When the Princes were arranged to marry, the kind of unwillingness that the Prince was getting married and the bride wasn’t her left Song Ruqi listless for quite a while.
Fortunately, her mother analyzed the pros and cons for her and followed it with teaching her how to manage household affairs, leaving her no time to think of such things, helping her gradually back out of that corner.
Now, seeing her mother’s complex expression, Song Ruqi inexplicably felt something was amiss.
"Mother, please don’t look at me like that. If there’s something you need to say, just say it straight." Song Ruqi, being impatient, couldn’t help but ask first.
Madam snapped back to her senses, smiled, and stroked her hair lightly, saying, "My daughter has grown up, and it’s time for her to marry."
Song Ruqi was taken aback, and then her face turned a crimson shade, shyly burrowing into her mother’s embrace, she pouted, "Mother, are you here to tease your daughter?"
At this moment, she didn’t use formal titles, opting instead for the closest form of address to act coquettishly.
Madam brushed her back gently, saying, "Why would I tease you for nothing?"
Song Ruqi’s heart skipped a beat, starting to pound — could it be that her marriage was settled?
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but hold her breath, gently biting her lip, feeling increasingly bashful.
Madam, seeing her , felt both sour and bitter in her heart. So without beating around the bush, she said, "Qi’er, the Emperor intends to arrange a marriage for you. The intended is the third young master of the Duke Ying Mansion..."
At first, Song Ruqi was ecstatic, but then she jumped up in shock, her large eyes quickly filling with tears, looking panic-stricken.
"Mother, that Qi San, it’s rumored he’s fated to bring calamity to his wives. I, I am scared..."
Song Ruqi almost preferred to die first out of respect, thinking that if the Emperor didn’t choose her as a Prince Consort, surely there was no need to assign her a husband reputed to bring bad fortune.
The rumor that Qi San brings calamity to his wives was known by everyone in the noble circle, even within her close friends circle they’d privately discussed this, always wondering who the third unfortunate one might be.
And now, is she the third unfortunate one?
A bolt from the blue!
Song Ruqi’s face turned pale, her heart beating like a drum.
Madam pulled her over, gently patting her back, saying, "Those are just baseless rumors from the outside, you don’t know the real situation. Listen to me."
She candidly explained the truth behind those two previous marriages.
"Really?" Song Ruqi, listening, felt slightly soothed, but still awkwardly said, "Still, it doesn’t sound good."
Madam sighed and said, "Qi’er, as your father says, in a marriage, there’s never one that’s absolutely perfect, there will always be dissatisfaction. Instead of worrying about Qi San’s reputation, we should be more concerned about the Duke Ying Mansion’s inner court."
Song Ruqi was taken aback again.
"Qi’er, though the Duke Ying Mansion is prestigious, don’t forget how many people are within its inner court. Where there are many people, there is much strife, not to mention all those noble wives and concubines." Madam smoothed her hair, saying, "Where there are many women, there is much trouble, Qi’er you are simple and carefree by nature, how will you adapt? Moreover, Qi San is a son of the second wife, furthermore... alas."
Song Ruqi bit her lip.
"But Mother, if it’s the Emperor who arranges a marriage between me and Qi San, we cannot defy the order, can we?"
Madam was somewhat surprised: "You’re not afraid of these complexities?"
Song Ruqi forced a bitter smile, saying, "If indeed the imperial edict is issued, fear would be of no help, and besides, among the noble circles in the capital, is there another inner court more populous and chaotic than the Duke Ying Mansion?"
Well, it seems she’s been worried for nothing; this girl, even knowing the situation of the Duke Ying Mansion, is willing to enter such a household.
Madam tentatively asked, "In a few days, will you accompany me to the Duke Ying Mansion for a banquet, and meet that Qi San?"
Song Ruqi blushed, nodding after a while, but her thoughts drifted far away, wondering how this calamity might face her friends?