Chapter 210 - 98: How Can Someone Be So Unreasonable?
Song Yunzhao received a letter from Xie Linlang just before the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Eldest Madam had brought it to her during a visit to the palace.
The Eldest Madam looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "The wedding date has been set for the sixth day of the ninth month. By then, your father will have returned to the capital as well."
Hearing this, Song Yunzhao sneered. "They’re setting the date so hastily. Just how desperate is Song Qinghan to get married?"
Desperate to get married?
The Eldest Madam thought it was an apt phrase and said, "We can’t stop her, so just let her be. I’ve already explained the situation at the Marquis Wuxin Mansion to her in detail. Since she’s insistent on jumping into that fire, she’ll have to bear the consequences, good or bad."
Song Yunzhao couldn’t care less whether Song Qinghan’s life turned out well or not. Knowing the matter was settled, she dropped it and turned to ask about the Eldest Master. "How is Eldest Uncle faring at his post?"
The Eldest Madam smiled and said, "Since Lirong married into the family, your Eldest Uncle has had a capable helper. Plus, with you in the palace, the officials in Yucheng don’t dare to give him a hard time like they used to. Once his three-year term is up, he will be transferred to a new post."
Song Yunzhao knew then that her Eldest Uncle had a plan. She looked at the Eldest Madam and said, "Eldest Aunt, if our family wants to restore its former glory, it’s crucial that neither my father nor Eldest Uncle gives anyone leverage against them in their official careers. With Second Uncle’s business, our family doesn’t lack for Silver."
At this, Song Yunzhao looked at the Eldest Madam and hinted, "You know that I’m on good terms with Miss Xie. The Xie family will certainly look after Second Uncle’s business. Besides, Second Aunt herself is a Miss Xie. As long as our family has enough income to cover our expenses, that’s sufficient. Once Father and Eldest Uncle are firmly established, we’ll have nothing to worry about."
The Eldest Madam’s heart skipped a beat. Although Yun Zhao hadn’t been explicit, she understood one thing: the Xie family wasn’t looking after Second Uncle and his wife merely because Second Aunt was from the Xie family.
But since Yun Zhao didn’t elaborate, the Eldest Madam didn’t dare to ask. She just nodded and said, "Rest assured, I will speak with the family. I’ll also write a letter to Second Uncle and Second Aunt to remind them."
Song Yunzhao smiled. "With you managing things at home, I can be at ease. As long as the Song Family is stable and gives no one any leverage, my position in the palace is secure."
The Eldest Madam quickly agreed, then added thoughtfully, "I also plan to arrange Hong Jiao’s marriage. She’s the elder sister, so only after her marriage is settled can we find a match for Ye Xi." She paused. "Do you have any plans for Jinxuan? If not, her marriage will be difficult to arrange."
After all, she was in Mrs. Cai’s hands.
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. "We’ll discuss Second Sister’s marriage after Father returns. Right now, Mrs. Cai is too busy preparing for Song Qinghan’s wedding to pay her any mind. As for Ms. Hong Jiao’s marriage, Eldest Aunt, which family have you considered for her?"
Knowing Song Yunzhao had a plan put her mind at ease. Hearing her question, the Eldest Madam sighed helplessly. "Because of you, our family has become quite the hot commodity. We’ve had no shortage of marriage proposals, not just for your sisters, but even for your brothers. Everyone is watching them. Fortunately, I’ve already put the word out: the men of our family will not marry until they’ve earned a scholarly title."
Song Yunzhao burst out laughing. "How can that be? What if they never pass? Are they really not going to get married?"
Even she knew that becoming an Advanced Scholar was an incredibly difficult feat.
"That’s truly what your Eldest Uncle said. We’ve now hired several tutors to teach them at home. If they still can’t pass, it just means they aren’t applying themselves." At this point, the Eldest Madam looked at Yun Zhao. "Bu Yue is now studying with them as well. He is, after all, the legitimate eldest son of your branch of the family. Out of respect for your father, we couldn’t just leave him out."
Song Yunzhao looked at the Eldest Madam and asked, "Are the newly hired tutors very distinguished?"
"Your father and your Eldest Uncle discussed this matter. Your Eldest Uncle made inquiries all over Yucheng and personally visited them several times before managing to persuade them to come. It took a great deal of effort." The Eldest Madam said with a smile, "All this effort is nothing for the sake of the children’s future. We just hope they will apply themselves to their studies."
Song Yunzhao was very satisfied with the adjustments her Eldest Uncle and father had made. Only a family with foresight would make such arrangements.
Inviting renowned tutors was no simple matter. Some famous scholars would only agree to teach if the student’s family background was respectable. It wasn’t just about the high tuition fees; more importantly, they feared that students from lowly families with limited exposure would be impossible to teach, thereby ruining their own reputations.
’That’s just how the world works.’ Although it was a bit pragmatic, Song Yunzhao could understand.
Since the hired tutors were so exceptional, Mrs. Cai would of course have Song Bu Yue study with them. Yunzhao had no objection to this. She looked at the Eldest Madam and said, "I’m not displeased that Song Bu Yue is studying with them. While there’s little sibling affection between my brother and me, he never bullied me. At most, he simply never helped me. How could I possibly ruin his future?"