Chapter 436 - 214: A Sisterhood Born from a Financial Transaction

Chapter 436: Chapter 214: A Sisterhood Born from a Financial Transaction

Seeing how constrained Song Hongjiao seemed, Yun Zhao smiled and said, "The scenery at the traveling palace is much more beautiful than back in the palace. Why don’t we go for a walk outside?"

The place where Yun Zhao was staying was adjacent to a lake, nestled amidst the mountains and water. Not only was the scenery pleasant, but it was also cooler than other places, even during the sweltering summer.

Yun Zhao walked with them for a while before they went to a pavilion to rest.

Song Hongjiao found everything novel and didn’t want to admire the sights alone, so she coaxed Song Yexi into accompanying her. The Eldest Madam went to change her clothes, and Xie Linlang, unable to bear the heat, simply returned to the pavilion.

Yun Zhao smiled at her. "Back so soon?"

"It’s too hot walking in the sun," Xie Linlang said with a laugh as she took a seat.

Yun Zhao had someone serve tea. "You don’t look as well as you used to. Is something troubling you?"

Xie Linlang had been hoping for a chance to see her and ask for advice, so she didn’t hesitate. "My family wants to arrange a marriage for me, but I’m not willing."

Xie Linlang was indeed of marriageable age. Seeing her unhappy expression, Song Yunzhao asked directly, "If you’re unwilling, I’m sure Second Young Master Xie will stand up for you. Why do you still look so worried?"

"My second brother is doing quite well in the Capital City, but the family back in Xuanzhou wants him to return so they can send someone else to take his place." Xie Linlang’s eyes grew cold as she spoke.

Yun Zhao was taken aback. She knew the Xie family was not a monolith; with so many branches in such a large clan, conflict was inevitable.

This was especially true for an established merchant family like the Xies. Merchant households weren’t bound by the same restrictions as officials, so the men often had numerous concubines and, consequently, many heirs. Generation after generation, one could only imagine the tangled web of conflicting interests.

"Second Young Master Xie is no fool; he certainly won’t go back." Song Yunzhao knew Xie Jinshu was a very goal-oriented and resilient man. A person like that could carve out a place for himself no matter where he went.

Xie Linlang glanced at Yun Zhao. "Not long after my older brother got married, his horse bolted on the way to the academy. He nearly broke his leg."

Song Yunzhao was startled. She knew Xie Linlang’s branch of the family placed immense importance on the eldest son, Xie Jingguan, grooming him to study for the imperial examinations. All their hopes rested on him.

If his leg had been crippled, his path to becoming an official would have been cut short.

"Is your older brother all right now?"

"Thankfully, it’s nothing too serious, but he won’t be able to return to the academy for a while."

Song Yunzhao understood. So his leg was injured, but not crippled. That was a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune.

"Since their scheme against my older brother failed, they’ve set their sights on my second brother and me. My father has spent years traveling for the family business, and his health is not what it once was. Now, my other uncles are stirring up trouble, so it’s hardly surprising they’d resort to using my marriage."

"So, what are your thoughts?"

"Of course I won’t go back to Xuanzhou to get married!" Xie Linlang declared, her expression firm. She looked up at Yun Zhao. "Yun Zhao, I won’t give in so easily."

Song Yunzhao’s brow furrowed slightly. At the moment, she really had no good way to help Linlang out of this predicament.

For one, Yun Zhao’s own position in the palace was not yet secure. For another, the Song Family’s roots in the Capital City were shallow. And since the Xie family were merchants, no respectable official’s family would marry their daughter—unless they were so desperate they needed her dowry to stay afloat, or they needed a man’s second wife. Nine times out of ten, either situation was a pit of fire.

"Don’t panic yet. We’ll think of something," Yun Zhao said, reassuring Xie Linlang. "Just wait a few more months."

