“The Wang family’s status is right there, Mother must not offend them,” Song Tang reminded.
“No matter how high their status, if your eldest brother doesn’t like her and doesn’t want to marry her, can her family really force him?” Madam He snorted coldly, displeased.
“Mother is right,” Song Tang thought to herself that they really could force it. In her previous life, the Wang family had sought an imperial decree from the Emperor for the marriage, and Song An had no choice but to marry.
Madam He’s brows knitted together tightly. Troublesome matters came one after another, seemingly endless.
That night, Song Tang went to bed early and slept especially soundly in the first half of the night. However, by the second half, she actually dreamed of Mu Changxiao.
In the dream, Mu Changxiao was clad in armor, leading hundreds of thousands of troops to the battlefield with awe-inspiring majesty.
The scene shifted: the battlefield was engulfed in flames of war, and Mu Changxiao was struck by several arrows, his entire body drenched in blood.
Song Tang was so startled that she woke directly from the dream, her back covered in cold sweat.
She remembered that in her previous life, Mu Changxiao had died on the battlefield.
Feeling uneasy, Song Tang tossed and turned, unable to fall back asleep.
Good news arrived two days later, and it was Mu Shu’an herself who came to Song Tang’s place to tell her.
Mu Changxiao had thrown a huge tantrum at the banquet and even overturned the table.
Madam Sun was so frightened she sat on the ground wailing and crying.
Mu Ziyu was caught in a dilemma, wanting both this and that.
Old Lady Mu didn’t intervene at all, simply watching them make a scene.
“Tang’er, when are you planning to tell your father and the others about you and my third brother?” Mu Shu’an looked at Song Tang with gossipy curiosity.
She was eager to know how Song Congzhi and Madam He would react upon learning that Song Tang was about to become the Marquess’s Lady.
“There’s no hurry for that. It depends on when my father goes to see Marquis Mu. I’ve already told Mother about Marquis Mu helping me arrange a marriage. They probably want to wait until Song Wei’s marriage is completely settled before asking.”
“You are far too patient. I’d really love to see the expression on your cousin’s face when she finds out you’re her third aunt.”
“It will surely be one of great shock,” Song Tang laughed.
Mu Shu’an laughed along with her. “Still, you should be careful of her, and also of my eldest sister-in-law. Their branch of the family is not one to be trifled with.”
“Mm. Don’t worry.”
Mu Shu’an stayed for lunch and sat a while longer before leaving.
As dusk approached, Song Si stood at the entrance of Tianlin Yuan, hesitating whether to go in.
Coincidentally, Caidie was going out to fetch something and saw Song Si standing at the gate.
“Third Young Miss, what are you doing standing here?”
“I… I embroidered a purse. Could you help me pass it to Eldest Sister? Thank you, Sister Caidie.” Song Si handed the purse in her hand to Caidie and then hurriedly left.
“Ah, Third Young Miss, come in and sit, tell her yourself!”
Seeing Song Si walk away, Caidie lowered her head to look at the purse in her hand. It was embroidered with exquisite lotus flowers, clearly made with care.
Just as she was about to enter the room to give it to Song Tang, she heard Qiuling’s sarcastic voice: “Caidie, are you really going to take that coarse cloth purse from Third Young Miss and show it to our Young Lady, dirtying her eyes?”
“What coarse cloth purse? Qiuling, if you keep gossiping, I’ll go tell the Young Lady and have her properly deal with your bad habit!” With Song Tang’s backing, Caidie wasn’t afraid in the slightest.
Qiuling felt terribly aggrieved. She had already told Song Wei several times that she wanted to leave Song Tang’s service. In the dead of winter, she was busy working in the courtyard every day, her hands chapped from the cold. She couldn’t even get near the room door and couldn’t hear any news.
But Song Wei disagreed and gave her many more things, telling her to endure a little longer and to pass on any news to her.
The matter of the third young lady giving Song Tang a purse was something Qiuling found an opportunity to tell Song Wei after dark.
Song Wei had also been feeling stifled these days, unable to understand how Song Tang had suddenly become so “clever.”
She hated Song Tang, hated everything about the Song family. If her mother had chosen Earl Song back then instead of her father, the Tanhua, she wouldn’t be living this life of dependence.
Madam He was merely a concubine-born daughter recorded under the Madam’s name, yet she could marry into the Song Residence—how unfair!
The more Song Wei thought about it, the more resentful she became. Everything in the Song family should have been hers, including the Heir!
Why should Madam Sun look down on her because of her status!
Especially when she thought about how everyone would later gossip about her and the Heir having “an early illicit affair,” Song Wei clenched her fists tightly, a flicker of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
If she couldn’t live well, Song Tang wouldn’t either!
Over the next few days, heavy snow fell continuously, and Song Tang stayed holed up in her room, not stepping outside at all.
Song Wei had no immediate opportunity to act, but she was already preparing.
As the year-end approached, Song Congzhi wanted to arrange Song Wei’s marriage after the New Year to avoid complications. However, before marrying off Song Wei, he first needed to find someone for Song Tang to marry.
Originally, Song Congzhi had considered sending Song Tang into the palace, but the Emperor had made it clear that there would be no selection of palace ladies in the next two years, nor any intention to take concubines.
Thus, among the noble families, he had his eye on Zhao Mingxuan, the second legitimate son of Zhao Taifu.
Although this son was not the eldest, he was deeply favored by the Taifu, had a steady temperament, and was exceptionally talented. For Song Tang, this would be a decent match.
However, he first needed to visit Mu Fu and sound out Mu Changxiao. If Mu Changxiao had also chosen Zhao Mingxuan for Song Tang, then with Marquis Mu as the guarantor, the marriage would be a fine match.
With these calculations in mind, Song Congzhi’s carriage soon arrived at the gates of Mu Fu.
Mu Changxiao was currently handling official duties in his study when Wan Xing came to report Song Congzhi’s request for an audience.
“Invite the Earl to the main hall,” Mu Changxiao set down the scroll in his hand.
“Yes,” Wan Xing acknowledged the order and left.
Mu Changxiao stood up, straightened his robes, and walked steadily to the main hall.
As Song Congzhi entered the main hall, Mu Changxiao was already seated in the host’s position, his expression serious.
Although Song Congzhi was over twenty years older than Mu Changxiao, he appeared quite restrained in front of him.
Before Mu Changxiao became the Marquis, he was famously unruly, causing plenty of trouble in his youthful arrogance, though back then, the Old Marquis had always stepped in to resolve things.
Song Congzhi remembered that ever since Mu Changxiao returned from fighting at the border, he had become much more composed, and after inheriting the noble title, his authority had grown even more imposing.
As the saying goes, a higher rank can crush a person. Mu Changxiao was also a favorite of the Emperor, so this outdated Earl had to be meticulous with his courtesies.
Song Congzhi bowed slightly, his expression respectful. “Marquis Mu, I apologize for the sudden visit today.”
Marquis Mu looked up. “Lord Song, please take a seat.”
Song Congzhi felt that Mu Changxiao was being relatively polite and relaxed a little.
“Lord Song’s sudden visit—may I ask what important matter brings you here?”
“My daughter recently told me that you have already arranged a marriage for her. As her father, I would like to know which family’s young master you have chosen.”
Seeing that Mu Changxiao did not answer immediately, Song Congzhi felt a secret delight and hurriedly continued, “If you haven’t yet found a suitable match, I happen to have one in mind.”
“Already have a suitable one?” Mu Changxiao raised an eyebrow slightly and said in a deep voice, “Lord Song, which young master has caught your eye?”