Chapter 314: Chapter 315 - Now You Start to Fear

Song Yixiao acted unperturbed by the news that Gu Tongxu had gone to live in Song Family’s mansion.

In fact, she had nothing to be excited with. While Liu Zhijin stilled lived in the Song Family’s mansion! How could she be angry with such a family?

So she only smiled lightly and said, “Yibao, Yijiao and Yiyao are all still young, and my grandmother is lonely, so it would be nice to bring Miss Gu over.”

Jiang Muting naturally did not believe this argument and said, “I guess Elder Lady Pang wanted to find out what she had talked with you when she visited you before, right? Since Miss Gu is staying with the Song Family, she is obviously close to them, so why did she come to you first?”

Song Yixiao said carelessly, “She took a visiting card from me, an invitation for Wuying’s birthyday next month.”

“I see!” Jiang Muting heard this and immediately became indignant, saying, “Although Prime Minister Gu and your maternal grandfather are close friends, you didn’t grow up in Song Family. When Prime Minister Gu’s granddaughter comes to the imperial capital, she should visit Song Family’s mansion first. Why did she come to you first? That’s the reason! When she has just got the visiting card, she’s already gone to the Song Family’s mansion. How shameful!”

She sneered and said, “But it’s just as well that we can see her true face so that when we get to the birthday banquet of County Lady Jinghui, we can reveal what she’s really like–thinking that just because she plays some tricks to get the visiting card and attends County Lady’s birthday banquet, she can blend in with us? She thinks we’re all fools?”

“That’s nothing.” Song Yixiao could neither cry nor laugh at her words, “In fact, Miss Gu is also in a difficult position. Think about it. She was betrothed to Qiu Zhiyin, and Qiu Zhiyin’s biological sister is now a concubine in Song Family’s mansion, and the Song Family is also quite close to Prime Minister Gu. When my grandmother invites her, how can she turn it down? In these days, it is difficult for a woman to deal with issues inside and outside when she is in trouble with her husband after she gets married.”

Jiang Muting said, “If she has already thought for Qiu Zhiyin before she marries him, why would she come to fool you for the visiting card? She is so spineless!”

“It should be Prime Minister Gu’s intention.” Song Yixiao said, “She came to me right after she arrived in the imperial capital. If it wasn’t for Prime Minister Gu’s wish, she might not even know me as she was born and raised in Hongzhou, so how would she come to my door? If her grandfather had given the word, how could Miss Gu not be obedient?”

She continued to say, “In fact, I think Miss Gu is really in the wrong. Originally with the status of Prime Minister Gu as well as her talent and beauty, all the young and handsome males wish to marry her. If it weren’t for the fact that all the princes are married and those who aren’t married are not at the right age, she would have no problem being the wife of the eldest legitimate son. But now she has been betrothed to the Qiu Family. Now that the Empress Dowager is still alive, the Qiu Family is peaceful for the time being, but in the future…it is hard to say!”

“Although Prime Minister Gu is a famous person in the country, and has the competence to govern the country, I really don’t like him!” Jiang Muting heard this and stopped to blame Gu Tongxu, but lamented, “He is also too heartless to his own granddaughter! If it were my father, he would not have agreed to the Emperor!”

Song Yixiao thought to herself that this was not true. After all, Jiang Yin had only had to deal with rumors, whereas Gu Shao had had to deal with Emperor Xianjia himself. The former was certainly unpleasant, but the threat was limited, while the latter could affect the rise and fall of the whole family if one mistake was made.

If Jiang Yin were to change places with Gu Shao, Jiang Yin might not be able to hold his own. When Jiang Muting wanted to marry Yuan Xuepei, Jiang Yin refused, not just because he despised Yuan Xuepei for his disabled leg!

Of course, she didn’t have to say such things, so she just smiled and said, “Lord Jiang is really a kind father!”

Jiang Muting did not know her thoughts, so that she was convinced, “My father loves us most!”

Speaking to this, she sighed, “So I think he won’t agree to Yushan and Yiyou’s marriage… I hope Aunt won’t keep distance from our family because of this!”

So it was always shown in comparison whether relations were distant or close. Jiang Muting usually had a good relationship with Princess Yushan. However, she was not willing to marry Princess Yushan to Yiyou, who was on a lower position. Otherwise, why did she worry about Virtuous Consort keeping distance from the Jiang Family? She should think about how to use Jiang Yin’s affection for her to persuade her father to give her the go-ahead.

But this was a matter for the Jiang Family, Song Yixiao would not talk too much about it. Jiang Muting could not persuade Princess Yushan to do so now that the Jiang Family was in such trouble. After all, her own brother was more important.

