Chapter 56 Royal Secrets
The six-horse carriage moved slowly along the road. Even though the street was quite wide, pedestrians and vendors all moved aside to make way for it, afraid of bumping into the distinguished person inside.
Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the times of the year when many distinguished guests travel.
Song Jin lifted the carriage curtain to look out at the streetlights adorning the road outside. A hint of excitement flickered in her eyes. She turned back, her hairpins jingling, and said, "Mother, let's go to the lantern festival after the banquet!"
Niu Tielan sat upright to one side, glancing at her heavy clothes and head full of jewelry, and said coolly, "I think you just think the pickpockets outside are too poor. You may not be tired, but I am."
Back in Si'an County, the mother and daughter would go to the lantern festival every year, but there weren't so many ill-intentioned people then, so going was fine. Now, being unfamiliar with the area, she'd have to be watched over the whole time anyway, which wouldn't be worthwhile.
Besides, it would be late by the time the palace banquet ended, and she didn't have the energy for that.
Niu Tielan: "You can take off the hairpin and play with it yourself later. Now sit up straight and don't mess up your hair."
Song Jin gave an "oh," and obediently sat up straight, away from the window, sitting upright.
The training these past two days has been somewhat effective.
The six carriages were spacious, and inside, besides the mother and daughter, were the three Song brothers. Song Shunzhi sat on the left, and Song Qingzhi and Song Anzhi sat on the right, all three seated far apart to avoid Song Jin accusing them of excluding others later.
They don't think that way at all.
In the past, the head of the Song family would always lead the way at palace banquets. Now that his fate was uncertain, they couldn't afford to lose face, so they planned to attend in his usual attire, so that others would know...
Whether their father is alive or not, the Song family will never change.
Red was the favorite color of the Song Dynasty merchants.
As for Song Jin and Niu Tielan's outfits, Su Fang was in charge, and she was told to make them as beautiful and expensive as possible. Who would have thought that things would turn out so coincidentally?
Although she had explained, Song Jin still disliked them.
The three brothers could only sit far apart, avoiding eye contact as much as possible. There was no other way; she was their only sister, and the second daughter of Song Shang, so they had to avoid her if possible.
The carriage was already halfway there, but the three brothers remained silent.
Niu Tielan spoke up: "There are many people at the banquet. Besides the Duke of England's mansion, who else should we be wary of?"
The three brothers looked up and exchanged glances, and in the end, the task fell to Song Shunzhi, the second oldest.
This is what my brother uses in these situations.
Song Shunzhi said slowly, "In general, Madam, do not trust anyone at the banquet. Even if maids or eunuchs say that His Majesty or the empresses are looking for you, do not believe them. Once you have seen the food in your hand, do not eat it."
She could understand the first point; after all, the palace was so large and dark at night, it was easy for something to happen. But the food was a bit excessive, wasn't it?
Niu Tielan frowned: "This is a palace, how could they possibly poison us?"
Song Shunzhi hesitated, still unsure of what to say.
Having learned his lesson the hard way, Song Qingzhi said helplessly, "Poisoning is definitely out of the question, but if someone spits on it, or gets diarrhea, drowsiness, or facial swelling after eating it, these are harmless to the body but will cause embarrassment. Even if it's discovered, we've already suffered the consequences."
He almost soiled his pants back then; it's still a close call to think about it now.
Mother and daughter: ...
The court is already rife with problems, but how can it be so corrupt as well?
Seeing their speechless expressions, Song Shunzhi reassured them, "Madam and Little Sister, don't worry too much. We need to be careful at private banquets, but not at palace banquets. Besides, men and women will be sitting together at the banquet tonight, so Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, and I will be extra mindful. You just enjoy your food; the food at the banquet is quite good."
The mother and daughter felt somewhat relieved, but they also secretly reminded themselves to be extra careful at the dinner party.
They don't want to eat other people's saliva.
Song Shunzhi continued, "As for the Duke of Ying's mansion, Madam and my younger sister need not worry today; they will not be coming."
Song Jin exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Why?"
Will she drive me crazy? Oh no, she's going to get a beating from her mother again.
Niu Tielan also looked worried: "Did that wicked old woman die of anger?"
You can't blame her daughter, can you?
Song Anzhi, standing to the side, choked on his saliva, coughing a few times, his face flushed red—a truly beautiful face, though his laughter was rather unrestrained. He laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself.
"It's not that bad. They said that to force us to apologize and then complain at the banquet. Fortunately, His Majesty didn't fall for it—no, he was considerate. He said that since the Dowager is ill, she should rest and not come to the palace. He even asked the younger generation to stay and take care of her. In the end, apart from the married Princess Jin, none of them went to the palace. They really lost face this time."
