Chapter 695: Where does the sister-in-law's face go [Thanks! Thanks again! Owed]

Yushi hour (after 1:00 PM),

The sun was scorching,

Although the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, the weather suddenly felt a bit dry and hot.

Quyuan Street,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

Xu Zaijing's courtyard,

Under the grape trellis, Qingcao looked up at the bunches of grapes on the trellis.

"Qingcao sister, I think that bunch is not bad!"

Huaxiang on the side carried a bamboo basket in one hand and pointed to a bunch of grapes covered by branches and leaves with the other.

Qingcao looked in the direction of the finger, nodded with a smile, and said: "Huaxiang, your eyes are really good."

Huaxiang smiled.

Qingcao stepped on a small stool, took the scissors handed over by Huaxiang, stood on tiptoe, and cut down a bunch of ripe purple-red grapes.

After getting off the small stool, Qingcao carried the grapes, looked around, nodded with satisfaction, and smiled: "Let's go."

When walking toward the main room, Qingcao shouted with a smile: "Xia Mama, prepare a few basins of clear water; we are going to wash the grapes."

"Coming right away." Xia Mama in the room responded with a smile.

Arriving in the room,

While Xia Mama prepared the clear water, Qingcao and Huaxiang stood in front of the table, lifted the bunches of grapes from the bamboo basket, and looked carefully to see if there were any bad fruits.

"Two young ladies, the clear water is here! This old woman remembers the previous instructions of Yunjin, so I put some fine salt in it."

"Xia Mama has a heart." Qingcao smiled.

Subsequently, the grapes were put into the water basin, washed carefully, and then carried to another basin of clear water to continue washing.

After washing twice, Qingcao and the others carefully picked the grapes one by one and placed them on the porcelain plate on the table.

Suddenly,

"Buzz—buzz"

The sound of fly wings came from nearby.

Qingcao and the others, who were washing grapes, immediately stopped, and the room went quiet.

"Where did the fly come from?" Huaxiang said in a low voice.

Qingcao shook her head, looked around, and shouted: "Xia Mama, bring the fly swatter."

Xia Mama responded, and soon walked over with a bamboo-woven object that looked very similar to the fly swatter of later generations.

"Two young ladies, continue with your work, this old woman will go and 'deal with' that little beast." Xia Mama smiled.

Hearing this, Qingcao and Huaxiang smiled at each other and said: "Alright, we trouble you, Xia Mama."

"What are the young ladies saying? I didn't expect that the object our young master casually asked someone to make would have such a good fly-killing effect!"

"This old woman used to use a green bamboo fan, but compared to this object, it wasn't easy to use!"

Xia Mama said while going to "hunt" the fly. Qingcao washed the fruit while smiling and saying: "Xia Mama, where did you learn these words?"

Huaxiang nodded with a smile: "'Deal with that little beast', this is really interesting!"

Xia Mama smiled: "It was also from the 'storytelling' I saw on the side of the road when I accompanied the Madam and the two Madams to offer incense at Shenbao Temple. In it, there was a Monkey Walker who said it like that."

"Oh... so that's how it is." Huaxiang nodded.

Xia Mama followed the "figure" of the fly and approached slowly, saying: "The flowers and trees planted in the Marquis Mansion to repel mosquitoes and flies have been there for many years, so there aren't many flies in our courtyard in summer. I think this object is used more by commoners."

Qingcao smiled and said: "Xia Mama, don't worry, when the Sixth Young Master of the Liang family came to our courtyard, he took a fancy to this thing! I heard he is having the bamboo craftsmen in his family's workshop make them."

"But the weather is getting cold, and flies are rare..." Xia Mama said in confusion.

"They say they are stocking up, and will sell them when it gets hot next year." Qingcao said casually.

"Slap!"

The sound of slapping came.

"Two young ladies, that fly has been slapped to death!" Xia Mama said, then picked up the fly corpse and wiped the edge of the table where the fly was slapped with her sleeve.

Seeing this scene, Qingcao and Huaxiang smiled at each other again.

Soon,

The moon-white bowl was filled with grape grains.

Qingcao and Huaxiang carried the tray and walked toward the outside of the house.

