Until Song Yuan and Ning Wang left the manor together, Song Chaoyu finally looked up.
Song Yanrou also stood up, but was kicked fiercely by the First Madam standing beside her: "What are you still standing there for? Go back and continue your confinement! If you dare to run around before your wedding, I'll break your legs!"
Song Chaoyu instinctively stepped forward and helped Song Yanrou.
Song Yanrou cast a grateful glance at Song Chaoyu, but pulled her hand away from Song Chaoyu's grasp and said meekly, "Yes, Mother."
"Bitch!"
Now, the First Madam would curse Song Yanrou in a low voice whenever she saw her: "If I ever find out you're harboring any wicked thoughts, I won't be polite to you! Get out, get out, don't stand here and be an eyesore!"
Seeing Ning Wang and Song Yuan go to court together, and considering that this morning's breakfast was somewhat gracious, Song Yanjiao finally breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at the Old Madam: "Grandmother, your granddaughter and Mother have discussed it. We are willing to obey Grandmother and carve out a path for ourselves! I implore Grandmother to... take care of your granddaughter."
To be able to bend and stretch, it was no wonder that in her previous life, she had been pushed into such a miserable state by them!
In this regard, Song Chaoyu admired Song Yanjiao in her heart.
After this matter passed, the Song Manor finally quieted down for two days.
Song Yanjiao was now the Crown Princess, naturally cherished by everyone, and her reputation was unmatched for a time.
The Old Madam found a musician from the capital to teach Song Yanjiao some chamber arts, and also asked Song Chaoyu to go along and listen.
Indeed, within two days, good news came from Song Yanjiao, saying that Ning Wang was now very doting on her. Without the Old Madam's urging, she planned to learn more from that musician.
Song Chaoyu began to slowly ponder the events that were about to unfold.
And on the southern side, there were also movements—
Princess Tiya had already entered the capital!
In her previous life, there seemed to have been a similar event, but Song Chaoyu didn't remember much.
She only knew that although everyone now said that Princess Tiya had come for a marriage alliance to become the Crown Princess, in her previous life, Princess Tiya had not married Mu Changxi in the end, but had entered the palace to become a concubine of the Emperor.
It remained to be seen whether, in her previous life, the Emperor had "stolen love," or if Princess Tiya had never had feelings for Crown Prince Chang as rumored.
To celebrate Princess Tiya's arrival in the capital, the palace hosted a grand banquet to entertain the envoys from the Southern Kingdom.
For such a banquet, Song Chaoyu, as a庶女 (shu nu - daughter of a concubine), was actually not qualified to attend.
Unexpectedly, the Old Madam directly found Song Yanjiao and asked Song Yanjiao and the First Madam to bring Song Chaoyu to the palace banquet, saying it was to let Song Chaoyu broaden her horizons.
The First Madam and Song Yanjiao were unwilling a thousand times over, but they could not refuse the Old Madam, so they had to agree.
Song Chaoyu also did not want to, but the Old Madam's wishes could not be defied.
And for the first time, before the palace banquet even began, the First Madam personally came to the Painting and Book Academy to bring Song Chaoyu a set of light pink brocade palace attire with blooming begonias: "Since you will be attending the palace banquet in a couple of days, you must dress presentably. Your second sister asked me to inquire if you have any hair ornaments or jewelry you can wear. If not, go to Ning Wang's manor and choose a set from her dressing case."
The First Madam's sudden change made Song Chaoyu a little strange: "Thank you, Mother, thank you, Second Sister. But please rest assured, Mother, Concubine Mother has prepared a set of hair ornaments for me, and I think it will be just right for entering the palace this time."
Seeing her refuse, the First Madam became somewhat hesitant: "Cough, cough. If you should take it, then take it! After all, Mother said that if you hadn't come up with this idea this time, Jiao'er wouldn't have been so deeply in love with Ning Wang so quickly. Grandmother said she should thank you, and she naturally has to obey Grandmother. If you don't go, she will choose some good things to send you in a couple of days."
The implication of her words was that it was not her and her daughter who wanted to thank her, but they were forced by the Old Madam to offer thanks?
Song Chaoyu just smiled: "I understand what Mother means, thank you Mother and Second Sister!"
"It's good that you understand!"
The First Madam patted the attire: "Wear this to the palace banquet in a couple of days. Don't be too ostentatious, and always remember your status as a庶女! Don't think you're something special just because your concubine mother gave birth to a son for Father."
Song Chaoyu was too lazy to argue with her here, so she gave perfunctory replies and sent her away.
She had not attended this palace banquet in her previous life and had no impression of it.
Looking at the begonia palace attire, Song Chaoyu inexplicably felt a sense of unease.
—
After the last snow in the capital, the weather was visibly warming up.
Song Chaoyu didn't really want to wear this begonia palace attire, but the Old Madam said that this outfit was her choice, so Song Chaoyu had no choice but to wear it.
Coupled with the hair ornaments prepared by Concubine Liu for her, although her attire did not overstep any regulations, it was no less than that of the legitimate daughters from wealthy families.
Moreover, Song Chaoyu found that Concubine Liu was now very "biased" towards her.
As no new concubine had entered the manor yet, and since Concubine Liu gave birth to Qing'er, and Rui Ji had been beaten to death, she had become Song Yuan's most favored person.
However, Concubine Liu was always indifferent to Song Yuan, and no matter what good things Song Yuan bestowed upon her, her first thought was always Song Chaoyu!
These hair ornaments were made for Song Chaoyu by the best craftsmen in the capital after Concubine Liu exchanged the things Song Yuan bestowed upon her for money some time ago.
Song Chaoyu asked her to leave some for little Qing'er, but she said: "You are his sister, will you not give it to him in the future? Besides, he is Song family's son, and your father will not neglect him. The things given to you, you should keep them!"
Song Chaoyu always felt that after experiencing childbirth, Concubine Liu seemed to have seen through Song Yuan more clearly.
It was not like in her previous life, where Concubine Liu still missed Song Yuan until her last breath.
In this way, it seemed good.
—
On the day of the palace banquet, Song Chaoyu had already dressed herself early in the morning.
Although she had not deliberately dressed up, the First Madam still said sourly when she saw Song Chaoyu: "Oh, it's true that clothes make the man! Fourth girl usually looks quiet and unassuming, but she has inherited her concubine mother's beauty! However, don't follow your concubine mother's path in the future, lest people laugh at you!"
She still instructed Song Chaoyu that when they arrived at the palace, she was to follow behind her, not to run around, not to look around, and not to speak carelessly.
Today was to welcome the envoys from the Southern Kingdom, so naturally, Princess Tiya was the main character.
Song Chaoyu had always disliked causing trouble, so she agreed.
This time entering the palace, she was not as nervous as the last time.