Chapter 782: Golden Osmanthus Longs to Scatter Fragrance

Outside the eastern suburbs of the Love Shenjing.

A magnificent black horse tethered to a tree was leisurely gnawing on the grass roots on the ground. Ai Li stood with her back to Jia Cong, seemingly unable to dissipate her anger.

Jia Cong said, "When did I ever say I wouldn't look after you? I owe my current glory largely to your help back in Liaodong. Do you think I'm that heartless?"

Ai Li turned her head back, tear stains still on her face, and said, "You can't be sure about a person like you. I reckon that even if you have a conscience, it doesn't seem to be much."

Jia Cong said, "It is only human nature for your mother to leave her homeland for so many years and return to offer sacrifices to ancestors and seek out relatives. As her daughter, it is necessary for you to accompany her back."

"If your mother wishes to reside in her homeland, you should also accompany her well for a period of time. When the time comes, I will write to your mother to persuade her to bring you back to the Love Shenjing."

"I will think of a proper excuse and will certainly bring you back. When that time comes, we will still be like we are now, riding horses and strolling together whenever we have free time."

Ai Li broke into a smile through her tears and said, "I'll remember these words. You are not allowed to fool me, otherwise, I won't spare you."

Jia Cong reached out to wipe the tear stains from Ai Li's face and laughed, "Rest assured, when have I ever deceived you?"

Ai Li gave a light huff and said, "I'll have to think about that. You are the best at coaxing people. Even if you haven't deceived anyone before, there's no guarantee you won't in the future."

As she spoke, she found a clean spot under the tree, took out a handkerchief to dust off the dirt, and sat down. Jia Cong sat down beside her naturally.

He smiled bitterly and said, "Can't you say something nice? You make me sound like a liar. Am I really that unbearable?"

Ai Li said unconvinced, "Who told you to anger me? And you won't even let me anger you a little? Before returning south, you said you would take me to stroll around Jiang Nan in the future."

"Now, isn't it just me going back alone? If you aren't a liar, then what are you?"

"I don't know when I'll be back after this departure, yet I see you are completely indifferent. Is it wrong for me to say you don't have much of a conscience?"

Jia Cong knew that Ai Li had always been straightforward, carefree, and daring in her actions, full of heroic spirit, and never showed a hint of a daughter's weakness.

Just because she had to go to Jiang Nan for a long time and couldn't see him, she gave rise to so much heartache and complaint. He was not a fool; naturally, he knew her heart.

He couldn't help but feel moved and gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Ai Li felt a softness in her heart and leaned into his embrace naturally.

The winter sun was bright, shining warmly on people. Ai Li's dark brown, cloud-like hair was fragrant and pleasant, flashing with a pale golden halo.

The two leaned against each other in silence, neither willing to speak, just immersed in the quiet, lingering time.

Jia Cong tilted his head to look and saw Ai Li's eyes closed, her beautiful and intoxicating lips seemingly holding a trace of a smile, appearing exceptionally heroic and charming.

He asked with a smile, "Ai Li, is your mother's ancestral home in Liu He, Jin Ling?"

Ai Li still kept her eyes closed and said, "My mother never talked about family affairs before. It was only because we were returning south this time that she told me a little."

"The Xu family's ancestral home is in Liu He, and they were a prominent local family. They also had businesses in Jin Ling City in the past."

"More than a decade ago, the Xu family got involved in some disaster, and the people in the family either died or scattered."

"My mother also suffered greatly, which is why she drifted to Liaodong in the north. Otherwise, she wouldn't have met my father, and there wouldn't be me."

Jia Cong thought that ever since he met Ai Li's mother, Lady Xu, he felt her speech and conduct were quite extraordinary, not like an ordinary commoner woman.

Hearing this background from Ai Li, this was indeed a reasonable origin.

The sky was clear, the surroundings were quiet, the soft jade and warm fragrance were in his arms, and the breath like orchids was by his ear.

Ai Li said, "Yu Zhang, let's not talk about these idle matters. Let's just stay like this for a while. The sun is really nice..."

Jia Cong laughed, "Ai Li, it's almost the middle of the twelfth lunar month. According to the old habits of my prefecture, relatives and elders must be visited."

"When we return to the city later, accompany me to buy some gifts for your mother."

Ai Li smiled and said, "I said you are the best at coaxing people. No wonder my mother always speaks well of you."

Love Shenjing, Qingyu Fang, Xia Prefecture.

In the courtyard in front of the inner hall, Lady Xia's trusted aide, Mother Chen, was directing people back and forth. Several maids and matrons were busy moving and lifting objects.

Many exquisite flower pots were placed in the open space of the courtyard, the flower branches in the pots all blooming brilliantly, dazzling and eye-catching, delicate and dripping with beauty.

Additionally, there were three wicker baskets containing silk, sachets, fans, exquisite snacks, and more.

Xia Gu Niang, accompanied by the maid Seeing Seeing Baochan, was walking along the veranda. Seeing the busy scene in front of the hall, she frowned slightly.

Seeing Seeing Baochan beside her saw her mistress's expression and felt a slight tremor in her heart.

Ever since Miss knew that Baoyu had made a maid pregnant, her temper had become increasingly irritable and violent. If there was the slightest disobedience, Miss would fly into a rage.

Although Miss didn't raise a hand to whip her, she had received many scoldings daily, making Seeing Seeing Baochan feel terrified.

Xia Gu Niang asked, "What are you all busy with?"

