That’s not right. She comes at this hour every day. Since she isn't late, it must be that Grandfather came early.
Hmm, then she isn't wrong.
She steadied herself: "Grandfather."
Prime Minister Song gave a faint nod.
Song Yi'an sat at her small desk as usual, spread out her paper and brush, and began to copy diligently.
But for some reason, Grandfather seemed to glance at her every now and then.
She checked her attire, and there was no problem; she touched her hair bun, and it wasn't loose either.
The tenth time Prime Minister Song looked at her, she finally put down her brush, looked up, and asked, "Grandfather, is there something amiss with your granddaughter?"
Prime Minister Song found it difficult to say directly that he also wanted that osmanthus honey, so he asked indirectly, "Who taught you arithmetic?"
Song Yi'an told the truth: "No one taught me."
Prime Minister Song then mentioned casually, "I heard from Old Madam that you like to tinker with food in the courtyard. Who did you learn this craft from?"
Song Yi'an felt a bit nervous, her little brain spinning wildly.
She thought to herself, could he be asking this because he dislikes me researching these things in the manor?
Combining this with her grandfather's personality, she became more certain that he definitely did not want her messing around with miscellaneous things in the manor.
Song Yi'an lied: "No one taught me. I just often saw Mother cooking back in Luo Town. After watching so much, I naturally learned it." She then specifically added, "Actually, your granddaughter doesn't like it that much. Compared to making food, I prefer reading books."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Song stared at her for a long while. Self-taught in arithmetic, and able to make such delicious food after just watching a few times?
Could his little granddaughter be a genius?
Thinking back to how his second son also had his own insights into arithmetic from a young age, this child must have inherited Zhi Wen's talent and intelligence.
"We won't study arithmetic today."
Prime Minister Song pointed to the bookshelf: "Go pick a book that interests you. After you finish, I will test you."
Finally free from having to look at the dull Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, Song Yi'an picked a slightly more interesting collection of notes from among the many books.
As she was reading, Prime Minister Song suddenly said out of the blue, "In the future, if you are hungry, you may have some snacks in the study. You are at the age where you are growing, so don't be constrained."
Song Yi'an blinked, thinking to herself, is Grandfather testing whether I follow the rules? Recently, she had been eating until full before coming over, so she had no appetite and it didn't matter whether she ate or not.
"Thank you for your concern, Grandfather. The study is a place for serious learning. Your granddaughter will certainly observe the etiquette and will not eat here."
Prime Minister Song: "..."
He looked at his little granddaughter's solemn expression that said, "Rest assured, I will strictly follow the rules," and for a moment, he didn't know whether to feel gratified or helpless.
With the little granddaughter showing no reaction, Prime Minister Song felt a bit depressed. Did this girl understand his intentions or not?
The test ended, and Song Yi'an packed up her things, preparing to leave.
From behind, her grandfather said faintly, "The honey osmanthus tea I tasted at Orchid Courtyard yesterday was quite good."
Song Yi'an paused: "..."
She finally understood why her grandfather was acting so strangely today.
Having received her grandfather's hint, the next day, she immediately brought him two jars of osmanthus honey. As a result, only two jars remained in her space.
Prime Minister Song looked at the pottery jar on the desk and immediately felt that this broken pottery jar was doing an injustice to the osmanthus honey inside, so he summoned the steward, Uncle Li.
Uncle Li: "Prime Minister, what are your orders?"
"Transfer these two jars of osmanthus honey into some porcelain ware and store them carefully." He paused and added, "Go fetch that set of celadon the Emperor bestowed upon me a few days ago."
Such good osmanthus honey, how could it be kept in a broken pottery jar? It is truly a waste of a precious thing.
That day, when Song Yi'an came out of the study, her arms were full of a set of blue and white porcelain ware.
She held the box, completely confused. Why did Grandfather give her these porcelain wares?
While Song Yi'an was bewildered, Song Yili was still in a state of distress.
Since that day, Er Ya had not spoken to him properly for a full seven days. He followed the method Ming Si told him to use, so why didn't it seem to work?
Just as he was worrying, he happened to run into Er Ya, who was returning from their grandfather's courtyard.
Song Yili hurriedly called out: "Er Ya."
Song Yi'an turned back. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen her brother for a long time.
During these days, she had thought it through. Her brother was only ten years old, his character not yet set, and he might not truly understand many things. She could guide him slowly in the future; there was no need to be angry with a ten-year-old child.
She smiled and called out: "Brother." She then nodded to Song Mingsi, who was standing to the side: "Eldest Sister."
Song Mingsi returned the smile, her gaze falling on the pear-wood box held by the maid behind her.
"The wood grain is fine and smooth, and the texture is extraordinary. Second Sister is truly blessed to receive such favor from Grandfather as soon as you returned to the manor."
Was she overthinking it? Song Yi'an vaguely sensed that there was more to these words, so she only replied: "It is Grandfather's kindness; he gifted me a set of porcelain ware."
After Song Yi'an and Song Yili walked away, the maid Chun Xia complained on behalf of her young lady: "The Prime Minister is truly biased. Ever since the Second Miss returned, he hasn't been as attentive to you as before."
Song Mingsi watched the backs of the siblings, the smile on her lips not fading, but her eyes were cold and reflected no warmth.
That set of porcelain—in her previous life, Grandfather gave it to her after receiving it from the Emperor. In this life, it was snatched away by this girl.
Song Yi'an.
This name, this person, should not have appeared in the Song Manor.
In her previous life, that girl clearly did not survive to return to the Song Manor; she should have died in the hands of a human trafficker.
Why is this life different?
...
Imperial Palace, Fengxian Hall.
Inside Fengxian Hall, the air was filled with the scent of incense ash. The light was dim and solemn, with only the eternal lamp flickering faintly beside the incense burner, silently casting long, dark shadows of the spirit tablets.
Fu Xihe was dressed in plain white, which only served to highlight his serene, noble, and peerless features.
He knelt alone in the center of the hall before the spirit tablet of his birth mother, the late Noble Consort Xuan Lan. On the altar were offerings of fresh fruit and the camellia flowers his mother loved most during her lifetime.
He lowered his eyes, touched his forehead to the ground, and kowtowed three times with great solemnity.
Then he stood up.
"Have you found her?" He did not turn his head, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the empty hall.
Behind him, Qing Chao lowered his head: "Reporting to Your Highness, this villain has sent people to search through all the common people in the Capital City, but there is still no news. Perhaps..." Perhaps she has already met with misfortune.
Qing Chao did not dare to utter the rest of his words.
Ever since His Highness woke up from his serious injury, he had ordered people to secretly search for that little girl. However, after several months, there was still no news.
Fu Xihe was just inserting three sticks of incense into the burner. Upon hearing this, his fingertips paused for a moment.
That girl looked clever; she didn't seem like someone with a short life. Was she hiding too well, or had she fallen into the hands of another human trafficker?
"Continue searching, especially in the area south of the city in the Capital. Search carefully again."
To the south of the Capital City, there was a gray area where the authority of government officials could not reach. The common people called it the "Black Market." It was a place where all sorts of people were mixed together, with its own set of rules, specializing in shady dealings that the common people avoided at all costs.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Qing Chao replied in a low voice and bowed as he retreated.
Just as Qing Chao left, Eunuch Wang arrived outside the hall.
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