Chapter 783: Congratulatory Gifts for the Delicate Husband

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Today, except for Jia Cong and Wang Xifeng, almost everyone in the family was present. The atmosphere was harmonious and lively, and the popularity was very prosperous.

It happened that the Lady Li of the Marquis of Zhongjing was visiting, and at this very moment, the future granddaughter-in-law sent someone to deliver gifts. The etiquette was thoughtful, generous, and appropriate.

This gave the Old Matron face in front of her maiden family, and the Old Matron was naturally very happy.

Lady Wang had just heard Lady Li's words and was feeling somewhat frustrated, but suddenly felt a sense of pride, and her heart was also very happy.

Sisters like Yingchun and Daiyu were also curious. This Xia Gu Niang hadn't even entered the door yet, but she was so knowledgeable about etiquette. Looking at her, she actually had a bit of Sister Feng's shadow.

After a while, the wife of Lin Zhixiao brought Mother Chen of the Xia family into the hall.

Behind her followed several strong matrons, carrying several wicker baskets of various sizes, inside which were various gifts, which soon filled the hall.

Mother Chen smiled, "Greetings to the Old Matron, all the Ladies, and Misses. I received instructions from our Miss to send the twelfth lunar month etiquette to the relatives, elders, and sisters."

"The first portion here is for the Old Matron's appreciation, including three bolts of Jiang Nan tribute silk, a jade-inlaid bonsai, and a box of top-grade sandalwood folding fans."

"Two boxes of Yunhao Studio's fine agarwood incense, and additionally five pots of exotic multi-colored winter chrysanthemums, which were carefully cultivated in the Xia family's flower garden and are all budding."

"Placed in the prefecture, they will bloom in less than two days, which can bring good luck for the beginning of the year. Placed outside, they are not afraid of freezing and can be appreciated for more than half a month."

"The second portion is for the Count of Lord Weiyuan of the East Mansion. This portion should have been the same as the Old Matron's, but the Miss heard that the East Mansion is managed by the eldest young lady, so it wouldn't be good to miss the etiquette."

"Therefore, this portion has two extra bolts of tribute silk and a jade-inlaid bonsai; the rest of the varieties are the same."

"The third portion is for the second Lady of the prefecture. The various gifts are the same as the Old Matron's."

This speech by Mother Chen was specially instructed by Xia Gu Niang before she left, telling her to speak clearly and not make mistakes, otherwise, she would be punished by family law upon returning to the prefecture.

Although Mother Chen was Lady Xia's trusted aide and could be considered to have some face in the Xia Prefecture, when encountering this little young mistress, she could only admit defeat to avoid suffering.

Besides, this speech by Xia Gu Niang didn't seem to have any faults, but the gifts sent to the Count of Lord Weiyuan were heavier than those sent to her own mother-in-law, which was somewhat unpleasant to hear.

But because it was mixed with the eldest young lady of the East Mansion, Yingchun, the etiquette was slightly heavier, so generally, no faults could be picked out...

The things Mother Chen could think of, experienced women in the hall like the Old Matron, Xue Yima Xue, Lady Li, and Lady Wang naturally noticed some of them.

Even careful boudoir ladies like Yingchun, Daiyu, and Seeing Tan Chun felt a trace of strangeness.

Therefore, just as Mother Chen's voice fell, a momentary strange silence appeared in the hall, and a slightly strange atmosphere seemed to surge in the air.

Someone's gaze involuntarily looked at Lady Wang sitting below the Old Matron, but it was not too obvious, appearing somewhat detached and flickering.

Although these gifts were a bit strange, even an experienced person like the Old Matron couldn't pick out any faults in them.

As the saying goes, "too many gifts don't offend," and this was not the place to pick faults, which made people feel somewhat awkward.

Lady Wang had just felt that this future daughter-in-law was really earning face for her.

Now, after hearing Mother Chen report the gift list, her face instantly became a bit ugly, but she couldn't say any faults.

She couldn't explicitly say that the Xia family shouldn't have sent a portion to Jia Cong. If she said that, she would become a laughingstock.

She only felt that this twelfth lunar month etiquette contained an indescribable flavor, making Lady Wang feel extremely twisted inside.

This Miss sent gifts, but regardless of generation or closeness, there was no need for her to send a portion to Cong Ge'er.

Even if she hadn't entered the door yet and didn't know the grudge between the second branch and this kid, it would be fine to send one.

Why was the etiquette for sending to Cong Ge'er actually heavier than that for her, the mother-in-law? Wasn't this letting others watch her make a fool of herself?

Originally, she thought this Xia Gu Niang was outstanding, but she didn't expect her to be inconsiderate. After all, she was still young and didn't understand the priorities of things.

Although Lady Wang was extremely uncomfortable in her heart, she still reluctantly thought of some reasons to excuse Xia Gu Niang.

Because she was extremely unwilling to admit that the Xia Gu Niang she had always valued, the daughter-in-law who would enter the door in a few months, was also a troublesome one...

In this slightly strange occasion, Xue Yima Xue was originally the best at smoothing the atmosphere, but she and her sister had already developed a grudge, and she hadn't thought about opening her mouth for a while.

Yingchun, Daiyu, Baochai, and others were juniors, so naturally, they wouldn't talk too much at this juncture.

It was Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing, who was an experienced person who had seen the world.

According to her own meaning, the Xia family, as in-laws of the second branch, sending twelfth lunar month festival gifts and sending one to Cong Ge'er was also within the common sense of social interaction.

After all, Jia Cong was the head of the two mansions of the Jia family and the most precious person of the Jia family's "Yu" generation. For the second branch to stand firmly in the Jia family, Jia Cong's attitude was crucial.

