Chapter 128: Wang Shi's Sister-in-law Feng Shi [Many Thanks for Everyone's Support

Da Niangzi Sheng: "Cough, cough!!!"

Feng Shi withdrew her gaze from Wang Shi; upon hearing the name Wang Wang Ruofu, she secretly rolled her eyes in extreme disdain and continued speaking: "They say that group of loafers casually pointed her in a direction, and then some gossip-mongering gazette merchants, following the random direction those loafers indicated, used silver to ask around—guess what happened?"

Feng Shi slapped her thigh with her handkerchief and said: "They say that along this route, that little actress who entered the Earl's Manor cried at the gates of several high-ranking noble households!"

Everyone in Shou'an Hall was startled; even Mama Fang stopped her tea-making hands to listen carefully.

"Ah?"

"What?"

"Did she not go directly to the Yuan family?"

Feng Shi took a sip of tea; behind her, Mama Cui, spotting the empty tea cup, hurriedly presented a fresh cup of tea.

Feng Shi smiled slightly, feeling very comfortable being waited upon, and secretly praised 【the service】 in her heart.

Feng Shi looked at Wang Shi and said: "There was also a household with two brothers that this young lady sought out, but after the womenfolk sent someone to inquire, they properly escorted this little actress out the door."

Sheng Hong's face looked somewhat ugly; he knew there were some issues with Old Da Niangzi Yuan and her eldest daughter-in-law, but he had not expected the problems to be so great.

Feng Shi continued speaking: "That gazette merchant asked all along the way and surprisingly found seven or eight such households; yet only the Yuan family took her inside and kept her overnight. How could a lone woman entering an Earl's Manor gain a good reputation, especially with her brother causing a scene?"

Feng Shi glanced at the Old Da Niangzi and said: "Households that have frequent dealings with the Yuan family say that the Eldest Mistress of Earl Yuan loves listening to opera, and the Yuan Eldest Son takes after his mother. Taking advantage of the masters being away, and with someone using silver to pry open the mouths of the Yuan servants, they discovered..."

Feng Shi said: "This idea was proposed by the Eldest Mistress of Yuan Gu Dalang; now the reputation of the Zhang family, which is the natal family of both the Elder and Younger Xiao Zhangshi, has also become foul in Bianjing!"

Sheng Hong kept his head down drinking tea, staring constantly at his legitimate mother, Da Niangzi Sheng, not daring to make even a single eye contact with Wang Shi.

At this moment, a young maid outside the door reported: "Old Da Niangzi, Master, Eldest Mistress, the steward our manor sent out has returned; he is just outside the courtyard."

Sister Sister Suqin glanced at Da Niangzi Sheng and said: "Let him come to the door to answer questions."

"Yes!"

After a while, the steward arrived at the screen outside the hall, bowed deeply, and said: "Masters, this humble servant has arrived."

Wang Shi asked: "Steward, did you find the Yuan family's boat?"

"Replying to Eldest Mistress, this humble servant did not find the Yuan family's betrothal boat, but instead found the fleets of two marquisates: Da Niangzi Ningyuan Hou Fu and Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu; they say they can reach Yang Zhou by noon on the second day of the second month."

Da Niangzi Sheng asked: "Which people from the marquisates are in the fleet?"

The steward recalled for a moment and said: "Replying to Old Da Niangzi, the Xu family's Han Wulang is on the boat, along with Bai Wu Daniang of the Da Niangzi Ningyuan Hou Fu Gu family, and Xu Wu Daniang, the wife of the legitimate eldest son."

Wang Shi glanced at Feng Shi and kindly explained: "Sister-in-law, she is Jing Ge'er's biological older sister."

The Old Da Niangzi smiled and said: "Good, good; Sister Suqin, take five strings of cash and distribute them as rewards."

Feng Shi looked at the Sheng family members and asked: "Where is Bai Ge'er? Is he still studying?"

Hearing about her own son, Wang Shi smiled and said: "No; just now when he went to receive sister-in-law, he was in the room watching goldfish."

Wang Shi was smiling happily when another young maid came over and said: "There is a servant claiming to be from the Zhongqin Earl's Manor Yuan family at the gate, saying their betrothal boat can reach our Yang Zhou dock early on the second day of the second month."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shi immediately stood up and angrily scolded: "Does the Yuan family still have the face to come to Yang Zhou? Such a shameless household is rarely seen in the entire Great Zhou! Only those blind in the eyes would seek such a household!"

The last sentence was shouted at Sheng Hong, causing him to be sprayed upon and turn his head aside.

