Chapter 667: Chapter 629: Confirming the Crown Princess Consort Candidates (Part 2)
That house was bought with Hua Wen Wanâs money, and in the family, she had the most say. Even Song Wei didnât dare suggest having the second branch move in. Now that she had spoken up, naturally no one dared to stop her.
Second Langâs wife cried out loud on the spot, tears falling continuously.
Granny Song glared at her, "Look at you, youâre so useless!"
Second Langâs wife smiled through her tears, "Iâve always been quite useless; itâs you who have expectations too high for me."
Granny Song didnât bother arguing with her, she looked outside and asked Yun Xia beside her, "Where are Yuanbao and Jinbao? Havenât seen them around. Today is a big day; all three brothers have to go into the ancestral hall to pay respects."
Second Langâs wife was stunned, "Wasnât it said that the younger ones canât enter the ancestral hall?"
"What, we need to differentiate by age to show filial piety to our ancestors? This isnât the old family ancestral hall; there arenât those few stubborn old ones from the clan guarding it." Granny Song didnât think her suggestion was wrong.
The mother-in-law has always been superstitious, and superstitious people often pay extra attention to rituals and rules.
But today the mother-in-law wasnât sticking to the rules, which made Second Langâs wife a bit worried. Feeling lost, she looked toward Song Wei.
Song Wei nodded, "Since Mother has spoken, letâs have them go inside later to pay respects to the ancestors and to the eldest brother and sister-in-law."
Talking about Song Dalang and his wife, everyoneâs face darkened.
How many years has it been, every time the family set off firecrackers and ate the New Yearâs Eve dinner, that couple could only watch from the cold, icy ancestral hall.
Just when the atmosphere in the hall was becoming awkwardly cold, a maidâs voice came from outside, "The eldest young master, second young master, and third young master are here."
As the words fell, Song Yuanbao led his two younger brothers Jinbao and Duobao stepping in.
Following behind were the sisters Song Jiao and Song Qi.
Duobao wobbled as he walked, holding half a crystal taro cake in hand, given by Jinbao.
After entering, upon seeing his mom, the little fellow immediately ran over to show off, "Cake, cake..."
Second Langâs wife took out a handkerchief to wipe off the pastry crumbs around his mouth and asked, "Who gave you the cake?"
The little fellow pointed to Jinbao, saying, "Second brother."
Song Erlang raised an eyebrow and laughed, "When we were at home teaching you to call people, you kept your mouth shut. As soon as you came to Third Uncleâs house, that little mouth of yours seemed to be smeared with honey. What a little greedy fella."
Wen Wan heard this, and whispered to Song Wei, "I suspect the sons of your Song family inherit something. From Yuanbao to Jinbao to Duobao, clearly not born of the same mother, yet all surprisingly have the same fondness for food."
After a pause, she asked Song Wei, "Were you like this when you were young?"
Song Wei just coughed lightly and did not speak.
The implicit admission was too obvious, Wen Wan opened her mouth in surprise, thinking to herself that she couldnât see it at all! Could such a restrained and steady person really have been like Jinbao, wanting to eat everything he saw when he was young?
At this moment, the voices of Yuanbao and Jinbao paying respects to their grandparents pulled Wen Wanâs thoughts back.
Granny Song smiled warmly at the brothers, asked why they didnât wear more clothes.
Song Yuanbao: "Grandma, the old saying goes children carry three fires on their backs, donât think weâre wearing less, weâre actually not cold at all."
"Talking nonsense." Granny Song squinted at him, "If you really get cold, who else suffers but yourself?"
Song Yuanbao laughed cheekily and didnât retort.
Old Song, who had been silent all along, said, "Alright, donât compare your old bones with the young ones. You canât stand the cold; the grandkids are full of energy, running and jumping all day, they wonât be cold."
Being belittled in public, Granny Song angrily glared at him, "Hey, you cheeky old man, now youâre implying Iâm just a pile of old bones?"
"Not old, not old." Jinbao interjected, "Grandma will live to be a hundred, still young!"
Granny Song, hearing this, her eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile, "The little grandsonâs words are always pleasing."
In front of the children and grandchildren, Old Song didnât argue further, he looked around at both sides, "Everyoneâs here; letâs prepare to go to the ancestral hall."
Thus everyone got up.
Old Song, Song Erlang, and Song Wei walked in front, Yun Xia supported Granny Song closely behind, while Wen Wan and Second Langâs wife led the few little ones at the rear.
Second Langâs wife looked around, asked Wen Wan, "Whereâs Qi Bao?"
Wen Wan said, "In the west wing, itâs cold outside, didnât dare let her come out to catch a chill."
