Birthday Gift Turmoil

Song Manor.

A courtyard in the rear residence.

Inside a room, Li Nuo stood before a mirror, styling the hair of a delicately carved little girl. A few tears still clung to the girl's flawless, tender cheeks, and she occasionally let out a sob.

Beside Li Nuo stood another girl, identical to the one in the mirror. She had her arms crossed, pouting, and looked thoroughly displeased.

Li Nuo now knew that the two little girls beside him were twin sisters named Song Ninger and Song Mu'er, the daughters of Song Jiaren's fourth uncle.

The incident had started when Li Nuo styled Song Mu'er's hair beautifully. Song Mu'er then ran to show off to Song Ninger. Ever since they were little, whatever Song Ninger had, Song Mu'er had to have too. The maids in the household didn't know how to style this improved version of the Flying Immortal Hairpin, so Song Ninger became upset...

As the main culprit, Li Nuo had been brought here by the women of the Song family. He had to style an identical hairpin for Song Ninger before he could leave.

If they couldn't satisfy this little princess, no one would be getting any sleep tonight.

As Li Nuo's hands moved up and down, a beautiful hairpin gradually took shape on the little girl's head. Song Zhen glanced at Song Jiaren beside her and asked in surprise, "Jiaren, when did your husband learn this skill?"

His movements while styling Ninger's hair were so skillful that even the oldest hair-styling maid in the Song Manor couldn't compare.

Generally, in wealthy families like the Song family, hair styling and braiding were skills only specialized maids possessed. Young ladies might know how to do simple updos, but never such complicated hairstyles. It was even more incredible for a man to achieve such a level of skill in a woman's craft.

Especially since he was supposed to be an idiot.

Song Jiaren did not answer her aunt's question.

To be honest, she and her husband... weren't actually very familiar with each other.

Although they had been married for a month, their combined conversations probably wouldn't even reach ten sentences.

She had no idea what Li Nuo knew or didn't know.

In front of the mirror, Li Nuo placed a pearl hairpin, identical to the one on Song Mu'er's head, in the same position on Song Ninger's head. He carefully examined the two sisters, adjusted the positions of two other pearl hairpins, and only after finding not the slightest difference did he heave a long sigh and say, "Alright..."

Song Ninger jumped down from the chair. She looked at Song Mu'er, then at her reflection in the mirror. A satisfied expression finally appeared on her small face.

At that moment, a maid hurried in from outside and said, "Eldest Miss, Fourth Madam, the birthday banquet is about to begin. Master wants you to hurry over..."

Song Manor, the Longevity Hall.

Grand families were very particular about birthdays. For the Old Madam's sixtieth birthday, the Song family had specially set up a Longevity Hall. On the south wall of the hall hung a Hundred Longevity Painting, flanked by couplets wishing longevity: "Clouds support the colorful chariot as the Queen Mother arrives, flowers bloom like golden phoenixes as celestial stars descend." Above hung a Longevity Banner, embroidered with an Immortal and Buddha Longevity Painting.

The floor of the Longevity Hall was covered with a red carpet. Beneath the front wall stood a square table laden with Longevity Candles, Longevity Peaches, Longevity Noodles, and some fresh flowers and fruits.

A kind-faced old woman sat in the seat of honor. The Song family disciples stood respectfully in order on the red carpet in the middle of the Longevity Hall, stepping forward one by one to offer birthday wishes to Old Madam Song.

The order of birthday greetings followed seniority. At the front were Old Madam Song's five children and their spouses, followed by the third generation of Song family disciples. Song Jiaren's father was the Old Madam's third son. Li Nuo and Song Jiaren were in the second to last row of the crowd, with the twin sisters Song Mu'er and Song Ninger behind them.

The process of offering birthday wishes was actually very simple. Everyone would step forward in order, present their gifts to the Old Madam, say a few auspicious words, and then they could sit in the chairs nearby and wait for the banquet to begin.

In front of Li Nuo and Song Jiaren stood two young figures, two of the three people who had mocked him in the courtyard earlier.

These two were likely Song Jiaren's aunt's children.

One row ahead of them were three men and two women. One of them was the young man whom Li Nuo had patted on the head and whom Song Mu'er called "Brother Yu."

The Song family's maids stood in neat rows on either side of the Longevity Hall, holding wooden trays covered with red silk. Beneath the red cloth were the gifts prepared by the Song family in advance.

When it was someone's turn to offer birthday wishes, the maids would hand the wooden tray to them, and they would present it personally.

