, but when it comes to my Yao’er and Nian’er, the household can’t produce any silver? When I managed the household before, I was well aware of how much silver was in the accounts. Don’t you feel guilty saying these words to me now?”

“I do not.”

Ming Xiang smiled faintly, bowing slightly to Lady Song in salute. “More than half of my husband’s betrothal gifts and Wan’er’s dowry were taken from the legitimate madam’s dowry. Mother should not be unaware of this.”

“If Mother has no other matters, Xiang’er will attend to her duties.”

After speaking, Ming Xiang turned and left, no longer paying attention to Lady Song.

Since Father said to let Lady Song handle Song Yao’s wedding entirely, and both Song Fu and Song Wan told her not to mind Lady Song’s unreasonable behavior, why should she seek suffering for herself?

From then on for over ten days, Ming Xiang never appeared before Lady Song.

Lady Song was furious, but could only steel herself and divide among Song Yao and Song Nian those meager odds and ends of dowry she had brought when she married into the Song residence.

“Mother, leave everything for Second Sister. Your daughter doesn’t need them.”

Song Nian set down the bright red mandarin duck divination cloth she was embroidering, saying softly, “What the household has given your daughter for dowry is already sufficient. Though your daughter is marrying a branch of the Ming family, the situation is somewhat better than the Qi residence. Second Sister needs this silver more than your daughter.”

“Moreover, Mother should keep some in hand as well, lest in the future we two…”

“Who wants your silver?”

Before Song Nian could finish speaking, Song Yao snatched the banknotes from Lady Song’s hand and threw them in front of her. “What do you mean by saying you’re marrying better than me? What do you mean ‘though the Ming family is a branch, the situation is better than the Qi residence’?”

“Why don’t you explain exactly how the Ming family is better than the Qi residence?”

“Enough, enough. Nian’er is only thinking of your welfare.”

Picking up the banknotes from the floor, Lady Song consoled them both in a low voice, then carefully tucked the banknotes in her hand into Song Yao’s.

Song Nian lowered her eyes at the scene before her, but said not a word.

The mother and daughters each harbored their own thoughts. Just as they sat in silence, they heard crying and wailing from outside, growing nearer and nearer, reaching their ears.

Lady Song lifted her eyes in a daze, staring blankly as a rough serving woman from the household came running in, wailing all the way.