Song Chumi’s matter was no longer up to her to regret. She originally hadn’t been willing—though when Old Madam Song went to see her she had fearfully agreed to everything, once she was truly released, other thoughts had sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain. If she truly married a xiucai, in the future when facing all her sisters in the family she would be a head shorter.
She could have married into an Elder’s family to enjoy blessings, but now she had to marry into an impoverished countryside—that xiucai’s family might sound impressive as distant relatives of Elder Du’s family, but they were merely clan members who had separated by five degrees of kinship. Their ancestral home was even in a countryside small town whose name she’d never heard of.
Though her tears fell in torrents, Third Madam Song didn’t soften her heart this time. Instead she held her and cried: “If you want your father and me to die immediately, if you want your brother to never be able to turn his life around, then go ahead and make trouble! I’ve already thrown away my face for you. It’s a small matter if you lose face for me, but a grave matter if you harm your father. If you do anything more, I’ll hang myself with a white silk cord to apologize to the Song family!”
These words were spoken with ironclad determination. Song Chumi stared at her blankly for a long while, finally not daring to show the slightest unwillingness before Old Madam Song.
Because of this, the proceedings went smoothly—she was already older than Song Chubin, so by rights she should marry first anyway. After recovering from illness and having her betrothal arranged, no one gossiped about it.
After Song Jue personally sent Song Chuxuan to Jiangyin for her wedding, he turned around and began handling her affairs.
Old Madam Song didn’t shortchange her dowry and trousseau, giving her ten thousand taels the same as Song Chuxuan, plus two additional sets of jewelry and headdresses. She simply had Song Chumi stay peacefully in her room embroidering clothing for her in-laws and her own wedding garments and bedding.
The next day, she had people carry to Duke Yingguo’s residence three whole roasted pigs, sixteen kinds of pastries, and ten jars of spirits as matchmaker-thanking gifts. She also invited the Prince Consort and his wife to come drink wine—drinking specifically at Song Chuxuan’s return-visit banquet. Though the person herself hadn’t returned, the banquet still needed to be held.
Because several happy occasions had been arranged in succession, this return-visit banquet with the bride herself absent was only simply done, inviting some relatives and friends for family merriment.
Lady He received the news with boundless joy, breathing out a long sigh and sighing to Shen Xiaohai: “Indeed, where there’s sincerity, even metal and stone will open. If we hadn’t spent these several years of effort, I’m afraid the two families would have severed ties from now on.”
Shen Xiaohai nodded, then glanced at Shen Qingrang and Shen Huiyi sitting properly and sternly instructed them not to throw tantrums and to be cautious in word and deed, before leading Shen Qingrang to ride out on horseback first.
Lady He looked at her daughter dressed in sapphire blue clothing and also admonished: “Now that you know your parents’ intentions, you must not follow your own temperament anymore. I can let things pass, but your father won’t let you off.”
The Song residence was hung with lanterns from top to bottom. All along the corridors were round lanterns strung together like candied hawthorns on a stick. In the garden, colored silk ribbons were tied to the trees, and one large banyan tree was adorned with many colored gauze lanterns. Combined with the various flowers in full bloom, even Shen Huiyi couldn’t help but sigh—several generations of emperors had always favored the Song family. Otherwise they wouldn’t have granted them this residence that had belonged to a prince in the previous dynasty. Just the layout and arrangement here, along with these aged trees, were enough to prove this residence’s heritage.
Third Madam, her face wreathed in spring breezes, personally led them into the flower hall, laughing as she said: “Inside, Princess Zhennan and Princess Duanhui have arrived, as well as the wives of the Minister of War and the Vice Minister of War with their young ladies. There’s also one familiar person you’ll never guess.”
Lady He naturally played along, widening her eyes and asking with a smile: “Oh? Then I must think carefully.”
But who knew thinking wasn’t necessary—as soon as they entered the door they ran into her. Wasn’t it Lady Li, Li Yu’s wife? They had played together in their maiden days. Lady He was first startled, then approached with a beaming smile to pay her respects.
Old Madam Song rarely saw outside guests anymore. In the flower hall, the First Madam was receiving guests. Lady He had become very skilled at dealing with people these past two years, and having resolved such a thorny matter for the Song family, her relationship with the First Madam seemed to have returned to being as good as three years ago.
After a while, having paid respects to all the families’ wives, she said with a beaming smile that she would go pay her respects to Old Madam Song.
The First Madam nodded slightly, pretending not to know about the dispute between Shen Huiyi and Song Chuyi during her last visit to the household. Smiling, she led Lady He and her daughter together to Ningde Courtyard: “Old Madam has been tired these past days and is lazy about seeing guests. But she has always loved young ladies. Right now all the young ladies are playing inside Ningde Courtyard.”
Indeed, Ningde Courtyard was filled with continuous laughter and cheerful voices. Lady He led Shen Huiyi to pay respects before Old Madam Song, and her eyes couldn’t help but fix on Song Chuyi—when she was young, one hadn’t noticed how delicate her features were, only finding her cute and charming. Now her brows and eyes so resembling Lady Cui’s had fully matured, like a flower bud unfolding. Standing among the crowd, she was absolutely eye-catching.
Song Chuyi was speaking with the Li sisters, Li Xintong and Li Xinwu. Noticing Lady He’s gaze, her brow furrowed, and she imperceptibly leaned against Old Madam Song’s shoulder.
Old Madam Song just laughed happily and shooed these flower-bud-like young ladies outside to play: “The garden has long been prepared. Right now the gardenias are blooming beautifully, and the crabapples, magnolias, and corn poppies have filled the entire garden with blooms. The artificial mountain is covered with Boston ivy, winter jasmine, and morning glories. You can go out and admire the flowers. If you feel bored, you can fish by the lake or swing on the swing frames.”
Everyone knew the Song residence was a prince’s mansion from the previous dynasty and cheered with joy upon hearing this.
The older Old Madam Song grew, the more she loved liveliness. With a face full of loving kindness, she smiled for a while, then specially instructed Song Chubin, Song Chuyi, and Xiang Mingzi: “You are the hosts, so you must properly receive the guests.”
Several people all smiled and agreed. Outside, Nanny Qin and Nanny Huang entered with faces bearing joy to announce good news: “Old Madam, First Madam, an imperial envoy has come from the palace. His Majesty and the Crown Prince both have rewards to bestow, saying they’re to congratulate our family’s happy occasions.”
Old Madam Song’s expression changed almost imperceptibly, then turned into a face full of smiles again.
The young ladies went to the garden in groups and indeed hadn’t walked far before they saw gardenia flowers with branches and leaves extending onto the long corridor. The air was filled with flower fragrance, making everyone sigh involuntarily.
Suddenly someone cried out in surprise. Everyone followed her gaze upward and saw a butterfly kite flying steadily in the sky.
All at once they wanted to fly kites.
Other things might be somewhat difficult, but Lord Song happened to be the best at making kites. Ever since Song Chuyi had said she wanted to learn kite-flying from him, he had collected various kinds of kites every year for the girls to play with.
At this moment, seeing they were all interested, he smiled and had the attending management lady go to the storeroom to fetch out the kites.