Chapter 33 Chapter 33 First Release

After a night, Wu Jingxun felt much better. He got up early, had breakfast, and went into the green gauze cabinet with a carving knife and wood.

Cuiping grinned and whispered to Ziping, "Tell me, my wife took out her favorite piece of purple sandalwood. Who is she going to make something for?"

My uncle knew that my wife loved to carve little wooden figures, so he went to Yongzhou to find that piece of purple sandalwood and sent it to my wife along with other rare things as a gift for her fifteenth birthday.

It has been kept in the box for almost a year. My wife usually doesn't want to use it, but she took it out today.

Zi Ping embroidered calmly: "Who else can I give it to? My future son-in-law is concerned about my wife. My wife is such a kind person, so naturally I have to return the gift."

Wu Jingxun was indeed preparing a return gift for Pei Jinguang.

She had no special talents, and copying scriptures, drawing, making soup, and embroidering were not suitable as return gifts. She thought about it for half the night before she came up with the idea of ​​carving a peace pendant for Pei Jinguang out of wood.

She thought of another small box, the one that looked old but had been well preserved.

...If she sent the thank-you gift back without signing her name, it might cause misunderstanding.

As Wu Jingxun advised herself in this way, wood chips flew under her hands, and she felt that her troubled thoughts seemed to fall with the wood chips.

Fortunately, it was her left hand that was injured yesterday. She was used to carving things with her right hand, and after gradually getting the hang of it, she didn't find it hard.

Without being disturbed by outsiders, Wu Jingxun calmed down and worked much faster. By the time Cuiping called her for lunch, a peace pendant had already taken shape.

Wu Jingxun stretched his aching body and picked up the dishes when he heard hurried footsteps outside.

It was Mother Wang who was beside Mrs. Tong.

When Madam Wang saw Wu Jingxun, she forced a smile and said, "Madam, your uncle has arrived in Nanjing! We estimate he'll be at Dongguo Wharf by noon tomorrow."

Uncle is here?

A smile suddenly appeared on Wu Jingxun's expressionless face, and he nodded to Mother Wang: "Thank you for telling me, Mom. I will go to the dock to pick up my uncle tomorrow."

She spoke calmly, and Mother Wang was surprised. Now the eldest lady was so free to go out as she pleased. Didn’t she discuss it with the lady first?

But on second thought, my uncle has always loved the eldest lady, so she must be too excited to make such a decision.

She'll go back and say a few good words for the lady, and then bring up this matter again.

Cuiping and Ziping were very happy to know that their uncle was coming. At least when their uncle was around, Madam Tong would do less biased things and would smile more often.

After lunch, Wu Jingxun did not stop and went into the green gauze cabinet to carve the peace pendant.

Ziping knew her stubborn nature and did not try to persuade her. Instead, she went to the small kitchen and got a jar of plum blossoms that had been sealed in the twelfth month of this year, and prepared a pot of fragrant soup for Wu Jingxun.

The plum blossoms in the cup were brewed by hot water, their petals stretching out, and the fragrance was very fragrant. The vague mist blurred the girl's soft eyebrows and eyes: "Zi Ping's hands are really skillful."

Ziping gave a shy smile.

The fragrant soup was ready, but Wu Jingxun was not the only one who came to drink it.

Mrs. Tong has been feeling quite proud these past two days. First, she got the chance to expose Sun Luqiu's dirty deeds, and then she learned that her brother would arrive in Jinling the next day. She felt quite relieved, thinking that her brother would come to support her and force Wu Peifeng to make her his wife again.

She was in a good mood. Seeing her daughter carving wood without doing her job, she was rarely angry. She asked Zi Ping to pour her a cup of tea and sat down leisurely. "Was it Master Pei who rescued you yesterday? You didn't get hurt, did you?"

Almost ten hours had passed since she escaped danger and returned home, but her biological mother put who saved her before the question of whether she was safe.

Wu Jingxun's expression was indifferent: "Yes."

Her tone and demeanor revealed a subtle resistance. Madam Tong raised an eyebrow. "Don't blame me for not coming to see you yesterday. I finally caught that bitch from Feng Pingyuan doing something wrong. If I don't expose it, I'm afraid your father, who's so biased that he's been a cuckold for so many years without saying a word, will continue to protect Sun Luqiu and that bastard!"

Wu Jingxun's fingers, hanging on her knees, clenched slightly inwards. "How did mother know about this? Maybe someone deliberately spread false news to cause unrest in our home."

There seemed to be some indifference in the girl's voice, and Mrs. Tong was instantly ignited.

