Chapter 378: Chen Dalang's Family Enters the Capital

Time passed swiftly, and soon it was Feng Xuanze's birthday.

He and Feng Xuan Yu returned the previous night, and the next day the whole household ate a meal together, without a grand celebration.

Sui Sui prepared a gift for her elder brother, selecting a set of the four scholar's tools from the items bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager.

She told Aunt Qiu that her elder brother was still studying, so this gift was quite appropriate.

Feng Xuanze treasured the items sent by his own siblings.

He neatly put them away, thanked his younger siblings, chatted a while with Mother Consort, and then returned to the Shu Yuan later that day.

June 26th was Prince Qi's birthday.

Wangfu naturally had to hold a grand celebration; all the invitations were sent out early, and the Residence side was also prepared.

On this day, the Princess Consort of Qi needed to go out with the two side consorts for social duties.

Fearing that Sui Sui would be neglected, the Princess Consort of Qi early arranged for Lu Xing Lan to help look after Sui Sui.

Ren Shu Han and Sui Sui together, along with Liu He Meng and Shen Hua Tang, so many young girls together, could not let Sui Sui be wronged.

On the 26th, it had rained a couple of days earlier, and the sky was still a bit overcast.

But in summer, such weather was still comfortable.

At least the sun neither scorched nor baked, so everyone could go outdoors for a walk.

Otherwise, staying indoors, sipping cold drinks and eating chilled fruit would still feel oppressively hot.

Now this weather is quite nice.

The Princess Consort of Qi got up early and was busy.

Sui Sui at first followed the older brothers, then later followed several sisters led by Liu He Meng.

The children ate, drank, and played without the worries of adults.

Adults came and went for socializing; those with good connections gathered and gossiped for a while.

"Did you hear? The Jin Yangzi Residence caused another scandal again."

"What scandal? How come I haven't heard about it?"

"I heard Xu Lao Fu Ren sent the eldest Xu daughter from the Residence to Qiong Zhou, and she's been gone for almost half a month, right?"

"Isn't that normal? That eldest daughter staying in Jing Cheng has an awkward status—whether legitimate or not—making the Jin Yangzi Residence lose face. Moreover, their household has many daughters, so losing this one likely doesn't matter, but why send her to Qiong Zhou?"

"I heard she was sent to become the wife of a young master of the Cui family. Apparently, they sent her over without informing Qiong Zhou, only notifying the Cui family in Jing, and then dispatched her."

"I know about that too; I heard the Cui family didn't consent, but they couldn't stop the Xu family from forcing it. Though the daughter's status is awkward, forcing her... isn't very graceful. If the Cui family returns her later, that'll be entertaining."

"I heard that since they couldn't send her back, Lord Cui, who went to Qiong Zhou to open up the land, has an illegitimate son who was injured as a child and has a lame leg. After learning the Xu family forced the marriage, the Cui family planned to pair the two together, even offering him the position of principal wife, which would save face for both families."

"I heard that Xu Lao Fu Ren originally intended to send the eldest Xu daughter to become Lord Cui's concubine."

"How could she think that? That's a generation apart, right?"

……

"You only heard about this? I also heard another story; do you want to hear it?"

"Go on, tell us, don't hide it; we're not outsiders."

"I heard that for the newly brought-in secondary wife, a member of her natal family showed up, causing a rather unsightly scene."

"I heard that too; apparently her maternal uncle's whole family are mud‑legged, and her mother is a village girl; Jin Yangzi didn't discriminate back then."

"How did it end?"

"They gave her silver, so what else could they do?"

"But what does Xu Lao Fu Ren want?"

"Who knows?"…

Acquaintances were discussing; not too close, but consciously getting to know and befriend each other.

The Princess Consort of Qi, accompanied by Ren Ce Fei and Meng Ce Fei, was constantly busy with various social greetings; only occasionally did she have time to ask Aunt Qiu how Sui Sui was doing.

The children had no such reservations or worries, each playing happily.

Moreover, Feng You Tan had arrived again.

With a princess protecting here, others dared not cause trouble in front of Sui Sui.

Because of that, they might be dealt with directly by the princess.

Princess Shunyang would never give anyone face!

Meanwhile, in the Jin Yangzi Residence.

Xu Lao Fu Ren was in decent condition today, but after her stroke her speech was slurred; even when she tried to speak it came out as vague ho‑ho sounds.

Aside from the close‑by maid who could barely guess her meaning, others could not understand what she was trying to convey.

Xu Lao Fu Ren harbored hatred in her heart! The dream she had was clearly not like this!

She clearly dreamed that among the secondary wives there was a lucky one who could bring good fortune to the marquis' household.

But why?

All the secondary wives were taken back by her, yet the marquis' household did not enjoy wealth and honor but went downhill. From the Marquis of Jin Yang to Jin Yangzi, what sin have they committed? Though dreams are said to oppose reality, her dream was so vivid that she increasingly felt it was not a dream, perhaps the imminent reality!

In the dream they even rose to the Tang family, aligned with the Crown Prince's faction; after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, their marquis' house was promoted directly to a Guó Gōng residence, their status climbing step by step, becoming one of the most prestigious and influential nobles in Jing Cheng!

In the dream she wore first‑rank imperial robes, enjoying all kinds of privileges, everything feeling as genuine as if she had truly experienced it.

But now why is it different? How did it become like this?

Where exactly did the problem arise?

She had been having that dream continuously before she started bringing the secondary wives back, yet she could never see the woman's face or identity clearly.

Therefore, she could only bring everyone back.

After bringing them back, she never had such a dream again.

"Ho ho..." Xu Lao Fu Ren, thinking of this, couldn't help but pat the bedboard.

So, why is it like this?!

The glory of her marquis's manor—how could it just disappear? Who?

Who is destined with misfortune, who has ruined their marquis's manor?

Under the intense pressure, Xu Lao Fu Ren fainted again.

At this moment, Xu Yue Yao was also in a sorry state.

Her parents far away in Qingzhou, along with her older brother and younger brothers, came to her doorstep.

They arrived like famine refugees, and they utterly shamed her.

The even more shameful part came later; they arrived claiming to be the in‑laws of the Jin Yangzi Residence, demanding both money and power.

They completely ignored how difficult the days were for her, a daughter, at the Jin Yangzi Residence.

Xu Yue Yao remembered that years ago her aunt had brought back a lot of money; she had seen her mother's hidden stash more than once, which contained several especially beautiful hairpins and a roll of silver notes.

Normally, the household shouldn't be short of money for the time being.

But why, then, did they still come so destitute to Jing Cheng, leeching directly off her?

Second watch at 19:00