The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 944: Chapter 944: Meeting the Sickly ’Chang Su’ Again

Madam Song volunteered to take the child back to the main courtyard. Song Ci was a bit surprised. Although she felt a bit reluctant, she didn’t say it was impossible. After all, she couldn’t be like some other madams who insisted on keeping their grandsons by their side.

On the carriage to the manor, Song Ci said to Nanny Gong, ”I thought she would pretend not to know and keep the child in my courtyard to raise.”

”It must be the young miss who gave her a few reminders.”

Song Ci thought this was indeed possible, and said, ”Qian’er is indeed more clear-headed than her mother.”

Nanny Gong smiled gently and spread out the mat, saying, ”There’s still some distance to the manor. Would you like to take a nap first?”

Song Ci lay down as suggested. The carriage had been equipped with shock absorbers and was driven very slowly because of her age. Enveloped in the sound of the wheels, she soon fell asleep.

Following in another carriage, Nan Shan draped a thin blanket over her waist and abdomen, tapped on the wall of the carriage with three long and two short knocks, and without instructions, the coachman drove even more steadily and slowly.

Nanny Gong glanced at Song Ci and then leaned back against the carriage wall to doze off.

Time passed as they traveled. Song Ci was suddenly awakened by a thunderclap, her heart racing as she sat up inside the carriage.

Outside, the sound of rain was noisy, accompanied by crashing thunder.

Song Ci lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked out through the glazed window. The rain outside was overwhelming, a vast expanse of white.

”How did it start raining this hard? How long has it been raining?”

Nanny Gong replied, ”It’s been raining for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.”

”It’s already autumn; I didn’t expect such heavy rain, and it’s quite chilly.” Song Ci rubbed her arms.

”An autumn rain brings a chill. It’s already the beginning of autumn, so it’s natural to feel cold.” Nan Shan took out a cloak from the cabinet and draped it over her shoulders.

Nanny Gong took a teapot from the heater, poured a cup of warm tea, and handed it over, saying, ”It’s ginger tea, drink some to warm up your body.”

Song Ci took it and said, ”With such heavy rain, it’s hard to travel. Check along the road for any farmhouses where we might take shelter from the rain.”

Nanny Gong said, ”Guard Jiang has reported that this is a sudden rain, coming quickly and fiercely. It should stop soon. We can just wait here. Moreover, the manor is at most an hour’s drive away.”

Hearing this, Song Ci was not anxious. It’s just an hour’s journey. If you send someone ahead on a fast horse to the manor, they can prepare hot water and ginger tea to ward off the cold.

Sure enough, after waiting for a while, the rain gradually lessened, and the carriage continued on its way.

In less than half an hour, the carriage stopped again. Song Ci was puzzled when Guard Jiang came forward to report that someone was seeking an audience with her.

”May I ask if it is Madam Song inside the carriage? Meiniang of the Shang family pays her respects to Madam.”

Hearing this familiar voice, Song Ci signaled to Nan Shan to open half of the carriage door. Lifting the curtain, she saw Meiniang, the shopkeeper of the Xia Zhi Commerce, standing in the rain in a straw raincoat, assisted by a maid.

”Such heavy rain, why are you here?”

Meiniang said anxiously, ”Madam, my husband and I were heading to Songshan Temple to pray but unexpectedly encountered this downpour. A loud thunder startled the horse, and the carriage overturned into a ditch. We have already sent our attendants to seek help ahead, but my husband is in poor health, and now his old illness has flared up from being drenched in the rain.”

Following her gesture, Song Ci saw Shang Pu, dressed plainly in a thick cloak, standing under an oil-paper umbrella held by a steward. Seeing her look over, he gave a distant bow, looking deathly pale and unsteady on his feet.

”Madam, I boldly ask if your esteemed household could spare a carriage for us. My husband urgently needs a doctor’s attention.” Meiniang pleaded with a face full of urgency.