CHAPTER 553: CHAPTER 553: FAMILY BONDING

As autumn arrived, the Mid-Autumn Festival quietly approached. The bright moon hung high in the sky, and Song Ci was accompanied by several juniors from the family, enjoying moon-watching and lantern riddles.

"This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival is particularly quiet," Song Ci glanced at the few people around him and couldn’t help but sigh.

Song Ruqi is married, and my eldest grandson has returned home to take an exam. It can be said that there is not a single grandson of the elder branch here, only the second and third branches.

Lonely as such.

Madam Song felt even more uncomfortable. Seeing other people’s children around their knees, while hers were either married or not at the mansion, how could she not feel sad?

She pressed the corners of her eyes that were sore and said, "In the future, when the Commandery Princess also has children, and then the third one... it will make mother have a headache."

Lu’s hand paused on the chrysanthemum wine, pretending not to hear these words, only feeling the wine in the cup turn bitter.

Niu Pan’er touched her abdomen and said with a smile, "If it weren’t for my inconvenient body, I would give mother a sword dance."

Song Zhiyu carefully peeled the chestnut shells and placed the clean nut on the dish in front of her, saying, "Isn’t Zhao’er and the others here? There’s no need for you to perform the sword dance."

He looked up at the boys guessing lantern riddles and said, "Zhao’er, you’ve been learning martial arts with your fourth aunt for a while now, perform a dance for us to see."

Song Lingzhao’s eyes lit up, looking at his parents, is it okay?

"Your fourth uncle wants to see, just perform, remember to ask him for reward money." Song Zhicheng was busy teasing his precious daughter Yuanyuan and didn’t bother with his sons. After a pause, he added, "Do not use a real sword, lest anyone gets unintentionally hurt."

Song Lingzhao immediately had his servant retrieve the peach wood sword he usually practiced with.

Song Ruwei smiled and said, "How can my second brother perform a sword dance without music? Little sister dares to accompany you on the zither?"

"Then I’ll trouble third sister." Song Lingzhao was very pleased.

Song Ruwei then had a maid fetch the zither.

Song Lingjie took a flute from his waist, twirled it around his fingers, and said, "Then I’ll play the flute."

Song Lingzhou was biting a charcoal-grilled chicken wing: "..."

What can he do?

Everyone leisurely raised their eyebrows, each shifting their position, making room in the garden for a few people to prepare.

Song Ruwei’s courtyard was closer, and she quickly got the zither. She first tuned it and asked Song Lingjie, "Third brother, what piece do you plan to play?"

"Third sister, just play whatever you like, I will accompany you with harmony."

Song Ruwei pursed her lips and smiled, bowed her head in thought for a moment, and seeing Song Lingzhao with the peach wood sword, she had an idea.

The night was as cool as water, and the sound of the zither arose like trickling water.

A sword came, the young man’s posture was agile, leaping through the air like a swimming dragon, vigorous and swift.

The zither’s melody suddenly became high-pitched. At that moment, a flute sound blended in, the music corresponded with each other, and looking again at the boy in the field, his sword moves changed, executing a move like "Azure Dragon Breaks the Waves", the sword pointing to the sky.

Song Ci’s eyes were clear and bright.

Everyone was also surprised, this cooperation seemed as if it had been practiced countless times, yet it was clearly their first collaboration.

Song Lingjie looked at Song Ruwei, the latter’s brows arched, her slender fingers plucking the zither strings.

Lu’s eyes were filled with tears, and she couldn’t help but wipe her eyes with a handkerchief, feeling at ease in her heart.

In the future, Wei’er will not be without brothers to protect her.

She turned her head to look at her son, but then paused, covering her face.

This gluttonous son, who does he take after?

As the piece ended, the sword was withdrawn, the lingering sound reverberated, exhilarating and free.

"Good," Song Ci stood up, clapping vigorously, "You are all wonderful, Nanny Gong, give them rewards."

The applause rang out, and Song Ci rewarded, the others also followed with cheers, creating a jolly atmosphere.

Song Lingzhao and the others exchanged glances, each with a slight smile.

The youthful sibling bond, this Mid-Autumn night, they will never forget.

A servant came forward with a smile to report the good news: "Madam, just now Duke Ying Mansion sent word, our second young madam has been diagnosed with a happy pulse."