Chapter 227 - Reject the Marriage

Song Yixiao still couldn’t think it through after pondering for a while. Eventually, she had to consult her husband, “Even if my father and grandmother have no sense of propriety, Lord Gu is in the Song Family’s mansion. How can he not give them a reminder?”

“How can taking a concubine run counter to the Crown Prince?” Unexpectedly, Jian Xubai said in surprise, “She is a toy only. Since she can be bought, she can be sold tomorrow. The Crown Prince has so many things to worry about. How can he have time to interfere with your father’s harem?”

He added, “In the old days, among the daughters of the sinful officials, sent into the imperial palace as servants some of them were still selected as the imperial concubines and gave birth to imperial children. Lady Nuan in the palace is more or less of this type. And Madam Liu is a concubine of an official only.”

Song Yixiao flushed with shame, “I stay in the backyard for long so I’m kind of narrow-minded. I thought this kind of thing might affect the court affairs!”

“Compared with drifting to prostitution, being a concubine of your father is a blessing from the heaven for Madam Liu. No wonder you are worried.” Having noticed his wife’s embarrassment, Jian Xubai comforted her and changed the topic, “Actually, speaking of your father, Lord Gu’s living in your father’s mansion is really confounding.”

As was mentioned before, Gu Shao was from an influential family and he himself was a leading scholar who achieved huge success at the young age. Therefore, even though he was retired for nearly 20 years, he still had houses in the imperial capital and he had plenty of them.

Under the circumstance, it was quite abnormal that he chose to sojourn in the Song Family’s mansion instead of living in his own house when he was in the imperial capital.

Even if he felt that the houses were long deserted and full of Yin Qi, he had other better choices. The Crown Prince was very willing to show filial piety for him on behalf of Commandery Prince Zhongling by offering a comfortable residence for him. Gu Shao’s nephew, who was sent to the imperial capital and recommended to the Crown Prince last year, must have a ready residence here.

However, Gu Shao chose neither of them but the Song Family’s mansion!

“Even if your father is the descendent of Lord Gu’s friend, there is the Elder Lady in the Song Family’s mansion. Even if Lord Gu lives in a guest’s yard, which is away from the place where the Elder Lady resides, it is not very appropriate,” Jian Xubai said, “It’s not a big deal if he is the type of man who pays no attention to trifle formality. However, Lord Gu is from a noble family. His habit of adhering to formality is second nature. It is quite confusing that he acts like that!”

Song Yixiao didn’t know as much about Gu Shao as him. She thought for a while and still failed to think of anything. It was not early now, so she directly threw herself to her husband’s arms, “Let’s sleep now!”

The next day, she got up and sent a servant to pry into the matter. As Jian Xubai predicted, the thing that Song Yuan took Liu Zhijin as his concubine didn’t stir up any disturbance in court. Currently, what everyone cared about most was the palace examination scheduled on the 15th day of the third lunar month and the dating feast on the Shangsi Festival.

“Yesterday, my sister-in-law came to visit me, telling me that one of my cousins was also invited to the feast. Certainly, she was insignificant at the feast. On the contrary, the two ladies of the Su Family were dragged by Aunt Daiguo for a long talk.” A few days later, Song Yixiao made time to embroider several handkerchiefs and brought them to Earl Yiping’s mansion on her own. She also took the opportunity to visit Xie Yiren. After exchanging some recent situations about themselves, they inevitably talked about the currently popular things.

Xie Yiren sent away her maids and whispered to her, “Aunt especially complimented the Seventh Young Lady of the Su Family on her cultured and gentle bearing.”

“In this way, Aunt Daiguo is going to collaborate with Her Majesty the Empress?” Song Yixiao was taken aback, “I’m just wondering whether the Seventh Young Lady of the Su Family can get along well with Cousin Zifu, given her quiet personality.”

Although Daiguo Grand Princess held the dating feast for Ji Mingfei and Ji Zifu, picking Su Shaoling was obviously an alliance by marriage between Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao. Then the candidate must be Ji Zifu. After all, Ji Mingfei was the nephew of Daiguo Grand Princess and her husband, who was not qualified.

Compared with Ji Mingfei who totally disregarded morality, Ji Zifu was at least a normal good-for-nothing young man from a noble family.

