CHAPTER 693: CHAPTER 693: SHARP-TONGUED

Establishing diplomatic relations, is it important or not? Song Ci personally believes, of course it’s important. You can gain some knowledge and energy from other people or even other countries, learn from each other’s strengths to compensate weaknesses, which will definitely change your own shortcomings.

Great Qing is a big country, but other countries also have aspects worth learning; by learning, we can make use of them, so what’s bad about diplomatic relations?

It can serve as a reference for learning and also promote economic development, which is excellent.

"Madam Song truly has remarkable insight, you have such foresight, could it be that the female Zhuge has been reborn?" The Lady Miao laughed, offering flattering words.

"I wouldn’t call myself a female Zhuge, it’s just that I often hear my eldest son talk casually, and thus came to know. If you really want to praise, you might as well praise that I have given birth to a literary star who has descended to save the people." Song Ci didn’t even blink, directly attributing the credit to her shrewd son.

Let the son bear the praise; if there is trouble, he should also bear it.

Song Zhiyuan: "..."

There’s no mistake, his mother is setting him up!

When Princess Consort Ji and the others came out, they heard the crowd praising Song Ci and couldn’t help but smirk.

Song Ci saw Princess Consort Ji and smiled, asking, "Oh, Dowager, have you finished choosing so quickly?"

"It’s just so-so, the items here are not as exquisite as the ornaments in Shangbao Pavilion." Princess Consort Ji looked at Lady Miao indifferently and said, "If your company wants to do big business, it should learn a thing or two from others. Their variety is vast, and their ornaments have new styles every year."

Song Ci and Princess Anping: "..."

Did you not inquire about the owner of Shangbao Pavilion before you came out?

They looked at Lady Miao, somewhat curious about what she would say.

Lady Miao, however, seemed utterly unoffended, but instead smiled as brightly as the sun, saying, "Dowager praised Shangbao Pavilion highly, and indeed the exquisite ornaments are crafted by famous artisans. However, the items here at our trading company are mostly imported from overseas, selling their novelty and uniqueness. If you would grace us with your presence, Shangbao Pavilion eagerly welcomes you."

Princess Consort Ji thought, is she perhaps a fool?

She criticized Shangbao Pavilion, yet the lady laughed like a blooming chrysanthemum, even directing herself to Shangbao Pavilion? Does she not want the business?

Just as Princess Consort Ji was about to seize the opportunity to react, the lady in waiting behind her couldn’t hold it in any longer and was about to remind her, but Song Ci spoke first.

"Dowager, you recently returned from Xuzhou, so you might not know; the owner of Shangbao Pavilion and the trading company is the same person."

Oh, what?

Princess Consort Ji’s face turned green.

So in the end, was she the jesting clown?

Princess Consort Ji looked at Song Ci with an unkind expression and said, "I see, truly it was my ignorance. But Madam Song, are you only concerned with planting flowers and grains? Not to be disrespectful, but you are a First Rank Madam, long since refined, why do you always think of farming? Does the Song Mansion lack that bit of grain for sustenance?"

Song Ci laughed, "When drinking water one does not forget the person who dug the well. Isn’t this just me being grateful for what I have? It is certainly better than those who forget their roots and ancestors. The Prime Minister’s Mansion certainly doesn’t lack that bit of grain, but farming is beneficial to the body and mind. It exercises the body, and the sense of achievement if one manages to produce something, I fear Dowager wouldn’t understand. It’s simply that to each their own ambition."

Sharp-tongued.

Princess Consort Ji huffed.

Just as she was about to speak, her attention was suddenly captured by something, and she couldn’t help but stare in a certain direction, dumbfounded.

Everyone else also followed her gaze, feeling a bit flushed.

Princess Anping lightly coughed, touched her cheek, and turned her gaze away.

Song Ci raised an eyebrow, here comes ’Chang Su’ again.

"Aunt? What’s wrong?"