The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 1021: Chapter 1021: Song Ci: The Day I Was Bribed

The sun was setting in the west, and as the remaining rays of the sun painted the sky red, Song Zhiyuan entered Chunhui Hall bathed in the evening glow.

”Mother.” Song Zhiyuan saluted Song Ci.

Song Ci responded with a smile and instructed Chun Fen, ”Go and bring a cup of snow pear and honey water for the Prime Minister to soothe his throat.”

Chun Fen obliged with a curtsy, bowed out, and quickly returned with a teacup, which she presented forward.

Song Zhiyuan opened the lid of the teacup, and a hint of sweetness wafted to the tip of his nose, infiltrating his lungs. A sip eased the irritability in his entire body.

”In the autumn, one easily becomes dry; this snow pear water is boiled with white fungus and honey. It is most refreshing and calming, you should drink more of it,” Song Ci said.

”Mother always has the best food here.”

When it came to eating, drinking, and merrymaking, Song Ci, being a salty fish, was naturally an expert. After all, she came from the future and lived a laid-back life. If she did not delve into this, should she compete with men to pass the imperial exams and serve the country?

Such great endeavors were not meant for her. Being a salty fish required the awareness and sensibility of a salty fish, so she perfected the art of eating, drinking, and having fun. Not just one set, but she could master ten sets or eight.

However, in front of her astute son, it was better to reveal less to avoid arousing his suspicion.

”You naturally have good things on your side as well, it’s just that you’re often too busy with state affairs to enjoy them,” Song Ci said. ”You seemed preoccupied when you came in; could it be that something unpleasant happened during the morning court today?”

Song Zhiyuan put down the teacup and nodded, ”The Emperor dispatched an imperial envoy—Cui Changxiao, who is to become the Prince Consort—was ambushed on his return journey and is now missing. The Emperor is furious.”

Song Ci furrowed her brow, ”Cui Changxiao, the top scholar? Has he met a mishap?”

”He is just missing, his life or death is unknown.”

”This is difficult to handle; after all, he’s the Prince Consort. If something happens to him, what about Princess Jiayi?”

Song Zhiyuan said, ”Princess Jiayi fainted upon hearing the news, and even the Empress was unwell, summoning the Imperial Physician.”

Song Ci remained silent for a moment before speaking, ”He is merely missing. That Cui boy doesn’t seem like someone with a short life, it might just be a false alarm.”

”Let’s hope so. Did you call me over to say something?” Song Zhiyuan changed the subject.

Song Ci took the ’fake goods’ sent by Prince Min from the side table and handed it to him, saying, ”Prince Min asked the third one to bring this as an apology.”

Song Zhiyuan was startled, opened it, and saw a bead necklace made of something like crystal stone. As he listened to Song Ci, his brow furrowed and then relaxed, putting the bead necklace back into the box.

”It’s just a bead necklace. If Mother likes it, keep it. I’ll have Jiang Fula send a return gift later.”

Song Ci fiddled with the bead necklace with her fingertips, saying, ”It’s not that I like it; it just feels a bit abrupt. We don’t have much interaction with Prince Min. Would he really go to such lengths for a minor mistake made by his maternal family?”

Song Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, ”Mother means that Prince Min is being overly attentive, trying to curry favor?”

”What do you think?” Song Ci countered. In terms of political sensitivity, she certainly could not match him.

Song Zhiyuan’s gaze returned to the box, ”As you said, there’s not much interaction between us, yet he sends a lavish gift, ostensibly to help the Ji Family save face. It does seem like a bit of overkill.” He thought for a moment, ”If I’m not mistaken, Prince Min probably wants to return to Xuzhou?”

Song Ci was taken aback. What does this have to do with returning to Xuzhou?

She wasn’t foolish either. Combining what she had read in history books and TV dramas, a thought blurted out, ”Could it be that he’s afraid the Emperor won’t allow it and wants you to help persuade him?”

Oh, so this is bribery, an attempt to curry favor?

So this is why I can’t become a He Shen (notorious corrupt official); can I at least cultivate the feeling of having a ’He Shen’?”