The entire Shangjing knew about the incident where Song Ci fainted for a whole day and night when receiving the Imperial Decree. The arch-enemies of the Song faction were all hoping she would pass away and thus, Pri Minister Song would have to go into mourning.
Unfortunately, things did not go as they wished.
The news of Song Ci waking up was quickly spread by those who were waiting outside the Song Family for any updates.
After the morning court session, officials ca forward one after another to congratulate Song Zhiyuan, even contemplating what gifts to send.
Pri Minister Fan Zhang stepped forward, clasped his hands with a smile, and said, "Madam Song's recovery is truly a cause for celebration. Pri Minister Song can now sleep and eat well, and my own heart, which was suspended for so long, can also finally rest."
His mother didn't die, so he'd better calm down.
Song Zhiyuan returned the gesture half-heartedly and replied with a gentle smile, "Pri Minister Fan, thank you for your concern. I heard that Madam Fan recently caught a cold and fell ill. Has she gotten any better? Madam Fan is older than my mother, and with the unpredictable weather in April, the health of elderly people must be carefully attended to."
Your mother is not well, and you think mine is fine? Your mother is even older than mine, and so are you, so perhaps you should worry about yourself.
Pri Minister Fan's smile faltered slightly, and he replied, "Indeed it is so." But in his heart, he cursed the young brat a hundred tis, thinking how a man of forty could still be so audacious.
Not far away, a clean-shaven eunuch with a friendly smile approached, holding a whisk.
"I greet the two Pri Ministers," he said.
This was Eunuch Zhou, a close confidant of the current Emperor. Even Song Zhiyuan showed him respect, exchanging polite gestures upon his greeting.
"Pri Minister Song, His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study," Eunuch Zhou ntioned with a smile.
Song Zhiyuan quickly agreed, bid farewell to Pri Minister Fan, and left with Eunuch Zhou. Their conversation about Madam Song drifted away with the wind.
Pri Minister Fan's smile faded a bit, and he snorted.
"Pri Minister, Song Zhi is quite pleased with himself," Minister Wang from the Ministry of Industry approached, muttering softly as he watched Song Zhiyuan's figure gradually recede.
Pri Minister Fan glanced at him, wrapped his hands in the sleeves of his official robe, and said indifferently, "Young people, when in high positions, always tend to be a bit arrogant."
"It's such a pity this ti. I thought..." Minister Wang's words trailed off under Pri Minister Fan's sharp glare. He cautiously looked around, smiled awkwardly, and said nothing further.
Pri Minister Fan said, "Let them talk at ho."
"Yes," Minister Wang replied.
In the Imperial Study.
Song Zhiyuan bowed to Emperor Chu, dressed in plain yellow robes, and only stood up straight after being prompted.
"Yunzhi, is the Madam really well now?" Emperor Chu looked at Song Zhiyuan, calling him by his courtesy na.
Song Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune, Mother has awakened clear-mindedly, though still needs to recuperate."
Emperor Chu had already learned this from the Lu Courtyard, but hearing it from Song Zhiyuan himself brought peace to him. He nodded, saying, "That's good. I thought I had diminished Aunt's blessings."
Song Zhiyuan was inwardly startled and quickly said, "Your Majesty, you overwhelm us mother and son with grace. Your boundless blessings elevate us as citizens, leaving us endlessly grateful. There's no question of diminishing blessings."
"It's just us here, you don't need to speak so formally," Emperor Chu said sowhat helplessly. "I thought you would understand since I'm able to call your mother Aunt."
Song Zhiyuan was even more helpless, looking up and saying, "Your Majesty, there should be a distinction between monarch and minister. Neither I nor my mother wish for any opportunity for others to find fault with Your Majesty. Mother's fainting this ti was partly due to overwhelming joy and partly..." He paused, a hint of bitterness on his face, "partly because her health had been worn out years ago."
Emperor Chu, hearing these words, was suddenly reminded of the hardest and most frightening tis from those years.
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