Chapter 306

At the courtyard gate,

Mrs. Xing's expression was warm yet stiff, the smile on her face blooming atop the thick powder, like a half‑opened flower.

Lady Wang, by contrast, forced a smile— a smile that didn't reach her eyes— and seemed somewhat false!

Only Xue Auntie's smile was more sincere, her attitude more warm; seeing Jia Jing's gaze fall on her, she laughed softly and sweetly:

"Jing'er, you're back? How have you been in the northwest lately? Look at your face— you seem to have gotten thinner!"

Her gaze held the affection of a mother‑in‑law looking at her son‑in‑law, her fair face full of smiles.

Needless to say, when it comes to saying these formalities, Xue Auntie is clearly better than Lady Wang and Mrs. Xing.

Mrs. Xing is simple‑minded, truly unable to say pleasant things; sometimes even when Lady Wang sneers at her darkly, she can't even react!

Lady Wang, in her youth as a secluded maiden, basically followed the gentle and virtuous path.

After becoming a wife, she sometimes puts on the airs of the mistress of the house, seeming somewhat clumsy‑tongued and inept at speech!

Xue Auntie, meanwhile, has some of Xiang Yun's innocent and lively nature, and can joke and laugh like Feng Jie, her emotional intelligence mostly on point.

Faced with the warm affection shown by the ladies, Jia Jing did not have the easygoing attitude he showed toward the Jia Mansion sisters.

Instead, his expression grew slightly more solemn, his face calm as water, his gaze without ripple; he lightly nodded to Xue Auntie, Feng Jie, and the others, then spoke in a low voice:

"Thank you for your concern, Auntie and sister‑in‑law! I'm all well! Let me first go in to see the grandmother before we chat!"

Saying this, he paid no more heed to the two ladies and, on his own, led the way toward Rong Qing Tang!

Inside Rong Qing Tang, lights blazed; the candlesticks were filled with freshly replaced candles, their flames jumping steadily, illuminating every corner of the hall brightly.

Within the hall, Jia Mu leaned against the couch, wearing a stone‑blue plain‑silk jacket, on her head a vermilion gold forehead band, in the center of which was set a piece of Feicui.

Her hand rested on the arm of the couch, fingers slightly curled, her body leaning forward slightly, her eyes fixed on the doorway.

After hearing Jia Jing's voice and footsteps coming from the gate.

Jia Mu suddenly reached out, holding Amber's arm behind her, and slowly rose to her feet.

"Grandmother..." Amber, not knowing what Jia Mu intended, called out softly and steadied her.

Jia Mu ignored Amber, instead slowly raising her hand and beginning to tidy her collar, bit by bit.

That everyday stone‑blue jacket of hers wasn't particularly fine, yet she arranged it extremely slowly and meticulously, as if preparing for a grand occasion.

She smoothed the collar, straightened the sash, evened the cuffs, and even readjusted the position of the jade pendant at her waist.

Amber stared, not quite understanding why Jia Mu was doing this!

The other maids, servant girls, and everyone attending in the room also froze; only an elderly servant who had seen little of the world understood the significance.

They knew this was called straightening one's attire and composing one's demeanor; whenever honored guests came to the mansion or Jia Mu went to the palace to see the empress or empress dowager, they would first tidy their clothes to show respect.

What they didn't expect was that now Jia Jing, a grandson of his generation, would be received by Jia Mu with such solemnity!

Although Jia Jing indeed now holds high status and precious rank, Jia Mu, as the eldest senior of Rong Guo Mansion and his own grandmother, hardly needs such an elaborate welcome!

To put it bluntly, even when the Son of Heaven goes to see the empress dowager and grand empress dowager in the palace, only the Son of Heaven kneels before them.

And they need not rise, nor straighten their attire to show solemnity; they need only sit upright to receive the rites.

Now Jia Jing is merely a duke returning home; why must Jia Mu go to such lengths?

