Another spring arrived. Shen Shi Yan had grown from babbling infancy to the toddling age. Though his speech was still not quite fluent, he could already call out “Father Emperor” and “Mother Empress” very smoothly. Shang Rong was holding him, amusing him with a gilded hand rattle that rang with tinkling sounds, while Song Wan sat to the side handling harem administrative affairs.

Qi Qing Ling looked at the bright flowers, charming willows, white plum blossoms, and pink peach blossoms outside the window and suddenly said, “The palace has not held a banquet for quite some time. I wonder if we could hold a Spring Viewing Banquet this year?”

“Excellent idea.”

Shang Rong held Shen Shi Yan with a loving expression on her face. “Our Little Thirteen will come of age in just a few years. It’s about time to look for a wife for him. Why don’t we take this opportunity to gather the unmarried young ladies and gentlemen of the capital together? We can play matchmaker and arrange some harmonious marriages.”

Hearing this, Song Wan suddenly thought of Song Ni and Song Zhao from the second and third branches, as well as Song Yao, whose death had never been publicly announced. After brief contemplation, Song Wan said, “That would be good. The palace has not seen excitement for several years. We can also take this opportunity to see the younger generation of the family.”

Zhao Nanzhang loved liveliness most and immediately voiced her agreement upon hearing this. The group reached consensus in one accord and decided on the spot to hold the Spring Viewing Banquet on the fifteenth of next month.

That evening when Shen Qianyu returned from court, he saw Song Wan writing and drawing at her desk. He took Shen Shi Yan from Heng Zhi’s arms and walked quietly to her side with light steps.

“What is Wan’er busy with?”

“Today Qing Ling suggested holding a Spring Viewing Banquet in the palace. I thought the idea was excellent and was preparing to discuss it with you.”

Shen Shi Yan was incredibly well-behaved in Shen Qianyu’s embrace. Song Wan glanced at him and found it amusing. This little one was extremely attached to his father emperor. The father and son couldn’t be apart for even a moment without inquiring after each other repeatedly. Earlier, before Shen Qianyu had returned from court, Shen Shi Yan had been crying and fussing endlessly in the hall. Now that he saw his father emperor, he became as docile as a kitten.

“Wan’er should decide matters of the harem as she sees fit. There’s no need to ask me.”

Song Wan also knew that Shen Qianyu had no patience for managing such trivial matters. After briefly mentioning a few things, she dropped the subject and left it for Heng Zhi to handle.

When Song Manor received the Empress’s decree instructing the female family members to enter the palace for the banquet, Ming Xiang was organizing the household accounts with Nanny Song. Upon hearing this news, Ming Xiang spoke, “Second Young Miss’s matter should be handled now.”

Though the household had never mentioned Song Yao’s matter before, since last winter, Song Manor had been subtly and openly conveying to Madam Qi that Song Yao was ill—not gravely so, but she had never recovered either. Madam Qi had requested to visit several times, but Ming Xiang had refused each time.

Now that a long time had passed since His Majesty bestowed the marriage, they could slowly announce to the outside world the news of Song Manor’s Second Young Miss’s death from illness. Nanny Song also understood her meaning. After nodding, she went to the Qi household to report the death.

Since Song Manor’s mourning period was about to end, Madam Qi had been waiting at home for the new daughter-in-law to arrive. Not only had the household purchased many additional items, even Qi Su Lun’s courtyard had been chosen as the best of the main residences.

“Though my son is not the eldest, who let him marry such a good wife?”

“When a woman’s natal family is useful, her status naturally rises with the tide when she arrives at her husband’s family. My son’s face naturally gains great glory as well.”

Madam Qi touched the gold hairpin on her head that had just been recast from old jewelry, smiling so broadly her mouth couldn’t close. Standing beside her was the third concubine-born daughter of the Loyal and Tranquil Prince’s Manor, now the Qi family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Xu.

Madam Xu had always known that her mother-in-law was muddle-headed and hadn’t bothered to argue with her, but in her heart, she increasingly despised the Qi household’s manner.

