The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant-Chapter 1017: Sending Fakes? How Polite of You

Song Ci was teasing her little grandson as usual when she heard that Song Zhiqing was coming, which surprised her somewhat.

It’s not that Song Zhiqing wasn’t filial, but since he wasn’t her biological son, he wasn’t as close as Song Zhiyuan and his brothers, and Song Ci wasn’t fond of him. She only required him to visit for morning and evening greetings on the first and fifteenth of each month.

This isn’t the usual time to pay respects; what’s he here for?

"Let Third Master in," Song Ci instructed, asking Mrs. Deng to take the young boy away. She leaned on the crane-decorated pillow on the Arhat bed, with one hand on another, a somewhat firmer, filial red pillow, while her legs were covered with a thin blanket.

Song Zhiqing walked in, and seeing her so leisurely, he lowered his eyes and greeted her with a bow, "Your son greets Mother. I hope Mother is well."

"Rise." Song Ci raised her hand slightly and looked at Chun Fen beside her, "Serve tea to Third Master."

Song Zhiqing thanked her with a smile and conveniently sat on the other side of the kang table, "Mother still cares about her son."

Song Ci remained noncommittal in her heart, glancing at the clock before asking, "Coming back from the Government Office at this hour? Why are you here now?"

"To answer Mother’s question, I indeed just returned to the residence. I’m here at this time to check on Mother, as well as to deliver an apology gift on someone’s behalf."

Now this truly surprised Song Ci. An apology gift?

Who is being so generous?

Song Zhiqing took a long box from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands, saying, "Just to let Mother know, this gift is from Prince Min, delivered through your son on behalf of the Ji Family. He heard that you refused to accept the Ji Family’s apology gift, so he prepared this instead. I happened to encounter him after the court session today, and he entrusted me to pass it on, asking Mother to forgive the Ji Family this time and not hold it against them."

Song Ci found this odd: "Since when does someone send a gift not through a steward but personally entrusted to you?"

Is Prince Min being this formal?

Is it necessary for a prince to go to such lengths?

There must be something suspicious here, thought Song Ci, considering a conspiracy. She turned to Nan Shan standing beside her and said, "I’m old, my eyes are failing; Nan Shan, look at this for me. What sort of item is it?"

Song Zhiqing’s smile froze. What did that mean? Does she disdain it, or fear there’s some mechanism or poison hidden within?

Ignoring his speculation, Nan Shan took the box from him. Upon Song Ci’s nod, he opened it and saw the string of pearls inside. After examining it carefully, he handed it to Song Ci with both hands.

If he dared to hand it over, it meant there should be no problem, so Song Ci took it and squinted at the string of pearls, each one evenly sized and round, emitting a slight green or amber glow under the sunlight streaming through the south window, looking exquisite and translucent.

These resemble gemstones, but while Song Ci admitted they were beautiful, at a glance, they seemed somewhat like the fake glass gemstones you might find at street stalls in later generations, ten yuan a string.

Seeing her staring at the crystal stone string without speaking, Song Zhiqing assumed she was awed and proceeded to explain the origin and purpose of the crystal stones, speaking a few good words for Prince Min in the process.

Song Ci couldn’t help herself, "Sourced from overseas in Nanyang? Excuse my frankness, but Prince Min probably got duped; these look like fakes!"

Song Zhiqing nearly choked on his own saliva at these words.

What, fakes?

May I ask if you have any decorum?

Would Prince Min send counterfeits?