In her past life, her stepmother had not spoken like this.
She was the kind of person who, despite having ten thousand schemes in her heart, always presented herself as the most aggrieved and accommodating.
Earlier, she had said that the Ninth Prince was reclusive, plagued by illness, and feared that Song Yunying would suffer if she married him.
Now, she urged her to seize the opportunity—either way, she always had a reason.
As for the Ninth Prince’s handsome appearance, Song Yunying knew it well.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen him before.
When the princes first married, they all lived in the palace. Only after being granted fiefdoms and titles would they move out to establish their own households.
In her previous life, Dugu Yu had called her “imperial sister-in-law,” and she had addressed him as “Ninth Brother.”
Among the princes in the palace, he was the least talkative, often secluded in his own courtyard and rarely venturing out—aloof and distant.
It was difficult even to catch a glimpse of his face.
It was only later that she learned he had suffered a fright in his childhood and had been like this ever since waking up.
The imperial physicians said it was a brain injury, difficult to cure.
This became a secret within the palace, known to few.
No wonder the Emperor doted so much on the Ninth Prince yet hesitated to appoint a crown prince—likely fearing that the vast empire would be entrusted to the wrong person.
Song Yunying remembered that although the Ninth Prince was mad and foolish, his episodes were intermittent, not to the point of being completely senseless or beyond cure.
With her careful nurturing, it might not be impossible to heal him.
If he recovered, as the legitimate son, he would undoubtedly be the top candidate for the crown prince.
If he didn’t recover, having a child to preserve the legitimate bloodline would still ensure a life of wealth and honor in the future.
Either way, there was a path forward—far better than marrying that selfish and heartless scoundrel Dugu Kan.
Father Song asked, “Yunying, what have you decided?”
As long as she could avoid that ungrateful and treacherous Second Prince in this lifetime, she had no reason to refuse.
Secretly delighted, she feigned great reluctance on the surface. “A daughter dares not decide for herself, as marriage is a matter of parental orders and matchmaker’s words. Since Fourth Sister has her heart set on someone else, I am willing to abide by Father’s arrangements.”
Hearing this, Song Yaoxian and her mother secretly breathed a sigh of relief—this foolish girl, only thinking of climbing the social ladder, was so easy to fool.
Little did she know that although the Second Prince was obscure now, he would one day become the crown prince.
Such immense wealth and honor—how could one not rejoice?
Madam Yuan affectionately took Yunying’s hand. “Good child, you lost your birth mother at a young age. With this marriage, your mother can rest in peace in the afterlife.”
Song Yunying smiled through tears. “Mother’s words have stirred up sadness in me.”
“Oh?”
“Now that I am marrying into fortune, my mother’s memorial tablet remains lonely in the Taoist temple. It truly pains my heart…”
Song Yunying’s birth mother had a tragic fate.
She was the descendant of a medical official who, while gathering herbs in the mountains, encountered the severely wounded Father Song.
At that time, the world was in chaos. Out of compassion, she took Father Song home to treat him.
The two fell in love, pledged their devotion, and married.
Later, after Father Song recovered from his injuries, he left, saying he would establish achievements and return to marry her, asking her to wait.
In the end, she waited her entire life.
Her mother raised her and her younger brother alone, toiling year after year until she fell gravely ill.
It was only on her mother’s deathbed that Song Yunying learned who her birth father was.
At that time, she was seven years old—a small child who, carrying a token, sought refuge alone at the Marquis’s estate, enduring scorn and hardship.
“Do you wish to bring Madam Lu’s memorial tablet back?” Madam Yuan grew wary.
Song Yunying retreated to advance. “If my birth mother’s tablet is not enshrined in the ancestral hall, I fear the palace might question it and think we look down on the Ninth Prince.”
If the Emperor and Empress were to investigate Father Song’s past in detail, it would likely be inappropriate.
Father Song agreed. “Yunying makes a valid point.”
"Master…" Madam Yuan's heart seethed with hatred, but she dared not show it on her face.
As the stepmother, she had blocked it for so many years, never allowing that wretched woman's memorial tablet into the ancestral hall. Now this little girl, relying on her ambition to climb high, was delusional.
