Madam Song did not expect Song Zhiyuan to be so agreeable, simply saying no and dropping the matter.
Though a bit surprised, she was nevertheless relieved.
She truly feared that Song Zhiyuan would stubbornly promise Song Ruqi to a poor family’s scholar. At that point, it wouldn’t be a question of willingness; it would be about whether Qi’er would even get on the bridal sedan.
Even if Qi’er were to comply out of filial obedience, would she not be compared to her elder sister’s marriage? Among sisters, the greatest fear is comparing husbands and children.
Madam Song understood this very well; among her sisters, who hadn’t made comparisons?
Alas.
Nanny Fang handed a cup of longan tea to Madam Song and said, "Madam, don’t overthink it. You should get so rest. Since the Pri Minister has decided, he won’t change his mind, so relax."
"I know, isn’t it just a bit unexpected? It’s one thing to say she won’t enter the palace to be considered as an imperial concubine, but to actually think of a poor family’s scholar—such a disparity, it’s like heaven and earth." Madam Song took the tea to calm her nerves; she was truly a little frightened.
"For the Pri Minister to even ntion it, that person must be exceptionally outstanding."
Madam Song gave a bitter smile, "No matter how outstanding, it can’t outweigh one’s background. Nanny, don’t you know how I got through back then? How can I let Qi’er suffer such hardships? Her ambitions are high; if she really married into a poor family, how could she be content to live peacefully with her husband? You know, many won have their true nature worn down by the grind of daily life."
Saying that she is too proud to look down on lower-class families isn’t an excuse; in truth, she can’t bear to see her daughter struggle bitterly in a poor household. She is truly afraid.
"Nanny, do you think soone might have said sothing to the Pri Minister?" Madam Song suddenly asked.
Nanny Fang replied, "How could that be? The Pri Minister is in such a position, who could influence him?"
Madam Song fell silent. Yes, but what if it was the Emperor? What if the Emperor wanted to win soone over, thereby making the Pri Minister arrange a marriage alliance?
No, that’s also impossible. The Pri Minister is already the leader of the poor, there’s no need for him to win over more from poor families, but rather others.
Madam Song curled her fingers, saying, "Nanny, be careful not to let Qi’er find out about this, so she won’t worry unnecessarily."
Nanny Fang hastily replied, "When you and the Pri Minister were talking, I was standing guard at the door, no one else ca near."
"That’s good."
Neither of them knew that soone eavesdropped on their conversation and relayed it to Song Ruqi.
Song Ruqi turned pale as she looked at the young maid, "Are you, are you telling the truth? Father really intends to promise to a poor family?"
The maid said, "I heard it clearly. I was asleep under the window, and when I woke up, I heard the Pri Minister and Madam talking like that. But since Madam was unwilling, the Pri Minister dropped it."
Song Ruqi sat down on the couch in shock and anger, exclaiming, "Father, Father actually dislikes so much, he wants to promise to a poor family. Does he even consider his daughter?"
"Second Miss, watch your words." Shuhua handed a silver coin to the young maid, instructing her not to talk nonsense, and after watching her leave, she said to Song Ruqi, "Second Miss, the Pri Minister rely ntioned it, he hasn’t really arranged anything. It’s just a false alarm for now, how can you speak ill of the Pri Minister behind his back?"
"What do you understand? If Father didn’t have it in mind, why would he ntion it? He must have wanted it in his heart to ntion it. Boo hoo, he arranged a match with an aristocratic family for my elder sister, but for , a poor family bumpkin—was I just picked up to make up the numbers? My fate is so miserable!" Song Ruqi clutched her pillow and cried out loudly.
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