After leaving the government office, Song Qiming went to the Gu residence.
When Madam Gu heard that he had arrived, she raised her brows in surprise.
“What has he come here for? Isn’t Master at the government office?”
Gu Zhongxun had left early that morning for the early-spring council meeting.
The servant boy replied, “He said he has something to give to the eldest young lady.”
“Baozhu?” Madam Gu’s voice rose at the end. She lowered her eyes, pondering.
What could the two of them possibly have to give each other?
A sudden thought flashed through her mind, and Madam Gu’s eyes widened.
“Could it be…”
She drew in a breath and rose to her feet, the fist clutching her handkerchief pressing against the tabletop.
Baozhu had been spending so much time with the Song family. Could it be that she and Song Qiming had taken a liking to each other?
Just then, she saw Gu Baozhu pass by the doorway in a pale green dress with a ruffled hem. She was walking hurriedly, as though in a great rush.
Madam Gu quickly led her people after her.
“Lord Song.”
At the call, Song Qiming set down his teacup and rose. “Miss Gu.”
Once she had entered, Song Qiming picked up the wooden box on the table and held it out to her.
“These are things Shixue asked me to bring you,” he said. “With the change from winter to spring, more and more people have caught colds. She won’t be able to come to Songzhou City for the time being.”
The corners of Gu Baozhu’s lips, which had just lifted, immediately drooped.
“I knew she wouldn’t have the time to come.”
They had agreed it would be after the New Year. She had thought that Shixue would come with Song Qiming this time, but it seemed that plan had fallen through again.
After a few moments of disappointment, Gu Baozhu reached out and hugged the wooden box.
“I’m sorry to trouble Lord Song, but please tell Shixue that the crabapple blossoms in Songzhou City will be blooming in another month. She must come and enjoy them.”
Song Qiming nodded. “I’ll be sure to pass that along.”
Madam Gu, who had been hiding outside the door, had heard that the entire conversation was about Song Shixue. Seeing the respectful, composed expressions on their faces, the curiosity in her heart instantly faded.
It seemed there was nothing romantic between them after all.
Having understood the situation, Madam Gu turned and left. The nanny beside her noticed the lack of a smile on her face and hesitated before asking, “Madam, you don’t seem very happy.”
Madam Gu stopped and sighed. “I’m worried about Baozhu’s marriage. Why is that child in no hurry at all?”
The nanny smiled. “In this old servant’s opinion, it’s a good thing that Miss didn’t take a liking to Prefect Song. The Song family will be transferred back to the capital sooner or later. With you and Master so far away and unable to stay by her side, what will she do if someone bullies her?”
Madam Gu sighed and shook her head.
“I never intended for Baozhu to marry far from home. It’s just that when I suddenly thought of Song Qiming, setting aside the fact that he’ll eventually return to the capital, he is absolutely the finest match in the entire southwestern province.”
After returning to her room, the two continued chatting.
The nanny said, “Come to think of it, Prefect Song’s parents are both deceased. If Miss married him, she wouldn’t have to suffer mistreatment from her parents-in-law. Her life would certainly be comfortable.”
Madam Gu shook her head. “Not necessarily. Baozhu said that County Princess Linghui intends to take a husband into her household. If that really happens, then even if Baozhu married into the Song family, she would have no way to take charge of the household.”
“Now that I think about it, he isn’t such a good candidate after all.”
Hearing this, the nanny wisely fell silent.
Back in Suining City, Song Qiming passed on the message.
“Miss Gu invited you to Songzhou City to admire the crabapple blossoms a month from now. Try to keep your schedule open. She seemed rather disappointed this time.”
Song Shixue had just finished writing a prescription.
“I know. I’ll go then.”
If there hadn’t been so many patients suffering from colds lately, she would already have gone to Songzhou City yesterday.
Before dinner, Song Anhao lounged on the couch in the study, rolling a banknote between her fingers.
“Once you have too much money and nowhere to spend it, it starts to feel meaningless.”
Song Qiming happened to step through the door with one foot just as he heard this. A feeling of being blocked in the chest came over him.
“You’re not out of places to spend money. You’re just too stingy to spend it. Even when you go out to buy roast chicken, you have to haggle with the shopkeeper.”
Song Anhao immediately sat up straight and puffed out her cheeks as she defended herself.
“He charges more than everyone else. Of course I have to bargain! Otherwise, wouldn’t I be making a fool of myself?”
Sitting behind the writing desk, Song Jinzhao pressed her lips together to hide a smile.
Song Qiming waved his hand. “You may leave. I have something to discuss with Elder Sister.”
Song Anhao puffed out both cheeks, climbed down from the couch, and went out, closing the door behind her.
