FYM - 45

The eldest daughter of the Song family, Song Shuying, had once been a celebrated beauty in Chang’an.

Song Shuyan still remembered how, as a child, she was often neglected within the household. Among her siblings, aside from her second brother, this elder sister had always treated her with kindness. Though constrained by their stepmother’s presence, she hadn’t distanced herself entirely, nor had she made life difficult for Song Shuyan as her third sister often did. For this, Song Shuyan felt a measure of gratitude.

By mid-October, Song Shuying had returned to Jinling. On the day she arrived, the entire family gathered in the main hall to welcome her. She entered alongside her husband, Wan Sheng, her grace and beauty undiminished despite having given birth to a son. Her presence exuded an air of warmth and approachability.

“Father, Mother.”

She and her husband greeted their elders with respect.

“Eldest Sister—”

Song Shuqian could hardly contain herself, rushing forward and throwing herself into her sister’s arms, tears streaming down her face. Song Shuying, already aware of her younger sister’s struggles through letters, now regarded her with even greater tenderness and compassion. Gently, she consoled her, “There, there… don’t cry…”

However, Wan Sheng, knowing his wife’s delicate constitution, feared that the force of Song Shuqian’s embrace might knock her over. He discreetly kept one hand protectively around her waist, ensuring her safety with care. Though not from an exceptionally illustrious lineage, Wan Sheng was a man of striking appearance—tall and elegant, with an ethereal charm befitting a Jiangnan scholar. It was said that his looks had captivated Song Shuying at first sight, and their marriage had been harmonious ever since. They were truly a match made in heaven.

In such an intimate atmosphere, Song Shuyan and Song Mingzhen found it difficult to interject. Politely addressing their elder sister and brother-in-law, they quietly stepped aside to watch their father and mother enjoy the familial reunion. After the formalities were exchanged in the hall, everyone dispersed. Song Shuying accompanied their mother and sister to the inner chambers, while Wan Sheng joined their father in the study for conversation.

Once back in familiar surroundings, Song Shuqian couldn’t hold back any longer. Leaning on her sister, she poured out her grievances without pause, lamenting for an entire afternoon until she was exhausted, her eyes swollen and vision blurred. After dinner, she fell into a deep sleep, still whimpering faintly in her dreams.

Once her sister had drifted off, Song Shuying left the inner chamber with their mother to sit in the outer room. Seeing the lingering worry on Lady Wan’s face, she gently reassured her, “Mother, please don’t fret too much about Sister’s marriage. Matters of destiny have their own timing; sometimes, haste only makes things worse. Shuqian is blessed with good fortune. I’m sure she won’t be overlooked…”

These words might have comforted Lady Wan in the past, but now, with the throne unsettled and the Song family banished from Chang’an alongside the Fangs, her confidence had been shaken. She feared that her beloved daughter would be forced into an undesirable match.

“How can I not worry?” Lady Wan sighed deeply. “Family is everything. Without its support, all else is meaningless. If the Song family falls into decline, your husband’s family will follow suit. This is precisely why it’s crucial for Shuqian to marry well. A powerful alliance might even help us recover some standing, giving us hope for the future…”

It was sound reasoning.

Song Shuying sighed as well, then asked, “Has Father made any arrangements for Shuqian? As a legitimate daughter, surely she shouldn’t be married off to someone of humble origins like our second sister…”

“Our father?”

At the mention of him, Lady Wan’s anger flared, and she let out a cold snort.

“Don’t even mention him! Do you know what he’s done?”

Song Shuying was taken aback, raising her brows in confusion. “What?”

“He rejected a marriage proposal from Prince Qin!”

Lady Wan’s eyes widened, her face flushed with fury.

“That prince must have lost his mind—he proposed earlier this year to take your fourth sister as a concubine. Wasn’t that perfect? Your father supports the Crown Prince, while the Emperor clearly favors his second son. Why not hedge our bets? But no, he refused, claiming loyalty to the late Duke and the imperial line. What hypocrisy! His fine words meant nothing when the Emperor grew angry. He fled back to Jinling like a coward, squandering a golden opportunity to ally with Prince Qin!”

This…

Song Shuying was stunned, reflecting on how different their situation might have been if they had indeed formed ties with Prince Qin’s household. After a moment, she furrowed her brows and asked, “Our fourth sister has lived in Qiantang for years. How did Prince Qin even notice her?”

Lady Wan’s snort was even louder this time, her tone laced with sharp mockery. “Rumor has it they met briefly at Lishan. I’ve always said she’s a siren. First, she tried to seduce the Fang heir, and look where that got her? She cursed her own mother to death and brought ruin upon the Fangs just by getting close to them. In my opinion, your father’s downfall is entirely her fault. She’s a jinx, bringing misfortune to herself and others!”

