"Expecting the fourth young master to hunt geese himself is impossible. Just look at his frail appearance—he probably can’t even draw a bow. It’s better to let the guards go, but to show sincerity, he still has to accompany them, at least to show some effort."
Song Ci chuckled as she talked to Nanny about the betrothal gifts, reaching for the honeyed pomelo peel nearby, only to find it gone.
She looked up and saw Lin Qing, sitting across from her, smiling and wiggling her finger with a sorrowful expression, saying, "I’m just on my second piece."
Lin Qing calmly took away the plate of candied fruit, saying, "You’ve had quite a bit of sweet treats recently, and you coughed twice last night. I’m aware of all this."
Song Ci grinned sheepishly, "It’s just that my throat is dry, so I need some honey candies to soothe it."
"You can’t be eating them all day long. Too many sweets aren’t good for your health," Lin Qing wouldn’t indulge her whims.
Song Ci muttered, "Eating all those bland foods daily is boring even if I live to a hundred. Besides, I don’t care about living to a hundred; life without good food is hopeless."
"No matter what you say, you can’t eat more," Lin Qing insisted firmly.
After spending the past few months together, Lin Qing realized that the person in front of her was like a mischievous old child, and quite willful at that.
Alright then, since the family doctor wouldn’t indulge her, Song Ci could only look longingly toward Nanny and the others for help.
Nanny pretended not to see and smiled as she continued the previous topic, "The matter of hunting wild geese should be expedited. I see that many families are arranging engagements in August."
Song Ci was indeed distracted and nodded in agreement, "Right, right, we shouldn’t let others catch them all."
Having wild geese as betrothal gifts is both respectable and appealing, but catching wild geese isn’t easy!
"Madam, Shen Madam is here," Hongtao announced as she lifted the curtain.
Song Ci was taken aback; the two families had agreed to arrange the betrothal after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Why was she here now?
"Quickly, invite her in."
Shen Madam entered accompanied by Song Madam, and upon seeing Shen Madam’s face devoid of any joy, instead looking full of deep-seated grievances and exhaustion, Song Ci felt a sinking feeling in her heart.
A visitor without a smile definitely brings nothing good.
Song Ci gathered herself, energetically beckoned, "We were just talking about the two children when you arrived. Come, have a seat."
Shen Madam managed a forced smile and said, "Madam, I’m here today out of sheer helplessness. You see..."
She glanced at the people serving in the room, hesitant to speak.
Without Song Ci needing to say anything, Lin Qing stood up to excuse herself, and all the maidservants left as well, leaving only Song Ci, Song Madam, and Nanny in the room.
Song Madam looked puzzled as well, her heart pounding, and thought, coming at this time and with such an expression, could it be what she was thinking?
Oh heavens, would the Shen Family dare?
Song Madam held her composure, instinctively moving closer to Song Ci to prevent anything shocking from happening to the old lady.
"Shen Madam, feel free to speak your mind; this..."
Shen Madam knelt down, her face filled with shame and guilt, "Madam, I owe you an apology. This engagement, we cannot proceed with it. I’ve come to return this token to you."
She held up the Jade Bracelet that Song Ci had given to Fu Qing with both hands.
The air suddenly went quiet.
Song Ci stared at the Jade Bracelet, internally exclaiming a thousand times, damn it, I’ve become a prophet. This indeed is bad news!
This is breaking off the engagement!