The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 667 - 629: Confirming the Crown Princess Consort Candidates (Part 2)

Chapter 667: Chapter 629: Confirming the Crown Princess Consort Candidates (Part 2)

That house was bought with Hua Wen Wan’s money, and in the family, she had the most say. Even Song Wei didn’t dare suggest having the second branch move in. Now that she had spoken up, naturally no one dared to stop her.

Second Lang’s wife cried out loud on the spot, tears falling continuously.

Granny Song glared at her, "Look at you, you’re so useless!"

Second Lang’s wife smiled through her tears, "I’ve always been quite useless; it’s you who have expectations too high for me."

Granny Song didn’t bother arguing with her, she looked outside and asked Yun Xia beside her, "Where are Yuanbao and Jinbao? Haven’t seen them around. Today is a big day; all three brothers have to go into the ancestral hall to pay respects."

Second Lang’s wife was stunned, "Wasn’t it said that the younger ones can’t enter the ancestral hall?"

"What, we need to differentiate by age to show filial piety to our ancestors? This isn’t the old family ancestral hall; there aren’t those few stubborn old ones from the clan guarding it." Granny Song didn’t think her suggestion was wrong.

The mother-in-law has always been superstitious, and superstitious people often pay extra attention to rituals and rules.

But today the mother-in-law wasn’t sticking to the rules, which made Second Lang’s wife a bit worried. Feeling lost, she looked toward Song Wei.

Song Wei nodded, "Since Mother has spoken, let’s have them go inside later to pay respects to the ancestors and to the eldest brother and sister-in-law."

Talking about Song Dalang and his wife, everyone’s face darkened.

How many years has it been, every time the family set off firecrackers and ate the New Year’s Eve dinner, that couple could only watch from the cold, icy ancestral hall.

Just when the atmosphere in the hall was becoming awkwardly cold, a maid’s voice came from outside, "The eldest young master, second young master, and third young master are here."

As the words fell, Song Yuanbao led his two younger brothers Jinbao and Duobao stepping in.

Following behind were the sisters Song Jiao and Song Qi.

Duobao wobbled as he walked, holding half a crystal taro cake in hand, given by Jinbao.

After entering, upon seeing his mom, the little fellow immediately ran over to show off, "Cake, cake..."

Second Lang’s wife took out a handkerchief to wipe off the pastry crumbs around his mouth and asked, "Who gave you the cake?"

The little fellow pointed to Jinbao, saying, "Second brother."

Song Erlang raised an eyebrow and laughed, "When we were at home teaching you to call people, you kept your mouth shut. As soon as you came to Third Uncle’s house, that little mouth of yours seemed to be smeared with honey. What a little greedy fella."

Wen Wan heard this, and whispered to Song Wei, "I suspect the sons of your Song family inherit something. From Yuanbao to Jinbao to Duobao, clearly not born of the same mother, yet all surprisingly have the same fondness for food."

After a pause, she asked Song Wei, "Were you like this when you were young?"

Song Wei just coughed lightly and did not speak.

The implicit admission was too obvious, Wen Wan opened her mouth in surprise, thinking to herself that she couldn’t see it at all! Could such a restrained and steady person really have been like Jinbao, wanting to eat everything he saw when he was young?

At this moment, the voices of Yuanbao and Jinbao paying respects to their grandparents pulled Wen Wan’s thoughts back.

Granny Song smiled warmly at the brothers, asked why they didn’t wear more clothes.

Song Yuanbao: "Grandma, the old saying goes children carry three fires on their backs, don’t think we’re wearing less, we’re actually not cold at all."

"Talking nonsense." Granny Song squinted at him, "If you really get cold, who else suffers but yourself?"

Song Yuanbao laughed cheekily and didn’t retort.

Old Song, who had been silent all along, said, "Alright, don’t compare your old bones with the young ones. You can’t stand the cold; the grandkids are full of energy, running and jumping all day, they won’t be cold."

Being belittled in public, Granny Song angrily glared at him, "Hey, you cheeky old man, now you’re implying I’m just a pile of old bones?"

"Not old, not old." Jinbao interjected, "Grandma will live to be a hundred, still young!"

Granny Song, hearing this, her eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile, "The little grandson’s words are always pleasing."

In front of the children and grandchildren, Old Song didn’t argue further, he looked around at both sides, "Everyone’s here; let’s prepare to go to the ancestral hall."

Thus everyone got up.

Old Song, Song Erlang, and Song Wei walked in front, Yun Xia supported Granny Song closely behind, while Wen Wan and Second Lang’s wife led the few little ones at the rear.

Second Lang’s wife looked around, asked Wen Wan, "Where’s Qi Bao?"

