Chapter 551

Late in the twelfth lunar month,

the day after the Cheng Guo Gong Prefecture banquet,

at the end of the Chen hour (after 9:00 AM).

Two hundred li from Bianjing,

Yingchang Prefecture.

Because the Spring Festival was approaching, there were many commoners setting up stalls early in the morning to sell peach charms, door gods, and other New Year supplies, making the streets of this prefecture city much livelier than in previous winters.

In front of a large gate with a plaque reading "Wang Family,"

the head of the delivery shop was leaving on horseback with a smile on his face.

Inside the Wang family's main gate,

at the second gate of the front courtyard,

a servant handed a bamboo tube to the nanny guarding the gate.

The bamboo tube was then taken by the nanny and quickly handed to a female servant in the inner courtyard.

In the main hall of the inner courtyard,

because the floor heating was burning, the room was very warm.

Madam Feng, the mistress of the Wang family who came from the Cheng Guo Gong Prefecture, was currently chatting with the official families of Yingchang Prefecture with a smile on her face.

"Madam Shi, you are right! But my You'er, that boy, insists on learning from his aunt's cousin Changbai, saying he won't talk about marriage until he passes the imperial examination. You tell me this..." Madam Feng said with a smile.

"Oh! Then this Young Master You has ambition!"

An official's wife replied with a smile.

That Madam Shi, who had just initiated the topic of "marriage," nodded with a slightly awkward smile on her face.

Looking at Madam Shi's expression, Madam Feng continued, "I heard that the young master in Madam Shi's family will also be going to the capital for the metropolitan examination in two years?"

"Yes! After taking the exam twice, he finally passed the provincial examination!" Madam Shi said with a smile.

"Then, does he have a place to stay in the capital? In the years of the metropolitan examination, the inns and hostels in the capital are full of people!"

Madam Shi shook her head and said, "The family also wants to set up some property in the capital, but the land prices in the capital are truly..."

Madam Feng and the other guests exchanged a look, nodded in agreement, and said, "Madam is right. Our family also relied on the ancestors' shade to have an easier time! When your family's young master goes to the capital in two years, just let me know. Whether it's the Feng family or the Wang family, we will definitely not let our children be in a difficult spot."

"Sigh! Then here, I will thank you first, Sister." Madam Shi said, about to stand up and bow.

Madam Feng hurriedly waved her hand and said, "Sister, don't be so formal."

As they were speaking,

a Wang family female servant lifted the curtain and walked in, handing the bamboo tube in her hand to Madam Feng's personal steward nanny, Wen Ye.

Cui Cui Mama Wen looked at the bamboo tube and whispered, "Madam, an urgent letter from the capital."

Hearing Cui Cui Mama Wen's words, the several official madams in the hall exchanged looks.

It was still that Madam Shi who stood up and said, "Sister Feng, I have some matters at home, so I will take my leave first! On the twenty-fourth, for the New Year's Eve, let's go burn incense at the Daoist temple outside the city together."

The other official madams stood up one after another, saying the same words of farewell.

Madam Feng tried to persuade them to stay for a while, but seeing that the guests insisted on leaving, she could only send them to the second gate.

As they walked from the second gate toward the hall, Cui Cui Mama Wen had already poured out the urgent letter rolled up in the bamboo tube and handed it to Madam Feng.

After unfolding the letter paper, Madam Feng read it as she walked.

"Crack."

Madam Feng suddenly stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowed, and her complexion became very ugly.

"Madam, what's wrong?"

Cui Cui Mama Wen asked in confusion.

Madam Feng took a deep breath, read the letter in one glance, exhaled, and said, "Go, find the Old Madam! Send someone to the yamen to call the Master back, just say there is an urgent matter in the capital."

"Yes."

Cui Cui Mama Wen gave a look to Madam Feng's personal female servant at the side.

The female servant left quickly, and Madam Feng also led people toward the Wang family's backyard.

In the backyard Buddha hall,

the green smoke from the incense in the burner curled up.

Old Madam Wang, dressed in dark gold brocade, was kneeling on a prayer mat, eyes closed, silently chanting something.

An elderly nanny walked in and said softly:

"Old Madam, Madam is here."

"Hmm? Isn't she in the hall entertaining the official families of Yingchang Prefecture?"

"She says there is an urgent letter from the Cheng Guo Gong Prefecture in Bianjing."

