Chapter 125: Never Admit to Being Vain
Page 1 of 3
By full daylight, the central gate of the Song residence stood wide open. The stewards and maids were all in position, each attending to their own duties as they prepared to welcome guests from every quarter.
Madam Song wore a silver-red gauze robe woven with gold thread, its hem embroidered with peonies so lifelike they seemed ready to bloom. Her cloudlike coiffure was adorned with emeralds, and her jeweled ornaments chimed as she moved. Against her porcelain-pale complexion, her peony makeup lent her an air of dignity, splendor, and graceful elegance.
As the maids and older servants knelt before her to offer birthday congratulations, Madam Song curved her lips in a faint smile and raised her wrist slightly.
“Rise. Give them their rewards.”
Her heart was surging with excitement and pride.
The maids and servants thanked her again and again with beaming smiles as they accepted the small silver ingots handed out by her senior maid. Auspicious phrases poured from their mouths as freely as though they cost nothing.
Once the servants had dispersed, her son and daughter came together to kneel before her, presenting the gifts they had prepared and offering their birthday congratulations.
“Quickly, rise.” Madam Song’s face was filled with maternal affection. She helped them up and beckoned them closer, then instructed, “You both have important duties today. You are to help entertain the young ladies and gentlemen visiting the residence. Do not spend the whole day amusing yourselves.”
Song Ruqi said with a radiant smile, “Mother, you needn’t worry. Sister Ruwei and I have already discussed it. We will take the young ladies who come to the Moon Lake to play.”
Madam Song nodded. Seeing how exquisitely and lavishly her daughter was dressed, she could not help but nod inwardly with satisfaction.
Those coming today were all either wealthy or noble. It was only right that they should see the bearing of the Song family’s second young lady.
Then she looked at Song Lingsu, an elegant young nobleman in his own right, and her affection for him deepened.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
After celebrating so many birthdays, this year’s was by far the most triumphant. She was now a first-rank imperial lady, after all.
“Come, let us go to your grandmother first.” Madam Song called her two children along.
Bright Harmony Hall.
Madam Song’s mother, Lady Song Ci, was dressed in dignified, benevolent splendor as well. She had abandoned her usual somber attire and, today, had put on a sapphire-blue brocade dragon robe embroidered with uninterrupted longevity characters. A matching forehead band set with blue gemstones adorned her brow. Her silver hair was combed perfectly smooth, with two jade-and-gold hairpins tucked into it. A light dusting of makeup lent her a vigorous, radiant appearance, making her look at least ten years younger than usual.
When Madam Song arrived with her children to pay their respects, she paused in surprise before praising her sincerely. “Mother, dressed up like this today, you look ten years younger. You look wonderful.”
Lady Song Ci replied, “Today is your happy day, and the Song family’s happy day as well. Of course I have to make the family look good.”
She would never admit that she simply loved to look beautiful and wanted to dress to the nines so everyone else could die of envy.
Madam Song’s heart grew warm. “Thank you, Mother.”
“Go attend to your own affairs.” Lady Song Ci had no patience for exchanging polite pleasantries with her and merely called her two grandchildren forward to speak with them.
Outside, Madam Jiang and Madam Lu also arrived with their children, and Bright Harmony Hall grew lively indeed.
Lady Song Ci sent her several daughters-in-law off to attend to their duties, while she contentedly enjoyed the praise of her grandchildren, each adding a word of admiration to the next.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
“There will be a banquet for guests at the residence today. You young masters and young ladies must all help receive them. Do not indulge in petty tempers and make a spectacle of yourselves. Pay attention to every detail, and if you do not know how to handle something, call an adult at once.” Lady Song Ci looked at the children. “Remember, you are all close cousins, all of the Song family. You must pool your strength and face outsiders as one. Understood?”
“We will obey Grandmother’s instructions.”
Lady Song Ci was about to say more when a maid outside announced that the eldest young lady had returned to the residence and was on her way to pay her respects to the senior madam.
The eldest young lady?
Song Ruqi rose joyfully. “Elder Sister is back. Grandmother, I’ll go welcome her.”
Song Ruwei rose as well and followed behind Song Ruqi, preparing to go out with her.
If you enjoy “The Old Ancestress Is Truly Wild,” please bookmark it. “The Old Ancestress Is Truly Wild” updates fastest on the Peerless Tang Clan website.
Page 3 of 3