Chapter 1633: Song Ci: All My Rivals Wish Me Dead

On the twentieth of May, Shangjing had already switched into cool, lightweight summer shirts, and quite a few noble Madams brought their own daughters-in-law or young ladies to the Song Family for the full?month banquet.

That’s right, Madam Jiang was throwing a grand feast for her treasured pair of dragon?phoenix golden grandchildren, inviting distinguished guests. It’s just that there were a bit too many people coming, especially those girls who still wore maiden hairdos and had reached the age for marriage talks.

Song Ci was very curious; there really were rather a lot of people here.

"You’ve forgotten again: the Crown Prince just finished selecting his Concubines. These are probably the girls who weren’t chosen, taking advantage of this banquet to meet and be looked over by the various Madams." Nanny Gong said with a smile.

Song Ci suddenly understood. "Even so, it’s not as if they’ll all find a match. After all, suitable men of their age aren’t just waiting around for them."

"There’s always someone. If not, they can lower their sights a bit." Nanny Gong smiled faintly. "Everyone understands the game. Some Madams are probably deliberately waiting for this batch to be sifted out, so they can pick a pleasing daughter?in?law for their own sons."

True enough—any girl who could go to the consort selection would definitely be of at least Sixth Rank, even Fifth Rank or above. Her looks go without saying, and her character and family background would all stand up to scrutiny. Isn’t this just expanding the options?

Song Ci clicked her tongue. "These women who fight day in, day out in the back courtyard are all sharp as needles, always calculating."

Nanny Gong didn’t quite agree. Calculating, yes—but the ones being calculated against aren’t fools either.

"Madam Song, congratulations to you—another pair of great?grandchildren. You truly are blessed!"

A newly arrived Madam came in and loudly offered her congratulations to Song Ci.

Song Ci felt a bit wounded inside.

Every single person who came to congratulate her raised their voice, as if afraid she wouldn’t hear.

She might have grown old, but she wasn’t deaf yet.

"Thank you, and the same to you." Song Ci smiled and waved her hand.

More noise drifted over. Song Ci narrowed her aging eyes to look. Oh, that was someone she knew—the Grandmaster Fan’s Madam, with a beautiful middle?aged woman of about forty at her side.

"That’s the wife of Zeng Guang from the Ministry of Personnel." Seeing Song Ci staring at the beauty, Nanny Gong supplied the name.

These past few years Song Ci’s health had been poor, so she rarely went out to socialize anymore. Even her trips into the palace had grown few, and her mind no longer turned as quickly as it used to. There were some people she couldn’t recognize right away.

Zeng Guang was only transferred back to the Ministry of Personnel three years ago. Everyone says he’s the Grandmaster Fan’s successor, expected to be made Chancellor next year. Naturally, Madam Zeng has risen with him, walking as if borne on the wind.

Oh, and the reason she now walks even more as if carried by the wind is that her daughter was just granted the title of Crown Prince’s Concubine.

Politics in the Harem is all about balance.

Now that Miss Zeng has been made a Concubine to the Crown Prince, can Zeng Guang still wholeheartedly support the Fan Family, helping Consort Fan and Prince Zhou?

Hard to say.

Song Ci’s gaze shifted back and forth over the faces of Grandmaster Fan’s Madam and Madam Zeng, feeling that the two were all smiles on the surface but no unity underneath.

Still, whether they get along or not is none of her concern. Their two families and the Song Family have always been opponents anyway. All that matters is maintaining the proper courtesies on the surface.

Madam Song came in from outside, approached the two women, and with a beaming smile exchanged formal greetings, then led them over to Song Ci.

Madam Zeng offered Song Ci a proper bow. She counted as the younger generation, so saluting was only right.

Grandmaster Fan’s Madam, however, only gave a half?bow. The matriarch above her head was already gone, so she now held the position of the Fan Family’s senior Madam herself, and as the Grandmaster’s wife she could be said to stand on equal footing with Song Ci. Besides, the two of them were actually about the same age.

"Madam Song, it’s been a long time since we saw you. Your health seems much improved."

Grandmaster Fan’s Madam smiled in greeting, her eyes meeting Song Ci’s, a flicker in her gaze.

Long time no see? This old crone probably doesn’t have many years left to live!

Song Ci: I can tell this old crone is cursing me in her heart—no doubt about it. Women’s intuition.