Hearing this,

Old Madam Wang on the prayer mat extended her hand with a thoughtful look in her eyes, and the nanny hurriedly stepped forward to support her.

After standing up, the two walked toward the outside of the Buddha hall.

Entering the hall,

Old Madam Wang swept her eyes over her daughter-in-law's face, looked at Madam Feng's expression, and a smile appeared on Old Madam Wang's face as she said, "Daughter-in-law, what happened in the capital?"

Madam Feng took a deep breath, took two steps forward, held the letter paper in both hands, and said, "Mother... please take a look. This letter was written personally by the Great Ancestor of the eldest branch in the capital."

The standing Old Madam Wang's smile slowly dissipated; she frowned, took the letter paper, and looked at Madam Feng in confusion. She said, "A letter from the Old Duke?"

Reading the contents of the letter word by word, Old Madam Wang's breathing gradually became rapid, and her brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Holding the letter paper in her hand, supported by the nanny, Old Madam Wang slowly retreated a few steps in a daze, sat heavily on the Luo Han chair, and said:

"This Yun'er has always been sensible, and Yuan'er is only at the age of fifteen, how could they have such vicious thoughts? Is it... did she offend someone, or was she framed by a family that doesn't get along with her?"

"Or did the Feng family's nannies and servants carelessly cause the fire themselves and are now randomly accusing others to clear their names?"

Madam Feng sighed, frowned, shook her head, and said:

"Mother, those who went that day were all high-ranking families in the capital; how could the Guo Gong Prefecture dare to be negligent!"

"And the nannies and female servants all know that the courtyard separated by a wall is where the stables are; they check the charcoal braziers several times, so how would they dare to randomly throw burning wood charcoal?"

"Before the fire started, only the Kang family sisters had entered that small courtyard; if it wasn't them, who else could it be?"

"If it wasn't them, why would they be so scared by the Feng family's bluffing that they couldn't stand steadily and collapsed on the ground!?"

"That panicked horse almost stepped on the Rong Concubine's own younger sister, Miss Feiyan! The Guo Gong Prefecture helped our family take the blame for this matter..."

Listening to Madam Feng's words and looking at the letter paper in her hand, Old Madam Wang felt her whole body collapse.

The Cheng Guo Gong Prefecture is not the Sheng family; as a long-standing noble family, they have deep roots and powerful influence in Bianjing.

As an old-school Duke advanced in age, the Emperor treats the Old Cheng Guo Gong with great respect.

This letter was just to notify the Wang family to avoid any misunderstandings, not to discuss with the Wang family how to handle it, especially since the Feng family helped take the blame for the Rong family's anger.

Old Madam Wang sighed deeply and said, "Reply to the letter, tell your maiden family that the Wang family will not have any misunderstandings about this matter. Have your husband prepare another apology gift, and later, send it to the Feng family along with my personal letter."

Saying this, Old Madam Wang handed the letter paper to the nanny at the side, signaling her to give it to Madam Feng.

"Yes, Mother."

Madam Feng stood up and bowed, and after Cui Cui Mama Wen took the letter paper, they walked out together.

After walking a few steps out of the room, they met Wang Yan, dressed in official robes, walking toward them.

Subsequently,

looking at the letter paper handed over by his wife, after reading it, the couple spoke a few more words.

Wang Yan sighed, "Sigh! That Kang brother-in-law's official career..."

Madam Feng at the side glanced at the main room where Old Madam Wang was, and said:

"The Kang family relatives have caused us so much trouble!"

Looking back at her husband, who was still sighing, Madam Feng said hatefully:

"Husband, don't you think about how many high-ranking officials and nobles live near the Cheng Guo Gong Prefecture?"

"If a major catastrophe had really been caused that day, or if Miss Feiyan had had an accident, it wouldn't just be the Kang family's official career; even your official career would be affected! And You'er's future!"

Wang Yan nodded repeatedly with lingering fear, "Madam is right. Then I will start preparing the apology gifts now."

Bianjing,

West Outer City,

on Xishui Gate Street,

although it was winter, the streets of Bianjing were still bustling with traffic and very lively.

By the roadside,

in a small shop with a flag reading "Ni Family Sewing, Washing, and Knitting Shop,"

in the back room,

the charcoal stove was burning vigorously, radiating heat to the surroundings.

A respectable nanny sitting in a chair said with a smile:

"Liu Niangzi, we have collaborated several times already; how could the proprietor and I not trust your craftsmanship?!"

