Chapter 351

Hearing the female servant's announcement,

Everyone in the hall showed surprise; this was truly a case of "speak of the devil and he shall appear."

Soon, Wu Daniang's voice came over: "Sister Sun! Is Hualan doing well?"

As soon as the words fell,

Wu Daniang stooped and passed through the curtain at the door, entering the hall.

"Yo! Sister, is this a relative coming... hiss!"

Wu Daniang stopped her steps abruptly, looked at the Old Madam standing in the hall, and her eyes widened.

At the same time, looking at the Old Madam's hairstyle, Wu Daniang's eyes were not only surprised but also somewhat dazed.

"Old Madam! You... this, why are you here!"

After finishing, Wu Daniang patted her forehead with some annoyance and said:

"Oh my! Tsk! I am so muddled! Hualan is the young lady who grew up at your knees!"

Sun Shi walked to Wu Daniang's side and smiled:

"Sister, do you have 'wind-following ears'? I was just talking about you with Aunt, and you arrived!"

Wu Daniang glanced at Sun Shi and said, "What 'wind-following ears', this is a meeting of minds between the Old Madam and me!"

After finishing, Wu Daniang deliberately straightened her face and said, "What did you say about me to the Old Madam?"

Sun Shi teased, "Naturally, it was those things you said to me, Sister!"

Hearing this, Wu Daniang looked at the Old Madam with some embarrassment.

The Old Madam wore a smile and nodded at the straightforward Wu Daniang.

Wu Daniang smiled and asked, "Old Madam, is your health still good?"

"Good! Good! Many thanks for your concern, Daniang!"

"Old Madam, you are too polite!!"

Sun Shi, who was to the side, said:

"Wu sister, don't just stand there, please sit down!"

Before everyone took their seats, Wu Daniang greeted the Sheng Hong couple and glanced at Changbai, who was standing with Xu Zaijing, nodding in approval.

Hearing Sun Shi say that Hualan was doing well and had given birth to a son, Wu Daniang nodded to the Sheng Hong couple to the side as a congratulation.

Subsequently, Wu Daniang looked at the Old Madam's hairstyle again and said:

"Old Madam, looking at this hairstyle of yours, my heart is truly somewhat dazed!"

The others in the hall looked toward Wu Daniang inquisitively, waiting for her next words.

Wu Daniang said with great feeling:

"When I was a young lady, I envied this hairstyle of the Old Madam on the polo field at that time!"

"Unfortunately! Back then, the female servants in my family were clumsy and could never comb out the grace you had at that time, Old Madam!"

"Taking advantage of today, I must have the mamas in my family ask for advice."

Listening to Wu Daniang's words, the Old Madam glanced at Fang Mama, and Fang Mama bowed to indicate she had received the message.

Sun Shi interjected jokingly, "If I had known that Sister was so concerned about this matter, I would have at least written a letter to Aunt to ask for advice."

Wu Daniang waved her hand and said:

"Don't even mention it! If I hadn't seen the Old Madam's hairstyle today, I would have kept this matter at the bottom of my heart!"

"Old Madam, seeing you wearing this hairstyle, did you go riding?"

The Old Madam smiled and nodded, "I just rode for a while in the racetrack in the courtyard."

Wu Daniang exclaimed in admiration:

"Old Madam, your physical condition is truly excellent!"

"When I reach your age, I don't know if I will still be able to mount a horse!"

"Daniang is too modest!"

Everyone talked for a while in the hall.

The Old Madam looked at the sky outside, estimated the time, looked at Sun Shi and Wu Daniang, and said toward the Sheng Hong couple:

"Hong'er, it is getting late!"

Sheng Hong, who was sitting to the side, stood up hurriedly, "Yes, Mother! Then shall we... go home?"

The Old Madam nodded.

Everyone talked as they left Sun Shi's courtyard and went to the Zaizhang courtyard.

Before they even entered the room, they saw Cuichan walking out of the room with light steps. Seeing the Old Madam and her party, she hurriedly bowed.

