Chapter 1244: Chapter 1244: Mother, Please Punish Me According to Family Law!
Pff!
Madam Song spewed out a mouthful of tea, hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth, then apologized to the two elders before looking at Old Master Song. "Father, what did you say? Did I hear that wrong?"
Old Master Song seemed slightly displeased. "As a grandfather, how could I joke about my grandsonâs marriage?"
Madam Song was dumbfounded. "Youâre serious? But Suâer is already in the middle of a match!"
Song Ci slammed the teacup heavily onto the low table and sneered. "Without a word, you betroth your grandson and even give a token, and that token is an imperial gift? You scheming old grandfather, Nanny Gong, go fetch the family punishment. Today Iâm going to let this old man know why flowers are so red!"
Nanny Gong: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Old Master Songâs eyes bulged even more. Faâfamily punishment?
What family punishment?
How come he didnât know about it?
"Grand Madam." So much for giving him some face?
Song Ci glared at her. "Still not going?!"
Give him what face, didnât she hear what fine thing this old man didâusing the imperial Jade Ring as a token to fix his grandsonâs marriage?
Is that something a human being does?
Song Zhiyuan came back to his senses, first shot Nanny Gong a look and gave a slight shake of his head, then said to Song Ci, "Mother, donât get worked up yet. Letâs ask clearly first."
Song Zhicheng also chimed in to help. Oh heavens, his father really... what was he supposed to say to that.
"You ask, and Iâll be so mad Iâll get angina." Song Ci slanted a look at Old Master Song, her gaze sharp as a blade.
This idiotâhow did the original old lady endure him all these years?
"Father, whatâs going on? A token was given, this is no joke. Suâerâs marriage is practically settled." Song Zhiyuan said, face dark.
Old Master Songâs neck shrank. "The marriage contracts havenât been exchanged yet, have they? So it doesnât count as fixed, right?"
"Father, this matter has been publicly acknowledged at every step, and we even invited Princess Anping to act as matchmaker. Itâs practically a done deal." Madam Song was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead; sheâd already been cursing him up and down in her heart.
"Thatâs right, the two families have already sounded each other out, weâre just waiting for the Duke Mansion to give a definite word." Song Zhiyuan added, "So whatâs going on on your side? When did this happen?"
Old Master Song said, "It was on Little New Yearâs Eve, when I was spending it together with the Qingcheng Marquis, eating hotpot. I met his granddaughter, sheâs quite pretty and sensible too, actually a good match for Suâer. The Qingcheng Marquis hinted at wanting a marriage alliance, just mentioned it in passing, and I... agreed."
Song Zhicheng: "..."
Father, youâre really asking for a beating!
Song Ci said, "You might be muddleheaded, but no way would you see a girl once, hear one casual sentence, and then sell off your grandson, and on top of that casually hand over the Jade Ring as a token. Speakâwhatâs the real story here?"
Old Master Song muttered, "What story could there be, thatâs how it was. I thought the girl was good, and Suâer and the others havenât formally settled a match. The Qingcheng Marquis Mansionâs status is decent too..."
"You really wonât cry till you see the coffin, huh!" Song Ci slapped the table and barked, "Nanny Gong, go bring the family punishment. If you wonât go, Iâll go myself."
She made a show of getting up.
Song Zhicheng quickly said, "Father, youâd better come clean."
Does he not understand that confessing gets you leniency?
Old Master Song felt a bit guilty, glanced at his eldest son, and said, "The truth is, that night I had a few too many cups of that yellow stuff, and when the Qingcheng Marquis said that, my head got hot and I just handed over the ring. The next day, when I wanted it back, the Qingcheng Marquis said that a verbal betrothal is still a betrothal, a gentlemanâs word canât be chased by four horses, and thereâs the imperial ring as proof. So I figured, anyway none of the grandsons had their marriages settled yet, so... just leave it like that!"
Song Zhiyuan: "..."
Mother, youâd better bring out the family punishment!