Chapter 280 - 117: Annoying Mrs. Cai
The Yang Family had approached the Eldest Madam to propose a marriage to Song Jinxuan. This suggested they knew a thing or two about the state of the third branch, yet they still chose her. Song Yunzhao sighed softly.
"In that case, let’s settle it." Song Yunzhao didn’t want any more complications. Getting Song Jinxuan’s marriage settled would also keep Mrs. Cai from causing a scene. "Eldest Aunt, don’t be anxious. I’ll have someone send a message to the manor later."
The Eldest Madam agreed. "That would be for the best."
"Please inform the Yang Family. Once I send word back to our family, they can come make the formal proposal."
"Of course," the Eldest Madam readily agreed.
After seeing the Eldest Madam off, Song Yunzhao considered how to best handle the matter. ’I can’t bypass the Emperor,’ she thought. ’I’ll have to use his name to keep Mrs. Cai in line.’
When Feng Yi came for dinner that evening, she told him everything.
Feng Yi didn’t think much of it. The marriage of a concubine’s daughter from the Song Family was something Yun Zhao could decide on her own. "If you’re happy with it, then just settle it."
"I want to, but I’m afraid my mother will be unhappy," Song Yunzhao sighed. "A few years ago, my relationship with Aunt Che and her daughter wasn’t good either. My mother is overbearing and dislikes me, while Aunt Che was the favored one and quite cunning. The two of them were evenly matched, and I was just grass on a wall, bent by whichever way the wind blew."
Hearing this, Feng Yi said disapprovingly, "Then why are you still helping them?"
"However, our relationship has improved somewhat in the last two years. Emperor, you know my relationship with my mother and younger brother is poor. When I first arrived in the capital, Aunt Che and her daughter helped me a fair bit. You could say it was mutually beneficial."
Feng Yi gave Song Yunzhao a strange look. ’She’s remarkably bold, telling me all these unsavory things about her family. Everyone else in the harem pretends their families—legitimate and illegitimate siblings alike—are perfectly harmonious. Only she tells me everything, whether it should be said or not.’
If Song Yunzhao knew what Feng Yi was thinking, she would have laughed out loud. ’Of course I have to tell him! These things aren’t secrets; anyone could uncover them with a little effort. Besides, I’ll need to make use of Song Buming in the future. By getting it all out in the open now, the Emperor won’t be surprised or suspicious when I start calling on him later.’
Seeing how honest Song Yunzhao was being, Feng Yi decided to grant her some favor. "Do you want me to decree the marriage?"
Song Yunzhao looked surprised. "How could that be? My eldest brother took third place in the imperial examination and didn’t receive a decreed marriage from Your Majesty. How could my second sister get one?"
Feng Yi felt that was a strange thing to say. ’What does she mean by that?’
’Is she hinting that she wants me to decree a marriage for Song Buran?’
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Yun Zhao say, "My mother despises me. If I’m the one to arrange my second sister’s marriage, she will surely raise hell to oppose it. I can’t let her future be ruined because of me, so I was hoping to borrow the Emperor’s authority."
Feng Yi understood. He glanced at Yun Zhao. "You’ve certainly thought this through."
"Well, what can I do? I’m just beautiful and kind-hearted."
Feng Yi: ...
’The nerve of this woman is as thick as a fortress wall.’
Song Yunzhao pretended not to notice Feng Yi’s speechless expression. She hugged his arm, pulled him down to sit on the daybed, and added with a grin, "I just feel that ever since our family produced a third-place scholar in the imperial examination, life has suddenly become so much smoother. Even my second sister’s marriage is about to be settled."
Feng Yi recalled what Yun Zhao had told him about Yang Shouchen’s youngest son, Yang Shu. ’She’s clever, yes,’ he thought, ’but sometimes she can be so naive.’
’A man with Yang Shu’s mediocre talent, hoping to get a leg up from Song Buran, the third-place scholar? He’ll be waiting a long time. Especially since he lacks an ambitious or studious nature himself. The Yang Family isn’t interested because the Song Family has a third-place scholar. They’re interested in Yun Zhao, the Concubine.’
’Right now, Yun Zhao is a Concubine, but she could rise higher in the future. If she gives birth to a Prince, then once her position is secure, Yang Shu himself might be useless, but a son born to him and Song Jinxuan could one day rely on Yun Zhao’s support.’
Still, Feng Yi didn’t see anything wrong with such minor scheming. As long as a person’s character was decent, who could claim they didn’t have their own little plans?
Yun Zhao hadn’t considered these things, and Feng Yi didn’t point them out to her. That was all for the future.
After discussing Song Jinxuan, Song Yunzhao brought up Song Yexi’s marriage to clear it with the Emperor as well. She asked in a deliberately hesitant tone, "Emperor, there won’t be any issue with a marriage alliance to the Yue Family, will there?"
Feng Yi actually tried to recall who Yue Shao was but drew a blank. He did know a bit about Yue Shao’s father, though, so he replied, "The Yue Family conducts themselves properly. The marriage is acceptable."
Song Yunzhao blinked at the Emperor. "You know that’s not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?" Feng Yi laughed.
Song Yunzhao huffed. "I’m not going to spell it out. As long as you understand, that’s enough. If some fool with no eyes tries to impeach me in the future, I’ll have you as my backer."
How could Feng Yi not understand her little ploy? Her words made him laugh. "The Yue Family may be a military family, but does that mean a military general’s son can’t take a wife? The court doesn’t require them to marry into any specific family. You’re overthinking things."
"Sigh, I don’t want to overthink it, but I can’t help it with so many eyes on me. I’m terrified, so I can only ask the Emperor to grant me some courage."
Feng Yi clicked his tongue. "You’ve got some nerve."
"I’ve done nothing wrong, so I have nothing to hide. Besides, you’re not just anybody. When I have a problem, who else am I supposed to consult if not you?"
Feng Yi stared at Yun Zhao. Her logic was sound, but something still felt off.
Seeing the look on the Emperor’s face, Song Yunzhao bent over laughing. Feng Yi’s expression darkened. He swept her into his arms and carried her behind the bed curtains.
’Come to think of it,’ he mused, ’I’ve been on the throne for some time now. It really is time for a child to be born in this palace.’
’In the entire harem, she is the only one I truly like. It can only be her who gives me a child.’
The lamps glowed brightly as the bed curtains swayed. On that late autumn night, wrapped in the crisp air, the two were tangled together.
The next day, Song Yunzhao got up early to see the Emperor off to his morning court session, so listless she could barely keep her eyes open. It was only four in the morning, after all.
’We both went to bed late, so how is he so energetic? He doesn’t look the least bit tired from last night’s ’battle’.’
’The male lead truly isn’t built like an ordinary man,’ she thought. In any case, after sending him off, Song Yunzhao immediately went back, fell onto her bed, and went right back to sleep.
’There’s a saying that only the ox dies of exhaustion, never the field it plows,’ she mused. ’But at this rate, I feel like I might just break that record.’
She slept until the sun was high in the sky and woke up feeling refreshed. After a late breakfast, Song Yunzhao went to her study in high spirits to write a letter to the Song Family.
Causing trouble for Mrs. Cai was something she truly delighted in.
Just imagining the look on Mrs. Cai’s face when she read the letter was enough to make her want to jump for joy. She couldn’t have been more delighted.