Upon hearing this, the three women's expressions all changed. Zhou Ying was worried about her future and had only thought about filing a complaint today. She hadn't expected that her marriage prospects were still in her mother's hands. She tried to comfort herself, thinking that she still had her father, who would not abandon her.

Besides worrying about her daughter's future, Liu Fangniang felt humiliated. In her life, everything went smoothly for her except for the identity of being a concubine, which was the most painful thing for her.

As a concubine, she couldn't attend banquets at other mansions. All she could participate in were small gatherings among concubines from different mansions. No matter how luxuriously she dressed, in the eyes of others, she was still not presentable.

Even the marriages of Shuge and Yingjie will not be hers to choose in the future.

Old Madam Liu shared similar thoughts. Although she was now an elder in the household and Song Xia would come to pay her respects to her regularly, in reality, most families with a bit of prestige would only send invitations to Song Xia, not to her.

The reason is simple: she was also born as a concubine, and she was never officially recognized as the wife until Zhou Yongli inherited the Zhou family. According to the rules, Song Xia should not have come to pay her respects, since she had never been the true matriarch of the Zhou family. Zhou Yongli's legal mother was someone else.

In the entire Zhou family, the only woman who could truly be considered presentable was Song Xia.

Song Xia is not only the mistress of the Zhou family, but also the legitimate daughter of the Prince of Cheng's mansion. She has been granted the title of county princess and her status is among the highest in the capital!

Zhou Yongli only started to regret it now. If Song Xia really abandoned Yingjie's affairs, how could he, a grown man, go and inquire about her?

Not to mention Yingjie, at least he can meet the men. When Shuge is about to get married, can he, a grown man, really go to meet those unmarried young ladies in the inner chambers?

"You've been incredibly foolish today. What good will it do you to offend your mother? Do you think you can take your mother's place and find suitable daughters for your brother in the future?"

Liu Fangniang's expression changed; she hadn't expected this at all. But seeing her daughter crying so hard she was about to faint, she couldn't help but plead for mercy.

"Don't be angry, Yonglang. Shuge'er will make something of himself. If he passes the imperial examinations in the future, wealthy families will come to inquire about him."

Madam Liu also said, "Fangniang is right. Look how much Ying'er is blaming herself. Does she really want to drive the child to her death? And Song Xia, after a while, when she calms down, let Ying'er embroider a purse and send it over. As a dignified mistress, how can she hold a grudge against a child? That would be too petty."

"Mother, at this time, don't say such things to others. Are you afraid that Song Xia will be even angrier if she hears them?"

Zhou Yongli felt extremely tired. Attending court was already exhausting enough, and now he had to deal with this kind of thing at home.

“Ying’er, from today until the New Year, you are not allowed to leave the hospital. Stay in your boudoir and reflect on your actions.”

Yingjie suddenly looked up, seemingly in disbelief: "Father!"

Liu Fangniang pulled her back: "Listen to your father, and don't make any more trouble."

Yingjie was feeling wronged, while Song Xia's main courtyard was filled with joy. Qin Yaxuan had always been arrogant in the household because she had given birth to a good son and was the only daughter in the family, but now she had suffered a great loss.

Furong gently massaged Song Xia's shoulders: "Congratulations, Madam. You no longer need to worry about the concubine's daughter."

Song Xia chuckled: "Indeed, I got rid of a burden. I didn't expect Zhou Ying to be so easily provoked. She even foolishly went back to the manor to complain. What's even more foolish are the three of them, who joined in the commotion, trying to embarrass me."

"It's just that you didn't punish her personally, Madam, which let her off too easily."

“Zhou Yongli won’t let this go so easily this time. He’ll definitely have to put on a show and plead with me on her behalf.”

"Madam, you must not be soft-hearted when the time comes."

"We'll go back to the Prince's mansion in a couple of days. We'll stay longer and come back so he won't have a chance to plead for us."

“Madam, your smile deepened as soon as you mentioned returning to the Prince’s residence.”

"Naturally, it's because it's more comfortable to live back home. I thought that marrying down would avoid so many troubles. I never expected Zhou Yongli to be so well-hidden."

Furong looked heartbroken. Their lady was the only daughter of the Prince, and had even been granted the title of County Princess. Which young man in the capital wouldn't marry her? Yet she had to marry into the unruly Zhou family, and the lady had to suffer so much. It was only because the lady was magnanimous that the second young master and young lady could have survived.

"Don't make that face. Although Zhou Yongli is no good, he was at least good-looking when he was young. The Zhou family's wealth is not comparable to that of ordinary powerful and wealthy families. Moreover, as long as I don't soften my heart, no one can do anything to me, let alone put on airs in front of me."

"But I just can't stand the way Master looks down on the eldest young master and values ​​the second young master, and I can't stand that Aunt Liu looking down on the eldest young master and hoping for something to happen to him just because the second young master is doing well in his studies."

Song Xia's expression turned cold: "I don't care whether Zhou Yongli values ​​her or not, but I will never let that Aunt Liu's disloyalty go. My Yu Ge'er will live to be a hundred years old. She's dreaming if she wants to seize my Yu Ge'er's family property."

“What you say is true, madam.”

"Do you think you can rise to the top just because you've received a few praises from the Master? Without the help of the court, even if you pass the imperial examination with top honors, you'll be exiled to a remote county town in two years and never be able to return to the capital for the rest of your life."

Song Xia wasn't exaggerating; given the current level of favor their Prince's Mansion enjoyed, His Majesty would still give them face.

Their branch of the family is not far from His Majesty's. Song Xia's grandfather was the eldest prince of the late emperor, who is also the eldest brother of the current emperor. Because he died young, he did not participate in the struggle for imperial power.

Although Your Majesty is of the same generation as your grandfather, you are about the same age as your father. When Your Majesty ascended the throne, there was unrest both inside and outside the country. It was your father who volunteered to quell the foreign disturbances.

With no external threats, His Majesty quickly quelled the internal troubles and consolidated his throne. In addition, after quelling the external threats, his father relinquished his military power and became a leisurely prince. Therefore, His Majesty trusted his father very much and often invited him to the palace to discuss state affairs.

It can be said that as long as the Prince Cheng's Mansion does not participate in the next struggle for imperial power, they will continue to enjoy their current superior status.

Even Zhou Shuli's current position as Vice Minister of Rites was promoted by His Majesty because of the prestige of their Chengjun Prince's Mansion. Do Zhou Yongli and Zhou Shuqing really think they can rise to prominence through the imperial examinations? Unless Zhou Shuqing truly possesses a rare talent capable of bringing peace and stability to the country, the court will not miss another scholar like him.

That's why Song Xia often lamented that the people in the Zhou family were stupid and couldn't understand the situation at all.

When the news reached Zhou Yuqing today, he learned that his mother had been wronged for no reason. His affection for his only sister had faded considerably, and he felt a little more resentful towards his father, Zhou Yongli.