Yet, Song Yixiao still didn’t feel that he was the right one for Su Shaoling.

Now her voice was unavoidably pitiful. Xie Yiren was not familiar with the ladies of the Su Family. Without noticing Song Yixiao’s emotion, she said casually, “Cousin Zifu is undisciplined indeed, but maybe he will become sensible after getting married.”

She mentioned this matter only as an opening for the following words, “The Ministry of War was always in the charge of the Su Family. Now it has been taken over by Director He for only one year. Although Director He is a supporter of the Crown Prince, Xubai and Xishi are very hardworking, if Cousin Zifu becomes a son-in-law of the Su Family, do you think the force left by the Su Family in the Ministry of War won’t help him?”

She was worried that the marriage would affect her husband’s career.

“His Majesty is still in office. The Director of the Ministry of the War is designated by His Majesty. In this case, how can he allow the Su Family to continue playing tricks?” Song Yixiao shook her head, “Moreover, Cousin Zifu has been an official not for long. According to my husband, he doesn’t listen to others’ advice easily. One must gain his approval before assisting him.”

Xie Yiren was relieved with a sigh and said with delight, “When my husband was working in the Ministry of Personnel, he was deceived by those despicable villains jointly. Thanks to Cousin Xubai, he was reallocated to the Ministry of War and finally got a break! Therefore, when I heard of this, I started to worry that the Ministry of War might become a mess too. Yixiao, please don’t laugh at my narrow-mindedness!”

Song Yixiao knew that she must be sent by Xu Xishi to sound out her opinions, so she couldn’t help wondering how isolated Cousin Xishi was in the Ministry of Personnel. He instantly worried that he might be bullied by Ji Zifu just after he heard of the possibility of the united marriage of the Ji Family and the Su Family.

However, of course she wouldn’t voice out her speculation. She only said with a smile, “We are both restricted to the back yard. I don’t know more than you. I simply heard my husband talk about it coincidentally and then kept it in mind. You are married not for long, so Cousin Xishi must have no enough time to tell you a lot. Otherwise, why would you need me to comfort you?”

“By the way, the Jiang Family are looking for a husband for Muting. Do you know that?” After making sure that her husband’s career wouldn’t be seriously affected, Xie Yiren recalled another thing, “Perhaps in consideration of Prince of Wei and his wife, the Jiang Family don’t intend to find a husband among the noble childes in the imperial capital for her. Instead, they only mean to find a man of a medium ranking in the golden list who will be dispatched away from the imperial capital so that Muting can stay away from here!”

She felt quite pitiful, “Actually, given Muting’s appearance and disposition, an aunt of mine likes her quite much. If the Jiang Family don’t oppose her marrying someone in the imperial capital, my aunt really wants to set her up with my cousin! However, although my cousin is a provincially certified scholar, he didn’t participate in this exam. I’m afraid that the Jiang Family won’t take him into consideration?”

By saying so, Xie Yiren was actually asking Song Yixiao euphemistically to pass on the message if possible. Maybe the Jiang Family would change their mind. After all, compared with the scholars who came from afar, the legitimate grandson of Duke of Lai was a local of the imperial capital, who they knew much better.

Yet, Song Yixiao was surprised to hear the news, “Muting is always adored in her family. Back then, when the rumor about her, Prince of Wei and his wife was widely spread, a lot of people of the imperial capital were certain that the Jiang Family would make her marry someone living in a distant place so as to pour oil on the waters. Yet, the Jiang Family still didn’t treat her lightly. Now that the times have passed and circumstances have changed, why do the Jiang Family become sensitive about that now?”

She almost immediately thought of that sheaf of prescriptions!

“Did the Jiang Family find out her feelings?” Song Yixiao found that the possibility was high, “Therefore, they rush to find a man for her and keep her from staying in the imperial capital!”

Nevertheless, if this matter was disclosed, Jiang Muting’s reputation would be ruined. Therefore, Song Yixiao pretended that she failed to understand the implied meaning of Xie Yiren and only said with a grin, “Is that so? If Muting marries someone in a distant place, we cannot meet her frequently then. When she gets married, I must embroider more things as her dowries. Yiren, you mustn’t say that I am partial!”

