The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 1240: Chapter 1240: That Old Man Caused Trouble Again?

Song Ci did not refuse Concubine Shui’s kind gesture. With her assistance, she tried on the cotton shoes and took a few steps around the room, nodding repeatedly.

"They fit well, not bad."

Concubine Shui’s face lit up with joy, and she said, "It’s good as long as the Madam doesn’t mind."

"You are thoughtful."

Then Concubine Mei also presented her gift: "I am not as skillful as Sister Shui, so I made a cloak for the Madam. Please do not find it lacking."

She unfolded the cloak, a dark red sable fur cloak, simply embroidered with a continuous swastika pattern. The brim was sewn with a complete sable fur strip, looking quite luxurious and warm.

Song Ci did not hold back her praise and had someone put it away. She then invited the two to sit and, as usual, engaged in some small talk, which gradually shifted to Old Master Song.

"The old master feels a bit lazy and tired and hasn’t traveled far this year, mainly staying at the estate. In his leisure time, he would invite nearby estate folks over to brew wine, enjoy the scenery, and play with birds. The furthest he went was to Chengde for a thousand-feathered thrush," reported Concubine Mei about Old Master Song’s whereabouts.

Song Ci asked, "Who does he get along with better?"

"They’re all about the same, but he seems to share interests with the Old Master of the Qingcheng Marquis Mansion."

"No trouble, right? Like adding two more sisters for you?" Song Ci squinted at them.

The two of them blushed, thinking if they added for us, wouldn’t it also be adding for you? But they dared not say it out loud.

"Except when the Qingcheng Marquis had a small birthday, he invited some girls from a pleasure boat for entertainment. They spent a night but did not bring anyone home," Concubine Mei said, her face reddening.

Song Ci raised an eyebrow, implying it was just a night of entertainment.

"Not bad," she said, looking at the two. "Even if they don’t bring them home, let them be, but indulging harms the body. In your daily lives, you should still advise him well. Also, don’t seek herbal concoctions for momentary enjoyment. If discovered, you’ll be kicked out."

Concubine Mei and the other concubine paled with fright, standing up to say, "May Madam see clearly, we would never entertain such lowly thoughts as to harm the master."

"It’s best if you don’t," Song Ci said, looking at the pair. "You shouldn’t entertain such thoughts. I’ve said before, as long as you manage well, the Old Master won’t bring new people into the house, and you need not compete for temporary favor. Longevity is the way, isn’t it?"

Seeing them nodding cautiously, she continued, "If you find the deep boudoir lonely, read more, play chess, learn something interesting, play the piano, paint, arrange flowers, embroider, learn whatever you want. If no one can teach you, hire a teacher. This way, with a fulfilled life, you won’t think of unnecessary things."

The two replied affirmatively.

After a mild warning, Song Ci then asked a few more things, like if anything unusual happened.

Concubine Mei shook her head, saying the Old Master had been quite well-behaved this year.

Concubine Shui, however, pondered for a moment and said, "During the small New Year, the old master had dinner with a few from the Qingcheng Marquis, drank some wine, and spent the night in my room. I’m not sure if I heard it wrong, but I seemed to hear the old master mentioning something about becoming in-laws."

Song Ci’s expression changed, her eyes fixed sharply on her, "Are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?" freēwebnovel.com

Concubine Shui timidly replied, "I-I don’t know if I heard wrong. The old master was quite drunk at the time."

Song Ci’s expression darkened; did this old fool get into trouble while drinking?

Seeing this, Concubine Shui felt she had misspoken and was about to remedy it, when Nanny Gong asked, "Did you discover any personal belongings of the old master that went missing?"