Reborn, meet you again!

After following Song Wan back to the yard, Luluo hurriedly walked up to her young lady and said anxiously.

"My lady, I took a look at the things from the palace when they were brought into the mansion."

"My eyes are like a scale. Those things, plus all the silver in the treasury, are only worth 20,000 or 30,000 taels at most. How can that be enough to buy such a large betrothal gift?"

"Madam, it's obvious that they're trying to steal your dowry. Miss, please don't fall for their tricks."

Even among ordinary merchants, she had never heard of any family using their daughter-in-law's dowry to prepare betrothal gifts for the husband's family!

The Pei family is really going too far.

only……

Just now the young lady said that she wanted to take back her dowry, but how come in the blink of an eye, she agreed so readily and wanted to give up even more?

The young lady has been in charge of the household affairs of the Marquis' Mansion for many years, and she doesn't believe that the young lady doesn't know what's going on.

So, when the young lady said she was leaving, she was lying...

Song Wan found it a little funny to see Luoluo looking aggrieved as if she had been cheated.

"I know everything you said."

"Come here and do as I say!"

Although Luoluo was anxious, she still walked towards Song Wan obediently.

But after listening to her young lady's instructions, the corners of her mouth immediately curled up, her eyes became bright, and she said something excitedly.

"I understand, Miss. I'll do it right away!" Then she ran out in a hurry.

Song Wan looked at Luoluo's cheerful back, smiled and shook his head, then turned his gaze to Hongchang beside him.

The expression on his face also became more serious.

"Hongshang, the new emperor ascends the throne today. Go to Tianxiang Tower and take a seat to listen to any news coming out of the harem after the court is dismissed."

"Especially...pay attention to the situation in the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"If you need money, you can make your own decision. Don't worry about the money."

Song Wan thought about it and added.

"Also... by the way, please find out if Prince Yun has returned to the capital."

Hong Chang's heart tightened when she heard the young lady's words.

Although the young lady has been trying her best to integrate into the official circle in Kyoto over the past three years.

But the Marquis's Mansion was in decline, and the young lady was from such a poor family, so the status of the man she could reach would not be very high.

This was bought with the lady's own money.

Among all the officials' wives in the capital, few of them really like young ladies, except for the special Miss Fang from Minister Fang's family.

What kind of family was the Song Xiangfu? During the reign of the previous emperor, it was a powerful place.

And...Prince Yun.

As far as she knew.

There is only one Prince Yun in Kyoto, and that is Prince Yun Zheng of Prince Huai's Mansion.

They are also the ones whose clothes they cannot even reach.

What is the lady asking about these two people for?

But Hongchang was a servant who had been brought up under strict discipline since childhood. She was more cautious than Luoluo and knew the duties of a servant better.

He just replied "yes" solemnly and left the house.

……

The Prime Minister's Mansion is located in the East City, covering a vast area and with a towering gate.

The gate is carefully decorated with vermilion paint, and two huge stone lions squat at the door, showing their majesty.

But at this moment, the door of the prime minister's residence was closed.

In the main hall, Song Yi was talking with his two children, Song Jing and Song Yan, and his concubine Wen.

Song Jing and Song Yan are the twins born to Aunt Wen. They are three years younger than Song Wan and are now both seventeen years old.

At this time, Wen looked at Song Yi with some uneasiness in her eyes.

"Master, today is the day the new emperor ascends the throne. If you claim to be sick and don't attend court, will you get into trouble?"

Song Yi just raised his hand and gently scraped the rim of the teacup, still looking calm and composed.

There was only a subtle hint of fatigue between his eyebrows.

"It doesn't matter. If someone is really looking for trouble with me, it won't matter whether I go or not."

And there might be a big drama to be performed in the court today.

He was too lazy to look.

Song Yi said this and looked at his eldest son Song Jing.

"You said yesterday that the person who bought the mansion next to ours was Jun Jiuchen?"

Hearing his father's question, Song Jing quickly responded.

"Yes, father, and today a servant reported back that a matchmaker has arrived with a large group of maids and servants, and it looks like they are going to move in soon."

Song Jing said this with some hesitation on his face.

"Father, the new emperor clearly gave Jun Jiuchen the Prince Regent's Palace. That house is much better than this one."

"Jun Jiuchen's actions are extremely strange. Could it be...deliberate, using my father as an example to establish his authority and intimidate the officials?"

