Chunlan Xiu gave Han Lingyue a push.
Han Lingyue knelt before Song Yao.
Chunlan Xiu made her daughter bow her head and continued pleading on her behalf, “Sister-in-law, Lingyue truly misspoke in the heat of the moment. Please don’t hold it against her.”
“I know you best, sister-in-law. You wouldn’t hide delicious food in your room. Please don’t take it to heart like a child would.”
“When she marries in the future, she won’t be in your way anymore. But for now, sister-in-law begs you, you must not abandon her.”
Chunlan Xiu pushed her daughter again, “Quickly kowtow and apologize to your mother.”
“If you continue to be disrespectful and show no manners toward your mother, your aunt will be the first to not let it slide.”
Han Zhang also chimed in, “Lingyue, be obedient. Quickly kowtow and apologize to your mother.”
On one side was her birth mother, on the other was her eldest brother.
Looking back, even her grandmother was giving her constant meaningful glances.
Han Lingyue had no choice but to relent, bending her waist toward Song Yao.
She prostrated herself before Song Yao’s feet: “Mother, I was wrong. I have hurt your heart.”
“Please give me a chance to turn over a new leaf.”
“I will never again speculate about you without reason or call you by your name behind your back. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Chunlan Xiu added with an ingratiating smile, “Sister-in-law, Lingyue has already apologized. Please be magnanimous and forgive the child’s ignorance.”
Song Yao took a deep, heavy breath.
She stood quietly for a long time, looking down at the prostrate Han Lingyue for quite a while.
Finally, she relented: “Alright, who told me I’ve raised you under my care for over ten years. Holding a grudge against you is something I, as a mother, truly cannot bring myself to do. Get up.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
After Han Lingyue stood up,
Chunlan Xiu continued: “Sister-in-law, what do you plan to do about Lingyue’s marriage?”
The elderly Madam Jin also spoke up at this moment, “Song Yao, from now on, Lingyue’s marriage is entirely in your hands. I’ll only say one thing: do not let the child suffer.”
Song Yao’s mind raced with thoughts, and she said: “The marriage between the Marquis Manor and the General’s Manor has fallen through. So, what do you think about having Lingyue marry Prince Ning’s Heir?”
Marry Prince Ning’s Heir?
Everyone knew that Prince Ning’s residence was far away in Jingcheng.
Even if the Yunzhou Marquis Manor wanted to forge ties with Prince Ning’s household, the distance was too great to bridge.
Chunlan Xiu asked doubtfully, “Sister-in-law, do you mean for Lingyue to marry into Jingcheng?”
“This marriage would be good, but we are in Yunzhou, so far from Prince Ning’s residence.”
“Besides, we don’t know Prince Ning. How could we possibly get Lingyue to marry into the Prince’s household as the Heir’s wife?”
Song Yao calmly told everyone present in Songhe Hall:
Yesterday, while she was inspecting the shops, she met the prefect’s wife.
While chatting casually with the prefect’s wife, she heard from her that
Prince Ning, along with the Princess and Prince Ning’s Heir, would soon be arriving in Yunzhou.
Taking advantage of Prince Ning’s family of three coming to Yunzhou for leisure, they could arrange a meeting between Lingyue and Prince Ning’s Heir.
Lingyue, whether in figure or appearance, was exceptional, standing out as a beauty among women.
As long as the introduction was successful and Prince Ning’s Heir took a liking to Lingyue at first sight, then the marriage would be half accomplished.
By then, she would make some efforts here and there, and surely Prince Ning’s family would take the initiative to come and propose marriage.
Han Lingyue could marry Prince Ning’s Heir. Even if she would be far from her maternal home in the future, she would still be the legitimate Heir Consort.
Chunlan Xiu had not held much hope originally. If she couldn’t marry into the General’s Manor, marrying into another wealthy family would also be acceptable.
As long as her daughter wasn’t wronged, she was already quite satisfied.
