The noblewomen of the capital didn’t particularly like this heir of Marquis Jinxiang’s mansion. First, because his appearance was overly delicate—he looked even more feminine than women. Second, because rumors spread that his health was poor and he wouldn’t live long.

Young Madam Fan stared at the light wisps of steam rising from the teacup before her. Looking at her son through this mist, she shifted her gaze away after just one glance, remaining as cold and indifferent as always with that same bland expression. “Your previous marriage arrangement has fallen through. Their family got dragged into the weaving bureau affair. You’ll need to consider someone new.”

News of the Yangzhou Weaving Bureau affair had spread a year ago, but only now was there confirmation. Even that old lady who had once nursed His Majesty couldn’t protect the Zhang family—they were going to fall no matter what.

Since they were going to fall, there was no reason for Marquis Jinxiang’s mansion to be implicated for nothing. They had immediately sent someone to Yangzhou to retrieve the betrothal tokens and break off the engagement. From now on, the two families’ marriages had nothing to do with each other.

Han Zhengqing had never been a kind-hearted soul. Otherwise, in the past he wouldn’t have desperately and shamelessly insisted on latching onto Young Madam Fan—wasn’t it all because after the previous Duke Hanguo passed away, the title was reduced to marquis, with each generation being further demoted? Duke Hanguo had been the least capable of the four dukes to begin with, and with the family estate declining, he truly couldn’t go on anymore. He actually resorted to such shameless methods, begging Young Madam Fan to become his second wife.

This time when his future in-laws met with misfortune, he also extricated himself extremely quickly. The forty thousand taels in silver notes that the Zhang family had deposited at Marquis Jinxiang’s mansion were immediately sent back by trustworthy people he appointed. The entire household was searched from top to bottom, and anything belonging to the Zhang family was all sent back.

It was said that the Zhang family’s young lady hanged herself and died the very next day, but what did this have to do with Han Zhengqing and Marquis Jinxiang’s mansion? They continued living peacefully and steadily without even stirring up a ripple. In the letter Han Zhengqing sent back, he even specifically instructed Young Madam Fan not to send anyone to offer condolences or attend the funeral, to simply act as if they knew nothing of the matter.

After all, he had spent so long on the battlefield and grown accustomed to seeing dead bodies—he simply didn’t regard human life as important. Even if this person had once called him Uncle and been coaxed while sitting on his knee.

Thinking of this matter, Han Zhi nodded with a mocking smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Your son already has someone in mind.”

Young Madam Fan had never been close to her children. She hadn’t heard even a whisper of this before, so hearing Han Zhi say this now, she was so startled her eyes widened. After recovering, she lowered her eyelids again to look at the thin mist rising before her and gave a faint “oh.” “I haven’t heard you mention this before. Which family’s young lady is it?”

Han Zhi picked up his teacup with an ambiguous smile and took a sip, responding blandly, “The Sixth Young Lady of the Song family. Song the Eighth is already gone. If Song the Sixth isn’t secured in hand as well, I’m afraid both Mother and Father will have sleepless nights.”

Young Madam Fan pretended not to hear the mockery in her son’s words. Calm and detached, she lowered her head to drink her tea, then took the handkerchief the maid handed her and dabbed at the corners of her mouth. “Don’t set your sights on anyone from the Song family.”

Consort Song was currently locked in a life-and-death struggle with Consort Xian. No one could say clearly what the situation in the palace was like. They were also so close with Zhou Weizhao—their future fate might not necessarily be any better than the Zhang family’s.

Han Zhi lowered his head and only responded after a while. “I’m afraid my cousin and aunt’s intentions are different from what Mother thinks.”

Lady Fan then closed her mouth and said nothing more.

Han Zhi left on his own. As soon as he stepped out the front gate, he ran into the carriage from Prince Zhennan’s mansion. He stared at the carriage until it had gone far, then turned back to ask his guard Liufu, “Ye the Second has returned?”

Other than him, no other master from Prince Zhennan’s mansion was this impetuous.

Liufu bowed at the waist and confirmed it, then seeing Han Zhi’s expression, added another sentence, “He’s heading to Juyi Tower.”

Ye Jingchuan had been spending all his time at Juyi Tower since returning several days ago. But this time he truly wasn’t going to Juyi Tower—he rushed all the way excitedly to Earl Changning’s mansion to find Song Jue.

In the past when he was still young, Old Madam Song liked his status and appearance, and given their family friendship, she often let him into the inner courtyard. But now it wouldn’t do—year by year he’d grown older, and the young ladies in the back residence had also aged. It was no longer appropriate to go to the back anymore.

Unable to find Song Chuyi, he ran to find Song Jue instead. As soon as they met, he asked, “It’s really settled?”

Song Jue was on休沐 rest at home with nothing to do. Seeing him come frequently, he wasn’t annoyed—he had just returned and sent a generous gift to the mansion, saying it was for little Ren the First. Moreover, these past two years following Guo Huaiying and Guo Ying he had truly made progress, training his temperament to be much more stable. Song Jue actually enjoyed associating with him.

Hearing him ask this, Song Jue raised his eyebrows. “This news seems to have grown legs—even you, who’ve only been back in the capital a short while, already know about it.”

He was talking about Song Chumi’s engagement being settled—it was to a recommended scholar who would be taking the imperial examinations again this year. Although his family was poor, he was honest and diligent. Above him he only had an elderly mother to support, and the old mother was also a reasonable old lady.

Old Madam Song ultimately couldn’t bear to let Song Chumi’s entire life be ruined like this. She personally made a trip to the estate where Song Chumi was hidden and talked with her all night, finally deciding to fulfill Third Madam’s wish. Originally, when people grew old their hearts didn’t soften, but after going to Qingzhou once and her daughter dying, her heart involuntarily softened first. Song Linlang was already dead with no chance to choose again how to live, but those still living now might as well be given a chance.

Yun Shi cried until her face was covered with tears and snot. Only now did her heart truly regard Old Madam Song as her own mother. She would never be critical of others again. Besides, although the man’s family was poor, he was diligent and didn’t just read books blindly—he actually knew to tend to his own small plot of land, with mother and son relying on that bit of farmland to make a living. As for her own daughter, if it weren’t for Old Madam Song’s exceptional mercy and personally writing a letter to entreat Old Master Song, how could there be any talk of marriage? She would probably have spent her whole life accompanying temple lanterns and Buddha statues.

Ye Jingchuan glanced at the large urn in Song Jue’s study holding several rolls of painting scrolls and laughed. “What do you mean the news grew legs? Clearly someone thinks they deserve great credit and tells everyone they meet. I’ve heard it at Juyi Tower until my ears have calluses.”

Who else frequented Juyi Tower? Song Jue knew he was talking about Shen Qingrang. He frowned then relaxed again. “Forget it. After all, this time it truly was the Princess Consort who selected the family and successfully acted as matchmaker.”

Ye Jingchuan had known two years ago what the Shen family was scheming—nothing more than wanting to latch onto the Song family, this seemingly stable great ship. Now He Shi was working so hard to take on this task, wasn’t it just hoping to curry favor, breaking through from the third branch to grow close to the Song family again?

He thought of Shen Qingrang’s temperament, then thought of his past words and outrageous behavior, connecting it with his current demeanor. He frowned, gloomy and displeased.