Chapter 1285: Chapter 1285: The Grand Madam Is Snubbed Again
Just as Yuan Liren said, with Prime Minister Fan mourning, the number of people wanting to curry favor with Prime Minister Song did not decrease but increased. As a result, the annual banquet at the Song Family in the 23rd year of Shengping was more lively than before, welcoming guests with great excitement.
Fortunately, Madam Song was well prepared. The performance troupe was booked long ago; aside from hiring outside performers, those kept by the family were also ready to take the stage at any time, to ensure that guests felt perfectly at home. As for the banquet, more food and drinks were prepared to avoid any embarrassing shortfalls.
Even so, with so many guests, Madam Song and several of her sisters-in-law were bustling like tops, having no time to sit and accompany the guests, let alone exchange a few words with some of them.
At times like this, having daughters-in-law proved beneficial. Song Ci, an Old Lord, simply enjoyed the compliments, listened to the music, and watched the plays, savoring it all like cracking melon seeds.
It was fortunate that the Song Family also had daughters who were married off. Except for Song Ruqi, who was not well, Song Ruqian and the senior Song Zi were there on this day, helping Madam Song and others to entertain guests or do what they could.
Song Zi and Song Ruqian were both skillful in diplomacy, able to exchange some words with everyone, glossing over small awkwardness easily.
"Youāre truly blessed, with capable and filial daughters-in-law, even the already-married daughters are adept at managing affairs and entertaining guests," a matron laughed, flattering Song Ci.
Another person chimed in, "Exactly, Old Madam, do share your secrets with us, donāt keep it to yourself."
Song Ci wore a dark purple ru yi cloud-patterned brocade skirt with gold and silver, a Five Phoenixes Facing the Sun Red Gemstone Hairpin, and an Eight Treasures clustered golden hairpin on her head. She did not wear a headband, only lightly applied some makeup, looking both noble and youthful with a spirited demeanor.
Now being complimented, her eyes curved into a smile as she said, "As the saying goes, one does not become a patriarch without being deaf and dumb first. Iām just a woman with long hair and short insight, what good teaching skills could I have? Itās merely about constantly reminding myself to turn a blind eye and not meddle in the intimate affairs of my sons and daughters-in-law."
Someone flushed slightly after hearing this.
Many present were already mothers-in-law, who more or less couldnāt help but act like one, using various excuses to interfere with their sonsā private matters. To them, it was not improper; after all, wasnāt that how all daughters-in-law came through it?
Thus, when it was their turn to be mothers-in-law, they also adopted that demeanor, set rules for the daughters-in-law, and placed people in their sonsā rooms, not feeling it was wrong.
Yet, with Song Ci saying this...
Well, did they come for advice thinking the performances on stage were mundane and uninteresting, making a fool of themselves instead?
Some faces felt a bit red.
Some couldnāt stand to see Song Ciās smugness and jokingly said, "Come to think of it, among the Old Madamās sons, except for Lord Song San, who has several beautiful concubines, the rest live solely with their Official Wives. Old Madam, isnāt this showing favoritism?"
This "favoritism," based on the speakerās nuanced tone, was obviously derogatory.
Song Ci had three legitimate sons and none had concubines, only the third son, Song San, a son of a concubine, had both wife and concubines. Outsiders might suspect she couldnāt bear to see tranquility in the concubineās house and deliberately indulged him in taking concubines, thus tarnishing the concubineās face in case of any disgrace.
Oh, that would be killing with kindness.
Song Ci could clearly detect the sarcasm in these words. She grinned and said, "You say Iām being partial; I donāt agree. Remember, you canāt make a cow drink by forcing its head down. I canāt personally stand guard at my sonās room to see how the couple lives, right? Courtesy, duty, integrity, and shame ā see no evil ā even someone as crude as me understands that."