Chapter 247: They Are More Than Just Friends

After she emerged from the space, she paced around the house, with three Xiao Yang trailing behind her.

First she went to report to the old lady; the old master's sharp gaze instantly sensed something different about Qiao Mai.

"Servant girl, it's been many days since I last saw you—what have you been so busy with?"

"I'm researching something; is everything at home all right?"

"Rest assured, we'll keep an eye on you, nothing will go wrong; that brat from the family hasn't been back for a while."

Qiao Mai sat by the kang, and the old lady smiled sweetly as she poured her a cup of tea.

"He isn't coming back; won't you go?"

"The house is so nice; I don't want to move."

"Haha, we feel the same; we've gotten used to staying with you and don't want to go anywhere."

The two elders took five carts of New Year goods, left Tianshui Town, and spent half a day before returning to Wang Zhai in Fucheng.

"We've told her a long time ago; she knows. Being sad now is useless. Since we have the time, we might as well think about how to manage the Wangfu, so those Fox Spirits don't enchant the Little Prince."

At the wedding, she gave her so many valuable gifts, and even in time saved her from a predicament.

The old lady immediately became delighted, "Ah, that's wonderful! Let's quickly pack up and go back to see—it's been many years, I haven't seen my Ru'er."

"Upon receiving your letter, Qiao Niang immediately set out to prepare the New Year goods; we won't leave this time, we'll stay to celebrate the New Year with Ru'er before departing."

The elder simply considered that she was sad at the moment and didn't mind anything; the two children were like finely carved jade, very delightful.

"Alas, if she wants to come back and stay for a while, she'll do so; Zongsheng's daughter‑in‑law will persuade her."

"Trying to stop the Li Family from taking a concubine is impossible; they have tolerated Jiaru for several years, which is already good. Among the royal relatives and nobles, which household doesn't have a multitude of women in the backyards?"

Honestly, I don't know whether Wang Jiaru considers her a friend.

"The granddaughter, never mind; anyway the child can't eat this."

Upon entering the house, she brought a son and a daughter, gently saluted the two elders, and didn't, as before, crawl into the elder's arms to act cute.

"So will we still return to Fucheng this year?"

It's hard to believe it got to this point; once we see Ru'er, we must have a proper talk with her.

The old lady, puzzled, asked, "What's wrong with the old master?"

"At eighteen years old, although he started late, the gentleman said he has potential."

"What can we do? The royal household is like that; can our family still manage to bend a small arm over a big thigh?"

When Ru'er is mentioned, the couple becomes a bit upset, "Father, mother, what do you suggest we do?"

"Of course; also, haven't you looked at whose grandson Zihan is, whose son?"

After arriving home, the two elders returned to their own courtyard to rest; after all, they're old, and making wooden wheels for the carriage, the bumpy ride was exhausting.

The old master and old lady listened with delight and burst into hearty laughter.

"Great, the more people the merrier."

Qiao Mai sat listening without a word; marrying into a royal noble family requires such mental preparation.

Just as they were speaking, the matron reported from outside the door, "Old master, old lady, a letter has arrived from Fucheng."

"If Jiaru is spending the New Year at home, she probably won't return."

"Servant girl, my grandmother and I want to make a trip back to Fucheng."

And Wang Jiaru seems to be coming specifically for her belongings.

"This marriage affair was brought about by her, and she consented; no one forced her. Her current uproar brings no benefit."

Madam Wang wiped away tears, "Father, mother, Ru'er is really heartbroken."

Madam Pang examined her, "Ru'er, you haven't changed at all; you're still the same as before."

"That was in the past; the Wangfu's cuisine was exquisite, and the children have been eating it since birth."

The elders, fearing they might catch a cold, had them take off their shoes and sit on the kang; the whole family gathered around the kang table, sipping hot tea.

Unexpectedly, Wang Jiaru quickly stopped her, "Grandmother, the things outside shouldn't be given to the children casually; what if they get sick? They are the future Little Prince and little princess."

Wang Zongsheng's purpose in writing was also to invite the two elders back.

