Chapter 577: Naive, Innocent, and Easy to Bully [Thanks! Bow again! Owed chapters: 43k]

Watching her daughter giggle, Madam Chai smiled and touched Chai Zhengzheng's hair, saying: "What could Brother Jing look like? Naturally, he is happy!"

Chai Zhengzheng thought for a moment, then pursed her lips and smiled: "Mother is right."

After speaking, Chai Zhengzheng's eyes turned, and she looked straight at her mother.

Madam Chai, who had a tacit understanding with her daughter, looked at her daughter's gaze and glared at Chai Zhengzheng somewhat reproachfully, saying: "Why, do you want to... go give Madam Sun a gift?"

Chai Zhengzheng pursed her lips and nodded, reaching out to hold Madam Chai's hand, saying: "Mother, our family has accepted favors from the Xu family several times, and Madam Sun is also a bit old, so we should go and send some things to nourish her body, right!"

Madam Chai looked at Chai Zhengzheng in annoyance, pulled her hand from her daughter's palm, then poked Chai Zhengzheng's forehead, saying: "The Xu family is a Marquis family, how could they lack good things to nourish the body?"

"Besides, Madam Sun is pregnant at such an old age, and she is already somewhat embarrassed in her heart. If you rush to send things, wouldn't that be giving people embarrassment?"

Listening to her mother's words, Chai Zhengzheng's brows frowned slightly. After pondering for a moment, she sighed and said: "Mother is right."

"Hmm."

Madam Chai smiled and stood up, picked up a hand warmer from the side, and walked out.

After walking two steps, Madam Chai stopped and looked back at Chai Zhengzheng.

Madam Chai's personal managing Mama also stopped.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at her mother who had turned back: "?"

Madam Chai pondered for a moment, smiled, and continued to walk out.

After leaving the room,

Sniffing the cold air, the personal Mama beside her looked at Madam Chai and whispered: "Madam, were you thinking of saying something to the young lady just now?"

Madam Chai looked at the scenery in Qiusheng Garden while walking and said:

"Hmm, I wanted to tell Zheng'er that since Madam Sun is pregnant, most of the happy banquets and gatherings in the capital will be attended by the Xu family's two daughters-in-law. In the future, when they meet, Zheng'er can interact more with them."

"But then I thought again, now that there is no clue about Zheng'er and the Xu family's Fifth Young Master, letting Zheng'er get too close..."

Madam Chai shook her head: "It's no good for her."

The personal Mama beside her nodded repeatedly: "Madam is thoughtful! With our Chai family's status, as long as the news is released, I don't know how many good young men in the capital would line up begging to marry the Third Da Niangzi."

Madam Chai nodded with a smile, but sighed in her heart.

Not to mention that her own daughter had already secretly given her heart away, just look at Xu Zaijing's status as the Marquis's legitimate son, his ability in both literature and martial arts, and his relationship with the Emperor and Imperial Princes.

Once the Marquis Xu's wife speaks, how could there be a shortage of noble young ladies from high-ranking families begging to marry into the Xu family!

Thinking of these things, Madam Chai walked out of the courtyard.

End of the Si hour (after 11:00 AM)

Inside the West Water Gate,

Zhu residence,

A banquet was set in the main hall of the back courtyard,

Zhu Qinghu sat at the table in the room with his two cousins, Zaijing and Zaizhang, with a face full of smiles.

"Come, let us brothers have another cup." Zhu Qinghu said, holding his wine cup.

After Xu Zaijing picked up his wine cup, he glanced at the screen to the side. Just as he wanted to clink glasses with his cousin, he saw the person walking out from behind the screen.

"Oh! Sister-in-law, why did you come over?"

Xu Zaijing immediately put down his wine cup, stood up, walked a step, and took the dishes from the hands of Ni Qiqiu, who had a big belly.

"I am big with child and am not entertaining you well. Third Brother, Fifth Brother, please don't take offense!" Ni Qiqiu smiled.

"Sister-in-law, you are too polite!"

Zaizhang also stood up and said with a smile.

Zhu Qinghu had already walked to Ni Qiqiu's side and said somewhat reproachfully: "Why did you come out? The maids and mamas didn't know how to stop you."

Ni Qiqiu looked at her husband, who was worried, and smiled: "It's fine, there are still days before the child comes out!"

She also looked at Xu Zaijing and the two and waved her hand, saying: "Sit! Sit quickly! Husband, don't worry about me! Continue drinking with your cousins."

Zhu Qinghu looked at the maid who had walked up to support her, only then let go of his hand, and exhorted: "Hmm, walk slowly when you go back."