Mother Chen hurriedly stepped forward and smiled, "It's almost the middle of the twelfth lunar month. Prominent families in the capital all value etiquette and exchanges."

"My Lady said that the Jia family is the Miss's future husband's family, so such etiquette naturally cannot be lacking. She had me prepare a few modest gifts to be sent to the Jia family in the Miss's name."

"These are just for maintaining familiarity; they aren't worth much. When the New Year arrives, we will send another slightly more substantial portion."

"This is also to plan for the Miss's popularity in the Jia family, so that she can live more comprehensively and decently after entering the door."

Seeing Seeing Baochan heard Mother Chen's slightly ingratiating words and began to feel terrified.

It is said that this Mother Chen is the Lady's trusted aide and a very shrewd person, but I think this matron is a fool.

She doesn't know that these days, Miss is most annoyed by people mentioning her marriage. I don't know how she will vent her anger on Mother Chen at this moment.

Xia Gu Niang heard Mother Chen's words, her willow eyebrows raised slightly, and she said unpleasantly, "Bring the gift list for me to see. What kind of things are being sent?"

Mother Chen heard her mistress's tone was unkind, and her heart was also a bit uneasy. She had heard that Miss's temper had been bad recently, so she hurriedly handed over the gift list.

Xia Gu Niang looked over the gift list, her eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly thinking of something.

She asked, "Why are there only gifts for the Jia family's Old Matron, the second branch's Lady, and Baoyu on the gift list? Why isn't there one for the Count of Lord Weiyuan?"

Mother Chen was slightly stunned and hurriedly said, "Miss, now that the Jia family is our in-law, sending gifts naturally has etiquette and requirements."

"The Old Matron and the second Lady are the Miss's future elders, and the second Lady is the Miss's mother-in-law. They are the Miss's proper elders and are the most important to send to."

"Baoyu is the Miss's future husband, so the Miss naturally must send to him too."

"Although the Count of Lord Weiyuan has a great reputation, his generation is not high. He is only of the same generation as the Miss, and he is not the husband's elder brother of the same room. By logic, there is no need to send specially."

Xia Gu Niang's bright eyes widened, and she said, "What kind of foolish talk is this? Although Jia Cong is young, he is an imperially granted hereditary noble and the head of both the East and West mansions of the Jia family."

"He is three parts more noble than the Old Matron in the Jia family. When the Xia family and the Jia family intermarry, which one's authority do you think we are counting on?"

"Burning a pile of useless idle incense while failing to worship the true golden Buddha—what kind of etiquette is this? What kind of foolish thing are you doing!"

Mother Chen looked troubled and said, "Miss, I am doing this according to the Lady's instructions. The Lady didn't say we also had to send a portion to the Count of Lord Weiyuan."

Xia Gu Niang said with a cold face, "My mother has many things to do daily; it is possible she didn't think it through completely."

Mother Chen still argued, "Miss, if I were to prepare another portion, it wouldn't cost much silver, but it would be hard for me to explain to the Lady."

Xia Gu Niang's pretty face flushed, and she said angrily, "It's hard to explain to the Lady, but is it easy to explain to me?"

"I haven't married out of the house yet, and my words are already not working? I think your courage is getting bigger and bigger!"

"Even if I marry out of the Xia family, I am still my mother's only daughter. There is nothing in the family that I don't have a say in. Do you think I am easy to fool?"

"When my mother returns, I will ask about this logic. Is it you, this dog slave, who understands etiquette, or is it I, this daughter, who understands more!"

Mother Chen heard this and trembled all over. Although her mistress was young, she was a truly fierce character. She feared that after growing up, she would be even more formidable than the Lady.

The Xia family had few members, not even a branch or side door. In the future, this family business would sooner or later be the Miss's.

If she offended her now, she feared she wouldn't even know how she died in the future.

She hurriedly said, "Miss's words are going to shorten my life. How could I bear that?"

"Everything Miss says is logic. It is my old foolishness. I will handle it according to Miss's wishes."

Xia Gu Niang frowned again and asked, "Why are these things being sent to Baoyu?"

Mother Chen hurriedly replied, "Sending to the husband is all daily food, clothing, and gift items. They are also common things; it won't be wrong no matter how they are sent."

Xia Gu Niang said proudly, "He isn't even a scholar; these things for eating, drinking, and playing are of no great use. Prepare his gifts again for me."

As she spoke, she took the brush, scribbled on the gift list, and then threw it to Mother Chen.

She said, "Prepare the gifts according to what I wrote. The etiquette for the East Mansion should be sent to Jia Cong and his elder sister, that is, the one called Yingchun."

"Baoyu's etiquette should be re-arranged according to what I wrote. If there is any discrepancy, you better be careful!"

Mother Chen took the gift list and looked at it, feeling somewhat of a headache. The gifts the Miss was sending to Jia Cong were actually the same as those for the Old Matron, and slightly heavier than those for the second Lady.

This was also fine; after all, Jia Cong was the head of the Jia family. Although his generation was not high, his status was frighteningly high, so it was reasonable to have complete etiquette.

It was just that the etiquette for sending to Baoyu was really a bit strange. Mother Chen's brain felt like paste.

She couldn't help but ask, "Miss, at the middle of the twelfth lunar month, would it be inappropriate to send these gifts to the husband?"

Xia Gu Niang's eyes widened, and she said, "At his age, he should be using these the most. According to the list I made, go to Wenhan Street and buy the best ones." ===== CHAPTER 783 =====