Chapter 134 Arriving Late

The next day.

The Song mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, displaying extreme extravagance.

The house was packed with guests, and the auspicious hour was fast approaching, but the main character of the day, Song Yiqiu, the heir to the Marquis of Yongjia, was nowhere to be seen.

Just as the crowd was whispering among themselves, the master of ceremonies announced:

"His Majesty has arrived! His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar, and many knelt down.

Making the emperor wait is a grave offense of disrespect.

Xiao Yongjing stood beside the emperor, his gaze sweeping across the entire room. Though his brows were slightly furrowed, his eyes remained calm. He believed that the woman would never surrender easily.

Song Yiqiu didn't get to see them, but instead received a group of uninvited guests.

The officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture barged in, followed by Ruan Tianxin, whose expression was stern.

"Sir, these are the two men!"

Ruan Tianxin pointed directly at Song Ershao and Song Sishao, who were mixed in with the crowd.

"Why are you arresting us?!"

The second and fourth brothers screamed at the same time.

Song Qingming's face turned ashen, and he stepped forward to reprimand:

"Insolence! Today is my daughter's inheritance ceremony; how dare you all make such a racket here!"

Ruan Tianxin bowed gracefully:

"Lord Song, please calm down. My daughter, Ruan Tianxin, did not mean to cause trouble. It is simply that your two young masters have a huge debt on credit to my Feizhi Pavilion, totaling 13,000 taels of silver. It is all in writing, with all the official seals."

"Small-scale business is really unsustainable, so I had no choice but to seek help from the authorities."

As she spoke, she slammed a stack of IOUs onto the table.

When Song Qingming took the money and saw the enormous amount, he was stunned.

Song Shenshi's eyes darted around, and she said urgently:

"Nonsense! This must be you lending money at exorbitant interest rates and exploiting my son. His Majesty is here; how can you act so lawlessly!"

Ruan Tianxin sneered:

"Madam Song, please read carefully. The IOU clearly states that the interest is in accordance with the standard practice of money shops in the capital, and there is absolutely no overpayment. Moreover, the two young masters have also pledged their personal jade pendants as collateral."

She showed the jade pendant.

"With witnesses and physical evidence all present, could it be that the Song family intends to renege on this legitimate debt protected by the imperial law?"

The emperor watched this farce with a cold eye. Song Qingming was sweating profusely and repeatedly said:

"I will return it! Please, sir, and Miss Ruan rest in the back room. I will raise the money immediately."

Ruan Tianxin, however, refused to budge an inch:

"No need for trouble, I will wait here. Once the money is settled, I will leave immediately."

Left with no other choice, Song Qingming gritted his teeth and told Song Shenshi to open the private treasury and withdraw the money.

Having finally managed to get rid of Ruan Tianxin by signing a new repayment agreement, Song Shenshi breathed a sigh of relief before immediately changing the subject:

"Why hasn't Yiqiu come yet? Has something happened?"

Before the words were finished, a series of ambiguous sounds of panting and teasing between a man and a woman could be faintly heard coming from a side room next to the ceremony.

The guests immediately looked puzzled and began whispering among themselves.

Xiao Yongjing chuckled lightly at the opportune moment, and began to mock:

"The Song family tradition is indeed... bold and unrestrained. Even on such an auspicious day, they couldn't contain their emotions?"

Madam Song's face turned ashen. She rushed to the next room with her men and was shocked to see her third son and Ying'er rolling around in a mess, their clothes disheveled.

"evil creature!"

Madam Song almost fainted. Her third brother, who had been caught in the act, was initially in a daze, but when he saw the guests peeking out from behind his mother, he instantly sobered up and was terrified.

"Mother, Mother...? How...how can there be so many...His Majesty too...?"

Ying'er, standing to the side, was also thinking rapidly.

She confirmed her relationship with her third brother in front of everyone last time and gained a lot of benefits.

Hearing the Third Young Master mention a grand occasion at the manor today, she thought of using the same trick again and making her a concubine.

