When she first heard that Madam Zhenyi was seriously ill, Wei Changying felt a little uneasy and worried. But with Princess Lingxian's unsuccessful invitation and her being unable to contact Princess Anji, all she could do was to wait and see what would happen.

After a few days of waiting, Song Zaishui sent someone to invite her for a visit at the mansion.

Just two days after Shen Shuguang was one month old, Madam Su personally gave the order for Wei Changying to be in charge. Although Grand Preceptor’s mansion was too large to be handed over to Wei Changying all at once, even a part of it was already enough to make her as busy as a bee.

But Song Zaishui was very considerate. How could she not know that it was difficult for Wei Changying to take some time to visit? But even so, she still sent someone to invite her, and the servant wasn’t too sure about the reason, either. Perhaps, there was something important going on. Wei Changying thought about it long and hard before deciding to pay her a visit, so she asked Madam Su for permission, “I haven't seen my uncle face to face since I arrived in the capital. Now that my cousin has sent someone to invite me over, I’m not sure whether my uncle is free to meet up with me or there is something they want to discuss. Mother, can I pay them a visit to see what’s going on?”

Madam Su, who now favored her a lot because of the male infant she had given birth to, said, “Sure, that’s the right thing to do. But we have a lot of things to do at home, so you should come back today.”

“Of course, Mother. I’ll not delay my duty for sure.” Wei Changying sighed a breath of relief.

When she arrived at the Song Family, Song Zaishui personally came out to welcome her and instructed her servants to stand back so they could talk. Seeing this, Wei Changying thought to herself that her cousin must have something important to say. However, after the servants left, Song Zaishui looked at her with a smirk and asked casually, “How did you offend the Huo Family? Do you know that I asked you to come here today because first sister-in-law asked me to?”

Wei Changying was startled and immediately related this to the incident with Huo Zhaoyu. She immediately tensed up and asked, “Did people in the palace send someone to the Huo Family to ask about it?”

Song Zaishui froze for a moment too and said, “The palace? What is going on? Tell me now!”

After hearing what happened, Song Zaishui frowned and said, “How could you do this? You recommended someone as a Princess’s groom without asking them beforehand? You’ve placed them in such a sticky situation. No wonder the Huo Family is trying to talk to you!”

“But how did the Huo Family know about it?” Wei Changying was a bit puzzled, “There was no other person next to me when I told Princess Anji!”

“Maybe it was Princess Anji herself who said it?” Song Zaishui said, “Her Highness Princess Anji has already told you that she helped you before because Princess Linchuan was siding with you, which was unusual. Hence, she sided with you too with the thought that she’d be getting some benefits. Who’d know that you didn't know why Princess Linchuan wanted to help you either? Hence, this is the second-best way to get some benefits from you. Do you really think she’ll keep a secret for you? Think about it. Both she and Madam Zhenyi are out of favor, and it’s hard for them to even protect themselves in the palace, not to mention helping you with any favors.”

Wei Changying sighed and said, “I am really sorry to the Huo Family for this, but at this point, what can I do?”

Song Zaishui said casually, “Whatever, it’s not like the Huo Family can eat you up anyways. Just apologize to them when you see them later.” She sighed again, “What are you so upset about? I should be the one being upset instead. The Huo Family has approached me from my first sister-in-law, so it’s inevitable for me to explain and smooth the matter out later tonight. This matter has nothing to do with me, but I have to help you apologize to them just because of you!”

She proceeded to say, “You heartless woman, why did you come over without my nephew? He will cheer me up.”

“How could I possibly bring him out?” Wei Changying’s spirits lifted a little upon mentioning her son, “When my mother-in-law heard that I was going out today, she said that it was not good to have nobody looking after the Jintong Courtyard, so she asked someone to bring him to the main room immediately.”

Song Zaishui laughed and said, “No wonder! I was wondering how you could pay me a visit that easily? You’re now married into someone else’s family. With a mother-in-law above you, it won’t be easy for you to escape. Now I see it’s because of your son.”

“Well, it’s true.” Wei Changying didn't try to deny it either and said, “Ever since Shuguang gave birth, Mother has been much nicer to me all of a sudden. Even my two sisters-in-law are not as fussy as before. Back in the days, if I had left my errands behind and come to visit you today, my sisters-in-law would have complained even if Mother had given me permission. Today, once Mother gave me permission, they were both so nice and definitely weren’t as mean as before.”

Song Zaishui smiled and said, “I heard that your mother-in-law has recently asked you to be in charge of the household. I bet your sister-in-laws wish you’d come out more often so they can be in charge instead!”

