Chapter 158 Flustered with Favor

Amidst her silent grumbling, Song Ci arrived at the West Flowery Gate and boarded the soft sedan chair bestowed by Empress Dowager Wang, swaying gently all the way toward the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

Entering the palace for the second time, she was far more composed than on her previous visit. She even made small talk with the young eunuch walking alongside the sedan, chatting and laughing as the time drifted by.

"Is that Lady Song?"

Among a procession of imperial concubines, a high-ranking consort sat loftily in her soft sedan chair, watching Song Ci as she headed toward the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

"Replying to Your Ladyship Imperial Noble Consort, I hear the Empress Dowager has summoned Lady Song into the palace again to speak. It should indeed be her," a palace attendant standing by the sedan replied respectfully.

Imperial Consort Fan curled her lips in a slight sneer. "She certainly acts pleased with herself."

They were merely companions in adversity, yet the Empress Dowager held her in such high regard, constantly remembering and missing her. It was no exaggeration to say she stood first among the female relatives of all court officials; even her own mother could not match such prominence.

"Let's move on."

Inside the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

Before Song Ci could even bow to Empress Dowager Wang, she was supported by the attendants and guided to sit on the opposite end of the arhat bed where the Empress Dowager was seated.

"Your health is poor, you don't need to stand on so much ceremony," Empress Dowager Wang said with a gentle smile.

Song Ci was just about to utter the phrase "etiquette cannot be omitted," but as if the other woman already knew what she was going to say, the Empress Dowager preempted her: "And don't give me any talk about etiquette not being omitted. It's just the two of us here, no need to put on a show for anyone."

Heh, Your Ladyship, with words like that, you might as well pretend these serving palace attendants are invisible.

"While Your Ladyship is considerate of this subject, this subject wouldn't dare presume upon your favor," Song Ci replied with official pleasantries.

Empress Dowager Wang shot her a reproachful look and said with a feigned tone of grievance, "Life has grown easier for you, yet you no longer speak as casually as you used to."

Song Ci: "..."

What was your status back then, and what is your status now? If I truly spoke casually and someone with ulterior motives were to twist my words, I'm afraid it would leave a thorn in your heart.

"How is Your Ladyship's health lately?" Song Ci skillfully changed the subject.

"Thank you for your concern; this Mourner has no worries and is doing quite well. Ah-Ci, try these rose pastries. I'm told the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen added fresh milk when making them." Empress Dowager Wang pushed a plate of rose pastries toward Song Ci.

Song Ci stood on no ceremony. Offering a polite excuse, she picked up a piece to taste and smiled, saying, "The pastries here are always the finest—soft, waxy, fragrant, sweet, and easily digestible. Before I came, I boasted to the young maids back home that I would ask Your Ladyship to bestow some upon me so I could show off when I return and let them taste these delicacies from the palace."

Empress Dowager Wang chuckled softly. "Look at you, what a fuss over a few pastries, is that really anything worth showing off? Lianqiao, go give the order to have some pastries prepared so Ah-Ci can take them with her when she leaves the palace."

"Understood."

Song Ci had not expected things to go so smoothly, so she rose and expressed her gratitude.

"Your health has just recovered, and logically I shouldn't have troubled you to come here, but since I have found a suitable candidate to be adopted as an heir, I wanted you to take a look at the child as well," Empress Dowager Wang began.

Song Ci thought to herself: I really am something else, hitting the nail right on the head with my guess.

"Your Ladyship is far too generous to this subject," Song Ci plastered an expression of being pleasantly surprised across her face.

She wasn't just acting; she genuinely felt a bit flattered. After all, this was someone else's private matter, a family affair. Deciding on an heir was something that could be settled with a single word from the Empress Dowager herself.

Yet here, Empress Dowager Wang actually wanted Song Ci's opinion as well. This was no ordinary favor; it was a mark of deep trust and intimacy.

Empress Dowager Wang was speechless. "Stop saying 'this subject' every other sentence. It's making my ears calloused; can't you just be more relaxed?"

Song Ci gave a wry smile. "Your Ladyship, if someone from the Ministry of Rites were to catch me slipping, they'd start claiming the Song family doesn't understand the rules and lecture me with a whole volume of etiquette."

Minister of Rites, Lord Li: Are you certain you aren't secretly sticking needles in my voodoo doll?