Chapter 431 — The Miao Family

The edict had been issued—would Song Cen truly dare defy the imperial command?

No matter how displeased he was, he could only pinch his nose and swallow it, at most grumbling a word or two in private to those closest to him.

Matters having come to this, he had no good ideas left either. With an awkward sigh, he reflected that he had already slipped Wang Ge three thousand taels, and still had to impose on Shi Chonglan to help him pry into the inside story of this affair.

Shi Chonglan, too, feared he had unwittingly landed himself in grave trouble, and was eager to question Wang Ge and get to the bottom of it; he therefore agreed readily enough.

Song Cen returned to the Yingzhenguo Estate.

The Miao family had produced a consort, and over the past few years had been buying up land and fields and throwing their weight about, till they counted for something, great or small, in Wanping County. It had not taken Tao Jun much effort to ferret out the whole business of the Miao family.

He rubbed his forehead, at a loss as to how best to break it to Song Cen.

Song Yan, for his part, had long since gotten wind of it.

Riding on Consort Miao's influence, the Miao family had enjoyed several years of great prosperity. After the late Emperor passed away, however, their fortunes had dwindled year by year. As the saying goes, going from thrift to extravagance is easy, but from extravagance to thrift is hard. Having once tasted the sweet profits of marrying off a daughter, the Miao menfolk gave no thought to how they might uphold the household, but bent their whole minds to finding a good son-in-law to shore them up.

This sixth young lady of the Miao family was the best looking of all the sisters, and clever and quick-witted besides. The Miao family had originally meant to send her into the inner palace, and had gone to great expense to engage tutors to teach the girl lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting at home. Later, learning that Consort Miao had long since fallen from favor in the palace, they changed their minds and set their hearts on marrying the girl into a family of power and wealth, so that in days to come she might subsidize her natal family.

When they heard that Empress Dowager Yi had bestowed Miao Zhi upon the second son of the Yingzhenguo Estate as his wife, the Miao family at once sent men to inquire into Song Han's circumstances. On learning that Song Han's name held property of less than five thousand taels left him by Lady Jiang, that Song Yan was of a violent and savage temper yet enjoyed the Emperor's especial favor, and that Song Cen was still in his prime, the faces of the Miao family promptly fell, and the brothers sat down together to deliberate.

"The old one will surely take another wife, and the young one is not a man to be crossed. Apart from a fine name, there's no real gain in it." Miao Anping, Miao Zhi's full brother, was deeply dissatisfied. Before the elders could speak, he burst out impatiently, "Better she marry Squire Guo of the county town! True, Squire Guo has buried a wife, but he has said the betrothal gift is five thousand taels, and the moment our sister marries in she'll manage the household. We could even buy a share in the Guo family's shops..."

"Shut your mouth!" Miao Zhi's father glared fiercely at his son. "This is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor—can it be gone back on? Say a few words less, and beware lest disaster come out of your mouth."

Miao Zhi's eldest uncle then spoke up. "Can we not ask for a larger betrothal gift? We did, after all, raise Ansu to such an age; surely we should at least recover the fees paid to those tutors?"

"That depends on whether the Song family agrees!" Miao Zhi's father said gloomily. "The heir of the Yingzhenguo Estate is a man who kills without blinking. Trampling us to death would be no more to him than trampling an ant."

At this, everyone's spirits sank.

Just then a clamor arose from the inner courtyard.

Miao Zhi's father, already vexed, flew into a rage at the noise.

Miao Anping hastily summoned a maid and asked her what was the matter.

The maid stole a timid glance at Miao's father, then said in a low voice, "It's the sixth young lady... she says she won't marry into the Song family... whoever wants to marry, let them marry..."

Miao's father felt a throbbing pain begin at his temples.

He had meant to rely on this daughter for glory and riches, and so had doted on her in every way. Over time, he had not only bred a domineering temper into the girl, but also forfeited her respect; once she flew into a rage, there was no one in the household who could restrain her.

Miao Su'an's second uncle glanced at Miao's father with a touch of schadenfreude. "She's an unwed girl. If she kicks up such a fuss that the neighbors catch wind of it, won't the fine reputation we've spent these years building up for her be wasted? You'd best go and see to her at once! This is hardly a matter where she can refuse to marry and have done with it."

Miao's father rose in confusion and hurried to the inner courtyard.

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Brothers and sisters, my work unit wants me to go on a four-day business trip, and after several attempts I could not beg off. Now I must prepare the documents and materials for the trip before I go, and at the same time keep up with my writing, so I am correcting the typos somewhat slowly; the flaws you have pointed out I have taken to heart, and I will gradually put them right.

For now, please make do with this.

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