Zhao Yuanyuan beside them felt the same way. "Yes, every sister who returned from the Jin Dynasty has an old matron assigned to her. They even hint that we shouldn't talk carelessly. Are they afraid that what happened in the Jin Dynasty will get out and disgrace the Zhao family?"
This development did not surprise Song Qingshu. Zhao Gou would surely do everything possible to conceal the scandals involving imperial women in the Jin Dynasty. After all, imperial consorts, princesses, titled ladies, and the like were treated no differently from prostitutes over there. No one could accept that.
Historically, Zhao Gou's birth mother, Empress Dowager Wei, had suffered every humiliation in the Jin Dynasty. Rumor had it that she had even shared a bed with a princess to serve a high-ranking Jin official. Later, when the Jin-Song peace talks took place, Empress Dowager Wei was released and allowed to return. She remained extremely tight-lipped about what had happened in the Jin Dynasty. Later, that princess also escaped back from the Jin Dynasty, thinking she had finally escaped into the light. Yet because she knew of those old disgraceful affairs, Empress Dowager Wei silenced her by forcibly declaring her an impostor princess and having her executed...
Thus, Zhao Gou's placement of vicious matrons beside these princesses who had returned south was undoubtedly meant to keep them under surveillance.
Song Qingshu rubbed the heads of the two little princesses and comforted them. "Don't worry. From now on, that matron won't dare make things difficult for you again."
"Why?" Zhao Hu'er asked bluntly. "Brother Song, although you are the King of Qi, she carries orders from Ninth Brother. I'm afraid she won't take you seriously."
Song Qingshu smiled. "The title of King of Qi naturally can't suppress her, but I used... magic on