Holding Dan-ge’er in her arms, Song Ci carefully studied his little face. This child carved from pink jade—just imagining him with a bald head made her involuntarily shake her head.
Cute was cute, but the image truly wasn’t pretty.
Nanny Gong pursed her lips in a smile and said, "You’ve really taken the Master’s words to heart, afraid that the Sixth Young Master will be tricked off to beco a little monk and take refuge in the Buddha?"
Song Ci said awkwardly, "You know how these monks are all mysterious and mumbo-jumbo. They say one sentence about ’having a karmic bond with the Buddha’ and it’s enough to leave a shadow in your heart."
Nanny Gong looked at Dan-ge’er with affection and said, "If you don’t allow it, how would he dare to go?"
Song Ci sighed. "Everyone has his own path. Take Buhui, for instance—was it really that the Lu Family wanted him to beco a monk? Did he not beco one all the sa?" She paused, then added, "Only, his entering the Buddhist gate was not entirely for the sake of serving the Buddha. Mostly, he disdains this mortal world, or was disappointed in the Lu Family, and so chose to retreat from the world."
"No matter how much you retreat from the world, if your heart is still attached, isn’t it all in vain?" Nanny Gong thought of how he had supported Lin Qing; to be able to take such care of Lin Qing, how could he truly be indifferent to the Lu Family?
Knowing she had brought the topic to Lin Qing, Song Ci said, "That he can lift Lin Qing up truly shows intention. A woman practicing dicine will bear much more criticism than a man. The more eminent the nobles she befriends, the more advantageous it will be for herself. That is a good thing; I only fear that one day she won’t be able to pull herself out."
She stroked the little tuft of hair on the crown of Dan-ge’er’s head and murmured, "It’s the sa with Dan-ge’er. If what cos out of Buhui’s mouth is true, that he has talent, then in the future... Enough, let’s not speak of things so far off."
As if knowing they were talking about him, Dan-ge’er turned his head and grinned at Song Ci, his two little millet-grain teeth snowy white, drool running down the corner of his mouth.
Song Ci took a kerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth, then tapped his little nose with a smile and said, "My fate lies in my own hands, not in Heaven’s. In future, you must rember that."
Dan-ge’er squealed excitedly, wiggling his bottom, flailing his arms and legs as he tried to throw himself at her.
Madam Song entered wrapped in a cloak. Letting the maid remove her cloak and bake away the chill, she then ca before Song Ci and saluted.
"You’re here." Song Ci nudged Dan-ge’er and said, "Dan-ge’er, your mother is here, go to her."
Dan-ge’er glanced at Madam Song but clung to Song Ci’s arms, unmoving. Compared to how he would reach out for Song Ci the mont he entered, the difference in his preference was not just a little.
Madam Song had originally ant to reach out and take him, but seeing his reluctance, she felt sowhat embarrassed and drew her hand back, saying with a smile, "This little rascal has gotten attached to Old Ancestress. Let him stay warm with you. I just ca in from outside and still carry the chill; better he not catch cold."
Song Ci gave her a sidelong glance and did not insist, rely ntioning Buhui going to see those noble lords as a Doctor.
"Since the invitations were delivered to our house, that counts as relying on our family’s connections; it all adds up to human favors. As long as you keep that clear in your heart, that’s enough," Song Ci said. "Since the Master is going out from our estate, you arrange a few quick-witted young servants and a Steward to run errands with him. He has his own little novice with him and may not necessarily use our boys, but errands and such are unavoidable. You make sure these hands are properly arranged."
Madam Song said, "Mother may rest assured. The Pri Minister has also given instructions. The attendants now serving in the Master’s guest courtyard have all been carefully selected; they’re handy and quick."
She was no fool. With Master Buhui temporarily staying in their house, any household in the capital that wished to invite him over to feel the pulse and diagnose illness would necessarily have to go through the Song Family. In this way, all those human favors would be borne by the Song Family, so naturally they had to see that the people were properly arranged.
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