Her tirade was relentless, leaving no harsh word unsaid. Song Shuying personally poured tea to calm her mother, but Lady Wan paid little attention, instead bitterly declaring, “Just wait. I’ll find someone to marry her off to soon. Once this bad luck is out of the house, Shuqian’s marriage prospects will surely improve!”

This misplaced anger came swiftly and fiercely.

Song Shuyan had only been home for a few days, not yet having time to visit her uncle Song Cheng, who had long resided in Jinling. Yet, one after another, matchmakers sent by her stepmother began arriving, some with decent prospects, others so absurd they were unbearable to behold.

Song Dan, having just settled his second daughter’s marriage, was now preoccupied with the recent upheaval. Exhausted, he had little energy left to manage affairs in the inner chambers. However, his youngest daughter was the child of his late wife, and he didn’t wish to see her mistreated. One day, finding the men Lady Wan had arranged for utterly unsuitable, he mildly expressed his disapproval. Forced to rein in her plans, Lady Wan soon turned her attention to the eldest son of Governor Wang Yuan of Xuanchou—a legitimate heir from a prestigious official family, far superior to the merchant families of Qiantang. Though he hadn’t yet achieved scholarly success, with his family’s backing, his future seemed promising. Surely, he was worthy of becoming Song Shuyan’s husband.

Lady Wan was confident in her choice. By the end of November, Governor Wang Yuan visited the Song brothers in Jinling, accompanied by his eldest son. Upon meeting him, Lady Wan raised her brows at Song Dan, signaling her fairness and generosity—she bore no ill will toward the late lady’s daughter. Song Dan personally inspected the young man, finding him somewhat mediocre but acceptable as a match for his youngest daughter, and silently approved.

Lady Wan was triumphant, quickly summoning the household’s young masters and misses to meet the guest. She deliberately pushed Song Shuyan forward, her intentions clear. To Wang Xu’s surprise, he found himself smitten by Song Shuyan’s exquisite beauty. Throughout the day, his gaze lingered on her, much to the displeasure of Song Mingzhen, who stood protectively by his sister’s side.

Known for his straightforward nature and impatience with flattery, Song Mingzhen grew increasingly irritated as Wang Xu continued to visit daily. Finally, he erupted in anger, berating his sister, “He’s delusional to think he can marry you! Do you know what I’ve learned? This so-called gentleman is a regular at brothels and pleasure houses, infamous in Xuanchou for his licentious poetry. All his studies have gone into crafting bawdy verses! And yet, the mistress of the house dares to present such a hypocrite to you. Doesn’t she fear divine retribution?”

Song Shuyan was well aware of the animosity between Lady Wan and her own mother, expecting difficulties in her marital arrangements. However, she hadn’t anticipated her father’s tacit approval. He had personally assessed the man—did he truly consider him a suitable match for her? Though she knew she wasn’t destined for greatness, she had hoped for more regard from her biological father. It seemed even that was too much to ask.

She sighed, feeling a growing sense of emptiness. At one point, Fang Xianting’s shadow flickered in her mind, so fleeting it almost made her laugh at herself.

—Are you still thinking of him?

Of that man, nearly a year unseen, who had drifted away with the river’s tide, like a feather falling onto snow?

He must have long forgotten her. If he knew she thought of him now, he would surely laugh.

Realizing this, she couldn’t help but lower her head and smile faintly. Her expression was serene, exuding a detached elegance. Yet, those who truly cared for her could see the underlying loneliness. She wasn’t incapable of crying—she simply didn’t know with whom to share her tears.

“I suppose I’ll have to marry eventually…”

She smiled lightly, her words interspersed with occasional sighs.

“It won’t be this gentleman, but someone else. Perhaps with a slightly better family background, or slightly better character, or slightly more scholarly talent… But in the end, it’s all the same. No real difference.”

“Frequenting pleasure quarters is a common flaw among scholars. Father likely sees no harm in it. I’ll write to my grandmother in Qiantang. If she agrees with Father’s assessment, then… so be it.”

She wasn’t pretending to be magnanimous. That very day, she penned a letter and sent it to Qiantang. Perhaps because she carried someone else in her heart, she found herself indifferent to whoever she might ultimately wed. Close enough was good enough—to fool others, and perhaps herself.

But before she received a reply from Qiantang, another shocking piece of news arrived from Chang’an, sending waves of panic through the Song family—

The Emperor… had passed away.