"Your Highness, the Master says that the Consort is not feeling well and needs to rest. She cannot see anyone," Bai Zhi said in a low voice.
Nian suddenly turned her head and shouted at Bai Zhi, "What? She's not feeling well?"
Seeing that Nian was staring intently at her, Bai Zhi lowered her head and clutched her clothes, continuing, "This servant didn't even go inside. They said the master was inside."
Enraged, Madam Nian threw her chopsticks to the ground. The maids in the room fell silent, none daring to provoke Madam Nian's anger at this moment.
Silence. The room was completely silent. No one dared to make a sound. Only the white ball under the table meowed at Nian Shi.
"Is the eldest princess's birth mother that Song woman?" Madam Nian suddenly calmed down and asked in a gentle tone.
Cui Ling glanced cautiously at Nian Shi, then quickly lowered her head and said, "Yes, it's Song Gege who lives in the North Courtyard with Ye He Shi. The eldest princess was given to the Fujin (principal wife) right after she was born. Although Song Shi was the new mother, she hardly ever raised the eldest princess."
Nian bent down and picked up the ball that was rubbing against her feet, and said to Cuiling, "Go to my cabinet and pick out a few things that Song doesn't have to add to the eldest princess's dowry. We'll go and deliver them to Sister Song later."
Cui Ling didn't know what Song was thinking, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions, so she agreed.
In the North Courtyard, Madam Song was instructing Qingping to have several maids sort through the dowry she had accumulated for the eldest princess over the past ten years. Although the Fourth Prince's dowry for the eldest princess would be substantial, she, as her birth mother, also wanted to prepare a dowry for her, even if it couldn't compare to the dowry the Fourth Prince had provided.
"Princess, are you going to give all your belongings to the eldest princess to take away?" Qingping watched as several maids took out pieces of fabric, jewelry, and other items that Song had accumulated from the cabinet.
"She's my only daughter. If I don't take her with me, who else will I give her to? I just hope she can live well in her husband's family, and then I'll be at ease," said Madam Song. Now she asks for nothing more than for Mo Yaqi to get married smoothly and for her to hold her grandson as soon as possible. Although she is not favored by the Fourth Prince, she can still live out the rest of her life in peace in this inner palace with Mo Yaqi's help.
"Oh, what are you doing, sister? Preparing a dowry for your daughter?" A sweet, delicate voice suddenly rang out from outside the door. It was so soft and gentle that even a woman would feel a little weak in the knees upon hearing it, let alone a man.
Madam Song looked in surprise at Madam Nian, who was standing at the door, and the two maids behind her, who were holding boxes in their hands.
"So it's Princess Nian. I'm busy taking inventory here, and there's no one outside right now. I wonder what brings you here, Princess Nian, to make you run around like this?" Madam Song said indifferently.
"Hehe, what are you saying, Sister Song? The eldest princess is getting married, and as her aunt, I should at least contribute some dowry to her, shouldn't I?" Madam Nian said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the coldness in Madam Song's words.
The saying goes, "Don't hit someone who's smiling, and don't hit someone who's giving you gifts."
Seeing that Nian had come to deliver gifts, Song felt it wouldn't be right to refuse her entry, so she smiled and said, "Please come in, Nian Gege. It's very sunny outside. Qingping, serve tea."
After Madam Nian took her seat, Madam Song had no choice but to sit with her and had her maid Qingping serve tea.
After Song Shi took her seat, she couldn't help but look around the room where Song Shi was staying. Compared to the furnishings in her own room, it was indeed much worse. They were both princesses, and she was a senior one, yet it was nothing special.
Lady Nian suppressed the smug look in her eyes and said to Lady Song, "Sister Song, I don't have anything very good. Consider it a small token of my appreciation for the eldest princess. Please don't find it offensive."
After saying that, Madam Nian gave the two maids a look. Cui Ling and Bi Rou each carried a black lacquered tray, walked to Madam Song, placed the trays on the small table next to Madam Song's seat, and removed the red cloth covering them.
Upon seeing the contents of the lacquer tray, Song was slightly surprised. One item was a cup crafted from gold. The cup had three legs, forming a tripod shape, and its walls were carved with mythical beasts, their eyes adorned with rubies and sapphires—truly a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship. The other item was a jadeite and gold wire inlay, with countless jadeite beads of varying sizes inlaid between the gold wire inlays. Each bead possessed a beautiful luster, as if they came from the same piece of jade.
"Grace Song, this gift is far too precious." Madam Song was slightly surprised. She had never had any dealings with Madam Nian. What was the meaning of her sending such a precious inner room at this time?
“Oh dear, the eldest princess is the eldest daughter of the master. As her aunt, what’s wrong with me giving her some dowry? Sister Song, you shouldn’t be so polite, otherwise it would mean you don’t like me as your younger sister.” Madam Nian said very seriously.
These words left Madam Song at a loss for words. Indeed, Madam Nian was there to provide dowry for the eldest princess, not as a gift to her, so she couldn't refuse. If word got out, people would say that Madam Song was ungrateful.
"Then I will thank Princess Nian on behalf of Mo Yaqi." Helpless, Madam Song could only accept the gift.
Ms. Nian smiled, took a sip of tea, and unconsciously frowned slightly. The tea here was indeed incomparable to the tea in her own room.
“Sister Song, I actually admire Consort Song very much, but I have never had the chance to meet her. Now that Consort Song has just returned, I originally wanted to visit her and pay my respects. But since Consort Song returned, she doesn’t seem to want to see anyone. Alas, it’s really worrying,” Lady Nian sighed.
Song had assumed that Nian would be arrogant and domineering towards Lanqin and treat her as an enemy, but she was surprised that Nian would actually go to pay her respects to Lanqin.
"How could that be? Qin'er is very kind to everyone. If you wish to see the concubine, it should still be possible," Madam Song said with a smile.
“Oh dear, I was just saying that the concubine is virtuous and kind, how could she be that kind of person? Today I sent my maid to pay my respects to the concubine, saying that I would find some time to go and pay my respects. But the concubine’s maid didn’t even let Baizhi in, saying that the concubine was not feeling well and would not receive guests,” said Madam Nian, feeling aggrieved.
"Oh? Is that so?" Seeing that Nian looked like she had come to ask her something, Song immediately understood.
"It is said that Consort Nian is a kind and easy-going person. I have long admired her, but unfortunately I have never had the chance to meet her," said Lady Nian with a regretful expression.
"Actually, you don't need to worry. Lanqin is pregnant again now. Perhaps she's tired, or perhaps she's avoiding danger by not seeing anyone for the time being," Madam Song explained.
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