General's Mansion.
Song Jing originally thought that his marriage with Shangshufu was a sure thing, but who would have thought that even after sending several invitations to Shangshufu, he was rejected in every reply.
Song Jing understood the intention of the Shangshu Mansion and became furious. He cursed the Shangshu Mansion in the study for going back on its word.
Song Wanning, who was still in her boudoir, heard about Song Jing's temper. She came out of the courtyard and found Song Jing. She smiled and comforted him, "Father, it's common for noble families in Shengjing to look at each other and decide whether they like each other or not. As someone who has been married once, it's normal for others to look down on me. Don't be angry, father."
He threw the reply letter from the Shangshu Mansion to the ground and said coldly, "Zhao Ting was showing me goodwill a few days ago, but now he has turned his back on me in just a few days. Does he really think Wan Ning is begging to marry into his family?"
Song Wanning laughed even more after hearing what Song Jing said. She picked up the note on the ground and said, "Father, the Shangshu Mansion has never promised to marry their daughter."
Song Jing looked at Song Wanning, took a deep breath, and said slowly, "That's what I said, but you will be eighteen next year. Seeing that you are getting older, how can I not be anxious as a father?"
When Song Wanning heard Song Jing mention age, she immediately had a better excuse. She mentioned Song Lan with a smile, "Father, if we're talking about age, my eldest brother will be twenty next year. Instead of worrying about me, you should find a good marriage for him so that he can start a family and build a career as soon as possible."
As Song Wanning was speaking, Song Lan came back from outside and said to her, "Good sister, you actually used me as a shield to get your father to let you go."
Upon hearing this, Song Wanning also stepped back guiltily and responded with a smile, "Brother, you are wrong. I am only trying to help you. You are almost twenty now. If I don't find you a marriage, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a suitable one."
Song Lan's face darkened and he was about to hit Song Wanning.
Song Jing had a cold face and glanced at Song Lan indifferently, "Don't bully your sister."
Song Lan stopped and said to Song Jing with a smile, "I was just joking with her."
Song Jing looked at the brother and sister and said gently, "I have kept your marriage plans in mind. Brother Lan, you can take a look at the women from the official families in the capital these days to see if there are any you like. If not, just wait for me to send an invitation and take you to the homes of the nobles in the capital to meet them."
Song Lan didn't respond immediately, but instead talked about something else. "Father, I just went out for a walk and got some information. I heard that the Shangshu Mansion was very satisfied with Wan Ning and was just waiting to send a letter of invitation before proposing marriage to the General's Mansion. Who knew they changed their mind a few days ago?"
After hearing this, Song Jing showed a look of surprise on his face, "Why is that?"
Song Lan knew a lot of people in the capital, so it wasn't surprising that he knew this news. "I heard that the Prime Minister went to the Shangshu Mansion a few days ago to talk, and then the Shangshu Mansion changed its tone. It's always the Prime Minister who reminded them of something, causing them to change their minds."
After hearing what Song Lan said, Song Jing raised his fist and slammed it on the table with a sullen face. "I've tolerated Yin Yichen time and time again. Who would have thought he would be so mean to me?"
Song Lan's eyes were also complicated for a moment. "I heard that Yin Yichen has always been in charge of the affairs of the court and has never cared about other matters. Now he is intervening in our daughter's marriage. It seems very strange."
Song Wanning felt ashamed. She never thought that Yin Yichen would do such a thing behind her back.
Song Lan looked at Song Wanning's expression and sighed, "Moreover, Prime Minister Yin hinted to the Shangshu Mansion that if he married my daughter, he would become the target of public criticism. Nowadays, I'm afraid that few families in the capital would dare to come and see Wanning."
Song Jing stood up with a dark face and sneered, "Yin Yichen is so mean to my family, I want to ask him for an explanation."
Song Wanning secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurried forward to persuade Song Jing, "Father, I'm not in a hurry to get married now. I see that I still have a lot of things to do at home. I also want to spend more time with father and elder brother. Let's talk about the meeting later."
After hearing what Song Wanning said, Song Jing's expression finally softened a bit. He comforted Song Wanning, "Wanning, don't worry. Since the boys in the capital are not good, you can look at other families."
Song Jing's gaze drifted off into the distance as he spoke. He slowly added, "A few days ago, your uncle and aunt in Jiangnan wrote to me, saying they'd be arriving in Beijing soon. They have a very good eighteen-year-old boy. Wan Ning, do you remember playing with him when you were little?"
"Huh?" Song Wanning was stunned for a moment, as if she remembered a person like this when she was little, who often bullied her. But she has become calmer now, and no longer loves to play around like she did back then.
"I heard from your uncles and aunts that their son hasn't been betrothed yet and is just waiting for your family to arrive in Beijing. The two families are old friends, so talking about marriage is a close relationship."
Song Wanning was embarrassed for a moment, but she couldn't find a reason to refute, so she just wiped the sweat from her forehead and passed it off. When she looked up, she saw Song Lan's gloating expression, and she kicked him in anger.
-
In the court, Song Jingfang finished his morning court session, but he was still worried about Yin Yichen ruining his daughter's marriage.
Although Song Jing did not attack on the spot, he found Yin Yichen who was walking out just after leaving the court.
Yin Yichen wore a crimson-purple official uniform, yet his tall, slender figure made him stand out from the crowd. Yin Yichen had no friends or relatives in the officialdom, and from a distance, he could be seen walking alone on the street, looking unusually aloof and proud.
Although Song Jing spoke politely, his expression was not very good. He said coldly, "Prime Minister Yin, I am sorry to bother you today. I have a few words to say to you. I wonder if you would be so kind as to give me a favor?"
Yin Yichen turned his head to look at Song Jing, his left eyebrow raised in surprise, and said with a smile, "General Song Jing, is there anything important you want to talk to me about?"
Song Jing was furious as he watched Yin Yichen's nonchalant demeanor. "I've heard that Prime Minister Yin only cares about court affairs, yet I heard he ruined my daughter's marriage. I wonder if he's ever heard the saying, 'It's better to demolish ten temples than to ruin a marriage.' Isn't he afraid that he won't be able to find a girl he likes by doing this?"
If anyone else had heard Song Jing's words, they would have been horrified. Yin Yichen was known for holding grudges. But Yin Yichen was smiling now, and asked calmly, "General Song Jing said that I ruined your daughter's marriage. Do you have any evidence?"
Song Jing frowned, looked at Yin Yichen and snorted coldly, "Whether it is true or not, the Prime Minister should know it clearly in his heart."
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