congratulatory gift
Zhu Ling and Rong Wei, standing beside Lin Xu, couldn't help but change their expressions.
Fifth Miss's words just now were a bit too pointed... Although she is still young, she is not too old to understand things. Look at Dou Chu, constantly referring to Third Miss as a talented woman of the capital, and then so subtly mentioning her as a "good-for-nothing"...
Who wouldn't realize that this sentence refers to the Madam? In the past, the Madam was unruly and restless, and her reputation wasn't very good. Many people in Mujing gave her the bad name of being a good-for-nothing.
Is this how Aunt Guo usually teaches Dou Chu?
Lin Xu raised his eyes, but his expression remained unchanged, and his smile was still gentle.
"I just had tea at Huiya Residence. Thank you for your concern, Aunt Guo."
Madam Bai slowly twirled the prayer beads in her hand, smiled at Lin Xu, and turned to Aunt Guo, saying, "Although Zhuoyan is a sensible child, he is usually quite aloof. If I hadn't sent a maid to invite him today, he would probably still be shirking his duties somewhere right now."
There's no smoke without fire; the Bai family might have been waiting here to make fun of Lin Xu.
Lin Xu looked at Bai Shi's smile, which concealed a knife, but only curled the corners of her lips and said gently:
"Mother, please stop joking with your daughter-in-law. Today is a rare and joyous day for the family. It's the full moon celebration for Chen-ge'er, and I'm naturally overjoyed. I got up early to prepare a gift for him and forgot the time. Please don't mind, Mother."
Chen Ge'er was the nickname of Feng Daizhu's second son.
Having said that, Zhu Ling stepped forward at the opportune moment, bowed respectfully to Madam Bai, and said:
"Reporting to the old lady, our lady has prepared a lucky lock forged from pure gold and a set of auspicious brocade robes with auspicious unicorns for Chen Ge'er, wishing the young master a long and prosperous life. The gifts were handed over to Granny Zhao when they arrived."
Bai's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, but he merely nodded and then slowly began to drink his tea.
Aunt Guo's face showed signs of embarrassment.
Although she had prepared a gift when she arrived, it was merely a pair of silver bracelets and anklets made by a silversmith. Bai Shi didn't say anything upon seeing them, simply turning her head indifferently and having Feng Shi's attendant accept them. As a concubine herself, with A Chu to raise, she naturally didn't live a lavish life. But Dou Yanxun was ultimately just an illegitimate child; for Lin Xu to present such an expensive gift today only made her lose face. Was that really appropriate?
Just then, footsteps came from the inner room, and Dou Zhen, supported by Feng Daizhu's arm, slowly walked out.
Since giving birth to her second child, Feng Daizhu's appearance has been far less radiant than before. This pregnancy has not been as smooth as her first, and Lin Xu has only noticed that Feng Daizhu is becoming more and more haggard each day whenever she happens to meet her.
She had always been so beautiful, her face as radiant as a rose. She still remembered the stunning beauty she had seen when she first met Feng Daizhu.
Because it was a celebration for Chen Ge'er's full moon, Feng Daizhu wore a deep purple long-sleeved jacket with a trailing hem. The cuffs were embroidered with lifelike silver-threaded plum blossoms, and a jade and gold phoenix hairpin was worn diagonally in her hair, making her look elegant and dignified.
Dou Zhen arrived very early today. She had been tidying up with Feng Daizhu in the inner room and had just finished when she came out. She wore an apricot-white jacket with plum blossom patterns and a magnolia-shaped hairpin with pearls in her hair. Her eyes and brows were full of gentleness, and she looked just like a magnolia bud about to bloom in spring, indescribably delicate.
Dou Zhen immediately spotted Lin Xu sitting upright in the main hall and quickly greeted her with a smile, "Second sister-in-law."
Compared to her melancholy appearance a few days ago, Dou Zhen now had an undisguised smile on her face. How could she not be happy that her second sister-in-law had solved the problem that had troubled her for so long with such ease?
Lin Xu saw this and a smile crept onto his lips.
