Traveling through an ancient military camp: Bao'er's survival song

Madam Jin had arranged to travel together with her elder brother and sister-in-law from her maternal family.

Lady Jin's elder brother, Song Shi, was a junior official in the Yubu Department of the Ministry of Works, in charge of all plants and horticulture. Although officials from the Ministry of Works were generally not highly regarded by officials from the other five ministries, who considered them merely "craftsmen," Song Shi had a connection with the Eighth Prince. Both were lovers of flowers and plants, so they could talk to each other and had a close friendship despite their age difference. Therefore, although a minor official like Song Shi shouldn't have been on the Eighth Prince's guest list, he was invited as a friend of the prince.

The relationship between Madam Jin and Madam Song, who were sisters-in-law, was even better than their relationship with their husbands. So they rode in the same sedan chair so they could have a private chat on the way.

Madam Song asked curiously, "Why isn't my brother-in-law going? Wasn't he the one who oversaw the construction of the Prince of Donglai's residence?"

Mentioning her husband, Madam Jin said with a look of disgust, "Don't mention that blockhead anymore. It's better that he's not going. I'll have Hai-ge take Sheng-ge instead."

Madam Song only had one legitimate son, who is now only six years old. The rest of the Song family's children are all daughters born out of wedlock. Therefore, the only female member of the Song family attending this banquet was Madam Song.

When Madam Song heard that her eldest nephew had also gone, she had some concerns: "Is Hai-ge going too? Hai-ge is a member of the Imperial Guard. It's not good for him to be too close to the Eighth Prince."

Madam Jin didn't care at all, and winked at Madam Song: "I finally have an opportunity, so I can't worry about anything else. Hai'er is twenty now, and I'm really anxious about him getting married, but he's so focused on his work and serving His Majesty that he rarely sees any noble ladies..."

Madam Song understood, and holding her sister-in-law's hand, she sighed, "Alas, raising children is a lifelong worry, and we mothers never have a day without worry."

The Donglai Prince's Mansion was packed with guests today, with far more women than men. This was mainly because this banquet was the first held by the Imperial Concubine Chen after leaving the palace, and the women from various households all wanted to make an appearance before her. If they were lucky enough to receive a few words of praise from the Imperial Concubine Chen, they would have a significant advantage when it came to finding a husband for their daughters in the future.

Before the banquet began, the women of the various families accompanied the Imperial Concubine Tai in the garden. As the legend goes, the Imperial Concubine Tai disliked sunlight. Not only did she sit under the shade of the eaves, but a piece of silk was also hanging from the eaves directly opposite her, shimmering like a dream in the sunlight.

The ladies all sighed inwardly at the legendary favor bestowed upon the Imperial Concubine Tai in the past, for this expensive silk was now being used as a curtain.

Madam Jin had no interest in joining the fun in front of the Imperial Concubine. She searched for Wu Suining in the crowd, and when she saw her, she pulled her sister-in-law and her six-year-old nephew toward Wu Suining.

Wu Suining was talking to her younger sister Wu Youning among her group of close friends when she heard a cheerful voice calling out. Looking up, she saw Madam Jin walking over with another unfamiliar woman and child.

She stood up, bowed, and greeted them. Madam Jin, who had come over, immediately grabbed her hand and praised, "Sui Ning has become more and more elegant and gentle. I missed you so much last time we parted. You promised to come visit when you had time, but you didn't."

Madam Song glanced at Madam Jin with surprise.

Wu Suining was displeased, and noticed that all the young ladies were staring at them with curiosity, so she replied, "Fanzhi and Shengge are good friends, and Fanzhi often brings Shengge to the Wu family. When I see Shengge, I think of Madam, so I feel like we see each other often."

This statement indicates that the relationship between the Wu family and the Jin family originated from the two young men under them, and that they themselves had no other dealings with Madam Jin, thus providing an explanation to the group of gossiping ladies.

Madam Jin, oblivious to the implication, replied, "Of my three sons, Sheng-ge looks most like me, haha."