The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

The Heir’s wife of Duke Ying Mansion, Madam Lu, arrived at the Prime Minister’s Mansion with two carts of tonics and gifts. She first went to Chunhui Hall to pay her respects to Song Ci, and only then did she head to Song Ruqi’s courtyard.

First, it was to answer Duke Ying’s words and deliver the gifts; second, of course, was to discuss with Song Ruqi which people should be invited to Jin-ge’er’s full-month banquet, and to start getting the invitations ready.

Most importantly, she was there to deliver a message to Song Ruqi.

Song Ruqi’s gaze sharpened, her voice a bit shrill as she said, ”It hasn’t even been a full year yet, how come Second Brother and the others can already come back from the old home?”

Madam Lu smiled lightly and said, ”Mother has thought it through. She’s also thinking that you and Third Brother are about to go down to Jiangnan, and no one knows how long it will be before you can return to the capital, so she wants the whole family neatly together to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival in reunion.”

Song Ruqi let out a cold laugh. ”This talk of a festival is just pretense; what she really can’t stand is the idea of them suffering and toiling back in the old home.”

Madam Lu’s eyes flickered, and she clicked her tongue in feigned reproach. ”Third Sister-in-law.”

Realizing she’d misspoken, Song Ruqi lifted the nourishing soup in her hands and took a sip. ”I know they can’t stay in the old home for a lifetime. How could Mother bear it? Fine, let them come back if they will. Our third branch is going down to Jiangnan anyway—who’s going to stay here to play with her.”

She slanted a look at Madam Lu, arched her brows, and said, ”It’s you and Eldest Brother who’ll have a hard time of it—having to deal with that black-hearted one.”

Madam Lu sighed. ”We’re all one family. There’s no helping it. What we can endure, we just have to endure.”

Song Ruqi snorted coldly. ”I don’t have Eldest Sister-in-law’s kind of patience. Just because I don’t bring up the past doesn’t mean it’s over. Me, I’m selfish and vindictive; I remember everything. If Second Sister-in-law doesn’t run into me, fine. But if she dares lay a dark hand on me and my child again, I’ll tear her apart even if it means cutting all ties with the Qi Family.”

”Third Sister-in-law is nothing if not a woman of feeling,” Madam Lu said with a smile, offering a word of praise.

Song Ruqi lifted her chin. ”It’s nothing but being a mother makes one fierce. You ought to understand that even better than I do, Eldest Sister-in-law.” She lowered her gaze slightly and said, ”The Duke Mansion is a huge household; scheming and infighting are inevitable. You and Eldest Brother are the original legitimate son and wife, and the Princely Heir’s position was set early on. By rights, we who come from the secondary branch aren’t really qualified to sit here and speak heart-to-heart with you—but there is one thing.”

Song Ruqi ground her back teeth, her eyes dimming. ”I always remember how I lost my first child. Eldest Sister-in-law, our third branch has stepped out of this vortex that is the Duke Mansion; from now on we can call it broad seas and open sky. Qi Zhen has said he has no intention of fighting for that position. I married the man, chicken or dog, I follow what he is—it’s all the same, and I’ve no interest in contending. But even as the Heir’s wife, you can’t afford to let your guard down. A child that isn’t one’s own flesh will always be a layer removed. What’s in their hearts, you don’t know. If you want to sit steadily in this seat of the Heir’s wife, you’ll have to spend more thought on it.”

Madam Lu’s heart stirred; a bit excited, she said, ”Third Sister-in-law is baring her heart and lungs for me with this.”

Song Ruqi curled her lips. ”Our third branch has no intention of fighting for that position, but others may not feel the same. I just don’t want to see that woman sitting in this seat, that’s all. She’s not worthy.”

Madam Lu said, ”Right now I truly envy you, Third Sister-in-law. After you go down to Jiangnan with Third Brother, don’t you dare grow distant from me. We should write to each other often. After all, there will come a day when you return to the capital; you can’t just say you’ll wash your hands of the news in the capital and really wash your hands of it.”

Song Ruqi’s eyes flashed. ”Even if you didn’t say so, Eldest Sister-in-law, I would still do it.”

The two of them exchanged a look, which counted as reaching a tacit understanding.