The maid bowed: "Yes, Master!"

After Ni Qiqiu held her waist, turned around, and walked behind the screen with the maid, Xu Zaijing and the others sat down again.

"Sister-in-law is too polite."

Xu Zaijing said.

Zhu Qinghu smiled and said: "She doesn't stop even when she is big with child, always walking around. Looking at that big belly of hers, I am worried to death."

Zaizhang, to the side, nodded repeatedly with deep understanding: "When Hualan was pregnant with Zhong'er, I was also worried."

As they spoke, the three cousins continued to drink and eat.

"Then the cousin of the Fang family at Lijing Gate, has the marriage been settled?" Zhu Qinghu held his chopsticks and looked at Zaizhang, asking.

Zaizhang nodded: "When we went to the Fang family yesterday, Uncle told us."

Zhu Qinghu picked up a mouthful of food and said with a thoughtful expression in his eyes: "Is the Huang family of the Count of Shoushan at Lijing Gate also nearby?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "That's right, Jing Jing Biao Ge! The Fang family and the Huang family are not far apart, and Third Brother and I went to pay New Year's respects to the Count and Countess of Shoushan."

Zhu Qinghu nodded and said: "That boy of the Huang family is not bad. Many of the comrades who came to pay New Year's respects in the past two days have talked about him."

After speaking, Zhu Qinghu poured himself a cup of wine and said: "Did Uncle tell you about the end of the month?"

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother looked at each other, nodded, and said: "Hmm, Father said, just in case, he will set off for the Great Camp after the Lantern Festival."

"Not bad!" As he spoke, Zhu Qinghu picked up the wine pot to fill Zaizhang and Xu Zaijing's cups and said: "After I leave the capital, the family will have to rely on you brothers to take care of it."

"What is Jing Jing Biao Ge saying!" Xu Zaijing frowned and held his wine cup, saying: "It is only right to punish you with three cups of wine!"

Zaizhang nodded in agreement: "Taking care of the family is the duty of us brothers. Jing Jing Biao Ge, what you said deserves to be punished with wine."

"Good, good!" Zhu Qinghu raised his cup with a smile.

Saying it was a punishment, Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang also accompanied him for three cups.

After the three cups were finished, Zhu Qinghu added: "Your sister-in-law's time is almost up, let Physician Ren go to the Marquis's residence to watch over her in a couple of days."

Xu Zaijing nodded heavily and said: "Jing Jing Biao Ge is right, Mother's age is there."

The three cousins ate and drank. The Zhu family had no relatives in Bianjing that Xu Zaijing and the two needed to pay New Year's respects to, so around the Wei hour (3:00 PM) in the afternoon, Xu Zaijing returned to Quyuan Lane with Zaizhang and the two sisters-in-law.

Exactly at the You hour (around 6:00 PM)

The sky was already dim, and there was no moon in the night sky, only twinkling stars.

Outside the West Water Gate,

Xiaoya Lane,

Ni family residence,

Inside the bedroom of the main house,

Ni family's eldest son, Ni Tengyue, sat behind the table holding a brush, looking at Xiaodie, who was big with child to the side, by the candlelight with surprise in his eyes, and said: "Madam, you actually know this allusion?"

Xiaodie held needle and thread and smiled triumphantly: "Naturally I know, before, when I was beside Xiaoniang, she told me once."

Ni Tengyue nodded with a smile and said: "This Xiaoniang is knowledgeable. Madam, the dim light hurts the eyes, you should sew the clothes for the younger brother or sister tomorrow!"

Xiaodie shook her head and said: "Husband, it's fine! I can sew this kind of work with my eyes closed."

Watching Xiaodie, who raised her head to talk to him while her needle and thread didn't stop, Ni Tengyue nodded with a smile.

"Husband, I heard you say that several of your classmates from the Li family have beloved folding fans, I was thinking of finding a good piece of material in a couple of days and sewing a..."

Before she finished speaking,

"Dang dang dang!" The sound of the Ni family's main gate being pounded rang out.

The couple looked at each other, and Ni Tengyue picked up his clothes and walked out while shouting: "I heard it! Coming!"

Xiaodie followed a few steps and said: "Husband, is it Sister, she..."

Hearing this, Ni Tengyue's walking speed became faster.

Soon, in the night, the four members of the Ni family got into the carriage together and ran toward the inner city.

Time passed,

The next day,

Early in the morning, the sky brightened,

Xu Zaijing, who had already finished exercising, was having breakfast in his mother Sun Shi's courtyard.

