Chapter 720: Chapter 720: Palace Maid: To Serve You for a Hundred Years
Nanny Gong understood what Song Ci meant by asking this question, but she hadnāt seriously considered it, after all, she had been alone for so many years without any ties.
"Why must you insist that I, an old servant, raise a little maid?" She had brought this up more than once.
Song Ci said, "We are not young anymore. If we donāt pick someone to raise now, should we wait until weāre near death? By then, it might be too late to bond with them?"
Nanny Gongās heart tightened, and she forced a light-hearted smile, saying, "You used to say that no matter what, you would ensure the Song Family takes care of me until the end of my days. Were you just fooling me?"
"Nonsense, how could that be? You are my close aide. After Iām gone, if they dare not take care of you until the end, they would be laughed at by others. After all, it costs very little to care for you until your end. You are my most trusted nanny." Song Ci looked at her and said, "I just feel that having someone who can talk with you, share confidences with you, is better than just providing you with food and care for old age. If you raise them yourself, theyāll be more affectionate towards you."
Nanny Gong was silent for a while, then shook her head and said, "I donāt plan to find one."
"Why is that?" Song Ci was surprised.
Nanny Gong said, "As you said, I am already at this age. To raise a little girl, I would have to put effort into teaching and nurturing her, which is too exhausting. Madam, I have been alone for so many years and have gotten used to it. Right now, I have two little maids to attend to my daily affairs. Playing with them in my leisure time is no different. They serve well, and I wonāt mistreat them in the future. But adopting a granddaughter as you suggested would bind me with ties and concerns from then on."
So?
"Having ties means having many constraints and reluctances. Additionally, one has to make plans. Iām at this old age and donāt want such ties. Nor do I wish to face disappointment or unwillingness in the future. Madam, once affection is given, itās hard to take back. I really donāt want to give out too much of those things. Itās quite good now as it is. When the time comes and youāre gone, I will ask the Prime Minister for a favor to be buried not far from you, and thatāll be the same."
Song Ci was stunned, feeling a difficult-to-describe emotion in her heart, a bit of sourness. Yet she feigned a light-hearted tone and said, "Oh, you old creature, you love your Madam so much that when weāre both gone, you plan to still serve me underground."
Nanny Gong nodded with a smile, "Thatās right, so you canāt leave me behind."
"Youāre just foolish, refusing to take the place of the Old Lord and instead choosing to be my servant. Isnāt that silly?" Song Ciās nose tingled with emotion as she laughed teasingly, "Alright then. You canāt force a cow to drink water by pushing its head down. I wonāt insist. From now on, weāll be together. As long as I have food, I wonāt forget you."
"Alright."
The two looked at each other, feeling a little inexplicable.
Song Ci cleared her throat, "Since thereās nothing else, letās go wander around the private treasury."
Nanny Gong: "..."
You seem to have just visited yesterday.
"Jieāer and the othersā birthdays are coming up. Iāll personally pick birthday gifts for them and then choose some decent dowries for Hongtao and the others."
Nanny Gong thought to herself, the main purpose was probably still to wander around the private treasury.
Accompanying Song Ci to the private treasury, she opened the collection of antiques and treasures, only to hear her exclaim, "My treasures, a day apart feels like three years, Iāve returned again."
Nanny Gong looked toward the warehouse caretaker, who was already used to it, and said while suppressing a laugh, "You may go now; Iāll stay and accompany her."
Itās better not to let too many people see the Madamās miserly infatuation with wealth; it truly would diminish her dignity.