After receiving the imperial edict, Mr. Ji's face was wreathed in a grateful smile. He turned to the side and whispered a few instructions to the butler beside him.
The butler understood immediately and hurried away. He returned shortly with a bulging purse.
Handing the purse to the Imperial Eunuch, Mr. Ji then said to him respectfully, "You've had a long journey, Eunuch. This is just a small token of our appreciation, hardly a worthy gift. I hope you will accept it as a measure of the Ji family's gratitude for His Majesty's immense favor."
The Imperial Eunuch squeezed the purse, and the smile on his face grew wider. His gaze flickered to Song Yuxi, who was still slumped on the ground, and he raised his voice slightly:
"His Majesty witnessed everything that happened between Miss Ji and Young Master Song today. Since the auspicious date of the ninth of next month has already been set, the Ji family need not make any changes. Simply switching the groom will be an act in accordance with heaven's will."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Ji understood completely. He hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks. "We will obey His Majesty's decree. The entire Ji family will do everything in our power to prepare for the wedding and dare not slack off in the slightest."
Ji Xiaosong stood to the side with her head lowered, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She stole a glance at Xiao Shen and saw a trace of subtle joy beneath his calm expression.
"Well, well, isn't this Young Master Song? What are you doing sitting at the Ji family's main gate? How convenient. The Song Family has an imperial edict as well. In that case, I shall accompany you to the Song Mansion to announce it."
Song Yuxi slowly got to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"After you, Eunuch."
'Even without this marriage to the Ji family, I am still the future master of the Marquis Mansion.'
'At a time like this, I absolutely cannot lose my composure over a single incident.'
He forced himself to pull it together, straightened his back, and followed the Imperial Eunuch back to the Song Mansion.
By this time, the rest of the Song Family had received the news and had all rushed back.
Once everyone had gathered in the main hall, the Imperial Eunuch's sharp, thin voice began to proclaim the imperial edict.
As Song Yuxi listened to the edict, a sharp pain twisted in his heart, but he bit his lip and struggled to maintain his composure.
He dropped to his knees and declared in a clear voice, "Your subject accepts this decree and gives thanks for Your Majesty's grace! Long live Your Majesty! Long, long live Your Majesty!"
His voice betrayed little emotion, but the slight tremor at the end of his words revealed his inner turmoil.
After finishing the proclamation, the Imperial Eunuch handed the edict to Song Yuxi, shot him a glance, and said mockingly, "Young Master Song, one hundred concubines and that pregnant mistress of yours will soon be sent to the Marquis Mansion by His Majesty. You'd best watch yourself."
With that, he and his attendants swept away.
Once the Imperial Eunuch's figure had vanished beyond the mansion gates, Song Yuxi shot to his feet, crumpling the imperial edict in his fist.
His eyes instantly became bloodshot as he glared, wide-eyed, scanning everything in the hall.
Suddenly, he let out a great roar, viciously kicking over a nearby sandalwood chair. The chair tumbled across the floor several times with a dull thud.
"This is all that Ji Xiaosong's fault! If it weren't for her, it never would have come to this!"
Song Yuxi roared, sweeping the teacups from the table to the floor, sending shattered porcelain flying.
He paced back and forth in the hall, his chest heaving, his breaths coming in heavy, ragged gasps.
The nearby servants stood trembling, not daring to make a sound.
Song Yuxi turned and saw them, and his fury surged anew. He pointed at them and cursed, "What are you looking at! Get out! All of you, get out!"
As if granted amnesty, the servants scrambled to escape.
Only then did the other members of the Marquis Mansion dare to come forward and ask what was going on.
"The wedding is next month, Yuxi! What on earth is going on between you and that girl from the Ji family? And what is this about a mistress?"
Song Yuxi's second uncle questioned him, his brow furrowed and his face a mask of rage, his eyes revealing deep dissatisfaction and confusion.
His third uncle sighed and shook his head. "Ah, Yuxi, how could you be so foolish? How could you ruin the pristine reputation our Song Family has built over three generations?"
His fourth uncle stood with his arms crossed, his expression cold and stern. He remained silent, but his gaze seemed to pierce right through Song Yuxi, making him feel as if he had needles on his back.
His fifth uncle, who had a gentler temperament, spoke softly, his face a mixture of pity and regret. "Yuxi, what's done is done. You should think carefully about how to handle this. Don't act so recklessly anymore."
His aunts were also chattering amongst themselves. The second aunt shrieked in a shrill voice, "This marriage to the Ji family's daughter was such a wonderful match, and you've ruined it! How are we supposed to show our faces in the Capital City now?"
The third aunt wiped away her tears and lamented, "Our Song Family has never suffered such a scandal! What are we going to do?"
The fourth aunt, her face cold, scolded, "You rebellious brat! You deserve a harsh lesson. Even being confined to your room for self-reflection would be too light a punishment."
The fifth aunt tried to gently console everyone and calm the storm, but the family's fury was not so easily appeased.
Facing the torrent of accusations and questions, Song Yuxi grew even more agitated. He glared and shouted at them, "Enough! I'll handle this myself! I don't need you all telling me what to do!"
With that, he turned, strode out of the room, and slammed the door with a BANG, shutting out the clamor. He left behind a hall filled with chaos and shouting.
That night, the one hundred concubines arranged by the Emperor were sent into the Marquis Mansion, along with Yue Niang, who had been cowering outside the gates, too afraid to enter.
Along with them came the betrothal gifts, returned by the Ji family.
Madam Song shot Yue Niang a sidelong glance. With her willowy, delicate frame, she looked for all the world like a courtesan, the kind groomed from a young age to be sold to a wealthy patron.
She snorted, her eyes filled with disdain, and spoke slowly. "Hmph. Just look at you. Shamelessly flaunting that belly of yours for all to see. If it weren't for the sake of the family bloodline in that stomach, do you really think you would ever have been allowed to set foot in this Marquis Mansion?"
Hearing this, Yue Niang quickly lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes, and said timidly, "Forgive me, Madam. I had no choice. I only hope to bear a child for the Young Master."
"A child?" Madam Song shot her a cold glance and continued her ridicule. "Don't think you can rest easy just because you're pregnant. The rules in this Marquis Mansion are many. We'll see how you behave from now on."
Then, Madam Song ordered a maid, "Take her away. Settle her in a side courtyard and find an old matron to watch her closely. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Though her tone seemed calm, it carried an authority that could not be questioned.
After Yue Niang was led away, Madam Song turned to the butler. "Get those other concubines settled as well. Don't let them run wild in the mansion. The peace of the Marquis Mansion must not be disturbed by them."
Although Madam Song was inwardly furious about this sudden turn of events, as the matriarch of the Marquis Mansion, she could only swallow her disgust and temporarily accept these people, hoping that, in time, she could slowly clean up this mess and salvage some of the Marquis Mansion's reputation.
'A hundred concubines... feeding them every day will cost a significant amount of silver. It's a real headache. But if I really let all of them 'serve' my son, would Song Yuxi's body even survive?'
But unlike the oppressive gloom hanging over the Song family, the Ji family's home was now much more lively.