Chapter 364: Naming and Old Matters [Thank You All for Your Support! Once Again, Thank You!]

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's words, Xu Xu Xingdai sighed in disappointment, resting his head on his uncle's shoulder and whispering, "Uncle, can we play when Grandma's not around?"

Xu Xu Zaijing glanced at his mother, let out a breath that was half-cough, half-murmur, and immediately, Xu Xu Xingdai's eyes lit up with a smile.

In the hall, Gu Gu Tingyi, who had just sat down on a nearby chair, watched the uncle-nephew interaction with envy, then rose and walked over to Xu Xu Zaijing: "Xu Xingdai, come, let Uncle hold you!"

After glancing at Xu Xu Zaijing's encouraging gaze, Xu Xu Xingdai reached out his hands toward Gu Gu Tingyi.

Holding the little boy, Gu Gu Tingyi said:

"Only Xu Xingdai is truly delightful! Unlike my nephew Gu Gu Shixing—he keeps his eyes rolling around whenever he looks at someone, clearly scheming something wicked in his little head!"

Xu Xu Zaijing sat down on a nearby chair, ignoring Gu Gu Tingyi, and met the smiling gaze of Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi before asking, "Auntie, have you settled on my niece's name yet?"

Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi smiled: "Jingge, we have! The Marquis himself wrote to name her."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled, his eyes questioning as he looked at Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi.

"The Gu family boys use the character 'Shi' in their generation names, with the radical '彳'; the girls use '女,' so we chose the character 'Yan.'"

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and smiled: "'Yan' means clever and wise—Yan Hua Jie."

After speaking, he thought to himself: 'That matches.'

Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi nodded with a smile, yet a trace of sorrow lingered in her eyes; behind her, Chang Ma merely smiled faintly at the corners of her mouth.

Seeing this, Xu Xu Zaijing guessed nine out of ten, but said nothing further.

Xie Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xu family, sitting below, also noticed Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi's expression, but said nothing, lowering her head to sip her tonic tea.

After setting down Xu Xu Xingdai, Gu Gu Tingyi asked, "Mother, why did you decide to visit relatives today?"

Gu Gu Tingyi opened his arms and pulled Xu Xu Xingdai back into his embrace, saying, "Brother, Mother knows the Xu family's farmers grow that excellent remedy for external wounds—she came specifically to learn about it."

Gu Yuan Erlang nodded: "Then, sister, can our family learn it too?"

Gu Gu Tingyi looked at the two silent Daniangzis and continued: "Of course—we can, as long as we learn together with the people sent by the Chaijia Sect."

"Chaijia?"

Gu Gu Tingyi nodded: "Brother, the Chaijia Sect sent people last month to learn it."

At that moment, a maid's voice rang out from outside the hall:

"The Second Wu Da Da Niangzi has arrived."

Soon after, Hua Lan entered, dressed in silver-white silk embroidered with pale green patterns, holding a handkerchief, accompanied by Cui Chan. She curtsied and said, "Greetings, Lady! Hello, brothers and sisters."

Xu Xu Zaijing and Gu Gu Tingyi's siblings immediately rose and returned the greeting.

Sitting above, Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi's eyes widened in wonder: "Has the boy stopped crying?"

Hua Lan smiled slightly: "He's asleep now, with his father."

Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi said: "Zhaizhang goes to school early every day—he's naturally tired by afternoon."

Sun Shi said: "Sit down, quickly."

Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Hua Lan nodded with a smile and sat down below her sister-in-law Xie Shi.

After sitting, Hua Lan noticed Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi's gaze fixed on her, and after glancing at her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, she felt uneasy and touched her hairpin and ornaments.

Sun Shi, seated beside Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi, said: "Sister, why are you staring at my Hua'er like that?"

Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi turned her gaze away: "Sister, I saw Hua Lan in Yang Zhou before! I've seen her several times since coming to the capital, but today, she looks like a completely different person."

"Her skin is whiter, and she looks even more elegant and noble!"

