Chapter 129: The Younger Sister Aspires to Climb the Imperial Branch

The sudden departure of the Eldest Madam of the Song household stirred curiosity among many in the flower hall. Those with sharp ears had vaguely caught the word "prince." Could it be that one of the princes had arrived?

If so, the Prime Minister’s residence would truly be on the verge of soaring to new heights. One must understand that the Prime Minister is the leader of the scholarly elite from humble origins. In the capital, their greatest backing is the Empress Dowager and the Emperor; they have no marriage ties to the imperial family, so logically, princes would not frequent such occasions. Yet, individuals of such status had arrived. Given the current discussions in court regarding the designation of an heir, were they here to win over the Prime Minister, or perhaps they had their eyes on one of the Prime Minister’s daughters or sons?

Oh, the Second Miss of the Song family reaches her coming-of-age ceremony this winter. All the matrons in the hall had been observing her, wondering what kind of figure she would cut. The Prime Minister and his wife had not leaked a single word about any potential marriage alliances. Could it be for the sake of the imperial family?

This was truly explosive news. Some felt their hearts itching with impatience, longing to return home immediately to discuss it with their husbands.

After the Eldest Madam left, Mistress Jiang arranged for the ladies to move to the theater pavilion to watch the performances. Song Ci, acting as the matriarch holding down the fort, pretended to be unaware of the arrival of those prestigious guests, leading the ladies in watching the plays and gossiping about the trivialities of various households.

Those present had guessed correctly; princes had indeed arrived. It was the First Prince, accompanied by the Second and Third Princes. They had all come in the company of their maternal cousins or familiar young noblemen from various dukedoms and marquisates, though they traveled without the usual pomp and ceremony.

Upon learning that Song Zhiyuan had returned to the estate, the Eldest Madam felt relieved. With her husband there to anchor the house, the arrival of a few princes was manageable.

Song Zhiyuan, however, felt a sense of annoyance. He was no longer a young man; he could guess why these little masters had come. He had no intention of picking a side, and what troubled him was having to report this to the Emperor.

"Have the secret guards follow them discreetly; do not let them wander aimlessly," Song Zhiyuan ordered. He led the princes to meet his sons and his younger brother, then sent them off to amuse themselves, instructing the head of the secret guards, Qian Yong, to keep a close watch. Qian Yong acknowledged the order and departed.

"Prime Minister, the Duke of England has arrived."

Song Zhiyuan stood up immediately, straightened his collar, and went forth to greet him.

Meanwhile, Song Zhiyu held an emergency meeting with his young nephews, assigning each a chaperone. They must not be allowed to wander off alone, nor could they cause any conflicts, and they certainly must not cross paths with the ladies. Consequently, every prince found himself followed by a little "tail," leaving them with the strange sensation that they were being treated like prisoners.

In the circle of noble young ladies, where Song Ruqian was hosting alongside her two sisters, she received the message brought by her mother and her eyes flickered slightly.

"Qi'er, there are several distinguished guests over by the winding stream and floating cups. Do not let these young ladies wander off and stumble upon that area," Song Ruqian whispered to her sister.

Song Ruqi’s heart skipped a beat. "Elder sister, who are these distinguished guests?"

Song Ruqian glanced at her younger sister, her brow twitching slightly. "They are noble persons; it is enough for you to know that much." She paused, then added, "Qi'er, you are the Second Miss of the Song family, and today is a grand day for Mother. We must not let anyone look down upon the Prime Minister’s residence, or look down upon us. And we certainly must not let any laughingstock be made of us."

Song Ruqi’s gaze darted away, feeling somewhat guilty. "I understand, elder sister."

"Good, go on and be a proper hostess," Song Ruqian said with a smile.

As Song Ruqi walked away, Song Ruqian’s smile faded, and her eyes held a trace of worry. Could her sister truly be harboring thoughts of climbing the imperial branches, just as she feared?

"Ruqian, come take a look! How is my painting?" a young noblewoman called out to her with a smile.

Song Ruqian composed her thoughts and brightened her expression. "Coming!"