Wife, Protect Me! - Chapter 19 - Birthday Gift Scandal

Song Residence.

In a courtyard within the inner quarters.

Inside a room, Li Nuo stood before a mirror, combing the hair of a delicate, porcelain-like little girl. The child’s tender, flawless cheeks were still streaked with tears, and she sniffled intermittently.

Beside Li Nuo stood another girl who looked identical to the one in the mirror, arms crossed and pouting, her face clearly displeased.

Li Nuo now knew that the two young girls beside him were named Song Ning’er and Song Mu’er, twin sisters who were the daughters of Song Jiaren’s fourth uncle.

The incident began when Li Nuo had styled Song Mu’er’s hair beautifully. Song Mu’er had then flaunted it in front of Song Ning’er. Since childhood, whatever her older sister had, she had to have as well. The maids in the household didn’t know how to style this improved version of the Feixian bun, so Song Ning’er threw a fit…

As the culprit, Li Nuo was dragged here by the women of the Song family and ordered to create an identical hairstyle for Song Ning’er before he could leave.

If this young lady wasn’t satisfied, no one would have peace tonight.

As Li Nuo’s hands deftly moved, an elegant bun gradually took shape on the little girl’s head.

Song Zhen glanced at Song Jiaren beside her and exclaimed in surprise, “Jiaren, when did your husband learn this skill?”

His movements while braiding Ning Er’s hair were so proficient that even the most experienced hairdressing maid in the Song residence couldn’t compare.

Generally, in wealthy families like the Song household, hairstyling and braiding were skills only specialized maids possessed. Young ladies of the house might know simple updos, but certainly not such intricate styles. For a man to master a woman’s craft to this extent was even more unbelievable.

Especially since he was supposed to be a fool.

Song Jiaren didn’t respond to her aunt’s question.

To be honest, she wasn’t very familiar with this husband of hers…

Although they had been married for a month, their conversations probably didn’t add up to ten sentences total.

What Li Nuo could or couldn’t do was something she had no way of knowing.

Before the mirror, Li Nuo inserted a hairpin identical to the one on Song Mu’er’s head into the same position on Song Ning’er’s hair. He carefully examined both sisters, adjusted the positions of two other hairpins, and only after ensuring there wasn’t the slightest difference did he finally let out a long sigh of relief and said, “Done…”

Song Ning’er jumped down from the chair, looked at Song Mu’er, then at her reflection in the mirror, and finally showed a satisfied expression on her little face.

Just then, a maid hurried in from outside and said, “Eldest Young Lady, Fourth Madam, the birthday banquet is about to begin. The Master asks you to come quickly…”

…

Within the longevity hall of the Song residence.

Noble families placed great emphasis on birthday celebrations. For the matriarch’s sixtieth birthday, the Song family had specially arranged a longevity hall. On the southern wall hung a Hundred Longevity Characters chart, flanked by couplets reading “Clouds bear the colorful carriage as the Queen Mother arrives, flowers bloom like golden phoenixes with heavenly stars descending.” Above these hung a longevity banner embroidered with immortals and buddhas offering birthday congratulations.

The floor was covered with a red carpet. Against the main wall stood a square table bearing longevity candles, longevity peaches, longevity noodles, and assorted fresh flowers and fruits.

A kind-faced elderly woman sat in the seat of honor. Members of the Song family stood respectfully in order on the red carpet in the center of the hall, taking turns stepping forward to offer birthday wishes to the matriarch.

The order followed seniority. At the front were the matriarch’s five children and their spouses, followed by the third generation of the Song family. Song Jiaren’s father was the matriarch’s third son. Li Nuo and Song Jiaren stood in the second-to-last row, with Song Mu’er and Song Ning’er sisters behind them.

The birthday congratulation process was quite simple. Each person would step forward in turn to present their gift to the matriarch, offer a few auspicious words, then take a seat nearby to await the banquet.

Standing before Li Nuo and Song Jiaren were two youthful figures – two of the three who had mocked him earlier in the courtyard. These were likely the children of Song Jiaren’s aunt.

In the row before them stood three young men and two young women, including the youth whom Li Nuo had patted on the head and whom Song Mu’er had called “Brother Yu.”

The Song family’s maids stood in orderly rows on both sides of the hall, holding wooden trays covered with red silk. Beneath the red cloth lay the gifts prepared in advance by the Song family members.