Therefore, Jiang Muting was reminded that when she asked Song Yixiao why she was invited over, Song Yixiao said lightly, “It’s nothing else. It’s just that when Xue’e got married, I promised you that I would make an embroidery piece as a congratulatory gift for you when you get married. But since I’ve been nourishing the fetus these days, it’s been hard for me to make needlework, so I’ve only made three or five pieces in the past few months. I’m thinking of sending a few pieces of embroidery to Su Shaoling’s wedding soon. I’m going to let you choose first.”

She winked at her, “But don’t let Su Shaoling know!”

Jiang Muting believed it to be true and laughed, “You don’t need to say that. I’ve taken advantage of it, so, of course, I have to hide it from the public!”

Song Yixiao took out the embroidery pieces she recently made and asked her to choose a few. Jiang Muting and Yuan Xuepei’s wedding was scheduled to be at the beginning of spring next year, and it was already almost the twelfth lunar month. As the mistress of the Duke’s mansion, Song Yixiao was unlikely to be available for the rest of the year. And she was about to give birth after the Spring Festival. So even though the wedding was still three months away, it was unlikely that she would be able to make any new ones.

Therefore, the congratulatory gifts for Jiang Muting could only be chosen from these few pieces.

After sending Jiang Muting away, Jian Xubai came back in the evening and listened to his wife’s telling what had happened, and he also felt that Virtuous Consort Jiang was confused because of anxiety, “Jiang Yin is very fond of his children. Even if Miss Jiang is a girl, he still treats her as a treasure, let alone his son. The Jiang Family’s reputation has been good for three generations, and Virtuous Consort Jiang could be one of the four concubines because of the identity of a daughter in the Jiang Family. Prince of Shu is a prince, but his birth mother, Madam Xu, is still a concubine. Jiang Yin doesn’t have to consider Virtuous Consort Jiang’s emotions at all. How can he possibly agree to this marriage?”

After all, there had only been rumors about Princess Yushan being capricious and unreasonable before. But in the past year she had first made a scene at the Qingxi Hall where the Empress Dowager lived, then she had made Emperor Xianjia fainted with anger, and now she had come to her aunt’s mansion to pester her. If such a princess were to marry the son in the Jiang Family, who knew how much trouble she would cause in the future?

The niece wouldn’t be as close as his own son.

Song Yixiao said, “Muting also thinks that Lord Jiang will not agree, but since Virtuous Consort has such an intention, she will keep a close eye on the princess and not let her run about, so I don’t think Mother will be disturbed.”

In the end, Princess Yushan’s marriage had little to do with them. If the princess hadn’t angered Grand Princess Jinguo two days ago, the couple would have heard it and let it go, no matter how great the scene she’s made.

Now that it was confirmed that Princess Yushan would not be able to mess with Grand Princess Jinguo for the time being, Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao were no longer concerned. Song Yixiao said, “The newly made green satin plated-collar shirt with black phoenix holding a flower in mouth came over today. Should you try it on after the bath or right now? After all, two days later is the day that Cousin Mingfei will marry Su Shaoling, so if there is anything that doesn’t fit, you can ask someone to change it as soon as possible.”

Jian Xubai looked at the copper funnel and said, “There’s nothing to do, so let’s try it on now!”

Jinxun heard it and hurriedly went to the inner room to fetch it, and served Jian Xubai to go behind the screen to change his clothes.

In a few moments, Jian Xubai came out with the new clothes on. He was handsome and in his prime, so he looked especially vigorous in his green shirt, with a pure gold crown on his head and a jade belt around his waist, adding another layer of nobility to his vigorous and heroic appearance, which made people reminded of the green pine standing straight on the steep cliff miles under the morning sunlight.

The man was elegant and graceful as well.

Song Yixiao never considered herself as a person who judged people only by their appearance, but even though it was the husband she was familiar with, she couldn’t help but admire him at the moment, “I thought the material was too brightly dyed, but now I realize that no matter what color it is, it depends on who is wearing it!”

“Now you know what to fear, don’t you?” Jian Xubai smiled playfully and waved his hand to make Jinxun leave before he teased, “Who was the one insisting on returning the jade pendant to me before? And you were so angry when I refused to take it. If I hadn’t stopped you, how remorseful would you have been?”

“That’s because I was afraid you had no good intentions.” Song Yixiao said without thinking, “The first time I saw you, my mother told me that you would grow up to serve the monarch and that the two grand princesses in the palace were not easy-going people, so I should stay away from you if I didn’t want to end up in a bad situation. I was only invited to have a drink at Zhanchun Venue, and you somehow wanted to marry me, so can I not suspect that there are any inside stories?”

