Blossom

The Empress was also troubled by this matter.

With Song Mo as a shining example by comparison, she found it hard to be satisfied with anyone else.

Hearing the Emperor's words, she sighed inwardly.

It seemed she would have to pick the best of a mediocre lot.

"I will summon the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites tomorrow to submit their recommendations," the Empress said, her tone resigned.

The Emperor, somewhat smug, remarked, "The Third Princess's consort mentioned to me that Song Yichun intends for his second son to marry a princess. What do you think?"

The Empress had long since made up her mind regarding the marriages of the princesses, especially Princess Jingyi's.

Frowning at his words, she said, "When the previous match with Yantang fell through, though few knew the details, there were still traces to follow. Now he’s clinging to the second son of the Song family... Are our daughters so desperate that they can’t find husbands? People would surely laugh at us."

The Emperor thought it over and indeed found the idea distasteful.

Irritated, he waved his hand dismissively. "Then let’s drop the matter! You take charge of Jingyi and Jingfu’s marriages and settle them as soon as possible."

The Empress agreed with a smile and discussed the two princesses’ betrothals with the Emperor for a while before leaving the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

By then, the Princess of Ningde had already left the palace, and the Empress paid no further attention to the matter. However, that evening, when she and the Emperor went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, the latter greeted them cheerfully and said to the Emperor with a smile, "A few days ago, Consort Miao was unwell, so I permitted her niece-in-law to visit. That’s when I learned her two grandnieces have already come of age and are ready for marriage. The sixth one is particularly lovely—a spitting image of Consort Miao in her youth—so I thought of arranging a match for her. What do you think of the second son of the Song family, the Duke of Yingguo’s household?" As she spoke, she glanced at the Empress.

Both the Empress and the Emperor were taken aback.

The Emperor inwardly cursed Song Yichun to the depths of hell.

Did he think the imperial family was a vegetable market, where he could come and go as he pleased?

First, he had Shi Chonglan lobby for his second son to marry a princess, and now he was currying favor with the Empress Dowager. What the hell was he playing at? Did he take me for a fool to be manipulated at will?

Without hesitation, the Emperor said, "No! Song Yichun’s second son is unsuitable."

The Empress Dowager’s face immediately darkened.

Precisely because he was unsuitable, she wanted to betroth Consort Miao’s grandniece to the Song family’s second son. If he were suitable, why would she bother?

"What do you mean by that?" Having endured decades of suppression during the late Emperor’s reign, the Empress Dowager was in no mood to hold back now that her son was on the throne. Her temper had grown increasingly fiery, and she lashed out on the spot. "Am I not even allowed to arrange a marriage now?"

Only then did the Emperor remember the longstanding rift between the Empress Dowager and Consort Miao and realized his blunder. But he couldn’t bring himself to admit that Song Yichun had sought a royal match for his son—one he had nearly agreed to moments earlier. Instead, he used the Empress’s words to deflect. "Previously, we wanted Yantang to marry Princess Fuyuan, but Song Yichun quietly arranged his son’s betrothal without a word. It’s clear he’s a man who does as he pleases. I think we should stay out of his family’s affairs."

If word got out that Consort Miao’s grandniece was to marry into the Song family, only for Song Yichun to reject the match and secure a more prestigious bride for his son, it would be downright laughable!The Empress Dowager grew more and more amused by the idea, and her resolve to arrange a marriage between the Miao family's daughter and Song Han solidified.

"I'll summon Song Yichun to the palace and speak to him personally. I refuse to believe he would dare disobey my words," the Empress Dowager declared decisively. "This matter is settled. Tomorrow, I will have Song Yichun brought before me."

The Emperor was furious to the point of physical pain.

Meanwhile, the Empress sensed something amiss.

She recalled that when she had paid her morning respects to the Empress Dowager, nothing had been mentioned. Yet after Ningde Princess's visit, the Empress Dowager suddenly conceived this plan. Could Ningde Princess be behind it?

Catching the Emperor's eye, she whispered once they left the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, "Her Majesty has always disapproved of Consort Miao. Why would she suddenly consider arranging a marriage for the Miao girl?"

The Emperor, previously blinded by anger in the side chamber, now cooled down and found it suspicious as well. However, he had little patience for such feminine intrigues. "Investigate this matter thoroughly," he ordered the Empress.

The Empress obeyed and, upon returning to her palace, immediately inquired about what Ningde Princess had discussed with the Empress Dowager.

Soon, she learned of Ningde Princess's purpose and the rumors concerning Song Han.

The Empress's face flushed crimson with rage. With a sharp crack, she snapped her folding fan in half.

The palace maids trembled and fell to their knees.

The hall fell deathly silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Taking several deep breaths to compose herself, the Empress ordered Ningde Princess to be summoned to the palace.

Ningde Princess, having dared to propose the match to the Empress Dowager, was prepared for questioning.

