Chapter 602: Wang Wang Ruofu

Xu Anmei smiled and said, " 'Younger Brother Xu Wu'? Ni-er, since when have you become so intimate in how you address people?"

Zheng Ni glared reproachfully at Xu Anmei and said, "Sister Xu Anmei, you are a mother now; how can you still be so mischievous!"

Xu Anmei frowned, looking at Gu Gu Tingyi, and asked, "Gu Tingyi, do you have one?"

Gu Gu Tingyi smiled and nodded.

Zheng Ni continued:

"If Younger Brother Xu Wu had not invited Physician Yu, how could my husband have recovered so quickly! Naturally, I must regard Brother Jing as a younger brother!"

"Your younger brother-in-law, Zheng Xiao, shares a bond of sworn friendship with Little Fifth," Xu Anmei said with a smile.

"My husband also has a good relationship with Younger Brother Xu Wu!" Zheng Ni pursed her lips, looking at Xu Anmei.

Xu Anmei chuckled and nodded, saying, "That is true."

Looking at Zheng Ni's triumphant, eyebrow-raising expression, Gu Gu Tingyi said, "Sister Zheng Ni, when you were still an unmarried Miss, you were always stern and never smiled lightly! Yet today, looking at you—"

Seeing Zheng Ni's slightly embarrassed face, Xu Anmei said, "This is naturally because she lives comfortably in her husband's family!"

Zheng Ni's eyes darted about, and she pursed her lips again.

"By the way, Ni-er, what was the name of that younger sister of your husband again?"

"Hezhen."

"Yes, yes! How is it? Is this younger sister difficult to serve?"

Gu Gu Tingyi, standing aside, sighed helplessly and said, "Sister Xu Anmei, I am also a 'younger sister'."

"I know!" Xu Anmei replied.

Zheng Ni glanced at the Lady Zheng seated at the head and said, "My father-in-law and mother-in-law are very loving toward each other, and Hezhen is extremely clever; the two of us are now just like biological sisters."

Xu Anmei smiled, looked at Gu Gu Tingyi, and said, "Gu Tingyi, this is something you could ask more about; it will be convenient for you later when..."

"Slap!"

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Gu Tingyi tapped Xu Anmei and said, "I-I will just ask my sister-in-law a few questions; there is no need to consult Sister Zheng Ni."

Zheng Ni and Xu Anmei laughed together.

Xu Pingmei, standing aside, turned her head and glared displeasedly at Xu Anmei, saying, "You talk too much!"

Having said this, Xu Pingmei turned her head again to continue watching the several titled Ladies seated at the head.

Zheng Ni smiled and said, "Sister Xu Anmei, you diverted the topic; you still haven't explained what unusual relationship Younger Brother Xu Wu has with his personal attendants!"

Xu Anmei smiled, recalled for a moment, and said, "It seems that in the past, when Little Fifth went with your husband, the Liang family, the Zhang family, and several other young masters to play at the Wu Tower outside the city, he painted a portrait of two personal attendants while they were all painting together."

"Afterward, those two attendants performed the Northern Liao forehead-cutting ritual and swore a blood oath, vowing to be Little Fifth's deathly loyal followers from then on."

"Oh."

"No wonder."

Gu Gu Tingyi and Zheng Ni, hearing this matter for the first time, slowly nodded and said.

At this moment,

a female servant from outside the door walked in quickly with a smile, performed a curtsy, and announced, "The groom has entered the gate!"

Lady Xie smiled and said, "That was quite fast!"

Xu Anmei whispered to Gu Gu Tingyi and Zheng Ni, "It seems Little Fifth did not make things difficult for them."

Zheng Ni and Gu Gu Tingyi smiled and nodded.

Subsequently, the women and young misses who enjoyed watching the excitement all rose and walked toward the main hall in the front courtyard.

In the main hall of the front courtyard,

Xiong Yan, dressed in wedding robes, and the Xie family's Ruier were offering tea to Viscount Xie and his wife.

Outside the room,

Liang Han, his face slightly flushed from drinking wine, stood beside Xu Xu Zaijing, watched the newlywed couple inside the room, and exhaled a breath of alcoholic vapor.

Xu Xu Zaijing patted Liang Han on the shoulder and said, "Liu Lang, you performed very well today! You prevented the atmosphere before the main gate from turning cold."

"Pah!"

Liang Han glanced at the Xiong family members not far away, spat hatefully, and said, "Brother Yan is a relative on my mother's side; naturally, he could not be allowed to lose face."