Although there was no direct evidence, they were certain that the Song merchant's troubles were definitely related to the Duke of Ying's mansion.
Song Jin's eyes widened, and she instantly forgave the Emperor for sending her six surveillance cameras. She exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise! If this unreasonable old hag were allowed into the palace, no one would eat well!"
Song Anzhi also felt a sense of satisfaction and gloated: "I also think that old woman is taking advantage of the founding grace of the Duke of England, and she wants to lecture everyone she meets. It's so annoying."
"Alright, when His Majesty attacked Yong'an City, if it weren't for the old Duke of Ying defending the city, who knows how many more civilians would have died. The old lady is also quite old; whatever she says is acceptable." He then met Song Jin's gaze and paused before continuing...
“Little sister, you’re different. You’re young and don’t know anyone. This time, it was the Old Madam who started the trouble. Even if you confront the Song family, you’re not afraid. The Emperor is on your side.”
Song Jin raised an eyebrow, gave him an approving look, and slowly said, "What you said makes some sense, but the Emperor's decision not to allow the Duke of Ying's family to enter the palace this time is probably not to protect me. Have you forgotten what happened last time when that toad from the Duke of Ying's mansion bumped into Prince Qi's carriage?"
The three brothers: ...
To be honest, wasn't it her who did this?
But now that you mention it, it does seem to make sense.
Song Shunzhi organized his thoughts and slowly said, "His Majesty only has one son, Prince Qi, who was lost for many years before being found. Naturally, His Majesty cherishes him." At this, Song Jin became interested: "How did he get lost? Shouldn't he have been in the palace when he was young? And why did His Majesty take in so many princes…?"
Qi Ye's situation seems strange no matter how you look at it.
Song Shunzhi had anticipated these problems. He remained calm and explained slowly, "This matter is a long story, and it's considered a royal secret. It's fine for us family to talk about it, but let's try not to spread it outside."
Song Jin nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
However, her promise was practically worthless; he looked at Niu Tielan.
Niu Tielan nodded: "Second Young Master, don't worry. If she talks nonsense, I'll break her legs."
Song Jin: ...
Song Shunzhi nodded: "His Majesty comes from the powerful Qi family in the north. After overthrowing the previous dynasty, he established Yong'an City as the capital, and the Qi family became part of the imperial clan. He bestowed the titles of Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager upon Third Master Qi and his wife. However, His Majesty is not actually a member of the Qi family. His biological father died when he was young, and his biological mother struggled to raise him alone. With no other options, she married into the Qi family."
It's hard to say whether this marriage was voluntary or involuntary.
Song Jin's eyes widened: "Is that so?"
Song Shunzhi nodded: "Large families have many affairs, and His Majesty's life in the Qi family wasn't particularly good. However, the Qi family did support him and played a significant role in overthrowing the previous dynasty. Therefore, even though the matriarch of the Qi family forced his own mother to death, coerced him into marrying someone he didn't like, turned his original wife into a concubine, and ultimately caused Prince Qi to go missing as a child, leading to the original empress's death from depression, he still forgave her."
Song Jin: ...
It sounds like a huge show!
Is it really possible for someone to let this go? Even a tortoise wouldn't be that tolerant, let alone the emperor.
Song Shunzhi: "The Emperor not only did not blame the Qi family, but also honored the adoptive parents as the Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager, taking good care of them in the palace. He also granted official positions to the cousins, giving them the opportunity to defend their country. After they sacrificed their lives for the country, he adopted their children, named them princes, and took good care of them."
"Your Majesty is benevolent, filial, and magnanimous. With Your Majesty in power, the Dayan Dynasty will surely enjoy favorable weather, peace and prosperity, and bountiful harvests year after year."
Song Jin: ...
No wonder he's an official; he knows how to talk.
And this emperor
Hiss, thinking about it, Song Jin felt a chill run down her neck. How could she have been so arrogant last time?
She wondered how Song Shang, a notorious traitor in the country, could hold onto his position for twenty years. Was it because the Emperor was of the same ilk, and they were in cahoots?
Song Jin couldn't help but shrink back, saying weakly, "His Majesty is indeed benevolent."
A smile flickered in Song Shunzhi's eyes. He had said these words intentionally to Song Jin, hoping to instill a sense of awe in her. Seeing that she understood, he then comforted her.
"His Majesty and Father have known each other since they were humble beginnings, for over thirty years, and their bond is deep. You don't need to overthink it; just treat him as an elder. Without a princess to amuse you in the palace, His Majesty will be happy to see you."
If Song Jin were a man, he might need to be more cautious, but she is merely a woman, and from a worldly perspective, she poses no threat to His Majesty.
As long as she doesn't commit any heinous crimes or fall into traps set by outsiders, she will have no worries in this life.
