CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 509 PRIME MINISTER SONG OPENS HIS EYES

It wasn’t a secret when Song Ci moved into Prince Dingbei’s Mansion, and soon everyone in noble circles knew. Along with the madams who attended the Song Family’s wedding banquet spreading the news privately, it was clear that Commandery Princess Dongyang was pregnant.

Everyone knew that Song Zhiyu, the husband, was practically married into the family, and his children with Commandery Princess Dongyang would surely bear her surname. Now that Commandery Princess Dongyang was expecting, it meant that Prince Dingbei’s Mansion had an heir.

In the Northeast, someone had already sent the news at full speed so Prince Dingbei could be at ease.

To be pregnant less than a year after marriage was truly enviable, especially for those few princes eagerly participating in the imperial grandson competition.

Besides Prince Xiao who was about to have a child, only Prince Zhou’s concubine was expecting. The other princes, Prince Wu and Prince Yan, still longed eagerly, desperately trying.

As for the Song Family, who knows what secret feng shui spots or celestial methods they had sought out behind the scenes, causing joy to continually befall them. Whether the women married out or those married in, it seemed agreed upon that they would all be expecting in succession.

Don’t believe the talk?

The Second Madam of the Song Family gave birth to twins over a decade ago, and now she’s had a daughter — could there truly be no secret?

Those who hadn’t conceived for a long time or were anxious were quietly inquiring if the Song Family truly had some secret method?

Those who put their mind to it managed to gather some clues, appearing there indeed was one, said to be a childbirth secret method passed down by the Elder Madam Song.

Reflecting on how this Madam Song gave birth to several sons in her lifetime, some people couldn’t sit still.

Suddenly, the invitations for Song Ci to enjoy the flowers and tea or visit increased significantly.

Song Ci was so surprised she spat out her tea.

"Who is causing me trouble!"

Could she take responsibility for causing a gender imbalance in Great Qing? Even though it wasn’t a hundred percent certain, what if?

For her dog’s sake, Song Ci began to feign death again, closing her doors under the pretense of needing to care for her daughter-in-law, refusing guests, and hiding away.

But as she hid, it couldn’t prevent the palace from catching wind of the rumors too.

Like right now.

Song Zhiyuan secretly glanced down at his official robes; was something messed up to make Emperor Chu stare at him like that?

"Your Majesty? Could it be that my etiquette is lacking?"

Emperor Chu leaned lazily on the dragon throne and said, "Your etiquette has always been excellent, my dear minister."

Song Zhiyuan: "???"

Then why are you staring at me?

"I’ve heard that the Elder Madam has a childbirth secret method? Known as the Fertility Goddess?"

Pfft.

Song Zhiyuan had just taken a sip of tea when he spat it out upon hearing this, hurriedly taking out a handkerchief from his sleeve to dab at the corners of his mouth before apologizing.

Emperor Chu waved a hand to pardon him.

"Your Majesty, these are baseless rumors. Human reproduction and child fate have always followed nature; where could there be talk of a secret method?" Song Zhiyuan said helplessly.

"Not necessarily; didn’t your second brother just have a daughter? It’s said it was thanks to the Elder Madam’s secret method."

Song Zhiyuan recalled his second brother’s days of yearning and longing, along with his own grueling days of dread, and sighed helplessly.

"It’s not a secret method, just adjustments in diet, the wife’s health needs nurturing, and attention to various aspects. As my mother said, it’s merely preparing a proper cradle for the fetus; whether it succeeds ultimately depends on fate," Song Zhiyuan laughed. "Aren’t we all just ordinary people? How could there be fortune-telling to make dreams come true? The tale of my mother being the reincarnation of the Fertility Goddess is merely outsiders’ hearsay placing her on a pedestal."

Goodness me, Prime Minister Song, you crafty old fox, I simply wanted to ask about the secret method, was it necessary to cast such a wide net?