If the Zhuangyuan is his own son, then he should be called Song Mingting!
Song Yi was extremely excited.
He had been the Tanhua, and now his son, at just 14 years old, had become the Zhuangyuan, even more impressively, the first in history to achieve the 'Six-Time Champion'.
If the experience of the father and son is spread, wouldn't it become a legendary tale passed down through the ages?
'Mingting truly lived up to being my good son, what a glorious honor!'
"What are you thinking about?"
Princess Dongyang noticed the smile on Song Yi's face and grew irritated.
"I'm talking to you about Weiwei, and you're just grinning like that?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking about some matters at court." Song Yi cleared his throat.
"I've heard of that Zhuangyuan. He is a student of Lord Su, the Minister of Works, and he is engaged to Minister Su's beloved daughter. He's already engaged."
"Weiwei probably just took a fancy to his looks and acted impulsively. When she knows that Zhuangyuan has a fiancée, she'll stop making a fuss."
Song Yi stroked his beard.
The reason he had become the Tanhua back then was partly due to his talent and partly due to his handsome appearance.
Mingting had also inherited an exceptionally striking face. Rumor had it that during today's parade, the young Zhuangyuan's radiant confidence had captivated countless young women.
Back in his day, when he rode through the streets after the exams, the scene had been just as spectacular, otherwise, how could he have caught the eye of a royal princess?!
So Song Yi knew Du Ruowei must have been swayed by appearances when she declared she wanted to marry Mingting.
But it was impossible!
Even though Du Ruowei had called him 'Father' for so many years, Song Yi still felt she wasn't worthy of Mingting.
A 14-year-old Zhuangyuan, with the Minister of Works as his future father-in-law, and not to mention, Mingting was the inventor of the He Gu Water-Powered Spinning Wheel and spinning machines. He had also promoted methods like castration for faster pig fattening and the use of compost for farming.
Such a person, who was already on the Emperor's radar, was destined for a brilliant future.
Du Ruowei had a terrible temper and no academic achievements, so she wouldn't be any help to Mingting.
Marrying such a wife to Mingting would only drag him down.
Song Yi had long noticed Princess Dongyang's stubborn insistence on pushing Du Ruowei to the East Palace, and he had always wanted to tell her it was a hopeless endeavor.
But the princess had always been domineering, and he owed his rise to her family's influence. Besides, Du Ruowei wasn't even his biological daughter, so he couldn't say much.
But if Du Ruowei dared set her sights on Mingting, he would be the first to oppose it!
"So he's already engaged? That's good..." Princess Dongyang was relieved.
"The Ministry of Works has no real power or influence in court. Even if he's latched onto Minister Su, he's still just a poor Zhuangyuan."
Song Yi was displeased by the princess's words.
'Su Hengzhong was a pragmatic official, and the Emperor highly valued those who got things done. It could be said that Minister Su had the Emperor's favor, and he might even join the Grand Secretariat in the future.'
'Mingting was Su Hengzhong's personal disciple and future son-in-law. Did she really think Minister Su wouldn't look out for his own family?'
'Such shortsightedness!'
Song Yi couldn't be bothered to explain.
Princess Dongyang was too preoccupied with her daughter to notice Song Yi's odd behavior.
As she hurried off to persuade Du Ruowei, Song Yi summoned his most trusted aide and ordered him to investigate Mingting.
Song Yi had a hunch that Mingting was his eldest son.
Back then, he had abandoned his wife and children at home in order to marry the princess, so he had no idea how his wife was doing now.
'The Zhuangyuan was surnamed Jiang. Could it be that my wife remarried to a family surnamed Jiang?'
'What a joke!'
'My son was so outstanding, bringing honor to the family… it should be the Song Family's glory! How could he become a son of the Jiang Family!'
Song Yi decided that once he confirmed Mingting's identity, he would make Mingting recognize his ancestors!
There was no reason for a living biological father to go unrecognized while his son acknowledged someone else as his father… what kind of nonsense was that?
"I want Jiang Mingting! He's handsome, and I want him."
After learning that Mingting was engaged, Du Ruowei flew into a rage and smashed her favorite glass cup.
"Mom, Grandpa is a prince, and you are a princess of the royal family. How dare that Su family try to compete with the royal family for a man?"
Seeing her daughter so willful, Princess Dongyang felt a pang of regret for having spoiled her excessively after her first husband's early death, indulging her to the point of lawlessness.
Right now, her father, the prince, had already passed away. According to the rules, the title of Prince of Qi would be inherited by her eldest brother, but it was downgraded to a lower rank of 'commandery prince', and their relationship with the emperor had grown more distant. How could it compare to the past?
Moreover, her daughter was meant to enter the East Palace and become the Crown Princess!
"I don't want to be the Crown Princess! The Crown Prince is fat, ugly, and foolish. How can he be as good-looking as Zhuangyuan Jiang?!"
"Mom, back then, didn't you marry Father precisely because he was handsome and the Tanhua? Why are you so cruel to me now, unwilling to fulfill my wish?"
"Jiang Mingting is even more outstanding than Father. He is the Zhuangyuan!"
Princess Dongyang nearly fainted from anger at Du Ruowei's words.
How could our situations be the same
Back then, it was her second marriage. So choosing to marry Song Yi, who had no family backing, was a step down… Moreover, it ensured that Song Yi would rely on the prince's household's influence and never dare slight her.
And it turned out that Princess Dongyang's choice was right.
All these years, Song Yi had pampered and respected her, making her life incomparably comfortable.
Though Song Yi had cheated before, when she dealt with that wretched woman, he hadn't dared utter a single word of protest.
That was the power of superior status!
But Du Ruowei's situation was entirely different!
She is still a young maiden and has more and better choices.
By becoming the Crown Princess, she will be the Empress who rules the country, which is a far cry from the humble status of a small Zhuangyuan's wife!
Du Ruowei was the type of person who grew more determined the more others opposed her. Even if Princess Dongyang argued until she was blue in the face, Du Ruowei remained steadfast in her choice… she only wanted Jiang Mingting.
Left with no other choice, the princess had no option but to confine her daughter at home.
With the Crown Prince's consort selection imminent, if Du Ruowei caused any scandal, all of Princess Dongyang's years of effort would go to waste.
"Anyone who dares let the young miss leave will have their legs broken and be sold to the coal mines!"
Princess Dongyang's threat was highly effective. The maids and matrons serving Du Ruowei immediately carried out her orders, guarding the young lady's courtyard so tightly that not even a fly could escape.
Everyone knew being sent to coal mines were the worst fate imaginable!
Compared to being sold to the coal mines and subjected to abuse by those people, death would be preferable!
"Mom, open the door, Mom! If you don't agree to me, I'll go on a hunger strike…"
Hearing Du Ruowei's threat, Princess Dongyang was both furious and anxious.
Of course, she would not blame Du Ruowei. Instead, she directed her hatred toward Mingting, convinced that this Zhuangyuan had somehow bewitched her daughter.
Meanwhile, Mingting was completely unaware that a huge blame had just been dumped on him out of nowhere. After the parade, he was summoned into the palace by Emperor Li.