Wang Ruofu asked with concern, "How is Hua'er?"

Cuichan said softly, "Replying to Daniang, the young lady has fallen asleep."

Hearing this, the Old Madam waved her hand and lowered her voice, "Since she has fallen asleep, we will not disturb her; we will come again when the full month arrives."

Hearing the Old Madam's words, Wang Ruofu looked into the room with concern.

Zaizhang, who was accompanying Hualan in the room, must have heard the conversation and walked out of the room.

After learning that everyone was leaving, he also followed.

When he followed, Sheng Changbai's gaze toward Zaizhang was even gentler than before.

Subsequently, Sun Shi accompanied the Old Madam and the Sheng Hong couple out of the second gate.

Before getting into the carriage, Sun Shi held the Old Madam's hand and whispered in her ear, "Aunt, you must come more often when you have time!"

The Old Madam looked at Sun Shi's sincere gaze, smiled and patted her hand, and shook her head:

"Nonsense! This old woman is now the Old Ancestor of the Sheng family!"

"How can there be a saying of always returning to one's maiden home?"

Sun Shi smiled.

Subsequently, the Old Madam smiled at Wu Daniang again, looked at Wu Daniang's complexion a bit more, and then boarded the carriage with Fang Mama's support.

"Let's go! Return!"

The Old Madam said softly, waving her hand from behind the carriage curtain.

Everyone standing at the second gate nodded hurriedly. Wu Daniang wanted to say something but stopped.

"Take care, Great-aunt!"

After Wang Ruofu also said goodbye to Sheng Hong in the carriage, she lowered the curtain. In the carriage, there was less worry about Hualan in Wang Ruofu's eyes, and much more excitement.

"This noble family's upbringing is truly good! And Mother found a good one!"

"Sir, did you see the look in our son-in-law's eyes when he looked at Hualan! Oh my~"

As she spoke, Wang Ruofu patted her own thigh.

Although he was somewhat unaccustomed to his own Daniangzi on weekdays, hearing Wang Ruofu's words and thinking about what he had seen and heard today, Sheng Hong still laughed.

Wang Ruofu glanced at Sheng Hong and said with great feeling, "Sigh! Sir, you say, how is it that in the blink of an eye, we have become a grandfather and grandmother?"

Sheng Hong's smile stalled; sometimes it is not only women who care about age.

Hou Fu gate,

Seeing the Sheng family carriage coming out, Chu Zhan, who was sitting at the gate talking to the Hou Fu gatekeeper, jumped up immediately.

He ran to the stall and said, "Uncle Shu, the Sheng family carriage is out!"

Hearing this, Uncle Shu stood up immediately.

He took his mother-in-law, who was holding the child Qingyun, to the side of the road and bowed to the Sheng family Old Madam's carriage.

Seeing this scene, the Sheng family carriage driver hurriedly said something to the Old Madam in the carriage.

Immediately, the carriage slowed down, and Fang Mama on the carriage lifted the curtain. She and the Old Madam looked at the family of three on the roadside and nodded with a smile.

Watching the carriage pass by, Mama Hua, who was beside Uncle Shu, said, "Sir, you only had us bring the child out to pay respects, which noble family is in the carriage?"

Uncle Shu said, "When I was not very old, my clothes were torn and tattered, and it was Sister Fang, who was beside the young lady of the Marquis mansion in the carriage back then, who helped me sew them."

Mama Hua nodded.

At this moment, the Sheng family carriage, which had not gone far, stopped for a moment,

And Cui Mama, dressed decently, got off the carriage.

She came to Uncle Shu, bowed, and said, "Big Brother Shu, this is the good intention of the Old Madam and Sister Suqin."

As she spoke, she placed a purse she was holding into the swaddling clothes in Mama Hua's arms.

Uncle Shu hurriedly waved his hand, "Little sister, my wife and I are here, not for this."

Cui Mama, Cui Ruan, smiled, "Big Brother, the Old Madam and Sister know! But this is also their good intention!"

