Chapter 25: The General’s Pampered Little Wife 25

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The General’s Pampered Little Wife 25

Ji Xiaosong gave a slight nod and followed the palace maid toward Consort Song.

Seeing Ji Xiaosong approach, a kind smile blossomed on Consort Song’s face. She said cordially, "Lady Xiao, come closer to me."

Ji Xiaosong curtsied, then rose at Consort Song’s gesture.

Consort Song’s gaze fell on Ji Xiaosong’s belly. Her voice was gentle. "I was so delighted to hear that you are with child, Lady Xiao. Look at that belly. I’m sure you will bring a new addition to the Xiao family. What a profound blessing."

Ji Xiaosong lowered her head and replied deferentially, "Thank you for your concern, Imperial Concubine. I am overwhelmed."

Consort Song didn’t mind Ji Xiaosong’s indifferent and distant attitude.

’This couple is of one mind,’ she thought. ’They seem cultured and easygoing on the surface, but in reality, they’re colder than anyone.’

She made some small talk with Ji Xiaosong, fulfilling her duties as a hostess, and then went to greet the other noble ladies.

Before long, most of the guests had arrived in the Imperial Garden. Consort Song took a delicate sip of tea and said leisurely, "Ladies, I recently received several rare flowers from a foreign land as tribute. They are called Purple Condensation Flowers, and they are blooming quite exquisitely in the southeast corner of this Imperial Garden. Why don’t we all go and admire them together? It will surely add to the enjoyment."

The guests all eagerly agreed, gathering around her as they headed toward the Purple Condensation Flowers.

Ji Xiaosong had no desire to join the crowd. ’There are so many people, I probably won’t even be able to squeeze through.’

Unexpectedly, a woman who had appeared by her side at some point took her hand. However, the maid accompanying Ji Xiaosong swiftly and discreetly separated them.

"Lady Xiao, it’s been a long time since we last met. I married Mr. Song a few days ago. Why didn’t I see you there?"

It took Ji Xiaosong a long moment to recall who she was: Li Wanyu, the wife of Song Yuxi, a woman she had met only once.

"Mrs. Song, I hadn’t heard the news of your marriage to Young Master Song."

She genuinely didn’t know.

The Ji family wouldn’t have mentioned it, and the Song family wouldn’t have had the nerve to invite the Xiao and Ji families.

Moreover, she rarely went out, and no one in the Xiao family was a gossip.

A maidservant at her side leaned in and briefly whispered the Song family’s current situation in Ji Xiaosong’s ear; they always had such information ready.

After hearing about the Song family’s affairs, the smile on Ji Xiaosong’s face was polite but tinged with distance. Li Wanyu, however, seemed not to notice, shamelessly tugging on Ji Xiaosong’s sleeve and saying enthusiastically:

"An important person like yourself is naturally forgetful, Lady Xiao, but no matter. Now that I’ve told you, you surely remember. Come, come, let’s go see those rare Purple Condensation Flowers together. They’re a treasure of this world, blooming only once a year."

The two of them weren’t particularly close to begin with, so Li Wanyu’s excessive enthusiasm made Ji Xiaosong frown slightly.

She said with a troubled expression, "Mrs. Song, I’m terribly sorry, but my condition makes it inconvenient. I’m afraid I can’t accompany you to see the Purple Condensation Flowers."

But Li Wanyu acted as if she hadn’t heard, tightening her grip and forcefully pulling Ji Xiaosong forward. "Lady Xiao, let’s just take a quick look. It won’t take long."

The maid beside Ji Xiaosong hurriedly tried to stop her. "Mrs. Song, my lady is with child! She cannot withstand such pulling!"

However, Li Wanyu’s maids swarmed forward to block Ji Xiaosong’s maid, and just like that, Ji Xiaosong was forcibly dragged by Li Wanyu toward the Purple Condensation Flowers.

"Lady Xiao, your belly is so large. Are you really only four months along?"

A large crowd had already gathered in front of the Purple Condensation Flowers.

The moment Li Wanyu said this, all eyes instantly focused on Ji Xiaosong’s belly, and the crowd began to whisper amongst themselves.

