Caidie raised her head, looking at Song Tang with tear-filled eyes, and tremblingly called out, “Miss.”
Then she knelt down again, kowtowing three times in a row to Song Tang.
“Let the past be the past; we must look forward together,” Song Tang said, reaching out to help Caidie up. “Caidie, the one who just went out to pour tea is called Qiuling. Remember to be wary of her.”
“Understood, Miss,” Caidie replied. Naturally clever, she understood Song Tang’s meaning.
Song Tang did not dismiss Qiuling immediately upon Caidie’s return. She still needed this spy to convey the messages she wanted to send.
Song Wei’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony was held with great splendor and grandeur. The Earl’s mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners everywhere.
Madam He not only spent a fortune hiring the most renowned chefs from Ruifuxuan, the most famous restaurant in the capital, but also booked Lanyin, the lead actress of Jinrongyuan, half a year in advance to provide entertainment.
Today, many noble families from the capital were in attendance. Everyone knew how much the Song family valued their adopted daughter, Song Wei, and they all dressed in lavish attire, treating the occasion with utmost importance.
The Coming-of-Age Ceremony was held in the courtyard of the Earl’s mansion. In the center of the courtyard stood a vermilion-red long table, draped with brocade cloth embroidered with golden phoenixes. On the cloth were displayed a mutton-fat jade hairpin, a golden hairpin, a phoenix-patterned red dress, and various finely crafted grooming items.
Song Wei wore a pink silk gown with a white brocade cloak draped over it. Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, tied only with a simple silk ribbon. Her delicate and charming face radiated a gentle beauty.
Madam He affectionately took Song Wei’s hand and said, “Wei’er, today is your Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Look at all the guests in the courtyard—they are all here for you. Are you pleased?”
“Thank you, Mother, for your deep affection. I am truly delighted in my heart,” Song Wei replied sweetly, her tone gentle and polite.
Song Wei knew she was not Madam He’s biological daughter, and outsiders might look down on her because of it.
To elevate her status, last year, after Song Tang’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended, she “hid” in a corner and cried, just as Madam He happened to see her.
Madam He was heartbroken and promised Song Wei that her own Coming-of-Age Ceremony would be just as grand.
To comfort Song Wei and ease her mind, Madam He even went so far as to say it would be even more splendid than Song Tang’s.
True to her word, Madam He ensured that this ceremony was indeed more magnificent than the one held for her biological daughter, Song Tang.
Most of the guests had already taken their seats, waiting only for the auspicious hour to arrive.
Several ladies gathered together for tea and idle chatter.
“The Song family’s arrangements today are truly impressive.”
“Indeed! This ceremony is even grander than the one for Song Tang, the biological daughter, last year. It seems the Earl’s mansion truly dotes on this adopted daughter.”
“Song Wei is not only exceptionally beautiful but also talented in both arts and skills. No wonder the Earl’s mansion values her so highly.”
“I heard Song Wei’s mother was the eldest daughter of the He family. Back then, she chose the newly appointed Tanhua over the Earl, but unfortunately, the Tanhua died of a coughing illness. Later, her mother, overwhelmed by grief, passed away as well.”
“Oh, how tragic! But with such a grand Coming-of-Age Ceremony today, many families in the capital will surely view Song Wei in a new light.”
“Madam Qin, isn’t your second son still unmarried? Have you considered…”
“Let’s not talk about that. My second son is in no hurry to marry,” Madam Qin waved her hand, cutting off the other’s words.
“Moreover, even if she is both talented and beautiful, she is after all not the biological daughter of the Earl’s mansion. Who knows what will happen in the future? I certainly don’t want my son to marry a wife without any foundation.”
Madam Qin spoke bluntly. She was also a lady of a marquis’s mansion, and her maternal family was the Duke of Qin’s Mansion, giving her a distinguished status.
Just then, Song Tang walked slowly into the courtyard. Madam Qin glanced at Song Tang and thought to herself that if it were Song Tang, the legitimate daughter, she might actually accept it.
“That one wearing the moon-white silk dress is Song Tang, right?”
“Yes, Madam He has only this one daughter, yet she doesn’t treat her as a treasure.”
“Such a lovely girl, not favored at home. She looks clever and poised, graceful and dignified.”
“I heard Song Tang was Betrothed Before Birth to the Heir of Marquis Mu’s Mansion. That family is a den of wolves and tigers; marrying into it will surely bring her plenty of trouble.”
“…”
Song Tang found a corner seat and sat down, looking around.
Today’s guests were all high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital. Even Madam Xu from the Duke of Qin’s Mansion, Madam Zhou from the Duke of Wang’s Mansion, and Madam Qin from Marquis Gu’s Mansion had come.
Song Tang remembered that the first two had not attended her own Coming-of-Age Ceremony last year.
It seemed Madam He must have invited them repeatedly. Truly, she was heaping all the glory onto Song Wei’s face.
Song Tang couldn’t help but give a cold, faint smile.
“Tang’er, why are you only arriving now?” Though Madam He wore a smile on her face, which outsiders couldn’t discern anything from, her words carried a tone of reproach.
Song Tang’s voice was indifferent: “Has the auspicious hour not arrived yet?”
Seeing Song Tang’s lukewarm attitude, and with so many guests present today, Madam He couldn’t say much more. She merely instructed her, as the legitimate daughter, to behave properly, not to make things difficult for Song Wei, and not to disgrace the Earl’s mansion.
Song Tang had no intention of causing trouble to begin with. Caidie had already returned yesterday, and the five thousand taels were in hand. Madam He had kept her promise, so as her daughter, she couldn’t refuse to give face.
Madam He, probably also afraid of gossip, pulled Song Tang in front of everyone to perform a scene of deep mother-daughter affection, then let Song Tang return to her seat.
“Song Tang.” Wang Mengqi walked over with a slight sway of her hips.
Wang Mengqi was the legitimate second daughter of the Duke of Wang’s Mansion. Arrogant and domineering since childhood, she might have a few screws loose. Whenever she took a dislike to someone, regardless of who they were, she would attack indiscriminately.
Song Tang thought to herself, this is bad. This person was most likely sent by Song Wei. Just as she thought to avoid her, she saw Wang Mengqi had already stepped in front of her.
With a provocative look, Wang Mengqi said, “I heard your marriage to the Heir of Marquis Mu’s Mansion has fallen through. Is it true?”
Song Tang frowned slightly. She didn’t want to clash with Wang Mengqi, but she also didn’t want to be provoked without reason. “Where did you hear that news? I, the person involved, don’t know anything about it.”
Wang Mengqi’s expression changed. She was, after all, the legitimate daughter of a duke’s mansion; everyone gave her some respect. Song Tang’s neither humble nor pushy attitude was clearly a counter-question.
“Hmph, with that attitude of yours, it seems it’s true. But no wonder, who would be willing to marry a woman like you?”
“What kind of woman am I?” Song Tang said with a cold laugh. “Mengqi, if you have nothing else, I won’t keep you company.”
Song Tang didn’t want to waste words with Wang Mengqi. If they argued, she would be the one to suffer; Madam He and Song’s father would not take her side.
She turned to leave, but Wang Mengqi grabbed her sleeve.
“Song Tang, your tongue has indeed grown sharper,” Wang Mengqi said with a sly smile. “Your sister’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony today is far more grand than the one you had last year. Perhaps you’re the adopted daughter of the Song family.”