Prince Dingbei comes from a military background. Despite being in his position for so many years and attaining the honor of a prince with a different surname, it isn’t just due to mere brute strength. He also has intelligence; otherwise, would the aides around him only be kept to recite lewd verses and erotic poetry to relieve boredom?
Song Zhiyuan, upon saying this, naturally thought of something, but merely chuckled: "Prime Minister Song’s words are too much. Same situation? I believe not necessarily. You have just been promoted to Right Minister, at a time when you’re receiving great favor. How can this compare to the situation in Prince Dingbei’s Mansion?"
"Hmm, currently you’re indeed in a slightly better position than the Prince Mansion. After all, the Song Family doesn’t yet have much that makes the Emperor apprehensive." Song Zhiyuan grinned.
Looking at his gleaming white teeth, Prince Dingbei felt slightly dazzled; who knows how much tooth powder this rascal used to brush his teeth to such a glaring white, making his words particularly provoking.
Prince Dingbei: "So, when you talk about being in the same situation, aren’t you just teasing me?"
"As of now, without anything to be wary of. But in the future? After all, you and I have become in-laws, one civil and one military, both standing at the top of power."
Prince Dingbei immediately responded: "The Prince Dingbei’s Mansion is loyal to the Emperor and will never participate in the battle for succession."
"Coincidentally, so is the Song Family."
The two of them met eyes, and after a moment, both huffed, a tacit understanding forming in their hearts. Right now they say this, but when the time truly comes to take sides, they might still make a choice, but with more caution than anyone else. If not, they would always remain neutral, truly loyal to the Emperor.
For a moment, the bamboo pavilion fell into silence, with only the sound of insects chirping from the grass outside breaking the stillness.
"Your Highness, with our two families becoming in-laws, in the eyes of others, we are now on the same path. Even if we do not participate in those matters, we cannot prevent others from feeling apprehensive." Song Zhiyuan softly said, "The Emperor refuses to reclaim military power and bestows marriage between the Niu and Song families. You should understand that the Emperor currently has no intention of acting against Prince Dingbei’s Mansion. Otherwise, Your Highness wouldn’t have accepted the imperial edict so readily, for you know that your younger brother is the most suitable match for the Commandery Princess."
Prince Dingbei sighed bitterly, "Yes, to ensure the stability of the Prince Mansion, our Pan’er can only be paired with a foppish character."
Song Zhiyuan felt a pang in his heart.
"My younger brother may be somewhat unconventional, but he is pure and filial; Your Highness need not feel slighted!" Song Zhiyuan said without feeling awkward, "Once he enters the Prince Mansion, he will be one of the mansion. In the future, Your Highness can treat him as someone living off idle favors, granting him lifelong wealth and prosperity."
Prince Dingbei: "..."
No, this is clearly an imperial marriage decree, so why does he sound as though he kidnapped someone’s son and ran away?
Prime Minister Fan was engaging with the parrot in the cage, in such a cheerful mood that he could drink three full cups, even sharing rare words with his charming concubine.
That boy Song Yunzhi will have to walk a tightrope from now on. The alliance between civil and military officials is like handing a big thorn to the Emperor, who must constantly be wary of whether they intend to rebel.
Ah, this is indeed the most gratifying thing since the elevation of the Right Minister.
The concubine, however, was utterly confused, and said in a sweet voice, "But Prime Minister, if the Emperor has to be wary of whether they will collude, then why grant the marriage? Wouldn’t that be inviting trouble for himself?"
Prime Minister Fan paused in his teasing of the bird, somewhat stunned.
Indeed, civil and military separation has been practiced throughout history, and the intermarriage of civil and military officials is a taboo for those in power, as it seriously threatens the imperial authority. So why was the marriage bestowed so easily?
Prime Minister Fan suddenly thought of the other two in-laws of Prime Minister Song, the aristocratic Gu Family and Duke Ying Mansion. His brows furrowed, and his gaze gradually turned deep.
It seemed he had made a blunder.