Come on, Grandma will give you a piece of candy.

Song Ci could swear to the heavens that she had no intention of making trouble for anyone; it was simply a conditioned reflex of this body that slipped right out.

As for that stickler for propriety or whoever she was, she didn't know her at all.

Empress Dowager Wang, however, merely smiled and pointed at her. "You're still holding a grudge. I heard that the Manor of the Minister of Rites sent a young miss back to the countryside to recuperate."

"Such a thing happened?" Song Ci asked, quite surprised.

"You didn't know? They said she was running amok in your residence," Empress Dowager Wang said. "For a young lady to run wild in someone else's manor—and with the Li family priding themselves on being sticklers for propriety—they had to keep up appearances at least on the surface, otherwise wouldn't they ruin their own reputation for propriety?"

Song Ci sighed. "Ah, truly, one lives by propriety and dies by it."

"Look at you using proverbs now." Empress Dowager Wang's eyes curved into crescent shapes with her smile.

"Your Majesty, the young master has arrived," Lianqiao stepped forward, curtsying to Empress Dowager Wang.

Empress Dowager Wang hastily sat up straight and looked toward the entrance of the hall.

Song Ci looked over as well, seeing a palace maid leading a child of around five or six years old approaching them.

The palace maid first curtsied to Empress Dowager Wang, then pulled gently on the child. The little boy immediately knelt on the floor, cupping his hands in a formal bow, and greeted them with a trembling voice, "Cheng'er greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, wishing Your Majesty ten thousand blessings and all your heart's desires."

"Rise," Empress Dowager Wang said with a smile, raising a hand slightly and gesturing toward Song Ci. "This is the Dowager Madam of the Prime Minister's Estate, an elder. You should greet her as well."

Wang Yicheng looked at Song Ci, knelt once more, and said, "Greetings, Dowager Madam Song, wishing Your Majesty—wishing the Dowager Madam all blessings and good fortune."

The child spoke in a stammering, stumbling manner, which softened Song Ci's heart completely. She gentled her voice and said, "Rise, child, quickly get up."

Lianxin, the palace maid attending Wang Yicheng, helped him to his feet. Perhaps because he was somewhat shy around strangers, he pressed closely against the maid's side, pressing his lips into a tight, thin line as he shrank back slightly.

Upon seeing this, Empress Dowager Wang looked rather disappointed and remained silent for a moment.

Song Ci, however, understood completely. She beckoned to him with a wave and said, "Come here, Grandma will give you some candy."

Wang Yicheng was momentarily stunned and looked up at Lianxin. "Auntie?"

Lianxin smiled and said, "Go on, the Dowager Madam is calling you."

Only then did Wang Yicheng walk up to Song Ci, forcing his small chest out as much as possible while trying hard not to look toward Empress Dowager Wang's direction.

He was somewhat afraid of Empress Dowager Wang, feeling that she was far too noble and aloof, someone he dared not look in the eye.

Song Ci, on the other hand, was full of maternal warmth, smiling gently and looking very approachable.

Song Ci looked closely at Wang Yicheng. He was dressed in plain green youth's garments with his hair tied in double tufts. His small face was sharp and thin with hardly any flesh on it, and his little frame was exceedingly frail, suggesting that his days previously had not been easy.

She took his hand and noticed that the child's skin was rather rough. Turning his palm over, she was shocked to see a fierce, jagged knife scar across it. Instantly startled, she looked up at Empress Dowager Wang.

Empress Dowager Wang blinked and said nothing.

Song Ci unfastened a sachet from her waist and tied it personally around the boy's belt, speaking softly, "Grandma came in a hurry and didn't know you were here with Her Majesty, so I didn't prepare anything in advance. I can only make it up to you with a welcome gift next time. This sachet is filled with medicinal herbs that strengthen the body and repel insects. Wear it with you every day, and Grandma wishes you good health and a safe, peaceful growth."

Wang Yicheng froze. He lowered his head to look at the exquisitely embroidered sachet, cupped it in his hands, and caught a whiff of a very pleasant fragrance. He couldn't help sniffing it with his nose, then looked up at Song Ci, offering a shy smile. "Thank you, Dowager Madam Song."

Song Ci then dug a few candies out of another pouch and pressed them into his small hands. "These are milk candies and fruit drops. Eat them up. Grandma said she'd give you candy, and she never breaks her promises."