But the maids and servant girls of Rong Guo Mansion, whose household discipline has been straightened, all knew Jia Jing was coming; none dared to speak rashly, only able to watch as Jia Mu smoothed the wrinkles from her cuffs step by step.

Seeing Jia Mu rise and still need to descend from the couch, Amber at her side whispered a plea:

"Grandmother, the duke is your own grandson, and you've already sent Mandarin Duck Sister to greet him at the gate."

"Why go to all this trouble… just sit and wait for him."

"You don't understand." Jia Mu's voice was a little hoarse, her expression somewhat solemn!

"He is indeed my grandson, but he is also a first‑rank duke of the Da Han Empire, the new duke of our Jia family."

"He overthrew the Northern Yuan court and cleared the plains. Such merit, such a rank, would warrant even a former duke's return to personally welcome him at the gate."

"What I respect is not my grandson! It is the court's rank, and the achievement he has earned!"

Jia Mu spoke, meanwhile straightening her collar once more, then slowly rose and descended from the high couch; though her body was old, her spine remained ramrod straight.

In fact, Jia Mu's gesture this time, besides showing respect for Jia Jing's dukedom, also displayed the bearing of a first‑rank titled lady who knows propriety and the bigger picture!

That is what a family versed in literature and ritual looks like—leading by example!

Today, her courteous, meticulous, all‑encompassing welcome of this grandson, Jia Jing, will surely be seen and remembered by everyone in the mansion!

With her status as the duke's lady, she does this; who else would dare to neglect propriety?

Including Jia Jing himself—being treated so solemnly by this grandmother, he'll hardly dare to scold her as an old fool again!

Jia Mu had barely left the couch,

Jia Jing then lifted the curtain and stepped slowly into the hall; at first glance he saw Jia Mu standing below the couch, having straightened her attire solemnly, and couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly!

Jia Mu, meanwhile, immediately noticed the dragon robe on Jia Jing's person, her expression inscrutable.

One must know that her husband, the late Duke of Rong Guo, Jia Dai Shan, although also a first‑rank duke, never got to wear a dragon robe in his lifetime!

In the entire Rong Guo Mansion, the only one qualified to wear a dragon robe and jade belt was the first Duke of Rong Guo, Jia Yuan, who was Jia Mu's father‑in‑law!

In other words, the status of this third grandson now hardly differs from that of the first Duke of Rong Guo!

Jia Mu watched Jia Jing approach slowly from the curtain, as if she were seeing her former father‑in‑law coming amid the clouds.

Especially in the glow of the hall's candles, the dragon robe on Jia Jing's body was gilded with golden light, as if it had come alive, claws and fangs brandished!

Jia Mu's gaze grew somewhat dazed, though she still believed in her heart that Baoyu was of noble character and would surely achieve great things.

But at this moment she also had to admit that the bastard son of the main branch truly possessed heavenly talent, reaching such heights in a short time—truly remarkable!

Before Jia Jing could speak, Jia Mu's aged face broke into a flourishing smile, and she said in a hoarse voice:

"Jing'er, you're back?"

Jia Jing drew near, his expression solemn and deep, he bowed slightly and said:

"Your grandson has returned! I pay my respects, grandmother!"

Nowadays, in the Jia Mansion, the only one who can make Jia Jing bow is Jia Mu.

Or to put it another way, as long as Jia Mu is still alive, even if he were made a prince, the outward courtesies that should be observed still must be observed!

Moreover, Jia Mu has given him such dignity, and during this time at the mansion he has been well-behaved; Jia Jing is willing to support her!

"Good, good, good! No need for much ceremony! You've come all this way, hurry up and sit!"

Jia Mu looked him up and down, seeing that he had hardly changed from a few months ago, she greeted him with a hoarse voice and a smile, inviting him to sit.

And just after the two exchanged a few pleasantries, Mrs. Xing, Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, and the ladies of the Jia Mansion all walked into the hall one after another.

The hall was soon filled with laughter and chatter, and taking advantage of the break while the dishes were being served, Jia Mu also began to chat with Jia Jing about family matters.