Just earlier at the main gate of the Xie family, Xiong Yan's cousins had stood by as if the matter concerned them not, while Shen Shen Congxing and the others were even less accomplished in their studies and their status was somewhat insufficient.

Had Liang Han not stepped forward, Xiong Yan would likely have had to take the field himself to 'break through the barriers'.

If discord among the Xiong cousins had made them a laughingstock and the atmosphere had grown cold, the scene would have been unspeakably ugly.

Liang Han wrinkled his nose and continued, "These three whom Brother Xiong brought back truly step up when there is trouble; they are very good!"

Xu Xu Zaijing hummed in agreement.

After the commotion subsided,

Xiong Yan and the Xie family's Ruier walked together toward the wedding sedan chair at the Xie family's main gate.

Along the way,

Liang Han and Xu Xu Zaijing walked together.

As they walked, Liang Han said, "Brother Jing, some young misses from official families and great clans, who live somewhat far from Bianjing, have all arrived in the capital in recent days."

Xu Xu Zaijing asked, "Are they coming to participate in the selection for the Crown Prince's Consort?"

Liang Han nodded: "Yes! My mother, following Her Majesty the Empress's instructions, is organizing several polo matches; you must come to show your support then!"

"What would I go there to do?"

Liang Han glanced at Xu Xu Zaijing and said, "So many noble young misses are accompanied into the capital by their respective household mistresses! Not all of them can enter the palace!"

"At that time, Brother Jing, you just need to make an appearance! After all, everyone in the capital knows that my mother and Lady Sun share a bond of sworn friendship! Won't that make it convenient for my mother to visit various households afterward to investigate a bit?"

"With this head start in information, my mother said that discussing marriage alliances will achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

Xu Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly and said, "Very well, I understand."

Having exited the main gate of the Xie residence,

Liang Han, standing beside Xu Xu Zaijing, glanced at Xiong Yan's cousins who were mounting their horses and whispered bitterly, "Brother Jing, just you wait and see how they act when that youngest one gets married!"

Xu Xu Zaijing patted Liang Han on the shoulder.

Amidst the cheerful music of di-di-da-da, the Xiong family wedding procession departed from Little Paper Workshop.

Xu Xu Zaijing also turned with the Xie family's relatives and friends, walking toward the hall in the front courtyard where the banquet guests were being hosted.

In the rear courtyard,

within the hall hosting the female guests,

Lady Xie and her own mother moved through the banquet with smiles on their faces, occasionally offering toasts and conversing with the female guests.

Only when their cheeks ached from smiling did Lady Xie finally have the chance to retreat with her mother to a quiet spot for a brief rest.

After taking a sip of tea to moisten her throat,

"Fei'er, was the heavy gift sent to the Xu family's Brother Jing personally handled by Rui'er?"

Lady Xie nodded and said, "Mother, rest assured; it was my younger sister who personally delivered it! When she arrived, I specifically instructed Little Five to come by carriage!"

"Once she reached our home, Sheng Hualan and I accompanied my younger sister together to deliver the gifts right up to the carriage compartment of Little Five."

"At that time, Little Five was inside the carriage!"

Lady Xie gently nodded and said, "Good! That is good! Whether it proves efficacious or not, one must always seek an auspicious omen."

Lady Xie hastily said, "Ptui, ptui, ptui! Mother, you must not speak so!"

Having spoken, Lady Xie immediately closed her eyes, offered a prayer of apology, and then looked at Lady Xie, saying, "Mother, consider how many times the Gu family of Marquis Marquis Xiangyang, my two younger sisters-in-law, as well as the Zhu family and the third branch of the Lu family, have tried this!"

"It has always proven efficacious!"

Observing Lady Xie's expression, Lady Xie continued, "The second son of the Marquis Fu Chang family also sent gifts to our home after his marriage! You see, did not that Lady Dou conceive?"

Lady Xie nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly,

Lady Xie's eyes widened; she slapped her thigh and said, "Hiss, Rui'er! Come to think of it, when your aunt went to the Xu family to view the prospective son-in-law back then, she also sent something to that boy Brother Jing, and before anyone knew it, she was pregnant again!"

Lady Xie said, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Lady Xie said, "If Sister Rui can conceive a child and immediately bear a son, it will dispel all worries for our third son-in-law, allowing him to devote himself entirely to his official career!"

The next day,

at noon,

in the Sheng residence of Jiying Lane,

within the study hall,

Master Zhuang had already leisurely departed from the study hall,

Qi Heng sat behind his desk, turning his head to glance at the seat to his left.

