This Nanny Qiu was no simple character. Recalling how she had just inquired about the gift Song Jie sent with such a seemingly concerned manner, Song Chuyi’s intuition told her something was amiss.
After thinking for a moment, she turned her head to ask Song Chumi, “Why does Fifth Sister seem so afraid of her wet nurse?”
Song Chumi had clearly noticed this long ago. Seeing Nanny Qiu leaning close to Song Chubin’s ear whispering something while Song Chubin’s complexion grew increasingly worse, she frowned and called out, “Fifth Sister!”
Song Chubin’s entire body jolted as if startled. Looking anxious and apprehensive, she nodded in agreement, “Yes, Fourth Sister.”
Nanny Qiu, having her words cut off halfway through, was quite displeased. She instinctively put on a stern face and was about to speak, but remembering this was the Old Madam’s territory, she reluctantly suppressed her anger. With a forced smile, she looked at Song Chubin who wanted to step forward yet dared not, “Fourth Miss is calling for you. You should go over quickly.”
Song Chubin breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly sat down beside Song Chumi and Song Chuyi.
Before they could exchange more than a few words, Ziwei entered from outside with a smile. After glancing at them, she said cheerfully, “It’s time to depart.”
The Old Madam and Song Chuyi shared one vermilion-tasseled canopied carriage, while the First Madam took another blue-curtained eight-treasure carriage with Song Chumi and Song Chubin.
The entire party proceeded in grand fashion to the Loyal Righteous General’s Manor located on Zhongshun Road, only to discover the manor’s entrance was bustling with traffic like flowing water, with people coming and going endlessly to present their calling cards.
Old Madam Song sat upright inside the carriage. Upon seeing the prosperous scene before the Su Manor, she felt somewhat displeased—the Su family had risen to prominence through some small favor to the founding emperor. By now their noble title had declined to merely a third-rank general position without any real power. Why were they conducting affairs so ostentatiously?
If not for the fact that Old Madam Su still held a super-first-rank imperial mandate, and considering the face of the Duke of Yingguo’s wife, she certainly would not have come.
The sharp-eyed First Madam Su had already spotted the Earl Manor’s carriage. She personally had servants clear the way and helped Old Madam Song down from the carriage, her face beaming with a brilliant smile, “Oh my, Old Ancestor, you’ve finally arrived! Your health is still so robust. How is the Old Master? What a pity he’s too busy with many affairs to grace us with his presence. All the gentlemen in our manor are eager to seek his guidance on scholarly matters!”
First Madam Su was a shrewd operator in noble ladies’ circles. Her tongue was extremely smooth, and her conduct fairly acceptable. Old Madam Song responded appropriately with a smile, “Don’t play tricks before me. If others don’t know, how could you not? He’s so busy his feet barely touch the ground—where would he find time to attend banquets? At recent banquets, hasn’t it always been the First or Second Young Master attending in his place?”
First Madam Su pretended to slap her own mouth, craning her neck to look behind Old Madam Song. She grabbed the First Madam with continuous laughter, “I deserve a beating, I deserve a beating—to actually speak ill of the Old Master!” Then looking at Song Chumi and the others, her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly, “No wonder our Old Ancestor says that in all of the capital, you’re the best at raising young ladies. Look at each one blooming so fresh and pretty—I can’t love them enough!”
Seeing Song Chuyi standing beside Old Madam Song, supporting one of the Old Madam’s hands, she guessed this must be the one closest to her. She warmly took Song Chuyi’s hand with a smile, “Especially this young lady—despite her tender age, she’s completely without the restlessness of those several in our manor. Truly rare!”
Throughout the entire exchange, she was practically the only one speaking, yet she possessed the skill of keeping things lively without becoming annoying—also quite remarkable.
The First Madam laughingly poked her forehead, “You, you—that mouth of yours truly never stops. Even the birds in the trees are quieter than you!” Then she proceeded to introduce the young ladies, “These are several of our children—the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth.”
By this time, First Madam Su had already led Old Madam Song and the others into the flower hall. Upon hearing this, she quickly had someone bring out greeting gifts.
Song Chumi and her sisters all performed proper courtesy and expressed thanks.
Outside, a maid came to report that the Princess Consort and Princess of Zhennan Prince’s Manor had arrived. First Madam Su quickly apologized to Old Madam Song, “Please forgive me, Old Ancestor, I must go out to welcome them.”
Old Madam Song smiled and nodded.
The flower hall displayed a twelve-panel gilded screen depicting court ladies. All six doors of the hall were thrown wide open, with half-person-height white Ru kiln vases placed beside each door, filled with fresh flowers.
The furnishings and arrangements were all quite good, but the implements used were rather extravagant—now that the Su family’s noble title had become merely nominal and no one had achieved success through the imperial examinations, yet they still conducted affairs according to the standards of marquis and earl manors. This would likely attract envious eyes.
The Duchess of Yingguo, Lady He, had also arrived. Upon seeing Old Madam Song, she quickly came forward to pay respects, then smiled, “Fortunately Sister Yun can manage. Look at this crowd of people—just the ladies’ side alone will probably require eight or nine tables.”
Old Madam Song detected Lady He’s praise for First Madam Su and nodded with a smile, “It’s not easy indeed.”
Lady He didn’t dare praise too excessively, so she smiled and looked toward the young ladies nearby, “Old Madam, today you’re willing to bring out these treasured pearls? Usually you hide them so carefully, as if afraid someone might abduct them.”
Tea gatherings, banquets, and flower-viewing parties were popular in the capital, but the Song family’s young ladies rarely participated.
Old Madam Song smiled and had Song Chumi lead her two younger sisters to pay respects to the Duchess of Yingguo, saying with a laugh, “If others rarely see them, surely you haven’t seen them so rarely? All the sisters dislike going out.”
Lady He had roughly guessed that Song Chumi and Song Chubin would attend today’s banquet—both had reached the age to be evaluated for marriage prospects, so they needed to gradually attend some gatherings to become familiar faces. However, she hadn’t expected that the still-young Song Chuyi would also be brought along.
She felt she had somewhat underestimated this Sixth Miss Song in the past. With this realization, the smile on her face grew even warmer. Besides praising Song Chubin and Song Chumi thoroughly, she pulled Song Chuyi over for idle chat.
First Madam Su soon returned accompanying the Princess Consort of Zhennan. She bustled about serving before the Princess Consort like a spinning top that never stopped.
Song Chumi, who hadn’t spoken until now, couldn’t help wanting to laugh. She tugged Song Chuyi’s hand, then turned to see the First Madam’s warning look and had to abandon her desire to watch the spectacle.
In this room, Old Madam Song held the highest seniority and highest imperial mandate, so the Princess Consort of Zhennan sat beside Old Madam Song. She first paid respects to Old Madam Song, “How have you been lately, Old Madam?”
The Prince of Zhennan held a special status—the only prince of a different surname since the dynasty’s founding. The current Prince of Zhennan commanded significant military forces, and everyone at court had to show him considerable respect.
Old Madam Song had also agreed to attend the banquet only considering that both the Princess Consort of Zhennan and the Duchess of Yingguo would be present.
Now, seeing the Princess Consort of Zhennan, Old Madam Song’s smile deepened somewhat. She nodded, “All is well. You look even more radiant.”
The Princess Consort of Zhennan laughed, “I wouldn’t believe it from others, but since Old Madam says so, it must be true. I’ll allow myself this moment of joy.”
She then turned to summon her two daughters forward to pay respects, “These two always give me worry. I still need to discipline them for that incident last time.”