Chapter 254: Let Her Sort Things Out [Many Thanks for Everyone's Support! A Second Bow!]

On the day of the Autumn She, the maternal grandfather, aunts, and uncles gifted their nephews and nieces new gourds and dates, which were considered auspicious for the children.

The treatment the Xu family's eldest grandson received at the Xie household was much the same as that given to Xu Xu Pingmei's son.

When they returned, every pocket on his body was stuffed full of tender little gourds and dates.

Meanwhile, at the Sheng household,

early in the morning, when Sheng Hualan and Xu Zaizhang disembarked from the carriage together, Wang Wang Ruofu, who had come out to greet them, was overjoyed:

"Xu Zaizhang! Why have you come here? Come quickly into the courtyard! Into the courtyard!"

Speaking thus, Wang Wang Ruofu, unable to stop smiling, hurried over to Xu Zaizhang's side.

Beside her, Sheng Hong smiled even more broadly, lightly stroking the beard he was currently growing out.

Today was the day Xu Xu Pingmei returned home; by rights, Xu Zaizhang should have been at home hosting his elder sister and her son.

The only reason he accompanied Sheng Hualan back to the Sheng family was because he cherished her deeply.

Welcoming Xu Zaizhang and the others into Shou'an Hall, the Old Lady looked at the couple, her eyes also filled with mirth.

After sharing breakfast together in the main hall,

Sheng Hong invited Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng to accompany Xu Zaizhang to his study to discuss calligraphy together.

After rising, Sheng Changbai looked at Sheng Hualan with eyes full of gratification and said:

"Brother-in-law, since you haven't returned these past few days, my elder sister seems to have become fairer and plumper."

Sheng Hong, walking ahead, nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaizhang, however, looked curiously at Sheng Hualan and asked in puzzlement, "Really?"

Sheng Hualan, meanwhile, remained in Shou'an Hall, chatting with the Old Lady and Wang Wang Ruofu.

After recounting the recent events at the Xu family to her grandmother and mother,

Wang Wang Ruofu suddenly said:

"Hua'er, you have been married for nearly a year now; why is there still no sign of movement in your belly!"

"Mother!"

Sheng Hualan looked at Wang Wang Ruofu with some embarrassment.

"My husband is currently studying; how can we do it too frequently! Moreover, now that the Xu family has an eldest grandson, I need not be so anxious!"

Wang Wang Ruofu frowned and said, "Your sister-in-law having a son has nothing to do with you! Having your own son is the proper principle!"

Seeing Sheng Hualan pressing her lips together, the Old Lady spoke gently:

"Your mother is a bit too anxious, but her words are not wrong! One must not let one's husband become obsessed with this, yet one cannot entirely neglect it! Previously, the Old Lady of the He family mentioned something to me regarding this."

Listening to the Old Lady's words concerning the proper days for marital intimacy,

Sheng Hualan, her face flushed red, nodded continuously, showing she had received instruction (Biaoshishou Sect).

Before noon, Xu Zaizhang bid farewell to the Sheng family and hurried back to Quyuan Street.

Lunch was not taken in Shou'an Hall;

Sheng Hualan ate in the front hall together with her parents, brothers, and sisters.

In the afternoon, before returning to the Xu family, Wang Wang Ruofu, looking at Sheng Hualan who seemed even more beautiful than when she was at home, instructed:

"You must remember clearly what your grandmother said!"

"Mother! I have remembered it clearly!"

"Good, here, take this!"

Saying this, Wang Wang Ruofu stuffed the gourds and dates from her hands into Sheng Hualan's hands.

Sheng Hong, wearing a smile, looked at Sheng Hualan and said:

"I hope that by next year, your father here will be able to become a maternal grandfather."

Saying this, he also gave items to Sheng Hualan.

Following behind were Sheng Changbai and the other Sheng children; even the youngest, Changzhen, held by Nurse Fang, presented Sheng Hualan with gourds and dates.

After placing these items into her sleeves, Sheng Hualan boarded the carriage.

Beside the carriage, Wang Wang Ruofu, supporting herself on Nurse Liu, leaned forward and said:

"Hua'er, come back often when you have nothing to do! Do you understand?"

Inside the carriage, Sheng Hualan wiped her eyes, then lifted the curtain, smiling and nodding.