After a long discussion inside the house, Wang Jiaru finally brought her two children over.

"You tell us, what should we do? We follow your orders—should we file a petition, or send people to massacre the women of the Wangfu?"

"Mother, I heard the women who entered the Wangfu each have outstanding looks; how can Ru'er compete with them?"

She didn't mention Jiaru a single word; the old master sighed inwardly, fearing Ru'er might hurt her heart. Their relationship is more than just friends—they are sworn sisters.

"So what should I do?"

Madam Pang didn't want to deal with her; in the few years since marriage, she felt that Ru'er the servant girl had become a bit pretentious, not at all close to them. After being a Little Princess consort for several years, she hadn't learned magnanimity, but grew more petty.

The old lady fell silent upon hearing this reason.

She instructed her servant girl and matron to bring some small snacks she had brought, intending to give them to the children to try.

The matron entered, handed the letter to the old master with both hands; after he opened and read it, his previously cheerful face instantly turned somber.

"What could happen in the capital? Is it that Li Longji the boy is taking a side concubine, or perhaps two at once? Her in‑laws despise that her belly hasn't shown any sign for years; they want to expand the Li Family, leading Jiaru to clash with them, and she took the two little ones back to her natal home."

"That servant girl Jiaru, with a pair of children, is currently over there."

"Do you know why she came back?"

Wang Zongsheng and his wife sent someone to call Wang Jiaru, and the two of them were serving beside the elders.

The weather was so cold, and she ran back with the children; if anything happened on the way, she would regret it for a lifetime—what a rash move.

Why didn't she even ask? The reason is simple: for several years, at the beginning, she wrote a few letters home, mostly demanding this and that.

"Serving people for their looks won't last; after all, she is the Little Prince's first love, and they fell at first sight."

"Is there no other way?"

"Indeed, it's truly costly; Ling'er from your sister's family has been eating these since childhood."

Could something have happened in Jingcheng?

Zu Fu, the granddaughter really didn't mean that; I just think the child is too young.

We won't go back. At our age we don't want the back-and-forth hassle; we'll spend the New Year here with you. We told Zongsheng, and they said if there's no heavy snow this year, they'll come here for the New Year.

After that there was no further word; Qiao Mai treated her as a friend, and whenever she needed anything, she would fulfill her.

"I, wuwuwu"

She said that while wiping her eyes with a Handkerchief, Madame Pang glared at her.

"Father, mother, you returned so quickly."

The old man noticed Qiao Mai hadn't said a word; he glanced at her, who kept her head down in silence.

"If I were still the same as before, the Prince wouldn't like me either; what am I supposed to do then?"

"Marrying into his family, you should know—what good does crying and wailing do?"

"Bring it in."

The old man had been silent for a while, and only now asked, "These are from your sworn sister's household; you used to write letters asking for them often."

Madame Pang glared at her, "You do this often—have you ever gotten sick from it?"

"Go back. Once you leave, the spot opens up for those Fox Spirits; after a while, Little Prince will recognize who you are?"

That afternoon, Qiao Mai prepared the New Year goods for them—exactly five carts' worth. The old man and the old lady also packed the travel gifts that day, and left early the next morning after breakfast.

From start to finish, she never mentioned Wang Jiaru.

The old lady looked at Qiao Mai with satisfaction, "Thanks to you, Zihan has recovered well; preparing for next year's showdown?"

"We probably won't return before the New Year, right?"

"Alright, I'll prepare the New Year goods for you,"

"So you mean the stuff from your sworn sister's house is rough?"

"Really? That's great; I recall he is already eighteen, right?"

"She got used to it; our children aren't accustomed."

The old man gave her a cold stare, "If we don't eat it, fine; we'll keep it for ourselves."

Seeing Grandmother and Zu Fu pause, Wang Jiaru silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Today is the fourth day since I contracted the minor Yang illness; I feel as if I've come back to life. For three consecutive days my whole body ached, I had a fever, and I was miserable to the point of death. I think immunity and the vaccine really matter—a healthy person only suffers for a day or two, but I have only just started feeling a little better now.

(End of chapter)