As soon as Song Ci and Niu Pan’er left, Madam Xiangyang and Madam Zhang couldn’t stay any longer. They quickly took their daughters and bid farewell to Madam Duke Ying before leaving.
How could they have the face to continue attending the banquet? They were too ashamed.
Once those people left, someone said to Madam Song, "Your family’s matriarch is truly as fiery-tempered as ever, yet her words are irrefutable."
Madam Song feigned helplessness: "There’s nothing to be done. Even the Empress Dowager says my mother is someone who speaks bluntly but always gets to the point."
What she meant was clear enough. Truly, people of the same family think alike.
On the other side among the noble ladies, several legitimate daughters were eyeing Song Ruqi. Among them, Qi Ling, the legitimate second daughter from Duke Ying Mansion who was yet unmarried, asked, "Sister Song, is your family’s ancestor always this formidable at home?"
Watching her future sister-in-law, Song Ruqi felt a bit more patient and said, "We wouldn’t dare say anything displeasing to upset our grandmother, nor would we dare to slander the officials. With nothing out of ordinary, she wouldn’t meddle in other’s affairs."
"Then what does she do?" Qi Ling asked with curiosity.
For a moment, Song Ruqi was dazed. What her grandmother does in her daily life, she used to be not too sure about. She didn’t like crowding in her grandmother’s territory, so she didn’t know what her grandmother did in the courtyard day by day.
Her grandmother hadn’t read much, and the few words she did recognize were said to be learned back when her father was studying and taught her in passing. Before the family rose up, she was said to have gone into business, struggling for the family’s livelihood, making great efforts to elevate the Song Family’s status.
Song Ruqi felt stunned, her fingers curled slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable, somewhat sour.
Song Ruqi snapped back to reality and smiled faintly, "Grandmother, she wakes up in the morning to practice boxing, then strolls in the garden, or goes to the kitchen to cook something fresh. After lunch, she takes a nap, and when she wakes up, she enjoys afternoon tea. If the younger siblings come, she’ll play games with them."
What she described was Song Ci’s daily life after an illness.
This was quite ordinary indeed, something any matriarch would do.
Gao Linlin said, "The matriarch of the Song Family is true to herself. I really like her. Sister Song, you’re really lucky to have such a grandmother."
Her eyes showed envy, causing Song Ruqi to be slightly taken aback.
There were many noble ladies who envied her, because her father was the Prime Minister, yet she hadn’t thought someone would envy her for having Song Ci as a grandmother.
Song Ci sneezed twice and touched her warm ears.
Niu Pan’er, seeing this, had someone bring over a cloak.
Song Ci slightly twitched the corner of her mouth: "Even though I’m an old lady, in this July weather, there’s no need for a cloak, right?"
Niu Pan’er glanced at their location and advised, "This is the Water Pavilion, with lake water nearby, the wind is good, and it can get a bit chilly."
"I certainly don’t feel cold. Sneezing, well, someone’s definitely speaking ill of me." Song Ci’s conspiracy theory kicked in again: "Perhaps it’s Madam Xiangyang and the others cursing me behind my back."
Madam Xiangyang: Nonsense, I didn’t, I wouldn’t!
Niu Pan’er laughed, "You didn’t need to bother with them. What is your status compared to theirs? Is it worth your while to reprimand them and get upset?"
Song Ci sighed, patted her hand, and said, "You, being tolerant and magnanimous is good, but you can’t ignore everything. If you don’t mind it, others might think they’re right and will become more outrageous."
"I’m used to it, and I don’t have the time to bother with them."
Song Ci said, "You must remember, you are the Commandery Princess Dongyang of the Prince Dingbei’s Mansion. You represent the face of the entire Prince Dingbei’s Mansion. If they strike you, it’s not just you but the entire Prince Dingbei’s Mansion they’re affronting."
Niu Pan’er stood stunned, and it took her a while to say, "I’ve noted it down."