"What do you know? Could the news that the noble gave me be false? Don't you want me to become your legal wife, so that your status can become more honorable?" Madam Tong glanced at her unhappily, and began to talk about what happened in Fengping Courtyard yesterday.

She spoke for a while, then, noticing her audience's lack of interest, raised an eyebrow, stood up, and walked around the gauze cabinet. She picked up the peace pendant, which had a finished outline and only a few carved patterns, and nodded with satisfaction. "You're thoughtful. Knowing your brother will soon take the imperial examination, you carved a peace pendant... Although my skills are average, it's a thoughtful gesture after all."

Wu Jingxun wanted to force out a sarcastic laugh, but she remained silent, saying only, "Since your skills are average, there's no need to give it to my brother."

Madam Tong glared at her and began to say that after Madam Sun and her daughter left, Wuxucong, as the only legitimate son, would definitely have a more noble status and would be more confident when marrying a new wife in the future.

Wu Jingxun listened inattentively, his mind completely attracted by the "noble person" that Madam Tong mentioned. Later, he tried to get Madam Tong to talk more about it, but Madam Tong became alert and refused to say anything. When Wu Jingxun tried to ask more questions, she hurriedly got up and left.

Wu Jingxun didn't think that any noble family would be so "kind-hearted". The person behind the scenes would tell Madam Tong those old secrets. Either he had an old grudge with Madam Sun, or he wanted to divert the blame and drag the entire Wu Mansion into the water.

Is it Aye’s political enemy, or someone else?

Wu Jingxun shook his dizzy head and drank the already cold fragrant soup in the cup. "Cui Ping, go to Tang Yuyuan and ask Shunhua if it's convenient. I'll go talk to her tonight."

Cui Ping responded, and before leaving, she grabbed the curtain at the door and whispered, "Madam, have you ever thought about this? If what Madam said is true, then the Second Madam..."

If Wu Shunhua is indeed not the master's biological child, will he be driven out of the mansion in the future?

"The matter has not been concluded yet. I have no control over what others say or think, but people in this yard should stop saying such things and do less things that create bad karma." Wu Jingxun only now gradually understood that blood ties are the most unreliable things. Her closest relatives have ignored her for many years, and Shunhua, who may not be her biological sister, has always had an awkward concern for her.

What is this?

Seeing that she insisted, Cuiping lowered her head and walked out.

Unexpectedly, Wu Shunhua didn't want to see her.

Seeing Wu Jingxun frowning, Cuiping snorted, "Second Madam said she's too busy taking care of herself to gossip with the future Crown Prince's wife. Look at her, Madam, she's talking so sarcastic, someone who doesn't know would think we've done something wrong."

Ziping pulled her and said, "Don't say that. Don't you see that your wife is a little sad?"

Wu Jingxun paused, then turned and went into the green gauze cabinet. She wanted to finish the peace pendant as soon as possible.

Zi Ping and the others thought she was hurt by the Second Lady's words, but unexpectedly, when Wu Jingxun usually wanted to rest, she found a large black coat and put it on, saying softly, "I'm going to go find Shunhua. You don't have to follow me."

How can I not follow you?

Cui Ping said anxiously, "It's late at night, and the road is pitch black. I'll go with you and hold a lantern for you."

Wu Jingxun shook his head and took the lantern from Ziping's hand: "You guys can rest now. Just leave the gate open a crack for me."

Cuiping and the others could only watch as a slender figure gradually disappeared into the night.

Tang Yuyuan

Wu Shunhua lay in bed in a daze, her mind full of the words her mother, Madam Sun, had said to her during the day. Her head was in a mess, as if there were fifty or sixty little people quarreling with each other at once.

She is not Aye's biological daughter, nor is she Mutou's sister. She has been occupying Mutou's nest for many years, and she has robbed Mutou of her father's love for many years...

Wu Shunhua buried her head in the quilt, letting the warm blanket absorb her wet tears and vague sobs.

Suddenly a hand patted her gently.

Wu Shunhua was so scared that he burped loudly.

"Shunhua." Wu Jingxun was also frightened by her. After hesitating for a moment, he touched her again, "Are you okay?"

Just when Wu Jingxun was worried that she would suffocate to death by burying herself in the quilt, Wu Shunhua suddenly popped up with a messy head, her black hair disheveled, and her eyes and nose were red and damp.

"Now that you've seen it and are satisfied, you can go." Wu Shunhua toughened his voice, and the high wall he had forcibly built collapsed in the tolerant gaze of Wu Jingxun, who seemed to know everything.

