“The suffering Mother has endured in this life—I cannot bear for you to experience it again.”

“Though the Qi family is unworthy, if you marry there, they can enshrine you like a precious object. As for the Cui household, who knows if they’ll even treat you as a human being?”

Yang Pianzhi pursed her lips and muttered to the two, “Most people think families like the Qi household that are thoroughly shameless should be avoided, but Mother actually thinks places like the Cui household are worse.”

“Prestigious families have many strict rules. Any day they could find some excuse to have you die of illness, and Mother wouldn’t even have a place to cry.”

Her words were too pointed. Both Song Zhao and Song Ni frowned slightly.

“I’m not saying you two should settle your marriages immediately. Right now, that Buddha from the First Branch wants to hold a banquet, and when you go to the palace, she’ll likely designate families for you both.”

“I’m thinking this way: just listen to which family she points out for you. If it’s good, you two can nod in agreement. If it’s not good, just say you’re already in the process of matchmaking with the Cui family or someone else. After all, she’s your cousin—she has at least that much tolerance.”

Yang Pianzhi fundamentally looked down on Song Wan, but who told her she’d climbed up the social ladder? Even for the sake of her two daughters, she had to carefully smile and flatter.

“Mother thinks the Qi household is quite good. Zhao’er, think about it. If you feel it’s acceptable, Mother will find a way to meet with that old Qi woman.”

“Even if my daughter marries into the Qi household, I must make her come crying and begging eagerly for it to happen.”

After speaking, Yang Pianzhi stood up, pushed open the door with a thud, and walked out. Song Zhao and Song Ni looked at each other and sighed in unison.

After a moment, Song Zhao said softly, “How a daughter’s marriage turns out determines whether we live as humans or ghosts in the future. Though the Qi household sounds quite unworthy, I think Mother’s words also have some merit.”

Though she was born in Song Manor and seemed to have noble status, who in the capital didn’t know what the Third Branch was like? If she truly went to the Cui family, she’d probably fulfill Mother’s words—being used by them on one hand while being looked down upon on the other.

“You also know my temperament. I’m not as clever as you and Song Nian, and I’m somewhat timid. If I’m truly bullied by my husband’s family, I’m afraid I won’t dare do anything. In prestigious families, they truly may not respect the Song family Third Branch I come from…”

“Though the Qi household’s reputation is somewhat poor, it’s merely talk of the family being in decline, or Madam Qi acting muddle-headed and foolishly handling people and affairs. I’ve never actually heard of any vicious or cruel deeds.”

“To establish the family’s entire reputation like this, the whole household probably has no clever people.”

Song Zhao twisted her handkerchief, her features gentle. “We two have personally witnessed Mother’s suffering. We absolutely dare not think of harmonious marriage with our husbands until old age.”

“If I marry into the Qi household, as long as Elder Sister remains Empress for one day and Cousin’s position is stable, I can live peacefully at the Qi household for one day.”

Both the Second and Third Branches of Song Manor sounded good at first hearing but actually couldn’t be brought out properly. She, Song Zhao, didn’t have Song Yao’s high ambitions either.

She had never thought of marrying some peerless gentleman. Mother said the Qi household wouldn’t dare act superior before her and would support and cherish her—that was enough for her.

“Ni’er, what do you think?”

Song Ni thought for a long while before nodding slightly. Whether the Qi household was good or bad in others’ eyes didn’t matter. What mattered was what kind of life Song Zhao would live after marrying there.

After thinking, Song Ni said, “Marriage is not about seeking perfection in others’ eyes, but rather seeing whether we ourselves can be comfortable and happy while in it.”

“Prestigious families and gentlemen refined as jade may look perfectly matched to others, but behind closed doors when living together, they may not necessarily be harmonious and happy.”

“Conversely, no matter how badly outsiders speak of the Qi household, if Cousin can use Song Manor’s influence to always suppress the Qi household, so that after marrying there she can move like fish in water, as if in her own home, then this would be an excellent marriage.”

“Where is there a family that’s perfect in every way? It just depends on whether it’s suitable or not.”

