The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

There’s an old saying that the Prime Minister’s door always has a Seventh-Rank official. Reaching Song Zhiyuan’s position, the whole family remains solitary without many relatives, and already when Song Zhiyuan was a Third-Rank official, countless people were eager to depend on them, actively joining Song Family Village, becoming members of the old Song family.

Over the years, Song Family Village has produced some talents, with even a couple of them achieving the Fifth Rank. These people are not without legitimate daughters. Taking advantage of this opportunity, they naturally would also add one or two names to the selection list.

”That’s exactly right. He’s serving as Deputy Magistrate in Chongzhou, named Song Ziming, a collateral branch of the old Clan Leader’s line. The name submitted now is his legitimate eldest daughter, apparently called Song Xin, who is on her way to the capital and will be staying at our residence for some time until the selection process into the palace.”

Song Ci fiddled with the bead necklace and asked, ”What do you think? Should she be selected, or not?”

Song Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, ”Mother, what are your thoughts?”

”In my opinion, I don’t agree with allowing a Song family girl to enter the palace selection, especially from our direct line. But honestly speaking, those from collateral branches, although they are also surnamed Song, are often distant relatives. They fall beyond my control,” Song Ci understood the saying about not imposing your will on others.

If she didn’t want to pursue wealth, should she stop others from pursuing it too? If they wanted to compete, could she really impose her will to forbid it?

”I don’t like the idea of Song family girls entering the palace selection because of you. You hold a high position, and since the Crown Prince is yet to be established, if a Song girl enters the palace and doesn’t gain favor, so be it. But if she does, especially with great favor, how do you think outsiders would perceive you? How would the Emperor view it?” Song Ci said, ”Think of me as this cautious old woman afraid of everything, but our Song family is already esteemed. You’re in civil affairs, your in-laws in the military, even young Lingzhao has joined the army. If a Song girl enters the palace as a Concubine, and truly gains favor or even bears a Prince, at that time, haha...”

The very thought sends a chill down one’s spine.

The whole family might have to keep their heads down and live cautiously.

Song Zhiyuan furrowed his brows, ”As you said, they are distant collateral branches far from our main line.”

For those with the surname Song, he and his clan were truly an independent branch. His grandparents were refugees who settled in Song Family Village, took root, and it was only after a long time that the old Song patriarch had a son, making it their ancestral home. It flourished gradually, with many people subsequently relying on them; blood ties are not even part of the discussion.

Song Ci smiled mockingly, ”Nevertheless, they hail from the same village as you and bear the surname Song. In terms of honorifics, shouldn’t they still address you as uncle or elder? Old one, your political opponents won’t be so generous as to separate you from the Song family; even if there’s no connection, they would forcefully create one.”

Song Zhiyuan said, ”Mother, I understand your point.”

”It’s not that I’m hard-hearted and can’t bear to see others prosper. I just feel that the Emperor is suspicious, and the longer he reigns, the more suspicious he becomes. You are now Prime Minister, and our Song family is indeed in a favorable position. But you and I understand that if things collapse, our prominent family is far from being as stable as those with centuries of history. A collapse could happen just like that. If that girl doesn’t bear the surname Song, let her be. If she truly gets selected, then remove that family from Song Family Village. If not, find her a good marriage as compensation.”

Even though our family has past ties with the Empress Dowager and her son, affection fades quickly. If a Minister doesn’t understand his own position, then he awaits the Emperor’s displeasure and suspicion.

Thus, she preferred to seek stability, rather than a moment of glory and fortune.

Song Ci’s words hit the mark, aligning with what Song Zhiyuan had contemplated over time.

Hearing these words now, his heart was both alert and steady.