Chapter 697 - 475: Betrothal

Chapter 697: Chapter 475: Betrothal

One family after another in the Capital City was celebrating joyous occasions, and Yun Zhao received some good news herself. Song Yunmei’s marriage had been arranged; she was to wed Yu Chengfang, a fifth-rank Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

It was a fine match, and one might say Song Yunmei lucked into it. Mr. Yu had originally been set to meet the legitimate daughter of another family, but she already had a sweetheart and was thus quite unpleasant during their meeting.

Yu Chengfang was naturally furious. While his official post was not prominent in the Capital City, he had earned it step by step on his own merit and had some backbone. He therefore immediately rejected the proposed marriage.

As it happened, the matchmaker entrusted by Madam Ning Anbo introduced Song Yunmei to Yu Chengfang. Still smarting from the recent slight, Yu Chengfang heard that this new candidate was a cousin from Ming Fei’s paternal family. Although she was the daughter of a concubine, Madam Ning Anbo was well-known in the Capital City for treating such daughters kindly, and all of them had made good marriages.

He assumed this match would also fall through, figuring his official rank meant little in the eyes of the Uncle Mansion, and he had intended to refuse. However, the matchmaker persuaded him to at least meet her. To his surprise, Song Yunmei was gentle and well-read, and the two found they could converse with rare ease. And so, the match was made.

Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected such a twist in the tale. Her cousin, Song Yunmei, had an excellent temperament. Marrying a man from the Ministry of Justice, their personalities—one gentle, one firm—seemed to complement each other well.

As Yu Chengfang was several years older than Song Yunmei, the Yu Family was particularly eager to have them marry as soon as possible.

Mrs. Yu paid a personal visit to show their sincerity, and so the wedding date was set for three months later. It was a bit rushed, but since the Yu Family was so sincere, the Madam relented.

Song Yunmei was the last young woman of the main family branch to be married. Consequently, everyone wanted to come and see her off, which would serve as a reunion for the sisters. After all, since their own marriages, some had moved out of the capital while others followed their husbands to posts abroad, making it incredibly difficult for them all to gather.

When Song Guiyi made the suggestion, everyone agreed it was a wonderful idea.

Song Guiyi had been planning to head south in a month, but because of this, she decided to stay for two more.

Lady Zhong had already agreed to let her grandson and granddaughter remain at the Uncle Mansion to study. Being a woman of great propriety, Lady Zhong specially sent the tuition for the two children, as well as funds to cover their food and lodging at the mansion.

She knew the Uncle Mansion was not in need of the money, but the children of the Zhong family could not simply live off their maternal relatives for free. This wasn’t a stay of a year or two; they were planning to live there for an extended period.

Even the closest of relatives should keep clear accounts. This way, everyone was happy, and their interactions could remain genuinely close.

Song Yujiao, who had married into a family in Yucheng, lived nearby and was the first to arrive in the Capital City. Song Hongjiao came half a month later. Song Jinxuan also journeyed from afar to return, and this time she was not alone; her husband, along with Song Buchang, Song Bu Yue, and Song Buming, all came back as well.

With the metropolitan examination just a few months away, their academy’s teacher had allowed them to return home to prepare. The Song Family residence was now bustling with activity. Even the second branch of the family got word, and the Second Master and his wife traveled from Nanyu to the capital with their children.

The metropolitan examination was typically held the year after the provincial one. However, the Emperor was in urgent need of talented officials, so a special examination was added this year, with the metropolitan exam to be held immediately following the provincial one. This was unprecedented, and many at court voiced their dissent. But Feng Yi stood his ground, arguing it was for the good of the nation to recruit talent, and so the courtiers went along with the Emperor’s wishes.

When Song Yunzhao learned of this, she too longed to return to the Song Family estate for a visit, but with her delivery date approaching, it was impossible for her to leave the palace.

With all the Song sisters gathered in the Capital City, the second branch of the family took up residence at the Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion. After all, the marquis’s estate was large, sparsely populated, and had plenty of rooms, whereas the main family branch’s residence would be quite crowded now that everyone had returned.