Beside Hua Lan, Xie Shi watched her sister-in-law with a smile in her eyes.

Gu Gu Tingyi's eyes sparkled as he nodded: "Mother's right! Hua Lan, do you have some secret whitening recipe?"

Hua Lan, embarrassed by everyone's stares, touched her face and asked, "Whiter? Really?"

Everyone nodded.

Even Xu Xu Xingdai squirmed out of Gu Gu Tingyi's arms, and once released, he walked over to the newly arrived Hua Lan.

"Auntie, hold me!"

Hua Lan embraced Xu Xu Xingdai, her eyes smiling, and said shyly, "Maybe I've just been cooped up indoors too long?"

She glanced at her clothes: "Or maybe it's the fabric that flatters me."

Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi glanced at Xie Shi, the Xu family's pregnant eldest daughter-in-law, who instinctively cradled her abdomen: "Looking at you two, your complexions are already radiant when pregnant!"

Hua Lan and Xie Shi exchanged a knowing smile.

After chatting a while longer, Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi glanced outside the hall and rose: "Sister, it's getting late—I'll take my leave."

After repeated pleas to stay, everyone walked toward the courtyard.

The two ladies walked ahead; Hua Lan and Xie Shi accompanied Gu Gu Tingyi in the middle.

Xu Xu Zaijing carried Xu Xu Xingdai, walking behind with Gu Gu Tingyi.

Hearing Xu Xu Xingdai's joyful laughter from behind, Gu Gu Tingyi turned curiously, then whispered to Hua Lan beside him: "Hua Lan, really no secret recipe?"

Hua Lan and Xie Shi exchanged another glance, then whispered something into Gu Gu Tingyi's ear; seeing her cheeks instantly flush red, Xie Shi chuckled softly:

"You're just talking about marriage—why are you blushing so much, Gu Tingyi?"

"The dietary guide for adjusting your body—your sister-in-law Xu Xu Pingmei has one too."

"You can follow the food therapy instructions in it—it was compiled by Madam He!"

Gu Gu Tingyi asked curiously: "That Madam He who specializes in gynecology?"

Hua Lan and Xie Shi nodded.

At the second gate,

After watching the Gu family's carriages and horses leave the Xu family's main gate, Sun Shi led the entire household back to the Lady's courtyard.

After settling back into their seats,

Xie Shi glanced at her mother-in-law, then at the Hou Fu maid beside her, opening her mouth as if to speak—but held back.

Hua Lan, sensing it, looked curiously at her sister-in-law.

Sun Shi understood the hint and waved her hand at Bamboo Mama.

Quickly, all the female servants in the hall exited the room and went outside.

Sun Shi looked at her eldest daughter-in-law and asked, "What exactly is wrong?"

After glancing at Xu Xu Zaijing, who was still sitting there, Xie Shi said, "Mother-in-law, why did I feel that Bai Wu Daniang seemed somewhat unhappy when speaking about Ping-Hua Jie'er's daughter just now?"

Sheng Hualan had not been present earlier; she looked at her sister-in-law with surprise, then glanced at her frowning mother-in-law, Sun Shi, and finally took a look at Xu Xu Zaijing, who was calmly drinking tea.

Sheng Hualan said, "Sister-in-law, was there really?"

Xie Shi nodded.

Sheng Hualan continued, "From what I observed, Bai Wu Daniang does not seem like someone who values sons over daughters."

Xie Shi nodded in agreement, her eyes also filled with confusion.

Wu Da Da Niangzi glanced at her youngest son, curious as to why he had not yet jumped up.

Holding his tea cup, Xu Xu Zaijing looked puzzledly at the three Da Da Niangzi in the hall and asked, "Mother, Sister-in-law, what is wrong?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi said in a deep voice, "It is not that my younger sister from the Bai family values sons over daughters; there is truly another reason."

Xie Shi asked hesitantly, "Mother-in-law, can you speak of it?"

After pondering for a moment, Wu Da Da Niangzi shook her head and said, "There is nothing that cannot be said; if one wishes to inquire, one could find out anyway."

