Chapter 127: Yang Zhou: The Sister-in-Law from the Wang Family's Natal Home Has Arrived [Latest Version: Many Thanks for Everyone's Su

After passing through the sluice gate, all manner of vessels entered the waterway connecting Chuzhou to Yang Zhou.

The setting sun cast its light upon the lake, turning it golden.

The waterway connected to several lakes, and the scenery was no longer the expanse of barren yellow seen earlier.

Yuan Bing, the Earl of Zhongqin, was currently on the boat admiring this view.

He glanced at the flag above his head bearing the title "Earl of Zhongqin, Yuan," sighed, and wondered how he would explain this matter to Sheng Hong once they truly arrived in Yang Zhou.

Suddenly, his gaze hardened as he spotted a female servant walking ahead with her head bowed.

Yuan Bing frowned, narrowed his eyes to look closer, and then shook violently in shock, finding it almost unbelievable; thus, he shouted, "That female servant, stop right there!"

At his shout, that female servant walked even faster, turned, and hurriedly ducked into the cabin.

"Someone come!" The steward of the Earl's household immediately looked over.

"Tell Wu Da Da Niangzi to gather all the female servants into the cabin for me."

Yuan Bing sat inside the cabin, flanked by Yuan Wen, the elder and younger Xiao Zhangshi, and the household stewards, while the female servants and maids brought from Bianjing stood in the middle of the cabin.

Yuan Bing glanced at one of the female servants, waved his hand, and said, "You all may leave."

The female servants walked out of the cabin once more.

The household steward closed the door from the outside.

Inside the cabin,

"Slap!" The table on the boat was struck so loudly that Yuan Wen and both Xiao Zhangshi jumped in fright.

Yuan Bing was so enraged that his beard and hair seemed to bristle as he angrily rebuked, "You mother and son, what exactly did you eat to allow Shao'er's concubine to disguise herself as a female servant and bring her along?!"

Yuan Wen said, "Father, Mother did this to save money; by bringing her, our family need not spend funds to hire a troupe for opera performances. In Chuzhou, the troupe Mother listened to charged us only half the usual fee!"

Seeing his eldest son was so utterly incapable of understanding the situation, Yuan Bing felt his temples throbbing wildly, followed by his vision going dark.

"Someone come! Quick! Someone come!" Yuan Wen shouted.

Later that evening, the Yuan family's boat lowered the flag reading "Earl of Zhongqin, Yuan," and Yuan Wen strictly ordered the maids and stewards on board not to tell anyone that this vessel belonged to the Yuan family, before continuing their journey toward Yang Zhou.

The great commotion in Bianjing, which had begun on the first day of the lunar month, continued to spread with increasing intensity.

Wang Yan's wife, Da Da Niangzi, was from a collateral branch of the Feng family, Dukes of Chengguo; several generations prior, a great commotion had occurred in the Chengguo Duke's household, where the Duchess of Feng had sent the wives of the second and third branches of the Feng family to the Shenjiesi.

For this, she had offended two noble families in the capital and was often brought up in gossip, yet this Duchess of Feng had merely retorted, "If you do not discard the rotten peaches, the entire basket will spoil!"

Indeed, a few years later, those two noble families were arrested and imprisoned by the Emperor of that time, stripped of their titles, and had their deeds of nobility destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Feng family flourished in both civil and military spheres, formed many marriage alliances in the capital, and possessed very reliable sources of information.

At that time, Lord Wang, who was in his prime and had not yet been granted posthumous worship in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, sought to marry this legitimate daughter from a collateral branch of the Chengguo Duke's family for his son, after all, family traditions are something that can be inherited.

He also hoped to gain a daughter-in-law similar to that Duchess of Feng from years past, and upon learning that his in-laws had kowtowed step-by-step to pray to the Child-Granting Granting Guanyin for their daughter, he became even more satisfied with this marriage alliance.

The Feng family was also satisfied with this marriage alliance.

However, after the Child-Granting Granting Guanyin brought by their married-off daughter was forcibly demanded away, this satisfaction had to be discounted somewhat.

Jiang Ningfu was the administrative seat of Jiangnan East Circuit of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and official gazettes reached there directly.

It was only natural for the gazette couriers to also carry letters for the officials.

Naturally, some time ago, Prefect Feng of Jiang Ningfu, being a member of the Feng family, had already learned of the commotion in Bianjing, and knew the details even more clearly, but since the Wang family had not asked, they felt it improper to poke at this scandal.