While talking, they had arrived at the eldest branch in no time. When they entered, it was obvious that only relevant people were left behind, such as a few trusted chief maids and the first madam, Mrs. Huo, who was talking to a woman in a fancy dress. Beside her was a young girl dressed in colorful clothes. Wei Changying recognized her as the Miss of the Huo Family, Huo Qingling, whom she had met twice before.

The person Huo Qingling came along with was obviously one of the elders from the Huo Family.

Wei Changying felt so guilty that she was a little nervous. Mrs. Huo and the woman in a fancy dress were pretty polite. Mrs. Huo introduced the woman as her eldest aunt from the Gu Family, “My eldest aunt's family is somehow related with your family. But since you just arrived at the capital not long ago, maybe you aren’t aware of it at all?”

“Please forgive my ignorance. Mrs. Huo, do you mind enlightening me?” Wei Changying asked cautiously.

Mrs. Huo then smiled and said, “My eldest aunt's second son, which is my cousin Chenyuan, was raised under the guidance of the current His Excellency vice-premier since he was young.”

“I see, so the second young master of the Huo Family is one of my granduncle’s disciples.” Wei Changying was a little embarrassed. How should she address him then? From Shen Cangfeng's side, she had an equal status to Huo Chenyuan. But now according to Wei Yu's side, was she supposed to greet Huo Chenyuan as the uncle from the Huo Family? Then what about Mrs. Hu and Mrs. Gu in front of her?

Fortunately, Mrs. Gu was kind enough to make the situation less awkward, so she said modestly, “My son is pretty mischievous. Fortunately, His Excellency vice-premier did not mind about his low natural endowments and took him in as one of his disciples. He’ll have to listen to his teachings every morning and evening.”

“Madam Gu, you are too humble. I have seen your two sons before with my husband. They are both virtuous and act like gentlemen.” Wei Changying complimented her back.

After their exchange of pleasantries, Huo Qingling suddenly mentioned the parrots that Song Zaishui bred in Jianjia Court, implying that she was waiting for Song Zaishui to invite her and go along with her so she could have a look.

It was obvious that Huo Qingling was trying to lure her away. Fortunately, Song Zaishui was smart enough and wasn’t fooled by such an obvious ploy. Smiling, she called her chief maids Chunjing and Xiajing and said affectionately, “If it were anyone else, I would accompany her personally. But you are my sister-in-law's cousin, not an outsider. Hence, there’s nothing I need to worry about. Just do as you please in my courtyard.”

She then grinned and went on, “This is my first time seeing Madam Gu, and I have long heard of her reputation for being virtuous. I know Madam Gu is a very busy person, and it’ hard to invite Madam Gu to pay a visit. Now that I’ve finally seen her in real life, there’s so much for me to learn from her. I apologize in advance if I have neglected Qingling in any way.”

Since she said it that way, Madam Gu, Mrs. Huo, and Huo Qingling collectively said that she was being too humble. Huo Qingling failed to lure her away, but Chunjing and Xiajing respectfully invited her to the courtyard, so she had no choice but to excuse herself instead.

Upon realizing that she wasn’t able to lure away Wei Changying’s best helper, the First Miss of the Song Family, who was well known to be smart, Madam Gu decided to not beat around the bush anymore, “Princess Lingxian was summoned to the palace the day before yesterday. When she came back, she sent the vice-governor in her mansion to my mansion to mention something about a marriage.”

Wei Changying was sitting upright and scratching her head off to think of how she could make amends so that the Huo Family would not get mad at her. Madam Gu paused and said, “At first, I did not understand how my mediocre son could be fancied by someone in the palace. But then my second son, Chenyuan, mentioned that it might be related to Madam Wei. This is a matter of great importance as it is related to my son’s marriage. Hence, I had to come and ask Madam about it personally. I hope I’m not too much of a bother.”

“Madam Gu has spoken too highly of me. That being said, it was a very unwise thing for me to do.” Wei Changying blushed profusely.

She was flustered and didn’t know how to explain herself to the Huo Family. Song Zaishui, who was alerted all along, asked on her behalf, “Madam Gu, I wonder what your second son mentioned?”

