Chapter Ninety-Five: I Was Careless

When First Madam Song heard Song Ci’s reminder, she took it with a grain of salt. In her natal home, with her grandmother and eldest aunt-in-law watching over things, who would dare scheme against her daughter?

But when Song Ruqi came back in a fury and First Madam Song asked casually what had happened, the tea cup in her hand nearly tipped over.

“What did you say? Whom did you see?”

Her voice trembled with shock as she stared at her daughter.

Song Ruqi was still fuming over her repeated clashes with Zhao Mingyao at the marquis’s mansion, and when she saw the alarm in her mother’s face, she said, “It was Ruoning’s cousin. I think he’s from the Luo family, from my eldest aunt-in-law’s natal house, the Liuyang Earl’s residence.”

Bang.

First Madam Song set the cup down hard on the small table beside the heated bed and glared at her. “You mean that when the Luo boy came to pay his respects, your eldest aunt-in-law didn’t make any of you girls step out at all?”

Song Ruqi shook her head, then thought for a moment and said, “Eldest aunt-in-law was there too. Ruoning was there as well.”

“That still wasn’t proper. Never mind you, even Ruoning is nearly of marriageable age. That young man was an unrelated male; she ought to have avoided him. But your aunt-in-law...” The more First Madam Song spoke, the angrier she grew. She slammed the table hard, jostling the tea cup.

Song Ruqi jumped.

“Madam, please calm yourself.” Nanny Fang rubbed First Madam Song’s back and tried to soothe her. “Perhaps First Madam simply did not think it through.”

“Did not think it through?” First Madam Song gave a cold laugh. “You know what the Liuyang Earl’s household is like now, don’t you, Nanny? A nest of legitimate and illegitimate sons and daughters all crammed together, practically no better than a house fallen on hard times. And still she dares to set her sights on my Qi’er? So she, Luo Yinglian, is willing to help her natal family, willing to play matchmaker, but if she had tried to bring her own son into this, I would not be this furious...”

“Cough, cough.” Nanny Fang coughed twice, glanced at the stunned Song Ruqi, and reminded her helplessly, “Madam, the young lady is still here.”

First Madam Song choked on her words. Looking at Song Ruqi, she felt slightly embarrassed and said, “Go back to your courtyard. From now on, go to the marquis’s mansion less often. And even if you do go, keep your distance from any unsavory people you run into.”

Song Ruqi stood and said, “Mother need not be angry. Even if Aunt-in-law had meant it, I would never have looked twice at him. He is only a scholar. However handsome he may be, he is still not good enough for me.”

First Madam Song: “...”

My daughter is so practical. Should I be relieved or speechless?

Song Ruqi curtsied and withdrew. Once outside the main courtyard, she plucked a camellia from the roadside, toyed with it in her hand, sniffed it once, and then tossed it aside.

A mere scholar was hardly her target. Her target was a princess consort.

First Madam Song looked at Nanny Fang, and the latter laughed. “Now Madam should be at ease, yes?”

“This child does have a bit of pride. Still, I’m angry at my sister-in-law’s conduct. She thinks no one can see through her calculations. A ruined Liuyang Earl’s household, of all things. How could she even come up with such an idea? Why didn’t she think of arranging it for her own son, Kun’er?”

Nanny Fang said, “Madam, think about it. Young Master Kun is the youngest son. Not only does he still have no official rank or title, he also cannot inherit the peerage. Would you really want Second Young Lady to spend her future under the authority of the heir’s wife?”

“Of course not!” First Madam Song snorted coldly.

“Then that settles it. As for Young Master Luo, he may very well have a chance of inheriting a title.”

First Madam Song’s anger eased a little, but she was still indignant. “In any case, she never asked me, and she had no right to scheme about my Qi’er like this.”

Fortunately, it had only been a single meeting, and nothing had happened at the marquis’s mansion. Otherwise, how would she ever answer to the Chancellor and the Dowager Lady?

First Madam Song gave a shiver. It seemed she truly could not afford to be careless anymore.