If it were the ten-year-old Su Yingzhen, she wouldn't have taken the initiative to involve herself in such major family affairs, especially matters concerning adults. But now, with a soul that had lived through nearly half a lifetime, she couldn't view things so simply. A small matter today could have significant repercussions in the future.
She gently reminded her mother, "Look at how devoted Grandmother is to the Meng family. Even someone like Chen Liu, who isn't necessarily close to the Mengs, prompted Grandmother to send several letters insisting we bring them back with us, fearing we couldn't host them properly. So, when it comes to Father inheriting the Heir's position, what will happen to Eldest Cousin? And what about Cousin?"
"What does any of that have to do with us? If she wants to blame someone, she should blame Su Fu for dying early. It's not our fault."
Princess Qinghe remained as impatient as ever.
Despite having been the matriarch of the household for many years, her temperament was difficult to change. How could someone as unrestrained as Princess Qinghe possibly compete with the gentle, virtuous, and reasonable Princess Ningyuan?
"Mother, that may be true, but with Eldest Uncle gone, leaving behind orphans and a widow, Grandmother sees their situation as far more pitiable than ours. She pities the Eldest Branch. As for Elder Brother, you know he was raised by her since childhood. Could he also lean toward the Eldest Branch? We need to think of a way to take the initiative, so we aren't forced into agreeing to unreasonable demands."
"But your grandfather has already written to your father with that intention." Princess Qinghe knew her husband was undoubtedly the best choice for the Heir. Her eldest nephew, Su Duan, was only fifteen this year, one of a pair of twins born to her sister-in-law. It was said he had largely given up martial arts and was now fully devoted to scholarly pursuits.
And since Pingzhang Hou had built his reputation on martial prowess, choosing her husband was naturally the best option.
Su Yingzhen was well aware that her grandfather was very satisfied with her father, especially since he never aligned himself with any of the princes. However, her grandfather's satisfaction didn't mean there would be no complications. In fact, even if their family inherited the Peerage, they might still have to support the Eldest Branch.
She said to Princess Qinghe, "Grandfather may intend this, but what if Grandmother persuades Father to give up the position for Eldest Cousin?"
Such an absurd scenario wasn't unheard of. Hadn't Princess Qinghe's own marriage come about in a similar way? As a concubine's daughter without any brothers, her mother-in-law had chosen her over her elder sister, who held higher status and rank. Wasn't that also due to her mother-in-law's meddling?
Her daughter's words prompted Princess Qinghe to wake her soundly sleeping husband, Su Run, that night. True to his name, Su Run was fair-skinned and delicate-featured, with a somewhat feminine appearance, but his temper was far from gentle. Awakened by his wife, he grumbled, "Can't you let a man sleep? Liu Feifei, if you don't want to sleep, I still do."
Princess Qinghe, fierce in front of others, was remarkably gentle with Su Run. She relayed her daughter Yingzhen's words to him in detail.
"Yingzhen doesn't usually concern herself with such matters. For her to say this to you shows she's truly matured." Su Run felt quite gratified. Having grown up without much affection, he doted excessively on his children.
Especially his precious daughter Yingzhen—if she wanted the stars, he would have tried to pluck them from the sky.
Princess Qinghe said anxiously, "It's not about whether she's matured or not. It's about how we should handle what she said. We know the old lady has always favored the Eldest Branch, and that's one thing. But if our own son also sides with them, I'd be furious. And Yingzhen mentioned that the Eldest Branch might force us to agree to certain conditions."
Su Run also sat up. "It's only natural to look after them as a widow and orphans. Although my relationship with my elder brother isn't particularly close, it's not bad either. What conditions might they propose?"
"Could it be Yingya's marriage?"
Princess Qinghe thought that, in her opinion, her sister-in-law's concerns would revolve around her children.
"You needn't worry about Yingya. Didn't your elder sister say she would arrange for her to marry into the household of Prince Dongping of the Commandery?"
"Or perhaps it's about Duan'er?"
Su Run shook his head. "Definitely not. Tomorrow, call Yingzhen over. I'll ask her."
The next morning, Yingzhen accompanied her parents for breakfast. Her father was still the same, continuously placing steamed buns into her bowl, afraid she wouldn't eat enough. Yingzhen had no choice but to say, "Father, I can't eat that much. If I eat any more, I'll become a big fatty."
"It's good to be plump. It makes one look noble and dignified," Su Run said with a wink.
Yingzhen stuck out her tongue. "I don't want to be that fat."
Good, she still acts like a young girl, Su Run thought to himself.
After the meal, he dismissed the servants. Yingzhen thought to herself, here it comes.
Sure enough, Su Run asked, "Zhenzhen, do you remember what you said to your mother yesterday?"
"Father, I remember." To receive her father's inquiry meant there might still be hope in this matter.
"Then tell me, what conditions do you think your aunt will ask us to agree to?"
Su Run got straight to the point.
Yingzhen knew that if she spoke as she had in her previous life, her father would never believe her and might even treat her as an oddity. So she needed to approach it differently.
"Father, I've recently been reading the story of King Wu of Chu punishing the State of Sui. Why do you think the State of Sui, which never provoked Chu, was destroyed by King Wu of Chu? The various Ji clans in Hanyang were placed by the Zhou royal court around Chu to prevent its expansion. Even if they took no action at the time, they were still viewed as a threat by Chu."
"Just as you are now likely to inherit the title of Heir, even if you do nothing, you are still a threat to them."
Yingzhen scratched her head. "This is what I thought. Whether it's right or not, I don't know."
Su Run exclaimed with delight, "Right, of course it's right! Your mother, a simpleton, somehow raised a daughter as clever as you." He was increasingly pleased with his daughter's intelligence, but then it occurred to him that even clever girls had to marry, which saddened him greatly.
Meanwhile, Princess Qinghe was furious at her husband's offhand remark about her being a simpleton and pinched Su Run's arm until it turned purple.
Seeing that her parents understood the situation, Yingzhen felt relieved. With some mental preparation now, they wouldn't be caught off guard later. As for how things would actually unfold, she would have to take it one step at a time.
Just as she returned to her room, Yingtao came in and said, "Third Miss, Miss Chen is here."
Chen Liu?
She raised an eyebrow. "Let her in."
Chen Liu was different from the aggressive person she remembered. Now, she wore a silver-white jacket with small chrysanthemum patterns and a green collar, her oval face appearing elegant and lovely.
It was with this dignified and virtuous appearance that she deceived everyone. When her elder brother rescued her after she fell into the water, she clung to him, insisting on marrying him. When her brother ignored her and sought a suitable match, she would go and cause a scene wherever she heard of a potential bride. Eventually, unable to bear the gossip within the clan, her brother was driven to the point of not wanting to marry at all.
Grandmother Lady Zhou persuaded for several months before my eldest brother agreed to let her enter the household. Who would have thought that later, when Father suffered a stroke, she, as the daughter-in-law, went to attend to him and actively insisted on sharing Father's bed, spreading rumors everywhere that Father was behaving inappropriately. If not for this, Father would not have been angered to death.
This Chen Liu—I will deal with her first!