In a few months, once she gave birth, the Emperor would have a legitimate reason to reward the Song Family. If the Song Family could be granted a title of nobility on account of the child—even that of an Earl—then the prospects for Xie Linlang’s marriage would brighten considerably.

When Xie Linlang heard Yun Zhao say to wait a few months, she understood what she meant. Not wanting to add to Yun Zhao’s troubles, she smiled and said, "I know you’re looking out for me. Just hearing you say that is enough."

’This sisterly bond, born from what was once a mere financial transaction, was worth it.’

"As for your second brother, that’s easy enough to handle," Yun Zhao said, looking at Linlang. "Just tell the Xie family that I only acknowledge your second brother. It doesn’t matter who else they send to the Capital City; I won’t deal with them."

’Xie Jinshu had forged a connection with her, and many in the Xie family were surely green with envy. They must think she valued the Xie family as a whole, but that wasn’t it at all. She only cared about Xie Linlang and her brother. What did the rest of them have to do with her?’

Hearing this, Xie Linlang’s eyes lit up, and it was as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "Yun Zhao, thank you."

"What for? This is mutually beneficial."

Seeing Song Yunzhao say this so matter-of-factly, Xie Linlang felt her eyes well up. "With you saying that, my second brother’s position in the Capital City is secure."

Song Yunzhao thought for a moment and added, "After the last disaster relief effort, your second brother has made a name for himself with the Ministry of Industry. Tell him to build on those connections. Before, when Qin Yuanjing worked for the Ministry of Industry, I wasn’t on good terms with Qin Wanyi, so it would have been inappropriate for your family to approach them. But now that Qin Yuanjing has been dismissed, tell your brother to be clever about it. Business is business, but he is forbidden from any cheating or swindling. Working for the court is no simple matter. If he gets caught and the evidence against him is irrefutable, I won’t be able to save him."

At first, Xie Linlang didn’t quite understand what Yun Zhao was saying, but it all clicked into place the moment Qin Yuanjing was mentioned.

Among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Industry was the least prominent; even newly appointed officials were reluctant to be assigned there. However, the Ministry of Industry outsourced a great deal of its work. If her second brother could truly build that connection, he wouldn’t need to rely on Yun Zhao’s name in the Capital City, and the other branches of the Xie family wouldn’t dare to plot against him and his sister so easily.

"I will explain everything to my second brother in detail," Xie Linlang said, her face beaming. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close watch on him. If he dares to engage in any fraud, I’ll be the first one to take him to task. I certainly won’t let him tarnish your good name."

When the Eldest Madam emerged from changing her clothes, she saw Yun Zhao and Linlang happily engrossed in conversation. She decided not to disturb them, knowing they must have private matters to discuss, and went to find her daughter instead.

The Eldest Madam kept an eye on the time. When she felt it was about right, she brought Song Yexi and Song Hongjiao back to bid farewell to Yun Zhao.

Yun Zhao invited them to stay for a meal, but the Eldest Madam politely declined. The Empress Dowager was watching like a hawk, and a Palace Attendant had already been beaten to death over their visit. Yun Zhao would have to deal with the fallout herself, so they wanted to avoid causing her any more trouble.

Yun Zhao didn’t insist, smiling as she said, "Perhaps we’ll be able to see each other again in a few days. It’s a rare trip out, so Eldest Aunt, you should take everyone to enjoy the sights. Please be careful when attending banquets. If you receive an invitation to one that seems ill-intentioned, just refuse it. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the rest."

The Eldest Madam chuckled. "Your Highness Zhaoyi, do you think I’m made of paper? I can handle matters on the outside. We can’t help you much here in the traveling palace, so you’ll have to manage on your own."

Before leaving, Song Yexi glanced at Yun Zhao. ’Back then,’ she thought, ’everyone fought tooth and nail to get into the palace. But seeing the reality of it now, I’m so glad I wasn’t chosen.’

’Otherwise, I’m afraid I’d never have been able to make a way for myself in this treacherous palace.’