Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 51

With the Regent delivering the final decision, the matter was considered settled.

Once everything had been decided, those below quietly reflected upon it, and the more they thought about it, the more interesting the arrangement seemed.

After all, from the moment the young Emperor was born, he had been taken to Fenglai Palace and raised on Empress Dowager Zheng’s lap.

A person might naturally long for and feel affection toward their biological mother by blood. But as for believing that the young Emperor harbored particularly deep feelings for a birth mother he had never even met, not a single one of those present truly believed that. Therefore, the fact that the young Emperor had, under the pressure of Empress Dowager Zheng, eagerly agreed to appoint Song Yuan was highly thought-provoking.

From one perspective, it suggested that the relationship between the most exalted mother and son in the empire was not nearly as harmonious as everyone had imagined.

At the very least, the young Emperor did not fully trust Empress Dowager Zheng, nor did he feel sufficiently secure.

That was why, upon learning that Song Yuan was a possible candidate, he had immediately chosen him.

Under these circumstances, the young Emperor needed someone like Song Yuan at his side. And Song Yuan likewise needed an imperial nephew who carried the bloodline of the Song family.

As for the Regent…

With Song Yuan present, the young Emperor within the inner palace would no longer be completely isolated or without support, while Empress Dowager Zheng would also have something to fear. Naturally, this was advantageous for the Regent.

Furthermore, it had been the Regent himself who had brought Song Yuan back to the capital and personally promoted him from a Third-Rank General Zhaoyong to the First-Rank Commander of the Imperial Guards.

Surely Song Yuan would remember such a tremendous favor.

More importantly, Empress Dowager Zheng had long resided in Cien Palace and controlled the affairs of the inner palace. Wu Jianjiang, the former Commander of the Imperial Guards, had likewise been one of the Zheng family’s men, and many of his trusted followers still remained within the Imperial Guards.

Under such circumstances, if Song Yuan wished to establish himself securely, relying solely on the young Emperor would not be enough. He would also have to rely upon the Regent.

Thus, Song Yuan obtained the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards, the Emperor gained a greater sense of security, and the Regent earned Song Yuan’s gratitude.

Apart from Empress Dowager Zheng and the Zheng family being dissatisfied, it truly was the best possible outcome.

Now that the matter had been settled, everyone took their leave.

Although Fu Changxi was the Regent, it was not appropriate for him to remain within the inner palace, so he also rose to depart.

This time, however, he did not ride in his sedan chair.

Instead, he deliberately slowed his pace and walked side by side with Grand Secretary Pei, who was following behind.

Having risen to his current position, Grand Secretary Pei was naturally no fool. He knew the Regent wished to speak with him. While carefully responding, he silently pondered what the Regent intended to discuss at this particular moment.

Unexpectedly, Fu Changxi truly seemed to be chatting casually and brought up Song Yuan instead. “I noticed that Song Yuan isn’t exactly young anymore. Coming all alone to the capital, he does seem rather pitiful. I had originally been thinking of arranging a marriage for him so he could settle down properly. But after thinking it over, I’ve only been in the capital myself for a short while and don’t really know many people. If I matched him with someone carelessly, I might ruin the young lady’s future. So I gave up on the idea.”

As he spoke, he casually reached over and patted Grand Secretary Pei on the shoulder. The force of the pat nearly scattered the old man’s osteoporosis-ridden bones. Then, as if making a joke, he teased, “If only Grand Secretary Pei had a daughter, that would have been perfect.”

Grand Secretary Pei: “…”

He almost suspected that Fu Changxi was simply looking for someone to make fun of for his own amusement. Still, as a minister, he could only reply respectfully, “This old minister has only one daughter, and she has long since been married. By now I already have three grandchildren altogether.”

Of course, Grand Secretary Pei was not the sort to meekly endure everything. He deliberately added, “In this humble minister’s opinion, if Your Highness truly has such intentions, you might simply ask the Grand Princess Dowager or the Grand Princess.”

His words were tactful, but the meaning was obvious.

The Grand Princess Dowager and the Grand Princess were currently searching all over the capital for a suitable Wangfei for His Highness. It would be the easiest thing in the world for them to spare a few eligible ladies for Song Yuan.

