Madam Du was still listening in confusion. Only after Elder Du carefully explained the intrigue within did she finally understand. At this moment, she couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat: “So Princess Consort Gong has come to hate us? I thought this was Empress’s own idea—who knew it was actually Princess Consort Gong who instigated it! She’s pushing us toward the Grand Prince as well. So this was her scheme all along?”
Otherwise, why would the Yang clan be running a charity? She blamed the entire incident of Crown Princess Lu setting her trap on Elder Du and Madam Du, convinced they had conspired with the Eastern Palace. That’s why she came up with this scheme. It must be said, her calculations were extremely accurate. She caught Elder Du right when he was anxious and fearful, and with Empress Lu extending an olive branch on behalf of the Grand Prince, he naturally assumed this was also Emperor Jianzhang’s intention. How could he not fall for it? If the Grand Prince’s side hadn’t been alert…
But the Grand Prince’s side was truly too alert. Even someone as experienced and worldly as Elder Du himself had nearly been deceived, yet the Grand Prince from beginning to end never wavered. Not only did he reject the schemes of the Cui family and Prince Zhennan’s household, but even his own reaction seemed calculated. Though the Grand Prince was still young, he had the merit of quelling rebellions and was this cautious—his future prospects were immeasurable. Compared to his uncle and his father, he was truly incomparably superior.
Elder Du felt somewhat regretful: “His Highness the Grand Prince is truly a dragon among men, but unfortunately the timing is wrong.”
Hearing him say this, Madam Du knew that the matter concerning their eldest daughter was merely a small issue. Her thoughts became active again: “Since the Grand Prince fears arousing His Majesty’s suspicion, then the households of Zhennan and Duanhui also have no hope, do they? His Highness the Grand Prince can’t possibly only have one principal consort, can he? If we ourselves won’t do, surely there are others who will.”
She pondered for a moment: “How about being more tactful—we find someone…”
Elder Du raised his hand to interrupt her: “Now is not the time. Haven’t you noticed I’m closing my doors to visitors to avoid the storm? Whatever it is can be postponed. His Highness the Grand Prince is now furious because of the Yang clan’s scheming. This illness of the Yang clan’s—I’m afraid she’ll be sick unto death.”
Madam Du clicked her tongue twice. The Grand Prince, who had previously seemed so benevolent, was actually a ruthless character: “His Highness the Grand Prince is also quite capable. He himself fears arousing His Majesty’s suspicion, so through the Empress’s hand he silently dealt with Princess Consort Gong. Just the fact that His Highness the Grand Prince respects his future Grand Princess Consort enough not to establish side consorts is sufficient to make the Song and Cui families devoted to him…”
After she finished speaking, she no longer dwelt on this matter. In any case, there was no point hoping for anything in the near term. His Highness the Grand Prince would probably have to play the quail for several years. Among Emperor Jianzhang’s sons and grandsons now, who else could compete with Zhou Weizhao? He could only be cautious in speech and action from now on. Since he couldn’t expand his influence, naturally Empress Lu’s scheme wouldn’t work. She asked Elder Du: “Then what about that girl Fang Xi…”
Elder Du was just waiting to discuss this matter with her. He set down his book and slowly broke into a smile: “I was just about to discuss this with you. She’s not young anymore—we should find her a marriage match.”
Madam Du nodded: “You already have someone in mind?”
Elder Du stroked his beard: “I’ve heard that Sixth Miss Song has quite a good relationship with her stepmother.”
Madam Du thought for a while before remembering that Song Chuyi’s stepmother was the daughter of the Earl Guang’en household, named Yin Yuanduan. She couldn’t help feeling puzzled: “That’s true. She accompanied Second Master Song when he went to take up his post, and I heard she has quite a voice in the Earl Changning household. But she’s the posthumous daughter of Earl Guang’en and has no blood siblings…”
Moreover, so what if she did? From what she heard, the Song siblings didn’t have the best relationship with their father. How good could their relationship be with a stepmother?
“Madam, don’t be hasty. The Great Wall wasn’t built in a day either. Some things must be done slowly to see results. Though the Yin family has no other blood siblings, she still has an adopted elder brother, doesn’t she?”
Madam Du naturally knew this. These gossip matters were greatly enjoyed even by noble ladies like themselves, but she still frowned: “He was adopted to support the family line, but so what? I heard they don’t get along particularly well.”
Elder Du was somewhat dismissive and laughed: “No matter how poorly they get along, he was still adopted to continue the family line. When Madam Earl Guang’en grows old in the future, it will still be the Earl Guang’en heir who tends to her in old age and sees to her funeral! No matter how dissatisfied Second Madam Song’s elder brother and sister-in-law were initially, have you heard of them having any conflicts in their household lately?”
That was also true. Since Yin Yuanduan married the Earl Changning household’s second master, there hadn’t been any more gossip heard from the Earl Guang’en household. After thinking it over, Madam Du said again: “But they don’t have any suitable candidates either.”
Elder Du extended his finger and shook it: “But you’ve forgotten—this Earl Guang’en heir is not much younger than Madam Earl Guang’en herself. Won’t his son do?”
Madam Du was shocked, unable to sort out the generational relations no matter how she tried: “That’s another degree removed. Even if we can somehow stretch the connection through seven or eight turns, what use is it? No matter how good Sixth Miss Song’s relationship with her stepmother is, can it really extend benefits to her stepmother’s natal family? Besides, I’m afraid Second Madam Song herself doesn’t care much about them either.”
“Madam has always been perceptive in inner chamber matters—how have you become confused now?” Elder Du instructed her: “Second Madam Song only has a widowed mother. If not for the sake of Madam Earl Guang’en, why would she have delayed marriage until such an advanced age? Doesn’t she worry about her natal family being squandered by the adopted convenient elder brother, leaving her widowed mother to suffer in old age? I’ve heard that the eldest son of the Earl Guang’en heir was raised by her own hand until he was nine years old—their bond is deep.”
Now the eldest son of the Earl Guang’en heir was already fourteen years old, long past the age to discuss marriage.
Madam Du felt the price was still too high: “It’s just a pity for Fang Xi.”
“Not a pity.” Elder Du dismissively waved his hand: “Have you forgotten? Years ago, Prime Minister Xu even married his own legitimate granddaughter as a concubine to Old Liang’s illegitimate grandson. For the sake of the family, what’s there to pity or not pity?”
Madam Du was left speechless: “So it’s settled then? I heard Second Madam Song has already returned to the capital. Shall I go speak with her about it?”
“Naturally we must speak of it, and it must be said in front of the Song family.” Elder Du was full of confidence: “This will count as forming a friendly connection with the Song family.”
This connection that wound through seven or eight turns was really quite distant, but distance had its advantages—no one could accuse him of bandwagon-jumping. He was merely laying groundwork for the future, casting the first stone to knock on the door.
Yin Yuanduan had just returned to the household and hadn’t yet had time to send out all the gifts when she heard that her natal family had sent a visiting card. She couldn’t help feeling surprised: “I already told Mother yesterday that I’d return to the household tomorrow for Mid-Autumn to deliver mooncakes. Why did they still send a card?”
Madam Earl Guang’en’s health was declining day by day. She thought her mother’s health must be poor and couldn’t help feeling anxious.
Hechun quickly shook her head: “Madam, don’t worry. The Madam specifically instructed us to tell you not to rush—it’s not urgent. She just wanted to inform you. She said it concerns Young Master’s marriage.”
Yin Yuanduan first breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing it was about discussing marriage, she couldn’t help but smile: “What’s the rush about this matter? I’ve only just returned to the capital. We can slowly look around later to see if there are any suitable families.”