Chapter 477 - 255: A Truly Unexpected Development

Chapter 477: Chapter 255: A Truly Unexpected Development

When the senior madam heard Song Yunzhao’s question, she looked up and said, "I haven’t heard anything particularly bad. But that’s the problem—her flawless reputation is what makes me suspicious. Take your eldest cousin, my firstborn. We doted on her, held her in the palm of our hand, yet even her reputation wasn’t perfect."

Song Yunzhao was quite shocked to hear this. ’I only know that An Shutong is cunning and difficult because I know the plot of the book, but the senior madam doesn’t have a third eye. To make such an accurate judgment under these circumstances... A matriarch is truly formidable.’

"You’re right, Eldest Aunt. I’ll be careful." Song Yunzhao nodded with a solemn expression. "But no matter what Gu’en Houfu or An Shutong are planning, I doubt they’ll be able to succeed anytime soon."

"One must always be wary of the unexpected. Perhaps they will do the exact opposite of what you expect precisely because you all think that way. After all, the Empress Dowager is His Majesty’s birth mother. No one can compare to that."

"I understand." Song Yunzhao took the senior madam’s words to heart.

She had never been an arrogant person. The senior madam’s judgment had rarely been wrong, so if she suspected something, perhaps Gu’en Houfu really was up to something.

Thinking of this, Yun Zhao looked at the senior madam. "Eldest Aunt, you could socialize more with Princess Fuke. Once His Majesty is past this busy period, the rewards for the princess will start coming."

The senior madam was a little worried. "Won’t getting too close to Princess Fuke be bad for you?"

She understood Yun Zhao’s meaning. The Emperor and Princess Fuke had a good sibling relationship. With the Prince Consort’s recent death, the Emperor was certain to bestow favors upon his elder sister. But with one incident after another at the traveling palace, the Emperor hadn’t had the time to attend to it. He couldn’t ignore it forever, though.

Right now, everyone was watching from the sidelines to see how the Emperor would arrange for Princess Fuke’s family. Before the imperial rewards were announced, the noble ladies of the Capital City would certainly not get too close to the princess.

Yun Zhao wanted her to seize this opportunity to grow closer to Princess Fuke. Once the Emperor’s rewards were granted, Princess Fuke’s status would surely soar. By then, it would be much harder for her to try and cozy up to the princess.

"It’s fine," Song Yunzhao said after a moment of thought. "My good relationship with Princess Fuke is mutually beneficial. We don’t have any conflicts of interest, so it won’t be difficult to maintain good terms."

Although the senior madam was still a bit worried, since Yun Zhao had spoken with such confidence, she must be sure of it.

"I’ll invite the princess for tea at Xie’s Restaurant soon," the senior madam decided. Princess Fuke wanted to do business with the Xie family, so she would surely be willing to go to their restaurant.

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

’The senior madam is brilliant!’

’I’m not her equal. Her mind is so sharp.’

After they finished their serious discussion, the senior madam had Song Yexi and Song Hongjiao come in to see and speak with Yun Zhao. Having frequently attended banquets with the senior madam and Song Yexi, Song Hongjiao now appeared much more poised than before.

Song Yexi had been recovering from her injuries for a few days and was mostly fine. Seeing Yun Zhao, she had a bellyful of things to say.

"Linlang wrote me a letter, and it’s just hilarious. Madam Ji truly treats her son like a precious treasure. What’s so special about him? A County Princess already broke off an engagement with him! Our Linlang has never even been betrothed; she has a much cleaner slate than he does." Although Song Yexi said it was hilarious, her expression was anything but, practically radiating fury.

Song Yunzhao wasn’t particularly angry. ’It’s impossible for Linlang and Ji Yunting to end up together anyway. With an attitude like Madam Ji’s, I doubt Linlang would even agree to be his concubine.’ She comforted Song Yexi, saying, "Madam Ji has the right to be proud. We see Linlang as a friend, so of course we don’t look down on the Xie family’s background, but it’s different for those powerful, established families. This is actually a good thing for Linlang. If she really married into a family like that to become Madam Ji’s daughter-in-law, she’d be in for a lifetime of suffering."

"That makes sense." Song Yexi slapped the table. "But I still can’t accept it. Linlang is such a wonderful girl. It’s such a shame."

"Life is long. Don’t get hung up on temporary gains and losses. We still have decades ahead of us, so just wait and see," Yun Zhao said with a smile. "Once Mr. Xie passes the imperial examinations, it won’t be difficult for the Xie family to elevate their status."

"But Linlang can’t wait that long to get married." This was what Song Yexi lamented for Linlang. If she were a bit younger, she could wait for her elder brother to achieve success in the exams and then choose a good family to marry into.

"There will always be a family with a discerning eye who can recognize her worth." Although Yun Zhao said this, she couldn’t think of any suitable candidates to match with Linlang at the moment.

’If I were to play matchmaker recklessly and force Linlang upon the son of some great noble family, it wouldn’t be a marriage alliance but the start of a feud.’

’Thinking about it, it makes sense why the Linlang in the book was willing to enter a prestigious household as a concubine. She must have had no other choice.’

"Did you hear about the County Princess visiting Duke Qin?" Song Yexi suddenly remembered He Lan Yun and turned to ask Yun Zhao.

"That happened?" Yun Zhao’s eyes lit up. "When?"

"Just the day before yesterday. The County Princess’s injuries were similar to mine, and she’s mostly recovered. The Princess Consort took her to visit the Grand Dowager of the Duke Qin Mansion to thank them in person."

"That’s only proper."

"Exactly. But who would have known—what a coincidence—the Grand Dowager was unwell and had fallen ill. Duke Qin himself was still injured, yet he was dragging his broken arm around to attend to his mother." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"How tragic." Song Yunzhao knew that the Grand Dowager of the Duke Qin Mansion was indeed not in good health. The old Duke Qin had passed away early, and since the Grand Dowager had shared a deep love with her husband, she was so devastated by his death that her health declined.

"The Prince Zhenbei Mansion and the Duke Qin Mansion have always been on good terms. The County Princess saw how listless and ill the Grand Dowager was, and since Duke Qin had injured his arm saving her, she felt indebted and has been going over every day to keep the Grand Dowager company."

Song Yunzhao: ?

’Now this is an unexpected development.’

"The County Princess went of her own accord?"

"Yes. She even wrote to me saying that Duke Qin is as talkative as a sealed gourd. If he’s the one attending to the Grand Dowager, she’s afraid he might bore his own mother to death."

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

’That sounds exactly like something He Lan Yun would say.’

"And Princess Zhenbei agreed to it?"

"The Princess Consort and the Grand Dowager are very close. Besides, Duke Qin is in no condition to take care of his mother right now. The County Princess helping out is a way of repaying the favor."

Song Yunzhao, however, smelled a hint of conspiracy. But since it was just her own speculation for now, she didn’t reveal a word of it to Song Yexi. Instead, she said righteously, "The County Princess is doing the right thing. Duke Qin did save her life, and their two families are close. She can’t just stand by and watch the Grand Dowager be neglected."

"Yes, I think so too," Song Yexi nodded. "It’s just that it’ll probably be difficult to see the County Princess for a while."

Song Yunzhao thought to herself, ’If Cao Jitong is truly interested, he should seize this chance to win over He Lan Yun and make her his wife.’

’If he had no feelings for the County Princess, he wouldn’t have ignored Linlang and gone straight for her that day.’

’As long as she avoids Ji Yunting, this could be a match made in heaven.’