Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Song Ci Instructs His Daughter-in-law
Song Ci refused Madam Songās suggestion.
Why did Empress Dowager only summon her and wanted her to bring her granddaughter along? Besides, what kind of place is the palace? What if something goes wrong inside; how would she explain to her clever eldest son?
Moreover, their Song Family would not send their daughter into the Royal Family, so why bring her to parade in front of others, what kind of impression does that give?
Song Ci dismissed everyone around them, leaving only Madam Song in the room to speak.
"Didnāt Dalang talk to you? Qiāerās marriage arrangement, letās not talk about the Imperial Family."
Madam Song felt her face warm up: "He did. Mother, I donāt intend for Qiāer to flaunt in front of those princes, I just want her to pay respects to the elderly Empress Dowager."
"What use is paying respects? Do you think the second girlās status as the Prime Ministerās daughter isnāt enough? Not enough to negotiate well with others?" Song Ciās voice suddenly turned sharp.
Madam Song felt a tightness in her chest watching her mother-in-law suddenly becoming stern and sharp, it felt like she was once again under her mother-in-lawās control.
She knelt down and said, "Mother, thatās not what I meant."
"Then what is it? Wanting the second girl to gain some presence in front of the Empress Dowager, if not for marriage, then for what?" Song Ci said indifferently, "Gu Shi, the Prime Ministerās Mansion is prestigious now, you and I should both know what this relies on. Itās mostly the Emperorās favor, as well as the Empress Dowagerās favor. The more it is so, the more we need to know our limits, not to become arrogant with favor, right?"
Madam Song was reprimanded until her face turned scarlet, her lips quivering: "Mother..."
"Youāve been doing well over the years, so why at this position, do you become confused? Or is it that girl named Guihua Furong stimulated you into losing clarity?"
"Mother, Iām just concerned about Qiāerās marriage. Thinking if she caught the Empress Dowagerās eye, and if the Empress Dowager was pleased, even a compliment or a few pointers would benefit Qiāer for endless time," Madam Song argued, her face flushed.
"This is also being overly concerned. Given Qiāerās status, would her marriage arrangement be difficult? There are plenty of talented candidates for you to choose from. But going to flaunt in front of the Empress Dowager, you do have selfish motives, but you should know what kind of place the palace is, especially when so many eyes are on the Prime Ministerās Mansion now. Bringing the second girl into the palace, wouldnāt others speculate?"
"This..."
"To put it bluntly, even if others didnāt speculate, bringing her into the palace without a decree, is it something we should do? That is the Empress Dowager, not some relative of yours, and the palace isnāt a garden of any mansion where you can bring whoever you wish. I thought you understood this well."
"Mother, daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law was wrong." Madam Song felt utterly embarrassed by the reprimand.
Song Ci sighed and said, "Get up, donāt let the maids see, thinking I did something to you."
Madam Song was deeply ashamed: "Itās right for mother-in-law to scold daughter-in-law."
Though she said that, she was actually dying of embarrassment inside.
It had been so long since she was last scolded.
"Gu Shi, at the current Prime Ministerās Mansion, itās never wrong to act with low-key manner," Song Ci said, "I understand your years of grievances, and your recent success making you reluctant to compromise, itās human nature, I do not blame you. But you should also consider whether the Prime Ministerās Mansion is as stable as Mount Tai, your husband just got this position and has not held it for years. Itās not me saying this, but Dalangās position isnāt even as stable as Prime Minister Fanās, who truly has been the Prime Minister for years, wielding power over the court."
Madam Song was shocked.