In the afternoon, Princess Consort Zhennan specially accompanied Old Madam of Earl Guangen Manor to discuss the number of people for the wedding procession that day. Because this Miss Yin was already quite old and was born in the Year of the Rabbit, the fortune teller had calculated that she must depart at the first quarter of the Hour of Shen. The number in the wedding procession also had to be an odd number—precisely eleven people.
But these eleven people also had stipulations. It was said that Rabbit clashed with Rooster, Rabbit was harmed by Dragon, and Rabbit was punished by Rat. Therefore, anyone of these three zodiac signs could not be included in the wedding procession. First Madam Song hurriedly looked through the list again. Fortunately, none of these three zodiac signs were among the eleven people. She also had someone go below to ask if any of the servants accompanying the procession on the nineteenth had these three zodiac signs—all were to be relieved of their duties and replaced with others.
This Miss Yin from the Earl Guangen family was sensible. Before even marrying in, she already knew to establish good relations with Song Yi’s two children first. Clothes, shoes, and socks had all been sent over in advance, showing her complete sincerity. Added to the fact that she had observed three years of mourning for her father, Old Madam Song held her in even higher regard—they precisely needed such a clear-headed and capable young lady to marry in and properly manage Song Yi.
Because the Earl Guangen family had already lost its family head, the current Earl Guangen was the nephew of the late Earl who had been adopted over—that is, Miss Yin’s cousin. To follow all the proper etiquette in everything was somewhat difficult, especially since the matchmakers on both sides differed greatly in status—the Earl Changning Manor had engaged Madam Qin, the wife of Minister Qin from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, as their matchmaker, while their side had been unable to settle on a candidate. Now that Princess Consort Zhennan had voluntarily offered, they felt as if happiness had fallen from heaven. Madam of Earl Guangen had originally worried that the two families’ status didn’t match, that the disparity in position was too great, and that her daughter marrying in as merely a second wife would be looked down upon. Now with Princess Consort Zhennan involved, no matter what, she could at least hold her head somewhat higher.
After settling on the wedding procession members, they settled on the menu for the nineteenth. According to custom, the southern side was responsible for the banquet on the bride’s side. First Madam Song and Third Madam Song each took a gold-embossed booklet and handed them to Madam of Earl Guangen, smiling: “One is the menu sent by Juyi Tower, one is the menu sent by Lion Tower. We trouble our in-law mother to choose and see which establishment looks acceptable, and we’ll select that one to take charge of the cooking and arrangements.”
Princess Consort Zhennan sat to the side smiling and drinking tea. Seeing Madam of Earl Guangen’s eyes redden, she knew in her heart this was her being moved by the Song family’s thorough etiquette, giving Miss Yin such face. Yet she couldn’t help sighing inwardly—where was the Song family giving Miss Yin face? This was clearly announcing grandly to everyone under heaven that the Song family had not been affected at all by any star of heavenly calamity and solitary misfortune. Even the true Son of Heaven had rebuked the Ministry of Rites officials and the Imperial Observatory Director for talking nonsense. They had all been splashed with dirty water by a monk’s deceptive words and suffered injustice.
Old Master Song’s kneeling in the golden hall had truly roused the righteous spirit of all scholars under heaven. A few days ago, students from the Imperial Academy had gathered on Vermilion Bird Avenue declaring they would smash the Huangjue Temple for spreading deceptive words.
This move of removing firewood from under the cauldron and advancing by retreating was truly exquisite to the extreme. No wonder the Song family enjoyed such glory. With such a granddaughter, such descendants, and such clear-headed elders, if the Song family didn’t prosper, whose family would?
Madam of Earl Guangen had originally brought Princess Consort Zhennan somewhat to bolster the occasion. Now seeing the Song family’s bearing and such thoughtful arrangements, all her calculations and fears vanished completely. Grasping Old Madam Song’s hand, even tears came down as she choked out her heartfelt words while tightly clutching Old Madam Song’s hand: “Elder Sister, I won’t hide it from you. You know my family’s situation. Yinyin also grew up under your watch. To speak truthfully, if it weren’t for mourning delaying things, and having such a brother in the family, she…” She really wouldn’t have ended up becoming someone’s replacement wife.
She wiped her tears. Seeing that Old Madam Song showed not the slightest impatience, she was even more grateful: “But to marry into a family like the Song household is her good fortune. I needn’t speak of you—we spent time together when we were young. When my family fell into decline and defeat, no one would respond to our invitation cards, yet you rushed over to support me… I’ve also met Sixth Miss and Fourth Young Master. They’re both easy to talk to and get along with. Now I ask for nothing else, only that Yinyin can live well. Then when I die, I’ll have face to meet her father…”
The old Earl Guangen and Old Madam of Earl Guangen had been harmonious as the qin and se, famously devoted spouses. Though the two had only one daughter, no concubine sons or daughters were ever born, nor did it affect their feelings.
If he hadn’t died in battle in Xibei, the Earl Guangen Manor wouldn’t have fallen to such circumstances. Old Madam Song and Princess Consort Zhennan also felt somewhat sorrowful listening, as if returning to twenty years ago, when the departing old Earl Guangen lifted his two-year-old daughter onto his shoulders, laughingly called them sister-in-law, and asked them to look after Old Madam of Earl Guangen.
But this man who had smiled and said one daughter was enough would never return, and would never return again.
Old Madam of Earl Guangen was overcome with grief. Biting her lip, she covered her mouth as large tears fell.
All these years, she had felt aggrieved, had missed her husband. After Earl Guangen died, her natal family all urged her to remarry, but she refused. She would rather adopt a nephew to carry on than remarry and take on another surname. In this lifetime, living she was a person of the Yin family, and dying she would be buried in the Yin family ancestral tomb.
Yin Qiucheng had treated her well. For her sake he had taken no concubines or bed servants for many years. She would keep faith with him for a lifetime, raise their daughter to adulthood for him, and guard this place called Earl Guangen Manor.
When he had lifted her bridal veil, he had said that from heaven’s highest reaches to the underworld’s depths, this lifetime they would always be together. She would watch over their daughter for him a few more years, then go find him.
Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi in the adjoining warming room heard everything clearly and for a moment were both mutually speechless.
After a long while, Xiang Mingzi finally realized she had actually cried. She grasped Song Chuyi’s hand, lowering her voice though unable to suppress her choking: “In this world, besides heartless and ungrateful people like my father, there are actually deeply devoted great men like the old Earl Guangen.”
Song Chuyi listened somewhat stunned. Some people could mutually pledge their lives to each other, yet some could only turn against each other and go separate ways. She opened her black and white eyes somewhat bewildered, pressed her lips together, unable to say a single word.
So each person had their own fate. Some people probably would never have the good fortune to possess a husband like the old Earl Guangen in their entire lives—just like her.
Outside, First Madam Song and Third Madam Song also couldn’t help their eyes reddening. They came forward together to console Old Madam of Earl Guangen: “The old Earl Guangen in the earth below must certainly feel your devotion…”