After receiving news from the eldest son, Song Ci spoke with Madam Wei. As soon as July passed, Madam Wei hurried over.
"I thought you were still recovering. Are you feeling better?" Song Ci held her hand as they walked into the main room.
Madam Wei sat down and said calmly, "The family is about to undergo the betrothal ceremony. If I’m still ill, wouldn’t that make the Wei Family a laughing stock?"
"You are the Madam; what are you afraid of? If you’re not satisfied with this marriage, you can show it openly, and no one would dare to say a word against you," Song Ci said indifferently. This marriage proposal, after all, was due to the Wei Family’s improper conduct, and there’s no harm in showing them some attitude.
Madam Wei said, "Enough about those unlucky matters. But what you’ve mentioned, is it reliable? Is he really a good young man?"
"He’s a child that even my eldest son favors; what do you think?"
Hearing this, Madam Wei’s eyes curved into a smile, "If the Prime Minister Song favors a child, then he must be a good one. Old Sister, your kind intentions for my Man’er, I’m not doubting your and the Prime Minister’s vision. It’s just that, sigh, I’m afraid."
"I understand, once bitten by a snake, you’re scared of ropes for ten years." Song Ci patted her chest and said, "Don’t worry, this is definitely not like that whittling fellow from the Wei Family. Otherwise, my eldest son wouldn’t endorse this match; that would be a pitfall."
After a pause, she leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "This is just between us, no need to tell others. This Scholar Yan, my eldest son originally wanted to betroth my Qi’er to him."
Madam Wei was startled, "Is there really such a thing?"
Song Ci nodded, "He values that the young man’s family is simple, he is gentle by nature. Though from a plowing and reading family, who are somewhat poor, the child is promising and can achieve anything with effort."
"But you also know, my daughter-in-law comes from a noble family, and even the girl Qi’er is proud. Where would she be willing to marry into a poor family? So this matter wasn’t even mentioned, just a passing thought." Song Ci said, "I feel sorry for the child Man’er, so I thought of this."
"Old Wei, although Man’er is an orphan, she is also of official descent. Marrying her to a poor family is indeed a bit of an injustice. But you also have to see the reality; she is an orphan without elder support. Which of these prominent families in the capital really wants her to marry a promising child? There are those who do, but they are chaotic households only eyeing her dowry. Do you want her to suffer there?"
"I understand your good intentions, Old Sister. With you planning for her, Man’er is fortunate." Madam Wei said, moved.
"I just think the child deserves a good husband. Though the poor family may be struggling, the young man is promising, the family simple. With Man’er’s substantial dowry and her resourcefulness, how can life be bad after entering the family?" Song Ci analyzed carefully, "According to my eldest son, the child’s chances of ranking high on the list are great. Once ranked, granted an official position, Man’er would at least be granted an Imperial Decree of a seventh-rank Confucian person, right?"
"Entering with an Imperial Decree, with her rich dowry, being generous enough to use some to supplement, can she really end up farming and weaving? She is from an official family, certainly more knowledgeable than the women of poor families. With a simple family, life would surely be smooth and satisfying!"
Madam Wei’s eyes brightened further, and she said, "Hearing Old Sister say this, this indeed seems a good match. Just that I haven’t met the person..."
"What’s difficult about that? We can secretly meet him," Song Ci rolled her eyes with a twinkle.
It’s said that Scholar Yan is quite handsome.