Wen Wan said, "In the west wing, it’s cold outside, didn’t dare let her come out to catch a chill."

"That’s true." Second Lang’s wife nodded, "After all, she’s just a little baby and can’t enter the ancestral hall, we’ll wait until she’s grown up."

"She’s only a few months old now; it’ll be another ten years before she grows up completely." Wen Wan said.

"Isn’t that quite soon?" Second Lang’s wife glanced at the children and nephews beside her, "Even though we’ve been in the Capital for a while, I still sometimes dream about Ningzhou, feeling like you haven’t been married here for long. In the blink of an eye, Jinbao is five years old, and in two or three years, Yuanbao will get married, and we’ll be grandmothers! This pace feels like a dream."

Wen Wan smiled, indeed it was very fast.

It felt like just yesterday she was the little mute girl sneaking into the village school, and today she’s a mother of two.

"Mom, what are you talking about?"

Song Qi came forward, grinning mischievously.

"Talking about how you might have to travel far and endure hardships later." Wen Wan raised her eyebrows.

"Ah?" Song Qi didn’t quite understand, showing surprise.

Second Lang’s wife explained, "Your third aunt says that after the New Year, they’re going to expand the mansion, and we’ll move here."

"Really, truly?" Song Qi had longed for this place for a long time.

Every day walking out from such an imposing mansion, others would certainly look at you differently!

Second Lang’s wife poked her head, "Your third aunt said it herself, do you think she’d tease you?"

"That’s great." Song Qi couldn’t hide her joy, "Thank you, third aunt."

Wen Wan looked at her, "I don’t mind you moving here, but the journey to Hongwen Academy might be quite far."

When Song Jiao lived in the alley courtyard, because it was closer, she could sleep a bit more and still make it to morning classes.

If she came to Song Mansion, she’d have to wake up early and take a carriage every day—it wouldn’t take long to wear down someone without determination.

But Song Qi didn’t care about that.

Expanding the mansion would make it a tenfold grand residence; although the plaque doesn’t explicitly state "Princess Yong’an Mansion," the imperial decree makes it clear that her third aunt is a Commandery Princess, the Emperor’s niece. Living in her mansion, just imagine the prestige!

It’s like someone sacrificing everything for beauty; Song Qi had that mindset.

As long as she could live in a grand residence and be surrounded by servants calling her "Miss," getting up early every day seemed no trouble to her; she was delighted!

Thinking about it, Song Qi felt thrilled in her heart.

When they reached the back courtyard, several people put away umbrellas, brushed off snowflakes from their clothes, and then entered the ancestral hall one by one.

First, Old Song worshipped the ancestors, followed by Song Wei and Song Erlang, then it was Yuanbao, Jinbao, and Duobao’s turn.

Song Duobao had no idea what the ancestral worship meant; he just saw his big brother and second brother kneeling, so he followed suit. When his father handed him the incense, he imitated his brothers, bowed to the ancestor’s spirit tablet, and then stood up to see that there was food on the altar table. He pointed, drooling, "Meat..."

But before he could finish speaking, Song Erlang picked him up and carried him outside.

Luckily, Song Duobao was quiet and didn’t fuss too much when carried out; Song Erlang breathed a sigh of relief.

Once everyone finished worshipping, the door of the ancestral hall was locked again, and everyone left the back courtyard.

Today is New Year’s Eve, there’s a grand banquet in the palace. Emperor Guangxi is hosting officials during the day, and the family feast is in the evening.

Song Wei is among the officials, so he must take his wife and children to the banquet during the day. Fortunately, their family worships the ancestors early, leaving enough time to enter the palace.

After explaining the situation to Second Lang’s wife, Wen Wan asked her to accompany her mother-in-law to Rong’an Hall, while she and Song Wei returned to Qingteng Residence to change into formal attire and gave a few instructions to Nanny Qian.

Song Yuanbao also took Jinbao to change clothes in the outer courtyard.

After the span of a tea break, the family of four met outside the main gate, having prepared two carriages for entry into the palace: one for Song Wei and Wen Wan, and another for Song Yuanbao and Jinbao.

Song Qi stood outside the gate, watching the carriages depart, and silently sighed, wishing someday she could visit the palace too.

Time passed until the carriage stopped outside the Imperial City Gate, Song Yuanbao lifted the curtain first and then turned to lift Jinbao.

Once the little one was steady, he turned around and noticed a circle of luxury cars around them, many noble ladies had arrived today.

Song Yuanbao looked at Song Wei in confusion, "Dad, isn’t today New Year’s Eve for the officials? Why are they..."

Song Wei replied, "It’s indeed the New Year’s Eve banquet, but I heard from the Emperor that he might announce the candidates for the Crown Prince’s main and concubine consorts today."