Dugu Yu gave a soft "Mm" and turned to offer his hand, helping Song Yunying down from the carriage.
"Take it slow."
In the biting winter wind and snow, her crimson brocade cloak fluttered. Dugu Yu reached out to tuck it more securely around her.
Nainai watched this with a knowing smile. "Your Highness, perhaps let this servant assist instead."
After Song Yunying alighted, the two stood side by side.
Dugu Yu spoke, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Highness—" Only then did the Song family members rise to their feet.
Father Song quickly expressed his concern, "In this bitter winter of Layue, Your Highness must have been cold on the journey. The manor has prepared ginger soup; please come in and have a bowl to warm yourself."
Madam Yuan chimed in, "The banquet has long been prepared according to Your Highness and Yunying's tastes. We've been waiting for your arrival."
All these years, the parental love Song Yunying had never felt was now, in this moment, being fulfilled.
The crowd ushered the honored guests into the manor.
"Petty people gaining power."
Song Yaoxian trembled with rage.
What kind of bewitching potion had she fed Dugu Yu?
He actually came, and was so attentive to her.
Why?!
In terms of beauty and talent, in what way was she inferior?
Why did both Father and Dugu Yu lean so completely in her favor?
Noticing she hadn't entered for a long time, Dugu Kan took her hand. "It's cold in the draft, my lady. Don't stand here any longer. Everyone has already gone inside."
"They're both imperial princes, so why is there such a huge difference?" Song Yaoxian blurted out.
Dugu Kan was no block of wood. The stark disparity in their reception upon returning home—how could he not feel it?
But he had grown accustomed to it.
"It is I who am not as esteemed as Ninth Brother, implicating you, my lady, in suffering this slight as well."
"No," Song Yaoxian's voice was thick with resentment. "It's those blind fools who don't recognize true worth. Husband, our fortune still lies ahead."
In her past life, Dugu Kan was both scholarly and martial, carving his path to contend for the throne through sheer talent.
How could a short-lived ghost like Dugu Yu compare?
Thinking of this, Song Yaoxian's heart felt much smoother. "Husband, you will certainly achieve great deeds and build a legacy. In the future, you will trample all these snobs underfoot."
"My lady, you must be cautious with your words."
Dugu Kan understood deeply that the power struggles in this world were far more complex than the clash of blades on the battlefield.
And what he faced was not merely contention among brothers, but also those covetous, powerful ministers at court.
"I'm not afraid, so why should a grown man like you be? Don't you know, in the future, you will be the Tai…"
"Tai what?"
She said urgently, "Too soft-hearted. You, as the elder brother, are simply too soft-hearted, allowing him to ride roughshod over you. You're both the Emperor's sons, so why…"
"My lady, beware of trouble from the mouth." Dugu Kan hurriedly covered her mouth. "I will pretend I didn't hear today's words. Never speak of this again."
"Look at you, so timid. And you're a Military Inspectorate Colonel, the Emperor's son. This isn't the palace. You fear them, but I don't!"
Song Yaoxian stormed off in a huff.
Upon returning to the main hall, Song Yaoxian found the banquet had already begun. No one seemed to care whether she was present or not.
The entire household revolved around the Ninth Prince and his consort.
Nothing but a bunch of spineless fence-sitters, seeing this low-born daughter gaining favor, they all rushed to fawn over her.
Shortsighted fools!
Only someone like her, capable of enduring humiliation and hardship, was worthy of the glory and wealth of Donggong.
Just then, she heard Father Song ask with concern, "Yunying, are you accustomed to life in the palace? You haven't caused any trouble for His Highness, have you?"
Dugu Yu took a sip of tea. "She is doing well."
"Then this old subject can rest easy."
Father Song raised his wine cup and drained it in one go, unable to keep the joy from showing on his face.
It seems his gamble on the marriage swap had paid off.
If the third daughter truly had the ability to capture the Ninth Prince's heart, she could continue the glory of the Song family.
"Father, you can rest easy."
