novelraw Chapter 355 - 323: A Husband Still Has to Suit Oneself
Chapter 355 - 323: A Husband Still Has to Suit Oneself
This palace banquet should have ended in displeasure, but Emperor Guangxi, to save face, temporarily moved the banquet location to Ganquan Palace.
In this way, Song Wei had no choice but to bring Wen Wan and Song Jiao to the feast.
However, Song Wei held a low official rank, so their seating was the farthest from Emperor Guangxi and Empress Su. As long as Wen Wan didn’t deliberately look up, Empress Su wouldn’t easily notice her.
Just now in the Imperial Garden, the vast majority of ministers and noblewomen had witnessed the female corpse firsthand, and now, facing a table full of delicacies, no one had the appetite to eat.
Emperor Guangxi also knew that the floating corpse in the lotus pond had startled everyone, so he didn’t force the issue, and after a few ceremonial drinks, he dismissed the banquet.
Throughout, Princess Consort Duan never appeared with the Second Prince.
Given the incident, everyone was still in shock and naturally wouldn’t question the absence of the main guest.
At this moment, the main guest was still in Yonghe Palace.
After being cooped up for a month, Princess Consort Duan had the doors and windows open for some fresh air. She sat by the cradle, softly humming a tune to lull her son to sleep while listening to the little palace maid report on the situation in the Imperial Garden.
When she heard that the Emperor had given Empress Su three days to uncover the truth, Princess Consort Duan’s lips curled slightly. Making the real culprit catch the real culprit seemed like someone would be wronged and punished in three days.
She didn’t go to the Imperial Garden because yesterday afternoon, Song Yuanbao, the companion at Yutang Palace, sent her a message from Song Wei, advising that the Imperial Garden would be dangerous today and that she should stay in Yonghe Palace with the Second Prince and not go anywhere.
When Princess Consort Duan was pregnant and staying with the Song family, she grew very familiar with the Song Family. Not only did she know Song Yuanbao, but she also liked the young boy quite a bit. Therefore, at Song Wei’s suggestion, she agreed without hesitance, demonstrating her evident trust in Song Wei.
Although she was unclear about Empress Su’s intentions with the corpse in the lotus pond, it was easy to deduce that the woman’s ultimate goal must have involved the Second Prince.
Recalling the little palace maid’s words, Princess Consort Duan felt fortunate. It was a good thing she heeded Song Wei’s advice and didn’t attend the banquet; otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how Empress Su might have harmed the Second Prince.
...
At Ganquan Palace, after Emperor Guangxi ordered the dismissal, he was the first to stand and walk out.
Empress Su followed closely and, at the doorway, seemed to sense something, turning back just in time to meet Wen Wan’s gaze.
Their eyes met, and while Wen Wan’s expression remained calm, Empress Su’s previously composed face was filled with shock.
She rarely lost her composure, but at that moment, her carefully crafted visage showed nothing but disbelief.
After a brief moment of distraction, Empress Su caught up to Emperor Guangxi, adopting the casual tone of a long-married couple, "It’s been a long time since I saw Fanghua; I miss her very much. Just now in Ganquan Palace, I almost mistook someone else for her."
Having said that, she laughed self-mockingly.
Emperor Guangxi immediately understood that Empress Su likely referred to Miss Song, Wen Wan.
That girl must somewhat resemble Fanghua in appearance.
"Instead of worrying about those who don’t matter, Empress might consider how to report back to me in three days."
Emperor Guangxi coldly left this remark and parted ways with her.
——
After the imperial couple departed, the next to exit Ganquan Palace was the Eldest Prince, Zhao Xi.
From Song Jiao’s position, she could clearly see the handsome and refined face of the young prince.
In the vast palace, under the watchful eyes of all the officials, he slowly walked towards the entrance, exuding an innate noble aura that enchanted the young girl.
Noticing this, Song Wei timely spoke up, "We need to be the last to leave. If you’re hungry, you might as well eat something; there’s still time."
Song Jiao nodded, and when she looked up again, the young prince had already walked away, leaving her somewhat absentminded.
Song Wei noticed and slightly furrowed his brow.
His niece was at that tender, youthful age, and it was normal for a girl to have romantic feelings, but her affections were directed towards someone a generation older, her uncle, in a sense.
...
Even after leaving the Imperial City and sitting in the carriage, Song Jiao seemed not to have recovered from that stunning encounter. Wen Wan spoke to her, and she responded absentmindedly.
Wen Wan noticed her niece’s distracted state and glanced at Song Wei.
In Song Jiao’s presence, Song Wei said nothing, but back at home, he privately discussed it with Wen Wan: "I noticed earlier in Ganquan Palace when we saw the Eldest Prince, she was acting strange. When you get a chance, have a talk with her."