When they reached the door, Xia Mama even helped lift the bamboo curtain hanging at the door.

Walking through the doors and corridors in the autumn courtyard,

After walking for a while, Qingcao and Huaxiang arrived at the back courtyard main hall.

Before entering the room, the two heard bursts of laughter coming from inside.

The two little maids standing at the door saw Qingcao and Huaxiang, called out "sisters" with a smile, and helped lift the bamboo curtain.

Qingcao and Huaxiang entered the main hall, and the laughter had not yet dissipated.

Looking around,

Sun Shi sat on the Arhat chair in the middle, beside her sat Xie Shi, Hualan, and Pingmei and Anmei who had returned to their maiden home, as well as the two Xu Zaijing brothers.

Surrounded by many personal maids and Mamas, plus six or seven children playing,

There were quite a few people, and it was very lively.

Anmei held her stomach and waved her hand: "Oh my, Little Fifth, you'd better not tell such jokes in the future, or you'll make my stomach ache from laughing."

Xu Zaijing smiled slightly: "Sister, is it that funny? Isn't it just pickled crab, 'slipping away' out the door?"

As soon as this was said, it seemed to have poked Anmei's laughing point again, and Anmei laughed while holding her stomach again.

Having someone laughing so heartily also caused others in the hall to smile again.

Xu Zaijing looked at Qingcao who entered the hall, waved his hand with a smile, and said: "Sister, taste the grapes from my courtyard. I've eaten them a few times, and they are very sweet."

Pingmei and Anmei both nodded.

After grabbing a few and placing them on the side table, Anmei picked one up to eat, while staring tightly at Xu Zaijing, fearing that her little brother would make her laugh again with another "slipping away".

Fortunately, Xu Zaijing knew the importance and didn't make trouble while his sister was eating.

Watching Anmei finish eating, Xu Zaijing said softly: "Slipping away..."

"Hahahaha..." Anmei laughed again.

Sun Shi on the upper seat looked at Xu Zaijing reproachfully, shook her head, and said: "Jing'er, alright, stop making your sister laugh, lest you really make her stomach ache."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Oh!"

Everyone talked for a while,

Xu Zaijing looked at Pingmei and said: "Sister, will your husband return to the capital this year?"

Pingmei looked at the concerned gazes of other relatives in the hall and shook her head: "At the earliest, it will be next year."

Everyone in the hall nodded.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "That's also good, after he returns, he can just guide us in the imperial examination."

Hearing this, Zaizhang nodded in agreement.

When everyone was talking,

The Xu family maids had already prepared small gourds and dates.

After looking at the sky, Sun Shi smiled: "Alright, it's getting late, it's time to go back."

As she spoke, Sun Shi hugged the three grandchildren and stuffed the prepared small gourds and dates into their pockets.

The four brothers and sisters of Xu Zaijing were also busy.

The sun slanted to the west,

Xu family second gate,

The carriages of the Gu and Huyan families turned and disappeared from Xu Zaijing's field of vision.

On the way back to their respective courtyards, Zaizhang smiled softly: "I don't know if Yuanruo has the blessing today."

Sun Shi, who was in front, turned back to look at Zaizhang and said: "Yuanruo has a maternal grandfather, and now he has an uncle, there are plenty of gourds and dates, naturally he has the blessing."

"Mother is right."

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

Rong Fei's sleeping palace,

Inside the palace,

On the table was a basket of carefully selected small gourds and dates. Beside the table, the Madam of the Marquis of Consort Fu Guo was picking things in the bamboo basket.

Not far from the table,

Rong Feiyan and her sister were sitting on the embroidery stool beside the exquisite small wooden bed, and Rong Feiyan was holding Princess Yu'er in her arms.

Looking at the little prince who was sleeping soundly, Rong Feiyan smiled: "Sister, it looks like you more."

Rong Fei smiled slightly upon hearing this: "His Majesty also said so."

"Then when he grows up, he will definitely be a handsome one. I don't know how many girls he will fascinate by then." Rong Feiyan smiled.

Rong Fei took a deep breath and said: "I hope so."

At this time,

The Madam of the Marquis of Consort Fu Guo waved her hand: "Yan'er, come over and take things."