If the Xia family elders came to send this festival gift, naturally there would be no gossip, but this little daughter-in-law who hadn't entered the door coming to send it was somewhat lacking in avoidance of suspicion.

It was just that the Xia family matron had said just now that this etiquette for Cong Ge'er included the second girl, Yingchun, which covered up this trace of impropriety.

If such a delicate arrangement was also the means of this Xia family daughter-in-law, Lady Li felt that she was quite spicy and had no small amount of scheming.

Looking at her inside and out, she actually had a bit of Sister Feng's posture. If Baoyu could marry such a capable daughter-in-law, it could be considered a big bargain for the second branch.

Lady Li saw that the Xue Yima Matron didn't care too much, because in the Xue Yima Matron's eyes, the Xia family's etiquette had no major faults.

It was just that Lady Wang's expression was rather unsightly; she must have felt that her daughter-in-law and Jia Cong sending gifts had caused her to lose face.

The Jia and Shi families were very close in-laws, and their daily interactions were more than other families. Plus, because of Shi Xiangyun, the two families knew each other's roots and bottoms even more.

Lady Li had also heard that Lady Wang was dissatisfied with Jia Cong inheriting the Rongguo title and obtaining the entire family business of the West Mansion of the Jia family.

At this moment, her daughter-in-law who hadn't entered the door sent gifts to Jia Cong that surpassed her, so Lady Wang was naturally very uncomfortable.

But the Shi family now had a close relationship with Jia Cong, and Lady Li of the Marquis of Zhongjing knew the weight of it.

Not only did the Xue Yima Matron and the second sister-in-law have a tacit understanding to match Jia Cong and Shi Xiangyun.

It was also because the Marquis and Jia Cong were both trusted ministers of the Emperor, and the Marquis also praised Jia Cong's talent and strategy, holding him in high regard.

Jia Cong was only fifteen years old, yet he already held two titles, and his civil and military achievements were prosperous. In the future, his future would be limitless, and he would certainly be a great help to the Shi family.

In the eyes of Lady Li of the Marquis of Zhongjing, she had already regarded Jia Cong as a member of the Shi family, so her words and actions naturally had to be protective.

Seeing the strange atmosphere at the scene, she smiled, "The granddaughter-in-law who hasn't entered the door of the Xue Yima Matron is really a virtuous and knowledgeable person."

"Look at the etiquette she sent; the considerations are so thoughtful and detailed, even thinking of the second girl. It is extremely rare for a girl to have such thoughts."

"After this girl enters the door in the future, the sisters-in-law will certainly be harmonious. I just said that the Old Matron is blessed; this granddaughter-in-law found is really satisfactory."

Lady Li's words were very decent, covering up the vague impropriety of Xia Gu Niang's gift-sending without a trace, making people feel that it made great sense.

The Old Matron smiled, "Your words make sense. Xia Gu Niang is only sixteen; such generosity and understanding of etiquette are also extremely rare."

Xue Yima Xue also followed suit and said a few good words for Xia Gu Niang. Anyway, everyone lifts the flowery sedan chair; it was just going with the flow.

Lady Wang listened to everyone's support, and the discomfort on her face slowly faded away.

It was just that Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and others were careful people, and they all heard some mistakes in the Xia family matron's words just now.

This Xia Gu Niang had visited the prefecture many times. Last time, when Lady Wang had her birthday in the East Road Courtyard, the sisters even sat at the same table with her.

Everyone had some conversation, and she knew that besides the second sister, there were many sisters in the East Mansion.

But the etiquette sent to the East Mansion only mentioned the second sister, and seemed to turn a blind eye to the other sisters.

Looking at her posture of sending gifts, she seemed to be a shrewd and transparent person, so she shouldn't have such mistakes, which made people feel somewhat strange.

It was just that Daiyu and Xia Gu Niang had very little contact, and they were not very relevant people, so she just turned it over in her mind and didn't take it to heart.

Seeing Tan Chun, because she was a girl of the second branch, had talked to Xia Gu Niang many times, but she thought a layer deeper in her heart.

Seeing Tan Chun heard this slightly subtle gift list, and for some reason, she subconsciously thought of the look Xia Gu Niang gave the third brother, which made her feel somewhat uneasy.

Because that look was exactly what Seeing Tan Chun could understand, full of scorching heat and infatuation that made people's hearts beat...

After Lady Li, Xue Yima Xue, and others finished their polite words, Yingchun on the side glanced at Mother Chen.

She smiled and said, "Go back and thank your Miss for me. Please go down and drink tea and wait for a moment. I have a return gift that I will trouble you to bring back."

Mother Chen heard this and hurriedly bowed to thank her. Yingchun then instructed the maid Xiuju to go and pass a message to Sheyue to prepare a twelfth lunar month festival gift.

Shi Xiangyun saw that among the gifts placed, there was also an exquisite wooden box, with beautiful patterns carved on it, appearing quite elegant.

She smiled, "This little box is quite elegant. Whose gift is it?"

Mother Chen smiled, "I was just busy sending the etiquette for the head of the family and elders, and forgot to mention the festival gift the Miss sent to the husband."

Shi Xiangyun heard the word "husband" and felt it was quite fresh and fun, and couldn't help but laugh lightly.

Baoyu heard the word "husband" and couldn't help but tremble all over. A feeling of being unable to show his face arose in his heart, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to drill into.

He subconsciously looked at Daiyu, seeing her whispering with Yingchun, seemingly not caring at all, or even completely ignoring it. Baoyu couldn't help but feel like his heart was being cut by a knife.

"Lin Meimei heard others call it this way. She should be as heartbroken as I am. How could she be so ignorant and unaware? This must not be true." ===== CHAPTER 784 =====