The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 499 - 466: Never Thought of Returning to Secular Life (Part 1)
After Granny Song and Old Song left with Jinbao a few days later, the Liang Family set the date, and Wen Wan learned the exact time from Song Wei, arranging for Song Jiao to be sent back the day before.
This ritual wasn’t complicated; Song Jiao merely needed to hand over her marriage proposal to the matchmaker.
Nevertheless, Second Lang’s wife personally prepared a large table full of delicious dishes to entertain the matchmaker.
Three days later, the groom’s family matched the eight characters and sent Liang Jun’s marriage proposal to Song Erlang’s house.
Second Lang’s wife accepted the marriage proposal, then asked someone to divine it, and when the two matched six characters, both husband and wife had no objections. Once Lady Liang sent the token, the engagement was considered settled.
When Song Jiao returned to the Song Mansion, she usually had nothing to do but accompany Wen Wan in appreciating flowers and taking walks.
Wen Wan asked her, "When you went back this time, did you have any conflicts with your sister?"
Song Jiao recalled Song Qi’s behavior over the past few days and shook her head, "No, I don’t know why, but she seems to have changed. When she sees me, she no longer speaks sharply. She even took the initiative to tell my mother that she would take care of Duobao at home, so my parents could go out for business without worry. I was initially worried she might target my younger brother, but after observing for a few days, I found nothing. I think she might indeed have been forced by those rumors to ’change for the better’ on her own accord."
Wen Wan smiled and asked, "You’ve heard those rumors too?"
Song Jiao felt somewhat embarrassed, "So many people have been talking about it. I heard it accidentally on the street when I came back. Why, does Third Aunt know about it too?"
"I’ve heard a bit." Wen Wan didn’t intend to tell Song Jiao that it was a scheme set up by Song Wei.
"I don’t know who suddenly spread such rumors, but even though they’re not very detailed, they did help Qi Qi a lot. Seeing her repent, I can rest assured about getting married next year."
At this point, Song Jiao suddenly thought of someone and looked at Wen Wan, "By the way, Third Aunt, when I get married, can Eldest Brother come to see me off?"
She also knew that ever since Song Yuanbao started serving beside His Highness, he had little free time, but on her wedding day, someone had to carry her out of the house. Besides, even if not for carrying the bride, she hoped that her entire family would be present on her wedding day.
Wen Wan met the hopeful gaze of the young girl and smiled, "Rest assured, when the time comes, I’ll certainly inform him in advance and have him prepare to come back."
Song Jiao thanked her, "Actually, there’s no need to prepare anything else. As long as Eldest Brother can see me off, I’ll be very satisfied."
——
The person specifically named to see her off was, at this moment, lazing around in Yutang Palace.
Every year, Emperor Guangxi would invite Master Xu Yun to the palace to lecture on scriptures and doctrines, and this year was no exception.
Early in the morning, Zhao Xi went according to Emperor Guangxi’s decree.
In attendance were unmarried princesses and concubines, several princess consorts from the imperial family, and Prince Zhao Xi was the only prince present.
Song Yuanbao did not attend, taking advantage of the absence of the strictly disciplined His Highness, and indulged in rare idleness by asking Zhi Xia to fetch some wine.
Zhi Xia stood at the doorway without moving, relaying Zhao Xi’s original words, "Before leaving, His Highness instructed not to let Young Master Song drink wine, otherwise..." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Song Yuanbao, leaning on a Taishi Chair with his head propped up, looked at her upon hearing this, "Otherwise what?"
Zhi Xia hesitated for a moment, then truthfully said, "His Highness said that Young Master Song doesn’t handle alcohol well. Once drunk, he talks nonsense, so it’s best to abstain from alcohol from now on."
Song Yuanbao: "It’s not... Is your Highness even going to control this? I’m a normal man, not heading to the monastery to become a monk. It’s quite disgraceful to make me abstain from alcohol, isn’t it?"
Moreover, when did he ever drink and talk nonsense?