Looking at Xie Shi, Wu Da Da Niangzi said:

"At the time of Xu Pingmei's grand wedding, you had already entered the Xu family; do you remember the day Xu Zaizhang and he went to the Gu family to cause a huge scene?"

When saying 'he', Wu Da Da Niangzi even lifted her chin slightly toward her youngest son.

Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Sheng Hualan, much like her mother Wang Wang Ruofu, opened her wide eyes and looked back and forth,

her face entirely expressing, 'Mother-in-law, you and Bai Wu Daniang are so close, yet such a thing actually happened.'

Seeing Sheng Hualan's expression, Wu Da Da Niangzi knew that her son had not told Sheng Hualan about those matters.

Wu Da Da Niangzi lifted her chin again; Xie Shi, having been a daughter-in-law for many years, understood the meaning, glanced at Xu Xu Zaijing, and then said to Sheng Hualan:

"Sheng Hualan, previously when our Eunuch was promoted to Commander of the Heavenly Martial Army, the family held a banquet; that rogue Gu Gu Tingyang from the fifth branch of the Gu family took a fancy to Sister Qingzhi, a young female servant attending Xu Pingmei, and wished to act recklessly, but he was taught a lesson by Jing-ge'er."

Sheng Hualan's face was full of disgust; having been in Bianjing for several years, she had also heard of Gu Gu Tingyang's reputation.

Xie Shi continued, "When Ping-Hua Jie'er married Gu Gu Dalang, that young female servant went with her."

Seeing the confusion in Sheng Hualan's eyes, Xie Shi explained, "At that time, Jing-ge'er and Mother-in-law invited our cousin from the Zhu family and arranged for four martial arts-skilled sisters-in-law from the Zhu family to serve as guards accompanying the dowry; the young female servant was to be accompanied wherever she went."

Sheng Hualan nodded with great gratification in her eyes.

"Later, when the Marquis of Lady Ningyuan returned from the north to Bianjing, Hou Gu took a fancy to a woman surnamed Mei and brought her into the Lady Ningyuan Marquis Manor, intending to raise her to the status of a concubine."

Sheng Hualan opened her wide eyes and nodded repeatedly.

At the same time, beneath her furrowed brows, her eyes showed some incomprehension, yet also an expectation for her sister-in-law to continue speaking.

"Later, that woman surnamed Mei attempted to kidnap the female servant Sister Qingzhi to curry favor with the fifth branch of the Gu family, but she was seen through by the Zhu family sisters-in-law, who rescued the girl. However, the very day after the rescue, a life was lost, and the Gu family demanded a life in return!"

"The young male servant who had accompanied our family to the Gu family rode our family's dowry horse back to report the news."

"Jing-ge'er and Xu Zaizhang then went there."

"It is said that Zhang-ge'er and Jing-ge'er behaved quite outrageously at the Gu family's residence."

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing, whose lips curled with disdain, and then glancing at her stern-faced mother-in-law, Sheng Hualan turned and asked, "Sister-in-law, what happened next?"

Xie Shi smiled and said, "Next? The matter escalated greatly, so Bai Wu Daniang moved with the siblings Gu Tingye and Gu Tingyi to live outside at the Bai family residence."

Sheng Hualan asked in confusion, "But since I came to Bianjing, I have never heard that Hou Gu has a concubine."

Xie Shi said, "It is correct that he has no concubine, because later, when Old Master Bai was returning to Yang Zhou, he fell into the water, and Bai Wu Daniang took Xu Pingmei and the siblings Gu Tingye and Gu Tingyi to Yang Zhou."

"It was also at that time in Yang Zhou that she met you."

Sheng Hualan nodded and said hesitantly, "Was it also after that that Eldest Sister's husband passed the imperial examinations?"

Xie Shi smiled and nodded, saying, "Mother-in-law, perhaps you should explain?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi let out a deep breath and said, "Very well! After Yu'er topped the second list of successful candidates and received his official appointment, he made Hou Gu choose between his family—consisting of himself, my younger sister from the Bai family, and the siblings Ye-ge'er and his sister—and that woman surnamed Mei."