After these two days, Sun Shi's mindset had adjusted well, and she no longer had the embarrassment and shyness she had when she first found out two days ago.

Even Xu Xingdai and Xu Xingzhong became much more sensible, walking on eggshells around their grandmother and not daring to cause any random trouble.

Marquis Yongyi, Xu Minghua, however, would still chuckle foolishly from time to time, causing Sun Shi to glare at him occasionally.

In other families, it is usually the mother-in-law who serves the daughter-in-law during the confinement period. Xie Shi and Hualan, who might have to serve their mother-in-law during the confinement period in the future, looked at their mother-in-law glaring at their father-in-law and didn't dare to say much.

To the side, Xu Zaijing put down his chopsticks, turned sideways to take a towel from Huaxiang's hand, wiped his mouth, and was about to speak when,

Behind the large screen, the cotton curtain was lifted by a maid, and Cuichan, Hualan's personal Mama, walked in, stooping through the cotton curtain.

After smiling and bowing to everyone in the hall, she said: "Marquis, Madam, great happy news! The relative Zhu family had a son last night!"

"Ah?"

"What?"

Everyone in the main hall showed surprise.

Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang looked at each other and said: "Yesterday, Jing Jing Biao Ge-in-law said there were still days before she would give birth, this..."

Sun Shi smiled and said: "It's a boy! Good, truly good!"

Marquis Yongyi's residence, Xu Minghua, nodded and said: "In this way, Eldest Sister has also settled a matter in her heart."

Sun Shi smiled and glanced at Mama Zhu to the side. Mama Zhu understood and said to Cuichan: "Cuichan, let's go, go give the person who came a reward."

"Yes!"

Cuichan responded with a smile.

Beginning of the Si hour (after 9:00 AM)

Nanjiangtang Lane, Rong family, Huisue Courtyard.

Rong Xian's Madam, Dou Shi, looked at her sister-in-law Rong Feiyan, who was sitting in front of her with natural beauty, and felt some envy and jealousy in her eyes.

The Marquis of Hou Fu Chang's Madam was not very good, but the children she gave birth to were one better-looking than the other.

Although Madam Dou was born in a Duke's residence, her appearance was ordinary, and she had never experienced the gaze of being admired since she was a child. Seeing Rong Feiyan raise her head and reveal her appearance at this moment, she was naturally envious.

Rong Feiyan looked at Dou Shi with a smile and asked with surprise in her tone: "Sister-in-law, what did you say?"

Madam Dou, who had been dazzled by Rong Feiyan's smile, sobered up and said: "Cough, Sister, I mean, does your brother have any concubines in Bozhou?"

Rong Feiyan pursed her lips and smiled, saying: "Sister-in-law, why would you ask this? How could my brother have any concubines!"

Madam Dou squeezed out a smile and said: "Today, your brother said that an old acquaintance from Bozhou came to Bianjing, and he wanted five hundred guan of silver to send over as travel expenses."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan put away her smile, frowned, thought for a moment, and said: "There is an old acquaintance of my family in Bozhou, it seems his surname is Hua..."

Madam Dou felt relieved, nodded, and said: "Oh, that's good! That's good!"

Rong Feiyan's eyes turned, and she continued: "But coming from Bozhou to Bianjing, how could it need five hundred guan of silver?"

Madam Dou hurriedly replied: "Your brother said it was to buy good horses for the old acquaintance, so that they could come faster."

"Oh..." Glancing at the pregnant Madam Dou, Rong Feiyan gave a noncommittal "Oh."

The sister-in-law and sister talked for a while, and Madam Dou stood up to take her leave.

After leaving the room and walking on the veranda, she turned back and waved at Rong Feiyan, who was seeing people off, then supported her personal maid's arm and walked toward her own courtyard.

On the way, Madam Dou took a deep breath and said: "My sister-in-law is so good-looking, I don't know which family's young master will benefit in the future."

"Da Niangzi, this servant heard that quite a few young masters from Marquis and Duke families want to marry Miss Feiyan!"

Madam Dou shook her head and smiled: "Those wine-and-meat bags, they can't enter the eyes of Consort Rong in the palace."

The personal maid glanced at Madam Dou and said: "Da Niangzi, two days ago when we returned to the Duke Fu residence, there is a matter you might not know..."

Madam Dou: "Hmm? What matter, just say it."

"Yes, Da Niangzi! This servant heard that the Duke's wife wanted to arrange a marriage for our Third Da Niangzi before, it was the Zhang Zhang Sanlang of the Lu family of the Duke Ling, but the matter didn't succeed."

