Chapter Fifty-Two: Teaching Sun, the Demeanor Befitting the Prime Minister’s Residence

Song Ci and her group were ushered into an elegant private room at Shangzhen House. The manager himself led the attendants in, bearing tea and refreshments, and once again apologized profusely.

“Madam Dowager, it is truly an honor to have you grace our humble establishment. My attendants must have been blind not to recognize you. I must beg your pardon for our poor hospitality.”

Song Ci chuckled warmly. “You are too kind, Manager. We only just arrived and hadn’t even stepped inside. How could there be talk of inadequate hospitality? As for whether your staff recognized me, well, I am not a silver coin—there’s no reason everyone should know my face!”

The manager’s smile froze for a moment.

Was she reproaching him?

The others exchanged glances.

Was this humor from the Dowager, or veiled criticism?

The manager, now visibly anxious, forced a broad grin. “Madam Dowager, you truly have a way with words.”

Song Ci took a sip of tea, then looked at Song Ruqi and the other young lady. With cheerful generosity, she said, “If you wish to buy anything, go and browse as you please. If you see something you like, just buy it—I will settle the bill.”

Song Ruqi thought to herself, “Why bother wandering about when we can simply have the manager bring everything to us? Grandmother doesn’t even know that? How embarrassing.”

The manager of Shangzhen House, surnamed Lu, was a perceptive man. Reading Song Ruqi’s expression, he smiled and said, “Second Miss, there is no need to venture out to the main hall. We have received several new pieces of jewelry and jade hairpins in the past few days. If you like, I will bring them here for you and Third Miss to view at your leisure?”

Song Ruqi’s interest was piqued by this suggestion. She nodded with a dignified air. “Very well. Bring them for us to see.”

Manager Lu hastened to comply, inviting them to enjoy their tea while he and his attendants went to fetch the items.

Song Ci remarked, “Since we’ve come out shopping, there’s a special pleasure in picking things out ourselves.”

She knew that every shop had its special clients—like a modern VIP—but after all, wasn’t the joy of shopping found in wandering and discovering things for oneself?

“Grandmother, we’ll go upstairs to have a look in a little while,” Song Ruwei said sweetly.

Song Ruqi still felt a lingering resentment. When she saw Song Ci asking Song Lingzhou what he wanted to buy, and suggesting they all go browse together, she spoke up: “Grandmother, why did you step aside for that madam earlier? We are the Prime Minister’s household—why should we give way to others? That lowly maid didn’t even have the sense to get out of our way.”

Song Ci had already sensed Song Ruqi’s displeasure, but hadn’t realized the cause.

“It was only moving aside for someone—what’s the harm in that?” Song Ci put down her teacup, thought for a moment, and continued, “It’s true that our family is honored, but that doesn’t mean everyone must yield to us. If you’re in the wrong, you must admit it. We were blocking the way, so wasn’t it right to step aside?”

Song Ruqi frowned.

“Even if we weren’t in the wrong, is it really so humiliating to make way for someone else? The other party was a pregnant woman—what’s the harm in yielding to her? Imagine if we’d stubbornly refused to move and she did the same. There would have been a quarrel, and if, in the commotion, that madam’s belly was harmed, what then?”

“If any harm befell her because of our actions, the matter would escalate into a vendetta between our two households, all over something so trivial.” Song Ci looked at the girls. “Never underestimate the power of small matters. Tiny details can spark great conflicts. It’s said that a thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant’s nest—such disasters arise from such small oversights. When a simple act of courtesy could have avoided it all, why create hidden dangers for ourselves?”

“You silly child, making way for someone does not diminish our dignity. As the Prime Minister’s family, we should display even greater magnanimity. To win a moment’s pride accomplishes nothing and only leads to harm. What’s the point of such stubbornness?”

Song Ruqi was left speechless, while Song Ruwei, sitting beside her, seemed lost in thought.