Feng Shi's eyes turned slightly, and she spoke softly to the Old Da Niangzi:

"Old Da Niangzi, I think we should send someone with my name card to Jiangning Prefecture to buy the Bianjing anecdotes meticulously published by that gazette merchant; listening to my cousin-sister, it even lists the names of those households that rejected the little actress at their gates. Being prepared avoids trouble! If the Yuan family behaves honestly, our two families can coexist peacefully, but if they dare to play dirty..."

Da Niangzi Sheng looked at Feng Shi, nodded, and said: "My daughter-in-law has a natal sister-in-law who truly thinks for her and wants what is best for her."

Feng Shi blushed slightly and said: "Old Da Niangzi, you praise me too highly. I will go see Bai Ge'er now, and I will return on the second day of the second month."

Wang Shi hurriedly said: "Sister-in-law, why don't you just stay here? Traveling back and forth is so exhausting."

The Old Da Niangzi also said: "Sister-in-law, this old woman has become deaf and blind during these few years in Yang Zhou; it would be better if you stayed to talk with us. After all, a young lady from the Chengguo Duke's Manor cannot be anything but excellent."

Feng Shi thought for a moment of her mother-in-law in Runzhou, then looked at the smiling Da Niangzi Sheng and Wang Shi, whose face was full of desire to pour out her heart and to listen; she hesitated for a while, glanced at Da Niangzi Sheng again, and could not help but recall some matters regarding the Xu family mentioned in letters from the capital.

Thus, she nodded.

"Sister Suqin, tonight you personally go to the kitchen and prepare a table of Bianjing dishes."

"Yes, Old Da Niangzi."

Wang Shi's eyes also lit up as she said to Feng Shi: "Sister-in-law, we are in for a treat today."

After speaking, she even glanced at Mama Fang.

Seeing the relaxed atmosphere in Shou'an Hall, Sheng Hong asked in a low voice: "Mother, shall we let the children come to meet their aunt?"

Da Niangzi Sheng nodded.

In Linqi Pavilion, Lin Lin Qinshuang picked the plainest and cheapest clothes for the two children to wear and instructed: "When you are before Aunt Wang, do not compete for attention with your older brothers and sisters, do you understand? That is the Eldest Mistress's natal family; if they see you behaving so well, they will surely reprimand your father, do you understand?"

Sheng Changfeng/Seeing Mo Lan: "We understand, Mother."

In the side courtyard, Wei Wei Shuyi also received news from Shou'an Hall; she found Minglan's best clothes to put on her, and with her large belly, she gently instructed: "When you go to Grandmother's place, speak less and do more, speak less and listen more, observe more. If Aunt asks, just say everything is going very well, do you understand?"

Minglan pouted and said: "But the food and charcoal in our courtyard are nearly exhausted; if we don't go ask for more, we will freeze to death and starve to death!"

Wei Wei Shuyi continued tying Minglan's clothes and said: "Grandmother calling you over surely means receiving guests; this implies the Yuan family is coming to deliver betrothal gifts, so there will naturally be delicious food waiting for you then. If you do not obey, I will send Sister Sister Xiaodie and Xiao Xiao Xiaotao away."

Minglan said: "Mother, you are just scaring me; you would never bear to do that!"

"Turn around, let me check your hair. It looks good; go ahead."

Soon, the Sheng family children all arrived at Shou'an Hall.

Naturally, Lin Lin Qinshuang and Wei Wei Shuyi did not come.

Only the children came; after all, the only mother the children had in name was Wang Wang Ruofu, while the rest were merely concubines.

Feng Shi looked at the room full of children in Shou'an Hall, her face full of smiles; especially upon seeing Sheng Hualan and Sheng Changbai, and seeing Hearing Rulan, it was like seeing a youthful, optimized version of Wang Wang Ruofu, albeit slightly better-looking due to Sheng Hong's features.

Seeing Sheng Changfeng and Seeing Mo Lan, Feng Shi's smile restrained somewhat, but she still offered a few words of praise.

Upon seeing Minglan, she looked at Wang Shi with some confusion; Wang Shi smiled and introduced: "This is our Minglan, born to Concubine Wei whom Mother sent."

Feng Shi understood; she looked at Minglan, then at Seeing Mo Lan and Hearing Rulan, taking everything in with her eyes.

Afterwards, Feng Shi wanted to give gifts, but Da Niangzi Sheng stopped her; after all, it was neither New Year nor a festival, nor was there any major event, so how could she let Feng Shi spend money unnecessarily.

Meanwhile, Mama Cui, standing on the other side, noticed the way Feng Shi looked at Minglan, and Da Niangzi Sheng had also perceived it.

After the children had played for a while, each departed with a basket of pastries, everyone receiving a share.

That was all.

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(End of Chapter)