Chapter 122: The Xu Family's Letter Arrives in Yang Zhou [Heartfelt Thanks for Your Support

The twenty-first day of the first lunar month.

Yang Zhou.

The letter received by Da Niangzi Hong was sent on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month via regular foot courier, taking twenty-two days to arrive in Yang Zhou.

The Xu family in Bianjing sent theirs on the eighth day via express foot courier; it reached Yang Zhou after thirteen days.

Two marks into the Hour of the Monkey (around two in the afternoon).

The postmaster who had previously delivered letters to the Hong family brought this one to the side gate of the Sheng residence.

The gatekeeper's young attendant took the letter, saw the inscription "Da Niangzi Xu, wife of the Assistant Prefect of Yang Zhou," and carried it to the Hall of Longevity and Peace.

Mama Fang took the letter, entered the inner chamber of the Hall of Longevity and Peace, and sighed; a few days prior, the Old Da Niangzi had been so agitated she could not sleep well at night, and though she had drunk some calming broth at noon and finally managed to rest, she was still fragile.

She set the letter aside, gave half a string of cash to the female servant as a reward for the courier station.

Upon receiving the reward, the postmaster left the side gate happily, turned a corner onto the main street, and just then saw two carriages from the Sheng family entering the main gate.

When the carriages reached the second gate, Da Niangzi Wang stormed out of the first carriage, her face utterly grim.

Sheng Hualan and Hearing Rulan disembarked from the second carriage, equally displeased; Cui Chan beside them said, "Miss, on the way I thought it over: if the Yuan family of the Earl's Manor truly had trouble, your aunt's family would have sent word long ago and never delayed until today; it must be that the second miss of the Qi Salt Commissioner's family is jealous of you."

Sheng Hualan nodded and said, "I hope so; this third miss of the Hong family knows full well that the second miss of the Qi family and I are at odds, so why invite her? Could it be merely to humiliate me?"

Hearing Rulan chimed in from the side, "Sister, that's exactly it; when I argued with the Qi family's girl, she was laughing!"

Sheng Hualan patted Hearing Rulan's hair and said, "Come, let's go pay our respects to Grandmother."

Hearing Rulan replied unhappily, "Oh."

Da Niangzi Wang returned to the main hall of the Weirui Pavilion, sat on the arhat bed, her chest still heaving with rage, and asked the female servant Cai Zhao Huan in the room, "Where is the Master? Is he at that vixen's place?"

Cai Zhao Huan bowed slightly and replied, "Replying to the Eldest Da Niangzi, he is at the Linqi Pavilion."

"Call him here."

"Yes, Eldest Da Niangzi," Cai Zhao Huan hurried out.

Mama Liu approached from the side and said, "Eldest Da Niangzi, please calm yourself; you know the second miss of the Qi family has a grudge against our eldest miss, so what good words could come from her mouth? Do not take them to heart."

Da Niangzi Wang huffed, "First, I am angry at that little girl's words; second, I am angry at the Department Magistrate's wife—how can she invite just anyone? Knowing my Sheng Hualan has a grudge against that family, why send an invitation at all? She surely intends for them to humiliate us; that Salt Commissioner's family also needs a stern warning."

Mama Liu hurried over to soothe Da Niangzi Wang's temper.

After a while, her anger subsided somewhat.

A female servant outside called out, "The Master is coming."

Sheng Hong entered the Weirui Pavilion with an unhappy expression, asking as he walked, "What is wrong? Why send a servant in such a frantic rush to fetch me?"

Da Niangzi Wang stood up and said, "Husband, that Salt Commissioner's family indeed needs a stern warning; today their womenfolk spread rumors about our Sheng Hualan!"

At Da Niangzi Wang's first words, Sheng Hong's brows already knitted as he said, "We are all colleagues; what is this about 'stern warnings'? What? Spreading rumors about Sheng Hualan?"

Sheng Hong's brows knit even tighter.

Da Niangzi Wang said, "That Qi Salt Commissioner's family, who has no more connection to the Duke of Qi than a pole eight rods long, claimed that the husband you found for Sheng Hualan took an opera singer as a concubine before the New Year!"

Sheng Hong asked in sheer astonishment, "The Yuan family of the Loyalty and Diligence Earl? Taking a concubine? And an opera singer? Impossible; I found Lord Yuan and Yuan Yuan Erlang quite commendable! Did you not hear incorrectly?"