Marquis Xiangyang Hou Fu

Princess Princess Pingning took Qi Heng back to her maiden home.

Although there was no rush, they still ate breakfast at the Marquis Xiangyang Hou Fu.

Although the Marquis of Marquis Xiangyang was no longer young, his health was still fairly robust.

In the morning,

after having the pregnant concubines come out to meet Princess Princess Pingning and Qi Heng,

the father and daughter, accompanied by Qi Heng, strolled through the spacious Hou Fu.

When they walked near the ancestral hall of the Marquis Xiangyang Hou Fu,

the Marquis of Marquis Xiangyang stood beneath a tree, glanced at the flying eaves of the ancestral hall protruding above, and said in a low voice to Princess Princess Pingning:

"Ning'er, regardless of whether the children born of these two concubines are male or female, they will all be recorded under your mother's name; in the genealogy, they will be your own younger brothers and sisters."

Princess Princess Pingning nodded.

"If they are all daughters, then we shall recruit sons-in-law."

"Father, why are you saying all this? You can handle it yourself when the time comes."

Looking at his daughter who was glaring at him, the Marquis of Marquis Xiangyang smiled and said:

"Is this not because I fear I may not live until that time? By then, the burden will still fall on you to manage."

Princess Princess Pingning looked angrily at Marquis Marquis Xiangyang and said:

"Father! If you say such things again, I will return to the Qi family."

"Good, good, good, I won't say it anymore."

Marquis Marquis Xiangyang hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly and said:

"Let us go wander through the treasury and see if there are any fine treasures we can give to Heng-ge'er."

"You two go; I will go see Mother."

Marquis Marquis Xiangyang raised an eyebrow, looked at Qi Heng, and said: "Let's go! Just the two of us men."

After parting ways with Princess Princess Pingning,

seeing Qi Heng beside him wanting to speak but hesitating, Marquis Marquis Xiangyang frowned in thought, then his eyes cleared with understanding as he said:

"Heng-ge'er, what is wrong? If you have words, just speak them."

Qi Heng turned his head to look at Hearing Buwei following behind, and then at his mother who had already walked far away, before saying in a low voice:

"Grandfather, in your place, ahem, are there still any female servants like the one you gave to Jing-ge'er?"

"No more. Fair-skinned, beautiful, and sharp-witted twin female servants—how easy is it to find such ones!"

Having spoken, Marquis Marquis Xiangyang thought of the Hua Xiang sisters; back then, because he had no heirs, he had burned his bridges and sent them out.

Now that his concubine was with child, he still felt a tiny sliver of regret.

Marquis Marquis Xiangyang and his grandson Qi Heng sighed, their expressions remarkably similar.

"In the future, since you have such a young elder, Grandfather will make it up to you properly. Come, pick whatever you wish from the treasury."

Qi Heng seemed accustomed to Marquis Marquis Xiangyang behaving this way and nodded calmly.

Inside the Imperial Palace,

the natal families of the various consorts had all entered the palace early in the morning.

From the Rong family of Hou Fu, Lady Rong and Rong Rong Feiyan had also arrived early at Consort Rong's sleeping quarters.

Consort Rong, who was now close to delivery, had a large belly, yet it did not hinder her movements.

Both Consort Rong and Hou Fu hoped the child in her womb would be an Imperial Prince,

for regardless of what happened in the future, at the very least he would become a princely king, securing the Rong family's wealth and honor.

If it were a Princess, that would not be so good.

Consort Rong habitually placed both hands protecting her belly, looked at Rong Rong Feiyan who was stroking her stomach, and said:

"Mother just said you have been eating little recently?"

Rong Rong Feiyan nodded:

"My appetite has been poor lately."

Consort Rong looked at the bowing-head Rong Rong Feiyan, pondered for a moment, then said: "You must have seen the Xu family girls, yes?"

"Sisters Xu Pingmei and Xu Anmei?"

"Mm."

Consort Rong continued:

"Noble ladies with such figures are what noble families prefer most. Those willow-frail types who look incapable of bearing children easily—tsk, tsk—even our mother would not choose them."

"Even setting that aside, for your own sake, if you do not have a strong body, how will you survive should illness or disaster strike in the future?"