She threw herself into Wu Jingxun's arms and told her all the panic and sadness she had felt due to the sudden changes in the past two days.

Wu Jingxun did not speak, but just sat there silently, acting as a listener.

Wu Shunhua's emotions fluctuated wildly, and she soon fell asleep, but her hand was still tightly holding hers, and she murmured, "Can I still call you Sister Mu?"

Wu Jingxun stroked her tear-soaked hair, and her voice was like a passing spring breeze.

"sure."

·

That night, Wu Jingxun returned to Yuzhaoyuan very late, but he was worried and couldn't sleep. When Cuiping woke up with a yawn, she found a faint orange candlelight burning in the green gauze cabinet.

At a glance, Wu Jingxun was still polishing the peace pendant.

Cui Ping sighed that her wife's love for Master Pei was truly rare. She said that they would surely live happily together after she married him. She might even start taking care of the little lady next year. She tiptoed over to remind her, "Madam, what would you like to eat in the morning? A big steamed bun with pickles?"

Wu Jingxun felt like vomiting just thinking about the big steamed buns. He shook his head and said, "Just prepare some meat porridge."

Cui Ping let out a crisp "Ah," her eyes falling on the radiantly polished peace pendant between the girl's slender white hands. Wu Jingxun took a moment to realize she hadn't left. He glanced over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Cui Ping felt a sweet feeling for her relationship with Master Pei. She just waved her hands and said with a smile, "My wife's cooking skills are getting better and better!"

Wu Jingxun smiled.

After breakfast, Wu Jingxun tied the woven necklace onto the peace pendant, then found a box and carefully placed the things in it before handing it to Ziping: "Thank you for your hard work."

Zi Ping smiled and shook her head: "I am happy to be able to build a bridge between my wife and my future son-in-law."

What is Magpie Bridge...

Wu Jingxun glared at her in anger, but with a smile on his face, he was in a good mood thinking that he would be able to see his uncle soon.

But when she went out and was about to get on the carriage, she saw Wuxucong waiting on the side.

Wu Jingxun did not take the initiative to say hello.

Wu Xucong looked at her cold expression and coughed pretendingly: "There are a lot of people at Dongguo Wharf. I'll go with you to pick up your uncle so that you won't be bumped into by others."

Wu Jingxun remained silent. Cui Ping, a sharp-tongued person, said, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master. However, according to what you said before, my wife will be the wife of the Crown Prince of the Pingning Marquisate. Who is so blind as to be rude to us?"

Wuxucong's cheeks flushed red at the sarcastic tone in the maid's words.

"Cui Ping, get in the carriage." Wu Jingxun didn't want to waste his good mood on such a thing. He called Cui Ping and helped her get into the carriage. Then he turned his head slightly and said to Wu Xucong, "Brother, please do as you please."

Wuxucong followed in silence on horseback.

·

Pei Jinguang was on vacation at home today. Taking advantage of the good sunshine, he and Pei Huaiguang went to the stable to brush the horses.

Pei Huaiguang had the same sour face as usual, and his white horse was also very arrogant, rolling its eyes at Xuan Guangcheng several times.

The two brothers were silent for a while, quietly brushing their horses.

The doorman took the things sent by Ziping and went to Pei Jinguang's yard, but didn't see anyone there, so he had to hand it over to Shuqing.

Shu Qing came to the stable with great interest and asked Pei Jinguang if he wanted to open it now. He was a little nonchalant: "Take it back first."

Shu Qing knew the inside story and deliberately dragged out his voice: "Oh? The prince is not even in a hurry to open the things sent by the eldest lady of the Wu family? Well, I will--"

Before he could finish his words, Pei Jinguang took the small box away.

Being a person who always loved cleanliness, he didn't care about anything else and quickly wiped his hands with a towel before taking the small box.

Inside is a peace pendant carved with rising bamboo joints.

The wood is hard and warm to the touch, with a lake blue tassel hanging from it.

Shu Qing saw the prince holding the peace pendant, and the corners of his mouth rose higher and higher. He smiled and said, "The person who brought this gift was the personal maid of the eldest lady of the Wu family. She said that the eldest lady specially carved this bamboo peace pendant for you to express her gratitude for your rescue and the gifts you gave her yesterday. The eldest lady of the Wu family carved this thing herself. Oh, my, the prince is really lucky. He hasn't even married yet, but his wife is thinking of you. The bamboo peace pendant is just a wish for your life to be safe and sound."

Pei Jinguang is usually a serious person, but now he can't help it and the smile on his face is getting bigger and bigger.

This smile was very dazzling in Pei Huaiguang's eyes.

