The fact that the Marquis of Linxi's family broke their promise was truly astonishing.

Not only was Prime Minister Song shocked, but even Consort Rou and her daughter were shocked.

Aunt Rou fell ill almost immediately, as if she were about to die.

Shen Wangshu didn't understand why the Marquis of Linxi's mansion had agreed so readily, only to renege on their promise so quickly. However, she found Song Wan'er's expression of utter despair rather amusing.

Since the incident, Song Wan'er had been confined to her room by Prime Minister Song to prepare for her marriage. Now, upon hearing that the Marquis of Linxi's family had changed their minds, she was crying uncontrollably.

"Father!" When Prime Minister Song came to see her today, she rushed forward as if grasping at a lifeline, tightly clutching his clothes and crying out, "You must do justice for your daughter!"

What should we do? Does Prime Minister Song have to swallow his pride and plead with the Marquis of Linxi's family to take care of his illegitimate daughter, who is now a fallen woman?

The fact that such a scandal had occurred in the mansion was already a great disgrace to Prime Minister Song. To have someone come to visit him for this reason would make him feel ashamed.

But what angered him even more was that the Marquis of Linxi's mansion didn't take him seriously.

Anyone who thinks the Prime Minister is someone important shouldn't bully people like this.

"How dare you say that!" Prime Minister Song used to like Song Wan'er so much, but now he despises her so much.

If it were merely a romantic relationship with Zhang Yourong, he could still sigh and sing, "If Heaven had feelings, Heaven too would grow old." But this was a illicit affair, a clandestine union without a matchmaker. Prime Minister Song was furious; all tenderness and affection vanished. He shoved Song Wan'er aside and shouted, "It's all your fault, you unfilial daughter! You've brought me to this predicament!" The Prime Minister's illegitimate daughter becoming a concubine for a Marquis's son—was that a good thing? But even Prime Minister Song couldn't muster any more courage.

If Song Wan'er were still a virgin, he could have sneered and arrogantly said, "Not a good match!" and then married her off to someone else as their legal wife.

But now... even if he has to become a concubine, he has no choice but to accept it.

But the Marquis of Linxi's family has gone too far!

Prime Minister Song snorted angrily. Seeing Song Wan'er lying weakly on the ground crying, he snorted coldly and said, "I have already agreed to the matter of taking a concubine! After all, you said you wanted to be a concubine before, so it should be fine."

Previously, Song Wan'er had been so gentle and willing to share a husband with Song Lan. How sensible she was! Prime Minister Song thought that Song Wan'er's ambition was not high, so he continued, "Your marriage into that household was ill-gotten. You should flatter them more in the future, so that people won't laugh at the upbringing of the Prime Minister's household!" He felt that he had said enough, so he turned and left.

"Father!" Song Wan'er was unwilling to let him leave and hurriedly hugged his leg, bursting into tears.

"It was clearly agreed that she would be the principal wife. How can our daughter live her life after marrying into the family with such inconsistent behavior?" I'm afraid even the master of the Linxi Marquis's mansion knows how she married Zhang Yourong.

If she were to marry Zhang Yourong as her principal wife, she would at least have some dignity and command respect. But if she were merely a concubine…

Who would care about the dignity of a concubine? They would only ridicule and look down on her, and her shameful affair with Zhang Yourong would become the talk of the town.

Prime Minister Song's attitude towards her has changed drastically. If she cannot establish herself in the Marquis's mansion, she will likely have a difficult time making ends meet on her own with Zhang Yourong's help.

That young man... dared not disobey the old lady at all. If he were to marry a more formidable wife in the future, where would he find a way to survive?

For some reason, Song Wan'er felt that she shouldn't be in such a miserable state, yet she couldn't understand why. Seeing Prime Minister Song's cold expression, clearly unwilling to back down, she burst into tears, sobbing as she murmured, "Wan'er knows that my impropriety has hurt Father's heart, but when emotions run deep... Wan'er simply couldn't help herself." She wiped away her tears, hugged Prime Minister Song's leg, and pleaded tearfully, "The Marquis's mansion is the most prestigious of all. If I marry into it with nothing, I'm afraid people will laugh at me. At least, a dowry..."

"I'll give you five thousand taels," Prime Minister Song said coldly.

Even among the noble families in the capital, a dowry of five thousand taels was not a small amount for a concubine's daughter.

She was, after all, just a concubine's daughter.

Song Wan'er was very unwilling.

When Song Lan's birth mother's dowry was held by Minister Song, she had already seen the countless riches. Moreover, when Song Lan counted her dowry some time ago, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a mountain of gold and a sea of ​​silver.

Those valuable antique paintings and calligraphy, thick land deeds and house deeds, and so much dowry can arouse greed in people's hearts.

“My elder sister’s dowry…” she pleaded, looking up and softly weeping, “My elder sister will be a princess in the future, and as a noblewoman, she is already of high status. Why would she need a dowry to embellish her life? But I…”

She turned her head, only managing to say half of what she wanted to say before bursting into sobs. She had once been the most delicate and graceful beautiful girl, but now she was like a tender willow, seemingly about to be destroyed and withered in the blink of an eye. Although Prime Minister Song disliked this illegitimate daughter, he couldn't help but feel a pang of tenderness in his heart and sighed softly, "I'll go and ask her."

He also felt that Song Lan's dowry was too much, implying that she was taking it all for herself. However, seeing Song Wan'er looking at him with grateful and adoring eyes, he felt that he was the only father in front of this girl.

In front of Song Lan, she looked at him as if he were something dirty.

He felt a sudden displeasure and hurried towards his eldest daughter's courtyard. However, as soon as he reached the gate, he heard a young man's steady and powerful voice coming from inside.

The voice sounded familiar, so he hurriedly went inside and saw a young man and woman sitting opposite each other on either side of an exquisite and clean stone table in the courtyard.

One wore a brocade dress embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, its shimmering gold radiance enhancing her already beautiful face. The other wore a long, flowing blue brocade robe, a jade crown on his head, with handsome eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a noble and refined air.

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