With his words, Song Jin did feel somewhat relieved.
After all, the emperor's deeds he just mentioned were quite frightening, especially the matter of the princes. According to Qi Zheng, the royal family had a total of sixteen princes including him, but now there are only ten left. Who can say how many will be left in the future?
He's not raising princes, he's raising poisonous insects!
A man with a strong desire for revenge
I hope my son Qi Zheng doesn't inherit this trait.
...
The carriages slowly made their way towards the palace gates.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet, everyone was dressed in their finest attire. However, even at dusk, the weather remained hot, and it would be inappropriate to lose one's makeup after moving around. Therefore, this time, all families' carriages and horses were allowed to enter the palace.
However, this also took more time, as all carriages and horses had to undergo strict inspections before entering the palace, just like ordinary people at the city gates.
Song Jin lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the long line of carriages and horses in front, and scratched his head: "Have they invited all the officials?"
Song Shunzhi: "Officials of the sixth rank and above all come, and those of the fourth rank and above can bring one family member, but these are basically not the case. The salaries of officials in this dynasty are higher than before, but it is not easy to support a family's food, clothing and education. The ones in front are basically noble families and dukes. Their ancestors had wealth, and even if they were not successful, they could still trick a wealthy wife with a title without real power and then use the dowry to make ends meet."
Hearing this, Song Qingzhi had something to say, and he quickly interjected, "Speaking of this, the daughter of the Minister of Rites suffered a great loss because of this. At first, Father wanted to speak up for her on behalf of the eldest son, but she believed the heir of the Marquis of Xuanping's talk of 'one love for life, one partner,' without considering how many lovers that man had behind her back. It would have been better if the eldest son had been openly promiscuous. That's not all; that woman was also foolish enough to use up all the dowry her mother left her to fill that hole..."
This is the ancient version of marriage fraud, and there are quite a few examples like this.
Song Jin listened with great interest, her phoenix eyes brightening considerably, though it was unclear whether she had actually absorbed the information.
Song Qingzhi was somewhat annoyed and could only emphasize again: "These scions of noble families are all frequenters of brothels. Most of them are all show and no substance, and they like to put on airs. You can count the number of reliable ones on one hand."
Song Jin blinked: "Who are the reliable ones?"
Song Qingzhi was speechless. Was that what he meant?
Song Jin laughed and stopped teasing him, but asked curiously, "You guys are all getting on in years, why aren't you married yet? Do you have anyone you'd like to marry?"
Song Qingzhi did not participate in the discussion, emphasizing, "I'm only a year older than you, and I still have several years before I reach adulthood."
Song Anzhi immediately replied, "I only came of age at the beginning of the year, so there's no rush."
These reasons are all quite valid, and only one person remains.
Song Shunzhi offered a feeble excuse: "I've only been of legal age for five years."
Song Jin raised an eyebrow: "You mean that twenty-five-year-old from an ordinary family who could become a grandfather in two years?"
No, his father hasn't even become a grandfather yet, and he's already this age?
Song Shunzhi's lips twitched, and he sighed, "Father had arranged it beforehand. They were supposed to get married when she was seventeen, but then her grandfather passed away that year. She mourned for half a year, then her mother passed away, and after another year of mourning, her future father-in-law was killed by robbers. She mourned for another year, and then her grandmother passed away too."
Song Jin said sympathetically, "Alright, alright, I understand. So you're waiting for her?"
The family members passed away one after another, and even many years later, people will still care, let alone now. Moreover, the woman's father is gone; no matter how noble she was before, she's now just a pitiful orphan.
Song Shunzhi nodded: "A true man's word is his bond, and he cannot go back on his word over something like this."
Breaking off an engagement at this point is not only morally wrong, but could also drive someone to their death.
The principle is easy to understand, but putting it into practice is not so simple. Song Jin looked at him with more appreciation.
Apart from that playboy, the other members of the Song family are quite good.
As she spoke, she lifted the car curtain and looked outside again. The queue was still long. Looking at the progress, she muttered, "This is so slow!"
Song Qingzhi leaned over to take a look: "There have been a lot of troublemakers lately, so the inspection will be more thorough. It shouldn't take long, maybe 15 minutes at most, no rush."
Song Jin wasn't in a hurry, but she found the waiting annoying. She craned her neck and continued to peer around, but everyone was inside the carriages, so she couldn't see anything. Just as she was about to lower the curtain, she noticed a carriage overtaking her.
She exclaimed, "Can we still cut in line?"
Song Qingzhi glanced at it again: "That won't do. His Majesty specifically ordered that there are guards specifically assigned to protect them; otherwise, those minor officials wouldn't be able to get in. Those carriages over there should belong to the Prince of Jin. The prince has a token, so there's no need for inspection."