The person Wang Yan's wife, Feng Shi, had sent someone to inquire was precisely this Prefect of Jiangning.

Therefore, what Feng Shi knew was the latest version of the Yuan family commotion from around the Lantern Festival.

After Feng Shi understood the full context of events, she hastily informed her mother-in-law and then traveled to Yang Zhou.

Although Feng Shi felt some aversion toward her sister-in-law Wang Ruo, she still felt quite positively toward her younger sister-in-law Wang Wang Ruofu, especially since the Sheng family observed proper etiquette, Sheng Hong showed great respect upon meeting Wang Yan, and most importantly, after Feng Shi had met the Sheng family's eldest legitimate son, Sheng Changbai.

On Sheng Changbai's small face, she had actually glimpsed a trace of the demeanor once possessed by her father-in-law.

Furthermore, hearing Wang Wang Ruofu say that this young nephew studied diligently without cease and strove for progress, she regarded the Sheng family with even higher esteem.

After consulting her mother-in-law, Feng Shi went directly to the Sheng family residence in Yang Zhou to discuss this matter in person.

On the thirtieth day of the first lunar month,

at the Assistant Prefect's residence in Yang Zhou,

a carriage bearing the Wang family plaque drove straight through the main gate to the second gate, where Wang Shi, her brow furrowed with worry, was supported by Nurse Liu as she came out to welcome her sister-in-law from her natal family.

Seeing Feng Shi emerge from the carriage, Wang Shi hurriedly approached, saying, "Sister-in-law, you have finally arrived."

Since the matter concerned Sheng Hualan, Feng Shi was invited to Shou'an Hall; along the way, Wang Shi nervously held Feng Shi's arm, her eyes filled with anxiety over the Yuan family's final judgment.

Upon entering the main hall of Shou'an Hall, Feng Shi saw the Old Lady Sheng and hurriedly greeted her, "I pay my respects to you, Old Lady."

The Old Lady, wearing a gentle smile and a hint of gratitude, said, "I have troubled you; you actually came in person."

"Old Lady, what words are these? We are all relatives; how could there be any trouble?"

Everyone took their seats, and tea was served.

Naturally, it would not do to ask this relative to speak immediately upon arrival; first, she must drink some tea to moisten her throat.

Upon hearing that Feng Shi had rushed over personally for this matter, Sheng Hong also hurriedly came from the government office, wearing a scarf around his neck, as the scratches on his neck had just scabbed over and were not yet suitable to be exposed.

After drinking a few sips of tea that was perfectly tempered—neither too hot nor too cold, quenching thirst and generating saliva—Feng Shi cast an appreciative glance at Nurse Fang, who was busy attending to things.

"Old Lady, the tea in your courtyard is truly delicious and suitable."

At this moment, a female servant announced from outside the door, "The Master has arrived."

Sheng Hong entered the main hall of Shou'an Hall, hurriedly clasped his hands, and bowed, saying, "I pay my respects to you, Sister-in-law; I have troubled you, Sister-in-law."

Feng Shi smiled and said, "Brother-in-law remains so meticulous in his etiquette."

Wang Shi, however, felt somewhat stifled and uncomfortable, repeatedly looking at the Old Lady Sheng, hoping the Old Lady would start the conversation.

Unfortunately, the Old Lady held the situation firmly in hand, showing no urgency whatsoever, and slowly chatted with Feng Shi about various trivial matters from near and far.

Finally, Feng Shi said, "Two days ago, I received a letter from my cousin-sister-in-law of the main branch, delivered by a steward riding a fast horse, and thus the matter of the Yuan family has become even clearer."

Wang Shi, clutching her handkerchief, looked at Feng Shi and said, "Sister-in-law, please speak."

Feng Shi wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said:

"Around the Lantern Festival, the Yuan family's commotion was known to everyone in Bianjing; even a steward's young servant took some hearsay he'd heard and recounted it as an amusing anecdote to his masters."

"Sister-in-law, what was this hearsay?"

Feng Shi said: "It was said that some idlers claimed servants from a wealthy family gave money to several of their brothers, instructing them that upon seeing this actress, they should casually lead her elsewhere and prevent her from following."

Wang Shi's eyes lit up as she said: "Then was the Yuan family framed? I thought as much. No wonder my sister never sent a letter."

One more chapter remains; if there are any typos or awkward phrasing, readers are kindly requested to point them out without hesitation.

Sending love.





(End of Chapter)