Rong Feiyan stood up and walked over. After taking the small gourds and dates, she didn't walk toward the little prince, but first gave several to Princess Yu'er on the side.

Looking at her niece whose eyes were curved with a smile, Rong Feiyan also laughed.

Subsequently, Rong Feiyan placed the gourds and dates beside the little prince and recited a few words silently in her heart.

The Madam of the Marquis of Consort Fu Guo looked at her grandson with eyes full of smiles and said: "The time is almost up, Yan'er, let's go back, your sister-in-law will be back to the mansion soon."

"Yes, Mother."

Rong Feiyan bowed to Rong Fei with a smile. Before she could speak, she saw Rong Fei also stand up.

"I will accompany you out. Mother, look after Yu'er, I have something to say to my younger sister."

"Hey, alright."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan didn't know what she thought of, and looked at Rong Fei with surprise and joy in her eyes.

On the way out of the palace,

Looking at the Madam of the Marquis of Consort Fu Guo in front,

Rong Fei said softly: "Yan'er, I have told His Majesty and the Empress about your affairs."

"Hmm." Rong Feiyan nodded like a mosquito.

"But, His Majesty and the Empress did not agree..." Rong Fei continued.

Rong Feiyan was left with only surprise in her eyes, frowning at Rong Fei: "Sister, this..."

Rong Fei shook her head at Rong Feiyan: "Yan'er, don't be anxious yet. Although His Majesty and the Empress did not agree, they didn't say it was impossible either. They only said it was for the sake of the Xu family young master's future."

"Oh." Rong Feiyan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nodded in a daze.

The sisters were silent and continued to walk out.

When they reached the palace gate, Rong Fei said softly: "Yan'er, do you still remember the lantern viewing last Lantern Festival?"

Rong Feiyan rolled her eyes, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she nodded: "Sister, I remember some, that day..."

Rong Fei nodded: "Then do you know who arranged the seating?" 【695

"Aren't they the officials from the Ministry of Rites?" Rong Feiyan asked, puzzled.

Imperial Consort Rong shook her head: "No, it was arranged by His Highness."

Just as they walked out of the palace gate, Imperial Consort Rong continued: "Yan'er, think it over carefully on the way. If there is anything you cannot fathom, send a letter into the palace to ask me."

"Yes, sister." After bowing to Imperial Consort Rong, Rong Feiyan followed the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis toward the outside of the palace.

After exiting the Donghua Gate,

they returned to Nanjiaotang Lane after not walking for long.

When alighting from the carriage at the second gate, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis looked at the Rong family maid and asked casually: "Has the one from the second son's household returned?"

"Replying to my Da Niangzi, she has returned," the maid replied.

Rong Feiyan glanced at the maid who was keeping her head lowered and said indifferently: "What is it? Is something the matter?"

"No, nothing," the maid shook her head and said.

Rong Feiyan frowned and stared at the maid for a few moments, then said to the relaxed-looking Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis: "Mother, why don't we go and see my niece and nephew?"

Before the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis could speak, she was pulled by the sleeve by Rong Feiyan and led toward Rong Xian's courtyard.

Just as they reached the courtyard entrance, the mother and daughter heard the heart-wrenching, painful crying of a child inside.

Before Rong Feiyan could speak, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis frowned and walked in with quick steps.

"What is going on! Why is the child crying so severely?" Upon entering the courtyard, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis shouted loudly.

Before Imperial Consort Rong gave birth to the Imperial Prince, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis certainly would not have dared to shout like this.

But now, as the maternal grandmother of the Imperial Prince and having received a title, her confidence in speaking to and managing her daughter-in-law was naturally different.

Dou Shi, hearing the voice inside the room, hurried to the doorway.

She swept a glance over the even more outstanding-looking Rong Feiyan and said with a fawning smile: "Mother, it is nothing. It is just that the child was greedy and ate a few too many crushed dates."

"How are you looking after the child? How can you let her eat so many dates at such a young age?" As she spoke, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis stepped into the room.

Entering the room and seeing her grandson crying in pain, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis turned her head to glare at Dou Shi: "Since it is not your own daughter, is this how you act as the legal mother? Is this how you look after the child?"