He lowered his head expressionlessly and continued to brush the horse. The white horse grimaced in disbelief at the sudden increase in force, and in the end, it couldn't help but angrily butt the dog-like owner.

It hurts so much when you rub me!

Pei Huaiguang was hit by it and his chest was covered with foam. He was silent for a while, dropped the brush, and hurried away.

A fire of resentment and grievance burned in his heart.

My brother saved her and sent things over to her. But he didn’t save her and didn’t send things over to her?

Why was it that my brother was the only one who had the peace pendant made by her, and he didn't even get a perfunctory word?

This is not fair!

Shu Qing looked at the Second Young Master's angry back, then looked at Pei Jinguang who was still immersed in joy, and curled his lips: "Why did the Second Young Master leave so suddenly?"

Maybe he should go find Jingxun and seek justice.

Pei Jinguang felt strangely calm in his heart. It was useless for him to stop her. Erlang would only give up when he truly felt Jingxun's resistance.

The peace pendant was placed in a small box for safekeeping, and Pei Jinguang continued to wash and scrub Xuan Guangcheng.

Xuan Guangcheng looked at the white horse covered in foam with dignity but also with contempt.

It's so pitiful. Its owner abandoned it halfway through taking a bath.

But afterwards, Xuan Guangcheng watched as his heroic, invincible and handsome master also swept the pitiful white horse, and he was so angry at the smug look in the white horse's eyes that he howled to the sky several times.

·

When Pei Huaiguang found Wu Jingxun, she was drinking tea in a teahouse near the pier.

The teahouse was simple, but people coming and going couldn't help but cast their astonished gazes on the girl in light green clothes.

Wu Xucong volunteered to go to the dock to see if the boat carrying his uncle Tong Pingfu had arrived. The wind was strong today, so Wu Jingxun found a teahouse and waited slowly.

If he wants to blow the cold wind, let him blow it. She won’t feel so sad now.

A shadow was cast on the table.

Wu Jingxun raised her head, and her beautiful and charming fox eyes gradually widened, reflecting the boy's cold and inexplicably aggrieved face.

"Pei Ping Pei. Why don't I have one?"

Wu Jingxun was stunned for a moment before he said, "Do you want one too, Second Master Pei? I'll look for one for you someday while I'm shopping, and if I find one that's suitable, I'll give it to you, okay?"

What she said was polite and well-mannered, and no one could find fault with it.

Pei Huaiguang became even angrier.

The prying and excited eyes of the people around him made him even more unbearable.

He grabbed Wu Jingxun's uninjured hand and said sternly, "Come with me."

Wu Jingxun struggled: "If you have anything to say, just say it here."

"You hurt me."

Pei Huaiguang looked back and taunted, "You stayed up all night carving a peace pendant for my brother, and your hands didn't hurt, but it hurts when I pull it? What's going on? Am I some kind of jinx, born to bring bad luck upon you?"

He just made a sarcastic remark in anger, but he didn't expect Wu Jingxun to think about it for a while and nodded seriously.

It's hard to say.

Pei Huaiguang was so angry at her silent nod that the corners of his eyes turned red, but he never tightened his grip on her arm.

Cuiping also reacted and hurried forward to pull him away: "Let my wife go!"

Pei Huaiguang let go.

Cuiping hurriedly patted Wu Jingxun's sleeves, as if she was stained with something dirty.

"He can use the peace pendant you carved yourself, but even if I ask for it, I can only get a second-rate item you can find anywhere on the street, right?"

Perhaps in her eyes, I am indeed a second-rate person.

Wu Jingxun frowned and nodded at the boy's inexplicably stubborn look.

If this can make him wake up and stop having those inappropriate thoughts, then I can be a little cruel... a little cruel.

Seeing that she really nodded, Pei Huaiguang felt less upset.

She was no different from anyone else. He should have known better.

The boy turned and left, and the onlookers felt a little regretful. They thought that the child and the girl looked so well matched, they should tear each other apart a little more, as they would love to watch.

Cuiping was a little worried: "Madam..."

She was worried that someone might see what happened and gossip about it.

Wu Jingxun shook his head and smiled at the person outside the window. The slight discomfort in his heart was instantly forgotten: "Uncle!"

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The author has something to say: Today’s diary session——

Wu Banban: My wood carving skills still need to be improved, but there will be people who will not dislike it.

Pei Da: I received a gift from my fiancée today. I was so happy that I brushed two horses in a row!

Pei Er: Why why why why why why why why why why hehehe I don’t really want it, it’s so funny, if you don’t give it to me then don’t give it to me, I really don’t want it that much:D