The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Coming out of Wangzhou Pavilion, Madam Lu’s expression still did not look very good.

Madam Zhou supported her hand and advised, ”Madam, please don’t be too angry. Young Master isn’t playing out of greed, he simply likes to immerse himself in this kind of study, that’s all.”

Lu gave a bitter smile. ”He studies this—can he possibly study his way into an official degree with it? Nanny, now the children of both the First and Second Branch are all outstanding. The First Branch goes without saying: Su’er is the legitimate eldest grandson, and the one he is going to marry is a Noble Lady from a high-ranking family. Once he has an official title upon him, he will have confidence in inheriting the family estate in the future. As for the Second Branch, there’s even less need to mention it. Second Sister-in-law’s dowry is abundant; her two sons, one in the civil track and one in the military, both have official degrees. Jie’er is even the Crown Prince’s Study Companion—his prospects are immeasurable. As for Zhao’er, I hear he is now a squad leader of ten men.”

Madam Zhou licked her lips; just from listening, she already felt the Song Family was extraordinary.

Leaving aside that the daughters are all married into prominent households, the young masters as well are promising at a young age. Among the other aristocratic families in the capital, who has such fortune? It is as if all the good luck has been monopolized by the Song Family.

It really invites too much envy.

Yet looking from the positive side, the prosperity and flourishing belonging to the Song Family have indeed arrived.

”Look at them—all youthful talents. And what about Zhou’er?”

”Madam, Young Master is still young.”

”He’s already almost ten. Counting by nominal age he’s regarded as ten, nearly eleven. Studying is not something that can be achieved in one stroke; if he doesn’t spend more effort on it, how can he possibly pass the examinations in future?” Lu spoke with a bitter smile. ”Even though the elder cousins of the First and Second Branch are not his own brothers by birth, they are still his close paternal cousins. Seeing them achieve success while he himself remains mediocre and without accomplishments—how will he ever be able to raise his head in the future? Leaving that aside, he is the legitimate eldest son—should he allow his younger half-brothers to surpass him?”

The more she dug into the details, the more anxious Lu became.

Madam Zhou said, ”Young Master is not without merits. He studies these things, and I’ve heard that the Grand Madam has praised him. The toys he assembles are said to have mechanisms that can move.”

Lu gave a self-mocking smile. ”A legitimate son versus sons of concubines—would she truly care?”

Madam Zhou pressed her lips together and said, ”I heard this is also called the Mo Family’s arts. Just as Young Master said earlier, that official Yuan from Qingcheng Marquis Mansion also mastered the Mo Family’s arts and was valued by the Emperor. Now he is already an official of the Fifth Rank.”

”But even before that, he first passed the examinations and obtained his official degree.”

Madam Zhou did not pursue the topic further.

Mistress and servant trod through the night back to Plum Garden, and it was rare to see that Song Zhiqing was actually sitting in the east side room; only his expression was somewhat grim, his brows tightening and relaxing by turns, as if he was wrestling with something hard to grasp.

When Lu saw him, a trace of irritation and coldness flashed through her eyes. She felt that this man did not have the slightest sense of a father’s responsibility, never guiding his eldest son’s studies, thinking only of himself—truly selfish.

Therefore, she did not put on a pleasant face, and said coolly, ”What leisure wind blew Old Master here today?”

On ordinary days, if Song Zhiqing heard such words, his face would likely turn dark; but now, with his mind full of matters, he did not notice Lu’s coldness.

Seeing that he did not speak, Lu raised her voice slightly. ”Since Old Master has leisure, why not go and give Zhou’er some guidance on his lessons? Don’t let this child’s mind grow increasingly wayward.”

Song Zhiqing came back to himself. ”What?”

Seeing that he hadn’t taken in a word, Lu was infuriated, about to flare up, yet forcefully pressed it down. ”Does Old Master not know that Su’er and Jie’er have both passed the examinations and become Scholars?”

Song Zhiyuan was taken aback. ”And what of it?”

So they passed—so what? Back then he himself had passed as a Scholar as well; Scholar is Scholar, after all.

”Do you not feel the slightest stir in your heart? That’s a great glory to the ancestors, a grand face for the whole clan.”

Song Zhiqing snorted. ”Even if it glorifies the ancestors, they are not my sons. What has it to do with me? There is, however, one urgent matter I must speak to you about.”