Exciting News – I'm Transting Again! ??

  Hey everyone! I’m happy to announce that I’ll be transting again! However, I won’t be releasing as many chapters as before. As much as I love bringing these stories to you all, I also have a life and other responsibilities I need to focus on.

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  Thanks for all the love and support! Let’s enjoy these stories together. ???

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  On the nineteenth day of the twelfth month, Song Yi was set to take a new wife as his second wife. The invitations had already been sent out.

  Old Master Song and Old Lady Song had decided that since this was merely a matter of taking a second wife, there was no need for an extravagant ceremony. They only pnned to invite close friends and family to set up a few tables for a lively but simple celebration.

  However, despite their initial modest intentions, the number of tables quickly grew. A few here, a few there, and in the end, they settled on seventeen tables. Fortunately, the Changning Marquis Residence was spacious enough—several tables were arranged under the covered pavilion, ten were set up in the garden, and the banquet for the women was to be hosted separately at Tingxiang Pavilion.

  After sharing a few amusing stories and sending off Madam Cui, First Lady Song brought over a guest list to Old Lady Song. “Duke Ying’s Residence did not receive an invitation…”

  Naturally, they should not be invited. Sending an invitation would have been giving them undue respect. Their retionship had already soured beyond repair, and now that Changning Marquis’s Residence had taken the lead in excluding Duke Ying’s Residence, others would follow suit.

  Without any official position to sustain them, it was only a matter of time before Duke Ying’s family found themselves completely ostracized from noble circles.

  In due time, they would be pushed out entirely.

  As they spoke, Song Yi entered to pay his respects. He first greeted Old Lady Song, then politely acknowledged First Lady Song, before hesitantly turning to Old Lady Song. “Regarding the one to sit on the wedding bed that day…”

  Traditionally, when taking a second wife, the groom’s eldest son would sit on the wedding bed to symbolize the wish for many heirs. Naturally, this duty would fall to Song Yan.

  Old Lady Song gred at him. “He is your own son, and you don’t have the nerve to speak to him yourself? If you can’t even manage this, what kind of father are you?”

  Ever since Song Chuyi had told him to stay out of her and Song Yan’s affairs, Song Yi had grown increasingly apprehensive. He had neither the courage nor the ability to interfere. Given his naturally timid disposition, he had simply given up and allowed himself to fade into the background. Apart from his daily greetings, he had avoided meddling in any other matters.

  Now, he was expected to suddenly approach Song Yan with this request—something he truly found difficult to do.

  First Lady Song quickly intervened to smooth things over. “Second brother-in-w must be joking. You are his father—blood ties run deep. If you show him more care and consideration, even the coldest heart will eventually soften. Those two children are not the type to be unreasonable…”

  Her words only made Song Yi lower his head further in shame.

  Old Lady Song was beyond exasperated, thinking him utterly useless.

  Had he not stubbornly defended Song Chunning, that wretched woman, things would not have come to this—where his retionship with Song Chuyi and Song Yan had deteriorated to such an extent.

  That was already in the past. But then, when Duke Ying’s Residence committed yet another act of foolishness, he still did not know how to behave as a father. He never asked about his children’s feelings, never considered their thoughts.

  They were his own children, yet he seemed the most indifferent to them.

  “You’re not even as considerate as your wife-to-be!” Old Lady Song finally snapped, unable to hold back her frustration. “She hasn’t even entered the household yet, but she already knows to send people to inquire about what Xiao Yi and Yan'er like to eat, what they enjoy. She even sent over two finely crafted outfits, clearly made with care.

  “And you? What have you done?”

  Old Lady Song still harbored resentment over the scheme against Song Chuyi. If she had even a remotely dependable father, she would never have been dragged into the mess with the Shen family.

  Had Song Yi been more decisive in handling his emotions instead of wavering like a fool, Song Chuyi would not have grown up fearing marriage as if it were a venomous snake.

  Song Yi hung his head low, utterly defted.

  Ever since he had been framed and imprisoned, the Ministry of Personnel had yet to assign him a new post. He knew it was because his father had intervened behind the scenes.

  Day after day, he remained idle at home, while his eldest, third, and fifth brothers all held official positions and carried themselves with confidence. He alone had nothing.

  Old Lady Song, seeing his defeated state, sighed in exhaustion. Speaking with Song Yi was more draining than dealing with a child.

  She softened her tone slightly, saying, “Don’t overthink it. I may be scolding you, but I’m only speaking the truth. You need to start paying attention to your children. To be fair, your past actions have hurt them deeply.

  “The human heart is not warmed in a day. If once isn’t enough, then try again.

  “When you take a wife, your temperament will stabilize. Do you really think your father will keep you locked at home forever? Use this time wisely—learn what you should do and what you shouldn’t.

  “If you go through life as foolish as you are now, even I will look down on you.”

  Song Yi’s eyes slowly brightened as he listened. He hesitated, then finally nodded. “Yes, I understand.”

  At st, he resolved to speak with Song Yan himself.

  Old Lady Song watched him leave and shook her head. “He’s truly a handful… more trouble than a child.”

  First Lady Song quickly comforted her. “Mother, don’t worry. Second brother has been improving tely. And his future wife is a sensible woman—once she enters the household, everything will naturally settle.”

  Although the Guangping Residence had fallen from grace, it was rare to see a noble household raise their children so well.

  If not for the misfortunes their family had endured, and the fact that the daughter had been deyed in marriage due to the mourning periods for both her father and the Empress Dowager, she would never have been considered as a second wife.

  Despite her age, she was well-mannered, knew propriety, and had a strong sense of decorum. Even before her marriage, she had already taken steps to build a good retionship with her future stepchildren.

  This was a promising sign.

  That evening, Song Chuyi was about to visit Old Lady Song’s Ningde Courtyard when Luyi approached and informed her, “Young Master Song was summoned to the Second Branch’s main residence.”

  Song Chuyi thought for a moment before asking, “It must be about sitting on the wedding bed before the ceremony?”

  Ever since the incident with Han Zhi, Song Yan had matured significantly. He now understood when to act and what needed to be done, so Song Chuyi wasn’t particurly worried.

  Qingtao nodded and fastened the ties of Song Chuyi’s winter cloak, smiling as she added, “Speaking of which, our new madam-to-be is quite a thoughtful person. She actually made a complete set of seasonal outfits for you and sent them over. The stitching and craftsmanship are exceptional—it’s clear that the same skilled hand made them all.

  “For her to be this attentive, she must be a wise woman.”

  At the very least, this gesture showed her sincerity in fostering a good retionship in the future.

  Song Chuyi nodded, pondering for a moment before saying, "In that case, on the nineteenth, I'll wear the outfit she sent me."

  This could be considered a small token of reciprocation.

  She didn’t want Song Yi’s new wife to be someone like Tong Shao, who was constantly stirring up trouble. If his wife was someone dependable who could keep him in check, he might actually start conducting himself with more discipline. That way, she wouldn’t always have to worry about him.

  Qingtao responded crisply, "Yes, Miss."

  She then thoughtfully picked up a hand warmer and pced it in Song Chuyi’s hands before taking a step back to look her over.

  “This cloak was a gift from the Princess of Zhennan, and it looks absolutely stunning,” she said with admiration.