Uncle Shu shook his head and was about to take the purse out of the swaddling clothes, but was blocked by Cui Mama, who said, "Big Brother, if you don't want it, Sister Suqin said she won't recognize you in the future!"

Uncle Shu: "This! Sigh! Then help me thank the young lady and Sister Suqin. Let them spend money!"

After Cui Mama bowed with a smile, she turned and walked toward the carriage.

After the carriage had gone far, Uncle Shu did not open the purse, but tucked it into his son's swaddling clothes.

Changbai, who was riding at the very back, also nodded to Uncle Shu before spurring his horse to catch up with the Sheng family's carriage team.

"Old Madam?"

"Hmm?"

"Old Madam, what are you thinking about? I called you several times and you didn't answer!"

In the carriage, hearing Fang Mama's question, the Old Madam smiled and shook her head:

"Nothing! I was just thinking about Wu Daniang, who was still a young girl on the polo field back then, and which tent she was watching the battle from."

Fang Mama said, "Then did you remember?"

The Old Madam shook her head and smiled bitterly, "I can't remember!"

After Fang Mama frowned and thought for a while, she said:

"Wu Daniang's position shouldn't have been very good!"

"Back then, Wu Daniang's two elder brothers had not yet passed the imperial examination to enter the court as officials. For Wu Daniang to be able to go watch polo, it should have been because her elders had just been adopted into the main branch, and she was able to go watch polo relying on the ancestral shade of the Wu family's main branch."

"At that time, our Marquis mansion was at its most prominent, so it is only natural that you don't remember."

The Old Madam wanted to recall the prominent scene of the Marquis Yongyi's mansion back then, but for some reason, there was only a blur in her memory.

No longer thinking about the events of the past, the Old Madam said, "Just now I noticed that Wu Daniang's complexion seemed a bit poor?"

Cui Mama nodded, "The Old Madam is right! This servant also noticed it."

Fang Mama said, "This Marquis Yongchang's mansion is also a top-tier family in Bianjing, so they shouldn't be lacking in famous physicians. How could Wu Daniang..."

Hearing this, the Old Madam thought about Wu Daniang's demeanor, a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes, and she said slowly:

"Although there are many famous physicians in the capital, there are not many who specialize in gynecology."

"There is even less who can compare to the old sister who married into the He family!"

Fang Mama froze and said in a low voice, "Old Madam, are you saying that Wu Daniang went to the Marquis mansion because of you?"

The Old Madam shook her head, "Perhaps I am overthinking it!"

Hou Fu inner courtyard,

In Sun Shi's courtyard,

Xu Zaijing was sitting on a chair, while his nephew Xu Xingdai was sitting on his right foot, hugging Xu Zaijing's lower leg.

Every time Xu Zaijing swung lightly, it would make Xu Xingdai laugh out loud.

Sun Shi and the eldest daughter-in-law to the side looked at the uncle and nephew playing and looked at each other helplessly.

"Dai Ge'er, good nephew, let go!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Xu Xingdai laughed and let go of the hands hugging Xu Zaijing's lower leg.

Then, Xu Zaijing used a little force, and Xu Xingdai was sent by his foot to a height of about a zhang. The clothes on Dai Ge'er's back were about to brush against the bottom of the roof beam in the hall.

Xu Xingdai shouted excitedly in the air, and then was caught in Xu Zaijing's arms.

Xu Zaijing held his excited nephew, glanced at his mother, then lowered his head toward his nephew and said, "Dai Ge'er, do you want to play more?"

Xu Xingdai: "Mm-hmm!"

Sun Shi looked at her youngest son with his back to her, gritted her teeth and said, "Xu! Zai! Jing! You try playing one more time!"

Xu Zaijing shrank his neck, pretended not to hear, placed Xu Xingdai on his neck, and walked out, saying as he walked, "Let's go! Let's go out and play!"

Xie Shi on the other side looked at this pair of uncle and nephew with a smile.

