Song Ci and Commandery Princess Dongyang slipped out of the theater pavilion. As for Madam, she stayed behind to bond with the future in-laws and take the opportunity to inquire about her brother-in-law’s marriage prospects, as she had no choice with such an unreliable mother-in-law.
"Phew, I was suffocating." Song Ci walked in the garden, exhaling a long breath, as if the plaintive and mournful tunes of the actor were still echoing around her.
Niu Pan’er held her hand and said, "If you really don’t enjoy the opera, you could have left early. The Duke Mansion is vast; there’s no harm in taking a stroll."
"Is it bigger than your family’s Prince Mansion?" Song Ci asked curiously.
Niu Pan’er, recalling that she hadn’t yet visited her home, replied, "It’s a bit larger than the Prince Mansion, but not as big as the Prince Mansion in the Northeast. Perhaps you could visit our Prince Dingbei’s Mansion in the capital someday? While our home can’t match the refined and bustling scenery of Duke Ying Mansion, it is spacious, quiet, and has a lake with some rare stones brought from Huguang."
"That sounds wonderful. I plan to visit all the Prince Mansions in the capital, so I have no regrets when I leave." Song Ci thought to herself. The current Prince Mansions retain their original charm, unlike the ones in later generations that are often renovated and have a modern touch. They are truly ancient and elegantly traditional, so they must not be missed.
Niu Pan’er, however, gripped her hand tightly, looking at her with helplessness and admiration.
"What’s the matter?" Song Ci asked, puzzled.
"You have a very open view of life and death," Niu Pan’er said frankly.
Older people tend to avoid talking about death and the like, but for Song Ci, there was no taboo whatsoever, and she faced life and death quite openly.
Song Ci chuckled, "Birth, aging, illness, and death are all natural. Everyone has to die; some deaths are as light as a feather, others as heavy as Mount Tai. As for me, I am destined to be as light as a feather, insignificant. Besides, I’ve already died once, so of course, I have an open view of it."
Niu Pan’er said, "You will live to be a hundred."
Song Ci gave a dry laugh, not arguing with her but instead glancing at Niu Pan’er’s clothing and said, "Today, you’re dressed like a girl. This color suits you, it looks elegant."
Niu Pan’er lifted her skirt a little, feeling somewhat uneasy, and said, "I’m more used to wearing riding or warrior outfits. Dressing as a woman feels a bit awkward, like I can’t even walk properly."
"Actually, you should just walk however you’re comfortable. As the dignified Commandery Princess Dongyang, the sole legitimate daughter of Prince Dingbei, why care about others’ opinions?" Song Ci clicked her tongue, "But you should make a few close friends instead of always associating with old souls like me. Otherwise, you’ll get caught up in my moroseness."
"Madam’s personality is broad-minded; I don’t find you morose. As for the other young ladies..." Niu Pan’er smirked self-deprecatingly, "Why would they want to associate with me?"
Song Ci snorted, "That’s because they haven’t spent time with you. Once they do, they’ll know your generosity and tolerance, unlike those little girls who easily cry over sour words and complain incessantly about sentimental songs and plays, which is just plain annoying."
Niu Pan’er burst into laughter, "If you find it so irritating, why do you want me to befriend them?"
Song Ci awkwardly responded, "Well, not all girls are like that. Some are broad-minded and cheerful."
"Those are hard to come by. Just like you, I also find it rare, even though you’re an elder sister."
The two chatted as they turned at the moon gate, arriving in front of a shadow wall. Just as they were about to turn past it, they heard a conversation coming from the garden inside and couldn’t help but stop in their tracks.