The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Pff!

Madam Song spewed out a mouthful of tea, hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth, then apologized to the two elders before looking at Old Master Song. ”Father, what did you say? Did I hear that wrong?”

Old Master Song seemed slightly displeased. ”As a grandfather, how could I joke about my grandson’s marriage?”

Madam Song was dumbfounded. ”You’re serious? But Su’er is already in the middle of a match!”

Song Ci slammed the teacup heavily onto the low table and sneered. ”Without a word, you betroth your grandson and even give a token, and that token is an imperial gift? You scheming old grandfather, Nanny Gong, go fetch the family punishment. Today I’m going to let this old man know why flowers are so red!”

Nanny Gong: ”...”

Everyone: ”...”

Old Master Song’s eyes bulged even more. Fa–family punishment?

What family punishment?

How come he didn’t know about it?

”Grand Madam.” So much for giving him some face?

Song Ci glared at her. ”Still not going?!”

Give him what face, didn’t she hear what fine thing this old man did—using the imperial Jade Ring as a token to fix his grandson’s marriage?

Is that something a human being does?

Song Zhiyuan came back to his senses, first shot Nanny Gong a look and gave a slight shake of his head, then said to Song Ci, ”Mother, don’t get worked up yet. Let’s ask clearly first.”

Song Zhicheng also chimed in to help. Oh heavens, his father really... what was he supposed to say to that.

”You ask, and I’ll be so mad I’ll get angina.” Song Ci slanted a look at Old Master Song, her gaze sharp as a blade.

This idiot—how did the original old lady endure him all these years?

”Father, what’s going on? A token was given, this is no joke. Su’er’s marriage is practically settled.” Song Zhiyuan said, face dark.

Old Master Song’s neck shrank. ”The marriage contracts haven’t been exchanged yet, have they? So it doesn’t count as fixed, right?”

”Father, this matter has been publicly acknowledged at every step, and we even invited Princess Anping to act as matchmaker. It’s practically a done deal.” Madam Song was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead; she’d already been cursing him up and down in her heart.

”That’s right, the two families have already sounded each other out, we’re just waiting for the Duke Mansion to give a definite word.” Song Zhiyuan added, ”So what’s going on on your side? When did this happen?”

Old Master Song said, ”It was on Little New Year’s Eve, when I was spending it together with the Qingcheng Marquis, eating hotpot. I met his granddaughter, she’s quite pretty and sensible too, actually a good match for Su’er. The Qingcheng Marquis hinted at wanting a marriage alliance, just mentioned it in passing, and I... agreed.”

Song Zhicheng: ”...”

Father, you’re really asking for a beating!

Song Ci said, ”You might be muddleheaded, but no way would you see a girl once, hear one casual sentence, and then sell off your grandson, and on top of that casually hand over the Jade Ring as a token. Speak—what’s the real story here?”

Old Master Song muttered, ”What story could there be, that’s how it was. I thought the girl was good, and Su’er and the others haven’t formally settled a match. The Qingcheng Marquis Mansion’s status is decent too...”

”You really won’t cry till you see the coffin, huh!” Song Ci slapped the table and barked, ”Nanny Gong, go bring the family punishment. If you won’t go, I’ll go myself.”

She made a show of getting up.

Song Zhicheng quickly said, ”Father, you’d better come clean.”

Does he not understand that confessing gets you leniency?

Old Master Song felt a bit guilty, glanced at his eldest son, and said, ”The truth is, that night I had a few too many cups of that yellow stuff, and when the Qingcheng Marquis said that, my head got hot and I just handed over the ring. The next day, when I wanted it back, the Qingcheng Marquis said that a verbal betrothal is still a betrothal, a gentleman’s word can’t be chased by four horses, and there’s the imperial ring as proof. So I figured, anyway none of the grandsons had their marriages settled yet, so... just leave it like that!”

Song Zhiyuan: ”...”

Mother, you’d better bring out the family punishment!