Da Niangzi Wang frowned and said, "Did you not hear me say it was a rumor? If this were true, would my sister not have written to me?"

Mama Liu at the side added, "Master, it was the second miss of the Qi family who told Miss Ru directly, saying her elder sister's future husband had taken an opera singer as a concubine; Miss Ru nearly came to blows with that second miss of the Qi family."

Sheng Hong's face darkened as he uttered a single "This..." and fell silent.

Da Niangzi Wang glanced sideways and said, "I believe the Department Magistrate's wife is jealous of my Sheng Hualan's marriage and is thinking of ways to humiliate me; as for her, let it be, but how dare a Salt Commissioner's family bare their claws at me and spread rumors about my Sheng Hualan? Truly!"

She glanced again at Sheng Hong and said, "If you do not give their family a stern warning, I will write to my brother and to my father's old acquaintances!"

Sheng Hong looked at his wife, angrily patting his robes as he said, "Very well, very well, I understand; do not act rashly. These are merely jealous words between young girls; why make such a mountain out of a molehill?"

Then Sheng Hong added, "Oh! Because of a single sentence, I am to go and warn the Salt Commissioner of an entire prefecture? What are you thinking? It is merely a rumor! Find a chance among the women to retort, so why bring this to me?"

Da Niangzi Wang clamored, "I see you do not care for Hua'er! If it were Seeing Mo Lan who was slandered, would you react this way?"

"You! Sheng Hualan is Sheng Hualan; why drag Seeing Mo Lan into this? Truly unreasonable—"

Just then, a female servant outside called out, "Mama Cui has arrived."

Mama Cui from the Old Da Niangzi's quarters entered the main hall of the Weirui Pavilion with a solemn expression, bowed deeply, and said, "Master, Eldest Da Niangzi, the Old Da Niangzi requests both of you to come immediately, saying there is a grave matter."

In the Hall of Longevity and Peace,

the Old Da Niangzi Sheng sat on the couch, a small low table placed to her right, with the letter that had arrived in the afternoon resting beneath her hand.

Sheng Hualan and Hearing Rulan had come to pay respects to their grandmother, and the Old Da Niangzi Sheng had kept them here.

Hearing Rulan sat awkwardly on the embroidered stool, glancing occasionally at her elder sister but daring not to look at the Old Da Niangzi Sheng.

"Sister Sister Suqin, let Miss Ru return to her courtyard; sitting here makes her uncomfortable."

Mama Fang said, "Yes, Old Da Niangzi. Miss Ru, let us go."

Upon hearing this, the joy in Hearing Rulan's eyes was so bright it could be seen even with them closed.

"Thank you, Grandmother; Ru'er is leaving," Hearing Rulan said, then quickened her steps and departed the Hall of Longevity and Peace.

Sheng Hualan smiled and said, "Grandmother, Hearing Rulan is immature; please do not take it to heart."

The Old Da Niangzi Sheng narrowed her eyes, smiling as she said, "Why do you imagine your grandmother to be so petty?"

"That immature girl Hearing Rulan; your granddaughter merely feared upsetting you."

"You, oh you."

"The Master and the Mistress have arrived," Mama Cui called from outside.

Sheng Hong and Da Niangzi Wang had adjusted their expressions along the way; the couple entered the main hall of the Hall of Longevity and Peace, where Sheng Hualan rose, and the husband and wife both paid their respects to the Old Da Niangzi.

The Old Da Niangzi said, "Sit."

Having spoken, she closed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly toward Mama Fang.

Mama Fang said, "All of you go out; stand far away and guard the courtyard gate."

The female servants and matrons of the Hall of Longevity and Peace filed out of the room, and guards were posted at the courtyard entrance.

Da Niangzi Sheng looked at Sheng Hualan and the couple, Lord and Da Niangzi Sheng, and said, "This afternoon, a letter arrived for me from Hou Fu of Marquis Marquis Yongyi in Bianjing."

Sheng Hong sat sideways on his chair and asked respectfully, "Mother, has it been settled when Brother Jing will come to our home?"

Upon hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's name, Wang Shi sat up straight, pricked up her ears, and her eyes were full of the desire to listen.

To be continued tomorrow.

There is another chapter following this one.

If there are any typos, readers are requested to correct them directly; I bow to you.

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(End of Chapter)