"If it weren't for Song Zhao, the Song family would have been a good place to settle down!" the old woman lamented.

Consort Xian also sighed.

"It's also a pity for Miss Biao, as none of the people around her were able to stay."

Those people saw the assassin; if they didn't kill him, they couldn't directly pin the blame on the bandits.

"I never imagined those bandits would be so audacious as to stage a wedding procession in broad daylight to swindle people out of their dowry." Consort Xian sneered. Although she was filled with hatred at having so much money stolen from her, she also knew that there are gains and losses in everything.

"Tell my dear sister about this and see what she thinks."

Unbeknownst to Consort Xian, Song Wenyue already knew about the treasonous poem her grandfather had written. She had originally intended to send Song Yaozhu to Yuwen Wuji to curry favor with him, but unexpectedly, Song Yaozhu became pregnant at this crucial juncture!

Seeing that the marriage with the Lu family was hopeless, she might even have a sordid affair with Consort Xian.

Song Wenyue was extremely troubled. She suddenly felt that her grandfather should have died long ago, because his life was just a source of annoyance for her!

We don't even know if what happened today was the Emperor's doing!

"Your Majesty, what should we do?"

Song Wenyue frowned, her girlish innocence gone, replaced by a calculating and shrewd look.

"Tomorrow, let Mother and Third Aunt go to the palace together to see if the marriage with the Lu family can continue."

Although she knew it was unlikely, she was determined to give it a try.

When Yuwen Wuji learned of the news, he was writing. Having not written for so long, his handwriting had lost much of its former strength.

Upon hearing about the Song family's situation, he remained calm and said, "A perfectly good marriage has been ruined like this. And that thief is incredibly audacious, daring to commit such a heinous act in broad daylight. Order the Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate thoroughly and find that thief!"

Li Wei acknowledged and withdrew, while Li Decai obsequiously stepped forward to serve the Emperor tea. He had now served the Emperor for far longer than his master, and he could finally say he had finally made it!

Yuwen Wuji took a sip of tea, but as soon as the tea entered his mouth, he spat it back out.

"It's astringent."

Li Decai was terrified and couldn't understand why the tea he brewed according to his master's instructions was bitter.

The Song family made a series of embarrassing mistakes in the capital. After their marriage to the Lu family fell through, Old Master Song had his luggage packed overnight, saying he wanted to return to his hometown.

The family didn't understand why the old man was so determined, but since he was so adamant, they could only arrange for someone to take him back.

Ever since the painting was lost, Old Master Song has been unable to eat or sleep properly. The unexpected incident at Song Hanzhi's wedding has only reinforced his belief that higher-ups have found out and are now targeting the Song family.

But he dared not say anything, fearing that his lifelong reputation would be ruined.

Finally, he chose one of his obedient illegitimate sons to accompany him back to his hometown.

We should at least leave a lineage for the Song family.

The Lu family is now in a precarious situation. Their daughter's reputation has been ruined due to the machinations of villains. Even if her reputation remains intact, who outside will believe her?

Song Hanzhi and Cui Yan got into a big fight, but the Song family didn't say they would take Lu Yujie away. When Lu's family arrived, they took their daughter back, but the scene was too chaotic, and they couldn't even speak to the Song family.

That very evening, an imperial decree arrived, ordering Lu Yujie to stay in the palace for a while, so that she wouldn't hear anything unpleasant outside and be upset.

Lu Yujie entered the palace and burst into tears again in front of her aunt.

Consort Xian hugged her, patted her back gently, and said, "Good child, your aunt will definitely find you another good one."

Lu Yujie cried until she was exhausted, then looked up at her.

"Aunt, if Young Master Song still wishes to..."

She still secretly hoped that Song Hanzhi would come to the Lu family to pick her up. She thought that last night must have been too chaotic, and her mother took her back as soon as she arrived, which was why Song Hanzhi hadn't come to her senses.

She had entered the palace early this morning, so Song Hanzhi might have already gone to the Lu family to pick her up.

"Jie'er! You've seen what the Song family is like. Don't even think about them. Your aunt won't let you go there and suffer."

Lu Yujie looked blankly at her aunt, and seeing the Empress's cold and stern expression, she understood that there might be an imperial intention behind this. She bit her lip and nodded in agreement.

At this moment, a palace maid came in and reported: "Your Majesty, Consort Zhen requests an audience."

Consort Xian naturally understood why Song Wenyue had come. She lowered her narrow phoenix eyes and said to Lu Yujie, "You just wait in the palace and don't come out."

Lu Yujie nodded.

This Consort Zhen is Song Hanzhi's younger sister, so she might be here for her own reasons. But as her aunt said, the Song family is not a good place to stay, and she shouldn't have any more expectations of Song Hanzhi.

But now that her affair has caused such a stir and her reputation is in jeopardy, can she marry into a family even more prominent than his, apart from Song Hanzhi?

Inside the main hall, Song Wenyue waited for a while before Consort Xian came out from the inner hall.

Consort Xian, maintaining a composed demeanor, smiled and said, "I've kept you waiting, sister."

"My cousin from my elder sister's family has come, so naturally we have things to say. It was I who was presumptuous. Where is my cousin?"

Consort Xian knew what she wanted to say, and without beating around the bush, said, "Some things still depend on fate. We've exchanged birth charts and matched the horoscopes of the two children, but they still lack a proper connection."

"Fate is something that depends on both destiny and human effort."

"But we cannot defy the will of Heaven."

Song Wenyue gritted her teeth. It was Consort Xian who first proposed this marriage, so why is she unwilling now?

"My sister is a smart woman; she should know that someone is targeting my Song family. This marriage was arranged by my sister; are we just going to watch it become a joke?"

At this point, Consort Xian's attitude turned cold.

Her phoenix eyes flashed coldly as she said, "Sister, you're still too young. Putting aside whether your second brother harbors any resentment towards my Jie'er after this incident, the gossip outside will make it impossible for my Jie'er to hold her head high in your Song family."

"I would rather her reputation be slightly damaged so she can find a wealthy family and live a life of comfort and ease, than have her be unable to hold her head high and be mistreated by her husband's family because of her reputation!"

Song Wenyue was taken aback; in fact, that was exactly what she was thinking. Lu Yujie had ruined her reputation, so she would be easier to control once she entered the Song family.

"Sister, you're looking down on the Song family too much!"

"Please don't be offended, sister. It's not that I'm overthinking things, but people's hearts are unpredictable. As an elder, I have to consider the younger generation's feelings. Now that you're a mother yourself, you should understand my good intentions."

Song Wenyue cursed her inwardly for being shameless, but her expression remained unchanged.

Seeing her resolute attitude, I thought I still had to see Lu Yujie to see what her attitude would be.

If Lu Yujie is willing, how could Consort Xian possibly persuade her otherwise?