"Thatâs true." Second Langâs wife nodded, "After all, sheâs just a little baby and canât enter the ancestral hall, weâll wait until sheâs grown up."
"Sheâs only a few months old now; itâll be another ten years before she grows up completely." Wen Wan said.
"Isnât that quite soon?" Second Langâs wife glanced at the children and nephews beside her, "Even though weâve been in the Capital for a while, I still sometimes dream about Ningzhou, feeling like you havenât been married here for long. In the blink of an eye, Jinbao is five years old, and in two or three years, Yuanbao will get married, and weâll be grandmothers! This pace feels like a dream."
Wen Wan smiled, indeed it was very fast.
It felt like just yesterday she was the little mute girl sneaking into the village school, and today sheâs a mother of two.
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
Song Qi came forward, grinning mischievously.
"Talking about how you might have to travel far and endure hardships later." Wen Wan raised her eyebrows.
"Ah?" Song Qi didnât quite understand, showing surprise.
Second Langâs wife explained, "Your third aunt says that after the New Year, theyâre going to expand the mansion, and weâll move here."
"Really, truly?" Song Qi had longed for this place for a long time.
Every day walking out from such an imposing mansion, others would certainly look at you differently!
Second Langâs wife poked her head, "Your third aunt said it herself, do you think sheâd tease you?"
"Thatâs great." Song Qi couldnât hide her joy, "Thank you, third aunt."
Wen Wan looked at her, "I donât mind you moving here, but the journey to Hongwen Academy might be quite far."
When Song Jiao lived in the alley courtyard, because it was closer, she could sleep a bit more and still make it to morning classes.
If she came to Song Mansion, sheâd have to wake up early and take a carriage every dayâit wouldnât take long to wear down someone without determination.
But Song Qi didnât care about that.
Expanding the mansion would make it a tenfold grand residence; although the plaque doesnât explicitly state "Princess Yongâan Mansion," the imperial decree makes it clear that her third aunt is a Commandery Princess, the Emperorâs niece. Living in her mansion, just imagine the prestige!
Itâs like someone sacrificing everything for beauty; Song Qi had that mindset.
As long as she could live in a grand residence and be surrounded by servants calling her "Miss," getting up early every day seemed no trouble to her; she was delighted!
Thinking about it, Song Qi felt thrilled in her heart.
When they reached the back courtyard, several people put away umbrellas, brushed off snowflakes from their clothes, and then entered the ancestral hall one by one.
First, Old Song worshipped the ancestors, followed by Song Wei and Song Erlang, then it was Yuanbao, Jinbao, and Duobaoâs turn.
Song Duobao had no idea what the ancestral worship meant; he just saw his big brother and second brother kneeling, so he followed suit. When his father handed him the incense, he imitated his brothers, bowed to the ancestorâs spirit tablet, and then stood up to see that there was food on the altar table. He pointed, drooling, "Meat..."
But before he could finish speaking, Song Erlang picked him up and carried him outside.
Luckily, Song Duobao was quiet and didnât fuss too much when carried out; Song Erlang breathed a sigh of relief.
Once everyone finished worshipping, the door of the ancestral hall was locked again, and everyone left the back courtyard.
Today is New Yearâs Eve, thereâs a grand banquet in the palace. Emperor Guangxi is hosting officials during the day, and the family feast is in the evening.
Song Wei is among the officials, so he must take his wife and children to the banquet during the day. Fortunately, their family worships the ancestors early, leaving enough time to enter the palace.
After explaining the situation to Second Langâs wife, Wen Wan asked her to accompany her mother-in-law to Rongâan Hall, while she and Song Wei returned to Qingteng Residence to change into formal attire and gave a few instructions to Nanny Qian.
Song Yuanbao also took Jinbao to change clothes in the outer courtyard.
After the span of a tea break, the family of four met outside the main gate, having prepared two carriages for entry into the palace: one for Song Wei and Wen Wan, and another for Song Yuanbao and Jinbao.
Song Qi stood outside the gate, watching the carriages depart, and silently sighed, wishing someday she could visit the palace too.
Time passed until the carriage stopped outside the Imperial City Gate, Song Yuanbao lifted the curtain first and then turned to lift Jinbao.
Once the little one was steady, he turned around and noticed a circle of luxury cars around them, many noble ladies had arrived today.
Song Yuanbao looked at Song Wei in confusion, "Dad, isnât today New Yearâs Eve for the officials? Why are they..."
Song Wei replied, "Itâs indeed the New Yearâs Eve banquet, but I heard from the Emperor that he might announce the candidates for the Crown Princeâs main and concubine consorts today."