The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Governor Wen’s eldest daughter, Miss Wen, a brief emptiness filled Song Ci’s mind as some memories surfaced.

Everyone stared at her, holding their breath.

Song Ci smiled slightly, ”I remember now, isn’t she the one who was originally at odds with our Su’er?”

”Precisely,” Jiang Shi feigned a amused grimace, ”Mother is accustomed to seeing big figures like the Empress Dowager and the Emperor every day, so it’s natural not to remember such minor characters.”

”Indeed,” Song Ci tugged at the corner of her mouth, but her heart was racing with anxiety.

To be honest, when they were talking earlier, she didn’t remember who that Miss Wen was, her mind just seemed to refuse to function, unable to recall anything.

Even though she had seen the child just half a year ago and gossiped about her, now she couldn’t recall any of it.

To avoid embarrassment, Song Ci pretended nothing was amiss and asked, ”Is it true that the Prince Zhou Mansion is holding such a high-profile reception for merely raising a concubine?”

Madam Song said, ”After all, she is the eldest daughter of Governor Wen, a noble status. Both Prince Zhou and Lady Fan are willing to give her face, so they’re hosting it with more fanfare.”

Song Ci snorted, ”Giving her face, it’s just because she is Governor Wen’s daughter. Saying it’s for her, isn’t it really for Governor Wen? Seems like Prince Zhou and Lady Fan are trying hard to please Governor Wen. And would Consort Zhou allow it? Which family is she from?”

”She’s the eldest daughter of Minister Li from the Ministry of Rites,” Madam Song responded, ”In her heart, Consort Zhou would definitely not want a mere concubine to steal the limelight, especially one of such high birth. Giving her face would endanger her own status. But considering the larger interest, she would have no choice but to agree. After all, she and Prince Zhou are one and the same, and only if Prince Zhou advances could she go further.”

Song Ci said, ”That’s the point, everything comes from benefits.”

”The key is there’s still Consort Fan above, it’s not even her turn to agree or not. Even Minister Li wouldn’t dare say anything.”

To be honest, the position of Minister of Rites, though of the highest rank, can’t quite compare with a powerful Governor of Jiangnan. In prosperous Jiangnan, wealth is considerable, and everything revolves around silver.

Song Ci nodded, saying, ”No matter how dignified, she’s just a mere concubine of a prince, not even the official wife. I won’t attend.” She paused, and added, ”Madam Gu, you needn’t go either, let Madam Lu go.”

”I’m not to go either?” Madam Song was surprised.

”Not you. You’re an Imperial Decree Madam of the highest rank; attending a mere concubine’s banquet, even if for a prince, would give her too much credit. Especially with the Crown Prince undecided, as the Prime Minister’s wife, were you to appear in such a setting, people would undoubtedly overthink. Although you also hold an Imperial Decree, you lack an official position, making you less influential, while Madam Lu holds a Fifth Rank Imperial Decree, and it’s enough for her to attend such an event.”

Madam Song stiffened, indicating this was about taking sides, their Song Family is a Royalist Party, always aligning with the Emperor. Song Zhiyuan treats solicitation of any prince uniformly, with indifference.

Jiang Shi chuckled, ”I always listen to Mother anyway, I’m not too fond of such occasions, instead, I’d rather stay at home and play some mahjong with Mother.”

Seeing Jiang Shi agree too, Madam Song said, ”In that case, let’s have the third sister-in-law go.”