Mrs. Gu smiled faintly and said, “Well, it all started with Chenyuan’s impoliteness. Last year, when Infanta Chengxian got married, Chenyuan had to go to King Run's mansion to congratulate her as she was the lineal granddaughter of His Excellency vice-premier. However, as he was not a good talker and wasn’t fond of boisterous scenes, he went to the garden and hid from the crowd by hiding himself on the trees by the lake. Unexpectedly, shortly afterwards, Her Highness Princess Anji and Madam Wei happened to come under that very same tree and had a conversation. As Princess Anji and Madam Wei did not bring their servants along, Chenyuan was afraid of being misunderstood, so he did not dare to make a sound and waited for the two to leave before getting down from the tree.

“...”

The hall was silent for a while, and Song Zaishui looked at Wei Changying with sympathy. As the saying went: If you had done something, it was unavoidable for others to know about it. It was obvious that Princess Anji and Wei Changying had left their servants behind intentionally and went to the lake to talk just to prevent people from eavesdropping. Who would know they would be this unlucky and pick the tree where Huo Chenyuan was hiding? On top of that, they were even talking about matters related to the Huo Family.

Well, at least they knew Princess Anji didn’t sell Wei Changying out.

Wei Changying was now in a sticky situation. If it had been Princess Anji who sold her out, she could still have tried to refute what Princess Anji said. But now things were different as Huo Chenyuan heard every single word of their conversation. Even Song Zaishui herself could not think of what Wei Changying could do other than apologize and admit her wrongdoings.

Wei Changying smiled awkwardly and stiffly as she didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Madam Gu went on, “Chenyuan said that Her Highness Princess Anji had entrusted Madam Wei to find her a suitable candidate to be her husband, so she doesn’t marry the wrong person. Madam Wei, you deemed him extremely suitable after hearing Her Highness’s requirements. According to Chenyuan, Her Highness trusts you a lot, Madam Wei. Now people in the palace have sent Princess Lingxian to ask my family about the marriage. May I please ask Madam Wei if it was you who recommended my son?”

Wei Changying nodded with a red face and said, “It’s all my fault, Madam. I will accept any reprimand from you without any complains.”

She was so quick to admit it that Madam Gu was taken aback and stayed silent for a while. She spoke only after a pause, “Her Highness is from the royal family, and my son is merely a mediocre commoner who is no match for her.”

Wei Changying was speechless and said, “I know I’m at fault for this. I admit my mistakes. I’m sorry.”

Madam Gu started weeping and said, “I have no intentions of blaming you, Madam Wei. But my son is no match for Her Highness. Now that the royal family has proposed marriage, what else can we do if we do not accept it?”

Although the gentlefolks were well known in the capital, royals were royals and they would never be of the same level. In the Jin Dynasty, there was a nursery rhyme that went, “The Wang Family and the Ma Family share the world.” It indicated how powerful the Wang Family was. But after Huan Ji, Princess Xinan’s husband was divorced by her, she wanted to marry Wang Xianzhi instead. Wang Xianzhi and his wife Xi Daomao were deeply in love at the time. Hence, in order to refuse the marriage, he burned his feet with mugwort, which made him suffer from foot diseases for years afterwards. However, he was still forced to leave Xi Daomao and married Princess Xinan.

Now the Huo Family was not as powerful as the Wang Family, and the Emperor was not the eleven-year-old Emperor Xiaowu anymore. Since the Emperor had let Princess Lingxian, who was related to the Huo Family, propose the marriage, how could the Huo Family dare to refuse? Even if they dared to do so, they couldn’t learn from Song Zaishui or let Huo Zhaoyu disfigure his looks with a knife. Madam Gu would never let that happen.

Even if they had the courage to refuse this marriage… Song Zaishui was a living example. This young lady was recognized as a capable and generous lady by all the families amongst the gentlefolks, but now she was 20 years old and still had no plans on marriage. She was the only daughter in the family and was also the lineal daughter. Her father and brother loved her so. Otherwise, it would have been miserable for her to stay in her family. Huo Zhaoyu may not need to worry about not getting a wife. The worst he could do was to marry someone who had a lower position than him. But what about his future?

Seeing that Wei Changying had nothing to say, Song Zaishui sighed and said, “Madam Gu, it is my cousin's ignorance and her lack of thoughtfulness that brought your son into trouble. However, now that the mistake has been made, my cousin is remorseful and hopes to make amends to your family.”

The matter had already reached to this point, and it was not like Wei Changying tried to deny her mistakes. Madam Gu did not visit Wei Changying at the Shen Family’s mansion directly. Instead, she entrusted someone from the Song Family to invited Wei Changying over. Obviously, Madam Gu did not want to make a big deal out of this, either. All that was left was what amends she wanted from Wei Changying.