Zhi Xia listened to his complaints but then spoke up, "There’s the fruit wine that the concubines love to drink. Would Young Master Song like some?"
Song Yuanbao rolled his eyes at her, "I don’t drink that stuff. Fetch me some tea."
Zhi Xia hurried inside to serve him tea while speaking, "Before His Highness left, he also instructed that Young Master Song should either finish the drawings or copy the Heart Purification Scripture several times. His Highness will check after he returns from Master Xu Yun’s lecture."
Song Yuanbao’s eyes flickered, and he asked her, "What drawings?"
Zhi Xia shook her head, "This servant does not know."
"Isn’t that it? You don’t even know what drawings they are, so how could I draw them? As for the Heart Purification Scripture..." Song Yuanbao said, getting up to retrieve a stack of Chengxin Paper from under the bed and throwing it onto the table, "Look, I consider this task done!"
Zhi Xia peeked and saw that the Chengxin Paper was filled with the contents of the Heart Purification Scripture. She exclaimed, "This..."
Song Yuanbao cleaned his hands, "I knew he was going to mess with me, so take it. This is all from when I’ve been punished and took the opportunity to accumulate extra copies."
"Young Master, you’re cheating." Zhi Xia dared not accept it, instinctively feeling that His Highness would be able to recognize it.
Song Yuanbao was indifferent, "Anyway, he only said to copy them, not when. Look carefully, which of those characters isn’t personally copied by this Young Master?"
Seeing the little palace maid still looking troubled, Song Yuanbao directly grabbed the Chengxin Paper and stuffed it into her hands, mysteriously saying, "I’m going out for a stroll. Don’t tell His Highness, and next time I go home, I’ll bring you all some goodies you can’t find in the palace."
Having been here nearly two years, Song Yuanbao was familiar with all the servants in Yutang Palace and never forgot to bring them some food not available in the palace whenever he returned home.
Zhi Xia, tantalized, swallowed her saliva, "Then, Young Master, make a quick round trip. Otherwise, if His Highness finds out you’ve sneaked out when he returns, it’ll be terrible."
Before she finished speaking, Song Yuanbao had already left Yutang Palace.
Based on his relationship with Zhao Xi, he could have attended the lecture today, but Zhao Xi’s words had an obstructive intent.
Initially, Song Yuanbao didn’t think much of it. After all, he was not interested in such unbearably boring occasions, enjoying the rare idleness in Yutang Palace. But he just remembered that the one delivering the talk in the palace was Master Xu Yun, a virtuous monk from Fahua Temple, where Su Yaoqi was practicing, and who was also Master Xu Yun’s disciple. Su Yaoqi might have come with him.
Zhao Xi probably did not want him to meet Su Yaoqi, hence he was not permitted to show up.
Since Su Yaoqi became a monk, Song Yuanbao hadn’t seen him again and was curious about what he had now become, planning to take a chance and wander near the Chonghua Hall where the master was scheduled to see if he could meet him.
As fate would have it, just as he slipped by the pond near Chonghua Hall, he saw Su Yaoqi approaching from the other side.
He had already shaved his head and had tonsure scars, wearing a red kashaya, moving with calm and steady steps, not glancing aside, his gaze fixed ahead.
It seemed that he had just returned from the latrine.
Song Yuanbao hid behind a flower bush and tossed a small stone at him.
The stone hit Su Yaoqi on the back. He turned slightly, but his eyes were calm, in sharp contrast to the image of Su Yaoqi that Song Yuanbao had in his mind.
It was as if the person nearly stepping into the main hall was entirely unaware of the second little stone that struck him.
Not intending to let him enter the hall, Song Yuanbao decided to make himself known.
He approached him cautiously, "You know, your Highness doesn’t control this, right? I’m a regular guy, not destined for the monastery. Asking me to abstain from alcohol, isn’t that overstepping a bit?"
And, when did he ever get so drunk that he started talking nonsense?
