“Someone, help Qian’er down!”
Two boys about the same age as Xiao Qian came in, one on the left and one on the right, and helped Xiao Qian out, and when they reached outside the door, the crowd could still hear him coughing.
“Drink tea, drink tea.”
The Duke of Ding seemed to be used to it and lifted his tealight.
The crowd followed suit and each took a small sip.
Seeing that he had already digressed, Duke Ding put his tea down and looked at Song Si, “Is it that you are returning to your hometown tomorrow?”
The first prize winner needs to make a trip back to his hometown in addition to parading around the capital in red, and the Ministry of Officials has long arranged the trip, which is why the engagement is in such a hurry.
“Yes, early tomorrow morning, I will go back first with my grandmother and father and mother, while my eldest aunt and little sister stay in the capital.”
The Duke of Ding nodded and did not say anything about care, the Xu family’s status was now higher than his, the Duke of Ding’s house.
“Your grandmother has prepared some specialties from the capital for you, I will have them sent over this afternoon, you can take them back with you.”
“Many thanks to grandfather.”
Two quarters of an hour later, the matchmaker came in, today was only the betrothal, the man could not stay too long in the woman’s house, she had come in to urge.
The Duke of Ding and his wife sat still, and Xiao Zheng and his wife saw them out. There were still many people outside who had not dispersed, and when they saw Song Si and his party come out, there was some more commotion.
The steward was busy ordering the boys to hold them back.
Song Si and the others quickly got into the carriage and the coachman hurriedly drove them away.
Only when they heard the noise of people getting farther and farther away did the few people in the carriage breathe a sigh of relief. The matchmaker’s voice with a laugh sounded outside the carriage, “I’ve been a matchmaker for so many years, but this is the first time I’ve come across such a scene, enough to blow my mind for the rest of my life.”
I actually said another matchmaker, if they could get engaged, with these two marriages, I wouldn’t have to worry about my business for the rest of my life, but unfortunately, that Mr. Sun became a horse in harness, I ……”
Swish!
The curtain of the carriage behind them was opened.
The matchmaker was startled and her words stopped.
Song Wan Yue poked her head out, her face, which had just been smiling, was now cold and solemn, “If I were you, I would keep the fact that I had been a matchmaker for the sidekick in my stomach, lest I bring about a death sentence.”
When she heard Song Wan Yue say this, she shivered and covered her mouth with a handkerchief. How could she have forgotten that Sun Jin was now a different person, a prospective prince-in-law, a member of the royal family! It was easier to take her life than to crush an ant.
“Do you remember?”
The matchmaker nodded her head like a chicken pecking at rice, her face as white as paper.
From now on, she would keep the fact that she had been a matchmaker for the prince’s son in law in her stomach, and she would never say anything about it!
Seeing that she had realised the seriousness of the matter, Song Wangyue let go of the curtain and sat back down in the carriage.
When she arrived home, Grandma Song gave the matchmaker money as a thank-you gift. The matchmaker took it, didn’t even say anything to congratulate her, took it and left, a far cry from the morning.
Grandma Song was puzzled, “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s scared. You don’t know, half of the capital flocked to the entrance of the Duke of Ding’s residence to witness my big brother’s face, and the matchmaker was frightened.”
When she heard the word “beautiful”, Song Si knocked her on the head with her fingers, “I’ll have to tell the old gentleman to teach you how to use words and phrases.”
“No, no, big brother, big brother ……”
Song Wan Yue begged for mercy, “I said it wrong, it was witnessing big brother’s Qingzhi.”
The family let out a laugh at the rare sight of her begging for mercy.
After laughing, Grandma Song gestured for Xu to follow her back to the house. These days Xu had been living in the Xu residence, and the two had not spoken properly.
She didn’t say anything to persuade her, nor did she say anything to worry about Xu and Song Lin, but only told her to pay more attention to Meng’s health.
“You have not been by your mother’s side for so many years to do your filial duty, now spend more time by her side, there is no need for you to worry at home.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“If it wasn’t for your generosity all these years, Si’er wouldn’t have had the money to go to school, let alone win the scholarship, it’s Mother who has to thank you, I don’t know how many lifetimes I’ve been blessed to have a daughter-in-law like you.”
Xu’s mouth opened, wanting to say something.
Grandma Song patted her hand, “You haven’t fully recovered your memory yet, and I’m worried that they will attack you again. As long as you are well, our family and your mother’s family will be well.”
“I’ll remember.”
……
The two mothers spoke for an hour in the house, and after the dumplings that Liu Cui Lan and a few others had made and eaten, Xu went back to Xu’s house, saying that she would come over early tomorrow morning to see her off.
The two of them had to go back to the Xu residence, saying that they would come to see them off in the morning.
In fact, she wanted Gu Yi to go back with her, as she didn’t know how long Yue would stay in the capital, but Gu Yi said he didn’t want to.
The sound of a carriage rang out at the door.
Song Si welcomed her outside, just in time to see Xiao Yao get off the carriage, and a smile unconsciously surfaced on her face.
He had not seen Xiao Yao during his visit to the Ding Guo Mansion today, and thought that she might come over in the afternoon, so that’s why he hurriedly welcomed her out as soon as he heard the sound of the carriage.
Xiao Yao did not expect him to come out in person, and after a slight faze, a blush surfaced on her face, “Grandfather asked me to send something over.”
“Mm.”
As Song Si looked at her with unblinking eyes, Xiao Yao’s face turned even redder and she hung her head down, not daring to look directly at her.
Qing’er, the maid, covered her mouth and laughed.
“Who’s here?”
The inquiring voice of Grandma Song came from inside the courtyard.
“Grandma, it’s me.”
Hearing her voice, Grandma Song came out of the courtyard in three or two steps and pulled her inside with a joyful smile, “I was just thinking, will you come over today? I haven’t seen you for so many days, grandma has missed you.”
“I miss Grandma too.”
Liu Cui Lan also came out of the house at the sound of her voice, while Song Shu hid in the house, not daring to go out. It was inappropriate for him, as a father-in-law, to go out when his unmarried daughter-in-law was here.
At the back, the underlings of the Ding Guo Mansion carried the carriage’s belongings into the courtyard, a large carriage.
Grandma Song thanked them again and again.
Song Si kept watching with bated breath, wanting to talk to Xiao Yao but not having the chance.
Song Wan Yue looked at her eyes and spoke out, “Grandma and second aunt, I wonder what sister Xiao has sent over, let’s go out and have a look.”
After saying that, she gave Grandma Song a look.
She thought she was talking about taking a clear inventory of the things sent by the Ding Guofu, so that she could return the gift later, and got up, “Yes, yes, let’s go and have a look.”
Liu Cui Lan followed her out.
When the two arrived at the courtyard, Song Wan Yue gave Song Si a key and squeezed her eyes towards him and, “Big brother, there is no one in the courtyard over there, why don’t you lead sister Xiao over for a turn.”
Xiao Yao’s face reddened in a tentative manner.