Song Ci refused Madam Song’s suggestion.
Why did Empress Dowager only summon her and wanted her to bring her granddaughter along? Besides, what kind of place is the palace? What if something goes wrong inside; how would she explain to her clever eldest son?
Moreover, their Song Family would not send their daughter into the Royal Family, so why bring her to parade in front of others, what kind of impression does that give?
Song Ci dismissed everyone around them, leaving only Madam Song in the room to speak.
"Didn’t Dalang talk to you? Qi’er’s marriage arrangement, let’s not talk about the Imperial Family."
Madam Song felt her face warm up: "He did. Mother, I don’t intend for Qi’er to flaunt in front of those princes, I just want her to pay respects to the elderly Empress Dowager."
"What use is paying respects? Do you think the second girl’s status as the Prime Minister’s daughter isn’t enough? Not enough to negotiate well with others?" Song Ci’s voice suddenly turned sharp.
Madam Song felt a tightness in her chest watching her mother-in-law suddenly becoming stern and sharp, it felt like she was once again under her mother-in-law’s control.
She knelt down and said, "Mother, that’s not what I meant."
"Then what is it? Wanting the second girl to gain some presence in front of the Empress Dowager, if not for marriage, then for what?" Song Ci said indifferently, "Gu Shi, the Prime Minister’s Mansion is prestigious now, you and I should both know what this relies on. It’s mostly the Emperor’s favor, as well as the Empress Dowager’s favor. The more it is so, the more we need to know our limits, not to become arrogant with favor, right?"
Madam Song was reprimanded until her face turned scarlet, her lips quivering: "Mother..."
"You’ve been doing well over the years, so why at this position, do you become confused? Or is it that girl named Guihua Furong stimulated you into losing clarity?"
"Mother, I’m just concerned about Qi’er’s marriage. Thinking if she caught the Empress Dowager’s eye, and if the Empress Dowager was pleased, even a compliment or a few pointers would benefit Qi’er for endless time," Madam Song argued, her face flushed.
"This is also being overly concerned. Given Qi’er’s status, would her marriage arrangement be difficult? There are plenty of talented candidates for you to choose from. But going to flaunt in front of the Empress Dowager, you do have selfish motives, but you should know what kind of place the palace is, especially when so many eyes are on the Prime Minister’s Mansion now. Bringing the second girl into the palace, wouldn’t others speculate?"
"To put it bluntly, even if others didn’t speculate, bringing her into the palace without a decree, is it something we should do? That is the Empress Dowager, not some relative of yours, and the palace isn’t a garden of any mansion where you can bring whoever you wish. I thought you understood this well."
"Mother, daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law was wrong." Madam Song felt utterly embarrassed by the reprimand.
Song Ci sighed and said, "Get up, don’t let the maids see, thinking I did something to you."
Madam Song was deeply ashamed: "It’s right for mother-in-law to scold daughter-in-law."
Though she said that, she was actually dying of embarrassment inside.
It had been so long since she was last scolded.
"Gu Shi, at the current Prime Minister’s Mansion, it’s never wrong to act with low-key manner," Song Ci said, "I understand your years of grievances, and your recent success making you reluctant to compromise, it’s human nature, I do not blame you. But you should also consider whether the Prime Minister’s Mansion is as stable as Mount Tai, your husband just got this position and has not held it for years. It’s not me saying this, but Dalang’s position isn’t even as stable as Prime Minister Fan’s, who truly has been the Prime Minister for years, wielding power over the court."
Madam Song was shocked.