“I won’t say that you are partial. After all, we are both in the imperial capital. I have plenty of opportunities to ask for your embroidery!” Xie Yiren gave a disappointed look and then looked as if being absorbed in thinking, saying with a faint smile, “By the way, Xue’e is getting married!”

The wedding of Yuan Xue’e and Lu Guanlun was finalized on the 22nd day of the third lunar month.

“Their wedding is held on a special day,” Song Yixiao said smilingly, “It happens to be held after the result of the palace exam comes out, which can get some luck from the golden list!”

Then they continued chatting for another while. As it was getting late, Song Yixiao was about to leave when some noise came from the hall. Xie Yiren couldn’t help frowning and asking in a loud voice, “What’s the noise about? I’ve got a guest here!”

Yet, a loud voice came from outside, “Since you are receiving an honorable guest, I shouldn’t have come here to disturb you. However, the rouge for this month hasn’t been purchased yet and I have used up all mine. What should I do?”

“It is said that my mother-in-law preferred quiet colors and disliked applying the rouge.” Without even lifting her eyelids, Xie Yiren said coldly, “Thus, I think the concubines of my father-in-law had better not overstep your right, had you? Certainly, if you insist on dressing yourselves up, I will send someone to buy some now.”

“You!” How could the concubines in the hall not find that she deliberately said so? They were surely furious. Unfortunately, for one thing, they couldn’t exceed the legitimate wife; for another, the legitimate wife of Earl Yiping was Luguo Grand Princess born by the Empress Dowager, who they didn’t dare to disrespect!

Therefore, they were angry for a while and yet, they couldn’t do anything about Xie Yiren. After making oblique accusations, they left sulkily anyway.

“Drag the guarding maids down and have them flogged for 30 times. They are fired forever!” When they all left, Xie Yiren ordered, “I asked them to watch the door for me and they still let those women come inside and make a scene before me! Luckily, Yixiao is not an outsider. Otherwise, I will be regarded as incapable if this is leaked out. How can I just let others run into my own yard without permission?”

As she finished handling the issue, Song Yixiao asked curiously, “Are those women all the concubines of your father-in-law?”

“Exactly!” When it came to those women, Xie Yiren had a glint of annoyance in her face and then said, “My mother-in-law is gone and my father-in-law is so generous that these women are too spoiled…”

After all, she always served the seniors. Her upbringing made her unable to say something rude. She shook her head and said, “They keep taking advantage by all means. I just can’t stand their dirty moves! Luckily, you gave me a reminder before I got married, or I would suffer losses when I came to this family!”

“No matter how generous Uncle is, they should show respect for you! You are the wife of the heir!” Song Yixiao said seriously, “Shall I report this for you when I pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager next time?”

“No need.” Xie Yiren patted the back of her hand as a gesture of thanks, saying, “It’s not a big deal. We had better not bother Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. After all, they can’t arouse any trouble. They just have no sons to rely on when they are old, so they are trying their best to gain some assets. If they don’t piss off Xishi, actually, I can’t even be bothered to pursue the matter!”

Song Yixiao thought about it and also felt that it was not good to disturb the Empress Dowager for a few boxes of rouge. Worse still, it would make Xie Yiren appear too stingy and incapable, so she said with a nod, “Please feel free to tell me if you need anything!”

Afterwards, she sat for only a short while before leaving.

She returned to Duke of Yan’s mansion and took a sip of tea when Qiaoqin came forward to report, “Your Highness, Cuipiao said that she took a liking for Yu Shiheng!”

After she agreed to find a good husband for Cuipiao last year, Song Yixiao started to get down to it subsequent to the Spring Festival.

After screening, identifying and investigating carefully, she finally made a list and sent Qiaoqin to inform Cuipiao and let her choose within the list. Cuipiao hesitated for a few days and eventually made her decision.

“Yu Shiheng?” The name sounded familiar to Song Yixiao. After thinking for a while, she finally recalled that he was the captain of the guards, who sent the bamboo hat and a cloak to a scholar in the street on a cold day.

Her impression of him was favorable. Back then, she specially asked about him and still remembered his style name was Shouzhi. Now she slightly nodded, “Yu Shiheng is a careful and honest man, who looks quite decent. Cuipiao has a good eye.”

However, after a while, a servant replied, “Your Highness, according to Captain Yu, because Cuipiao used to work for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and he is of humble birth, he feels that he is unworthy to marry her!”