Chapter 518 - 296: Marriage Alliance

Chapter 518: Chapter 296: Marriage Alliance

Song Yunzhao coughed lightly. "I doubt it. If that were the case, Princess Fuke would never have brought up the marriage herself. I believe she has a plan. Given Princess Duanjing’s condition, it isn’t easy to find a good match for her. My eldest cousin became famous overnight after the imperial examinations and has even made a name for himself with the Emperor. His future prospects are certainly bright, and our family has an upright and respectable reputation. Princess Fuke is likely looking for someone reliable for Princess Duanjing."

It was rare for the senior madam to be so troubled by something. She looked at Yun Zhao and said, "I’ll go sound her out first, and we’ll see."

"That’s a good idea," Song Yunzhao nodded. She then brought up the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, mentioning that Mrs. Cai would be attending.

The senior madam looked at Yun Zhao and said, "Don’t you worry. I’ll make things clear with my third sister-in-law. If she dares to make things difficult for you in the palace, and then something happens to Qing Han in the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, I absolutely will not help her a second time. If only for Qing Han’s sake, she’ll learn to hold her tongue."

Song Yunzhao nodded. "I’ll have to trouble you with this, Eldest Aunt. It’s not convenient for me to get involved."

"How could helping our own family be any trouble? I’ll head back now, send an inquiry to the Princess Mansion first, and let you know once I have news."

The senior madam hurriedly left the palace, and Song Yunzhao was left to wait for news.

Just as Yun Zhao expected, a day later she received a reply from the senior madam. The letter stated that Princess Fuke had agreed to allow Song Buran to take a concubine if Princess Duanjing remained childless after five years of marriage. However, any child born to the concubine would have to be raised by Princess Duanjing. Furthermore, after giving birth, the concubine would be sent away by the Song Family. If Princess Duanjing were to pass away early, Song Buran would be permitted to remarry.

After reading the letter, Song Yunzhao was filled with an indescribable feeling. ’If the concubine is sent away after giving birth, how is she supposed to live the rest of her life?’

’Would the Song Family find another man for her to marry?’

’That’s impossible.’

’The only possibility is that she’d be sent to a country estate to live out her days. In a society like this, should I be grateful that Princess Fuke didn’t demand the mother’s life after taking the child? Is sparing the concubine’s life already considered an act of mercy?’

She felt a deep sense of unease, but she also knew that for Princess Fuke to offer such terms was already quite generous.

Song Yunzhao wasn’t very optimistic about this marriage, but the senior madam was quite satisfied. In her letter, she told Yun Zhao that she hadn’t expected Princess Fuke to be so understanding. She had also seen Princess Duanjing again and said she looked to be in better health than she was at the traveling palace.

The senior madam’s reasoning was simple. The only downside to this marriage was Princess Duanjing’s poor health. However, with Wei Chang having been ennobled as the Changning Marquis, and considering Princess Fuke’s good relationship with her brother, the Emperor, the marriage would create a powerful alliance. It would then be perfectly justifiable for Princess Fuke to help Yun Zhao counter the Empress Dowager, which would be a tremendous help to her.

Moreover, this marriage would also smooth Song Buran’s career path. They weren’t asking for a promotion from the Princess Mansion, just for them to ensure his achievements weren’t stolen or suppressed by others.

Overall, the pros of this match far outweighed the cons.

The senior madam had already made up her mind, so there wasn’t much Yun Zhao could say. After all, she was also a beneficiary of this marriage. Still, she suggested that the senior madam ask her eldest cousin for his opinion.

Song Buran was a man with his own ideas. If he truly disliked the match, a discordant marriage would be a major problem.

Upon receiving Yun Zhao’s reply, the senior madam indeed wrote a letter to her son and another to her husband to inform them. She also had to speak with Mrs. Cai about the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. For a time, she was so busy she was rushed off her feet.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Song Buran’s letter arrived in the Capital City. He wrote that his parents could decide on the marriage. Old Master Song was also satisfied with the match, and so it was settled.

Song Buran was due to return to the Capital City after the new year to report on his duties, so the two families set the wedding date for around that time. Princess Fuke expressed her understanding that Song Buran, being stationed outside the capital, could not be present for the traditional betrothal ceremonies.

When news of the alliance between the two families spread, many households in the Capital City were stunned. No one had ever imagined these two families would be joined by marriage.

Back when Song Buran won third place in the imperial examination, countless people had come to inquire about a marriage match, but the senior madam had politely refused them all. And now, Princess Fuke had managed to snatch up this son-in-law.

Even before the Song Family had a Chief of Staff, many had their eyes on Song Buran. Now that they had produced one, even more people were watching his marriage prospects. Yet, the Song Family had ended up aligning with the Princess Mansion.

However, on second thought, the Empress Dowager’s dislike for Song Zhaoyi and her frequent attempts to make things difficult were well known. By allying with the Princess Mansion, Princess Fuke would be able to support Song Zhaoyi more often, so the marriage wasn’t so strange after all.

Needless to say, the most furious person was the Empress Dowager. In Shouci Palace, everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Nanny Yao had the Palace Attendants clean up the shattered porcelain on the floor. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s thunderous expression, she was at a loss for how to console her.

An Shutong did not show her face. She sat in her room, holding a book, but she couldn’t read a single word. Her fingers gripped the book tightly.

Yingxue brought over a cup of tea and said cautiously, "Miss, have some tea."

An Shutong’s eyes shifted. "Did the Empress Dowager summon me?"

Yingxue shook her head.

An Shutong breathed a small sigh of relief. She took the teacup and sipped it, only speaking after a long moment. "With the Princess Mansion and the Song Family forming an alliance, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to escape the palace."

"Miss..." Yingxue said, her heart aching. "Is there truly no other way?"

"Princess Fuke and the Empress Dowager are at odds. I heard from my mother that years ago, when Consort Rong was still alive, Princess Fuke was very domineering and never treated the Empress Dowager well. Now that she has allied with the Song Family, the Empress Dowager’s position is weakened. She will certainly want me to enter the palace to help her."

When she heard that the Beauty from the Southern Border was entering the palace, An Shutong had felt a sliver of hope. Perhaps she could escape the cage of the harem. But she never imagined the Emperor would gift the Beauty to one of his courtiers, and she certainly never expected Princess Fuke to form an alliance with the Song Family.

After hearing this news, An Shutong knew she had no hope of breaking free.

"Miss, why don’t I leave the palace and beg the madam?" Yingxue whispered, her eyes turning red.

An Shutong shook her head. Her family was desperate for her to enter the palace; why would they ever agree to let her leave? "It’s no use," she said.

Yingxue’s tears began to fall. ’Why is my miss’s life so bitter?’ "Song Zhaoyi is so cunning. Even the three concubines couldn’t get the better of her. If you enter the palace and have to face her..."

Yingxue didn’t dare to finish her thought. If the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had a harmonious mother-son relationship, it would be one thing; her miss could find a way to navigate the situation. But that wasn’t the case, which made her miss’s position incredibly difficult.

’How can the Empress Dowager be so heartless? Miss has served her so filially for all these years. Why can’t she just find a good match for her and marry her off?’

Seeing Yingxue cry, An Shutong patted her hand. "This is fate. No matter how formidable Song Zhaoyi is, can she really remain favored for a lifetime? If not one year, then two. If not two years, then three. There’s always something to hope for."

"You’re right, Miss. With the Empress Dowager here, there’s always hope. Song Zhaoyi is so arrogant now; she’s bound to take a fall someday," Yingxue said, nodding emphatically.