“Madam speaks most interestingly. This old servant has only heard of mothers gaining status through their sons, but has yet to hear of husbands gaining status through their wives.”

The speaker was Madam Xu’s wet nurse, who had long disapproved of Madam Qi. The Qi family’s decline was an indisputable fact. Marrying a young lady from their Loyal and Tranquil Prince’s Manor was already marrying up. Yet Madam Qi wanted to borrow the Prince’s Manor’s influence while looking down on their young miss for being concubine-born—this was truly unbearable to watch.

“You must not speak to Mother this way.”

Madam Xu lightly reprimanded the old nanny with an air of calm indifference, as if she thought the nanny’s words weren’t harsh enough.

“Hmph, concubine-born breeding ultimately cannot match legitimate birth.”

Madam Qi glanced at Madam Xu with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she looked at her.

“Between sisters-in-law, status is determined not by seniority, but by the strength of one’s maternal family and how much actual benefit one can bring to the husband’s family.”

Brushing off her garments, Madam Qi said, “Though you are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qi household, in the future you must still understand your position clearly. Don’t rely on seniority to act important. Otherwise, if you offend Song Manor and earn the Empress’s displeasure, it won’t look good.”

Madam Xu clutched her handkerchief, lowering her eyelids without making a sound. The nanny beside her said, “The Qi family’s household customs are pure and upright. The men are all upstanding gentlemen who stand tall. This old servant has never heard the First Master or Fifth Master say they needed to rely on their wives’ families to accomplish anything.”

“For Madam to speak this way truly belittles the masters of the household. Moreover…”

The nanny muttered, “Madam has never brought any actual benefits to the Qi household, yet we’ve never seen the Master disparage Madam as useless.”

“Outrageous! How dare you speak to Mother this way?”

Madam Xu turned her head and loudly reprimanded the woman. Upon hearing this, the woman immediately raised her hand as if to slap her own mouth.

“Look at this mouth of this old servant—it simply cannot be controlled.”

“Madam, don’t lower yourself to this old servant’s level. You are magnanimous and broad-minded—don’t be petty and argue with a mere servant like this old one, vainly angering yourself and harming your health.”

“Hmph, right now you two are singing in harmony, using your sharp tongues to mock me. You only do so because you see I have a good temperament and am too lazy to argue with you. But once your fifth sister-in-law enters the household, I want to see if you can still hold your head up.”

This Madam Xu relied on being from the Prince’s Manor and acted superior every day. When she first married into the Qi household, she even wanted to lord over her. If not for the fact that she had produced no offspring these past years and her temperament had become somewhat restrained, she would have torn the roof off the entire Qi household long ago.

Madam Qi adjusted the hair ornaments on her head, looking at Madam Xu with eyes full of disdain.

“Madam, someone from Song Manor has come to visit and wishes to see Madam.”

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were conversing, a Qi household servant came to report. Upon hearing this, Madam Qi walked out with a beaming smile, swaggering grandly. The woman beside Madam Xu stretched her neck and spat upon seeing this.

“What a shameless old thing. I’ve never seen any household mistress so blatantly point to her daughter-in-law to make a fortune. Her maternal family has shed all its feathers until they’re completely bare, yet she still dares to squeeze our young miss?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu lowered her eyes slightly but said nothing. The inner chambers were ultimately women’s domain. In the past, she could still rely on her higher birth from her maternal family to hold her head high and conduct herself as a person in the Qi family. But now, having been married into the household for many years without bearing children, even her own husband had complaints, let alone Madam Qi.

Now if the legitimate daughter of the Song family entered the household, her status in the manor would likely become even lower. Madam Xu clutched her handkerchief, planning to take two more concubines for Qi Zheng Lun.

As she was pondering this in her heart, she saw Madam Qi go out joyfully, only to be carried back to the inner chambers moments later by four or five women. Madam Xu was startled and puzzled. The woman beside her, however, had a gleam of delight flash through her eyes. “Oh my, what’s happened to Madam? First Mistress, don’t worry. This old servant will go take a look…”