The entire Song mansion was in despair, yet they had no idea how to get rid of this pestilence.
To make matters worse, the Ninth Princess decreed that aside from the Grand Elder, the Madam, and the Master, everyone else in the household was to pay their respects to her daily.
The younger generation of the Song mansion felt as if life had lost its meaning. Those younger than the Ninth Princess were frequently ordered about.
In the evening, she was to occupy the Prime Minister’s chambers. However, no one knew that the Prime Minister had not returned to the Song mansion for three days.
Enraged, the Ninth Princess ordered a maid who had accidentally spilled tea on her to be beaten to death.
For a time, a gloomy atmosphere pervaded the Song mansion.
That night, after the Princess had retired, the Grand Elder summoned the Prime Minister back to the mansion.
Before the Prime Minister had even returned, some of the ladies were already complaining to the Grand Elder and the Grand Madam.
As the litany of woes was not yet finished, a voice was heard from outside, "My lord, you have returned."
Everyone craned their necks towards the entrance, and saw a figure clad in a moon-white brocade robe approaching. His slender figure cast a shadow in the moonlight outside, as if he had arrived draped in the moonlight itself. He seemed to carry a cool aura, as if infused with the glow of the moon. Looking up, one noticed his eyes, as brilliant as stars, like a sea of stars, with shimmering starlight unfolding within them, a breathtaking sight.
His face was somewhat placid, yet his inherent radiance could not be ignored. Even if he merely stood there, everyone’s gaze would be drawn to him.
Unparalleled elegance, innate nobility.
This was the consensus of everyone in the Song mansion.
He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I apologize for the suffering you have endured, Grandfather and Grandmother."
The Grand Elder's gaze darkened. He waved his hand and said, "It is not your fault. I must also blame myself." He shook his head.
"It has been so long since the incident. Do not blame yourself. Let's see if Xiuyuan has any ideas," the Grand Madam said.
The Grand Elder nodded and looked at Song Xiuyuan, asking, "Have you found a solution?"
Song Xiuyuan bowed and replied calmly, "Your grandson has not yet thought of a solution, but..."
The Song family members, who had already begun to feel disappointed, brightened at the word "but."
"Hurry and tell us..." Song Da Laoye, Song Xiuyuan's paternal uncle, spoke up.
Song Da Laoye's eldest wife gently tugged his sleeve. Song Da Laoye then realized he was the only one speaking before everyone else. He quickly said, "Xiuyuan, you have no idea how lawless that Ninth Princess is. If this continues, the Song mansion will be completely ruined."
Song Xiuyuan did not look at Song Da Laoye but calmly stated, "My fiancée will be arriving in the next few days."
Upon hearing this, the Grand Madam's face showed displeasure. "What is she coming here for? She is merely of low status..."
Unfortunately, before the Grand Madam could finish her sentence, the Grand Elder interrupted, "You mean, she has returned?"
"Yes," Song Xiuyuan nodded.
The Grand Elder's eyes lit up. "Good, excellent."
"Are you foolish? What good is someone of lowly status? If she hadn't saved Xiuyuan back then, how could a butcher's daughter possibly be worthy of my good grandson?" the Grand Madam said, quite displeased.
The Grand Elder looked at the Grand Madam and said, "To call you superficial is truly accurate. Do you remember the agreement between Xiuyuan and the Emperor?"
"Of course, I remember the agreement. Isn't it that once Xiuyuan's fiancée returns, any offense against the Ninth Princess will not be blamed on..." At this point, the Grand Madam also realized, and looking at the Grand Elder, her lips trembled slightly, "You... you mean..."
"We can have Xiuyuan's fiancée deal with the Ninth Princess," the Grand Elder said with a smile, his eyes full of shrewdness.
The Grand Madam still seemed uncertain. "Can this work? Isn't she foolish?" A commoner confronting the Ninth Princess, wouldn't that be overestimating her own strength?
The Grand Elder cast a look at the Grand Madam, feeling they were too obtuse. He explained, "Have you ever heard of a farmer's daughter understanding the Three Obediences and Four Virtues? Understanding what defiance means? When Xiuyuan's fiancée arrives, you will treat her with the utmost respect and flattery. I believe then she will seek trouble with the Ninth Princess herself."
The Grand Madam finally understood and slapped her thigh, saying happily, "As expected, Husband, your plan is brilliant."
"Since Grandfather and Grandmother have understood, then when my fiancée arrives at the mansion, I will trouble Grandfather and Grandmother to take good care of her!" Song Xiuyuan said.
"That is natural. Do not worry," the Grand Madam replied.
"It's nothing. Your grandson shall take his leave now!" Song Xiuyuan turned and left.
"Hurry back!" the Grand Elder said with a smile.
The other members of the Song family, seeing Song Xiuyuan depart, finally dared to speak. The first to speak was Song Yuming, the legitimate son of Song Da Laoye, "Grandfather, is what Third Brother said feasible? Can a fiancée make that Ninth Princess retreat?"
The Grand Elder glanced at Song Yuming and said, "No."
"No? Then what should we do? I can't stand it anymore. For the past few days, the Ninth Princess has made me make shoes for her every day. Look at what my hands have become?" Song Minghui, the only legitimate daughter of the Second Master Song Qihe and his wife Qiu Yehe, held up her hands towards the Grand Elder.
Second Madam Qiu Yehe looked at her daughter Song Minghui's once slender and tender jade hands, now somewhat rough, with great heartache. She was the most pained.
Her Minghui was the only child she and Second Master had. Second Master did not like having illegitimate children, so for many years after their marriage, he had no concubines or maids. When she gave birth to Minghui, her health had been damaged, and she could not bear more children. Therefore, she and Second Master only had this one child, whom they cherished as if she were a treasure, holding her in their mouths for fear she would melt, and holding her in their hands for fear she would break.