Song Jin suddenly realized, her eyes darting around: "Then Prince Qi can also do it?"
Song Qingzhi: "Uh, of course, but..."
No need for "buts" anymore; Song Jin had already spotted the carriage. She immediately walked to the gate, leaned out, and called out crisply, "Li Qingshan!"
Li Qingshan, who had essentially been reduced to a stable boy, got a headache just hearing that voice. He sighed deeply, turned to meet Song Jin's exceptionally bright eyes, and looked at the line of carriages. Without her saying a word, he already knew what she was going to say.
Li Qingshan pulled back the carriage curtain: "Your Highness, Miss Song would like a ride."
Qi Zheng opened his eyes. Great, all that memorizing of lessons he'd done all the way here was for nothing. He sighed silently, "Please let them in."
The carriage curtain was drawn back.
Song Jin's exceptionally bright and beautiful face appeared instantly. Her lips curved into a radiant smile. When the curtains were fully drawn back, she was revealed, and in the brilliant sunset, she resembled a blazing wildfire, so intense it seemed capable of burning everything in its path.
It was scalding hot even from a distance.
Qi Zheng lowered his eyes
Song Jin swaggered in, gave a perfunctory bow, and winked, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qi. It wasn't that I insisted on coming."
Qi Zheng's eyelashes fluttered, and he gave a soft "hmm".
This reaction was truly uninteresting. Song Jin suppressed her subtle desire to show off, pursed her lips, turned around, and carefully helped Niu Tielan into the car, with the three brothers following closely behind.
They: "His Highness Prince Xie Qi"
Qi Zheng was dressed in bright gold today, with intricate and delicate patterns covering the entire garment. At first glance, they looked like symbols, but upon closer inspection, they were various flowers, plants, the sun, and the moon. Upon even closer inspection, the most prominent feature was a section on the chest that resembled a snake, or perhaps...
dragon?
Song Jin hesitated: "Your clothes..."
Qi Zheng glanced down at it; it was bright and dazzling. He felt inexplicably uneasy and hesitated, "Is it... strange? It was sent by Father."
Song Jin said "Oh," and gave him a thumbs up: "Not surprising at all, very handsome. Prince Qi is definitely the most handsome boy at today's palace banquet. Ah, Mother, why are you pinching me?"
"Speak properly," Niu Tielan glared at her. "Your Highness, please don't take her seriously. This girl has been wild since she was little, and she doesn't know how to speak properly."
"It's nothing, Madam, you needn't worry about it," Qi Zheng said, then paused, realizing his words were a little stiff, before adding, "Madam, you truly look radiant today."
He was a solemn and serious person, rarely smiling, and even when praising someone, he remained expressionless, but this only made him seem exceptionally sincere.
Niu Tielan couldn't help but smile: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. You are exceptionally handsome today."
Qi Zheng didn't know how to reply. He paused for a moment, hummed in response, and then said nothing more.
Song Jin narrowed her eyes slightly, shook her head gently, and snorted softly, "That's it?"
Seeing her unhappy expression, Qi Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Madam."
very good
That's great!
The thief who never gave up
Song Jin suppressed her inexplicable displeasure, leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and remained silent. Since she didn't speak, the others were even less inclined to, and they quietly made their way into the palace, arriving at the parking area.
Li Qingshan: "Your Highness, we've arrived."
Before the carriage had even come to a stop, Song Jin had already strode out. A moment later, the curtain was pulled back, and she returned, expressionless and without looking to the side: "Mother, let's go."
Niu Tielan glanced at her, then at Qi Zheng, her brows furrowing deeply. She hesitated before thanking Qi Zheng, then slowly left the carriage, the three Song brothers following closely behind.
The carriage quickly emptied, and Qi Zheng sat alone inside, motionless.
Li Qingshan waited for a while but didn't see anyone. He pulled back the carriage curtain and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the person. He asked cautiously, "Your Highness?"
Qi Zheng asked, puzzled, "Why is she angry?"
Li Qingshan paused for a moment, then realized: "You mean Miss Song? She seems quite angry. Did you two have a fight?"
The last time the two of them argued, he ended up bringing home a basket of the best candied hawthorns, and his teeth ached from eating them.
This time...
He became more alert.
Qi Zheng then recounted what had happened in the car.
Li Qingshan's lips twitched, and he said with a complicated expression, "Your Highness, I think Miss Song means for you to praise her as well."
Now it was Qi Zheng's turn to fall silent.
After a long while, he glanced at Li Qingshan and left the carriage.
Never mind, why did he ask this person?
If this man truly understood women, he wouldn't be almost thirty and still a bachelor.
Li Qingshan: ? ? ?
No, why are you looking at him like that?
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