By the time Song Yaoyao finished bathing, half an hour had passed.
Song Yaoyao wore a pale yellow dress with blue irises embroidered along the hem, her hair styled in twin buns. She looked playful and full of life.
[Host, are you dressing up so prettily because you're going out?]
[Yes, I want to take a look around.]
[Host, will your parents agree?]
[It should be fine, right?
I'm already an official. Surely my parents can't keep me cooped up forever?]
[Then good luck, Host!]
Song Yaoyao chatted with Guagua as she headed toward Madam Song's courtyard.
Before she even reached the courtyard, her inner voice arrived ahead of her:
[Guagua, what do you think my mother is doing right now? Could she be with my father... hehehe.]
[Host, what are you thinking? It's broad daylight! People in ancient times observed this rule: no carnal indulgence in daylight!]
[Oh, so that's how it is. Then I was letting my imagination run wild...]
Madam Song drew deep, heaving breaths. She truly wanted to crack open her youngest daughter's head and see what was inside. What on earth did this young girl think about all day?
Now she was even making up nonsense about her own parents?
She truly knew no bounds!
Entering the room, Song Yaoyao called out ingratiatingly, "Mother."
Madam Song did not even lift her head. Her eyes remained fixed on the ledger, and she answered with only a single word: "Mm."
Song Yaoyao walked behind Madam Song and began kneading her shoulders.
"Mother, you work so hard for this family. Thank you for everything. Let me massage your shoulders!"
Anyone who had never heard Song Yaoyao's inner voice would certainly have thought her a quiet, sensible girl. But the moment they heard those unrestrained thoughts, that entire image shattered into crumbs.
Madam Song said nothing, letting Song Yaoyao massage her shoulders.
Song Yaoyao was still waiting for her mother to ask her something. Normally, whenever she fawned over her like this, her mother would invariably ask what she wanted.
What was going on today? Her mother wasn't saying a word!
If her mother refused to play along, how was she supposed to keep this show going?
If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain!
And so Song Yaoyao called out sweetly again, "Mother."
Madam Song set down the ledger in her hands and said,
"If you have something to say, say it. Stop calling 'Mother' over and over!"
"Huh? If I don't call you Mother, what should I call you? Old Mother?"
Madam Song's anger had yet to fade. Upon hearing this, she snatched up the ledger and hurled it at Song Yaoyao. Sensing trouble, Song Yaoyao hurriedly took a large step to the left and dodged it cleanly.
The ledger hit the floor with a thud. Song Yaoyao patted her little chest and said in relief,
"Oh my! Good thing I dodged fast enough. It didn't hit me!"
No sooner had Song Yaoyao finished speaking than Madam Song roared,
"Song Yaoyao!"
Song Yaoyao knew how to read the room. Seeing that her mother was genuinely angry, she hurried over, picked up the ledger, and brushed off the dust. Then she rushed back to her mother, carefully placed it on the table, and said with righteous indignation,
"Mother, what's wrong? Please don't be angry.
Which blind fool upset you?
Tell me, and I'll go beat her up for you!"
Could Madam Song tell her, You're the blind fool who upset me?
Looking at Song Yaoyao's indignant face and her eagerness to stand up for her, Madam Song waved a hand in weary resignation and asked,
"Go on, then. What did you come to my courtyard for?"
Song Yaoyao grabbed Madam Song's sleeve and swung it back and forth.
"Mother, I've grown this big, but I've never even been outside the estate.
I'm an official now, however minor, yet I don't even know what the capital looks like. I want to go out and explore. May I?"
Madam Song considered it.
"Yes.
Go to the accounts office and collect fifty taels of silver. If you see anything you like, you can buy some things to bring home.
Have your eldest sister accompany you, and remember to take plenty of guards."
"Yes!"
Song Yaoyao had not expected her mother to agree so easily. In the past, even throwing tantrums and rolling around on the floor had failed to make her parents relent.
Why had she agreed this time?
Whatever the reason, her mother had given her permission to leave the estate. At least the outcome was good!
Song Yaoyao rose onto her tiptoes and kissed Madam Song on the cheek.
"Mother, you're the best! I love you most!"
Having said that, she ran off before Madam Song could even react.
Madam Song touched her cheek and suddenly smiled.
"That child!"
Madam Song's reasoning was simple. Many people already knew her youngest daughter's secret now. Keeping the child shut up in the estate and never letting her out was no solution!
Besides, Song Yaoyao attended court every day and exposed the officials' secrets from time to time. Neither she nor her husband could stop her. Since things had already come to this, there was no need to keep the child confined!
Just as Song Yaoyao herself had said, she was already twelve, yet she had never seen what the capital looked like. Seeing her so pitiful made Madam Song's heart ache too.
Forget it. If it's a blessing, it isn't a calamity; if it's a calamity, there's no escaping it!
Song Yaoyao raced to her eldest sister Song Qingling's courtyard with sparks flying and lightning flashing all the way.
"Eldest Sister! Eldest Sister! Mother agreed to let me leave the estate!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I came straight here after leaving Mother's courtyard.
But Mother wants you to go with me. She also told us to collect fifty taels of silver from the accounts office and buy some things we like to bring home."
"All right. Wait for me. I'll put my things away, and then we'll go."
"All right."
Seeing how excited her little sister was, Song Qingling quickly put away the embroidery she had been working on and said,
"Ready."
The two left the estate, where a carriage was already waiting at the gates.
Once aboard, Song Yaoyao asked excitedly,
"Eldest Sister, where are we going?"
"I'll take you to look around the clothing and jewelry shops. Afterward, we'll eat at a restaurant."
"All right."
The entire capital was unfamiliar to Song Yaoyao, so anywhere would be equally good for exploring!
As the carriage moved forward, Song Yaoyao lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Her inner voice rang out as well:
[Guagua, so these are ancient streets!]
[That's right, Host!
You're in the officials' residential district. Everyone living here is a high-ranking official or a noble.
There are relatively few people, and the streets are very clean.
Once we reach the bustling market district, it'll be packed with bobbing heads and full of life!]
[Guagua, these ancient buildings are exquisite!
How should I describe them?
I feel like I'm running out of words!
How did that internet saying go? Alas, I'm too uncultured; one "holy shit" takes me around the world!]
[Host, if you want to swear, just say so. Don't make excuses!
You're an academic ace, a top student who completed her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in one continuous stretch. How could you possibly run out of words?
Who are you trying to fool?]
[Fine! Guagua caught me!
But a true hero doesn't dwell on past glories. That was all in my previous life.
In this life, I just want to be a happy melon-munching spectator!]
[Host, remember to bring Guagua along whenever you munch on gossip melons, so Guagua can take the opportunity to collect some energy too.]
[Don't worry, Guagua. I won't forget you!]