Chapter 1348 – Raising Daughters (Part 4)
As soon as the couple entered the room, Qi Chaolan eagerly asked if Huang Song had any injuries or if anyone had been disrespectful.
Huang Song smiled while listening to her ramble, finding her chatter more delightful than irritating.
“Lan’er, no need to worry, everything is just fine. Lan Ting made sure to remind everyone that no one would mistreat me,” Huang Song said once she finished, gently stroking her hands. His touch revealed how much weight she had lost; she used to be plump and fit, but now seemed thinner. He sighed, “I feel guilty, having to put you through hardships with me. Who knows what kind of situations we’ll face—”
Qi Chaolan scolded him, “Marrying you means I chose you. Do you think I’m the kind of person who can share in the good times but not the bad?”
To her, having this man stand before her, alive and well, was a blessing from above.
“Of course, that’s not what I meant,” Huang Song sighed. “It’s just that, Lan’er… there are many petty people in this world who will take advantage of others’ misfortunes. I can confidently say I haven’t deliberately offended anyone, but… it’s easy to get along with gentlemen, but hard to guard against scoundrels… Who knows if someone will take the chance to kick us while we’re down? With your proud disposition, how would you handle such humiliation? I’m worried, not for now, but for the future—”
Huang Song had grown accustomed to the disdain of others in his early years. After rising to prominence in Dongqing, he constantly felt the pressure from Jiang Pengji, making it hard to enjoy the pleasures of his high status. With threats internally and externally, he had little time to relish the joys that come with power.
For him, the current situation was merely a return to square one, but for Qi Chaolan, it was a different story altogether.
Take, for instance, the time he was stopped by the doorkeeper at Golden Scales Academy. Before he could explain himself, the crowd had pushed him out.
In the past, when he held sway, which doorkeeper would dare to act so boldly?
Desiring power when one doesn’t possess it is common; finally obtaining it brings convenience and a sense of superiority, and losing it suddenly creates a psychological gap that words can’t easily explain.
Reflecting on this diluted the joy of their reunion, casting a shadow of worry over his brow.
Qi Chaolan, catching his mood, felt a little down herself.
She took the initiative to hold Huang Song’s hand tightly, whispering, “As long as you stand strong, I shall not fear.”
Huang Song lowered his eyes and nodded slightly, and they embraced for a while indoors.
Qi Chaolan asked, “I’ve heard Liu Xi is not an easy character. Why did she let you go so easily this time?”
Huang Song briefly explained his blood oath alliance with Jiang Pengji, causing Qi Chaolan to tear up with sympathy.
She understood what Huang Song had lost; for his character, losing those things would be more painful than dying.
She could guess at least part of the reason he willingly accepted the binding of the alliance.
“Don’t overthink it; it’s fine as it is,” Huang Song said, knowing her thoughts. He gently patted her forehead and smiled, “Lan Ting isn’t as ruthless as you imagine. Whether it’s out of youthful affection or her own strategy, she ultimately left a sliver of a path for us.”
Qi Chaolan looked at him in confusion.
“What do you mean, my husband?”
Even established families that go three generations without producing officials can face severe depletion, no matter how deep their roots run.
The Yuan family depended on Huang Song’s line for support; it was still unclear what their attitude would be now that he had fallen.
Even if Jiang Pengji granted Huang Song a hollow title of hereditary nobility for three generations, how could that mere salary sustain a status befitting their lineage?
Continuously accumulating debts for three generations could drain even mountains of gold and silver.
Should they shamelessly beg merchants for scraps?
Huang Song replied, “The alliance only states that male descendants for three generations aren’t allowed to serve in office, but we have more than just male heirs.”
Qi Chaolan’s face showed surprise; so it could be interpreted this way?
“At first, I didn’t understand what Lan Ting was after. I slowly figured it out during our journey; she truly will not tolerate even a slight loss,” Huang Song said with a bitter smile. “Lan Ting has reached this point—whether intervening in other lands or solidifying Dongqing—she undoubtedly needs a celestial crown. She might be the first woman in history to ascend a heavenly throne. In this chaotic era, outsiders might overlook her being a woman, but once she establishes a country and proclaims herself empress, certain sensitive issues can no longer remain hidden—”
Qi Chaolan was momentarily taken aback.
“What issues?”
Huang Song answered, “For example, heirs—Lan Ting still has no children.”
For a nation, heirs are more than just successors; they are a stabilizing force that secures the hearts of the people.
Without heirs, who could feel secure, be they ministers or commoners?
If the emperor passes away without an heir, who will become the next ruler?
The painstakingly stabilized world could shatter in an instant.
Qi Chaolan asked, “No heirs, so they should just have one?”
“Heirs are meant to inherit the family line; would you have Lan Ting’s world go to serve her husband’s family?” Huang Song questioned. “Moreover, as an empress, she’s above millions—what is a husband’s family even? If she does have an heir, given her temperament, it’s most likely to be a daughter inheriting.”
In this era, female emperors encounter far more troubles than regular male emperors.
She is treading a path never walked by her predecessors, making it all the more arduous.
Qi Chaolan said, “Inheriting through a daughter? Then what about the child’s father…”
Huang Song lowered his gaze, “Most likely he’s dead. For her empire, losing a man would be all too normal.”
Listening to Huang Song’s analysis, Qi Chaolan vaguely grasped the calculations and implications behind this alliance.
“Is Uncle Gao suggesting… she’s supporting women?”
Huang Song confirmed, “That’s likely… doing so would alleviate the pressure from officials regarding heirs.”
Qi Chaolan said, “So this alliance is not a bad thing, but rather a good one?”
If everything aligns with Huang Song’s expectations, then all his efforts, be they physical or otherwise, wouldn’t be in vain.
Given those relationships, his line is unlikely to end up in dire straits.
If their daughter excels and earns the empress’s favor, they would surely have a seat at the court. Who would dare look down upon their family?
After a while, Qi Chaolan remarked, “She indeed has some guts.”
Huang Song said, “…Honestly, I’d prefer Lan Ting to have a male heir in the future…”
Qi Chaolan pretended to be angry, retorting, “What? Do you look down on women?”
“Where would I ever say that, my lady? I was born of a woman too! Looking down on women means looking down on my own mother! Which filial son would dare do that?” Huang Song explained helplessly. “It’s just, my lady, you know how risky childbirth is for women, hovering at death’s door! With the concerns of birthing a child, they can’t immerse themselves in governance for a year. Naturally, officials and commoners wouldn’t want that.”
