Song Wan raised her head, holding Shen Qianyu while softly comforting him. In the gentle, soft words of his beloved, Shen Qianyu was finally able to let go of all the past, no longer suffering from constant worry and fear that Song Wan’s eyes held no place for him. The two murmured in the candlelight, confiding their feelings throughout the night. Though they didn’t engage in physical intimacy, they felt even more closely connected.

When the night sky turned pale, Shen Qianyu finally coaxed Song Wan to sleep in his embrace. After carefully laying her down, he tiptoed out of Changle Palace to attend court.

When Song Wan rose, it was already past the hour of chen. Heng Zhi came forward to help her change clothes and wash her face.

“I actually slept so late. Why didn’t you wake me?”

Heng Zhi said, “Before attending court, His Majesty instructed this servant not to disturb Your Majesty’s rest.”

Handing Song Wan a cloth dampened with warm water, Heng Zhi had Luanjian bring the meal.

“Medicinal porridge stewed all night long. Your Majesty, please have some.”

Song Wan nodded and took a spoon to eat a few mouthfuls.

“Has news of my pregnancy been sent to the residence?”

Seeing Heng Zhi shake her head, Song Wan had someone send a letter to Ming Xiang, informing her of the pregnancy.

Upon receiving the news, Ming Xiang was so delighted she held Nanny Song’s hand and smiled for a long time.

“Nanny, you’re so happy your eyes have turned red.”

“If only… Miss were here, that would be good.”

Ordinarily, Nanny Song had a stern expression and rarely showed any outward emotions. Ming Xiang hadn’t expected her reaction to Song Wan’s pregnancy to be so strong.

Nanny Song pressed the corners of her eyes, as if remembering something. After a moment, she smiled faintly. “No matter how much Miss calculated, she never could have calculated that Little Miss would marry into the palace.”

Who could have imagined it? Who could have thought that the marriage Miss had painstakingly arranged for Little Miss all those years ago would have such an outcome?

If Miss knew that the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence hadn’t properly cherished the daughter she had risked her life to bear, she surely wouldn’t have spared Jiang Xingjian, nor would she have spared anyone in the Marquis’s household. But now everything had passed—it wasn’t worth mentioning again.

Thinking of Su Yi and Song Lan’an, Nanny Song couldn’t help shedding tears.

“Wan’er is pregnant, and as her sister-in-law, I’m also very happy. But the residence is still in mourning, so we’ll skip the wine and meat. This month, everyone will receive an extra fifty percent in monthly allowances.”

Ming Xiang said, “There’s no need to say what it’s for. Just say that Nanny saw everyone working hard and wants to reward everyone in the residence.”

“Ah, this old servant understands.”

Nanny Song turned to handle it and had everything arranged in just a moment.

Everyone in the residence received increased monthly allowances—Qiu Shui by Song Yao’s side, Yin Su by Song Nian’s side, even Tan Zhu who had been transferred to serve Madam Song were no exception. Though the household didn’t say where this joy came from, Song Nian heard from Yin Su that someone from the palace had come earlier and guessed it was related to Song Wan.

She smiled faintly. “Elder Sister is pregnant. I wonder if she’s carrying a prince or a princess.”

Yin Su said, “Miss is so clever—you figured it out right away.”

“His Majesty values Elder Sister. No one in the harem dares compete with her, so even with pregnancy, there’s no need to hide it for fear of anyone making trouble. Sister-in-law would only increase everyone’s allowances if she’s happy, but since the months are still few, it’s not good to announce it loudly.”

It was precisely because of this that she guessed Song Wan was pregnant.

If Elder Sister was pregnant and this child was a prince, then the Song residence’s position would be secure. Song Nian’s lips curved slightly, feeling pleased for her father.

“If Father knew, he would surely be happy.”

Yin Su nodded, very much agreeing with her young miss’s words.

“Miss, Madam is calling for you.”

