Chapter 1147: Chapter 1147

Chapter 1147: Chapter 1146: Letting Go

On the other side, from Lady Gao’s end, after the banquet that day, the Gao Family sent a letter several times urging Lady Gao to suggest to Song Hong to have Song Chongjin recorded under her name.

After the Imperial Spring Examination of Song Chongjin, they would pressure Song Hong to establish Song Chongjin as the Princely Heir.

They even planned that once Song Chongjin became the Princely Heir, they would secretly feed Wang Yongzhu some secret medicine from the palace.

This medicine is colorless and tasteless, and after ingestion, it appears as nothing on the surface, only causing gradual weakening day by day, not even detectable by the doctor.

After a year or so, the person would pass away, leaving no trace.

Once Wang Yongzhu is gone, by then they can marry Song Chongjin to a girl from the Gao Family, have a child with the bloodlines of both the Song and Gao families, and the Song and Gao families will still be in-laws.

With the Song Family at the forefront, the Gao Family could also stop declining.

Their calculations seem quite good, not to mention Lady Gao herself, even Sister Kang by her side was moved, thinking for Lady Gao’s sake: “Madam, this old servant thinks this plan is good. Not to mention anything else, if the young master is recorded under your name, in the future when you’re old, wouldn’t you have someone to rely on?”

Lady Gao, lost in thought for a long moment, shook her head and said, “You don’t need to persuade me. I will not agree to have that child recorded under my name!”

Sister Kang still wanted to persuade, but Lady Gao sternly said, “Huixin, haven’t you figured it out yet? This young master is not someone that can be contained in a pond. Even if we plan well here, it still depends on whether the young master is willing.”

“Madam, look at what you’re saying, being recorded under your name means becoming the legitimate eldest son, and the position of the Princely Heir would be secured. As long as the young master is not foolish, would he refuse? If you don’t feel comfortable speaking, I am willing to make the trip and tell the Eldest Young Lady the benefits of this, surely they’ll be tempted,” Sister Kang expressed disbelief.

“Why bother? These years, I’m also tired of it, and I don’t want to get involved in these anymore. Do you think my family really wants me to have something to rely on in my later years? What a joke! I am a first rank Duchess conferred by the Imperial Court, with a grant and phoenix coronet robes. No matter who inherits the Duke’s Mansion in the future, I am their legitimate mother, and they must be respectful to me.”

“As a lonely old widow, they only need to spend some silver coin each year to support me, how could it hinder them? It even earns them a reputation for filial piety, how could they treat me harshly? Even if I die in the future, I am also in the Song Family’s genealogy. The paper burning, incense offerings, and meals offering won’t be lacking for me, so why should I worry?”

“They’re in such a hurry, saying it’s for me, but it’s only for the Gao Family. The Gao Family now is not what it used to be, only relying on my mother being in favor with the Empress Dowager and our Duke’s Mansion to hold up. It’s said that I am obstructing them, I cannot bear children, yet seizing the position of Lady of the Duke Weiguo and not letting go.”

“Had I died from childbirth back then, they could have sent someone else in, and maybe by now, they’d have children swarming around. A Princely Heir with the bloodline of the Gao Family is what they want!”

“If I truly agreed to have the young master recorded under my name, I fear they would then force me to personally give Brother Jin’s Daughter-in-Law the medicine, and later still forcefully marry Brother Jin to a girl from the Gao Family.”

“If one day the matter gets exposed, by then I would be the best scapegoat, everything would be blamed on me, the medicine would be given by me, the marriage forced by me. What do you say my fate would be by then?” Lady Gao said with a cold sneer at this point.

Sister Kang shivered, truly if as her madam said, her madam wouldn’t only lose her way out by then, but also end up in ruins.

Thinking of this, Sister Kang’s face changed: “This old servant…this old servant…”

Lady Gao sighed softly, looking out the window: “My life has been now. Over the years, I have also schemed for many benefits for the Gao Family, just let me live a few years of peaceful days.” Fresh chapters posted on novel-fire.ɴet

Sister Kang wiped her tears: “Madam, it’s so hard for you! I’m afraid even if you don’t agree, the Gao Family won’t give up, should we send a message to the County Lord, asking her to help suppress the Gao Family for you?”

Something flickered in Lady Gao’s eyes, she said wistfully, “Mother is also old now, has worried for most of her life for this unfilial daughter of hers, let her also enjoy some peace now. As long as I don’t agree, the Gao Family cannot stretch their hands into the Song Family!”

Seeing Sister Kang with reddened eyes, Lady Gao smiled: “What are you sad about? Don’t worry, your madam sees things clearly, if I hadn’t, I might have already…”

The remaining words faded in her mouth, unheard by anyone.

Ever since Song Chongjin said he would study behind closed doors, apart from occasionally going out to communicate with Gu Zikai and the graduates from Jing County, he didn’t interact with outsiders.

After the fifteenth day of the first month, Song Hong led Song Chongjin to visit that Qin Bohan, Lord Qin.

Lord Qin was an intimate of the Emperor, holding a high position, living in a five-entry large mansion granted by the Emperor, not too far from the Duke Qiguo Mansion.

Since Qin Bohan does not like luxury and is a person of simplicity, the large Minister’s Mansion had only two door attendants at the gate.

Seeing the mark on the Duke Weiguo’s carriage, they greeted respectfully: “Are you Lord Duke Weiguo and Young Master Song?”

Song Hong nodded, affirming, and the two doorkeepers said without lowering themselves, “Our master instructed us to wait at the door early in the morning, esteemed lords please——”

They then led the two inside.

Song Chongjin looked around the mansion, though the new year had just passed, apart from the two red lanterns hanging at the gate adding a touch of festivity, once inside the door, there was only a sense of propriety and solemnity.

The servants in the Minister’s Mansion seemed few, and after the two doorkeepers brought them to the front courtyard, a steward-like person invited them to the study.

The study had a brazier burning and was warm, with many staff officers huddled together discussing something, seeing the two coming in, they stepped forward to greet them, then retreated back.

Qin Bohan was wearing a casual robe inside, reading gazettes, he looked up at the sound, stood up to greet, and invited them to sit down, shortly after, a young servant brought in tea, then quietly left.

After a few pleasantries and a cup of tea, Qin Bohan seated Song Hong aside, asked a few questions of Song Chongjin, meanwhile, people kept coming to report, saying who wanted to see him and who had matters to discuss.

Song Hong saw how very busy Qin Bohan was, feeling rather apologetic, and was about to stand up to take his leave.

Qin Bohan was indeed extremely busy, didn’t falsely urge them to stay, he asked Song Chongjin to leave the article he brought, and then took a manuscript from the side and tossed it to Song Chongjin: “Take this manuscript back and study it well for two days, I’ll be off duty the day after tomorrow, come to my place early, I’ll test you again. Today is truly busy, you better go back for now.”

Song Chongjin respectfully took the manuscript and left.