Chapter 324: Chapter 324: The Old Master Who Set Fires in Four Places
The sky gradually darkened, and the Prime Minister’s Mansion was already lit up with red lanterns, adding a few threads of festivity to the entire mansion.
Apart from Song Zhiyuan accompanying Madam to attend the Mid-Autumn Palace Feast, all the members of the Prime Minister’s Mansion gathered at Chunhui Hall to prepare for the family dinner. If Old Master Song didn’t cause any trouble, Song Ci believed this reunion dinner would be quite pleasant.
Yet someone just had to invite trouble.
"If you care so much about your two concubines, then go have the reunion dinner at their quarters. I’ve never seen, during a festival, two concubines being allowed to dine together with the Official Wife in the main house. Are you such a boorish old man that you think our family’s style is small or that we’re all one big happy family?" Song Ci slammed his chopsticks onto the table with a snap.
Old Master Song was furious, the old woman wouldn’t give him any face even in front of their son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
"We are all one family..."
Song Ci: "In my Chunhui Hall, those who can sit here and eat are my family. Old man, our Song Family is not the farm-digging Song Family of old; your son is the current Prime Minister. It’s one thing if you have no achievements, but don’t let people laugh at him for having a house with no rules."
"You, you!"
Song Ci grinned: "Stop your tongue-tied stuttering. You’re his father; you should worry about your son, not add to his burden, right? Come, down this glass of wine, and let’s eat."
Old Master Song: "..."
Seeing this, Jiang nudged Song Zhicheng’s elbow.
Song Zhicheng stood up, smiling, raising his wine glass: "Father, today is the Autumn Festival. I wish you to grow robust with age and maintain good health. You probably didn’t know yet, but I’m about to become a father again."
Jiang blushed, giving him a playful glare.
Seeing his son stepping in, Old Master Song went along with it and came down from his high horse, saying, "Well done, you two, extending our family line. Here, this Jade Pendant is for your wife; I hope you have another chubby boy."
He casually removed the emerald-green Jade Pendant hanging from his waist and handed it to Song Zhicheng.
Song Zhicheng and Jiang, however, both froze their smiling faces slightly; could they change the blessing words? They were hoping for a sweet little girl.
"Thank you, Father."
Regardless, Song Zhicheng happily accepted it and passed it to Jiang.
Jiang also got up to bow respectfully to her father-in-law, then casually fastened the Jade Pendant to her waist.
On the other side, Lu watched her glowing face with a heart full of bittersweetness.
"How is it that the third family’s wife looks so much thinner? Could it be you’re not used to being back at the mansion? If you’re lacking anything, just ask your eldest sister-in-law for it." Old Master Song noticed Lu’s face and asked with concern.
Lu hurriedly explained: "Father, eldest sister-in-law takes good care of your daughter-in-law, and nothing is lacking in my courtyard. My thinning out was purely from the hardships of the summer before."
"That’s good," Old Master Song said. "Your husband alone over in Shanxi must feel lonely; as his wife, you should write to him often and find two reliable people to take care of his daily life."
Lu’s smile froze suddenly, and a nameless anger surged in her heart.
Does she still need to? He’s already well taken care of!
Completely unaware of the sparks he was igniting everywhere, Old Master Song was about to say more when Song Ci placed his bowl down with a thud and said, "Are we eating or not? So much talking, isn’t it annoying?"
The adults kept quiet, while the younger ones shrank their necks, exchanging glances, thinking to themselves their grandmother and grandfather really didn’t get along, at odds with each other at every turn.
Old Master Song turned pale green, itching to throw his chopsticks, but upon glancing at Song Ci’s angry stare, remembered the days when she used to dominate him, and said, "It’s not like I’m starving to death in desperate need, what’s the hurry? Can’t have a few words with the kids!"
In his heart, he thought, once the festival is over, I’m going back to the estate. No need to watch that old hag’s aggressive face anymore!