Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 230 - 161 Zhen Yue_1

Chapter 230: Chapter 161 Zhen Yue_1

Qian Yixiu was so incredibly bored that she asked her brother Qian Yeejin, "Brother, do you think Young Master Liang might be in Xizhou Mansion? If he were here, that would be great, we could go find him to play. Last year when he came to our house, we treated them well and entertained them for a day, so he should reciprocate the hospitality here."

Qian Yeejin replied, "Sister, you really do have a knack for coming up with ideas. Young Master Liang is surely still at Daci Temple, practicing martial arts with Little Master Hongji under the tutelage of Master Beikong."

Meanwhile, Liang Jinzhao, the young master mentioned by the siblings, had just sent off his guests and returned to the Song Mansion with his cousin Song Huaijin from outside the city gates.

After changing their clothes and washing their faces upon returning to their residence, they went straight to Old Lady Song’s courtyard. In the main room of the side hall, Old Lady Song was seated on a Luohan bed, amidst the jovial company of Second Lady Song, Fourth Master Song, and Fourth Lady Song.

Because Old Lady Song was of advanced years, she did not dare to place ice in the room even in heat. Second Lady Song and her daughters-in-law were gently fanning Old Lady Song with hand-held fans, and the maidservant behind her helped fan her as well.

The two brothers entered the room and paid their respects to Old Lady Song, followed by a greeting to Second Lady Song.

Old Lady Song beckoned with her hand, and the pair cheerfully sat next to her on the Luohan bed.

"Has Prince Consort Pan left?" Old Lady Song asked.

Liang Jinzhao nodded, "He has. The great-grandson escorted his carriage out of the city gates."

Fourth Lady Song, eager for gossip, said, "I heard that Mr. Pan’s visit to Treasure Silver Building to purchase pearls spread throughout every corner of Xizhou Mansion. Since yesterday afternoon, people have been flocking to Treasure Silver Building non-stop. Oh dear, everyone seems to think that owning a piece from Treasure Silver Building makes them more refined."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Old Lady Song, however, was not impressed and commented, "Even if Prince Consort Pan gathered all the pearls in the world and filled his daughter’s room with them, it wouldn’t bring her back to life. Hmph, he didn’t cherish her when she was alive and now he’s making all these useless gestures. In the end, isn’t it all just for show?"

Liang Jinzhao laughed and said, "I think, with Grandpa Pan’s character, he wouldn’t care about what others think. He probably truly regrets not cherishing Princess Zhenyue enough while she was alive and now feels guilty and heartbroken, always looking to make amends."

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Song became somewhat emotional and remarked, "There are many who seek fame, but few can truly do what Prince Consort Pan has done."

Fourth Master Song chuckled, "Grandma, it’s fine to say that at home, but if outsiders heard it, they might not dare to offend you but are likely to give their grandsons a thrashing."

His comment once again made Old Lady Song laugh, and she said, "You people never saw Princess Zhenyue herself—she was truly beautiful. That was eighteen years ago when I accompanied Old Great-grandpa Song to Capital City for his official duties, and we went to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. It happened to be when I saw her for the first time. Little Zhenyue was only four years old, oh my, in all my years I had never seen such a beautiful child, just like an angel from heaven..."

Old Lady Song and the current Empress Dowager were first cousins and were extremely close during their days as unmarried girls. Even though one eventually entered the palace as a consort and the other married Old Great-grandpa Song, who held a post elsewhere, they occasionally exchanged letters. Old Lady Song’s eldest daughter, the Madame of Duke, Liang Jinzhao’s grandmother, had matched this marriage, orchestrated by the Empress Dowager, to the then Princely Heir of the Duke.

Old Lady Song’s eyes reddened as she continued, "But who would’ve thought, she would meet with disaster while offering incense to Elder Princess Zi Yang. When I first heard the terrible news, I cried for days on end. Not to mention the Empress Dowager, she was almost blinded with tears. Especially since the Elder Princess clutched the Empress Dowager’s hand before her death, begging her to treat Mr. Pan kindly—or else he would not have had an easy life."

Those present sighed sympathetically upon hearing this. Every time Old Lady Song talked about these events, she would become indignant and would dwell on them for a long time, feeling sorrowful with each retelling.

Attempting to change the subject, Second Lady Song said, "This time, father-in-law finally acquired one of Mr. Pan’s paintings, and he’s been over the moon."

Fourth Master Song also remarked, "I heard from the boy servant in the outer study that Grandpa admired the painting until the Zi Hour last night, and he was up early again this morning to look at it."

Old Lady Song stated, "I don’t see anything so great about Pan Zi’an’s paintings, but Old Great-grandpa seems to like them a lot. He has been asking people to get a painting by him for years, and now he finally spent a few thousand taels of silver on one and thinks he got a great deal."

Song Huaijin said, "Great-grandma must have formed an opinion beforehand, as you don’t like Mr. Pan, which is why you find his paintings unimpressive. I’ve seen the ’Xishan Mountain Tea Garden’ he painted on the spot for Grandpa—it was majestic and exquisitely beautiful."

Old Lady Song replied, "What’s the use of painting so well? I don’t know what has gotten into you all, always speaking in his favor. A few years ago, when I went to Capital City to see the Empress Dowager, she cried like a weeping statue when she spoke of Elder Princess Zi Yang and Princess Zhenyue. And it was the Elder Princess who insisted on her deathbed that the Empress Dowager be kind to Pan Zi’an, otherwise, his days would not be so pleasant."