Upon learning that Jiang Xingjian intended to keep the first-born son, Song Fu felt the Chengyang Marquis Manor had collapsed like a breached dike—from top to bottom, not a single sound beam could be found.
He had already been worried about Song Wan’s situation. Now he completely abandoned any extravagant hope that Jiang Xingjian would see the error of his ways and return to the right path.
That he could even contemplate keeping a first-born son meant Jiang Xingjian had long ago harbored thoughts of breaking with the Song family.
No matter what, he didn’t want to let Wan’er continue staying at the Marquis Manor.
Previously, when Jiang Xingjian had repeatedly humiliated the Song Manor and made Wan’er lose all face, he had wanted to retrieve Song Wan from the Marquis Manor regardless of consequences. Had Father not gone personally and received Jiang Xingjian’s numerous sworn oaths, how could he have lightly let the matter drop?
Song Fu suppressed the fury in his heart and hurried to the manor’s study to find Song Lan’an.
Song Lan’an was handling official business. Seeing him enter, he leisurely set down the memorial in his hand.
“What is it?”
Song Fu said, “Does Father know that Jiang Xingjian and that concubine have conceived a first-born son, and he plans to let it be born?”
“This child definitely cannot be born into the world. You worry too much.”
“How can Father be so certain? If he insists on keeping this child, what then?”
Song Lan’an’s expression darkened. “Even if Jiang Xingjian wants to keep it, that person in the palace won’t allow him to. Your temperament has become impulsive lately—how can you not see through even such a small matter?”
“You should focus more attention on your official career rather than constantly concerning yourself with the Marquis Manor’s affairs.”
Hearing this, Song Fu pressed his lips tightly together, disappointed.
Back when he learned of Jiang Xingjian’s misfortune at the border, he had proposed that Father intervene to break off the betrothal with the Chengyang Marquis Manor. But Father had refused, citing Mother’s dying wish.
It was from that moment that Song Fu realized Wan’er couldn’t compare to Father’s ambitions or the importance of official reputation and prestige.
Song Fu’s face darkened. After a moment he said, “Neither Jiang Man nor Jiang Xingjian have placed the Song Manor in their eyes. Time and again they’ve disregarded Wan’er’s reputation and life. What use are such in-laws? Moreover, the palace situation has changed. Everyone knows Wan’er is Aunt’s weakness. If in the future…”
Raising his hand to interrupt Song Fu’s words, Song Lan’an’s eyes were deep and inscrutable. “You keep saying ‘Wan’er, Wan’er’—just because Wan’er is your sister, does that mean Song Yao and Song Nian aren’t?”
“Where do you place all the members of the Song Manor, the second and third branches—Song Zhao, Song Ni, and the sons and daughters of your cousins?”
“For the sake of my one daughter, Song Lan’an, should I ruin the reputations of nearly a hundred daughters across several generations of the clan? What do you think outsiders would say about me as clan patriarch of the Song family?”
Hearing this, Song Fu replied, “If our Song Manor broke off a marriage alliance without cause, that would indeed be inappropriate. But now the Marquis Manor has been discourteous and excessive first. If our Song Manor turns a deaf ear and remains indifferent, wouldn’t that damage the Song family’s integrity even more?”
“If we set such a precedent, wouldn’t it be equivalent to telling the world that after Song Manor daughters marry out, they can be bullied at will?”
Song Lan’an said, “Then according to your view, what should be done with Wan’er?”
“Your son wishes to gather the clan elders of both families as witnesses and have Jiang Xingjian write a letter of dismissal.”
Song Lan’an looked at Song Fu without speaking.
“The Crown Prince has awakened and the palace situation has changed. Though the Fifth Prince hasn’t reached coming-of-age, Consort Jiang is ambitious and will surely make moves. Father has delayed in managing the Marquis Manor’s affairs—could it be that you want Consort Jiang or Jiang Xingjian to act against Wan’er, thereby informing the world that Consort Jiang’s methods are vicious and her character flawed, that she would even harm her brother-in-law’s wife?”
