Chapter 1377: Pulled Into the Vortex
Chapter 1377: Chapter 1377: Pulled Into the Vortex
Song Ci’s prediction was right: Song Xin really couldn’t come back. More precisely, her nameplate had been kept; she now belonged to the Emperor and had been conferred the low rank of Daying.
"What happened? Didn’t you say you would have her name struck from the entry list?" Song Ci looked at Song Zhiyuan’s darkened face and asked.
Fingering the bead necklace in his hand, Song Zhiyuan said in a low voice, "That part was done. I just didn’t expect that there would be those who don’t want to see us staying clean on the outside watching the show. They always find it better if we’re in the whirlpool too."
Song Ci’s brows knit. "Who did this?"
"Who else could it be? Prime Minister Fan, Consort Fan." Song Zhiyuan gave a cold snort.
Song Ci didn’t understand. "No, if it’s Prime Minister Fan, at most he’d just put some stumbling blocks in our family’s way. But what is Consort Fan up to? No matter what, Song Xin counts as one of our Song Clan. What is she doing dragging Song Xin into the Harem? She can’t possibly be trying to win over an opponent, can she?"
"It’s not as if that’s impossible. That girl still bears the surname Song. What if the Emperor shows her special favor because of that? The quarters assigned to Song Daying are in a side room of Chang Chun Palace."
Song Ci was a little speechless. "Consort Fan’s way of doing things is rather unsightly. Their faction has already pulled in a Governor of Jiangnan, and now they want to pull in our Song Family as well? Aren’t they afraid of overreaching and offending you?"
"Or, she has two aims in doing this: the first is to rope us in; the second, if she fails, is naturally to cause us trouble. Just as we said before, once Song Daying is favored, or even bears a child, our Song Family will likely invite suspicion." Turning the bead necklace, Song Zhiyuan spoke lightly.
Song Ci sighed. "This business of fighting over the Heir in the Harem is just like that—schemes upon schemes, as if blades flashing in the dark."
Song Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Mother, don’t worry. I’ll handle this matter properly. As for Song Daying, it’s impossible for her to remain in Chang Chun Palace for long."
Song Ci nodded. "As long as you have it clear in your heart. Now that that girl Xin has entered the palace, she belongs to the Emperor; she won’t be able to leave for the rest of her life. Favored or not, she’s ultimately inexperienced in the ways of the world. When she entered the palace, she only had one maid called Yun Luo with her. I hear that maid is loyal, but her scheming is rather lacking."
She took a sip of tea as she spoke. "Filth in the Harem is endless. With their mistress and maid both so young, they’ll be easily led astray and make mistakes. If they drag only themselves down, it’s just one death; what I fear is dragging the family down with them. So no matter what, even if only for the sake of sharing the Song surname, see that you arrange a reliable person at her side. As for what becomes of her in the future, that will depend on her fate."
Song Zhiyuan said, "Mother, you’re too soft-hearted."
"It’s only that I can’t bear it. That child looks somewhat quiet and honest, but the Harem is what most easily changes a person. What she’ll be like in future... most likely I won’t live to see it."
"Mother."
Song Ci smiled. "You must also make proper arrangements for things back home. Now that girl Xin has entered the palace, some people will surely start floating on air. Once people get carried away, they’re prone to taking the wrong step."
Song Zhiyuan said, "Rest assured. Though we share the surname Song, they are ultimately just those who attached themselves to us. Our Song Family even has our own separate genealogy. I’ll handle it."
"That’s good." Song Ci said, "To think we have to worry so much just for a little girl from our old village. Eldest, in future, our Song Family’s women should not enter the palace."
Song Zhiyuan nodded, rubbing the bead necklace in his hand. Since others had dragged him into the whirlpool, he too had to keep some contingencies in place.