Song Wei didn’t spell it out, but Wen Wan already understood.
The young girl had developed romantic feelings.
During the palace banquet, Wen Wan also saw the Eldest Prince and thought he looked quite handsome, but with such a status, how could their humble family ever aspire to that?
Moreover, after what happened today, Wen Wan harbored a deep aversion to the women in the Imperial Palace, feeling that none of them were truly benevolent.
Even the Princess Consort Duan, who stayed at their home for a few months, was not absolutely good; otherwise, she could not have become a favorite concubine and survived unscathed until now.
Once you enter the palace, even the purest heart will get tainted.
From the perspective of an elder, Wen Wan does not wish for her niece to be involved with the Imperial Family in any way.
There are many outstanding young men outside; someone like the Eldest Prince is not a suitable match.
...
Having nothing to do in the afternoon, Wen Wan specially took Jinbao for a stroll to Song Jiao’s Tingsong Pavilion.
The young girl sat in a wicker chair, holding a book and daydreaming.
Upon hearing from the maid that the lady had come, Song Jiao snapped back to reality, quickly closed the book and put it on the table, stood up to greet her with a smile, "Third Aunt."
"It’s rare that you’re not pestering me to tell stories today. Is something on your mind?" Wen Wan said as she sat down on the cushioned chair Song Jiao pulled out for her.
"Not at all! Third Aunt is teasing me again." Song Jiao lowered her head, but the tips of her ears turned red unnaturally.
"You say not, but it’s written all over your face." Wen Wan casually picked up the book Song Jiao had just been reading.
It was the Three Character Classic.
Song Jiao is not very clever; after being here for more than half a year, her literacy is still limited. There were many circled and marked places in the book, which should be marks she made for herself.
It’s clear the young girl is very diligent.
In her, Wen Wan seemed to see herself, who once stubbornly tried every way to read and write to escape fate.
However, back then, all she wanted to marry was just a scholar.
"In the Capital, many young ladies discuss marriage at thirteen or fourteen." Wen Wan said, "I came to take advantage of some free time to ask you if you have any special thoughts about your future husband?"
"Ah?" Apparently not expecting Third Aunt to suddenly bring up such a matter, Song Jiao was shocked.
Wen Wan smiled, "Just say it!"
Song Jiao couldn’t keep up for the moment and stammered, "I’m only twelve now, isn’t it too early to talk about this?"
"Discussing marriage is one thing, your thoughts on your future husband are another; the two do not conflict."
"I... I don’t know either." Song Jiao shook her head, indicating confusion.
She’s currently in an awkward position.
She disdains those with too poor a family background, yet cannot reach those with too noble a one.
Ultimately, it’s because the Capital has dazzled her; otherwise, back in the countryside, she might have agreed to marry anyone as long as their conditions were slightly better.
Seeing that the young girl was truly bewildered, Wen Wan told her, "No hurry, you’re only twelve, and you have all the time to ponder slowly. When you’ve figured it out, just let me know."
Song Fang pursed her lips, hearing Wen Wan say again, "Bringing you to the Capital, teaching you to read and write, and learn proper manners, is indeed to allow you to transform and choose a good family and live well in the future, but the family background of your husband is only a secondary condition. It doesn’t mean that the higher the identity of the opposing party, the better your life will be. A husband should still be chosen based on your own compatibility."
In other words, you need to first understand your own position before you can understand what "compatible" means. If the gap between you and the man is too great, it’s simply a pipe dream.
Song Jiao immediately figured out that Third Aunt must have noticed her distraction at the palace banquet; otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to say these things for no reason.
Thinking of this, the shyness on Song Jiao’s little face faded mostly away.
"Alright, I’ll leave it at that; you figure it out yourself."
Not wanting to embarrass the young girl, Wen Wan didn’t speak too plainly, touched on the topic lightly, then took Jinbao to the outer courtyard to Song Yuanbao’s study, asking Duan Yan to come over and grind ink so she could teach her son painting herself.
——
Zhao Xi returned to Yutang Palace, heading first to Song Yuanbao’s side hall.
Rarely getting a day off due to the Second Prince’s full moon banquet, the little rascal was sleeping soundly on the yewwood bed.
Zhao Xi looked at his carefree face, and doubt started to arise in his mind.
Except for sleeping, Song Hao basically spends all his time with himself; how did he know there was a corpse hidden in the lotus pond of the Imperial Garden?
Thinking of that day when Song Wei personally came to find Song Yuanbao, the answer seemed not to need any further verification.
Eunuch Sanbao, unclear about his master’s thoughts, asked, "Should I wake Young Master Song?"
"There’s no need."
Zhao Xi moved his gaze away from Song Yuanbao’s proper sleeping posture, pursed his lips, and stepped away.