“That way the Song Manor could stand invincible without expending any effort?”
Once Consort Jiang employed such dirty tactics, she would surely lose all support. If Father wanted to win without fighting, he might even fan the flames in the future, personally forcing Consort Jiang to act against Wan’er.
The mere thought of this made Song Fu’s heart burn with indignation. He wished he could immediately bring Song Wan back to the manor.
Seeing his legitimate son speak with such intensity, Song Lan’an narrowed his eyes slightly. “Is this the attitude with which you speak to your father? Have you fed all those sage texts to the dogs?”
“Or do you think that because you’ve entered the Ministry of Personnel and become a Fifth-Rank Vice Minister, you can separate yourself from the Song clan and establish your own household?”
“Your son wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t dare? I see your courage is quite large.”
Song Lan’an laughed coldly. “A mere Fifth-Rank Vice Minister, and already you’re arrogant enough to argue with your father? Don’t tell me you think this official position came from nowhere?”
“If you weren’t a son of the Song family, how would you sit in this position?”
Song Fu said, “Father means this Vice Minister position was arranged by the clan?”
Song Lan’an snorted coldly, neither confirming nor denying.
“Wanting Wan’er to leave the Marquis Manor isn’t particularly difficult.”
Closing the memorials before him one by one, Song Lan’an stood. “I am both Wan’er’s father and the Song clan patriarch. How could I implicate the entire Song clan for personal reasons? That you think this way truly disappoints your father.”
“Moreover, as the legitimate heir of the Song Manor, the burden of this clan will eventually fall to you. If Wan’er returns home now, how will you conduct yourself? How will your marriage negotiations with daughters of high families proceed?”
“In the future you must assume the position of clan patriarch, which requires even greater capability to uphold the family. Therefore, the next Song family matriarch must be of high birth.”
“Do you think your father hasn’t considered these matters?”
Song Fu lowered his eyes, momentarily uncertain whether these were Father’s true feelings or if he had ideas about his marriage and was using Wan’er to control him.
He stood with hands at his sides, allowing Song Lan’an to dictate.
Song Lan’an said indifferently, “I already have a candidate for your marriage. Once both families settle matters and the Song Manor has no more worries, everything will be easier to discuss.”
“Which manor does Father favor?”
“The legitimate ninth young lady of Duke Yingguo’s second branch. What do you think?”
Song Fu raised his eyes to look at Song Lan’an. After a long while, he nodded slightly. “I’ll leave it to Father’s discretion.”
Duke Yingguo was originally the son of Duke Qiguo. Both father and son perished in the great war with Nanqing forty years ago. Duke Yingguo’s wife was the current Emperor’s own paternal aunt, Grand Princess Yihe.
The Grand Princess bore two sons and one daughter. The ninth young lady was born to the legitimate second young master. But the second young master died of illness in his early years, and the ninth young lady’s birth mother died following him in grief. Thus, the ninth young lady of Duke Yingguo’s manor had always been raised by the Grand Princess herself.
Capital rumors said the ninth young lady was extremely beloved by the Grand Princess. Her maternal uncle was Yan Tongfu, Vice Minister of War, who also doted on her immensely.
Normally, such status far exceeded what the Song family could match. But no one in the capital had ever seen this ninth young lady. It was said she suffered from a speech impediment and couldn’t speak smoothly. The Grand Princess couldn’t bear for her to be mocked, so she never let her go out to receive guests.
Such a woman, no matter how good her birth, could never become the mistress of a household. Yet the Grand Princess had a domineering personality and exceptionally high standards—few young masters of the capital’s aristocratic families could catch her eye.
Much less those pampered wastrels and sons of concubines.
That Father could establish a connection with the Grand Princess and negotiate this marriage must have required considerable effort.
Song Fu lowered his eyes to conceal his expression. “Now that your son’s marriage is settled, can Wan’er be brought back to the manor? If the manor is inconvenient, your son can also arrange for her elsewhere.”
Song Lan’an smiled faintly. “After your wedding, you’ll be able to handle matters independently. Such small matters you can manage yourself.”