Sister Xiaodie, with her large belly, had a smile on her face and said, "Thank you for your favor; this material is so precious, I will definitely embroider it carefully."

"Sigh!" The respectable nanny said with a smile, "Then you must also take good care of your health; you are quite far along."

Sister Xiaodie nodded.

"Sister-in-law, the material is here." A young girl walked over holding a bolt of satin with a smile.

"Little Sister, put the material here and let Zhong Cui Mama take a look," Sister Xiaodie smiled.

The respectable nanny, Zhong Cui Mama, looked at Ni Little Sister with a smile and said, "Liu Niangzi, this girl of yours is truly beautiful; has she been engaged?"

Hearing this, Ni Little Sister lowered her head with some embarrassment.

Sister Xiaodie shook her head with a smile, "Not yet."

Zhong Cui Mama nodded, looked at the material in front of her, and said, "That's true, with an elder sister who is a Xie Zijue's Madam, this girl should be chosen carefully."

Sister Xiaodie nodded with a smile, "Yes."

Zhong Cui Mama continued, "Come to think of it, it's strange; today several female servants and nannies from high-ranking families in the capital came to my shop, saying that if they were to send material into the residence, it must be this color."

As she spoke, Zhong Cui Mama patted the light green material on the table.

"If I didn't remember that you still had a few bolts of this color, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to enter the gates of those families."

Sister Xiaodie smiled, "Is there some new fashionable color combination in the capital?"

Zhong Cui Mama said helplessly, "The proprietor and I haven't figured out what's going on yet! This liking for light green and tender yellow has suddenly become popular."

Looking at Sister Xiaodie with her large belly, Zhong Cui Mama continued, "By the way, Liu Niangzi, the proprietor said, after you finish this, you can notify my shop whenever you want to do more; please don't look for other shops, you can open whatever conditions you want."

"There aren't many embroidery masters in Bianjing with your craftsmanship. Can you give me a hint as to when the other master will be able to take on work?"

Sister Xiaodie smiled, "Your shop's prices are fair, naturally I won't look for others! The other one... will have to wait for some time."

"Oh..." Zhong Cui Mama's face showed some disappointment, then she said, "Fine, then I will take my leave; I still have to go to a few families later."

Sister Xiaodie stood up, supported by Ni Little Sister, sent the person to the front shop, and watched the respectable Zhong Cui Mama get into the carriage.

Just then, a squad of patrolling soldiers passed by.

Looking at Sister Xiaodie at the door, the leading squad leader hurriedly bowed and said, "Liu Niangzi is busy? If there are any rascals or idlers disturbing you nearby, just tell this one!"

Sister Xiaodie nodded with a smile, "Thank you, Yuhou."

Subsequently, Sister Xiaodie turned around and returned to the shop with her sister-in-law.

Among this squad of soldiers, someone looked at the small shop and said, "Jing Jing Biao Ge, just such a little madam, why are you being so polite to her? Just now you saw..."

Before the others could speak, the squad leader slapped that person on the head and said, "Shut up! Do you know what her husband does?"

"Jing Jing Biao Ge, wh-what does he do? Could it be that he is a high official?"

"Liu Niangzi's husband is currently studying in Minister Li's family school! The Ministry of Personnel! Even our superiors' superiors have to respect him! Her elder sister's husband is Xie Zijue Zhu, who is under Marquis Yongyi."

After the squad leader finished speaking, the soldier swallowed and said, "Th-this, a small shop in Bianjing, standing behind it is such a big..."

"While Young Master Ni hasn't passed the imperial examination yet, we can still see Liu Niangzi and try to get close! Who knows, we might have a backer in the future!"

Imperial City,

in the Empress's palace,

looking at Rong Feiyan, who had accompanied the Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang into the palace, the Empress sitting in the chair smiled and said, "Madam, looking at this, Feiyan is becoming more and more beautiful."

The princess sitting beside the Empress nodded in approval.

The Empress's smile faded slightly, and she said again, "I heard about yesterday's incident; weren't you frightened?"

Rong Feiyan stood beside her mother, bowed, shook her head, and said, "Thank you for the praise, Empress; Feiyan... is ashamed and dare not accept it! Yesterday... I was not frightened."

The Empress looked at Rong Feiyan with satisfaction, then turned to look at the Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang and said, "How is Young Master Xian's wife doing recently?"

The Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang nodded repeatedly with a smile, "Replying to Your Majesty, her health is very good; everyone who sees her says there is a young master in her belly!"