Besides, Fu Changxi had just remarked that Song Yuan was “not exactly young anymore” and had come to the capital “all alone, which was rather pitiful.”

Why didn’t he simply look in a mirror himself?

If the capital were to rank its oldest unmarried bachelors, the very first person on the list would undoubtedly be the Regent standing before him.

So when he said those words, did he truly not feel the slightest embarrassment?

Fu Changxi genuinely did not.

Hearing this, he merely raised an eyebrow and laughed carelessly. “That’s true. Thinking about it, Grand Secretary, your grandchildren must all be getting quite grown by now.”

“Today just so happens to be the day the women’s academy posts its admission results. I imagine good news is waiting for you back at your residence. Don’t linger here any longer, head home early.”

As he spoke, Fu Changxi could not help sighing that the women’s academy examination system had remained unchanged for so many years, which was truly problematic.

The examination credentials didn’t even bear the candidates’ names.

That simply encouraged people below to buy and sell credentials in secret.

Who knew how many corrupt parasites that system had fattened over the years?

Grand Secretary Pei was not particularly interested in the matter. He merely responded casually, still unable to understand what exactly the Regent had been trying to imply.

Thus, the two of them continued chatting as they walked, only parting ways once they reached the palace gates.

Fu Changxi boarded his own carriage.

A guard bowed respectfully and quietly asked for instructions. “Your Highness, shall we return to the royal residence or go to the villa?”

“To the Western Hill villa.” Fu Changxi closed his eyes. After a moment’s thought, he finally gave the order.

He thought to himself: If my little disciple still doesn’t come tomorrow, I’ll have to go drag her back myself! She needs to learn a lesson!

***

Grand Secretary Pei watched the Regent’s carriage disappear into the distance before, with the support of a servant, climbing into his own carriage.

Once the curtain had been lowered, he sank wearily into his seat.

The thick cushions beneath him were soft and comfortable. Leaning back against them, his stiff old body gradually relaxed, and he could not help letting out a long sigh.

He then rubbed the space between his brows, wondering silently:

What exactly was the Regent trying to tell me today? Was he hinting that I should befriend Song Yuan? Or was he warning me to keep my distance from him?

The more he thought about it, the more he sighed.

Now that there was one more chair at the top and one more person above everyone else who had to be carefully served and accommodated, life at court had become increasingly difficult.

Grand Secretary Pei rarely indulged in such melancholy. He sighed all the way home. Yet when he arrived, an unpleasant piece of news was already waiting for him.

Today was the day the women’s academy admission list had been posted.

His third granddaughter, Pei Mingzhu, had failed the examination. 

The Pei family had naturally sent people to check the results. Pei Mingzhu’s name was nowhere on the list.

Meanwhile, Zhen Tingyun had not only passed but had also achieved the excellent result of First Class, 5As and 1B.

When Eldest Madam Pei heard the news, she was sitting in Old Madam Pei’s Rongshou Hall together with Second Madam Pei. The moment the servant reported the results, she felt her blood rush upward. Her face burned, her eyes stung, and before she knew it, they had already reddened.

Although Old Madam Pei regretted that her granddaughter had failed to make the list, she was nowhere near as anxious as Eldest Madam Pei.

Seeing her usually strong-willed eldest daughter-in-law on the verge of tears, she instead began comforting her. “There’s no need to be so anxious. She can always take the examination again next year.”

“Next year she’ll already have had her coming-of-age ceremony! If she studies for another three years after that, won’t she already be eighteen?!” The more Eldest Madam Pei spoke, the more heartbroken she became. Her heart seemed to be roasting over a blazing fire. She was so angry that she wished she could drag her disappointing daughter before her and give her a thorough beating just to vent her frustration.

Seeing this, Second Madam Pei naturally offered a few words of consolation.

As for what she was truly thinking inside…

That was another matter entirely.

After all, the gap between herself and Eldest Madam Pei was simply enormous.

Eldest Madam Pei had been born into a marquis’s household. When the Pei family had fallen upon its hardest times, she had steadfastly honored her engagement and insisted on marrying into the declining family. Because of that, everyone in the Pei household deeply valued their eldest daughter-in-law.