"After asking around, I learned that the Zhang Zhang Sanlang Lu has always admired Miss Feiyan and refused to agree no matter what."

Madam Dou thought for a moment and said: "Zhang Zhang Sanlang Lu?"

"Hmph!"

Madam Dou kept a straight face and gave a cold snort, saying: "That is also a wine-and-meat bag."

After walking a few more steps, Madam Dou said to herself: "Sigh! My sister-in-law's monthly allowance is also too much, I must find a way to marry her off as soon as possible!"

The personal maid to the side whispered: "Madam, Miss Feiyan's flower expenses and monthly allowance are half from the income of the manors and shops rewarded by Consort Rong, and do not take up the Marquis residence's public expenses."

Madam Dou glanced at the personal maid and said: "Lingshe, those manors and shops were rewarded by Consort Rong to the Rong family, not to my sister-in-law."

Shifting her gaze from the bowing maid, Madam Dou touched her belly and said: "In other words, they were rewarded to the child in my belly! My child's things cannot always be wasted by her like this."

The maid Lingshe nodded repeatedly and said: "Madam is right! But if Miss Feiyan marries, wouldn't she have to take a lot of dowry, by then..."

Madam Dou pondered for a moment, lowered her head, looked at her belly, and touched it: "Wait until the one in my belly comes out, I will find a way to get more things under my name."

The maid Lingshe glanced at Madam Dou and said: "But... Madam, by then, will the Heir and the Marquis agree?"

A cold smile appeared at the corners of Madam Dou's mouth: "What is there that they can't agree to? I am doing it for the good of the Rong family! Even more for the future of the Rong family!"

As she spoke, Madam Dou touched her belly again and continued to walk toward her courtyard.

Actually, Madam Dou still had a sentence in her heart that she didn't say out loud: "It would be better if this sister-in-law didn't exist, it would definitely save a large dowry!"

Madam Dou was three years older than Rong Feiyan. When she was a young lady in the boudoir, participating in the incense and clothing gatherings among the noble ladies of Bianjing, she had seen enough of the limelight of her sister-in-law, the favored Consort Rong Feiyan.

If it were just the limelight, it would be fine, but Rong Feiyan had been extremely outstanding since she was a child. That extremely fair and beautiful face, the slightly raised delicate chin, and the slender and graceful neck made Rong Feiyan like a proud swan. When looking at people, her eyes had a kind of cold arrogance that kept people at a distance.

It is true that Madam Dou liked the handsome Rong Xian! And when she first married into the Rong family, Madam Dou was also afraid that the cold and arrogant sister-in-law who managed the household would make things difficult for her, treat her harshly, and mock her.

But!

Madam Dou didn't expect that Rong Feiyan was proud and cold outside, but extremely gentle and easy to talk to at home, and even handed over the household management rights to her in the first instance!

The words "naive, innocent, and easy to bully" were almost written on Rong Feiyan's forehead.

Madam Dou became pregnant with her child for the first time after marriage!

The occurrence of these several situations caused Madam Dou's mindset to gradually change.

Madam Dou was born in the Duke Fu residence, a long-standing noble family, and had always looked down on the Rong family.

The contrast between Rong Feiyan inside and outside gave Madam Dou the feeling that "You, Rong Feiyan, are nothing more than this, you just have a good skin."

Imagining Rong Feiyan's unhappy marriage in the future and her returning to her maiden home to cry and complain, Madam Dou couldn't help but smile.

"Really curious, when she cries and complains, how will she beg me... and the husband."

A faint thought drifted from Madam Dou's heart.

A few days later,

Hebei East Road,

Bozhou Prefecture City,

In a courtyard of a residential house,

Under the sun,

A horse with messy fur was lowering its head to eat the grass in the manger.

A sturdy and handsome youth was concentrating on tying the fletching to a long arrow.

After tying for a while, the youth put his hand to his mouth to warm it up.

At this moment,

Someone stood at the main gate, looked into the somewhat simple courtyard, and asked with hesitation: "Is this the residence of the Inspector Hua?"

The youth looked up, nodded, and said: "Brother, my house cannot bear the title of residence! I don't know what business you have with Inspector Hua?"

The messenger bowed and said: "There is a letter from the Marquis of Hou Fu Chang's residence in Bianjing, and the signature is Inspector Hua Rong."

The youth put down the long arrow, grabbed his pouch, stood up, and said: "I am Hua Rong! Marquis of Hou Fu Chang's residence?"

As he spoke, Hua Rong walked quickly forward, took out a few dozen coins from his pouch to give to the messenger as a reward, and amidst the messenger's thanks, opened the bamboo tube.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 578 =====