When Song Chengzhang heard her address him as "Lord Song," his heart tightened, but soon he thought that if it was just about interests, then it wouldn't be bad!

"Lord Song, you should first think about what you have that is worth my planning for you."

Song Chengzhang was stunned. He... really had no bargaining chips.

The woman sneered without any politeness, "Look, Lord Song can't offer anything. How can I, the princess, make any plans for you?"

Song Chengzhang stammered. After thinking for a while, he said, "Your second brother's marriage is still undecided. Miss Lu's reputation has been ruined because of this, but the Lu family wants to break off the engagement at this time. I really can't understand the Lu family's actions. If they break off the engagement, can the Lu family find someone better than our Song family?"

Ignoring the weeping and wailing Lin Shi beside him, Song Chengzhang decided to reveal his purpose.

Song Yaozhu lowered her eyelids and said, "Lord Song is not suitable to be an official. It would be better to give way to a wise man as soon as possible."

Song Chengzhang was speechless at her words, and then she said, "This marriage was arranged by Consort Xian. Whether or not something happens, whether or not the marriage between the two families can be completed, has never been the wish of the Lu and Song families."

She paused for a moment after saying this.

She had initially thought that Yuwen Wuji was behind this. Now, however, she realized it wasn't Yuwen Wuji's doing. If it truly was Consort Xian's doing, wouldn't that mean Consort Xian had replaced Gao Ping?

Yuwen Wuji is about to utilize the Lu family.

But when the Lu family was at the height of its power, Lu Yujie's affair had long been forgotten. When the Consort Xian steps in again, she can still marry into a good family, perhaps even better than the Song family!

After figuring this out, Song Yaozhu's expression became serious.

Seeing that she had only spoken halfway through her sentence and her expression was quite unpleasant, Song Chengzhang felt a little helpless.

Could it be that the Song family is going to be in trouble?

Song Yaozhu tapped her fingers lightly on the table a few times, looked up at Song Chengzhang who was staring at her blankly, and sighed.

I'm starting to understand what "a piece of rotten wood cannot be carved" means. My father was a great Confucian scholar and a tutor to the princes, yet his comprehension is so limited. No wonder he's so old and can only hold a sinecure.

Standing to the side, Madam Lin asked blankly, "Does Yao'er mean that Consort Xian wanted to break off the engagement, which is why the wedding went wrong?"

After his wife said that, Song Chengzhang slowly realized what was happening, and then he was filled with anger.

"What does the Lu family mean by this! If they don't want to get married, then they shouldn't. Why make such a big fuss, causing our Song family to lose money and people, just to break off the engagement?! Impossible! Impossible! Either marry your daughter into the family, or compensate our Song family!"

Looking at the furious Song Chengzhang, Song Yaozhu thought to herself, it wouldn't be bad if the Song family could find something for Consort Xian to do.

"Father, right now Consort Xian holds all the power in the harem, and the Lu family will sooner or later be favored by the Emperor. It's better to resolve this feud than to let it fester!" Song Yaozhu's words pointed out the key point, hoping that Song Chengzhang would understand the meaning behind her words.

She had barely finished speaking when Qin Yu's men arrived outside.

Song Yaozhu let him in, and he bowed and said, "Just now, news came from the palace that Consort Xian has been promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, and will take over the Phoenix Seal and manage the inner palace."

Song Yaozhu waved her hand, and the person left, thinking to herself that this virtuous concubine was truly capable. What Gao Ping had taken more than ten years to achieve, she had accomplished in just a few days.

Upon hearing this news, Song Chengzhang's anger subsided considerably. He thought to himself that he needed to make sure he held onto this marriage tightly.

"Did Father hear that?" Song Yaozhu looked at Song Chengzhang. "It's possible that our Song family will be marrying above our station in this marriage, Second Brother."

Song Chengzhang could no longer sit still. He simply told Lin to keep Song Yaozhu company and then left.

As Lin sat with Song Yaozhu, she couldn't help but shed tears as she thought of her daughter's hurtful words.

"Yao'er, please don't say anything that hurts your mother anymore. I really can't bear it! I just hope you can get better!"

Seeing Lin Shi's red and swollen eyes, Song Yaozhu realized that Lin Shi wanted to stay at the Prince's Mansion to take care of her and refused to return to the Song family. Helpless, Song Yaozhu could only ask Granny Qin to arrange a courtyard for her.

After leaving Tingxue Courtyard, Caijin couldn't help but say to Granny Qin, "Why is the Princess's mother always like this, crying and wailing? She's going to cry away all her good fortune!"

Granny Qin glared at her, "How dare you speak ill of your master's mother!"

Caijin immediately slapped herself in the face. Perhaps it was because of Song Yaozhu's attitude that she, as a maid, became impatient with Madam Song. In a moment of folly, she forgot that she was the princess's mother.

Looking at her swollen cheeks, Granny Qin said, "Don't go to serve the Princess today. Take some people to clean up Songhe Courtyard and arrange for someone to take care of Madam Song."

Granny Qin wondered if the princess was too easy to talk to, which made the maids unable to control their mouths.

She had to keep their skins tightly closed to prevent any mishaps.

After receiving Yuwen Wuji's orders, Chu Wei secretly plotted how to cause Song Yaozhu to miscarry.

He's a burly, rough man, skilled at killing, even a pregnant woman. But asking him to have an abortion... that would be a bit of a test of his knowledge.

He had tried various methods, such as sneaking into the Prince's mansion to poison the meat, but was discovered by a master within the mansion, and failed; he tried to poison the vegetables and meat purchased daily, but the steward noticed the meat's color was off, had a big argument with the vendor demanding compensation, and that also failed...

Chu Wei was in a state of turmoil. This carefree princess rarely went out, but when she did, she was always escorted by skilled guards, and Xie Liwei never left her side. He simply couldn't find an opportunity.

He has now discovered that whenever he is given a task related to the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion, he always performs poorly and is reprimanded by Yuwen Wuji.

Damn it, this is so annoying!

But today is a good day. Madam Song moved into the Prince's mansion with her servants, which gave him an opportunity!

Madam Lin brought a personal nanny and several maids with her. Since she began to worship Buddha, she has reduced the number of people serving her.

On the very night they moved into the Prince's mansion, Madam Lin went to inspect the main kitchen to see if the menu prepared by these people was suitable for her daughter.

Unexpectedly, the old woman in charge of the kitchen stopped them outside and said with a sarcastic smile, "Madam, you can just tell me what you want to eat. Why do you need to come to this filthy place yourself?"

“I came to take a look. This is Yao’er’s first child, and there are things she doesn’t know. I have to help her check it out.”

The head maid chuckled and said, "Don't worry! Our main kitchen doesn't handle the Princess's meals. She eats in a separate small kitchen. Granny Qin personally oversees it, so there won't be a single mistake!"

Upon hearing this, Lin's face turned pale and then red.

As she left the main kitchen, the trusted nanny couldn't help but say, "Madam, you've tried to curry favor with the Princess several times, but she treats you worse than a mere servant!"