Rong Rong Feiyan nodded and said: "Sister, rest assured; after I return, I will eat well."

Consort Rong hummed in agreement and affectionately stroked Rong Rong Feiyan's hair.

Afterwards, they did not stay for the midday meal; the Rong family left the palace before noon.

Inside the Empress's hall,

several Ladies from the Cao family of Marquis Marquis Tuoxi had entered the palace,

presenting Zhao Fang with new gourds and dates sent by the Cao family, hoping to bring good fortune to this Cao-family nephew.

Listening to the Empress's explanation of her relatives' behavior, the clever Zhao Fang looked at the Empress and said:

"Mother Empress, does that mean after my younger sister marries, I can give this to her children too?"

Hearing these words, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.

The Emperor inside the hall also laughed heartily for a while,

but gazing at the harmonious joy filling the hall,

not knowing what he thought of, some ideas formed in his eyes.

By late morning,

imperial rewards were bestowed, specifically upon the third branch of the Duke of Liang's family, the household of Princess Lu's husband.

The inner officials said nothing much; they simply brought some palace rewards to this Princess who had married into the Lu family.

The Emperor was also the senior elder of this Princess's natal family.

The Lu family's eldest daughter-in-law,

accompanied by guards and nannies from the Duke's mansion, also arrived at the Li family residence.

On the second day after the incident, the Old Lady of the Li family had gone to see her daughter and grandson; upon hearing the account of events, she was terrified by how close they had come to disaster.

After returning, she told her youngest son that if Zong-ge'er had died, her daughter would barely survive; she might not seek death, but her heart would surely be dead.

By today, it had been nearly half a month since she last saw her daughter and grandson.

Today, however, the Li family's daughters-in-law did not return to their natal homes, as those families were mostly in prefectures and counties hundreds or thousands of li away from Bianjing.

In the Li family courtyard, two large tables of fine dishes had been prepared.

The Old Lady of the Li family instructed the male members to sit at their own table.

She sat at a table with her daughter and daughters-in-law; the Old Lady lifted a cup filled with fruit wine and said:

"Our daughters-in-law live far from home; today's meal, just like in years past, is prepared for them. Come, let us all raise a cup."

The mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and young ladies all raised their cups,

and as everyone chatted, the conversation inevitably turned to the incident where Li Hua Jie had been so drunk he could barely stand, only to be carried off the carriage by the Xu family young men as if nothing were the matter.

Li Hua Jie's wife even went so far as to mimic his bewildered state the next day when his memory had gone completely blank.

This drew laughter from the senior ladies present, creating a joyful atmosphere,

yet everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the fate of the Lu family's second branch concubine and the Lu family's illegitimate son.

After returning home, Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou did not idle away her time;

she took Rong Rong Xian and Rong Rong Feiyan, who were not yet married, to visit her natal family,

thus managing not to miss the noon meal.

That young man currently learning a craft within the Li family's team of artisans was precisely the nephew of Lady Rong's natal family.

Upon arriving at his maternal grandfather's home,

among his male cousins, Rong Rong Xian was naturally the most outstanding; he accompanied his uncles in drinking wine,

and afterward led his cousins in conversation within the main hall.

"Jing Biao Ge, is it true that your relationship with the Xu family's Han Han Wulang is truly one of sworn brotherhood?"

Rong Rong Xian raised his eyebrows with self-satisfaction and said,

"Naturally it is. How did you come to know of this?"

The cousin briefly recounted the events of that day.

"Therefore, for these past few days, I have been following the Li family's team, working at the Xu residence."

"Hiss? Oh?"

Rong Rong Xian looked at his cousin in surprise, then, his eyes darting, he beckoned his young servant to his side and whispered a few instructions;

shortly thereafter, a folding screen was erected in the main hall,

and Rong Rong Feiyan arrived nearby with her female cousins.

In the past, such distinctions would certainly not have been observed, but ever since the Rong family produced an Imperial Consort, even this maternal grandfather's household had begun to pay attention to such proprieties.

Rong Rong Feiyan was naturally the most outstanding among her female cousins, yet the male cousins harbored not the slightest thought regarding her,

for they had all been lectured repeatedly by their elders, understanding clearly that such a match was impossible for them.

"Is this Jing-er really as the rumors say, rising early every day to train?"