Song Yunzhao had many things sent back to the estate as gifts for her sisters and brothers. Given her current status, these gifts were considered imperial rewards, which naturally delighted her family.

Feng Yi noticed Yun Zhao looked a little melancholic and asked with a smile, "How about I sneak you out for a visit?"

Song Yunzhao was very tempted but still shook her head. "Let’s not. The Imperial Physician said it’s best if I don’t move around much right now." Though she missed her brothers and sisters, the child in her belly was naturally her priority.

Feng Yi saw that even though she was smiling, her eyes held a trace of regret. He knew as well as she did that after this reunion, there was no telling when they would all be able to gather again.

Song Yunzhao never expected that though she could not leave the palace, the very next day, the Madam and Mrs. Cai brought the Song sisters and brothers into the palace to see her. The Emperor had specially arranged for them to meet in Changyin Pavilion; it was spacious and bright, a convenient place to talk without disturbing the other concubines in the harem.

Yun Zhao was overjoyed. When they all met in Changyin Pavilion, the atmosphere was quite restrained at first. After all, Yun Zhao was now the renowned Ming Fei, who had monopolized the Emperor’s favor for years and was now carrying his second child—one of only two children the Emperor had.

Fortunately, they were sisters who had grown up together. Although there had been some disagreements among them in the past, now that some were married and others had children, their old tiffs seemed insignificant and even became topics of lighthearted conversation.

Song Yunzhao observed that Song Jinxuan had changed the most. She had given birth to two children in three years, a son and a daughter, and had a good relationship with her husband. As the saying goes, a carefree mind leads to a healthy body; she was now the most full-figured among the sisters.

Song Yexi was the same as always. She and Yun Zhao both lived in the Capital City, and though they didn’t meet often, they still saw each other a few times a year.

Song Guiyi had just seen Yun Zhao recently. In contrast, Song Lirong and Song Hongjiao seemed more open-minded and poised than they were in their maiden days. Having learned to manage their new households under their mothers-in-law, they were naturally different from how they had been as unmarried young women.

Song Qinghan was also present, but she spoke very little, sitting beside Mrs. Cai. Both mother and daughter seemed somewhat reserved.

After greeting her sisters, she saw her brothers and cousins. Song Buchang had always been level-headed back when he was in the Capital City, and several years of studying abroad had made him even more mature. Song Buming and Song Bu Yue had changed a great deal; they had both grown much taller and shed their childishness, now looking like dependable young men.

Before Song Bu Yue left the capital, the relationship between his mother, his older sister, and Ming Fei had been very strained. He never imagined that upon his return, the Marquis Wuxin Mansion would be gone entirely. The realization was a great shock to him.

Song Buming was more at ease with Ming Fei. His sister and mother had always been on good terms with her. He had studied diligently these past few years, not letting down Ming Fei’s expectations, and he believed his future would only get brighter.

In contrast to Song Buchang’s maturity and Song Buming’s relaxed demeanor, Song Bu Yue appeared much more constrained.

Song Yunzhao didn’t pay him any special attention. ’Given their history, she certainly wasn’t going to be the one to take the first step. Whether they could get along in the future would depend on Song Bu Yue.’

In contrast, Song Boqian and Song Buting from the second branch were more at ease around Yun Zhao. Song Boqian had been studying diligently; after passing the provincial examination, he had failed the metropolitan one but wanted to try again this year.

Song Buting had stopped his studies after becoming a Scholar and was now learning to manage the family’s general affairs from the Second Master. With all the children in a family pursuing their studies, someone still had to take care of the household.

Song Buting had little aptitude for academics, so he had volunteered to stop. Now, learning management under the Second Master, he was shaping up quite well. Yun Zhao could see he excelled more in social interactions and networking, showing no timidity in public.

Surrounded by her family, Song Yunzhao suddenly felt a little dazed.

From the past to the present, the Song Family had truly changed.