She thought she was being forced to admit it in front of more servants, but she never expected that this grand occasion would include the Emperor himself.

This is too much!

Ying'er was so frightened that her legs trembled. If she were charged with offending the emperor, how many heads would she have to lose?

She immediately covered her lower abdomen and spoke in a panic:

"Please forgive me, Madam! Please forgive me, Third Young Master! This servant...this servant suddenly has severe abdominal pain, I'm afraid...I'm afraid I've threatened miscarriage. Please, Madam, have mercy and let this servant go and rest?"

At this moment, Madam Song only wanted to make this shameful thing disappear from His Majesty's sight immediately, so she went along with it and shouted angrily:

"You fool, get out of here right now! Find a doctor to take a look at you. If he's just faking it, you'll be in for a beating. Get out!"

As she cursed, she gestured to her trusted servants to quickly drag the two disgraceful creatures away.

Third Brother scrambled and dragged Ying'er away from this dangerous place in a panic.

Seeing this scene, Song Qingming felt that he had lost all face in his life and wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Amidst the chaos, a figure in formal attire walked gracefully into the front hall.

It was Song Sangyu, dressed in a marquis's robes and with her face covered by a light veil.

She was clearly unaware that the front hall was in complete chaos. Only after being reminded did she hurriedly bow towards the Emperor and Empress, deliberately imitating Song Yiqiu's cool voice, and raised her voice:

"Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince. My elder sister, Yiqiu, caught a cold yesterday and suddenly developed a high fever today. She is unable to get up and fears that she might be disrespectful before Your Majesty. Therefore, I, Sangyu, will perform the ceremony of her succession in her place."

"Both parents are present and can testify; this was also my elder sister's wish before she fell ill. The matter is urgent, and I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

Madam Song immediately stepped forward, smiling and chiming in:

“Your Majesty is wise. Yiqiu fell ill suddenly and is unable to get up. Although Sangyu is not my biological daughter, she grew up in the manor and is like a sister to Yiqiu. Having her act in her place is a filial act and fulfills the proper etiquette.”

Song Qingming also bowed quickly:

"Yes, Your Majesty, that is indeed the case. They are all my daughters, it doesn't matter who inherits the title, it's all for the sake of continuing the Song family's illustrious lineage."

The emperor, looking at the veiled women below the stage and still troubled by the series of events, casually remarked:

"In that case, remove your veil and let me see you."

Song Sangyu was secretly delighted and slowly removed her veil as instructed. Indeed, she bore a resemblance to Song Yiqiu in her features.

The emperor nodded:

"Hmm, they do look somewhat alike. Oh well, since that's the case..."

"Father,"

Xiao Yongjing then spoke leisurely.

"The succession of the title of Marquis of Yongjia is a major event, and Miss Song is the descendant of a meritorious official. It is understandable that she is ill and unable to come in person, but... perhaps we should wait a little longer? Perhaps Miss Song's condition has improved and she is on her way."

Madam Song's heart tightened, fearing that something unexpected might happen, and she hurriedly said:

"Your Highness's concern is deeply appreciated! However, Yiqiu's illness is truly severe, and the physician has said that she needs to rest quietly and cannot get out of bed. Therefore, I have no choice but to resort to this measure. I beg Your Majesty's understanding."

Song Qingming also quickly kowtowed:

"Yes, Your Majesty, the auspicious time must not be missed, and the succession of the title is a major national event that cannot be delayed."

Looking at the kneeling and pleading Song couple, the emperor only wanted to end this farce as soon as possible.

He rubbed his temples and finally made up his mind:

"Alright, no need for further words. Since there's a reason for this, let's proceed..."

"Wait—!"

Everyone turned around in astonishment. In the dim morning light, Song Yiqiu was dressed in pure white, without any makeup, and her black hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin.

His white robes stood out starkly against the backdrop of a room filled with vibrant colors.

"Your Majesty, I, Song Yiqiu, pay my respects. I am in good health and have never permitted anyone to act on my behalf!"