CHAPTER 44 :- THE END (PART 2)
Xuanyuan Yu and Yu Ling were now part of the past, and Song Yuanzhi no longer had any concerns. As for the Song family, Song Lilan had already lost her life, and Song Yan’s family had returned to their hometown. Song Yuanzhi had no interest in meddling with their affairs. To her, the Song family members were strangers, and never seeing them again would be the best outcome.
However, to others, Song Yuanzhi’s position as the Marchioness of Zhenbei seemed highly unstable.
Initially, Song Yuanzhi had married into the Zhenbei Marquis household because Lu Shaoyou was believed to have died in battle, making her marriage appear to be a stroke of luck. When Lu Shaoyou returned alive, many secretly regretted missing the chance to marry such a good husband.
Especially since, after their marriage, Lu Shaoyou treated Song Yuanzhi exceedingly well. Wherever she attended banquets, Lu Shaoyou would always come to pick her up. After the new emperor ascended the throne, with Lu Shaoyou as one of his closest advisors, holding immense power, countless people were filled with envy, their hearts bleeding with regret. If only they had known, they would have done anything to marry into the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion!
Looking at Song Yuanzhi again, aside from her beautiful face, her other qualities seemed unremarkable. Her family background dragged her down even further. When her engagement was first arranged, there were numerous scandals. And now, things were even worse—her legitimate younger sister had died, and her father had taken the rest of the family back to their hometown. Essentially, she no longer had a reliable family to back her.
In an era where a woman’s family was her backbone, Song Yuanzhi, who lacked familial support and had married above her status, was naturally seen as a weak, easily bullied target.
The position of Marchioness of Zhenbei was highly coveted in the capital. What? Someone already occupied that spot? No problem—just push her out of the way.
So, Song Yuanzhi was surprised to find that rumors about her were spreading more and more in the capital. At first, the rumors were about old stories, like her estrangement from her father, Song Yan.
This was a well-known tale among the citizens of the capital, having been turned into a theatrical play performed by various troupes for quite some time. The narrative was full of drama: an evil stepmother, an innocent and pure legitimate daughter, a biased and blind father, and a spoiled, arrogant younger sister. Throw in a classic “hero saves the damsel” plot and a series of face-slapping scenes, and the story had something for everyone to enjoy.
However, this time, the direction of the rumors shifted. Initially, the rumors were still focused on the “hero saves the heroine, evil is punished” theme. But then, the tone changed, and people began slandering Song Yuanzhi. Although the Song family’s parents had their faults, as the saying goes, “There are no wrong parents under the heavens, and filial piety is the highest virtue.” In this dynasty, filial piety was the foundation of governance. Now that the Song family had fallen into ruin, it seemed heartless for the Marchioness of Zhenbei to turn a blind eye. Some even speculated that her lack of pregnancy after being married for so long was heaven’s punishment for her unfilial behavior.
These rumors, filled with vivid details, were clearly being spread with intent, and they quickly circulated throughout the capital, tarnishing Song Yuanzhi’s reputation.
Song Yuanzhi raised her eyebrows—this kind of smear campaign reeked of someone’s handiwork. Which family’s lady was behind this?
Madam Qin, ever protective, was livid. “I personally chose my daughter-in-law, and she’s perfect in every way. Ah-ji also loves her. Who are these people, so bitter and envious, that they feel the need to stir up trouble?”
Madam Qin’s methods were not to be underestimated. It didn’t take long for her to identify several families involved in the rumors. Laughing in disbelief, she said, “So many people, it seems, they have no better pastime than meddling in others’ lives. If their hands are that long, they should be cut off!”
Madam Qin didn’t spare any dignity for the culprits. Armed with a pile of evidence, she took Song Yuanzhi and went straight to the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager Lu.
Song Yuanzhi couldn’t help but notice how radiant Empress Dowager Lu looked. Since the death of Emperor Yongkang, she seemed to have completely let go of her worries, appearing much younger than before.
Though describing it this way felt a bit strange, Song Yuanzhi thought that this must be what they meant by “happiness brings a youthful spirit.”
Empress Dowager Lu gave Madam Qin plenty of face. After listening to her complaints, she smiled at Song Yuanzhi and teasingly said, “I had a hand in matchmaking this marriage. I thought it was a great match. Ah-ji used to say no woman could catch his eye, but when he met you, he was smitten. This is your fate with Ah-ji. As for your family background, the Zhenbei Marquisate is already prestigious enough. We don’t need our daughters-in-law to have powerful families. Even if you were just an ordinary woman, as long as Ah-ji had his heart set on you, we wouldn’t have objected.”