When it was someone’s turn to offer congratulations, the maids would deliver the trays to them, and they would personally present the gifts.

As the second generation of Songs came forward one by one, Li Nuo took the opportunity to memorize 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 lean middle-aged man. Notably, Li Nuo didn’t see Song Jiaren’s mother.

Every member of the second generation had their spouse present – even Song Zhen’s husband had come – leaving Li Nuo’s father-in-law as the only one alone.

After the elders finished their congratulations, it was the third generation’s turn.

A young couple walked hand-in-hand before the matriarch, saying respectfully: “Grandson Song Lin and granddaughter-in-law Wang Yan wish grandmother long life, blessings, and good health.”

They presented a pair of golden buddhas as their gift.

Next, another young man came forward holding a painting, smiling as he said: “Grandson Song Qi wishes grandmother eternal brightness like the sun and moon, everlasting youth like pines and cranes.”

The matriarch took the painting and examined it, her face lighting up with pleasure. “This is Zhao Meng’s ‘Queen Mother of the West Offering Birthday Congratulations’! I heard this painting was lost. Where did you obtain it?”

The young man replied, “I came across it by chance, grandmother. I’m glad you like it.”

The matriarch handed the painting to a maid standing nearby to hang on the wall, then turned her gaze back to the young man. “You… when will you find me a granddaughter-in-law? That would truly make me happy…”

…

As the Song family members came forward one by one to offer birthday wishes, Li Nuo gradually came to understand this large family better.The Song family was indeed flourishing with descendants. Song Jiaren’s eldest uncle had two sons, her second uncle had two sons and a daughter, while Song Jiaren’s parents only had one daughter. The twins Song Mu’er and Song Ning’er were the daughters of Song Jiaren’s fourth uncle, Song Hao.

These comprised the entire third generation of the Song family.

Among the younger third generation, from eldest uncle Song Tai’s branch, Song Lin and Song Qi presented a pair of jade Buddhas and a longevity celebration painting respectively. From the second uncle’s branch, Song Jin and his wife offered a pair of pearls as large as pigeon eggs—truly rare treasures. Song Yu presented a pair of longevity peaches, said to be cultivated by a master of the Agrarian School, claimed to cure all ailments and prolong life.

Whether those peaches could truly extend lifespan, Li Nuo didn’t know, but even from this distance, he could smell their refreshing fruity fragrance. He even heard two young girls behind him swallowing.

Though the Agrarian School wasn’t particularly strong in combat, they certainly had their merits in cultivation.

Song Yu’s sister, a woman named Song Qian, presented a handwritten Buddhist scripture to the matriarch. While not as valuable as others’ gifts, its sincerity won the matriarch’s affection.

Song Qian’s husband, a slender young man radiating scholarly elegance, offered a longevity celebration poem that garnered much applause.

The Song family being a military lineage, most descendants pursued either the Strategist path or Martial Arts, with few studying Confucianism. While skilled with weapons, they were less adept with brushes—making this celebratory poem a refreshing departure that received unanimous praise.

Following the order, it was now Li Nuo and Song Jiaren’s turn as a couple.

Li Nuo had learned of their gift during the carriage ride—a pair of exquisite jade Ruyi scepters.

He had discerned the pattern: married Song descendants typically presented paired gifts to the matriarch in both spouses’ names, while singles gave individual presents—though some like Song Qian and her husband gave separate offerings.

Song Jiaren had prepared Li Nuo’s congratulatory gift in advance, leaving him only to await the feast.

After Song Yu stepped aside, Li Nuo and Song Jiaren took their turn.

Numerous guests turned their attention toward them, and the noisy discussions in the hall noticeably quieted.

The fame of the Song family’s proud daughter had spread throughout Chang’an over a decade ago.

Her husband, however, had become famous even earlier—though through different means. Song Jiaren was renowned for her beauty and Martial Arts talent, while Li Nuo was known for his foolishness. To this day, countless people lamented this marriage.

It was like a toad tasting swan meat, or choice cabbage being fed to a pig.

Aside from his handsome looks and being Li Xuanjing’s son, he was considered utterly worthless.

Under the crowd’s gaze, a maid brought over a red-silk-covered tray. Song Jiaren lifted it with one hand and slowly raised the silk, but paused mid-step as she moved forward.

Li Nuo’s gaze swept over the tray, his brow furrowing slightly.

Beneath the red silk lay not a pair of jade Ruyi scepters, but two oblong stones.