After Old Madam Guangen finished crying, she felt much more at ease in her heart. Breaking into a smile through her tears, she said, “You’re right, you’re right. He understood me best—he knew I would never remarry.” As she spoke, a hint of shyness actually appeared on her face. “Today it’s just us women here, and I’ve been holding this in for far too long. I hope you’ll indulge me and listen to what I have to say. Do you know? When he left, he entrusted me with a box.”
Her somewhat clouded eyes lit up with an extraordinary brightness, shining unusually bright in that instant. “Inside that box was his entire fortune, along with a letter and a written pledge. He had specially gone to seek out Grand Secretary Chang to act as witness. It stated clearly that if he couldn’t return and the Guangen Earl Manor came to an end, there would be no need to find a male heir to inherit the title. He was afraid these people wouldn’t tolerate Yinyin and me—he had prepared for this long ago. In the letter, he instructed me not to remain faithful to him and wait…”
Third Madam Song couldn’t hold back and nearly cried out loud. She had never before encountered a husband like Yin Qiucheng, who truly thought of everything for Old Madam Guangen.
Even Princess Zhennan’s eyes reddened as she covered them with her handkerchief.
“He really underestimated me! When he was home, I was so timid—the slightest disturbance would make me clutch his arm. Even picking a flower, I’d fear injuring my fingers and make him do it.” Old Madam Guangen smiled through her tears, her lips pressed together. “After he left, could I still be so timid? I had to learn to stand on my own. I can do anything—why would I need to find someone else to spend my life with? No matter how good another person might be, he wouldn’t be him, wouldn’t be Yinyin’s father…”
Old Madam Song let out a long sigh, gazing thoughtfully at the warm inner chamber separated by only a curtain, hoping these two girls were also listening. In this world with countless thousands of people, how could there truly be only those heartless, ungrateful wretches?
Old Madam Song patiently waited for Old Madam Guangen to compose herself, then had servants come up to attend to her, helping her redo her hair and makeup. Only then did she ask gently, “Shall we go with Lion Tower or Gathering Righteousness Tower?”
Old Madam Guangen smiled and handed the menu册 from her right side to First Madam Song. “Lion Tower does all their main dishes well. Let’s go with Lion Tower.”
First Madam Song nodded with a smile, taking the menu and going down to arrange the order.
Having settled these matters, Old Madam Guangen felt a weight lift from her heart and began to show concern for Song family affairs. “This time His Majesty flew into quite a rage. Outside there’s also been much discussion, with everyone saying Master Yuanhui went too far with his words this time.”
Previously, she had worried for her daughter—marrying into this manor with a stepdaughter who was a celestial calamity and lone star, and this stepdaughter being of such precious status and favored by the elders, who knew how many entanglements there would be in the future?
But later, when Old Master Song knelt in the Golden Throne Hall, it awakened her. Yes, exactly—pushing all disasters onto a young girl, what were all these ministers and His Majesty for?! The Sixth Miss of the Song family wasn’t the empress—why should disasters be blamed on her?
Old Madam Song’s lips curved with a mocking smile, and her words were equally blunt. “Previously I also thought Master Yuanhui was good, but I never expected that after returning from his years of wandering in Fujian, his temperament would change. A supposedly enlightened monk, yet he insists on entangling himself with court affairs, fixating on a young girl with no power to fight back. Tell me, isn’t such malicious intent vicious? Even the Buddha likely cannot bear to watch…”
She stated outright that Yuanhui had interfered in court affairs! Princess Zhennan glanced at Old Madam Song, then lowered her eyes meaningfully. The Song family’s meaning was clear—they intended to nail Yuanhui firmly to the position of being wildly ambitious, wanting to meddle in court affairs and colluding with the Imperial Observatory.
—
After finishing their idle chat, Old Madam Song invited Old Madam Guangen and Princess Zhennan to the side hall for refreshments according to proper etiquette. “Speaking of which, it’s just the right time to sample that plum blossom wine my two girls concocted last winter. I haven’t tried it, but my eldest daughter-in-law says the wine tastes quite good.”
Old Madam Guangen was supported on both sides by First Madam Song and Third Madam Song. Princess Zhennan naturally fell back to walk alongside Old Madam Song. After thinking for a moment, she smiled at Old Madam Song first. “Congratulations to Old Madam on gaining such an excellent daughter-in-law. Yinyin truly is a good child. When I visited Guangen Earl Manor, I met her once—she’s grown into such a fine young woman, and her manners and etiquette are all impeccable.”
Old Madam Song sighed somewhat. “Indeed. Just now, Ah Li was crying before me, and my heart truly felt uncomfortable. How old is she really? Yet now people are already addressing her as ‘Old Madam’… I, this old woman, am the true old madam. What a pity that good people don’t live long. Otherwise, if Qiucheng were still here, a child as wonderful as Yinyin truly wouldn’t have fallen to my unworthy family member.”
“You mustn’t say that.” Princess Zhennan sighed softly. “What’s meant to be will come to pass. In any case, Yinyin and Second Master have their destined connection. As long as they live well together in the future, passing this lifetime without disaster or difficulty is better than anything. What else can women hope for besides this?”
Yes, what else could they hope for? Unfortunately, Xiao Yi now didn’t even dare to hope for this.
Old Madam Song’s brow showed some worry. She and Madam Cui both thought Ye Jingchuan was good, and Princess Zhennan was also on intimate terms with them and easy to get along with—truly the most suitable family. But as Yu Shi had said, marriage must involve mutual affection. No matter how good they thought it was, if Song Chuyi didn’t like him, it was useless.
Seeing her lost in thought, Princess Zhennan called out “Old Madam” gently and stopped, looking at Old Madam Song with sincerity. “What do you think of my second son? To be honest with you, I didn’t take on this matchmaking duty solely because of Yinyin…”
Old Madam Song was somewhat taken aback. She hadn’t expected Princess Zhennan to speak such words at this moment, and so directly asking whether Ye Jingchuan was suitable.
She didn’t quite know how to respond. What should she say? That actually they all already knew in their hearts, and all thought Ye Jingchuan was good, but now the young person in the family was unwilling?
Old Madam Song felt it was a pity to miss a family like Zhennan Prince Manor, and her expression showed slight hesitation.
Princess Zhennan continued speaking. “To be honest with you, my second son has feelings for Sixth Miss. Given the relationship between our two families, I won’t speak in formal terms. Please consider it. If you feel my second son is acceptable, when I return I’ll have the Prince go to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to request a matchmaker…”
Zhennan Prince Manor had already shown the utmost sincerity. Old Madam Song sighed softly, grasped Princess Zhennan’s hand, and smiled with equal solemnity. “I cannot give you an answer immediately on this matter. What do you think of this arrangement—after my second son’s wedding, once Xiao Yi returns from Jinzhong, I’ll give you an answer then. In any case, both children are still young…”