Chapter 166: Thin Rebuke

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Thin Rebuke

Song Zhiyuan escorted his mother back to Chunhui Hall, then turned towards the main courtyard, instructing Madam Song to prepare a small courtyard for Marquis Cheng’en to reside in.

"Mother said that when the time comes, all the expenses for that small courtyard will come from her private funds. It’s not easy for an elderly person to save some personal silver. Just listen to her; it’s just a small courtyard, and it’s not a permanent residence, so there’s no need for large expenditures. Just use the public funds," Song Zhiyuan instructed.

Madam Song hurriedly said, "Then there’s no need to use mother’s private funds. Instead of public funds, I can use my dowry silver to cover it."

"No need to use your dowry silver; save it for buying flowers to wear. Just use the public funds. It’s just for a child, and even if the small kitchen is used, the expenses won’t be much."

Seeing his insistence, Madam Song said, "I will follow your instructions. Prime Minister, so it seems that Duke Cheng’en Mansion also needs to be restored, just waiting for its owner?"

"Yes. Marquis Cheng’en is only six years old. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor will not allow him to live alone in Duke Cheng’en Mansion; he will reside in the palace for many years. When he comes of age, he will naturally leave the palace."

"In that case, there’s already a Duke Cheng’en Mansion. This little Marquis Cheng’en is truly lucky." A small orphan, rising to the top—isn’t that luck?

Song Zhiyuan did not respond to this. He was thinking about how to recruit and train the two hundred soldiers and how to maintain them. All these expenditures need to be accounted for.

He needed to discuss this with his second brother, as maintaining soldiers is quite costly.

Madam Song noticed his silence and occasional frowns, feeling a bit apprehensive. Could it be that the mother-in-law had talked about her good deeds with the Prime Minister, just waiting for her to bring it up?

"Prime Minister, I was confused today and came up with that foolish idea, thinking of having mother take Qi’er into the palace to meet the Lady, just to broaden Qi’er’s horizons. I didn’t weigh the pros and cons; it was muddle-headed of me."

Song Zhiyuan did not expect to hear this, was momentarily stunned, then frowned: "You let mother take Qi’er into the palace?"

Madam Song was taken aback by his surprised expression. Could it be that mother-in-law had not complained?

"I was thinking of letting the Empress Dowager see Qi’er. If the Lady could grant a marriage, then Qi’er..."

Song Zhiyuan’s face darkened slightly, and he spoke with a mild rebuke: "I said before, I have already made arrangements for Qi’er’s affairs. Why make things difficult for mother?"

"Prime Minister, I..."

"I have my plans for Qi’er’s marriage, you should not intervene further. Besides, the Emperor has agreed; if I find a suitable future son-in-law, he will issue a decree for marriage. It’s fortunate that mother didn’t take Qi’er into the palace today. The Emperor also went to Cining Palace, and if he had seen Qi’er there, who knows what he might have thought."

Madam Song’s face changed several times, awkwardly saying, "I was wrong; I didn’t know you had made such arrangements for Qi’er."

A marriage granted by the Emperor is a great honor.

Song Zhiyuan saw her embarrassment and sighed: "I am also to blame for not informing you in time."

Seeing this, Madam Song boldly asked, "Has the Prime Minister seen someone?"

With some hesitation on his face, Song Zhiyuan said, "There is such a person. Qi’er is ambitious and would likely be unwilling."

Madam Song’s heart sank; she was not foolish and immediately understood the hidden meaning behind these words.

Who could it be that ambitious Song Ruqi would be unwilling to marry? It’s likely a lower marriage, a quite troublesome lower marriage.

Thinking of this, Madam Song’s heart began to race wildly. Boldly she hypothesized, "Prime Minister, could it be you’ve taken a fancy to a talented scholar?"

Hopefully, it’s not one of the scholars from the guest house; if it were her, she wouldn’t be willing either.