Chapter 355 — Judging the Matter (Bonus Chapter)

There was no one else in the warm chamber. Princess Ninghuai spoke with weight and feeling: "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. Think back. When Lady Jiang was alive, was there a single matter in this household that did not go smoothly? You played the great lord, never knowing the hardship of sowing and reaping; when you lacked money you simply asked Lady Jiang for it, and your two sons were raised well—Tianci need hardly be mentioned, and Tian'en too was innocent and lively, quick and bright. But look at yourself now. This is no family. This is no ducal manor. In the end it is because there is no proper mistress to manage the inner quarters, and no order from top to bottom. Instead of handing the household to your new daughter-in-law now that she has entered the gate, you shut yourself in and haggle over gains and losses with your daughter-in-law like a petty woman. Is this how a Zhenguo Duke comports himself?

"I have heard something. The Marquis of Changxing has his heart set on the post of Seal-Holding Commissioner of the Five Chief Military Commissions, has he not?

"The Earl of Donglin has long enjoyed unbroken imperial favor. This time he has also taken concurrent office as Chief Commandant of the Five Wards Military Command; the Emperor will certainly not touch him.

"The Earl of Guang'en has always been shrewd, and supple in his bearing. He can set aside his dignity to please the Emperor. His smuggling in the east is perfectly clear to the Imperial Guard, yet the Emperor still turns a blind eye and shields him. Ask yourself whether you could stoop as low as he does.

"The Marquis of Anlu has spent these years courting the Empress Dowager's favor, and has taken the Empress Dowager's favorite grandniece as wife for his eldest grandson. If only for the Empress Dowager's sake, the Emperor will keep him firmly in the Seal-Holding Commissioner's seat.

"The Duke of Xingguo is low-key and steady, resolute and decisive, and never involves himself in court quarrels. In the year the Yuan Mongols invaded, had he not turned the tide, how would the northwest have known these dozen years of peace? If you ask whom the Emperor trusts most, it is none other than the Duke of Xingguo. He may replace anyone, but never him.

"So tell me—apart from the lingering shade of your ancestors, what have you to show before the Emperor?

"Now the Emperor favors Tianci, and this is the very hour for the Song family to rise. Not only do you fail to support your son, you drag at his heels. Which of the titled and noble houses of the capital is not laughing at you behind your back? And you, knowing nothing of it, go on making a commotion. Must you make such a racket that the Seal-Holding Commissioner's post is lost before you are content?"

Song Cen stood there, his face flushing red and paling by turns.

Princess Ninghuai thought of how he had been muddle-headed since childhood, and then thought that her own son was not much better, and that now, when both were already grandfathers dandling grandsons, he still could not bear a burden on his shoulders or lift a thing in his hands; her heart softened despite herself, and her words grew gentler: "Just listen to me this once. Hand the running of the household to Lady Dou, and be at ease as the old master, putting your energies into the court. If you go on this careless and muddled way, I fear you will ruin the whole estate.

"Besides, Lady Dou is already with child. If you divorce her at such a time, what is to become of the child?

"If Lady Dou bears a son, is he legitimate or is he base-born?

"If legitimate and base-born are not distinguished, can the Yingzhen Ducal Manor remain at peace?

Then, fearing he would not take it in, she goaded him: "I know well enough that the Lu family is not what it once was, that we count for nothing in your eyes, and that you may not listen to a word we say. Let it be as though we meddled where we had no business. Today your Second Aunt and I came together, and that is the extent of our care. As for what you should do, you must decide for yourself; after all, this life is yours to live, and no one can live it for you."

As she spoke, she walked in disappointment toward the door of the warm chamber.

Song Cen watched that back receding into the distance, and his heart felt stopped up. He knew too that once Princess Ninghuai left, the two families would likely be estranged from that day on. Thinking that he had no brothers or sisters of his own, and that while the Dingzhen Ducal Manor still stood, the two Lu cousins had helped him in all things, and that Princess Ninghuai, though born of the imperial house, had treated him like a son or nephew... he could not help calling out loudly, "Grand Princess," and saying, "Ever since his uncle's trouble, Song Yan has grown distant from me. I had no other way! Teach me what I should do!"

Princess Ninghuai thought for a moment before turning back.

Song Cen bowed to Princess Ninghuai in all sincerity.

Princess Ninghuai considered, then said, "Very well. First go and apologize to the Dou uncle-in-law and the young nephew, then hand over the authority to preside over the Yingzhen Ducal Manor to Lady Dou. From now on, take no more part in the affairs of the inner quarters; fix your eyes on the court, and find a way to regain imperial favor."

Hand the authority over the inner quarters to Lady Dou... would she play tricks from within and isolate him?

Song Cen hesitated somewhat.

Princess Ninghuai, slightly displeased, said, "You are Tianci's father after all. Surely Tianci will not kill his own father? What are you afraid of?"

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Brothers and sisters who read this book, I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Here is today's first update.

As there are guests at home, today's second update will come around 11 p.m. Typos and the like will have to wait until the dead of night to be corrected!

o(∩_∩)o~

※(To be continued...)