In the solemn and dignified ancestral hall of the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion, Hong Yingrong took the lead, followed closely by her daughters Xue Huichun and Xue Shanqiu. The three of them knelt on the cushions together and kowtowed deeply to the tablets of the Xingyuan Marquis of all generations.
Nanny Zhao lit the incense sticks respectfully. Hong Yingrong took them with both hands, bowed three times reverently to the tablet, and then slowly stood up.
Her eyes wandered around the ancestral hall, and finally fell on the armor worn by the old marquis Xue Yonghuai during his lifetime.
The armor still looks majestic after years, and the mottled bloodstains on it seem to be telling of the owner's past military exploits and contributions. Seeing this, the mother, daughter and her two daughters couldn't help but feel sad and burst into tears.
Hong Yingrong gently stroked her youngest daughter Xue Shanqiu's cheek, her voice filled with endless sorrow: "When your father was alive, the thing he was most concerned about was your marriage. Now Chun'er has found a home, and you are the only one left."
Her words revealed her deep longing for her late husband and her worry about her youngest daughter's future.
The eldest daughter, Xue Huichun, looked up at the armor and said, "There are very few relics left of my father from his time in the army. This armor is the only thing that reminds me of him."
She had originally hoped to bring one of her father's relics as a dowry, as a souvenir, but now it seems that this wish can only become a regret in her heart.
Hong Yingrong looked at the tablet in the ancestral hall again, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. "The seals your father used during his lifetime, even half of the crucial tiger talisman, are all missing..."
Her words seemed to open the floodgates of memory, and the past events about the old Marquis Xue Yonghuai came flooding back like a tide.
Tears glistened in the eyes of the mother and daughter as they recalled every moment they had spent together as a family.
Xue Shanqiu held her mother's hand tightly, her eyes filled with longing for her father: "Mother, we will find those relics of father, we will."
Although her voice was slightly trembling, it revealed her firm determination.
Hong Yingrong gently patted the back of her daughter's hand, smiled and consoled her, "Silly child, those things were lost on the battlefield. How can they be found again?"
Although my heart is filled with regret, this is a reality that I have to face.
In the ancestral hall, the mother, daughter and two other girls were immersed in deep thoughts about the old marquis, and confided their sorrow to each other.
At this time, Mother Han tiptoed to the door of the ancestral hall and cautiously waved to Aunt Zhao who was standing by to serve her.
When Zhao Ma saw this scene, a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. She nodded slightly, signaled the maid Hanqiao to stay where she was, and she retreated quietly and silently.
"What's wrong? It's not time for dinner yet." Nanny Zhao asked, with a hint of confusion in her tone.
Mother Han took her away from the entrance of the ancestral hall and stood in a secluded place a little further away. She lowered her voice and whispered to her.
"Oh my God, she actually dares to come? Last time, the old lady was so kind as to give her some money to send her away from the Marquis' Mansion. Now she comes again. Don't think she is trying to extort money from her, do you?" Nanny Zhao frowned, her tone revealing obvious displeasure.
"Go call some servants, tie her up and throw her back to that dirty place." She said with disgust, obviously not intending to let this uninvited guest set foot in the Marquis's mansion again.
However, Mother Han was a little hesitant. She understood the other party's anger, but she couldn't help but say, "Come with me and take a look. She doesn't look like someone who wants to extort money."
"Why are you so soft-hearted? Okay, okay, I'll go and take a look." Zhao Ma Ma agreed reluctantly, and the two of them walked towards the north corner gate together.
This corner gate is usually a small gate used by servants, vegetable vendors, and people who deal in night incense in the mansion. People like Zhao Ma, who is the old lady's personal nanny and is considered half a master in the mansion, rarely set foot here.
"Be careful," Han Mama reminded Zhao Mama, fearing she might accidentally step into a small pond. "The person is outside."
At this time, the corner door was slightly ajar, and Zhao Ma was looking out through the crack.
At just one glance, she recognized the woman standing outside - it was the Hua Niang that the prince had hidden in the Lanyue Pavilion a while ago.
"I heard Aunt Liu, who was washing vegetables in the kitchen, say that she had been standing here since before dawn."
Mother Han said softly, "Whenever she saw the old maids coming in and out, she said she wanted to see the old lady, but no one paid any attention to her."
As Zhao Mama listened, she looked curiously at Xiangqin, who was looking dejected outside the door. She was wearing a simple peplum and a brown shirt, and she looked older than herself.
She looked more like a young wife from a poor family than a prostitute from a red-light district.
"He doesn't look like he's here to cause trouble, but standing here with so many people watching him, it's not a big deal after all." Mother Han said thoughtfully.
She looked at Madam Zhao, a sly look in her eyes, and asked tentatively, "How about you give me some advice? Should we report this to the old lady?"
Madam Zhao glanced at Madam Han unhappily, but the latter was smart enough to pass this hot potato to her.
She hesitated for a moment, then looked up and said, "How about this? Take her to the guest room in Beiyuan first, and try not to attract attention. I'll report to the old lady and see how to deal with her."
"Well, I'll have to trouble you, elder sister." Upon hearing this, Mother Han immediately breathed a sigh of relief and responded with a smile on her face.
Nanny Zhao waited quietly for the worship ceremony in the ancestral hall to end before reporting Xiangqin's visit to the mansion to the old lady.
It was lunch time at this time. Hong Yingrong did not rush there, but ordered the servants to send food to Xiangqin and let her wait in Beiyuan with peace of mind.
Xue Shanqiu, upon hearing this, became curious and asked, "Are there any guests visiting the mansion? Why are they being arranged in the North Garden?"
Madam Zhao suddenly had an idea and made up an excuse, saying, "That's the niece of Madam Liu from the kitchen. She came to stay with her relatives. The old lady took pity on her and invited her to dinner. Later, Madam Han will see if there's a suitable job for her in the mansion."
"So that's how it is." Xue Shanqiu believed it, nodded, and said no more.
After lunch, the two daughters returned to Fanghua Garden to rest, while Hong Yingrong moved to Beiyuan to ask Xiangqin about the real purpose of her trip.
In a room in Beiyuan, Xiangqin was wolfing down the food on the table, while Mother Han was staring at her in amazement.
"Are the girls starving there? Why do they look like they've suffered so much?" Mother Han couldn't help but ask.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the old lady and her group slowly walking along the corridor. She hurriedly stood outside the door and saluted, "Greetings, old lady."
Upon hearing this, Xiangqin hurriedly put down her bowl and chopsticks, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and stood up.
As soon as Hong Yingrong stepped into the house, she knelt on her knees and kowtowed respectfully.
"Get up, feel free to tell me what you want to say." Hong Yingrong said in a calm tone.
Xiangqin nodded heavily, took a deep breath, and when she calmed down a little, she recounted everything that had happened between Chang'an Fang and Chunhong.
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