The family exchanged a few private words.
Song Qingzhi stammered, “Ning Shi is actually living with His Majesty? Such a thing has never happened before… Previously, the officials all impeached the Count of Shou’an for failing to properly educate his daughter, and for Ning Shi’s behavior being outrageous…”
Upon hearing this, Song Chengyi’s eyes flashed, and his expression shifted slightly.
Song Gu’s gaze fell on her face, his eyes sharp: “You want me to impeach her?”
Song Qingzhi met Song Gu’s gaze, her eyes darting away: “Father is an official in charge of remonstrance; it is your duty to advise His Majesty…”
“As a subject, it is indeed my duty to advise the monarch. But what matters in the court is less important than a concubine? Corrupt officials, the livelihood of the people—compared to these, what does the Emperor’s favoritism toward any particular concubine matter? Officials in charge of remonstrance focus on matters of the court, matters of the nation, not His Majesty’s private affairs.” Song Gu stared at Song Qingzhi, speaking each word carefully.
“Moreover, you and she are both imperial concubines. For your sake, I should also avoid suspicion and be cautious. Otherwise, if His Majesty suspects that you are using your family background to abuse your power for personal gain and eliminate dissidents, how will you prove yourself? At that time, when the ministers impeached the Count of Shou’an, I did not say a word, firstly, because the matter was not worth mentioning, and secondly, to protect you.”
Song Qingzhi’s face turned deathly pale, overwhelmed with shame.
“Now that you’ve become an imperial concubine, you can’t just do whatever you want as you did at home. Think things through before you speak.” Song Gu sighed.
Mrs. Song stayed behind to talk to her daughter.
The father and son took their leave first.
The eunuch who was leading the way led the father and son away from the palace, and they happened to run into Old Mrs. Ning and Cheng Shi coming out of the warm pavilion together.
Song Chengyi couldn’t help but glance in their direction a few more times.
Not seeing that graceful figure, he looked away.
Once outside the palace, only the father and son remained.
Song Gu suddenly looked at his son and said, “I suddenly remembered something. Last year, you asked me to go to the Count of Shou’an’s mansion to propose marriage. The Miss Ning you took a liking to is now the Ning Meiren.”
“You didn’t agree.” Song Chengyi said, lowering his head.
“Of course, I won’t agree. Our Song family, being of the upright and principled lineage, cannot associate with noble families. If you like a woman from the upright lineage, or even a merchant’s daughter, I can arrange a marriage for you, but not a descendant of a noble family.” Song Gu paused.
He patted his son’s shoulder and earnestly warned him: “She is now His Majesty’s new favorite. If you don’t want to get yourself killed and her killed as well, just pretend you don’t know her. Look at her less, listen to her less, and pay less attention to her.”
Song Chengyi remained silent.
Ning Wanyin didn’t actually know him.
They just happened to have the same chess teacher. One day last year, the teacher accidentally dropped a scroll of her handwritten chess puzzle solutions.
He picked it up and saw that the chess puzzle he had been struggling to solve had already been solved by someone else.
After much questioning, the teacher finally told him that it was the eldest daughter of the Count of Shou’an who had solved it.
He begged his father to propose marriage to the Ning family, but was rejected. He decided to wait until he passed the imperial examination and achieved an official rank before having a proper ‘negotiation’ with his father.
Unexpectedly…
The person had already entered the palace.
…
“Who was that young man who just walked by?” Cen Jieyu stood on the second-floor terrace, gazing into the distance.
“This is Song Meiren’s elder brother, the newly appointed third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations this year. He is highly favored by His Majesty.” The eunuch replied after glancing at him.
Cen Jieyu seemed thoughtful: “Why did I notice him sizing up the Ning family members?”
“It seems so…”
“That’s strange. He’s not a spoiled brat; he’s a well-educated and reasonable scholar. Why would he stare at women so recklessly… It’s more like he has some past connection with the Ning family. Go and investigate. I need to know what this person’s relationship is with the Ning family.” Cen Jieyu ordered.
The eunuch accepted the order and withdrew.
Cen Jieyu suddenly smiled and said, “By the way, please invite Old Mrs. Ning to sit here for a while.”
A moment later, Old Mrs. Ning was invited into Cen Jieyu’s residence.
After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, Old Mrs. Ning said, “Cen Jieyu, please rest assured. My eldest granddaughter is a good-for-nothing, but my youngest granddaughter will definitely be of service to you…”
Just then, a maid came to report, “His Majesty has returned and has kicked Miss Ning Ziyin out!”
Old Mrs. Ning was incredulous, her face turning deathly pale. How could this be?
Cen Jieyu was taken aback, then shook her head and smiled, “His Majesty has always been capricious. It seems that this Miss Ning is not as capable as her elder sister. Old Madam, you should go back and have a good talk with Ning Wanyin. A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on.”
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Loveguy On CFRFGC Chapter 7