Chapter 977: The Art of Soothing with Flattery

Chapter 977: Chapter 977: The Art of Soothing with Flattery

The young lad was taken to meet Emperor Chu, so Song Ci accompanied Empress Dowager Wang for a stroll in the small garden of Cining Palace. It was already autumn, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

Empress Dowager Wang walked slowly, supported by a palace maid, while chatting with Song Ci.

"I heard your little grandson had a difficult birth, and was even born with the umbilical cord around his neck. Was it you who saved him? Weren’t you scared looking at that scene?" Empress Dowager Wang felt weak in the legs just thinking about it.

Song Ci said, "I’m no deity; of course, I was scared. Just watching it made my heart almost jump out, but there was no choice. I had to force myself to stay calm, otherwise, how would we have such a delightful little grandson now?"

Empress Dowager Wang sighed, "I truly admire you for this. No matter what happens, you remain calm and collected. Just like back then, you managed to fend off that wretched tumor with just a hatchet."

Song Ci felt a shiver in her heart. Did the original self really accomplish such a feat?

A role model for our generation indeed!

"It’s because we have faced many storms that we don’t easily get defeated. You are the same, Lady," Song Ci responded with a flattering smile.

Empress Dowager Wang shook her head, "I’m not as good as you."

Song Ci thought, that’s because you haven’t had the opportunity to face such situations, but she couldn’t say that.

"Please don’t praise me. If I truly had such great abilities, I wouldn’t have been so happy that I almost laughed myself to death a few years back," Song Ci said self-deprecatingly.

"It was just a misfortune in your life. Once you got through it, everything turned out fine, and now you’re much better than before."

Song Ci stopped in front of a pot of ink chrysanthemums and said, "I hope so. I see that your stay at the summer palace has done wonders for your health."

"It was going well, but later, something blocked my heart. You wouldn’t know, but I fear I was schemed against by that old witch, Princess Consort Ji," Empress Dowager Wang began to complain.

Song Ci listened with a smile. For these ancient old ladies, life was too dull; treating the vibrant and fragrant palace intrigues as if watching a drama was indeed a beautiful distraction.

"...A-Ci, do you think I was schemed against? How could it be such a coincidence, to fall right after an argument with her? At that moment, I truly felt there was no way to justify myself."

Song Ci laughed and said, "Lady, you must believe in one thing: the public’s eyes are bright. Don’t they know whether it’s a scheme or not? Besides, you are the Empress Dowager and have held this position for over twenty years. Is there any need to act against an Imperial Concubine who just returned to the capital a few years ago? What’s the motive?"

Empress Dowager Wang felt comforted, nodding repeatedly, "That’s right, why would I act against her? It doesn’t make sense."

"So you need not pay attention. Your conscience is clear, and even if thunder strikes, you have nothing to fear. What hasn’t been done, there is no fear in the heart." Song Ci was confident in her ability to comfort others.

"Exactly, exactly," Empress Dowager Wang said, "I’m not afraid at all. But when I think of those strange looks, there’s always a bit of discomfort in my heart."

Song Ci chuckled, "That’s easy to solve. If you’re uncomfortable, make others uncomfortable too. After all, you’re the Empress Dowager, with a high and noble status. Who dares say anything against you?"

"The Imperial Censors Conference," Empress Dowager Wang pouted, "Those bored censors; you think they wouldn’t seize on trivial matters to submit reports against me."

Song Ci was unconcerned, "It’s alright, no matter what they say, they can’t touch you in the slightest. Your son is the Emperor, after all. Is a son going to teach his mother a lesson? That’s impossible!"

So don’t hold back; whoever dares challenge you, just squash them with your status. Empress Dowager, after all, has the confidence to be capricious!