Chapter 239: Add one or two [Thank you all for your support, bowing again]

Qi Guogong and his wife didn't follow the Chai family into the Fu,

but entered the Imperial Palace directly at the intersection.

One was to tell the Emperor and Empress about the Chai family's situation, and the second was because the Chai family young lady had encountered a troublesome matter, and it was really inappropriate for her to be a bystander when parents and daughter met.

The luxurious and restrained Chai family,

at the Chai family's second gate, the Chai family couple were still smiling and walking calmly.

But after entering the second gate and being surrounded by trusted servants, the Chai family couple's footsteps accelerated violently.

The Chai Jin brothers hurriedly supported their mother on the side.

Turning around a moon-shaped door, the Chai family couple saw their legitimate daughter standing at the room door.

"Zheng'er! Zheng'er! My girl!"

Chai Mother hugged her daughter.

After hugging for a long time, Chai Mother sniffed the scent on her daughter's body fiercely.

Subsequently, she grabbed Chai Zhengzheng's shoulders with both hands and scanned Chai Zhengzheng's appearance, especially looking carefully at Chai Zhengzheng's eyebrows and expression.

Seeing that everything was fine and there was no panic in her expression,

Father Chai's eyes were also brimming with tears. Chai Zhengzheng is his only daughter, and having grown up right before his eyes, he truly cherishes her in his heart.

Father Chai tilted his head back to let the tears in his eyes dissipate, then looked at his daughter and smiled.

"Father, Mother, let's go inside to talk."

"Right, let's go inside, let's go inside."

As she spoke, Mother Chai took Chai Zhengzheng's hand and walked in.

Seeing that the path from the courtyard to the room was very quiet and sparsely populated, with only one maid, the Chai couple looked at their two sons with approval.

Everyone took their seats.

Mother Chai still held her daughter's hand and asked:

"With only this one maid, is she taking good care of you?"

"Mother, she takes good care of me! Miss Yun Mu is thoughtful, cautious in her speech, and prudent in her actions."

Mother Chai nodded.

"On the road, your brother wrote to say you weren't sleeping well, but we couldn't travel too fast for fear of letting those with ill intentions notice anything. Are you better now?"

"Yes, Mother, I am better."

"We are going to the Qi family in a few days to attend a banquet; you should get to know more of the noble young ladies and official families in Bianjing then."

"Yes."

"Come, let's go to your room; I want to see if there is anything else that needs to be added."

As she spoke, Mother Chai and her daughter entered the bedroom. Mother Chai scanned the room and saw the armored puppet standing diagonally across from the bed.

Its silly, comical eyes were completely covered by the neck guard, making it look quite formidable.

Chai Zhengzheng followed her mother's gaze, and while accompanying her over, she hurriedly explained the situation, mentioning the Empress's intention in sending the armored puppet, but omitted the information that "the armor is often worn by the youngest son of the Xu family, the Marquis Yongyi."

"Ever since it was sent, Daughter has been sleeping much better."

Mother Chai walked up to the puppet and touched it with emotion, saying, "I must go into the palace to thank Her Majesty when the time comes."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Chai Zhengzheng again. Seeing her mother's hesitant expression, Chai Zhengzheng said:

"Mother, what is it you want to ask Daughter? Why don't I tell you about what happened during those days?"

"Talking about such distressing matters will only reopen your wounds!"

Chai Zhengzheng said: "Mother, let Daughter speak. That way, you will know how they protected Daughter."

Mother Chai looked at her daughter, whose eyes were filled with tears but held a firm gaze, and said: "Alright, Zheng'er, you speak."

Chai Zhengzheng took a deep breath: "Daughter remembers the family steward saying we were almost at Qingzhou."

"The trees were tall and the forest dense all around. Feathered arrows struck the guards all at once, and Qingxue even thought the guard had suffered heatstroke..."

"Although our family guards were highly skilled in martial arts, those bandits were clad in Northern Liao armor that blades could not pierce..."

"Some of the older women were so frightened their legs went weak, others screamed and ran about. Jin Mama shouted that the Chai family's noblewomen were in the carriage, and she was stabbed in the stomach with a blade..."

Chai Zhengzheng's voice began to tremble, and tears fell uncontrollably.

"Qingxue, she... hugged the bandit's leg, wanting to let Daughter run, and was slashed twice on the back..."

"That gang of bandits was ruthless and left no survivors; the injured guards and servants were all finished off with another blade. Daughter was blindfolded and tied to a carriage..."