Eldest Master Pei likewise cherished his wife greatly.

Their marriage had been harmonious, blessed with both sons and daughters. Most enviable of all, Eldest Madam Pei had given birth to an outstanding son.

Pei Rusong.

Gifted, hardworking, and ambitious, everyone knew he was destined to become the pillar of the next generation of the Pei family.

But what about Second Madam Pei?

She was merely the daughter of a jinshi scholar.

Although Old Master Pei had shamelessly begged an old friend for her hand on behalf of his second son, and although she too had married into the family during its difficult years, her family background still could not compare with that of her elder sister-in-law.

Worst of all…

Second Madam Pei had no luck when it came to sons.

She had borne two daughters in succession before her health deteriorated.

After struggling for several more years, just as the Pei family was beginning to recover, she still could not produce a son.

Having no other choice, she promoted one of her maids to become her husband’s concubine. The maid eventually gave birth to a pair of fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, Pei Manli and Pei Ruzhen.

All the legitimate daughters of the Pei family followed the generation name Ming:

Mingzhen.

Mingya.

Mingzhu.

One only had to look at the name Manli to know her status.

Whenever Second Madam Pei looked at her elder sister-in-law in the past, she always felt that Eldest Madam Pei had been blessed with extraordinary good fortune.

She had been so jealous her heart nearly bubbled over with envy.

Now, however, hearing today’s news, she suddenly felt much of the resentment in her chest disappear.

Though she herself had only two daughters, both were intelligent, sensible, and never caused her any worry. In that respect, she considered herself far more fortunate than her elder sister-in-law.

Naturally, she had plenty of comforting words to offer.

One sentence after another.

Until Eldest Madam Pei cried so bitterly that tears streamed endlessly down her face, repeatedly lamenting, “What terrible fate… what terrible karma…”

Eldest Madam Pei had always been a strong woman.

Today, however, she was truly devastated over her daughter.

With Second Madam Pei continuously “comforting” her beside her, she soon cried until she looked like a complete tear-soaked mess.

As her mother-in-law, Old Madam Pei also spoke a few words of comfort.

Eldest Madam Pei acknowledged them while lowering her head and pouring out all the grievances she had been suppressing. “…I don’t know what kind of karmic debt I must have accumulated in a previous life. Every day she refuses to better herself and only knows how to run around outside. She knew the examination was approaching, yet she still wouldn’t study seriously. As her mother, I begged and pleaded before I finally got her to study for a few days. Then, just before the examination, she actually lost her examination credential! Because of her, I’ve practically thrown away all the dignity I’ve built up in this lifetime.”

“And after all that, she still failed the examination. Next year she’ll already come of age. I… I truly don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore…”

Originally, for the sake of Pei Mingzhu’s reputation, Eldest Madam Pei had never mentioned the matter of the lost examination credential to anyone else. She had hoped that once her daughter passed the examination, the whole incident could quietly disappear without anyone ever knowing.

But now that her daughter had failed…

She was furious and humiliated.

Since everyone present was family, she no longer bothered hiding it. Besides, she had bottled up the matter for so long.

Seeing Zhen Tingyun pass with flying colors while her own daughter failed made her feel unbearably ashamed.

The words had lodged in her heart for so long that she could no longer keep them inside.

Just then, Grand Secretary Pei entered from outside. A maid lifted the curtain for him. By sheer coincidence, he heard that last sentence.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Instantly, he realized something.

His voice turned stern as he demanded, “She lost her examination credential? Then how did she take the examination?”

Hearing his voice, Eldest Madam Pei turned around in alarm.

Only then did she realize that it was her father-in-law, the person she feared most in the entire household.

Her face alternated between pale and flushed. She was so frightened that she could not utter a single word.

For some reason, Grand Secretary Pei suddenly recalled those seemingly casual remarks the Regent had made outside the palace gates.

The kindly expression he usually wore disappeared completely.

His face turned ice cold.

He repeated the question once more. “She lost her examination credential. Then how exactly did she take the examination?”

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