The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 186 - Hidden Intentions

These gifts from the palace were meant as compensation for the incident at the hunting grounds—after all, those who went were high-ranking officials close to Emperor Jianzhang, beloved imperial relatives, and old aristocrats. The noblewomen among them all suffered quite a scare, and several barely escaped with their lives. For instance, the young lady from the Tong family, whose father is the Assistant Minister of Justice, even broke her leg and may face lifelong impairment. Although publicly everyone accepted the story of the disturbance being the work of the Japanese, who didn't know it was orchestrated by Prince Duan and Chen Xiang? The palace's issuance of these gifts was clearly an effort to soothe anxieties.

This time, after presiding over the investigation of the Yangzhou corruption case, Old Master Song took leave from the court under the guise of illness, aligning perfectly with Emperor Jianzhang's intentions. In recognition of his sense of timing, the palace bestowed heavier rewards on the Song family than on others, something Old Lady Song had anticipated. Upon entering her room, she let Yushu remove her headpiece, changed into her regular clothes, and reappeared from behind the screen, asking the First Lady, "Did you make inquiries?"

Knowing exactly what Old Lady Song was asking, the First Lady quickly nodded. "Every household that returned from the hunting grounds received an emissary with gifts today, but the rewards given to us, Lord Chen, and Lord Du's households were the most generous."

This was expected, but Old Lady Song noticed an unusual expression on the First Lady's face and raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why the look? Is there something else?"

"Old Lady, there's more. Her Majesty the Empress especially gifted a pair of white jade bangles with entwined dragons chasing pearls and another pair of mutton-fat jade bangles, adorned with three interlocking rings symbolizing fortune, prosperity, and longevity...all meant specifically for Xiao Yi," First Lady explained, observing Song Chuyi's look of surprise, suggesting that even she hadn't anticipated this. First Lady handed a cup of tea to Old Lady Song and added, "And that's not all. The Crown Princess also gifted a green jade pendant with emerald accents and a mutton-fat jade pendant with twin fish. Even Consort Fan bestowed a white jade ring with a Chi You motif...they say it's for Xiao Yi to play with."

When news of the race between Song Chuyi and the Ninth Princess at the hunting grounds reached the capital, both Old Lady Song and First Lady were greatly alarmed. Now, just as they began to feel at ease, these gifts once again stirred their concern.

Even Xiang Mingzi, who was also at the hunting grounds and experienced fright, received only a set of ivory jewelry. Yet Song Chuyi's gifts were much more extravagant! And this despite the recent rumors surrounding her ill-fated destiny and her altercation with imperial family members.

Could it be that these gifts from the Empress and the Eastern Palace were tokens of gratitude toward Song Chuyi and the Song family? Or was there a deeper message—that, although the Song family handled Prince Duan's case well and rendered considerable assistance, perhaps they were not expected to withdraw too quickly?

Seeing Song Chuyi's contemplative expression, Old Lady Song hurriedly instructed First Lady, "Quickly inquire whether any other young lady received gifts as valuable as Xiao Yi's."

The Empress's gift could be attributed to Lord Song and Noble Consort Song's influence, but the Eastern Palace's gesture clearly indicated they did not want Old Master Song to withdraw his support.

If other young ladies' gifts were ordinary, then Song Chuyi's would stand out uniquely, making it hard to avoid scrutiny.

Yushu had already presented the items, and the azure tourmaline inlaid with green jade, tinged with hints of pink and strung with a colorful cord, appeared exceptionally radiant. With one glance, Old Lady Song instructed them to cover it again with red cloth, her face showing undeniable concern.

What exactly did Her Majesty and the Eastern Palace intend by specifically gifting Song Chuyi? The Eastern Palace was a complex place; even a figure like Consort Fan was enough to make people wary. Now, with these exclusive gifts, could they possibly have additional intentions?

The surest way to keep the Song family firmly tied to the Eastern Palace, with no escape, would be for the family to offer another daughter in marriage... Could this truly be what the Eastern Palace was planning?

But which prince from the Eastern Palace did Her Majesty the Empress intend to pair with the Song family? Just as the Song family struggled to escape one whirlpool, they might soon be drawn into an even murkier mess. The discord between the Crown Princess and Consort Fan was an open secret, and it seemed that the Heir Apparent and Zhou Weiqi, Consort Fan's son, would have a long road of rivalry ahead of them...

Old Lady Song frowned, still deep in thought, when Nanny Huang entered quickly to announce the arrival of Lady Feng. The First Lady was likely busy handling the bestowed gifts, so it was the Third Lady who greeted Lady Feng and led her inside. Upon entering, Old Lady Song could see the undisguisable worry on Third Lady's face.

Staying any longer would have been inappropriate, as it might have led the Third Lady to think they were here to watch Song Chumi's misfortunes. Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi exchanged glances, quickly stood, exchanged courtesies with Lady Feng, and excused themselves under the pretense of changing clothes.

Old Lady Song smiled warmly and invited Lady Feng to sit, her attitude kind and gentle. Lady Feng, perceptive as she was, felt her anxiety ease, realizing her approach aligned with Old Lady Song's intentions. She spoke with both respect and dignity: "It's customary not to separate newlyweds, but it's a long-standing tradition, and I dare not alter it. I hope you, dear lady, and First Lady won't think me unreasonable."

Third Lady now wished she could exalt Lady Feng, fearing any resentment toward Song Chumi. She quickly forced a smile, shaking her head, "There's an old saying: 'A married woman follows her husband's path.' It's been the rule since ancient times, and there's no reason to make an exception just for us. She was thoughtless, so it's really us who should thank you for guiding her."

Lady Feng, who had initially harbored some displeasure about Song Chumi's actions, now saw the Song family's firm stance—even the Third Lady wasn't blinded by favoritism. Her concerns melted away. "How could you say that, dear friend? She's now part of our family, and I'll treat her as my own daughter."

A few words set the arrangements in place. Old Lady Song then said, "Since you'll be departing in six days, we'll host a family banquet here as a send-off. But one thing I must ask of you: don't hesitate to guide her strictly. Our daughters are always obedient to their mothers-in-law. If any discipline is needed, please feel free to teach her."

Later that evening, before dinner, the First Lady came to Ningde Hall, shaking her head with worry. "Aside from Xiao Yi, no one else received such lavish gifts. The young lady from the Chen family received a few trinkets from the Eastern Palace, but they don't come close to Xiao Yi's."

Although Lord Chen contributed more than Lord Song to the Yangzhou corruption case, and while the Crown Prince couldn't openly reward him with more, he would undoubtedly receive benefits privately. Yet, even these couldn't compare to Song Chuyi's gifts...