Hearing Rong Rong Xian's question, the cousin nodded and said, "It is true. When we went to repair his family's stables, we could see him training every single day; he is incredibly fierce."

On the other side of the folding screen, the young ladies, while their male cousin spoke, all lowered their voices to listen intently to his words.

In these past few days,

the news of Xu Xu Zaijing bravely rescuing the legitimate grandson of the Duke's mansion had spread like wildfire; most of the young ladies in Bianjing had made this fresh event their primary topic of conversation.

Some young ladies would imagine the sight of Xu Xu Zaijing saving people beneath that volcanic mountain,

while some of the Rong family's female cousins occasionally peered through the folding screen to look at Rong Rong Xian, who sat in the midst of the group.

Listening to his cousin's words,

Rong Rong Xian took out some dates given to him by his uncles from his pocket and began eating them with a crisp crunch.

Glancing toward his sister behind the screen,

Rong Rong Xian occasionally asked a few questions: how far away it was, how large the place was, and which direction the gate faced.

He asked only about the front courtyard used for receiving guests,

which most who had visited the Xu family could see for themselves, so this cousin had nothing particularly secret to withhold.

On the other side of the folding screen, Rong Rong Feiyan,

upon noticing her brother looking over, quickly turned her head away; yet upon sensing Rong Rong Feiyan's gaze, her female cousins felt somewhat embarrassed to look at her.

Rong Rong Feiyan did not secretly harbor resentful thoughts as she had in childhood; instead, she lowered her head and continued peeling the pomegranate in her hands, listening attentively to the conversation nearby.

Once she had nearly finished peeling it, Rong Rong Feiyan gently split the pomegranate open, kept one segment for herself, and distributed the rest to her maidservant and her female cousins.

Her maidservant found this unsurprising, but the several female cousins were somewhat astonished,

and when these female cousins returned home, they told their parents that Sister Rong Feiyan of the Rong family had truly grown up.

In the afternoon, upon returning to Nan Jiang Tang Lane,

and entering Huixue Courtyard,

"Seeing Xi Bu, take that embroidered fan case your brother requested and deliver it to him."

"Yes, Miss."

Speaking thus, Rong Rong Feiyan laid out a sheet of white paper,

and Seeing Seeing Ningxiang hurried to the side to begin dripping water and grinding the inkstone.

After selecting a rabbit-hair brush from the brush rack, Rong Rong Feiyan closed her eyes to recall the details carefully, then began painting upon the white paper.

Today, Chai Chai Zhengzheng had accompanied her brothers in escorting her mother, Lady Chai, to visit her maternal grandfather's home.

Lady Chai's natal family bore the surname Cheng,

her grandfather being an illegitimate son who had branched off from the Cheng Duke's family of the Great Zhou, while her grandmother was the daughter of a scholarly family.

Although they had not received much property in the division and the household was not wealthy,

yet in the generation of Lady Chai's father (Chai Chai Zhengzheng's maternal grandfather), under the teaching and urging of Lady Chai's grandmother, he passed the imperial examinations and became a Five Jinshi.

When her father served as an official in Cangzhou, Lady Chai, though the youngest among the children, was the legitimate eldest daughter;

she was chosen by the then-head of the Chai household and his wife, and through their matchmaking, she entered the Chai family, becoming the Lady of the Chai household.

Nowadays, Chai Chai Zhengzheng's maternal grandfather has retired from office and remains at home, while her four uncles all serve as officials or clerks in Bianjing.

In the past, when Lady Chai was in Cangzhou, the journey was so distant that she certainly could not return to her natal family for such occasions; mostly, it was the two Chai Jin brothers in Bianjing who would visit the Cheng family.

Today, the entire Chai family had come.

Chai Chai Zhengzheng's four maternal uncles had all married women from Bianjing families, but since the Chai family had gathered today, Chai Zhengzheng's four aunts (wives of her uncles) had not returned to their natal homes.

Thus, when Lady Chai stepped down from the carriage, she was startled by the four sisters-in-law standing before her:

"Why, sisters-in-law, how is it that you..."

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Cheng family said:

"Isn't it because you, little sister, are returning? We haven't seen you in so many years! Last month you came in such a hurry we barely exchanged a few words!"