Zhu Ye walked in from outside, informing her that Madam Song wanted to see Song Nian. Hearing this, Song Nian lowered her eyes. After a long moment, she said, “I understand. I’ll go right away.”

Her mother had been quite despondent for a while after Father passed away.

Not only had she shut herself in her room for dozens of days, she had also cried until her eyes were injured. Originally, after Song Nian’s last guidance, Song Yao had somewhat resigned herself to fate, but unfortunately at this time, Mother claimed she was fine and came out of her room.

Now that Song Yao saw Mother’s health gradually improving, she had once again given birth to the idea of breaking off the engagement.

Looking at Madam Song—her cheeks sunken, her expression dull, yet still continuously trying to persuade Song Yao—Song Nian sighed deeply and stood by the door without stepping forward.

“Nian’er, what are you standing there for? Come in quickly and let Mother look at you.”

“Nian’er is fine. Mother need not worry.”

Hearing this, Song Yao turned her head to the side, not looking at Song Nian even once.

“I heard from Yao’er that you get along well with the seventeenth son of the Ming family. How does he treat you?”

“It’s not really ‘getting along.’ After the engagement was set, we just had some exchanges during festivals. Nothing beyond that.”

Hearing this, Madam Song smiled faintly. “That’s good then.”

“Since Mother has rallied, why not quickly take over the household management? Now that Father has passed, Mother is the old matriarch of the residence. You’re still here—how can there be any reason to let a daughter-in-law manage the household?”

“In the past, Father had his orders. Now Father is gone. Mother surely can’t continue allowing us to be suppressed by others.”

Song Yao said somewhat anxiously, “Elder Sister is the Empress. Given the flaw in her background, she surely won’t allow Brother to oppress Mother. She and Brother still need their reputation for filial piety after all.”

“Brother will rise to high position in the future and absolutely cannot bear the name of being unfilial. Mother…”

“Even if just for me and Lan’er, you should rally yourself.”

If Mother wasn’t the mistress of the household, how could she socialize with other mistresses? Now that Sister-in-law managed the household, how would she truly think of their interests?

More importantly, if Mother didn’t become the mistress, who would break off her engagement to the Qi family? And find another high family?

Song Yao had been so anxious she had fallen ill for several days. For now, she could use Father’s mourning period as an excuse, but once Father’s mourning period passed, she would have to marry into that declining family.

After His Majesty ascended the throne, he began heavily employing Duke Yingguo Ming Huaxin. The Ming family’s status became increasingly prestigious. Even Ming Seventeen, being from a branch family, had risen along with the tide.

But only the Qi family appeared increasingly inadequate by comparison.

She had been pampered and spoiled by Mother her whole life. Now Song Wan, who should have remained a widow, had transformed into the noble Empress, and Song Nian was also marrying into a prestigious family. Only she—only she had to marry someone who had an empty title, no money, and no prospects.

How could she be willing?

Song Yao stared with tear-filled eyes at Madam Song. “Mother, quickly rally yourself and take control of the household management. Plan more for us three siblings. What good does it do to shrink back in your room day after day?”

Song Nian stood to the side without speaking, only lowering her head and listening quietly, as if everything had nothing to do with her.

“Yao’er, Mother cannot take over this household authority.”

Madam Song gazed at the canopy above, her tone profound. “Your father—from the day I married into the Song residence, he never had any intention of placing household management in my hands. From the first day I entered the Song residence, he was guarding against me.”

“He feared I would mistreat Song Fu and Song Wan, so although he gave me the matching seals and storehouse keys of the residence, the one who truly made decisions in the household was always Nanny Song.”

In all these years of being married into the Song residence, she had failed to cultivate her own trusted confidants. In the past, she had only thought it was because Su Yi was exceptionally skilled—dead for ten years yet still able to make the household servants bow and submit, recognizing only her as mistress.

But during this period, she finally had to admit that it was actually Song Lan’an who had always tacitly allowed Nanny Song to manage the household.

He had never trusted her—in fact, he had been guarding against her throughout these dozen-plus years.