Chapter 801: Chapter 801: Trying to Stir Up Trouble for the Song Family?
Song Ci walked into the mourning hall, greeted by a sea of white, with the smoke from incense and paper money making eyes water.
In the northwest corner of the hall, kneeled a group of female relatives and mourning children, all quite young, with few adult men present.
Song Ci turned her gaze away, feeling an indescribable emotion.
With the downfall of the nation and family, for the clans who surrendered, at least two to three generations wonât amount to much, surviving just to pass on the lineage.
The current Xia family is increasingly weak in inheritance, itâs not an exaggeration to say itâs on the decline, and now with the deaths of a few more people, this already unprosperous clan is further burdened.
Song Ci let out a sigh, stepped forward to receive a stick of incense handed by the host family, held it reverently with three bows, silently wishing in her heart for the next life not to be born into an imperial family, and then placed the incense into the burner.
She then faced the mourning children, with a slight bow of her head to express deep condolences, accepting their kowtows, thus completing her mourning.
As for viewing the remains, that was unnecessary.
She, being an old lady, abstained from doing this, to avoid feeling discomfort, especially since the deceased was not particularly close.
Song Ci raised her head, scanning the female relatives, her gaze sweeping over one womanâs face, causing her eyelid to twitch slightly.
"Madam Dowager, please rest here for a while." Xia Zhe asked his wife to lead her to have tea and rest.
Song Ci followed her, arriving at a side room for guests to sit and drink tea, where several female relatives were quietly conversing, upon seeing Song Ci, they all stood up to greet her.
"Grandmother, I will wait for you outside." Seeing this, Song Lingzhao stopped following her.
Song Ci nodded: "This is the Xia familyâs gathering, do not wander around to prevent offending others."
Though Song Lingzhao is straightforward, he is not without manners, knowing his place, he nodded positively, waiting outside in the courtyard.
Song Ci sat down, the few madams inside uttered congratulations, after all, Song Zhicheng had obtained an official position, though a powerless post, it sounds better than nothing.
These are good words, Song Ci smiled faintly: "Itâs all due to the imperial grace, not worth mentioning, all for the service of the Great Qing, loyalty to the Emperor. Indeed, being here, youâll still have to visit those few households of the Zhao family."
Those wise enough would understand Song Ci was shifting the topic, and wouldnât continue speaking of such felicitations, but someone didnât get the hint, saying: "Madam Dowager Song truly is fortunate, with four officials from the Song family in place, you are indeed the top in the capital."
Song Ciâs smile faded, asking: "Which household are you from?"
The madamâs smiling face froze slightly.
Nanny Gong looked at the madam, slightly bowed, saying: "Madam Dowager, this is the sister of Madam Bai, Mrs. Xie, the wife of Junior Minister Xie from the Honglu Temple."
So it turned out to be Madam Baiâs sister, no wonder she was so oblivious.
Song Ci said: "So itâs Mrs. Xie, I understand your intention to ingratiate and flatter me, hence the unending compliments, but thereâs no need, considering the current situation, maintain respect for the spirits, after all, a funeral is taking place."
See, how earnest and magnanimous?
Subtlety, forget it, as Mrs. Xie didnât respond to the obvious topic shift, a direct approach is needed, given her inability to understand nuances.
If she did understand yet still intended to steer the Song familyâs narrative, deliberately congratulating them during a funeral, inciting unnecessary resentment, then subtlety is even more unwarranted.
Mrs. Xieâs face darkened, this old lady, truly shows no courtesy.
"Madam Dowager Song, youâre really here."