"What a brilliant move by Eldest Miss Song!
With just this one act, she managed to rope in both the Directorate of Supervision and His Majesty.
Tsk tsk tsk… Lord Ye, I don’t believe you didn’t see the trickery behind this." Prince Qi Xiao Huaijin whispered with a smile as he poured tea for Ye Yunshu.
Leaning against the soft couch behind him, Ye Yunshu held an account book in his hand without looking up, merely extending a hand to take the teacup Xiao Huaijin offered.
"What if I did see it?
She needed to step out of that mansion to protect herself.
I needed to complete the fundraising for Beidi as quickly as possible. Song Zhimian’s move benefits both of us.
As for His Majesty… it was simply a matter of going along with the flow.
Did anyone suffer any losses? No!
Song Zhimian got what she wanted, I got what I wanted, and His Majesty only had to spend a little effort writing a few words.
The only one who suffered a loss was the Zhongyong Hou Mansion.
But does that matter? Song Zhimian will soon no longer be Eldest Miss Song." Ye Yunshu said slowly.
Xiao Huaijin thought it over and felt that Song Zhimian seemed quite clever, though not quite as sharp as Lord Ye before him…
"Is Song Kaishan really going to marry his own daughter to that scoundrel Wu Jiande?
That guy has married four wives in a row, and none of them lived past a year. The Ministry of Justice couldn’t even determine the cause of death.
He’s old enough to be Eldest Miss Song’s father. How could Song Kaishan bear to do this? This is his own daughter!" Xiao Huaijin suddenly exclaimed.
"What’s so hard to understand? Song Kaishan holds command of the Xunfang Camp, but his position isn’t secure. His Majesty could replace him with a single word.
Now, the situation in Beidi is different from before, and a major battle is likely.
Military achievements are something no one can take away. As a military officer, Song Kaishan urgently needs military merit.
Even if not for himself, then for his son.
So, for all this, what does sacrificing a daughter mean to Song Kaishan? Isn’t he also trying to cling to Prince Zhao’s coattails?
Isn’t Wu Jiande’s niece highly favored by Prince Zhao?
People like Song Kaishan and Wu Jiande look down on women, treating them as objects to be given away.
Yet at the same time, they eagerly hope women will bring them benefits.
Hah, how despicable!
Ever since her birth mother passed away, Song Zhimian has only had this one use in Song Kaishan’s eyes.
Fortunately, this Eldest Miss Song is clever enough to think of saving herself, using her dowry to buy her way out of that cage.
This deal… isn’t a loss!
Bring the chest over, let me take a look!" As Ye Yunshu spoke with Xiao Huaijin, he gestured for Fan Shaoshi and the others to bring the chest filled with rare ancient books, which had been carried out from the Zhongyong Hou Mansion, before him.
Xiao Huaijin nodded and leaned in closer.
"Is this also from Eldest Miss Song’s dowry? Lord Ye, are you interested in these?" Xiao Huaijin asked with a smile.
Ye Yunshu casually flipped through a few pages before signaling Fan Shaoshi to lock the chest.
"Not interested! I’m only interested in account books!
You’d better not be interested in these either.
When Song Zhimian donated her dowry, she said everything else could be donated, but she wanted this chest of rare ancient books returned to her.
She said these were mementos left to her by her mother.
Once she leaves the Song family, this chest will be returned to her."
After saying this, Ye Yunshu waved his hand, signaling Fan Shaoshi and the others to take the chest to the storeroom for safekeeping.
Xiao Huaijin glanced at the chest.
"Could it be that these rare ancient texts contain hidden treasures?"
"What if they do? Since I promised, I will return them to her exactly as they were. What? Do you have an issue with that?"
"By the way, don’t you have anything to do today, Your Highness? You came straight to my Directorate of Supervision as soon as you returned from the palace. Or perhaps you’re interested in that Song Zhimian?"
"Your Highness, tell me—you’ve met Song Zhimian twice now. What’s your impression of her?" Ye Yunshu suddenly grew a bit gossipy.
Xiao Huaijin actually gave it some serious thought.
"My impression of her… The first time I saw her, my immediate thought was that she was very beautiful—and I’m telling the truth! Later, I sensed that this young lady was kind-hearted, donating the most valuable hairpin she had. And after hearing from you about what happened afterward, I felt she was so pitiful! Like… those seedlings in the palace garden that the gardeners toss into the pond, struggling desperately to reach the shore, clinging to a bit of soil, and carefully trying to survive. Don’t you think so?"
"No, wait—you really like her!" Xiao Huaijin suddenly realized.
In others’ eyes, Ye Yunshu had always been aloof, maintaining an indifferent attitude toward everything. Now, suddenly taking such an interest in a woman and doing so much to help her out of trouble—this was nothing like the Ye Yunshu of the past.
"I’ve always admired intelligent women. Look at the women around me—aren’t they all like that? Song Zhimian is clever and tactful, knowing how to conceal herself and handle matters quietly. Smart, steady, and skilled at hiding her edge—if she were to become a Female Official in the Eastern Palace… perhaps both of us could save a lot of trouble. That’s also why I asked you to handle that matter."
"Alright, enough pity for her! That girl is smarter than we think. You see her as a pitiful little thing, but she might be happily waiting to watch the drama unfold at the Zhongyong Hou Mansion right now!"
"Do you have anything else? If not, you should go back. I still have work to attend to here!" With that, Ye Yunshu picked up her teacup, signaling the end of the visit.
Reluctantly, Xiao Huaijin stood up and placed the can of tea he had brought on Ye Yunshu’s desk.
"Here, this year’s newly tribute tea from Anxi—only three cans in total. One was kept by His Majesty, one was sent to Crown Prince, and the last one is here. His Majesty heard I was coming to drink tea with you and asked me to bring it. I’ll leave it here."
Ye Yunshu nodded, gesturing for Xiao Huaijin to leave quickly and not delay her from reviewing the account books.
After Xiao Huaijin left, Ye Yunshu picked up the tea can to examine it. Fine tea—her favorite!
"Ruonan, take this to the tea room and store it properly. Don’t let it be drunk as ordinary tea." Ye Yunshu signaled for Wen Shaoqing outside to come in and secure the tea.
…
Meanwhile, Song Kaishan had also gone to request an audience with Prince Zhao.
He stood anxiously in the flower hall, waiting for Prince Zhao to arrive.
Prince Zhao was Noble Consort Wu’s son and held considerable favor with Emperor Xiao Xuan. This time, the military affairs in Beidi were under Prince Zhao’s responsibility.
Now, with the military affairs in Beidi at a critical juncture, such a situation had arisen on his end.
Song Kaishan felt that today, no matter what, he was bound to receive a severe scolding from Prince Zhao.