Chapter 118: The Empress Dowager Protects Song Ci

Song Ci was somewhat lost in thought, her mind preoccupied with how to explain things to her sharp-witted son later. If Empress Dowager Wang really sent a royal heir to the Song household for tutoring, what on earth was she supposed to do? She had no desire to become a kindergarten teacher.

Sigh, just thinking about it made her head ache and her heart restless.

"Could it be that Lady Song does not agree with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager? You were shaking your head."

Suddenly, a woman's voice chimed in with a laugh.

Song Ci felt an instant, scorching heat wash over her, drawn by the gazes fixed upon her. She looked up, and good heavens, everyone was eyeing her. What are you looking at? Are your eyes thousand-watt searchlights?

"What's the matter?" Song Ci asked, looking completely bewildered.

Lady Fan rolled her eyes, thinking to herself how rude this was. With the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and so many consorts present, how could she dare to zone out? Such audacity.

"Just now, the Empress Dowager said that for the Dragon Boat Festival, there is no need for extravagant celebrations. The money saved should be sent to wherever there is a flood to provide disaster relief, as a sign of the imperial family's benevolence. I saw Lady Song shaking her head. Did you feel that what the Empress Dowager said was wrong?" the woman continued.

Song Ci looked over. It was a woman with a long face and sharp eyes. Judging by her official robes, she must be the wife of some fourth-rank official, and she was looking at her with a provocative air.

Damn it, she’s trying to stir up trouble!

Madam Song’s expression also turned sour. She looked at the speaker—it was the wife of Zhao Liyuan, the Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Zhao Liyuan was part of Chancellor Fan’s faction. Was this an attempt to smear the Song family?

Just as Madam Song was about to offer a defense for her mother-in-law, Song Ci spoke up.

"You’re still young, yet your eyesight is already failing you. Which eye saw me shaking my head?" Song Ci stared directly at Lady Zhao.

Lady Zhao: "..."

Both of her eyes saw it, but she didn’t expect such a biting retort.

The others present thought to themselves: Here we go again. The notoriously blunt and vulgar Lady Song is at it again.

"I saw that you weren't speaking..."

"Does not speaking mean I’ve gone mute and can only express my thoughts through actions? Since when has my opinion become so important that you all have to stare at me? Not to mention, the Empress Dowager was speaking; why would an old woman like me interrupt?" Song Ci cut her off directly. "Honestly, you young people shouldn't read so many trashy novels. Your imagination is running wild, thinking that silence equates to dissent or disagreement. Look at how delusional you've become. I clearly said nothing, yet you insist on pinning a crime on me. Your Majesty, I am truly wronged."

Lady Zhao’s face turned red and then pale as she was interrupted and rebuked. She had only wanted to curry favor with Lady Fan by putting the Song family on the spot, but she hadn't expected this.

Empress Dowager Wang looked over, her expression displeased. Lady Zhao was so frightened her face turned ashen, and she immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty, that was not my intention, I only..."

"Get up. I am perfectly fine; why are you kneeling?" Empress Dowager Wang’s voice was indifferent. "You all don't know Lady Song well. She has always been a woman of few words. She is advanced in age and recently recovered from a serious illness—her face is still pale. It is already a great fortune that she could manage to come and see me. It is nothing like what you imagine, no wonder she feels wronged."

The crowd quickly stood up to apologize, though they thought to themselves that the Empress Dowager’s bias was far too obvious. Just look at the way Lady Song rattled off her words, and look at that rosy complexion—it was clear she was full of vigor and perfectly fine.

As for Lady Zhao, kneeling on the floor, she nearly fainted. It was over; she had offended the Empress Dowager.

Madam Song’s eyes crinkled with suppressed joy. Her mother truly held a special place in the Empress Dowager’s heart.