Song Wanning now came to the front hall as Song Jing had instructed. Although she was only there for a short while, she still showed up.
Song Jing has always known Song Wanning's personality, and he also knew that such a place would not keep her, so he did not try to persuade her to stay, and just said, "Go."
Song Wanning had always been well-mannered. Even though she only showed up once, her attire was impeccable. Zhao Minghe was moved by Song Wanning's gentle demeanor and recalled what his mother had said during the day about the reasons for Song Wanning's divorce.
Zhao Ming told his mother that Song Wanning was very intelligent, but who would have thought she would marry such an inhumane man? To keep his hidden illness secret from outsiders, Wen Tingbai pretended to dislike Song Wanning and ignored her. Now, the dirty stories about Song Wanning and her divorce from the Marquis's mansion have been leaked.
Zhao Minghe had originally been skeptical, but now that he had seen a divine figure like Song Wanning, Wen Tingbai remained indifferent. There must have been only one reason. From this perspective, Song Wanning was a pitiful person.
Zhao Minghe's reluctance to marry Song Wanning faded as he thought of this. Furthermore, the General's Mansion was incredibly powerful, and if Zhao Minghe married Song Wanning, his future career would surely be much smoother.
Zhao Minghe thought about this and became more enthusiastic when talking to Song Jing. "General, you have been fighting outside for many years. I am afraid you have seen many strange things that an ignorant junior like me has never seen. Why don't you talk to me and broaden my horizons?"
Seeing Zhao Minghe's expression soften, Song Jing knew that he had taken a fancy to Song Wanning. He said with great joy, "Since you want to hear it, I will naturally say a few more words. Why not tell you about some strange things I saw in Huizhou..."
Song Jing, Zhao Ming and Yu Song were chatting and laughing in the front hall of the Song Mansion, but there was a huge commotion in Cuihua Courtyard at the back of the Song Mansion.
Song Wanshi was now fifteen years old, and had reached the age of marriage, but the princes and nobles who were willing to come to see her were always unsatisfactory. Song Wanshi blamed all this on Song Wanning. As a family of brothers and sisters, Song Wanning had a bad reputation in the Marquis's mansion, and now that they were divorced, it really ruined the reputation of the entire general's mansion.
That would have been fine, but who would have thought that Song Wanning, who was now remarried, would actually fall in love with the legitimate son of the Shangshu Mansion.
Zhao Ming of the Shangshu Mansion and Song Wanshi had met once. He was a humble, polite, and handsome man. At the age of nineteen, he had already passed the imperial examination and served as an official in the court. Nowadays, there were very few people from noble families in the entire capital who passed the imperial examination. Who would have thought that Song Wanning would be able to meet such an outstanding man?
Song Wanning was so angry that she picked up the glazed vase on the table and smashed it to the ground. Not satisfied with smashing one thing at a time, she turned around and smashed one thing after another in the room.
The maids beside Song Wanshi didn't dare to say anything. Song Wanshi turned her head and said to the maid next to her, "Where is the Madam? Why hasn't the Madam come yet?"
Just as Song Wanshi finished speaking, Nan Hongqiu came in from outside the yard. Seeing how many things Song Wanshi had smashed, he immediately said in panic, "Oh my little ancestor, what are you doing? You smashed all the good things."
Seeing Nan Hongqiu approach, Song Wanshi felt a surge of grievances. She stopped what she was doing and began to complain to Nan Hongqiu, "Mother, I heard from Mudan beside me that Song Wanning is seeing the young man from the Minister of Personnel's family. How could she, a remarried woman with such a bad reputation, be seeing the young man from the Minister's family? In the past, when my wife sent invitations to the Minister's Mansion to invite people to come and see her, they always made excuses. How come they have time now that it's Song Wanning who's seeing her?"
Song Wanshi said this, sweeping down a few books on the table and sobbing, "Isn't this clearly looking down on my father for having a lowly official rank and not being as powerful as the eldest wife?"
Nan Hongqiu's eyes rolled when she heard Song Wanshi's words, and she hurried to comfort her, "The Shangshu Mansion only saw that Song Jing was now a mighty general and had made great contributions, so they allowed their son to come and have a casual visit as a token of respect. How could they really look down on that abandoned woman?"
Song Wanshi's eyes turned red with grievance, and she looked at Nan Hongqiu with tears in her eyes, "Is what Madam said true?"
Nan Hongqiu patted Song Wanshi on the shoulder and whispered soothingly, "Really, silly child, just think about what kind of girls Zhao Ming couldn't find. How could he be interested in Song Wanning, the abandoned woman who had just been divorced?"
"Mother is right." Song Wanshi wiped the tears from her eyes and said aggrievedly, "But Song Wanning at least has the opportunity to meet such a talented young man. I can't even meet him in person, so how can I find a son from a good family?"
Seeing Song Wanshi so upset, Nan Hongqiu quickly added another story, "Marquis Pingyuan's Mansion is hosting a chrysanthemum banquet in a few days. They've sent an invitation to our General's Mansion, inviting all the young ladies to attend. My Shi'er will dress up beautifully and go there in a few days. Why worry about not finding a suitable husband?"
Song Wanshi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and finally a smile appeared on her face. "Then mother, please ask the embroiderer to make me a dress quickly. I want to look better than Song Wanning."
"Yes, yes, my Shi Ge'er is the most beautiful. How can she be compared to that abandoned woman?"
As Nan Hongqiu spoke, she hurriedly asked the servants to make clothes for Song Wanshi.
Liu Yuyuan, the eldest lady of Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion, and Song Wanning were close friends in the boudoir. At the chrysanthemum banquet, an invitation was first sent to the general's mansion, and then a separate one was sent to Song Wanning.
Song Wanning never liked too much noise, and now she felt the invitation in her hand was burning. She looked at Zhuque beside her and said, "Chrysanthemum Banquet? I just got divorced, and if I go out and show off in the next few days, I'm afraid it will cause gossip. Please decline it for me and just say you'll visit your house another day."
Zhuque accepted the post and said yes to Song Wanning.
Song Wanning thought for a moment, called Suzaku back, and sighed, "Forget it. Since Yuyuan is so thoughtful, I might as well go. She's a thoughtful person, and I'm afraid she'll be angry if I don't go."
"I understand, young lady." Zhuque was also happy after hearing Song Wanning's words. "Young lady, you should go out for a walk more now. Studying these account books all day will make you grow hair. I heard that the chrysanthemums in Pingyuan Marquis' Mansion are the best in Shengjing. They cover the entire garden and are extremely beautiful."
Song Wanning smiled slightly and closed the account book in her hand. "You two little girls, you're not expecting me to go. I'm afraid you just want to join in the fun."
Caique and Zhuque were laughing together, just waiting for the day of the chrysanthemum banquet.
Since Nan Hongqiu was the only female member in charge of the general's mansion, and Song Wanning was about to get married, she had no choice but to travel with Nan Hongqiu and Song Wanshi.
The three of them were traveling together, and Nan Hongqiu only prepared one carriage.
As soon as Song Wanning got on the carriage, Song Wanshi, who was sitting inside, spoke up, "Sister Ning, you're a newly divorced girl, and you still have the nerve to go to the Chrysanthemum Banquet?"
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