Chapter 164: Chapter 164 - Cement the Old Ties by Marriage

When Song Yixiao was about to get married, the first young mistress of Prince of Hengshan’s mansion, Madam Kong helped mediate the matter, so the Song Family insisted that her life was incompatible with Madam Pang, for which they shouldn’t meet again. Consequently, when it came to the worldly practices of the Song Family, she only sent gifts to them without her presence, which saved quite some trouble for her.

Nevertheless, for the first Spring Festival, even though she shouldn’t meet with Madam Pang, she had to give a kowtow before the Song Family’s mansion with Jian Xubai.

“But I really don’t want to go!” Song Yixiao heaved a sigh quietly. She still remembered what she went through when she sent her stepmother and half-sister back home. It was reluctantly tolerable for her to be disgraced by her father alone, but if it happened in front of her husband, how could she stand it?

Although Jian Xubai had known that Song Yuan disliked her, it didn’t mean that it was okay for her to show her husband the shameful side of her.

“As to Mother…” During the Spring Festival, even without the instruction of the Empress Dowager, Prince of Hengshan wouldn’t reject her visit. However, Wei Mengying had her own maiden family too! Therefore, Song Yixiao was wondering whether she should go to Prince of Hengshan’s mansion or the Wei Family’s mansion if she wanted to meet her mother.

It was better to go to Prince of Hengshan’s mansion. After all, Prince of Hengshan and Jian Xubai held different political stands. Only going through the motions would do. However, if she went to the Wei Family’s mansion, considering Wei Chan, Song Yixiao just didn’t feel like going.

She leaned backwards in low spirits and ordered Qiaoqin reluctantly, “Find out when Mother will go to the Wei Family’s mansion tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly, Wei Mengying didn’t intend to pay a visit to her maiden family for lingering anger or something else. Besides, she claimed to others by saying, “My daughter has been married not for long. This year she will bring her husband to pay me a New Year call for the first time. My maiden family both ask me not to go back in case they cannot meet me in the mansion!”

The Wei Family could only be cooperative.

Therefore, the next day, Song Yixiao and Jian Xubai got ready and went directly to Prince of Hengshan’s mansion.

“You look good today, pretty and bright. How refreshing!” After paying the New Year’s call, Wei Mengying asked Prince of Hengshan to help receive Jian Xubai while she herself brought Song Yixiao to the back hall for a chat. Having taken a seat, she looked Song Yixiao up and down, saying with a smile, “But most importantly, my daughter is beautiful, so no matter what you wear, you always look good!”

The last time Song Yixiao met with her, they fell out for Wei Chan. Now Song Yixiao was thinking about how to make up with her, so she instantly answered without hesitation, “It is lucky for me to take after your appearance!”

“Appearance comes naturally while demeanor is cultivated. Indisputably, my daughter is endowed with both beauty and talent!” Wei Mengying said with a gentle smile. They complimented each other for a while when a servant came forward to report, “Your Highness, Marquis Boling and Miss Yuan are here to pay you a New Year’s call. Her Highness the Dowager Consort said that His Excellency has difficulty in walking so you are requested to meet them!”

Wei Mengying said in surprise, “They have come back to spend the Spring Festival? I sent a servant to the Marquis’s mansion to ask about them on the 29th day of the 12nd lunar month and got a reply that they hadn’t come back. Then I thought that they would live in the Zhanchun Venue until the Spring Festival!”

Song Yixiao said with a smile, “They came back before the Eve. They have told me about it before.”

“Oh, I see!” Wei Mengying nodded her head and said to her. “You’ve met the Dowager Consort before. Now I’m afraid that the Dowager Consort may be unhappy if you go there again. How about waiting here for me? I will walk through it with your younger brother and sisters, and I shall come back soon!”

“Goodbye, Mom!” Song Yixiao also knew that Dowager Consort of Hengshan disliked her. Neither did she want to upset this old woman. Moreover, the Dowager Consort even called Wei Mengying in for the sake of Yuan Xuepei. As to Madam Jin, although Song Yixiao was scheming, considering what Madam Jin had done, it was likely that she couldn’t help falling out with her when they really met!

If that really happened, it would be too ugly!

Wei Mengying went into the inner chamber to get changed and then ordered the maids to hold Lu Zhuo’er and Lu Cui’er in their arms. Lu Guanyun had been summoned by the Dowager Consort, so it was unnecessary to bring him. Then they went away.

After a while, Wei Mengying came back with Yuan Xue’e, who looked rather respectful. Yet, Lu Guanyun and his sisters weren’t back.

“Zimu told me that Si was too lonely. Therefore, Guanyun and the other two kids have been invited to the yard for fun.” Wei Mengying smiled and let her daughter rise. Meanwhile, she also asked Yuan Xue’e to have a seat. Then she fetched the tea from the servant and took a sip of it, saying with a pleasant smile on her face, “Hence, I can take the opportunity to have a rest and chat with you!”

Song Yixiao felt surprised. “The two younger sisters are still in their infancy. How can they play with Lu Si? Particularly, Mother always keeps watch over Guanyun so strictly. Even though Madam Kong is sired to Mother, she is not allowed to go near Guanyun. What on earth does she want to say to us throughout the effort?”

She couldn’t help getting stern.

Yuan Xue’e didn’t know better about Wei Mengying than Song Yixiao. In fact, she found this aunt not bad. After all, during the several years when she lived in Prince of Hengshan’s mansion, Wei Mengying did look after her well.

