The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Palace Banquet: The Trouble-Maker Arrives

Old Master Song had a few bites of food and declared himself full. He turned to leave for the concubines’ courtyard, and before walking out the door, he cast a glance at Song Ci, noticing that she didn’t show the slightest bit of reluctance. He couldn’t quite pin down what he felt in his heart.

Everyone else was also watching Song Ci, thinking that her grandfather was giving her a slap in the face. Would she explode?

Song Ci, however, cheerfully instructed Nanny Gong: ”Send two cups of osmanthus wine over to Madam Mei and the others, steam a few crabs, send some mooncakes, and let them have some fun.”

Everyone: ”...”

Truly, Grandmother is the most magnanimous.

Old Master Song gave a snort and swept out with a flick of his sleeves.

Song Ci didn’t care for the white bread, addressing her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren: ”Go ahead and eat more, eat my share too. Once we’re full, we’ll go guessing lantern riddles.”

”Mother, I’ve actually arranged to go out with some friends for a stroll and to guess lantern riddles,” Song Zhiyu quickly said.

Song Ci’s face darkened: ”A day for family reunion, and you can’t stay home?”

Song Zhiyu put on a dejected look: ”They just thought since my engagement was broken off, they’d find some fun to cheer me up.”

Song Ci: ”...”

She wanted to say don’t act for me, this old mother has been performing for years, and knows you’re just putting on a show.

But the grandchildren spoke up to plead: ”Grandmother, let Fourth Uncle go, lest he sulk and get sick. We’ll keep you company.”

Song Ci: ”You all seem to get along so well with Fourth Uncle. If I don’t let him go, does that make me the villain?”

”Grandmother is the best grandmother in the world!” Song Lingzhou said loudly.

Song Ci’s face immediately lit up with joy: ”Ah, our Zhou’er really knows how to speak. Come, Grandmother will give you a drumstick.”

She picked up a large drumstick and placed it in an empty bowl, asking the maid to take it over.

Song Lingzhou smiled gratefully: ”Grandmother truly cares for Zhou’er. All the prizes I win guessing lantern riddles will be dedicated to Grandmother.”

”Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

All the grandchildren glared at Song Lingzhou. If you keep playing like this with filial piety, and we don’t offer filial piety, it makes us all seem unfilial.

Chunhui Hall was filled with laughter and joy.

Within the Imperial Palace, the same festive atmosphere reigned, with the clinking of cups, the sound of silk and bamboo, and the dancers spinning gracefully in the hall.

Emperor Chu looked toward Prince Dingbei and asked, ”Why hasn’t that girl from Dongyang come to the palace banquet?”

Prince Dingbei replied, ”In response to Your Majesty, that girl said the palace banquet is dull, full of rules, and doesn’t fill her stomach. She decided to hold a feast of her own with the guards at home.”

The officials: You dare speak so boldly.

Emperor Chu was not angered by this, instead he laughed heartily: ”Dongyang is as straightforward as ever, worthy to be my valiant general.”

”She’s nothing but an uncouth and rude country girl. As long as Your Majesty doesn’t mind her, it’s all well. With her temperament, this old minister doesn’t know what young man could tolerate her in the future.” Prince Dingbei pretended to be sorrowful: ”Whenever I think of this girl’s marriage, I get so worried I can’t sleep, and don’t dare nag in front of my late wife’s memorial. Just look, haven’t I grown a few more gray hairs? That’s purely from worry.”

Emperor Chu thought that it was hard to count his gray hairs, but he knew that whatever he said, Prince Dingbei would respond tenfold.

”Prince Dingbei need not worry. Today, the banquet for officials is bestowed; with so many officials present, there must be one or two fine young men among them. If you fancy any family’s handsome talent, I’ll grant a marriage to the valiant general.”

Song Zhiyuan, who was seated to the left, paused in his slow sipping of chrysanthemum wine, then nonchalantly continued while his heart tightened.

”In my opinion, there’s already a suitable candidate,” Prime Minister Fan suddenly spoke up.

The officials: Here we go, the troublemaker has arrived!