When questioned by the Empress, she feigned shock despite her inner calm. "How could the rumors have twisted things so?" she exclaimed. She then explained that Song Mo had a widowed cousin resembling Jiang Shi who had come to the capital seeking his support. "Since Jiang Yan shares the same birthday as Song Han, we jokingly speculated whether Madam Jiang had actually given birth to twins. Perhaps the Duke disliked having a daughter, so he kept the son and gave the daughter to the Jiang family to raise? Who knew such idle talk would spiral into such vile gossip?" Her face was a picture of remorse. "Had I known, I would never have mentioned this jest to Shi Taifei. Now that it's spread so maliciously, what should we do?" She added, "The Duke of Yingguo's household has always been scarce in heirs. If Madam Jiang had indeed borne twins—let alone the coveted male and female pair—even two daughters would never have been given away. Such logic is plain to see. How could anyone believe such nonsense?"

The Empress remained skeptical. "Then bring this Jiang Yan to the palace someday. I wish to see her."

Ningde Princess respectfully agreed and then lamented how people in the Capital nowadays spoke without restraint.

Distracted by the bombshell that Song Han might be illegitimate, the Empress had no patience for Ningde Princess's complaints. Seizing an opportunity, she signaled the end of the audience by offering tea.

Ningde Princess left the Palace of Earthly Tranquility somewhat awkwardly.

The Empress then went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and relayed the entire incident to the Emperor.

The Emperor was dumbfounded. After a long pause, he muttered, "Could it be mere rumor? Even if Song Yichun is a fool, he wouldn’t dare commit such an act—muddling bloodlines and turning truth upside down!"The Empress also found the matter utterly bizarre and said, "But the Ningde Princess has always been cautious and steady in her actions. How could she fabricate something out of nothing?"

The Emperor was at a loss. He began to blame the two individuals involved: "This Song Yichun—there’s never a moment of peace with him. Look at all the things he’s done since inheriting the title. I’m embarrassed for him. And the Ningde Princess—what was she thinking, telling the Empress Dowager such things? Now, Mother insists on arranging a marriage for this second son of the Song family. If this is true, wouldn’t it be a slap in our faces?"

As soon as he finished speaking, both the Empress and the Emperor froze in shock.

Song Yichun wanted his second son to marry a princess. Could it be to use the imperial family’s prestige to protect his son’s life?

Suddenly, their perception of the Ningde Princess shifted.

What if the Ningde Princess had learned the truth but couldn’t stop Song Yichun from arranging the marriage, so she resorted to this method to inform them of the situation in the Song household?

The Emperor flew into a rage. "That despicable wretch! His conscience has been eaten by dogs. No wonder he always looked down on Song Yantang—he was planning to favor a concubine over his wife! Thank goodness I elevated Song Yantang. If I hadn’t intervened, wouldn’t he have been killed by his own father? How could the late Duke, such a kind and benevolent man, have fathered such a venomous son? He must have been kicked in the head by a donkey, thinking everyone else is as rotten as he is... Issue my decree—he is to surrender the seal of the Five Armies Commandery and go guard the imperial tombs for the late Emperor!"

In his heart, he was already convinced that Song Han was illegitimate.

Wang Ge broke out in a cold sweat, his legs trembling as he hastily acknowledged the order and prepared to leave.

But the Empress called out, "Wait!" and advised the Emperor, "Song Yichun is still the foremost among the meritorious officials. If you strip him of the Five Armies Commandery seal and send him to guard the tombs, you’ll need a reason. Are you going to accuse him of falsifying lineage? Where’s the proof? Just because that Jiang Yan looks exactly like Madam Jiang? I think we should proceed slowly. First, settle the marriage for his second son. Fortunately, no one knows Song Yichun wanted his son to marry a princess, so let the Empress Dowager arrange the match. It will both appease Her Majesty and serve as a warning to Song Yichun."

The Emperor understood her meaning and said, "Tomorrow, remember to send some rare treasures to the Ningde Princess. If not for her, we would have blindly married our daughter to Song Han. That would have been a true scandal!" He then instructed the Empress to visit the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility immediately. "As for Mother, please apologize on my behalf. Tell her that as long as she is happy, I will agree to anything."

The Empress smiled and complied, heading to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility.

The Empress Dowager beamed with delight. "I knew the Emperor was filial," she said, instructing the grand eunuch of the palace to invite the Emperor for dinner. She then took the Empress’s hand to discuss Song Han’s marriage. "Who do you think would be suitable?"

Since the Empress intended to make amends for the Emperor, she had already inquired about Consort Miao’s family beforehand. With a smile, she replied, "Your Majesty has far more wisdom and experience than I. How could my considerations compare to yours? Whatever Your Majesty decides will surely be the right choice."The Empress Dowager was even more delighted upon hearing this and said, "Then let the Miao family's Ansu marry the second son of the Song family!"

Miao Ansu was the sixth young lady of the Miao family.

The legitimate eldest daughter of Consort Miao's own nephew.

It was said that this young lady was not only exceptionally beautiful but also virtuous and kind. She had once hand-copied a hundred volumes of the Lotus Sutra to give to passersby as prayers for her ailing grandmother.

In the eyes of the world, for a family like the Miaos—who had once run a mere grocery shop—to marry their granddaughter into such an illustrious household as the Duke of Yingguo's was like striking gold. Yet for the Miao family, having their carefully cultivated daughter wed to a second son of a noble house who couldn't inherit the family estate might not necessarily be a cause for celebration.

The Empress smilingly assented and personally summoned a court lady to draft the Imperial Decree.