After saying this, the Empress Dowager sighed and continued, “In this life, it’s so rare to find someone who truly loves you. Ah-ji and you—yours is a rare and perfect match.”
Feeling gratified, the Empress Dowager then looked at Madam Qin and smiled helplessly. “Alright, I get your point. There’s no need to pretend to be angry anymore.”
Madam Qin chuckled, naturally putting away the handkerchief she had used to wipe the corners of her eyes, and cheerfully said, “Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
As they were leaving, Song Yuanzhi happened to run into Emperor Taixing, who had come to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. Dressed in his five-clawed dragon robe, the emperor walked with regal authority. Yet, there was still a trace of the playful energy in his expression that Song Yuanzhi remembered from the time they met during the assassination attempt at the Tiangong Workshop. Emperor Taixing kindly excused both Song Yuanzhi and Madam Qin from bowing, exchanged a few words with them, and then went inside to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
It wasn’t until they had left the palace gates that Song Yuanzhi sighed, “His Majesty is truly filial to the Empress Dowager. Now, she no longer needs to worry.”
“Of course, His Majesty should be filial to the Empress Dowager—after all, she is…” Madam Qin let the words slip out before realizing she had said too much. It was already too late to stop.
Song Yuanzhi wasn’t foolish. The emperor’s kindness and devotion to the Empress Dowager, Madam Qin’s slip, and the old story of the Empress Dowager giving birth on the same day as Consort Shu—it all came together, and the truth was suddenly clear.
Shocked, Song Yuanzhi’s eyes widened. She had never imagined such a hidden secret.
Madam Qin gave her a knowing look and softly reminded her, “It’s enough for you to understand this yourself. Don’t spread it around. Since both Her Majesty and His Majesty have chosen not to speak of it, you should also act as if you don’t know.”
Song Yuanzhi nodded quickly, as if her life depended on it. Royal secrets were dangerous—she wasn’t about to risk her life by speaking of them. She would certainly keep her mouth shut.
However, knowing this reassuring secret put Song Yuanzhi’s heart at ease.
Empress Dowager Lu acted swiftly. Not long after Song Yuanzhi and Madam Qin returned home, word came that the Empress Dowager had sent a trusted lady-in-waiting to reprimand the families that had been spreading rumors about Song Yuanzhi.
These women were all prominent ladies who managed their household affairs, but after receiving such a stern reprimand from the Empress Dowager, they were utterly humiliated. They wished they could dig a hole and disappear, and for the next six months, none of them dared show their faces in public.
People in the capital were sharp and well-informed. It wasn’t long before everyone pieced together the details. It was clear that Madam Qin and Song Yuanzhi had visited the palace, and the reason behind the sudden scolding of those ladies by the Empress Dowager became obvious.
Soon enough, the rumors about Song Yuanzhi vanished as quickly as they had appeared. With the Empress Dowager stepping in, no one dared to mess with Song Yuanzhi anymore. Even those who were still envious and resentful of her position as the Marchioness of Zhenbei had no choice but to grit their teeth and bear it.
*****
As the new year began and the mourning period had long since passed, Song Yuanzhi awoke in Lu Shaoyou’s arms one morning, feeling suddenly nauseous. She leaned over the bed, dry-heaving uncontrollably, which startled Lu Shaoyou into quickly ordering someone to fetch the imperial physician.
Not long after, Song Yuanzhi found herself looking at her husband, who was so overwhelmed with joy that he had become completely dazed. Unable to resist, she waved a hand in front of his eyes and teased, “Wake up, come back to reality!”
Lu Shaoyou snapped out of his daze, rubbing his hands together nervously as he looked at Song Yuanzhi, his entire being radiating with happiness. From the top of his head to the tips of his toes, he practically glowed with joy. He was so excited he wanted to put her on a pedestal. “This is wonderful news! I’m going to be a father! And you—you’re about to be a mother! What do we do? I don’t know anything about this! I was so excited just now that I didn’t even hear what the physician said! I didn’t catch any of the precautions! This won’t do—I have to call the physician back!”
Song Yuanzhi laughed so hard, holding her belly, which only made Lu Shaoyou panic even more. But even in his worry, the happiness in his eyes was unmistakable.
A new life, a new hope.
Song Yuanzhi wrapped her arms around Lu Shaoyou’s waist, her eyes slowly tracing over his exceptionally handsome features. She touched her still-flat belly and listened as Madam Qin’s joyful voice echoed in her ears.
Song Yuanzhi smiled even more blissfully. Her life was now complete.
THE END
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