Chapter 119: Dalang's Wife, Hurry Up and Praise Me

In the afternoon, Song Ci left the palace with her eldest daughter-in-law, riding in the carriage bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager. Before departing, she waved her handkerchief at the crowd, leaving those present seething with indignation.

"How typical of a small-minded person to gloat," Lady Fan remarked, gripping her daughter-in-law’s arm, her teeth gritted in resentment.

Lady Zhao stepped forward, her expression obsequious as she offered a hesitant curtsy. "Madame..."

Lady Fan found her even more irritating and retorted coldly, "You thought you were being clever."

Why go out of your way to provoke Song Ci? Did she not realize that Song Ci had already spent a long time speaking with the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace before anyone else even arrived? She was a useless creature who ruined everything, and now she had even dragged Lady Fan into the Empress Dowager’s bad books—to the point where she wasn't even granted a carriage for the exit.

Oh, her aching joints; walking all the way out of the palace gates would surely cause her old ailment to flare up.

Lady Zhao’s face turned deathly pale as she stared at Lady Fan’s retreating back. Her body swayed; she wondered whose misfortune she had invited upon herself to be insulted in such a manner.

At the West Flowery Gate, Song Ci leaned on her maid’s arm to board her carriage. Once seated, she lifted the curtain to look at the eldest daughter-in-law standing by the door, fishing for a compliment.

"Well? I didn't embarrass you or Dalaing today, did I?" she asked, lifting her chin with a smug expression.

The eldest daughter-in-law paused. Looking at that aged face, which clearly signaled "hurry up and praise me, I can't wait any longer," she felt a strange, tender ache in her heart.

She smiled sincerely and said, "Mother did wonderfully."

Song Ci looked even more pleased. "I thought so too."

It was her first time in the palace, and she hadn't made a fool of herself. She had made it through peacefully—excellent.

However, remembering the words of Empress Dowager Wang, her face fell, and she felt a sudden wave of listlessness. "Let’s head back to the manor," she said.

She still needed to touch base with her shrewd son; she couldn't have him looking completely bewildered if people came knocking at their door.

The eldest daughter-in-law bowed to the carriage as the curtain closed, preparing to return to her own, but then she heard a voice from inside Song Ci’s carriage.

"Gong Mo, can this golden crown be taken off? Oh, my neck feels like it’s about to snap. Forget it, leave it be, lest the servants think I look unseemly when we arrive. Just help me hold it up..."

The eldest daughter-in-law couldn't help but smile.

Back in the palace, the various empresses and imperial consorts returned to their own quarters, inquiring whether the banquet for the officials had ended.

This year, the Dragon Boat Festival had not featured the usual boat races, all because the Empress Dowager had dreamt that the late Emperor forbade it, insisting on saving the national treasury for disaster relief.

When the Empress Dowager wept, even Emperor Chu dared not defy her. However, as it was a major festival, a small banquet was held at the Honghu Lake within the palace, featuring juggling and dragon boat displays for the Emperor to enjoy with his officials.

Once that banquet ended, the consorts learned they had gained a new sister. A dancer who had performed the "Goddess of the Luo River" dance on a small dragon boat had been taken into the harem by the Emperor, granted the title "Luo" and the rank of "Changzai."

Empress Gongsun calmly handed a piece of apricot to her eight-year-old son, Chu Hongye. She acknowledged the news with a faint nod, then ordered preparations for a new residence and the replacement of porcelain broken in the various palaces.

As for Lady Zhao of the Ministry of Works, it was said she fell ill immediately upon returning from the palace and was unable to get out of bed, handing over the management of the household to her brother-in-law's wife.

Song Ci knew nothing of this yet. As soon as she returned to her courtyard, she called for her maids and matrons to help her bathe and change. An hour later, she lay on her luohan bed, rubbing her sore neck and having the maid massage her.

"Go see if the Prime Minister has returned to the manor. If he has, ask him to come over," Song Ci instructed Hong You.

"Yes, Madame."

"Actually, never mind. We shall see each other at the family dinner tonight. Just have Lin Qing come over to give me a few needles; I need to rest for a while," Song Ci called out, stopping Hong You just as she was leaving.

She was exhausted; her neck felt like it was truly going to break.