After Song Ci’s brief delight, she regained her composure. She remembered the strategic explanations her clever son had given her.
"Dalang is worried that if things really are as you say, our Song Family will become caught in the middle?"
Song Zhiyuan nodded, a trace of worry crossing his eyes: "The Emperor’s thoughts are becoming harder to predict with each passing day. Mother, the bloom doesn’t last a hundred days; I’m also afraid that one day we will be the ones being feared."
Once a family becomes feared by the imperial power, it’s like walking a tightrope, with one wrong step leading to execution and the confiscation of the family estate.
Even without experiencing it firsthand, he could feel that feeling of walking on thin ice.
"The Emperor’s mind is hard to fathom; I’ll irresponsibly say this: don’t try to guess. Go wherever the imperial decree points." Song Ci hesitated for a moment and then said, "Actually, it’s not yet to the point you worry about, after all, the Empress Dowager is still here, and the past bonds still exist. Instead of worrying about now, we should be more concerned about the next ruler."
"Mother!" Song Zhiyuan’s face tensed.
Song Ci gestured upwards and lowered her voice: "Now, the Emperor needs the Song Family, so he won’t act against us; instead, he’ll provide us with many conveniences. As long as we use them well, can’t we also seize opportunities to earn our own strength?"
"To be honest, the reason the Song Family is prospering now is mainly because of the bond with the Emperor. As long as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor remember this bond, the Song Family will remain stable. But not everyone is like the Emperor; the next ruler won’t have that shared hardship bond with us. That’s when we should really worry!"
Song Zhiyuan was somewhat surprised and looked at his mother deeply.
"A new Emperor means new courtiers; the Fan Family is a template. Mother thinks our Song Family’s future situation will be just like theirs. So Dalang, don’t overthink about the Emperor’s intentions. In this time when the Emperor uses us, focus on developing and strengthening the family’s power. To invoke fear in a ruler is also due to having alarming power, right? But what do we have right now?"
Song Zhiyuan was shaken. Indeed, their Song Family was only a newly risen power of more than twenty years; compared to those century-old families, what was there to be feared?
"Speaking of Silang’s marriage, earlier you were hasty to arrange it, and I didn’t argue with you. Now that the engagement is called off, I’ll share my view." Song Ci, disregarding subtlety, said, "In my opinion, even if Silang is meant to marry the Commandery Princess and become her husband, there’s no need to panic. Silang, rather than being caught in the middle, is more like the Emperor’s mascot placed in Prince Dingbei’s Mansion."
"What can your fourth brother do? He’s not successful in either civil or military affairs. Marrying the Commandery Princess, can he be a spy or a general? He can’t, his greatest function is to have children with her! Oh, have babies!"
Song Zhiyuan was somewhat speechless and said, "If Laosi hears this, he might explode!"
"Did I speak wrongly of him?" Song Ci laughed and said, "Precisely because his only use is this, the Emperor will feel more at ease. You must know, even if they have a child, it will take decades for the child to grow up!"
"Furthermore, as for Prince Dingbei’s Mansion, they need a husband for their Commandery Princess, they need to have the next generation. The Emperor provided this, and Prince Dingbei can’t complain, right? As long as Prince Dingbei and his people have no rebellious intent, they will be satisfied with this choice, after all, this husband is neither civil nor military, won’t cause trouble. Dalang, doesn’t Prince Dingbei’s Mansion want to sustain forever? Do they really want to hand over power? This mascot being placed in the mansion is tacit understanding shared by both sides."
Song Zhiyuan was taken aback, rubbing his thumb and fingers together.
This was something he hadn’t considered.