Chapter 1147: Chapter 1146: Letting Go
On the other side, from Lady Gao’s end, after the banquet that day, the Gao Family sent a letter several tis urging Lady Gao to suggest to Song Hong to have Song Chongjin recorded under her na.
After the Imperial Spring Examination of Song Chongjin, they would pressure Song Hong to establish Song Chongjin as the Princely Heir.
They even planned that once Song Chongjin beca the Princely Heir, they would secretly feed Wang Yongzhu so secret dicine from the palace.
This dicine is colorless and tasteless, and after ingestion, it appears as nothing on the surface, only causing gradual weakening day by day, not even detectable by the doctor.
After a year or so, the person would pass away, leaving no trace.
Once Wang Yongzhu is gone, by then they can marry Song Chongjin to a girl from the Gao Family, have a child with the bloodlines of both the Song and Gao families, and the Song and Gao families will still be in-laws.
With the Song Family at the forefront, the Gao Family could also stop declining.
Their calculations seem quite good, not to ntion Lady Gao herself, even Sister Kang by her side was moved, thinking for Lady Gao’s sake: “Madam, this old servant thinks this plan is good. Not to ntion anything else, if the young master is recorded under your na, in the future when you’re old, wouldn’t you have soone to rely on?”
Lady Gao, lost in thought for a long mont, shook her head and said, “You don’t need to persuade . I will not agree to have that child recorded under my na!”
Sister Kang still wanted to persuade, but Lady Gao sternly said, “Huixin, haven’t you figured it out yet? This young master is not soone that can be contained in a pond. Even if we plan well here, it still depends on whether the young master is willing.”
“Madam, look at what you’re saying, being recorded under your na ans becoming the legitimate eldest son, and the position of the Princely Heir would be secured. As long as the young master is not foolish, would he refuse? If you don’t feel comfortable speaking, I am willing to make the trip and tell the Eldest Young Lady the benefits of this, surely they’ll be tempted,” Sister Kang expressed disbelief.
“Why bother? These years, I’m also tired of it, and I don’t want to get involved in these anymore. Do you think my family really wants to have sothing to rely on in my later years? What a joke! I am a first rank Duchess conferred by the Imperial Court, with a grant and phoenix coronet robes. No matter who inherits the Duke’s Mansion in the future, I am their legitimate mother, and they must be respectful to .”
“As a lonely old widow, they only need to spend so silver coin each year to support , how could it hinder them? It even earns them a reputation for filial piety, how could they treat harshly? Even if I die in the future, I am also in the Song Family’s genealogy. The paper burning, incense offerings, and als offering won’t be lacking for , so why should I worry?”
“They’re in such a hurry, saying it’s for , but it’s only for the Gao Family. The Gao Family now is not what it used to be, only relying on my mother being in favor with the Empress Dowager and our Duke’s Mansion to hold up. It’s said that I am obstructing them, I cannot bear children, yet seizing the position of Lady of the Duke Weiguo and not letting go.”
“Had I died from childbirth back then, they could have sent soone else in, and maybe by now, they’d have children swarming around. A Princely Heir with the bloodline of the Gao Family is what they want!”
“If I truly agreed to have the young master recorded under my na, I fear they would then force to personally give Brother Jin’s Daughter-in-Law the dicine, and later still forcefully marry Brother Jin to a girl from the Gao Family.”
“If one day the matter gets exposed, by then I would be the best scapegoat, everything would be blad on , the dicine would be given by , the marriage forced by . What do you say my fate would be by then?” Lady Gao said with a cold sneer at this point.
Sister Kang shivered, truly if as her madam said, her madam wouldn’t only lose her way out by then, but also end up in ruins.
Thinking of this, Sister Kang’s face changed: “This old servant…this old servant…”
Lady Gao sighed softly, looking out the window: “My life has been like this now. Over the years, I have also sched for many benefits for the Gao Family, just let live a few years of peaceful days.”
Sister Kang wiped her tears: “Madam, it’s so hard for you! I’m afraid even if you don’t agree, the Gao Family won’t give up, should we send a ssage to the County Lord, asking her to help suppress the Gao Family for you?”
Sothing flickered in Lady Gao’s eyes, she said wistfully, “Mother is also old now, has worried for most of her life for this unfilial daughter of hers, let her also enjoy so peace now. As long as I don’t agree, the Gao Family cannot stretch their hands into the Song Family!”
Seeing Sister Kang with reddened eyes, Lady Gao smiled: “What are you sad about? Don’t worry, your madam sees things clearly, if I hadn’t, I might have already…”
The remaining words faded in her mouth, unheard by anyone.
Ever since Song Chongjin said he would study behind closed doors, apart from occasionally going out to communicate with Gu Zikai and the graduates from Jing County, he didn’t interact with outsiders.
After the fifteenth day of the first month, Song Hong led Song Chongjin to visit that Qin Bohan, Lord Qin.
Lord Qin was an intimate of the Emperor, holding a high position, living in a five-entry large mansion granted by the Emperor, not too far from the Duke Qiguo Mansion.
Since Qin Bohan does not like luxury and is a person of simplicity, the large Minister’s Mansion had only two door attendants at the gate.
Seeing the mark on the Duke Weiguo’s carriage, they greeted respectfully: “Are you Lord Duke Weiguo and Young Master Song?”
Song Hong nodded, affirming, and the two doorkeepers said without lowering themselves, “Our master instructed us to wait at the door early in the morning, esteed lords please——”
They then led the two inside.
Song Chongjin looked around the mansion, though the new year had just passed, apart from the two red lanterns hanging at the gate adding a touch of festivity, once inside the door, there was only a sense of propriety and solemnity.
The servants in the Minister’s Mansion seed few, and after the two doorkeepers brought them to the front courtyard, a steward-like person invited them to the study.
The study had a brazier burning and was warm, with many staff officers huddled together discussing sothing, seeing the two coming in, they stepped forward to greet them, then retreated back.
Qin Bohan was wearing a casual robe inside, reading gazettes, he looked up at the sound, stood up to greet, and invited them to sit down, shortly after, a young servant brought in tea, then quietly left.
After a few pleasantries and a cup of tea, Qin Bohan seated Song Hong aside, asked a few questions of Song Chongjin, anwhile, people kept coming to report, saying who wanted to see him and who had matters to discuss.
Song Hong saw how very busy Qin Bohan was, feeling rather apologetic, and was about to stand up to take his leave.
Qin Bohan was indeed extrely busy, didn’t falsely urge them to stay, he asked Song Chongjin to leave the article he brought, and then took a manuscript from the side and tossed it to Song Chongjin: “Take this manuscript back and study it well for two days, I’ll be off duty the day after tomorrow, co to my place early, I’ll test you again. Today is truly busy, you better go back for now.”
Song Chongjin respectfully took the manuscript and left.
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