"That’s right, look at that belly. Could the month be wrong?"

"Could there be some hidden story?"

"General Xiao has such glorious military achievements. Let’s hope nothing... on this matter..."

SLAP!

A sudden slap landed across Li Wanyu’s face.

Mother Ji had appeared beside Ji Xiaosong at some point.

"Mrs. Song, Song is carrying multiple children, so her belly is naturally larger than an ordinary pregnant woman’s. What is your intention in spouting such nonsense? My daughter from the Ji family married into the Xiao family with her innocence intact! How dare you stand here and slander her so wantonly!"

"If you don’t give me an explanation for your disrespectful behavior today, I will go to the Song Mansion to demand justice!"

Mother Ji’s voice was harsh and her expression severe, her eyes filled with fury and authority.

"Song has always been gentle and virtuous, and has never made an enemy. You ill-mannered creature, are you perhaps jealous of her current happiness? The Xiao family has been loyal for generations, and General Xiao and Song are a loving couple. Yet you dare to stir up trouble with your provocations. You are utterly vicious!"

The more Mother Ji spoke, the angrier she became, her chest heaving violently.

"Today, here in the palace, in front of all these ladies, you must apologize to Song! Otherwise, I will not let this matter rest!"

Mother Ji straightened her back, shielding Ji Xiaosong and giving Li Wanyu no chance to back down.

At this, Li Wanyu feigned an innocent expression and said in a delicate voice, "Mrs. Ji, don’t be angry. I was only asking casually. Who knew it would make you so furious? Could it be that you have a guilty conscience?"

Mother Ji’s hands trembled with rage. She was about to slap Li Wanyu again but was quickly stopped by Ji Xiaosong.

The fragrance of the Purple Condensation Flowers was too strong, making one feel agitated and irritable.

Ji Xiaosong took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. A calm smile appeared on her face as she said, "Mrs. Song, your ’casual question’ nearly destroyed my reputation. Since you are so curious, I will give you an answer that will leave you with no doubts."

She looked at the surrounding crowd and announced clearly, "Everyone, when Doctor Liu took my pulse a few days ago, he explicitly told me that I am carrying multiple children, which is why my belly is larger than a typical pregnant woman’s."

"Now Mrs. Song is questioning this. Are you perhaps questioning the Imperial Physician’s Medical Skill? Or is it that you are simply ignorant, Mrs. Song, and don’t even know the belly size of a woman carrying multiple children?"

"Then again, that makes sense. I hear Young Master Song has a hundred concubines in his rear courtyard, but aside from his very first mistress, not a single one has become pregnant. Since you’ve never seen it, Mrs. Song, it’s only natural that you wouldn’t know."

Ji Xiaosong stared sharply at Li Wanyu and continued, "I didn’t want to stoop to your level, but you’ve pushed me every step of the way, which is truly going too far. My conduct is proper and my conscience is clear, so I do not fear your slander. You, on the other hand, are so shameless, spouting nonsense at a palace banquet. It is the Song Mansion’s face that you are losing!"

At that moment, Consort Song, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Alright, alright. Let’s not ruin the mood over such a small matter. It is a joyous occasion that Lady Xiao is carrying multiple children. Mrs. Song also made an unintentional mistake, so Lady Xiao, please don’t hold it against her."

Ji Xiaosong gave a small curtsy and said, "Imperial Concubine, you see things clearly. It is not that I wish to make things difficult for Mrs. Song, but how can I be expected to willingly endure such a grievance? Today, Mrs. Song must apologize to me. There are no two ways about it!"

With that, Ji Xiaosong looked at Li Wanyu, her eyes filled with disdain and warning.

’An apology is a must. Otherwise, won’t everyone think they can walk all over me?’

Consort Song’s expression instantly darkened. A hint of displeasure in her eyes, she said coldly, "Lady Xiao, while you may have been wronged, this is, after all, a banquet hosted by me. What is the meaning of all this commotion? I have already administered justice for you. Let the matter end here. Do not bring it up again."