After the two left the hall, Xie Shi said:

"Mother-in-law, Great-aunt really spent a lot this time!"

Sun Shi nodded and said:

"Hmm! That little rabbit Xu Zaijing, he thinks of one thing and then another! He only thought about pulling Aunt back to our home! He didn't even think that Aunt is so old, how could she come empty-handed as an elder!"

Xie Shi said:

"Mother-in-law, this daughter-in-law actually thinks that Xiao Wu just wanted Great-aunt to come back to her maiden home to take a look!"

"Don't you also often nag, saying that Great-aunt has been married for so many years, and the number of times she has returned to her maiden home can be counted on one hand!"

"If it weren't for Hualan giving birth to a child, even if Xiao Wu talked until his mouth was dry, this daughter-in-law feels that Great-aunt wouldn't be very likely to come!"

Sun Shi let out a sigh of relief, "That's true!"

Xie Shi continued, "With Xiao Wu accompanying her, this daughter-in-law saw that Great-aunt was truly happy!"

Sun Shi listened to the happy, high-and-low-pitched screams and laughter of Xu Xingdai coming from outside, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, no longer thinking about that rebellious son Xu Zaijing,

After calming her mood, she said:

"In the Marquis mansion courtyard, when the Old Madam saw those spirited mounts of Xiao Wu, she might have thought of a lot!"

Looking at her eldest daughter-in-law's confused appearance, Sun Shi said with melancholy:

"Before, I heard the Marquis say that when Aunt was married, the Old Old Marquis, who is your great-grandfather, gave her the Marquis mansion's horse officials and several spirited fine horses as part of her dowry!"

"But in the end..."

Sun Shi shook her head and sighed, "Those fine horses were either given away by that top scholar, or harmed by that thieving woman."

Xie Shi frowned, "Great-aunt loves polo and fine horses so much, wouldn't those people doing that be stabbing her in the heart?"

Sun Shi nodded, "Yes!"

After listening to her mother-in-law finish, Xie Shi looked thoughtfully at the chair in the hall where the Old Madam had once sat,

Thinking of the Old Madam's still open-minded smile and peaceful gaze, a look of admiration gradually appeared in Xie Shi's eyes.

At this moment, in the courtyard outside the hall, a high-pitched, excited scream from Xu Xingdai that rose above the roof came.

Sun Shi slapped the table, walked out angrily, and on the way, she also took a long bamboo board from Zhu Mama's hand.

Jiying Lane

Sheng Mansion,

In the hall of Jin'an Study,

Three hanging paintings of immortals were hung on the wall,

An incense burner was placed on the long table in front of the hanging paintings, and incense smoke curled above the burner.

On the prayer mat in front of the long table,

Wei Shuyi was kneeling there devoutly, praying with her hands together. If one got closer, one could vaguely hear:

"I beg all the immortals to bless the eldest young lady so that everything goes smoothly! May she give birth to a son in one go!"

"Bless the eldest young lady to be safe and sound!"

With every sentence, Wei Shuyi would devoutly bow and kowtow.

Kneeling behind Wei Shuyi were Minglan, Xiaotao, and Xiaodie.

Firstly, they were influenced by Wei Shuyi's attitude, and secondly, the three of them were thinking about some things that happened in Yang Zhou before, so their expressions were equally serious.

After kneeling and praying for a long time, seeing that the sky was already dark, Wei Shuyi walked to the gate of the Jin'an Study courtyard with a worried expression.

From time to time, she sent Xiaodie to the second gate to take a look.

When the sun was about to set, Xiaodie ran over with a smile: "Little Mistress!! The eldest young lady has given birth to a son!"

Hearing this, Wei Shuyi laughed happily, put her hands together again to pray, and thanked the immortals and true people.

Weiruixuan,

After Rulan listened attentively to the magpie finish speaking, she jumped up happily and shouted: "Ha! I have a nephew from the Marquis mansion! Hahaha!"

(End of this chapter)