Song Ni’s tone was bland, but her words carried some gentle understanding.

“Alright, then I’ll tell Mother and have her negotiate with the Qi household. As for whether it works out, that’s not something we can control.”

The two sisters smiled and nodded, no longer dwelling on other matters. They couldn’t make decisions about their marriages anyway. Since they couldn’t decide, why worry excessively?

After speaking, Song Zhao summoned the maid at her side.

“Go tell Mother that I think what she said is excellent. Leave the rest to Mother.”

After Song Zhao agreed, Yang Pianzhi became energized and immediately had someone send a calling card to Madam Qi. Madam Qi was at home worrying until her tongue was dry and her heart bitter. Upon hearing that Yang Pianzhi was coming to visit, she instantly recovered three parts of her energy and invited her to the house that very afternoon.

Thinking that the Song Manor Third Branch still had an unmarried daughter, her scheming mind became active again.

“What wind blew you here today? Third Madam Song truly honors my humble dwelling with your noble feet, making our household shine with brilliance!”

As soon as she saw the person, Madam Qi raised an ingratiating smile that made Yang Pianzhi feel thoroughly comfortable. Though Madam Qi acted shamelessly, this opportunistic and servile manner that emanated from her bones greatly pleased Yang Pianzhi.

Looking at how warmly the current Emperor treated Song Wan, Song Manor wouldn’t fall for decades. If someone like Madam Qi with a declined background married into their family, she would surely domineer over her daughter-in-law daily, bullying the weak with her status as elder.

But with Song Manor’s background, after Zhao’er married over, this old Qi woman would probably want to serve her Zhao’er tea and water daily, attending to her most obediently.

Thinking this, Yang Pianzhi’s eyes showed a trace of disdain, but her mouth said, “Oh, Elder Sister, you absolutely must not be so polite.”

“I’m visiting today because I have an important matter to ask of you.”

She told Madam Qi about receiving many calling cards from prestigious families and having matchmakers come to discuss marriage proposals. After finishing, Yang Pianzhi sighed, “Elder Sister, you know I don’t have many acquaintances in the capital. I’m only close with you, so I thought to come ask which of these families conducts themselves kindly and could treat my daughter well.”

“We as mothers only have this concern.”

Hearing that Yang Pianzhi had no intention of forming marriage relations with her own family, Madam Qi’s smile immediately collapsed. But knowing now that Song Manor people couldn’t be offended, she reluctantly mustered some energy and rambled on with nonsense.

Yang Pianzhi sneered inwardly but spoke as if worried, “Looking at what Elder Sister says, none of these families will do.”

“To be honest with you, I currently don’t want Zhao’er to marry into any prestigious official family. I just want to find a reliable man who can treat my daughter well, where the two can be compatible in temperament, and the mother-in-law at home has a generous nature.”

“Because right now, this Song Manor…”

She drew out her words. “Absolutely doesn’t lack prospects or wealth.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Qi’s eyes sparkled brightly as she intimately grasped Yang Pianzhi’s hand and wouldn’t let go. She now knew that her own household absolutely couldn’t compare with the families the other person mentioned. Having no choice, she could only have household servants summon Qi Su Lun back from the government office.

Hearing his mother was gravely ill, Qi Su Lun hurried home from the office, but as soon as he returned, he was pulled before Yang Pianzhi. Madam Qi said, “This is my youngest son, Su Lun. Third Madam Song hasn’t met him before, so today you can properly see him.”

Yang Pianzhi raised her head to examine Qi Su Lun. She saw his features were proper and his gaze upright—at a glance, he wasn’t a muddlehead like his mother. Her satisfaction with this marriage instantly increased another seven or eight parts.

After thinking, Yang Pianzhi made a face full of difficulty. “Why did Elder Sister urgently summon your household’s young master back? Your way of doing things is truly too… improper.”

After speaking, she raised her head and looked at Qi Su Lun with a face full of maternal affection. “Good child, don’t argue with your mother. It’s all because I came at an inopportune time today.”

Seeing Qi Su Lun’s expression clear slightly, only then did Yang Pianzhi smile faintly.