"These days, he and his black-armored guards have been acting recklessly in Shangjing City, confiscating many officials and causing panic among the people."

Song Yi took a sip of tea, his expression not showing much change.

He knew very well how he came to sit in this position. He had been mentally prepared since the day the previous emperor passed away.

But...the people that Jun Jiuchen seized were indeed people who deserved to die.

Although he didn't know why he was able to get hold of so many people's handles as soon as he arrived in Beijing, if he really was a "meaningful" person, he would not be afraid.

"This person's background is unknown, and nothing can be determined yet. However, no matter what his intentions are, now that we have lost the protection of the late emperor, we are like a tiger with its teeth pulled out. We can only remain unchanged in the face of all changes."

"I will be claiming illness and will not attend court these days, nor will I receive guests. From now on, you should stop hanging out with others and be more restrained."

Song Jing answered obediently.

"Don't worry, father. I only acted in accordance with your wishes before. Now... the late emperor is dead, and I naturally know my limits."

Song Yi nodded with some relief after hearing this, and looked at Wen again.

"You should also give orders to the servants in the mansion to be alert!"

"Don't let anyone with ulterior motives take advantage of you!"

Aunt Wen was feeling uneasy at this moment because she heard her son talking about the regent.

Hearing Song Yi's instructions at this moment, he just responded with a dazed "OK", and then seemed to think of something, hesitated for a moment, and spoke carefully.

"Master, my son-in-law wrote to say... that he will be escorting his coffin back to the capital in three days. He also said he will personally come to apologize. Should we... be prepared?"

As soon as Aunt Wen finished speaking, the sound of cups and plates hitting the table could be heard from the hall.

Song Yi, who was originally very calm, suddenly had sparks in his eyes and spoke sternly.

"What son-in-law? My Song family doesn't have a son-in-law like him!"

"If he comes, don't let him step into the gate of my Song family again!"

Aunt Wen seemed to have anticipated Song Yi's reaction.

But thinking of the situation in the Prime Minister's Mansion, she paused and still advised.

"Master, you just said that the Prime Minister's Mansion is in a precarious situation. If you can help me..."

But before Wen could finish her words, Song Yi raised his hand to stop her, and a hint of grief that had been suppressed for a long time finally appeared in his eyes.

He slowed his tone and continued.

"Okay, I know what you want to say."

"I, Song Yi, only achieved my current position by flattering the late emperor! But the world is such that no matter what others say, I only ask for a clear conscience!"

"But even if I become crooked, I will never be reduced to relying on my daughter's death and clinging to others for my own safety!"

"You don't need to worry. Even if I am useless, I will protect the safety of you, Jing'er, and Yan'er!"

Even though the news of his daughter's death had been heard for a long time, he still felt it was just a nightmare.

At that time, the late emperor was murdered by rebels who colluded with people in the inner palace and was poisoned.

The late emperor already had few children, and two princes were assassinated at Wan'er's wedding banquet.

He could only suppress the grief in his heart, and stay spirited enough to accompany the emperor, temporarily stabilizing the political situation for the late emperor.

But in the end, the emperor still died.

He actually did not regret the death of the late emperor, but at that time, if the late emperor died, Tianqi would surely fall into another civil strife.

It is the people who suffer.

Fortunately, Jun Jiuchen suddenly returned to the capital and supported the young emperor to ascend the throne. Only then did he feel at ease to return to the prime minister's residence and face the death of his daughter.

However, after the death of the previous emperor, the people in the palace were even more uneasy than he was. He could only cheer himself up again and not show his vulnerable side.

Then, perhaps because of the passage of time, the pent-up grief in his heart seemed to no longer find an opportunity to be released.

Then it turned into a trace of resentment.

Resentment towards Yun Zheng and Prince Huai's Mansion.

Aunt Wen looked at Song Yi and moved her lips, as if she wanted to say something.

Song Jing hurriedly spoke before her.

"Aunt, father is right!"

"Yun Zheng shot my sister to death with his own hands. Now her body is gone. Why is he pretending to support her spirit and apologise for her crime?"

"When he comes back, I'll have him write a letter of divorce. Even if it's just a cenotaph, I won't bury my sister in his Yun family!"

Aunt Wen received the signal from her son's eyes and finally swallowed her words of persuasion.

He just looked at Song Yan who was sitting in the hall and responded.

"Yes, Master...I will go down and give the order right away!"