Song Ci could swear to the heavens that she absolutely did not intend to give certain people a hard time; it was just an instinctive slip of the tongue.
That person who was all about rules, she absolutely did not know him.
The Empress Dowager chuckled, pointing at her: "You’re still holding a grudge, I hear. The Minister of Rites Mansion sent a girl back to the countryside to recover."
"Is there such a thing?" Song Ci was very surprised.
"You didn’t know? They say she was running amuck in your house." The Empress Dowager said, "For a young lady to be causing a ruckus in someone else’s mansion, the Li Family, who prides itself on being a family of rules, must put on a show for others. Otherwise, wouldn’t their reputation for being rule-abiding be tarnished?"
Song Ci: "Ah, it’s truly ’success due to Xiao He, downfall also due to Xiao He.’"
"You even know proverbs now." The Empress Dowager’s eyes sparkled with laughter.
"Empress Dowager, the young master is here." Lian Qiao stepped forward, curtsying to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager immediately sat up straight, looking towards the door.
Song Ci also looked over, seeing a palace maid lead a child of about five or six years of age walking over.
The palace maid first paid her respects to the Empress Dowager, then pulled the child a bit. The child knelt on the ground, saluted with hands in a bow, and cautiously paid his respects: "Cheng’er pays his respects to the Empress Dowager, wishing the Empress Dowager great fortune, safety, and peace."
"Rise." The Empress Dowager smiled and raised her hand, pointing to Song Ci: "This is the Lady of the Song Minister’s Mansion. She is an elder, you should pay your respects to her too."
Wan Yicheng looked towards Song Ci, knelt again: "Paying respects to Lady Song, wishing the lady great fortune and peace."
The child’s stammering words softened Song Ci’s heart, and she gently said, "No need for formalities, child, quickly rise."
The palace maid Lian Xin who was serving Wan Yicheng supported him up. Perhaps he was a bit shy, he stayed close to the maid’s side, his lips tightly sealed, looking somewhat timid.
The Empress Dowager, seeing this, was rather disappointed and remained silent for a moment.
Song Ci, however, understood and waved her hand, saying: "Come here, grandma has candy for you."
Wan Yicheng was momentarily stunned, looking towards Lian Xin: "Aunt?"
Lian Xin smiled: "Go on, the lady is calling you."
Only then did Wan Yicheng walk up to Song Ci, striving to straighten his chest, trying not to look towards the Empress Dowager.
He was a bit afraid of the Empress Dowager, feeling she was too noble, too aloof, he dared not look directly at her.
Song Ci, on the other hand, looked kindhearted, smiling gently, seeming very approachable.
Song Ci carefully looked at Wan Yicheng, dressed in simple Qing clothes, his hair tied in a bun, his small face sharp and without much flesh, his small frame very frail, appearing not to have had easy days before.
She took his hand, noticing the child’s hands were somewhat rough. Upon turning it over, there was a hideous scar on the palm, which startled her, prompting her to look at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager blinked, saying nothing.
Song Ci untied a wallet from her waist and tied it onto the child’s belt herself, softly saying, "Grandma came in a hurry, didn’t know you’d be here with her ladyship, and wasn’t prepared with gifts. I’ll make it up to you next time. This wallet contains herbs for strengthening the body and repelling insects. Keep it with you, and grandma wishes you health and safety as you grow up."
Wan Yicheng was stunned, looking down at the exquisitely embroidered wallet, then sniffed the good scent emanating from it. He gazed at Song Ci, shyly breaking into a smile: "Thank you, Lady Song."
Song Ci took out a few pieces of candy from another wallet and stuffed them into his hand: "These are milk candies and fruit candies. Eat them, grandma promised you candy and won’t deceive you."