The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

When Madam Song returned to the main courtyard, Song Zhiyuan was reclining on the Arhat bed by the south window, reading a book. She was somewhat surprised and stepped forward to greet him.

”It’s rare for the Prime Minister to return so early today. The Longevity Festival banquet was so lively, I thought the Emperor would keep the Prime Minister in the palace to talk.”

Song Zhiyuan looked up and laughed, ”Today is the Emperor’s Longevity Festival. He always dines with the Empress Dowager on this day, so I returned early. You went to the Duke Zhongyong Mansion to speak with your mother-in-law?”

Madam Song paused her hand, summoned two maidservants to help her remove her hairpins and change her clothes, and said, ”Mother wasn’t feeling quite well, so I went back to say a few words to her. Actually, it was because of the eldest sister-in-law’s antics, but it wasn’t much.”

”Oh?”

Madam Song walked into the inner room behind the screen, took off the Imperial Decree Clothes, changed into a more comfortable home attire, then came out, took the tea offered by the maidservant, and waved her hand. After everyone had retreated, she sighed.

”Eldest sister-in-law’s temper has been growing these two years. She somehow heard that the Duke Dingguo Mansion wants to ally with the Earl Anle Mansion and started blaming us, saying we didn’t inform her, and the Emperor’s favor is on the legitimate Prince.” As Madam Song spoke, she glanced at him, ”Isn’t this quite unjust? The Emperor is always deep-minded, and even you, Prime Minister, can’t say for sure whom he favors as the Crown Prince, right?”

Song Zhiyuan chuckled lightly, ”And then?”

”Today, as soon as the Crown Prince was established, she became anxious, feeling that Zi Ran and his brothers have lost a golden opportunity to connect with wealth and power.”

Song Zhiyuan flipped a page of the book and said, ”What did your mother say?”

”Mother naturally stood with us, gave her a good scolding, and even my brother mentioned that you had discussed the Emperor’s likely intentions with him.” Madam Song asked tentatively.

”That’s right,” Song Zhiyuan said, ”Zi Ran and his brothers are not really suitable for the girl from Earl Anle Mansion. Zi Ran is several years older than that child. If he is willing, it wouldn’t matter, but the elder brother mentioned mother-in-law’s interest in a girl from the Wang clan of Langya.”

Madam Song was somewhat surprised, ”I haven’t heard of it.” She paused and said, ”It seems accurate. My mother and the current matriarch of the Wang clan of Langya are like sisters.”

Song Zhiyuan said, ”Since Zi Ran has mother-in-law’s decision, let’s not discuss it. As for Zi Qing, if the noble lady from Earl Anle Mansion is betrothed, there will surely be competition in the future. The Marquis Mansion is not like Duke Dingguo Mansion, which has already decided on the Princely Heir.”

Madam Song was silent for a moment and said, ”So, the eldest sister-in-law is acting out without reason.” Remembering the promise to her mother, she jokingly said, ”Speaking of marriage affairs, mother said our children are all excellent. If we could establish another marriage alliance, it would renew the bond between the families. She said if you nod in agreement, we could choose among the children of the Marquis Mansion.”

Indeed, her mother had predicted this, bringing up old topics again.

Song Zhiyuan laughed, ”Mother-in-law is overpraising our family. Unfortunately, we have few children in our family, and some haven’t reached the age yet. Otherwise, choosing one wouldn’t be bad.”

Hearing a glimmer of hope, Madam Song wanted to say Jie’er has already reached the appropriate age for engagement, and her mother favored Song Lingjie the most.

As she was about to speak, Song Zhiyuan continued, ”You’ve been back for quite a while, and I’ve been listening to you, but I haven’t had the chance to tell you the good news I received.”

”What good news?”

”Su’er and Jie’er both passed the provincial examination, both of them becoming successful candidates. This counts as a big celebration for our family too.” Song Zhiyuan casually dropped this bombshell of news.

Upon hearing this, Madam Song accidentally knocked over her teacup and stood up in surprise, her voice trembling, ”Prime Minister, is this true?”