The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 189 - Hidden Perils

When Xiang Mingzi arrived, Second Master Song had not yet come. She held Song Chuyi's hand, anxiously unsure of how to help. After spending several years with Song Chuyi, she knew well that her cousin had little affection for her father. Now, seeing how he seemed set on arranging a marriage for her so hastily and how distressed Song Chuyi was, she instinctively sided with her. Xiang Mingzi thought Song Yi, like her own father, Xiang Yunzhi, was someone who only cared about using his daughter for personal gain, regardless of her well-being.

Song Chuyi, however, managed to keep her composure and even smiled to reassure her friend. "I'll be fine. Grandmother won't let him just marry me off like this." She simply didn't want Song Yi to keep causing such needless trouble. Her patience with him had worn thin; the little warmth she had felt since her rebirth had been extinguished by the truth of Lady Cui's death and his blatant favoritism towards Song Chuning. Yet, despite their distant relationship, Song Yi was still her and Song Yan's father, meaning he had the right to arrange marriages for them.

She didn't want to confront Song Yi directly or do anything drastic against him. Despite everything, she remembered his kindness to her and Song Yan in her previous life, and it was out of this small familial bond that she couldn't bring herself to sever ties entirely. Besides, with Song Yan's impending future, if anything were to happen to Song Yi now, Song Yan's career prospects could be delayed by at least three years.

Xiang Mingzi misinterpreted Song Yi's intentions, assuming he was ignoring his daughter's wishes, though this judgment was somewhat unfair. Song Yi, in his mind, thought he was acting in Song Chuyi's best interest. Despite her coldness toward him and her reluctance to share her destiny predictions, he felt a lingering guilt toward both Song Chuyi and her brother due to the situation with Song Chuning. After learning that Master Yuanhui had deemed her fate unfavorable, he'd been so troubled he couldn't eat.

People at the time were deeply superstitious about one's destiny. Even in marriages, the bride and groom were often "tested" by leaving offerings beneath the kitchen god statue for three days to ensure family harmony. With Song Chuyi's supposed "star of calamity" fate, marrying her off would be extraordinarily difficult.

Second Master Song didn't want his daughter to end up like Song Chumi, the daughter of his younger brother, who married a mere scholar and, after only a month, had to return to her mother-in-law's home to pay respects to their ancestors. Worried for Song Chuyi's future, he became even more concerned when Shen Xiaohai, overhearing his troubles while drinking together, not only showed no objection to her fate but even suggested a match between her and Shen Qingrang, the heir of the Duke's household.

To Song Yi, this offer was a godsend. Duke Ying's household, a founding noble family with longstanding ties to the Marquis of Changning, was proposing a marriage alliance, with Shen Qingrang as the heir apparent. Shen Xiaohai seemed genuinely untroubled by her "calamitous" destiny and offered his son as a match for Song Chuyi, which Song Yi viewed as an incredible fortune. Believing it was the perfect marriage, he accepted at once.

To reassure Song Yi, Shen Xiaohai even sent a precious heirloom as a token of the engagement, which only further convinced Song Yi of the match's suitability. He intended to present the item to Song Chuyi first before discussing it with Old Master Song and Old Lady Song.

Yet, before he could make his case, Old Lady Song had already summoned him. As he entered the room, he noticed her grim expression and saw the lacquered box containing the Shen family's token tossed aside. His smile faltered momentarily.

Without allowing him to speak, Old Lady Song swept the contents off the table and looked at him with a forced smile, her tone cold. "What is this? Some unidentified trinket you dared to send to your daughter's room?"

Taken aback, Second Master Song stared at the jadeite bracelet lying on the floor, momentarily speechless. After some time, he hesitantly explained where the item came from, feeling somewhat aggrieved as he replied to Old Lady Song. "I was thinking of Xiao Yi's future. She's a widowed eldest daughter, falling into the 'Five Unmarriables' category, and now, with this unfortunate destiny, it would be difficult to find her a good marriage match..." He sighed, adding, "I remember she was once quite close with Shen Qingrang. The Shen family also expressed interest... I thought this would be ideal since they've known each other for years. The Shen family would not mistreat her."

Old Lady Song sneered. "I had no idea you thought so poorly of your daughter. 'Five Unmarriables,' is it? She has a grandmother to raise her and guide her. As for this talk of her destiny, people will find their own paths. Those who look down on her are not worth our time either. And are you so eager to marry her off without considering her wishes?" She continued, her tone growing more severe. "Even if you think it a good match, why didn't you consult me or your father before making such a decision?"

Confused and feeling chastised, Second Master Song looked down, his gaze settling on the bracelet with a hint of bewilderment. "I thought..."

Old Lady Song, her frustration mounting, cut him off. "Thought what? Don't bring up any 'childhood friendship.' When have you ever seen Xiao Yi and Shen Qingrang close? And on such a significant matter, Xiao Yi is motherless, yet you neither consult us nor ask her opinion. You simply decide with a few words and consider it settled?"

Speechless and struggling to respond, Second Master Song had assumed that Xiao Yi's acceptance by the Shen family was a stroke of luck. It never occurred to him to seek anyone's approval; he had thought everyone would be pleased. But it seemed he'd miscalculated.

At that moment, the First Lady interjected, "Second Brother-in-law, you acted far too hastily. How could you make such a decision without consulting Old Master and Old Lady? This concerns Xiao Yi's entire future."

Song Yi had been so fixated on the Shen family's offer, fearing they might change their mind, that he hadn't thought of seeking anyone's counsel. He now felt bewildered and aggrieved, unable to understand why his well-intentioned efforts had led to such rebuke. "I always thought Xiao Yi liked her 'Seventh Brother'... Didn't she once admire Shen Qingrang so?"

This remark highlighted just how distant Song Yi had become from his daughter. He was clinging to memories from years past, oblivious to how much had changed since then. Everything he'd been told had gone in one ear and out the other, completely ignored.