Seeing the three empty seats of the Lan brothers, he sighed with a touch of melancholy.

"Sheng Changfeng, did my great-aunt say when she would return?"

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's words, Qi Heng's eyes lit up as he looked toward the back.

Sheng Changfeng shook his head and said, "She did not say."

The light in Qi Heng's eyes dimmed once more.

"Yuanruo, since Elder Brother Jing is getting married in two days, will you be a groomsman?"

Xu Xu Zaijing asked again.

Qi Heng forced a smile and said, "Naturally."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled, nodded, and said, "Then you all must prepare extensively!"

Qi Heng looked at Xu Xu Zaijing and said, "Brother Jing, are you going to block the door at the Lu family?"

"The Young Master of Lu is Brother Jing's sworn younger brother; naturally he must go," said Gu Gu Tingye from the side.

Qi Heng smiled and shook his head, saying, "Then it will be difficult for Brother Jing and us!"

Xu Xu Zaijing laughed as well.

At this moment,

Nurse Liu led the female servants, carrying food boxes, to the outside of the classroom.

The young male and female servants of Xu Xu Zaijing and the others hurried forward to help their respective Young Masters bring in the meals.

"Young Masters, please enjoy your meal slowly."

After speaking, Nurse Liu led the Sheng family's female servants in a formal bow and departed from the classroom courtyard.

Just as everyone was preparing to eat,

Brother Qingyun approached with a smile on his face,

Xu Xu Zaijing, holding his chopsticks, looked at Brother Qingyun in confusion and said, "What is wrong?"

Brother Qingyun smiled, clasped his hands in a bow, and said, "Young Master, I just heard news at the gate that the Ni family's son had a boy this morning."

After a moment of surprise, Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

Seeing Qingcao, sitting on the wooden platform at the back, stood up happily and said, "Brother Brother Qingyun, is it Sister Sister Xiaodie?"

Brother Qingyun smiled and nodded.

Qi Heng turned to look at Sheng Sheng Changfeng and said, "Is that the personal maid attending the Sixth Young Lady's Wei Xiaoniang?"

"Yes! We even blocked the door at her wedding!" Sheng Changfeng replied.

In the Sheng family's rear courtyard,

within Weirui Pavilion,

Wang Wang Ruofu sat on a chair, with Nurse Liu standing beside her.

Looking at Auntie Wei, who had sat down nearby to report the good news, Wang Ruo Fu smiled and nodded, saying, "Sister Sister Xiaodie is a good child; now that she has a child, it is indeed a cause for celebration! Liu Family's, prepare a modest gift as well, and deliver it this afternoon."

"Yes, Wu Da Da Niangzi."

Mama Liu, clutching her handkerchief, bowed slightly in response.

Outside the room,

footsteps came, somewhat quick in their rhythm,

and Wei Wei Shuyi, breathing slightly heavily from the exertion, appeared at the entrance of the main hall.

"I pay my respects to Wu Da Da Niangzi."

Wei Wei Shuyi said as she performed a formal curtsy.

Wang Ruo Fu was very satisfied with Wei Wei Shuyi's propriety and smiled, saying, "Wei—"

Glancing at Auntie Wei, Wang Ruo Fu cleared her throat and said with a kind smile, "Wei Shuyi, Sister Sister Xiaodie has stayed in our household for many years."

"Moreover, the young master of the Ni family has been studying at the academy of my Wang family relatives, so our connection is quite deep."

"This afternoon, you and Liu Family's go together to visit the Ni family and present our household's token of goodwill."

Wei Wei Shuyi hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, Wu Da Da Niangzi!"

Wang Ruo Fu glanced at Auntie Wei and said, "Has Auntie Wei had lunch tomorrow? Why not stay and share a meal with us?"

Auntie Wei rose and performed a curtsy, saying, "Thank you, Wu Da Da Niangzi, for your generous invitation, but I shall not eat; shortly, I will go to the Ni family together with my elder sister and Mama Liu."

Wang Ruo Fu smiled and nodded, saying, "Very well! Then you may go!"

After the three performed their rites and took their leave,

Wang Ruo Fu watched the retreating figures of the departing group, nodding gently with a face full of smiles, then turned her head to look at Caihuan, who stood waiting nearby with eyes full of envy, and said, "Caihuan, in the future, I will also find you a good family to marry into."

Caihuan hurriedly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Wu Da Da Niangzi!"

(End of Chapter)