Chapter 195 — Changes
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 3 of 4
When the news spread, Song Cen's face turned ashen.
He had guarded against Gu Yu, against the Third Princess, and had even long since made arrangements regarding Princess Ninghuai—yet he had never expected that Song Sui, that headstrong and unruly creature, would take the path of the eunuch faction. He could not help sneering, "I say he'll end up a sycophantic minister sooner or later!"
Even if he became a sycophant, that would be a matter for later.
Tao Jun could not help muttering to himself.
Right now the Young Marquis has caught you off guard and smoothly entered officialdom; from here on, dealing with the Young Marquis will only grow harder.
He could not help saying, "My Lord, don't you think it's time to consider the Young Marquis's marriage? I hear that ever since the Emperor made that remark, families with daughters of marriageable age have been constantly inviting the Young Marquis to their homes... Only yesterday, the Young Marquis was drinking at the residence of the Marquis of Changxing..."
Had it not been for the business with Wang Yuan, Song Cen would certainly have scoffed at such an idea. But now, before Tao Jun had even finished speaking, he was in a fury.
He had always counted himself a close friend of Shi Chonglan, yet the Shi family had refused his suit. And now they were setting their sights on Song... The Shi family—what shamelessness!
Song Cen could not help asking, "What other families have invited him to drink?"
Tao Jun reeled off a long string of names.
Song Cen drew a sharp breath, her irritation turning to alarm. "Go and make inquiries at once. What sort of character are the young ladies of these households?"
They could not marry a concubine's daughter to Song Yan—that would be too glaring a slight on the surface of things—and still less could they take a legitimate eldest daughter, for then the affairs of the inner quarters would fall wholly into Song Zhi's hands. Best would be a girl whose father and brothers all appeared highly capable, but who was herself meek and yielding, with no mind of her own...
Song Cen turned it over in her mind.
Gu Yu, however, asked Song Yan, "What exactly do you intend to do?"
Somehow, Song Yan suddenly recalled Dou Zhiwei's words.
Perhaps Dou Yan was right.
Since he had no great expectations for a wife, he might as well make family standing the chief consideration.
Song Yan said, "Apart from Princess Yijing, which other consorts have daughters of marriageable age?"
Gu Yu stared at him, dumbfounded. "You—you don't mean to marry a princess, do you?"
Song Yan found it amusing and teased, "If a princess won't do, a commandery princess will serve just as well!"
Gu Yu opened her mouth and for a long while could not get a word out.
Song Dan put an arm around Gu Yu's shoulders. "There, there, I was only joking with you. I've only just joined the Imperial Insignia Guard, and some things are still in disarray; there's no hurry to speak of this now. Let's see how my father reacts first." Then he asked about Gao Yuanhua, the Guard's chief commander. "I hear he's your cousin by marriage—what sort of man is he?"
Gu Yu pursed her lips. "Cousin by marriage, indeed! The connection is so distant you'd need a map to trace it. Still, he's a great one for worming his way in. Last time we were drinking at the Earl of Huichang's, Shen Qing told me he nearly got Wang Yuan to take him as a godson..."
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The Dou family meant to leave the Wei family dangling; and Wei Fan, resenting Dou Ming for souring her friendship with Lady Wang, would have nothing to do with the Dou family either. In the blink of an eye it was the end of the fourth month, the time for sending the Dragon Boat Festival gifts.
Madam Tian was at a loss—should the gifts be sent or not?