Hearing this,

the Empress and the personal female official beside her exchanged a look with an unclear meaning.

At this time,

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Outside the room, the voice of a female official bowing and calling someone came.

Soon,

Zhao Fang, with a smile on his face, stepped into the palace and bowed, saying, "Mother, peace; Madam, peace; Miss Feiyan, peace."

The Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang and Rong Feiyan hurriedly stepped aside, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Fang'er, you are not practicing calligraphy in the study, why did you come here?" the Empress said with a straight face.

Zhao Fang smiled ingratiatingly, walked to the Empress's side, hugged the princess, and said, "Mother, didn't I hear that Madam and Miss Feiyan had entered the palace, so I came to take a look."

The Empress shook her head slightly and said, "Well, you've seen them, you should go back now!"

Zhao Fang was stunned, pursed his lips, and said, "Mother, Miss Feiyan wasn't at the Feng family yesterday, so I wanted to ask about yesterday..."

The Empress kept a straight face and said in a deep voice, "Fang'er, is this something you should ask?"

Zhao Fang looked at Rong Feiyan, who was bowing her head, then looked down at his younger sister beside him, thought for a moment, bowed, and said, "Mother, it was my rudeness."

"Hmm." The Empress nodded.

Zhao Fang nodded to the Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang and Rong Feiyan, then stood up and walked out.

"Fang'er?"

Zhao Fang stopped.

The Empress continued, "Let Xian Ge'er go find you at noon; he was also there that day."

Zhao Fang smiled, "Yes, Mother."

At Concubine Rong's place,

the Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang had lost the restraint she had in the Empress's palace and was sitting in a chair drinking tea very casually.

The graceful and luxurious Concubine Rong sat on the Luo Han chair.

At this time,

Concubine Rong looked at Rong Feiyan, who was sitting on an embroidered stool in front of her knees and hugging Concubine Rong's daughter, with a face full of concern.

"Sister, at that time I didn't want to be at the same banquet table as her, so I walked toward the martial arts arena, and I didn't expect that wall to suddenly collapse, and the panicked horse to run out..."

The little princess in Rong Feiyan's arms listened intently to her little aunt's words.

"..."

"... Hearing the whistle, their horse actually understood what it meant, and then it ran toward me!"

"Sister, their horse has always been divine and tall, and it directly used its hooves..."

After listening to Rong Feiyan finish speaking,

Concubine Rong let out a long sigh of relief, "Heavens, Yan'er, this was too dangerous; a slight mistake and a major disaster would have happened!"

Rong Feiyan looked at the little princess in her arms, whose eyes were full of disbelief, and she pursed her lips and nodded repeatedly.

"Your younger sister was even laughing at the time," the Madam of Marquis Hou Fu Chang said from the side.

Concubine Rong looked at her younger sister, who was bowing her head, shook her head, and said, "Such kindness, our Rong family should repay it."

"When you go back today, take some good things from my private treasury! Tomorrow, you go to the Xu family with your father and mother to express your thanks in person."

"Hmm!" Rong Feiyan nodded.

In the afternoon,

Ningyuan Hou Prefecture,

Pingmei, who was talking with her mother-in-law Madam Bai and sister-in-law Gu Tingyi, looked at the Xu family's invitation card presented by Qingxia and said in confusion, "Why is the British Duke Zhang family also going to our house?"

"Madam, they say the panicked horse that Fifth Young Master tamed yesterday was a carriage horse from the Zhang family; although it's not worth much silver, they still want to express their thanks,"

Qingxia said.

Pingmei handed the invitation card in her hand to Madam Bai and turned to Gu Tingyi, saying, "It seems that tomorrow, Yi Jie'er, you won't just be accompanying Miss Feiyan."

Gu Tingyi pursed her lips and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Sister-in-law."

Madam Bai placed the invitation card on the table and smiled, "Speaking of which, yesterday at the Feng family's main gate, those young masters from several families in the capital were scrambling to touch and ride Jing Ge'er's mount; it was quite fun."

Pingmei nodded with a smile.

"The marriage between the Chai family's eldest son and the Lu family's eldest granddaughter has been set, so we have to prepare congratulatory gifts again."

Madam Bai continued.

Gu Tingyi and Pingmei nodded with a smile.

"By the way, Yi'er, what do you think of the eldest daughter of Old Grand Master Yu's family, Yanran?"

(End of chapter)