Zhi Xia waited for him to finish complaining before speaking up, "There are fruit wines that the princesses like to drink. Would Young Master Song like one?"
Song Yuanbao sent her a look, "I don’t drink that kind of stuff. Bring me some tea."
Zhi Xia hurried inside to serve him tea, saying, "Before His Highness left, he also instructed that Young Master Song should either draw the pictures or make a few more copies of the Heart Purification Scripture, as His Highness will check them upon returning from Master Xu’s lecture."
Song Yuanbao’s eyes twinkled, "What pictures?"
Zhi Xia shook her head, "This servant does not know."
"See? You don’t even know what the pictures are, how would I draw them? As for the Heart Purification Scripture..." Song Yuanbao said, getting up to fish out a stack of Chengxin Paper from under the bed and throwing it onto the table, "Here, I think I can call this mission accomplished!"
Zhi Xia peered over, seeing that all the Chengxin Paper was filled with the content of the Heart Purification Scripture, she was taken aback, "This..."
Song Yuanbao wiped his hands, "I knew his Highness would try to trick me, so take it. This is Master Song’s handiwork, copies I’ve gathered every time I got punished."
"Master, you’re cheating." Zhi Xia didn’t dare to take them, instinctively feeling that His Highness would notice.
Song Yuanbao didn’t think much of it, "He only told me to copy it, but didn’t specify when, right? Look closely, isn’t every character there in my own handwriting?"
Seeing the little palace maid still looking troubled, Song Yuanbao snatched the Chengxin Paper and stuffed it into her hands, saying mysteriously, "I’m going for a walk. Don’t tell His Highness. Next time I come home, I’ll bring you something nice from the outside."
Having been here nearly two years, Song Yuanbao was well acquainted with all the servants in Yutang Palace, and he always remembered to bring them some goodies from outside whenever he returned home.
Greed whetted Zhi Xia’s appetite, and she swallowed hard, "Well... Young Master, hurry and come back. Otherwise, if His Highness discovers you’ve run off, it will be a pity."
Before she finished speaking, Song Yuanbao had already left Yutang Palace.
Given his connection with Zhao Xi, he could have attended the lecture today, but Zhao Xi, with his words, had a hint of preventing him from doing so.
At first, Song Yuanbao didn’t think much of it. He wasn’t interested in such dull events anyway and was content to be lazy in Yutang Palace. However, he just remembered that the one invited to give the lecture was Master Xu Yun of Fahua Temple, a high monk who had attained enlightenment. Su Yaoqi might be with him.
Ever since Su Yaoqi became a monk, Song Yuanbao had not seen him, and he could not help but wonder what he was like now. Thus, he planned to take advantage of the situation and sneak around the vicinity of Chonghua Hall.
By sheer coincidence, he was in the right place at the right time.
Song Yuanbao had just slipped away when he reached Chonghua Hall.
He saw what looked like Su Yaoqi returning from the latrine, with a calm and composed gait, his gaze forward and unblinking, seemingly unaware of the small stones Song Yuanbao tossed at him from the flower bush.
If not for Song Yuanbao’s intervention, Su Yaoqi might have walked right into the hall.
Having gotten his attention, Song Yuanbao asked, "What happened to you, Yaoqi? I thought you were going to lead an ordinary monastic life."
Su Yaoqi put his hands together and bowed, "This humble monk’s Dharma name is Shikong. May I know what this benefactor seeks?"
Song Yuanbao gazed into his imperturbable eyes, feeling a sudden alienation, "Weren’t you supposed to cultivate without cutting your hair? Why have you taken vows?"
Once, he had hair and was practicing stillness, but now that it was shaved and he had taken vows, Song Yuanbao could not see any worldly distractions in his eyes.
That means you have no chance of returning to a worldly life, is that right?
For a moment, there was silence from Su Yaoqi, then he replied softly, "A time will come when I should know."
Song Yuanbao frowned, saying, "Aren’t you worried, your family will be disappointed in me when I tell them?"