Rong Feiyan, standing to the side, looked at her nephew's tearful appearance and his clothes covered in snot and dust. Her brows also furrowed, and she looked fiercely at her nephew's wet nurse: "What are you people paid for?"

"Regardless of whose womb he came from, he is still a child of my Rong family, the cousin of the Imperial Prince!"

Rong Feiyan sternly reprimanded the Rong family wet nurse, with a tone that was quite clearly pointing at the locust tree to scold the mulberry, which made Dou Shi's expression look very unpleasant.

"After one trip to the Dou family, this kind of thing happens. Where do you expect the Dou family and my sister-in-law to put their faces?"

"Slave, this slave knows she was wrong," the wet nurse said with her head bowed.

"Enough, pack your things and leave tomorrow! My household has no need for a wet nurse like you," the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis waved her hand.

"Ah?" The wet nurse of Rong Xian's son raised her head in surprise.

Dou Shi smiled fawningly and was about to plead for her, but before the words could leave her mouth, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis said to the wet nurse: "Do you not understand?"

"Yes, my Da Niangzi."

Watching the wet nurse leave, the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis continued: "Enough, daughter-in-law, you look tired from looking after the two children. I will take this one to my courtyard first!"

Dou Shi: "Mother..."

The Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis: "It is for no other reason than to accumulate virtue and pray for the Imperial Prince."

Dou Shi was instantly left speechless and could only respond in a low voice.

Afterward, after sending them to the courtyard gate and watching the backs of the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis and Rong Feiyan as they left, Dou Shi gripped her handkerchief tightly.

The next day,

Jiying Lane,

Sheng family school,

during the brief morning break.

Watching Buwei hand a date to Qi Heng, Gu Tingye smiled and said: "Yuanruo, who gave you this?"

Qi Heng looked at Gu Tingye helplessly: "Second Uncle, this was given by my maternal grandfather. Mother said it brings good fortune and insisted that I eat it these past few days."

"The Princess Consort's words are reasonable," Gu Tingye smiled.

Qi Heng took a bite of the date, glanced at Xu Zaijing, and said: "Second Uncle, why did you and Brother Jing arrive so late today? Was there something the matter?"

The corners of Gu Tingye's mouth lifted as he said: "This morning, Fifth Young Master and I went outside the city to see off my brother-in-law."

Changfeng, standing behind Qi Heng, asked in confusion: "Second Brother Gu, why did the young master of the Huang family leave the capital at this time?"

"He served as an Imperial Guard in the palace for over half a year and became a familiar face before His Majesty and His Highness. Naturally, he must go to the military now," Gu Tingye said.

Qi Heng looked at Gu Tingye thoughtfully, then glanced at Xu Zaijing, and asked hesitantly: "Second Uncle, is it that Third Aunt has..."

"Clever," Gu Tingye praised with a smile.

Changfeng's eyes darted, and he also had a look of sudden realization.

"Then I must tell Mother this good news," Qi Heng smiled.

After several autumn rains,

the weather gradually turned cool.

Xu Zaijing did not attend the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Gathering outside the city this September, but instead focused on his studies at home.

When speaking with his mother, sister-in-law, and others morning and evening, he vaguely heard that Rong Xian's eldest son by a concubine had already been taken to be raised by the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis.

After the Da Niangzi of the Dou family, wife of the Duke of Consort Fu Guo, heard about this, she pulled the Yang family of the aristocratic circle and relatives of the Ningyuan Hou Gu family to go and find the Da Niangzi of Hou Fu Chang Marquis to mediate.

With her elder sister-in-law who married into the Yang family begging for help, Da Niangzi Bai also had to go and join in the commotion.

However, in the end, nothing changed; after all, the Rong family had the support of the Imperial Consort and the Imperial Prince, and things were no longer as they once were.

Dou Shi, who married into the Rong family, had done some things herself that were ruthless and indefensible, so the matter was settled just like that.

Time flowed like water,

passing leisurely.

On this day,

Xu Zaijing, who had a day off, looked at the fallen leaves in the courtyard and the autumn frost on the grape trellis in the morning. He shook his head gently and said faintly: "Qingcao, why do you think this year has passed so quickly?"

Qingcao, standing to the side, asked in confusion: "Young Master, has it?"

(End of chapter)