Song Ruqi sneezed twice and touched her feverish ears. Could it be those noble ladies who were at odds with her speaking ill of her behind her back?
Ha, she wasn’t afraid of them before, and now that she was a daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, she certainly wasn’t afraid.
Song Ruqi tilted her head to look at her cousin with a small stern face and said, "Don’t keep a stern face, what are you nervous about? Just follow me."
Song Ruwei gave her a shy smile and said, "Second Sister, this is my first time visiting other mansions since returning to the capital, and I’m just afraid of doing something wrong and embarrassing you."
"This is my grandmother’s home, not some other mansion, so there’s no need to be nervous, but it’s good that you have this thought." Song Ruqi was very satisfied with her cousin’s tactfulness and sensibility.
"Cousin Ruqi." A crisp voice called out.
The two Song sisters looked over and saw a youthful girl of about fourteen or fifteen standing gracefully in front of them, dressed in a silver-red spring outfit, her delicate face lightly made up, her hair styled into a Flying Immortal Bun, with a red and blue gemstone hairpin, both charming and elegant.
This was the heroine of today, Gu Ruoning, the legitimate daughter of the first house of the Duke Zhongyong Mansion, just fourteen years old, and had been brought up under the care of the dowager of the Duke Zhongyong Mansion.
Song Ruqi walked forward with a smile, took Gu Ruoning’s hand, and both curtsied to each other as a form of greeting.
"Cousin Ruqi, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Sister An Yan and the others are all here, currently talking and playing touhu at the Water Pavilion," Gu Ruoning said with a smile.
Song Ruqi teasingly said, "I’m not like other guests. Do you need to wait for me here? Can’t I find my own way?"
Gu Ruoning stuck out her tongue playfully and said, "I’m just anxious, that’s all." As she spoke, she looked at Song Ruwei beside her and said, "This must be Sister Ruwei, right?"
"Yes, she’s my third uncle’s daughter, recently returned from Shanxi, so I brought her to the Marquis Mansion for some fun." Song Ruqi pulled Song Ruwei over and introduced her to Gu Ruoning, "This is my cousin, Gu Ruoning, greet her as Sister."
Song Ruwei obediently curtsied to Gu Ruoning and said, "Ruwei greets Sister Ruoning. I wish you a happy birthday and eternal youth. Wei’er arrived without invitation; I hope Sister won’t mind."
Gu Ruoning laughed and took Song Ruwei’s hand, saying, "I’m more than happy you came; how could I mind? Please dispense with the formalities. You’re my cousin’s sister, so you’re my sister too. You truly are well-behaved."
Song Ruwei shyly smiled.
Song Ruqi was very pleased with her cousin’s conduct and looked at Gu Ruoning, saying, "Let’s not stand here talking; I should first pay my respects to grandmother."
Gu Ruoning immediately said, "I’ll take you there. Grandmother has been thinking about you for a long time."
Song Ruqi nodded and allowed her to take her arm as they walked towards Grandma Gu’s Rong’an Hall.
When they arrived at Rong’an Hall, Grandma Gu was at leisure. Upon seeing Song Ruqi, she held her close, calling her affectionately, and gifted Song Ruwei a beaded necklace as a meeting present after greeting Song Ci, before allowing them to leave.
After paying respects to Grandma Gu, Song Ruqi went to meet Gu Ruoning’s mother, who was now Madam Gu, Duchess Zhongyong. Naturally, the two sisters received another meeting gift.
"You young ladies have fun on your own; I won’t meddle. Ruoning, make sure to properly entertain your cousins," Madam Gu said with a smile.
Gu Ruoning replied, "Mother, rest assured. I will ensure my cousins feel right at home."
Madam Gu said, "Then go on."
Just as they were about to leave, a maid lifted the curtain and said, "Madam, Young Master Luo is here to pay his respects."
Song Ruqi paused her steps and looked at Madam Gu.