Outside the city is no place for conversation. After welcoming Prince Dingbei, the group hurried back to the city, after all, they still had to enter the palace to meet the Emperor.
This time, Song Zhiyu was stuffed into a carriage in Prince Dingbei’s convoy by Niu Pan’er.
The reason being that he was weak, resistance was futile!
Song Zhiyu felt utterly disgraced, especially in front of such a great hero.
Prince Dingbei glanced at the carriage, then at his daughter, seeing her calm demeanor, he couldn’t help but say meaningfully, "It seems, we father and daughter need to have a long talk tonight."
Something didn’t feel right.
The main group returned once more.
Two hours later, Niu Pan’er said to Prince Dingbei at the city gate, "Father, I will have warm wine waiting for you at the mansion."
Prince Dingbei patted her shoulder, squeezed the horse’s sides, and headed towards the center of the Imperial City.
Niu Pan’er waited at the city gate for Song Zhiyu’s carriage to arrive. Half an hour later, she saw the carriage and lifted the curtain, poking her head out, "Shall I escort you back to the mansion?"
Come on, he’s not a girl, and she’s not a gentleman, what kind of escorting was this? Does he have no dignity?
"I shall not return to the mansion for now." Song Zhiyu made a gesture to get off the carriage.
Niu Pan’er frowned, "If you’re not returning to the mansion, where will you go? Just this one trip out, back and forth has taken several hours, the Grand Madam must be worried."
"What does it matter to you!"
Si Xi, however, said, "Fourth Master, let’s return to the mansion, maybe the Shen family has not left yet!"
Song Zhiyu glared at him, "Mind your own business."
Niu Pan’er, however, caught the implication and curiously asked, "The Shen family?"
Si Xi, straightforward as always, said, "Commandery Princess, please persuade our Fourth Master. Today, the Grand Madam invited the Shen family to our mansion possibly to matchmake for the Fourth Master, but he escaped. It’s predictable, the Grand Madam is surely mad at him!"
So, persuade him to go along with it, he cannot withstand the Grand Madam’s wrath!
Niu Pan’er was stunned, matchmaking?
She looked at Song Zhiyu; did he wish to see the Shen family’s daughter?
"You stupid servant, you talk too much, when we return, I’ll have you sold, now go." Song Zhiyu jumped off the carriage and said to Niu Pan’er, "Let’s part ways here, I’ve returned to the city, I’ll head back to the mansion later."
Without waiting for Niu Pan’er to reply, he disappeared into the crowd with the chattering Si Xi.
"Commandery Princess?" Yuan Yi stepped forward and called.
Niu Pan’er came to her senses and said, "Send someone to follow Fourth Master Song and ensure he returns to the mansion safely before coming back, to avoid any mishaps and difficulty in explanation."
Yuan Yi was stunned for a moment, bowed in agreement, and quickly ordered a guard to follow Song Zhiyu.
Only then did Niu Pan’er mount her horse and head towards Prince Dingbei’s Mansion.
Song Ci was almost about to explode, the Shen family was about to leave, and that brat still hadn’t returned, that kid was dead meat.
Madam Shen was also a bit puzzled. From what Madam Song meant, she seemed to favor Qing’er, so why had Fourth Master Song not appeared?
Unable to wait for him, she couldn’t stay too long, after all, it was getting dark and she had been at Song Mansion long enough, back home, there was still quite a bit to do.
"Grand Madam, today’s visit to your esteemed mansion was truly delightful. Next time, I will send an invitation for you to come to our mansion for a drink. The osmanthus wine brewed by our mansion’s cook is one of a kind, perfect for an autumn tasting." Madam Shen tentatively said.
Song Ci laughed and said, "That sounds wonderful, I love the taste of osmanthus. When you are free, I’ll have Lady Gu send an invitation for you to visit, next time bring only Qing’er, that girl, with you." She added meaningful words, "That girl Qing’er, she has such a lovely demeanor, I am very fond of her. Having such a daughter by my side, I’d laugh in my sleep."
Madam Shen was delighted, saying, "If you look favorably on her, that is her good fortune."