The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

”Madam Dowager, the Old Master has returned to the mansion!”

Song Ci’s hand trembled, and the yarn ball in her hand dropped to the floor. She looked at Xiaoman, who’d come to report, and her smile faded a few degrees. ”Got it.”

Xiaoman saw her lack of enthusiasm and recalled what the former maids had warned her: the Madam Dowager and the Old Master didn’t get along, so best not to mention him in front of the old lady unless absolutely necessary, lest she be displeased.

Xiaoman withdrew.

Song Ci sighed. ”So much for my peaceful days—they’re about to get put on pause again.”

Nanny Gong’s gaze flickered. She snorted a laugh. ”Listen to you, as if the Old Master would move into your courtyard the moment he comes back.”

”Who’d live with him!” Song Ci’s face showed fright. Could they not mess with her like this?

She had been managing all the glory and prosperity of this mansion for the original old lady, educating daughters-in-law and grandchildren, helping the family flourish. She was nowhere near noble enough to throw in her own life to accompany some rotten old man.

”So you really don’t need to sigh. The Prime Minister’s Mansion is huge, and the Old Master will be far more interested in seeking his own pleasures. Even when he comes back to the capital for the New Year, he’ll just be going out every day to listen to music, visit friends, and chase after fragrance and powder.”

Song Ci: ”...”

This wasn’t comfort; this was stabbing her right in the heart.

”The way you put it, I’m actually pretty jealous of that old geezer. That’s what you call truly enjoying one’s twilight years.” Song Ci’s tone carried a sour edge.

That old geezer Song White-Bread really was living it up—playing every single day, playing in luxury. And he was a man, so he wasn’t bound by those moral codes and rules at all.

More importantly, his son was Prime Minister Song, his daughter-in-law was besties with the Empress Dowager, and the most badass daughter-in-law was a Commandery Princess from a Prince Mansion. The kind people only flattered, no one dared offend.

So this rotten old man was basically a crab swaggering sideways wherever he went—he could play however he wanted, and if he caused trouble, someone else would wipe his ass clean for him.

爽—pure, unadulterated bliss.

Look at herself in comparison: old, weak, sickly, and disabled, and on top of that a woman who had to care about reputation, shackled by rules and moral teachings. No matter how noble her status, she didn’t dare act as she pleased.

Like how she too wanted to go take a look at those pretty-boy establishments and brothels, see the world a bit.

Alas, she was actually envying the salted-fish, degenerate life of a rotten old man. This was just...

She really wanted to sink into degeneracy with him.

Nanny Gong pressed her lips together in a quiet laugh and was just about to speak when Xiaoman lifted the curtain again and reported, ”The two old Concubines have come to pay their respects to Madam Dowager.”

Song Ci let them in. As for these two ”colleagues,” she had always regarded them simply as tools to keep an eye on the old man. As long as they were obedient, she’d give them a bit of face.

As a boss, you always have to stuff a few sweet dates to your subordinates if you want them to be loyal to you, right?

Concubine Mei and Concubine Shui came in together and properly knelt on the floor to kowtow and offer Song Ci a grand greeting.

”Get up. Find seats for the Concubines,” Song Ci said with a smile, opening the social routine.

The two of them thanked her separately.

”You’ve had a long journey; you should be resting instead of rushing over. It wouldn’t have mattered if you came after you’d recovered a bit.” Song Ci looked them over. Seeing that their charms were still going strong, she couldn’t help but nod.

Concubine Mei smiled and said, ”It is your kindness to care for this Concubine, Madam, but this Concubine wouldn’t dare put on airs. Besides, we’ve been away from home for months; this Concubine has missed Madam, so I hurried over to see you.”

Concubine Shui nodded softly in agreement. ”This Concubine is the same as Sister Mei.” As she spoke, she took a bundle from the maid behind her and opened it. ”In my free time, this Concubine cut a small outfit for Madam and made you a pair of soft cotton shoes. The inside is lined with wool; they’re very soft and very warm, perfect to wear indoors. If Madam doesn’t mind, this Concubine can serve you and help you try them on?”

She held out the pair of cotton shoes embroidered with the motif of ”Five Blessings Surrounding Longevity,” her eyes shining as she looked at Song Ci.

Song Ci sighed deeply. Now this was professional skill for a Concubine: keeping to their place, making small, inexpensive, intimate items to curry favor with the Official Wife. Not bad at all.