Therefore, she said smilingly, “Auntie, you must be tired to deal with the household affairs. How about me and Shanyao massaging your shoulders?”

Instantly, she started to roll up her sleeves.

Surely Wei Mengying stopped her with a smile and praised her for being filial and sensible. Meanwhile, she scolded Song Yixiao, “I shouldn’t have pampered you before! You are not as considerate as my niece!”

Song Yixiao and Yuan Xue’e were on good terms, so she wouldn’t feel jealous. Instead, she said grinningly, “Anyway, your niece has talked of me. It is the same then. Mom, you just feign ignorance and regard me and Xue’e both as filial juniors!”

“No matter how I feign ignorance, you are no better than Xue’e!” Wei Mengying didn’t care whether her words would make her daughter angry. She only looked at Yuan Xue’e amicably and said with a sigh, “If only your sisters could be half as good as Xue’e!”

“Why does Mother suddenly have designs on Xue’e now?” Song Yixiao knew that her mother wouldn’t flog a dead horse. Wei Mengying treated Yuan Xue’e well and yet not enthusiastically. Now that she suddenly belittled her daughter and meanwhile complimented her niece, how could she not be plotting something?

She was really helpless. “I’m here to pay a New Year’s call only. Do I have to quarrel with her again?”

While Song Yixiao was still pondering, Yuan Xue’e also sensed something wrong and started to show her humbleness. Instantly, Wei Mengying directly sent away all the maids and cut to the chase, “Xue’e, rumor has it that your brother intends to find a fiancé for you among the new imperial scholars after the Spring Festival?”

Yuan Xue’e was caught unprepared and instantly blushed, saying with embarrassment, “Auntie, I don’t know!”

“I sort of watch you grow up. Regarding your marriage, I am not qualified to interfere, but I would like to take the opportunity of the Spring Festival to say something!” Wei Mengying said benignly, “You are two years older than Yixiao and she has been married for one year. On the contrary, you are not even engaged. You shouldn’t postpone it anymore! No wonder your brother is in a hurry to find a fiancé for you!”

“But I must reproach him. As a saying goes, a book cannot be judged by its cover.”

“The new imperial scholars come from different places. Generally, it takes them a year or so to make it to the imperial examination. Yet, we are locals of the imperial capital. Their pedigrees and family backgrounds remain unknown. How can you see through someone in a few days?”

“Moreover, you are young and beautiful; your elder brother is a hereditary marquis and loves you so much. How can those with concealed intentions not put on a fake look?”

Song Yixiao was not sure about what Wei Mengying was going to say. Out of prudence, she interrupted, “Mom, speaking of the marriage, Cuipiao, the maid who used to serve Xubai for years, also told me that she wanted to get married the other day! However, for the moment, I don’t know how to arrange it for her. Please show me the ropes today!”

Wei Mengying glimpsed her as warning. “What are you talking about? I was talking with Xue’e about her marriage just now. Why did you bring up a maid? If Xue’e were not good-tempered, she would be angry with you now!”

She knew that her daughter might not be obedient. After scolding Song Yixiao, Wei Mengying decided to cut to the chase, saying to Yuan Xue’e directly, “In my opinion, your elder brother may as well give up that thought and cement the old ties by marriage. Guanlun is your legitimate cousin and you two are childhood sweethearts. What do you think of him?”

This suddenly uttered statement astonished not only Yuan Xue’e but also Song Yixiao!

After a while, Yuan Xue’e blushed and said, “Auntie, marriages should be arranged by parents! My parents have passed away. Now my elder brother is like my father. Your question actually pushes me to a corner!”

Wei Mengying said smilingly, “You and Yixiao are like sisters. I shall tell you honestly the reason why I suggest this. It is mainly because the Prince will submit the application for entitling Guanlun as his heir. My own son, Guanyun is too young. When I become old, I may have to rely on Guanlun and his wife. Thus, I hope that his wife can get along well with me. Of course, if you don’t like the idea, you just take it as a joke that I randomly make up and don’t get mad about it. Okay?”

Since a senior said so, what else could Yuan Xue’e say? She had no other choice but to say that she was not mad at all.

Then they just skipped the topic and talked about other things. After a while, Yuan Xuepei sent a maid to beckon Yuan Xue’e so she just left with a relief. Song Yixiao looked at her go away and then asked her mother anxiously, “Mom! You want to play a matchmaker between Xue’e and Lu Guanlun? What are you up to?”

“What am I up to?” Wei Mengying’s voice became cold instantly and her countenance turned stern too, as if she hadn’t been benign a moment ago. She said harshly, “I do feel like asking what you are up to. You’ve helped a cousin who you spend a few days with to scheme against me. Now you are yelling at me for Yuan Xue’e. Are you really my daughter? I have owed you a lot of debts!”

“Mom, I didn’t mean it!” Song Yixiao held back the anxiety and apologized to her. After saying good words to her, her mother finally looked less angry and continued asking, “Why do you want Xue’e to be your daughter-in-law? Marquis Boling is on the side of the Crown Prince!”

Wei Mengying said seriously, “For a mother, when her daughter gets married, it is not different from losing the daughter. Since you’ve been married to Xubai, you are one of the Jian Family now. If she is married to Guanlun, it will make her one of the Lu Family. As long as she stays away from her brother, in terms of the Prince’s power, the Lu Family won’t get into trouble then! After all, Yuan Xuepei and Yuan Xue’e are grandchildren of the Dowager Consort. The ties between the two families cannot be cut off, right?”

Song Yixiao said in confusion, “Is Guanlun really going to be the heir?”