But… if Song Yunying couldn't marry that fool because of this…
What about Xian'er? She is destined to become the Crown Princess in the future.
Endure.
She could only endure.
Everything had its priorities. Let this girl gloat for a few days; there would be a time for her to cry later.
Madam Yuan said with a kind expression, "Master, tomorrow I will go and bring Sister Lu's memorial tablet."
"No, go now!"
"But it's already late at night."
"What, unwilling?" Father Song was annoyed. "Wasn't it you and your daughter who clamored to switch marriages? Now you're not happy?"
Madam Yuan dared not say another word and went to Yuzongguan overnight to bring Madam Lu's memorial tablet back to the ancestral hall for cleaning and offerings.
The matter in the palace would be handled by her father.
It was said that he invited an official from the Sitianjian to carefully calculate their birth characters.
The divination said—the Third Miss of the Song family and the Ninth Prince's destinies were most compatible.
If they could be matched, both would have smooth and unobstructed futures, achieving great wealth and honor. If they could not be matched, both would meet tragic ends.
Father Song pleaded bitterly in the palace, saying he could not bear to see his daughter suffer such a calamity and begged The Emperor for understanding.
The Emperor indeed granted it.
After all, Father Song had followed His Majesty in rebellion from the early days, with the merit of supporting the dragon. As long as it wasn't excessive, The Emperor would agree.
The Emperor said, "My dear minister, why not have your daughter come to the palace once, just as a meeting between the children. Yu'er has a solitary nature; as long as he nods, I will have no objections."
Enter the palace?
Song Yunying didn't remember this part from before.
It was well known that The Emperor cared deeply about this Ninth Prince.
He was born to The Empress, with the single-character name "Yu."
One must know that when The Emperor raised troops in rebellion, he used the slogan of the Chu Overlord: "If Heaven does not tolerate me, I will defy Heaven."
The profound meaning behind this was evident.
Nainai was close with the maids from the Grand Tutor's residence and had gathered some news from the palace.
"This servant heard that the Ninth Prince already has someone in his heart."
"Oh?"
That little fool could have a sweetheart?
It seemed men were all the same, whether three years old or three hundred—lust always came first.
"There isn't even a Tongfang maid in his palace. They all say…"
"Say what?"
Nainai leaned close to her ear. "They say he isn't quite… capable."
Even someone as upright as the Second Prince kept a few Tongfang maids in his palace.
The Ninth Prince, noble and precious, with the heavy responsibility of inheriting the realm—how could he not indulge in women?
Song Yunying teased, "Perhaps he's preserving his purity for the one in his heart."
In this rebirth, she had become the stick that beats apart the lovebirds, squeezing out her little brother-in-law's white moonlight. How strange…
"Miss still has the mood to laugh? This servant only hopes that when Miss enters the palace tomorrow, everything goes smoothly, and there are no more mishaps for the neighbors to laugh at."
"Don't worry, they want me to marry off even more than you do now."
Madam Yuan had long prepared the dowry for Song Yunying.
A hundred acres of paddy fields in the suburbs of the capital, manors and shops, servants and attendants, carriages, horses, and silver…
Compared to her previous life, she had really put in a lot of effort.
Before, Song Yunying's dowry wasn't even half of the fourth sister's.
This time, investing so much was clearly out of fear that Song Yunying wouldn't be able to uphold appearances, get rejected by the palace, and thus ruin someone's dream of becoming the Crown Princess.
Nainai asked for instructions, "Miss, should we accept it?"
Song Yunying took a sip of tea. "Accept it, why wouldn’t we? Relying on mountains, they may crumble; relying on people, they may flee. Only silver held firmly in hand is truly reliable."
Nainai counted the valuables, packing them into chests and making an inventory. "You’re so calm, miss. Even with fire singeing your eyebrows, you still have the heart to read."
Song Yunying flipped through the pages of the booklet in her hand. "These are medical records."
Junior Sister worked at the Taiyishu and had pulled some strings to privately bring her the Ninth Prince’s medical records, so she could investigate his condition and prescribe the right treatment.
Injuries to the brain were not easy to cure.
One must know both oneself and the enemy to be victorious in every battle.
Nainai leaned in and asked, "So… is he still all right?"