The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Song Ci was not very interested in the theatrical play with its musical sounds. After watching half of it, she started talking with Princess Anping, Madam Anle, and Madam Guan in the warm lounge next to the stage. While chatting, the conversation turned to the children.

”Is your little grandson four or five months old now? Can he roll over?” Song Ci asked Princess Anping with a smile.

Last winter’s end, Commandery Princess Shou Yang gave birth to a son. As he was the firstborn, Marquis Jing’an Mansion was very happy. They held a grand full-moon banquet, even extending it to a three-day flowing banquet, showing how much they valued him. However, Song Ci did not attend due to her ill health.

When the little grandson was mentioned, Princess Anping’s brows arched with joy, and she said, ”Thanks to you, the child is quite robust and clever. Not only can he roll over, but when the nursemaid supports him, he can sit for a short while. But because a child’s spine hasn’t developed well at this age, we dare not let him sit for long.”

”Indeed, there’s no need to rush. Children’s growth follows its rhythm. This child will grow big right before your eyes, learning to sit, walk, and run,” Song Ci, having raised a child herself, said sentimentally, ”As children grow up, we grow old.”

”Yet you’re getting stronger with age.”

Madam Anle and Madam Guan both laughed, coaxing Song Ci.

Princess Anping then took a sip of tea and sighed, ”In truth, as long as the child grows up healthy, whether he is particularly intelligent doesn’t matter. It’s okay if he grows slowly, as long as he’s safe and healthy.”

The group exchanged glances, knowing she was thinking about the deceased legitimate son of Prince Zhou Mansion.

It is not uncommon for children to die young, particularly in large noble families. The more women there are, the more common these griefs are, many even being manmade.

The Royal Family is no exception.

”Has Consort Zhou not settled down yet?” Song Ci asked.

Princess Anping replied, ”The pain of losing a child isn’t easily soothed. Consort Wen intends to stay at White Cloud Temple to pray for that child.”

”Consort Wen is going?” Madam Gong Sun asked in surprise.

Madam Guan replied, ”It seems the Wen Family plans to counteract things, retreating to advance.”

Rather than staying at Prince Zhou Mansion, where she’s affected by Consort Zhou or even constantly threatened, it’s better to retreat voluntarily. First, she can rest peacefully, and second, it sounds good for her reputation.

”The game between the two families has begun,” Song Ci said softly, ”If Consort Zhou doesn’t come out of this grief, she might just go along with the child.”

Cough, cough.

Madam Guan and Madam Gong Sun lightly coughed twice, thinking to themselves that only someone as bold as Song Ci would dare discuss Royal Family affairs so openly, especially in the presence of a princess.

Princess Anping, however, didn’t mind, only sighed, ”Their turmoil is quite something, and if it escalates to involve the Empress, it becomes unacceptable. The sooner they settle down, the better for everyone’s peace.”

Madam Gong Sun then added, ”The Empress also said Consort Zhou seems to have hysteria. Even Consort Fan thought she should go quietly retreat, but did not expect Consort Wen to retreat first.”

Song Ci felt a chill in her heart. Consort Fan’s act was undoubtedly an intention to give up on Consort Zhou, or perhaps to vent anger.

To send the grieving Consort to recuperate, one can’t be sure if she will recover because she might die ’due to excessive longing for the son’ during that process.

This is human nature.

”Madam, the banquet is ready, you may proceed to the banquet hall.” Chun Fen entered with a cheerful report.

Song Ci then said to Princess Anping and the others, ”Come, let us not talk about those worrying matters, let’s go enjoy the banquet.”