Song Yaoxian chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "Third Sister has truly accomplished great things since entering the palace. She became the head of the Taiyishu, a proper female official."
"Now she serves the Empress and even rescued the princess—so busy that everyone in the palace is singing her praises."
Having endured a day of neglect, she had long been holding back her anger. She had to swallow her pride in the palace, but now that she was finally back at her parents' home, she absolutely could not let that lowborn daughter step over her.
Father Song knew she was being spiteful, but he couldn't easily lash out.
Dugu Yu set down her teacup and gave a meaningful glance to the senior palace maid behind her.
Jinse understood immediately, striding swiftly to Song Yaoxian's side and raising her hand to deliver a slap.
Smack!
A sharp, resounding crack.
Song Yaoxian was stunned.
"You… you dare hit me?!"
"This servant's hand is heavy. Please bear with it, Erhuangzifei."
Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master.
Song Yaoxian pointed angrily, "This is my home, the Song Guogong Fu! How dare a lowly servant like you have the audacity to hit me?"
Smack!
Another backhanded slap.
Jinse maintained a humble expression, but her words showed no mercy.
"How could the Empress and the Grand Princess be casually discussed by others? Although Erhuangzifei is at her parents' home, she must not forget the rules of the palace."
"You!" Song Yaoxian clutched her flushed cheek.
In her past life, this palace maid named Jinse had been nothing but a dog at Dugu Yu's side.
Relying on her status as a senior palace maid and her seniority, she had never shown any respect to her, the mistress of the house.
Having been reborn, she still had to endure the humiliation from this lowly servant!
Song Yaoxian, furious and humiliated, shouted, "Someone, drag this lowly servant away and beat her to death!"
"Who dares?"
"Are you all dead? Beat her!"
Jinse remained neither submissive nor arrogant. "This servant was assigned to the Ninth Prince's palace by the Empress herself. Even if I committed a crime punishable by death and the confiscation of my family's property, it would be up to the Empress to decide my fate. No one else has the right to interfere."
With these words, who among the Song household dared to move?
One by one, they lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Seeing the servants who usually fawned over her now turning their backs, Song Yaoxian, filled with resentment, could only turn her anger on Dugu Kan.
"Your Highness, are you going to do something or not?"
Dugu Kan only wanted to smooth things over. "Madam, this is a joyous occasion. Please don't get angry."
"You are the Second Prince, noble and esteemed. Are you afraid of a lowly servant?"
"Enough!" Father Song roared angrily.
"This is utterly lawless! To disrespect the imperial family and dare to talk back. You've been spoiled rotten by this family. Disgraceful creature, get to the ancestral hall and kneel!"
Song Yaoxian tried to argue further, but Madam Yuan forcibly dragged her away from the banquet.
"Hurry up and leave. You're only angering your father…"
With Song Yaoxian's clamor gone, the banquet suddenly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.
Jinse slowly retreated behind the seat, her demeanor composed and proper.
After a long while, Dugu Yu finally spoke, "Father-in-law, please don't take offense."
Father Song hurriedly replied politely, "Your Highness, you humble this old servant. That girl was utterly unreasonable and deserved to be struck."
Dugu Yu turned her head. "Second Brother, what do you think?"
Dugu Kan's expression was unreadable, neither happy nor sad. "Disrespecting the imperial family deserves punishment. But Yaoxian is, after all, my wife. If Ninth Brother agrees, I will kneel in her place. Is that acceptable?"
Song Yunying had been watching the show from the sidelines.
Everyone was acting, but none performed as well as this Second Prince.
The respectable son-in-law, the devoted husband.
A true gentleman.
It reminded her of how considerate he had once been, only to turn around and have her purity tarnished and her reputation ruined.
To run her through with a sword.
Dugu Yu was not buying it. "That's not right. If one could take the blame for another, where would the law and justice be?"
"Second Brother is known for his integrity. Would you risk breaking the law?"
Dugu Kan cherished his reputation and naturally refused.
But the words had already been spoken, leaving him caught in a dilemma.