The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Just as Song Ci said, after the news that Song Lingsu and Song Lingjie both passed their exams spread, the number of families looking favorably upon Song Lingjie doubled compared to before, and congratulatory gifts and invitations to banquets for Song Ci and Madam Jiang flew to the Song Family like snowflakes.

Born into the Prime Minister’s Mansion, study companion to the Crown Prince, a young hero, with strict family rules—men must be forty before taking concubines—such a person, what else could be the top-tier son-in-law?

Now in Shangjing, a list suddenly emerged with only ten slots, featuring outstanding young gentlemen who cannot lack appearance, family background, or talent. Oh, if they look like Pan An, family background can be slightly overlooked.

On this list, the little team of Crown Prince’s study companions, including the Crown Prince himself, occupies three places. Who are they?

Naturally, it’s the Crown Prince, Duke Cheng’en, and Song Lingjie.

Just ask, which of these people’s family background or talents can’t be flaunted? Especially Song Lingjie himself, who seems to be just sixteen this year, yet already has earned a title.

As for Duke Cheng’en, although he has no title yet, he carries a Duke rank, marrying him means becoming the leading lady of the household, and Duke Cheng’en is the Empress Dowager’s family, highly esteemed.

Anyway, it’s Song Lingjie who hasn’t returned to Shangjing yet. If he does, he will surely cause a sensation in Shangjing, making young girls’ hearts flutter with pink bubbles, wallets, and handkerchiefs flying everywhere.

Song Ci and the others are all waiting for the children to return, while Madam Jiang, after attending two banquets, exclaimed she couldn’t take it and feigned illness.

No choice; with the son’s good prospects, those Madams are all eager to become in-laws, and the sweet words she’s heard over the past decades combined don’t compare, and even her humble smiles almost made her face stiff.

Although she didn’t attend the banquets, she already holds a large list of noble ladies to slowly choose from, making Madam Song and Madam Lu envious.

The idea of being spoiled for choice aptly describes Madam Jiang.

Song Lingjie still doesn’t know that his parents are already fretting over which noble lady to choose as his wife. At this moment, he’s carrying a pot of rice wine and a pack of peanuts onto the deck, sits down next to Song Lingsu, spreads out the peanuts, pours two cups, and fills the wine.

Song Lingsu glanced over, smelled the sweet aroma, looked at the milky white liquid, and asked, ”What is this?”

”We just made a brief stop at the dock, and the boatmen went down to buy it. They said it’s the best-selling rice wine in the area. I tried it and it’s good, so I had them bring some more,” Song Lingjie laughed, ”With this sunset and sampling this little wine, it’s quite enjoyable. How about a toast?”

Song Lingsu chuckled, ”It’s only been a few days, and you can already talk in the same way as the boatmen. Your tone is a bit roguish and hearty.”

”Boatmen live on the water all day; if you talk academically, they can’t understand it. They can’t imitate a scholarly tone to accommodate us, so it’s better for me to step into their world,” Song Lingjie said as he held his wine cup, clinked it with him, and sipped it.

Song Lingsu also sipped, finding it sweet, with a rice fragrance, distinctly different from wines he’s drunk before.

”This wine is quite novel, tastes nice, it’s more suitable for women to drink. If they’ve bought more, have them save some to take back for grandmother and the others to taste,” Song Lingsu said.

”I’ve already given orders,” Song Lingjie replied.

Song Lingsu laughed again, ”You always act so thoroughly; as the elder brother, I’m not as good as you, I really need to learn more from you.”

Song Lingjie raised an eyebrow and said, ”Why, are you still bothered that you ranked lower than me?”