Sheng Hualan widened her eyes in surprise and said, "Eldest Sister's husband looks quite refined, yet he actually acted so... Hou Gu certainly did not choose that woman!"

Wu Da Da Niangzi nodded and said, "Correct! Sheng Hualan, do you know why that woman caught Hou Gu's eye? It was because she resembled someone very much!"

Sheng Hualan said, "Mother, was it...?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi sighed and said, "She greatly resembled Yu-ge'er's biological mother, Qin Wu Daniang."

Xie Shi said from the side, "Mother, you must have met that Qin Wu Daniang, correct?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi nodded and said, "I have met her!"

Hearing his mother's words, Xu Xu Zaijing set down his tea cup and likewise looked over with curiosity.

Xu Xu Zaijing had never before asked his mother, Sun Shi, about matters concerning that Qin Wu Daniang; after all, by the time he was old enough to understand things, Qin Wu Daniang had already been deceased for seven or eight years.

Xie Shi said, "Mother, is Qin Wu Daniang truly as beautiful as my natal mother described?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi nodded.

Sheng Hualan then asked in confusion, "Mother, so... what does this have to do with Bai Wu Daniang's unhappy expression?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi sighed and said, "That is because you do not know some old matters from those years."

The two daughters-in-law of Wu Da Da Niangzi in the hall looked at her with faces full of curiosity.

Subsequently, Sun Shi glanced at her youngest son, who was pricking up his ears, and said with an expression full of reminiscence:

"Back when I was still an unmarried Miss in my maiden home, there was a renowned teaching mama from the palace in Bianjing, quite similar to the current Mama Kong."

"At that time, she was invited by the Marquis of Dongchang to her home to teach that Miss Qin for a very long period."

"After leaving the Dongchang Marquis Manor and going to other families, Miss Qin's reputation spread."

The two daughters-in-law of the Xu family nodded together, anticipating what would follow.

"Among the aspects of Miss Qin's reputation were these: she was skilled in poetry and verses, proficient in songs and fu prose, and mastered zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting without exception."

Xu Xu Zaijing feigned curiosity and asked, "Mother, that doesn't sound like much!"

Lady Sun shook her head and said, "The reason my younger sister from the Bai family is unhappy lies in the second half of that sentence describing Miss Qin's appearance."

"It says of that Miss Qin, 'Beautiful as an autumn lotus, stillness gives rise to elegance.'"

Lady Xie and Sheng Hualan exchanged a surprised glance.

Sheng Hualan: "This..."

Lady Xie: "Mother, isn't this stirring up trouble?"

Lady Sun nodded.

Choosing such a name—isn't this saying that Hou Gu, Gu Yankai, has not yet completely forgotten that Lady Qin!

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded as if just learning this and said, "So Mother means Aunt Bai's sour expression wasn't because Elder Sister gave birth to a daughter."

Lady Sun nodded and said, "Although Lady Bai has become a grandmother and already holds a titled ladyship, her character is straightforward and fiery; she does not bother to hide or pretend even before you all."

Xu Xu Zaijing continued, "Mother, did Brother-in-law say nothing? That shouldn't be right."

Sun Shi said, "After receiving the letter, your brother-in-law went to seek my younger sister from the Bai family's instructions."

"My younger sister from the Bai family nodded in agreement, saying that since Hou Gu is guarding the northern borders for the nation, it would be improper to reject his kind intention."

"Moreover, after all, this concerns Yu Er's birth mother."

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded; that made sense. Given Gu Gu Tingyu's character, he would naturally understand Marquis Lady Ningyuan's meaning.

"Enough, these are old matters; it is enough that you know of them! If others bring them up, do not get involved."

"Yes, Mother."

The next day,

Several noble young ladies in Bianjing, as agreed, went together with Chai Chai Zhengzheng to the Chai family's shop.

(End of Chapter)