"The four of us discussed it and decided to let those nephews of yours go back on their own; after all, we women have no use for gourds and dates anyway."

Lady Chai looked at her eldest sister-in-law, who was speaking, and smiled:

"Then you, sister-in-law, have missed the lively gathering of that large crowd of female cousins from your Feng family."

"Missing this one time makes no difference; even if I had gone today, I would only have lent an ear! If I go in a few days, perhaps I might hear even more detailed gossip."

Hearing these words, the other three Da Da Niangzi all burst into laughter.

The Cheng Guo Gong's Feng family was known for having reliable sources of information, something Lady Chai had known even while she was still in her boudoir.

This eldest aunt of Chai Chai Zhengzheng was also mocking herself, for although the Cheng family had produced a daughter who married into the Chai family, it was also a fact that the four male members of the Cheng family held low official ranks.

Most of them had married daughters from families of equal standing; the one with the most distinguished background was this eldest daughter-in-law from a collateral branch of the Cheng Guo Gong's Feng family,

while the other three were mostly legitimate daughters from small households of low-ranking civil or military officials.

Therefore, on that day when the Chai family held a banquet at the Qi Guo Gong's residence, the presence of these few was barely felt.

If one were to truly compare their understanding of the noble families of Bianjing, naturally they could not compare with Wu Da Da Niangzi.

While chatting, the group entered the rear courtyard of the Cheng residence.

When Lady Chai had previously returned to the capital and visited the Cheng family, Chai Chai Zhengzheng had not accompanied her; today, however, she stayed to chat for a while with her mother and her maternal grandparents.

Perhaps because what followed were topics meant for women,

the young girls were arranged to go play in the rear courtyard.

Chai Chai Zhengzheng had lived in Cangzhou for many years and rarely had time to play with her female cousins; relying on vague memories, she could still recognize a few of the older female cousins,

but for the others, introductions were needed before she could know which uncle's family they belonged to, their birth order, and their names.

Fortunately, although Chai Chai Zhengzheng held a prestigious status, she possessed no arrogant or spoiled air, and when speaking with her female cousins, she mostly listened,

"Ah? The fifth son of the Han Guo Gong family is a kind and charitable young man?"

"He's acceptable, though I've heard he is somewhat fond of play and often visits Wu Wu Daniang's polo field."

On the other side, a Cheng family girl said:

"Being fond of play is nothing! We haven't even been there once!"

"By the way, earlier you mentioned that the Marquis of Lady Ningyuan and Marquis Marquis Yongyi are relatives?"

Hearing Chai Chai Zhengzheng's question, a Cheng family girl asked in confusion:

"Ah? Who said that?"

"Did anyone say that?"

Chai Chai Zhengzheng: "... Yes, or no?"

Seeing Chai Chai Zhengzheng's bewildered expression, this girl hurriedly said: "Right! The eldest daughter-in-law..."

"Chai Zhengzheng, weren't you playing with their legitimate daughter that day? Didn't you ask?"

"Oh! We're not close!"

(In the Lady Ningyuan Marquis Residence, Gu Gu Tingyi, who was accompanying Bai Wu Daniang and forcing a smile to receive the Yang family's Jing Biao Ge from a noble clan, sneezed.)

Thus, after Chai Chai Zhengzheng occasionally asked a few surprised questions, the topic of conversation inevitably shifted to the familial relationships between the various families in Bianjing.

"Does the Yongchang Marquis Residence have any familial relation to our family?"

"The Cheng Guo Gong Residence..."

"Does the Xu family of Marquis Marquis Yongyi have many relatives?"

Listening to the female cousins chat,

suddenly one girl said:

"Hey! Chai Zhengzheng, if you hadn't asked, I would have forgotten; let me sort this out!"

"Hmm, in my maternal grandfather's family, there was a male cousin-nephew surnamed Ni, but he passed away early. His daughter seems to have married a Xie Zijue."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng: "Mm! And then?"

"This Xie Zijue is surnamed Zhu; I heard he is Marquis Marquis Yongyi's nephew..."

My condition isn't good; I dawdled for a long time. Posting first, editing later.

Many thanks to reader 'Youyou's Dad' for the 100 donation.

A thousand thanks for everyone's vote support!

Bowing again!

That's all for tonight.

(`) Heart fingers!

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(End of Chapter)