The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 147 - Adding to the Dowry

Though Song Chuyi had been pondering which ship to board to avoid being capsized by turbulent tides, she was even more aware of who truly held power now. Back when the Crown Prince was weak and in poor health, Emperor Jianzhang, wanting to secure his legitimate son's position, didn't mind Song Chengru lending a helping hand.

But now, with his sons competing for power, aligning too closely with any side was risky. It would be better to maintain their neutral stance as before, showing that they took no sides. Whatever affiliations they may have in private were another matter, but outwardly, adhering strictly to the Emperor's orders would never go wrong.

Song Chengru understood his granddaughter's perspective, but couldn't help feeling concerned. "It's easy to say, but how simple is it to execute? We've been close to the Eastern Palace for the past two years. Do you think we can just sever ties so abruptly? To outsiders, it will look..."

Song Chuyi smiled, revealing two small dimples, putting others at ease. "Grandfather, did you forget? Though we showed some support, we never directly supported the Crown Prince. We showed favor to the Crown Prince's son and King of Zhennan. Besides, didn't it look to outsiders like you were sent to Jiangnan due to Lord Chen's pressure?"

Song Chengru's eyes lit up, though he soon remembered Lord Du, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "Then I suppose Prince Gong won't be pleased with me either... It seems I'm bound to offend all these princes."

But with Prince Duan and Prince Gong both showing such ambition, there wasn't a better choice. Prince Duan, with his narrow-minded and vengeful nature, would surely be the first to eliminate the Song family if he ever ascended the throne.

Song Chuyi smiled slightly, standing by the window to face the breeze as she looked at Song Chengru. "Grandfather, do you think the Crown Prince's actions lately are a bit too impatient? In the past, when he was often ill and the Eastern Palace was weak, we naturally assumed the Crown Prince was a gentle and honest ruler. But after this Yangzhou case, do you still believe that?"

This was a point Song Chengru had raised multiple times. The Crown Prince had acted too hastily; as soon as his health improved, he became overly eager for power, not realizing how this would appear to Emperor Jianzhang—a blatant display of greed.

Seeing Song Chengru deep in thought, Song Chuyi continued, "Besides, even the Eastern Palace has its factions. The Crown Prince's attitude towards the Heir Apparent and the other prince has been ambiguous... Wasn't it recently rumored that he even requested a title for that prince?" (Translator Xiaobai: probably Zhou Weiqi, his son from the favored Consort Fan)

Song Chengru's gaze grew more nuanced as he looked at his granddaughter, realizing just how perceptive she was. She always managed to see past appearances to the heart of a matter and pick the most advantageous path forward. Back then, they had distanced themselves from Prince Duan in favor of the Crown Prince, and now, with the Crown Prince hastily grabbing power and his household on the verge of chaos, she wisely advised staying out of it—every move calculated to follow Emperor Jianzhang's intentions.

Executing this level of strategy was no easy feat, even for the previous Chief Minister, who had once been the Emperor's mentor and often struggled to anticipate the Emperor's thoughts.

Satisfied, he nodded, stroking his beard, and ordered a servant to summon the eldest and third masters and the house scholars. He then turned to Song Chuyi. "Tomorrow is your fourth sister's wedding preparation. Don't be running off."

Song Chuyi agreed and, early the next day, brought a box to Ningde Courtyard.

Old Lady Song was chatting happily with Xiang Mingzi, and upon seeing Song Chuyi arrive, she first asked if she'd had breakfast, then directed her gaze to the box in Song Chuyi's hands. "What have you brought for your fourth sister's dowry addition?"

Song Chuyi opened the intricately carved box, revealing two layers. The bottom was filled with pearls, while the upper compartment held a delicately crafted rose gold hair crown with gleaming golden filigree and a twisted five-ring lotus bracelet.

Old Lady Song looked at Song Chuyi with increasing satisfaction. She was aware of Song Chumi's schemes lately and trusted that Song Chuyi could see them too. Yet, Song Chuyi remained so generous—an admirable trait. This quality reassured Old Lady Song that her granddaughter would fare well, no matter where she went in the future.

Just then, Song Chumi came to pay her respects to Old Lady Song. Her expression was flat, devoid of any hint of joy or shyness expected of a new bride, her face ashen, a look of utter despair.

Old Lady Song's brows knitted, yet seeing the Third Madam beside her, who seemed nervous enough to faint at any moment, softened her heart. She looked at Song Chumi for a long moment before letting out a slow sigh.

"From now on, you are an adult. When things arise, don't think only of yourself but consider your parents as well. It hasn't been easy for them either."

Third Lady's eyes instantly reddened. Only after raising children does one understand a parent's love. She didn't expect Song Chumi to remember her kindness; she just hoped that she would live a good life in the future, and that would be enough to satisfy her.

People started arriving one after another. Old Lady Song instructed Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi to accompany Song Chumi back to her room to wait for the young ladies who had come to present her wedding gifts. She wanted to say something more to Song Chumi, but in the end, she said nothing.

The first to arrive was Shen Huiyi—her mother was the matchmaker, so naturally, she was expected to be the earliest. The usual arrogance was absent from her face, replaced with a warm smile as she presented her gift, then turned to engage in conversation with Song Chuyi.

She had been instructed once again before she arrived. Although Duke Ying's residence had received the imperial decree to accompany the hunt, Song Chuyi was also granted an additional reward of clothing, which, regardless of its true intention, appeared as an unprecedented honor in others' eyes. Her mother, Lady He, had repeatedly reminded her to keep her temper in check: "Consider her as your sister-in-law. Her honor only benefits you, without bringing you any harm. With that in mind, what is there for you to compete over with her?"

Now, she felt that Lady He's advice made sense and lowered her pride with ease as she chatted away, spilling every recent detail like beans from a bamboo tube: "Practicing riding at the stables with the daughters of the Chen and Han families. The daughter of the Chen family seems delicate, yet she's better than anyone at riding..."

Song Chuyi had always regarded the Shen family as foxes in the henhouse, so Shen Huiyi's sudden friendliness only made her more suspicious. However, her brow tightened subtly upon hearing the mention of Chen Mingyu.

Lord Chen was clearly on a different path from Song Chengru now. He was eager to take on the case of Zhang Yuan, wanting to be the First Assistant in the Crown Prince's eyes. However, he used to be quite close to Zhou Weizhao, yet now, disregarding Zhou Weizhao's wishes, he was wholeheartedly siding with the Crown Prince. Was he truly loyal to the Crown Prince, or did he see Zhou Weizhao as unreliable and want to align with someone else? After all, in the Eastern Palace, apart from Zhou Weizhao as the heir apparent, Zhou Weiqi was also a significant figure.