"Daughter remembers it was morning. I vaguely heard the sound of a horn, and the sound of footsteps and running outside suddenly grew louder..."

"The cloth blindfolding my eyes was removed, and only then did Daughter know I had been saved..."

Speaking to this point, Chai Zhengzheng's expression relaxed.

Mother Chai held Chai Zhengzheng's hand, her heart aching; never had she suffered such a fright from childhood to adulthood:

"The letter didn't explain clearly. Why exactly did the Xu family young master who saved you go to a bandit den hundreds of miles away?"

"Mother, Heng Ge'er did explain the reason; the pretext was the Rong family..."

During these days in Bianjing, Chai Zhengzheng had heard plenty of news gathered by her brother, and she had figured out eight or nine-tenths of the matter.

After listening, Mother Chai nodded and sighed:

"It is all thanks to him..."

After the mother and daughter finished talking, Mother Chai assigned her most trusted mama and maid to Chai Zhengzheng.

These were people whose backgrounds were known, and whose family contracts were held in the hands of the Chai family; they knew what should be asked and said, and what should not.

In the afternoon, the Chai couple went into the palace to express their gratitude.

In the evening, the whole family had a harmonious meal together.

The next day,

Xingguo Lane,

The Chai family brought a carriage full of gifts through the main gate of the Qi Guogong Prefecture.

In the front hall of the Qi family, the two families talked and carefully finalized the list of invitations for the next day.

Madam Chai looked at the guest list prepared by Princess Pingning and said softly:

"Who is this Sheng family? Why haven't I heard of them?"

Princess Pingning smiled and said: "Their ancestor was a Tanhualang, the 'Old Immortal' in their family is the aunt of the Marquis Yongyi, and the eldest daughter of the Sheng family is the second daughter-in-law of the Xu family."

Madam Chai suddenly realized; these past two days she had only looked into the natal family of the Xu family's eldest daughter and the relationships of the Xu family's daughters-in-law, but had asked little about the older generations.

Chai Zhengzheng was listening from the side, blinking her eyes.

Madam Chai said: "In that case, we can't just invite their young master; I think we should just invite all the young ladies of their family."

Princess Pingning smiled and nodded.

"This Huyan family... were they not just..."

Princess Pingning whispered a few words, and Madam Chai said: "Oh, there is such a connection; they must be invited."

After the two ladies added a few more names to the list, the Qi family servant hurriedly sent it out.

"By the way, Zhengzheng has also reached the age; I wonder which good young men there are in this Bianjing?"

Princess Pingning pursed her lips and smiled as she glanced at the surprised Chai Zhengzheng, saying:

"Oh, there are plenty. Tomorrow, I will find someone who knows the scene for you."

Sheng family in Jiying Lane,

Wang Ruofu walked into Shou'an Hall in a flurry.

"Mother, the Qi family has sent another invitation, saying they invite the young ladies of our family to go as well."

The Old Madam nodded and said:

"Hmm, the Qi family is inviting quite a few people this time. You are taking so many children; you must keep a close watch on them, and don't be rude to others."

"Yes, Mother."

"The eldest daughter should also put some effort into the three young ladies."

Wang Ruofu was stunned, then squeezed out a smile and agreed.

After leaving Shou'an Hall, Wang Ruofu rolled her eyes and whispered:

"The fourth girl has that slut to worry about her; why would I need to bother?"

"Madam, this servant feels that the Old Madam means not to let the fourth young lady wear anything much better than the two young ladies; it would be best if all three young ladies were dressed the same."

Liu Mama continued: "This lets people see that our family does not mistreat concubine-born daughters."

Wang Ruofu nodded and said: "That's true; if the fourth girl dresses too well, others might think she is the legitimate daughter."

Liu Mama continued: "If someone asks, there will surely be those who laugh at us."

Wang Ruofu nodded and said: "Pass the word to that slut, just say it was Mother who said it; tomorrow when we go out, I will inspect them myself!"

"Yes, Madam."

On the day of the banquet,

Xingguo Lane,

Qi Guogong Prefecture,

Madam Wu arrived at the Qi family early.

"Young Master, don't be offended. Our family also has some connections in Bianjing. The clan leader's surname is Zhu, and my uncle is the Yongyi Marquis who is currently raising his banner in the north."

Madam Wu laughed heartily: "Oh my, Sister Chai!"

(End of chapter)