Jian Xubai nodded his head as he listened, and at the end of her speech, he looked as taking a tumble and said, “I see! Who wouldn’t be attracted to me with my talents and status? How could you refuse me if I offered to marry you? You’ve been thinking too much!”

“I admit that your status and appearance are good.” Song Yixiao deliberately said, “As for talent…I haven’t seen much of it up to now?”

Jian Xubai glanced at her with a smile and said, “Are you trying to urge me to compete with Su Zhiyong?”

“Why are you talking about Master Shaoge all of a sudden?” Song Yixiao spat slightly, “I’m going to be angry if you keep being so suspicious!”

“I’m just kidding. I don’t really suspect you.” Hearing this, Jian Xubai instantly comforted her, “But don’t think I really can’t do anything, it’s just that I’ve been busy with this and that since we got married, and the Spring Festival is around the corner. I promised last year that I would take you out to relax, but I haven’t been able to do it until now. Fortunately, the fight for the title of heir to the throne is over, so when I have time after the Spring Festival, I will show you some of my skills so that you will know that my remark of having both looks and real talent is indeed true.”

Song Yixiao didn’t doubt this. No matter how disappointing a person from a wealthy family was, he or she would know a little bit about lyre-playing, chess, calligraphy and painting. Even if they were not proficient, they should not be completely amateurish.

She looked interested, “Then it’s a deal, but you have to be really good at it. I’ve been learning a lot in the girls’ school, so don’t let my skills learnt casually get the better of you!”

“How can that be?” Jian Xubai reached out to twist her cheek and laughed loudly, “You’ll see!”

The couple played around for a while before calling in someone to serve them again.

Two days passed in a flash, and soon it was time for Ji Zifu to marry Su Shaoling.

The relationship between the Duke of Yan’s mansion and Earl Fuyang’s mansion had always been neither distant nor close.

But at this moment, the Ji Family’s future was somewhat uncertain, so as relatives, especially relatives who were on the side of the winner, they had to be extra attentive, so as not to be perceived as hitting them when they were down or being snobbish.

So the couple arrived at Ji Family’s mansion very early that day.

When they arrived, most of the guests had not yet arrived.

Perhaps because the wedding hadn’t started yet, Ji Zifu personally came out to receive them.

“Yixiao, you are here too?” He had not yet changed into his auspicious clothes and was wearing an indigo-blue suit with branches-broken woven gold four seasons’ flowers, which set off the fair complexion of a nobleman. But his frown didn’t show any pleasure that there should be today.

Instead, he looked preoccupied.

After greeting Jian Xubai, he exchanged a few brief pleasantries with him. The cousins were on an even keel and had different hobbies and temperaments, so they didn’t have much to talk about. Ji Zifu quickly turned to Song Yixiao, looking at her up and down a few times, pausing for a moment on her bulging belly in particular, then he said, “I thought my sister-in-law’s fetus should be heavier, so you might not come today. Thank you for coming.”

He said this with his eyes staring at the gable not far away, giving others the impression that he was abstracted.

However, Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao both thought he might be unhappy with the marriage to the Su Family, or worried about the future of the Ji Family, so they didn’t think much of it. Song Yixiao smiled gently and said, “It’s true that it’s not very convenient for me to walk, but it’s not that I can’t move, and besides, how can I not attend my cousin’s wedding?”

She looked at Ji Zifu as she spoke and immediately sensed that her cousin seemed to be holding back something, and felt very sorry for Su Shaoling, so she could not help but add, “Speaking of which, Su Shaoling, oh, I should change to call her sister-in-law today. She has always been graceful and elegant. I’ve never seen her beam with delight, so this is a rare opportunity!”

Right. Su Shaoling was virtuous and considerate. But today was their wedding day, the bridegroom, Ji Mingfei acted like he was not interested in anything. The guests were not blind. How could Su Shaoling maintain her pride in the future like this?

Even if he didn’t like his wife, at least out of human nature, he should still pretend to be limitlessly happy and give her the dignity today, right?

Ji Zifu figured out the meaning of her words, and he felt thousands of emotions flooding to his heart, and his mind was muddled with thoughts. He was not sure whether he secretly adored his sister-in-law, whom he had little contact with, or he was just grateful for a helping hand during the snowstorm.

But whichever emotion he felt, he did not want Song Yixiao to misunderstand him, so after a moment of silence, he said, “Is that so? I’ve only met Su Shaoling once, so I don’t know her as well as you do. But I think women as virtuous as she must have very high requirements for their husbands, I wonder if she will be happy or sorry to marry me. So if you want to see her beam with delight, your wish may not come true today, right?”

Hearing this, Song Yixiao was not annoyed with him, but was even a little embarrassed, “So this is why you look so anxious. Are you worried about this?”