Now, hearing Song Yao suddenly say she would marry her daughter to Prince Ning’s Heir—
if this marriage truly succeeded, and Lingyue became the Heir Consort, that would be far better than marrying into the General’s Manor.
Such an excellent marriage arrangement, Chunlan Xiu was naturally satisfied.
Beaming with joy, she said, “Whatever Sister-in-law says goes. This time, we’ll follow your arrangements completely.”
Han Lingyue herself had never expected that Song Yao would propose such a marriage match for her this time.
If she truly married Prince Ning’s Heir, wouldn’t she become part of the imperial family!
With the status of Heir Consort, wouldn’t that be far more glorious than being the wife of that young general?
Everyone’s expressions, originally dim, now brightened one by one.
Han Qingfeng interjected, “That’s right, I’ve also heard that Prince Ning and his family of three are coming to Yunzhou for leisure. They will arrive in a few days.”
Everyone present became all smiles.
Han Lingyue no longer loftily declared that she wanted to find a rustic farmer.
She tugged at Chunlan Xiu’s sleeve and asked softly, if she really married Prince Ning’s Heir, would she not be able to return to her maternal home often in the future?
Chunlan Xiu patted her hand: “Silly child, if you marry Prince Ning’s Heir, you’ll be the Heir Consort.”
“In the future, when you truly become part of the imperial family, you can move the whole family to Jingcheng to live.”
“As long as you are sufficiently favored, our entire family will rise to prominence along with you.”
“Hurry and thank your mother. With such a good marriage, you must not say you disagree again.”
This time, Han Lingyue indeed did not put on airs in front of others again.
But, to maintain her usual ethereal and noble persona,
she bowed slightly toward Song Yao and said, “Thank you, Mother.”
Beyond these three words, she said nothing more.
Song Yao couldn’t be bothered to pay her any mind.
This time, she had indeed arranged a marriage for Han Lingyue that was even better than the General’s Manor.
As for whether she could marry Prince Ning’s Heir and become the Heir Consort, that would depend on her own abilities.
Song Yao set aside distracting thoughts and said, “What needed to be said and done, I have said and done. Sister-in-law, may I leave now?”
Chunlan Xiu no longer stopped her. “If Sister-in-law has matters to attend to, go ahead and tend to them.”
Song Yao led Hong Yu away. As soon as the mistress and servant stepped out of Songhe Hall’s door,
the expressions of the entire Marquis Manor family changed one by one.
The family sat around the dining table, and the old lady, Madam Jin, was the first to complain to her son.
She said that Song Yao these past few days, for some reason, seemed like a completely different person, her temperament had changed so drastically it was truly outrageous.
Madam Jin recounted everything that had happened in the manor over the past few days to her son in detail.
Han Qingfeng listened carefully and earnestly.
On the surface, it didn’t seem to be Song Yao’s fault. But after hearing his old mother narrate the entire detailed sequence of events, Han Qingfeng also grew puzzled.
Learning the reasons why his daughter’s and son’s marriages and futures had fallen through,
Han Qingfeng couldn’t help but say, “Given Song Yao’s usual temperament, she would definitely fight and strive for us.”
“Even if Lingyue disagreed with the marriage, she would try every possible means to force Lingyue into the bridal sedan.”
“How could she possibly reject the marriage proposal outright in front of the matchmaker?”
Chunlan Xiu now remembered that her daughter was soon to marry Prince Ning’s Heir and become the Heir’s Consort.
Thus, the marriage proposal that had been withdrawn by the general’s estate was no longer something she cared for.
She took over the conversation, “That marriage, let it be off.”
“Our Lingyue is about to ascend the branch and become a phoenix.”
“Although Song Yao rejected that marriage proposal, from what I see, her temperament hasn’t changed much.”
“It’s just that lately, she’s been putting on quite the act.”
“As long as we go along with her a little, she will still bring the best right before our eyes.”
“Look, Lingyue will soon become the Heir’s Consort—isn’t that even better than the previous marriage proposal!”