The second generation of the Song family stepped forward one by one. Li Nuo took the opportunity to remember their names: Song Jiaren's eldest uncle Song Tai, second uncle Song Lian, aunt Song Zhen, and fourth uncle Song Hao. Song Jiaren's father, Li Nuo's father-in-law, was named Song Zhe, a thin middle-aged man. However, Li Nuo did not see Song Jiaren's mother.

The second generation of the Song family each had a partner, and even Song Zhen's husband was present. Only his father-in-law was alone.

After these elders finished their birthday greetings, it was the turn of the younger generation, the third generation.

A young couple walked hand-in-hand before the Old Madam and respectfully said, "Your grandson Song Lin, and granddaughter-in-law Wang Yan, wish Grandmother a long life of a hundred years and eternal blessings and peace."

The gift they presented was a pair of Golden Buddhas.

Next, another young man stepped forward holding a painting and said with a smile, "Your grandson Song Qi wishes Grandmother perpetual brightness like the sun and moon, and evergreen longevity like pine and crane."

The Old Madam took the painting and examined it, her face showing delight. "This is Zhao Meng's 'Yaochi Holy Mother Birthday Painting'! Wasn't it said to be lost? Where did you get it?"

The young man replied, "Your grandson obtained this painting by chance. As long as Grandmother likes it, that is enough."

Old Madam Song handed the painting to a maid standing by and asked her to hang it on the wall. She then looked back at the young man and said, "You, when will you find a granddaughter-in-law for your grandmother? That would make me happy..."

As the Song family disciples stepped forward one by one to offer their birthday wishes, Li Nuo gained a slight understanding of this large family.

The Song family was truly prosperous. Song Jiaren's eldest uncle had two sons, her second uncle had two sons and one daughter. Song Jiaren's parents had only one daughter. The twins Song Mu'er and Song Ninger were the daughters of Song Jiaren's fourth uncle, Song Hao.

This was the entire third generation of the Song family.

Among the third-generation juniors, from the eldest uncle Song Tai's line, Song Lin and Song Qi presented a pair of jade Buddhas and a birthday painting respectively. From the second uncle's line, the couple Song Jin presented a pair of pearls, as large as pigeon eggs, which were considered rare treasures. Song Yu presented a pair of Longevity Peaches, said to be personally cultivated by a strong cultivator from the Agricultural School. Eating them would cure all illnesses and prolong life.

Li Nuo didn't know if the peaches could prolong life, but even from this distance, he could smell a refreshing fruity fragrance. He even heard the two little girls behind him swallowing.

Although the Agricultural School wasn't very strong in combat, they certainly knew their way around farming.

Song Yu's elder sister, a woman named Song Qian, presented the Old Madam with a Buddhist Scripture she had personally transcribed. Although it wasn't as valuable as the gifts from others, it was heartfelt, and the Old Madam liked it very much.

Song Qian's husband was a thin young man with a strong scholarly aura. He presented the Old Madam with a birthday poem, which also drew much applause.

The Song family was a family of military officials. Their descendants either followed the Military School or practiced Martial arts; few studied Confucianism. They could wield swords and spears, but not brush and ink. This birthday poem was indeed refreshing and received unanimous praise.

In order, it was now the turn of Li Nuo and Song Jiaren, the married couple.

The gift they were to present, Li Nuo had learned while on the carriage, was a pair of exquisite Jade Ruyi.

Li Nuo had already figured out the pattern: for the Song family disciples who were married, their birthday gifts to the Old Madam were usually a pair, presented in the name of the couple. If they were still single, they only needed to present one item. Of course, like Song Qian, they could also each give their own gift with their spouse.

Song Jiaren had already prepared Li Nuo's congratulatory gift for him, so he just needed to wait for the banquet to begin.

After Song Yu stepped aside, it was the turn of Li Nuo and Song Jiaren, the married couple.

At this moment, many guests' gazes also turned towards them, and the noisy chatter within the mourning hall quieted down considerably.

The reputation of the "Proud Daughter of the Song Family" had spread throughout Chang'an more than ten years ago.

Of course, her husband had become famous even earlier.

It was just that the way they became famous was different. Song Jiaren was famous because she possessed both looks and martial arts talent. Li Nuo was famous because he was foolish, and to this day, countless people still lamented this marriage.

It was like a toad getting to feast on swan meat, or all the good cabbage being fed to a pig.

Aside from being reasonably handsome, and his father being Li Xuanjing, he was utterly useless.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, a maid brought over a tray covered with red silk. Song Jiaren lifted it with one hand and slowly removed the red silk. Just as she was about to step forward, her steps faltered slightly.

Li Nuo's gaze swept over, and his brow furrowed slightly.

What was covered by the red silk on the tray was not a pair of Jade Ruyi, but two long, rectangular stones.