Song Ci returned to her mansion from the palace and sat down, feeling quite sore in the waist, and had her maid help with massaging her waist and legs.
"You must be tired too. Go to your room and rest. This banquet is exhausting," Song Ci said to Madam of Song, who had accompanied her back to Chunhui Hall.
At the palace banquet, one had to be composed in every respect. There couldn’t be the slightest mistake in etiquette, even in sitting posture, or else one would be laughed at for lacking manners.
Madam of Song smiled and agreed, instructing the servants to take good care of things, and then returned to her own courtyard; indeed, she was tired.
Nanny smiled and asked Song Ci if there was any good news from the palace.
"There is, indeed. The Emperor has taken a new consort, a princess from Korea, titled Lady Xiang," Song Ci said, piquing Nanny’s gossip interest, "Moreover, the Prince Consort of the Eldest Prince is two months pregnant, kept it quite secret, and only revealed today. Tsk tsk, these princes are as shrewd as foxes, truly calculating."
Nanny was quite surprised, yet not really astonished, saying, "In a place like that, is there any genuine fool? Truly foolish people can survive, but they definitely won’t rise."
"Exactly, it’s a place that will chew you up and spit out the bones," Song Ci muttered.
"Madam."
Song Ci chuckled and said, "The Eldest Prince has been titled as Prince Xiao. Since he bears the title of the eldest and now has given the Emperor the first imperial grandson, his bargaining chip is significant indeed. After today, it seems Prince Xiao will likely rally a circle of officials to his side."
Nanny deeply agreed.
"Let’s not talk about this anymore. I’m going for a nap. Next ti there’s a palace banquet, I’ll learn from that old Madam of the Fan Family and feign illness for being old and frail. It’s a good excuse." Song Ci felt truly exhausted; after all, her bones were aging, and no matter how young at heart, her body couldn’t keep up.
...
Just as Song Ci said, on the night of the Longevity Festival, countless people were sleepless.
In the Imperial Palace, those concubines heard that Emperor Chu spent the night at Chuxiu Palace, and the lights stayed lit all night. In so palaces, in the dead of night, sorrowful and plaintive guqin music filled the air, as if weeping and complaining.
If Song Ci had passed by, she might have cursed that playing such mournful music was a call to summon spirits!
Like the concubines, many ministers gathered their aides to discuss the current situation, and as the night fell, those hidden demons crawled from secret passages, scurrying to other residences to create chaos.
The demons lurking in the shadows observed the entire Imperial Capital throughout the night.
Song Ci, however, was awakened from a nightmare.
"Madam? Wake up, please wake up."
Song Ci opened her eyes and felt a heavy weight on her body. Looking at the concerned person in front of her, she moved her lips: "Nanny."
"Nanny is here, did you have a nightmare?" Nanny helped her up, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, and then handed her a cup of tea: "Have a sip of tea first to calm down."
Song Ci held the tea, feeling its warmth, and said, "Nanny, I just had a nightmare, it was terrifying."
Nanny replied softly, "Don’t be afraid, dreams are always the opposite."
Song Ci shook her head, "It didn’t feel like it, it was too real. I feel like I..."
She instinctively touched her neck, lifted the tea, took a sip, and the warmth dispelled so of the deep, hidden coldness in her heart.
"No matter how real it seems, it’s false. See, you’re here talking to just fine."
Song Ci forced a smile and said, feeling the dampness on her skin, "Go and have soone prepare hot water in the bathroom. I want to take a bath."
Nanny glanced at the hourglass and nodded.
After Nanny left the room, Song Ci pulled the blanket up, frowning. Was it really false? It looked so real.
The Song Mansion accused of treason, the entire family executed, and the collapse of a great house...
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