Since the Third Prince's wedding banquet, a new trend has been subtly stirring within the noble ladies' circles of Mujing. Led by Deng Tanyu, the youngest daughter of Deng Langzhong, a censor, and Jin Wanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the prefect of Longchuan, several noble ladies are secretly inquiring about everything concerning the Fifth Prince.
The Fifth Prince was short and stocky, and his maternal family was no longer what it used to be, so he had never been coveted by any young ladies of marriageable age. Deng Tanyu and Jin Wanzhi were the two noble ladies who had followed Miss Song Xiyan that day. Both came from prominent families and had always relied on Miss Song to wield considerable influence. Suddenly, the Fifth Prince's life and preferences became the latest topic of conversation among the noble ladies.
Song Xiyan was beautiful and came from a respectable family, making her a prominent figure among the noble ladies of Mujing. Whenever she bought new rouge or satin, the news would quickly spread throughout their social circle. Previously, only the Yao sisters could rival her. Now that Song Xiyan was so interested in the Fifth Prince, those other noble ladies, always eager to follow trends, also began to have their own designs on him…
The rumors gradually intensified. Some praised the Fifth Prince for his bravery and skill in battle, and his courage to take the lead was once again talked about. Others even went so far as to say that the Fifth Prince would sooner or later be appointed as a great general and lead troops on the battlefield, with a bright future that could not be stopped.
When these half-true, half-false rumors finally reached Dou Zhen's ears, even though she was usually calm and composed, she couldn't help but smile from ear to ear.
She hadn't expected Lin Xu's method to be so effective. As the saying goes, strike the snake at its vital point; she hadn't anticipated that Miss Song would be so foolish, so easily swayed by a few words. Even more unexpectedly, Song's actions had actually stirred up attention and interest in the Fifth Prince among the noble ladies.
After all, the Fifth Prince had never won the hearts of many women, always being overshadowed by his elder brother, the Third Prince. And since men are prone to lust, it was only under Madam Zhang's daily encouragement that he began to harbor some feelings for her. Now that the Fifth Prince suddenly has so many more choices, why would he still care about her?
Just the women around Miss Song are enough to make his eyes water.
What Dou Zhen didn't expect was that Lin Xu, sitting across from her, calmly sipped her tea, yet her eyes held an undisguised certainty. She then heard her second sister-in-law slowly speak:
"Don't rush, this is just the beginning."
At the time, Dou Zhen heard this but didn't understand its meaning, unable to guess what Lin Xu was still hiding. Unexpectedly, just a few days later, she heard even better news—
It is said that someone saw the Yao sisters, who had not been out for a long time, on Mujing North Street. Yao Suran was dressed in a green dress, her figure delicate and graceful. She was carefully picking flowers in front of the flower garden, but deliberately lingered for a long time. Not long after, she "accidentally" bumped into the Fifth Prince's entourage, who happened to be riding by on horseback.
The usually flamboyant and radiant Yao Suran was unusually delicate that day, more beautiful than any flower. The Fifth Prince immediately dismounted and chatted with his former classmate for a long time in the street before reluctantly bidding her farewell. Before leaving, he waved his hand and ordered his servants to buy all the flowers Yao Suran had seen and send them to the Duke's mansion.
When Dou Zhen received the news, she was initially stunned and couldn't react for a long time. Later, it was only when Yin'er called her softly from the side that she suddenly realized that this was the real show that Lin Xu had mentioned back then!
She thought herself clever, but how could she not have seen that Yao Suran and Miss Song had been at odds for a long time, and that Yao Suran was always domineering, and the more others competed with her, the more she wanted to win.
Having previously been subservient to others, Song Xiyan would never tolerate it again. Yao Suran's arrival would only make Song Er even more eager to possess the Fifth Prince.
Thus, this farce turned into a drama of Song Xiyan and Yao Suran vying for their ideal husband.
Her second sister-in-law was truly a woman of exceptional intelligence and shrewdness. From then on, Dou Zhen looked at Lin Xu with even greater admiration.
A maidservant then brought over chairs and cushions. Feng Daizhu, supporting her waist, slowly sat down. Her gaze swept over everyone in the hall, nodding and smiling in acknowledgment. But when her gaze fell upon Lin Xu, it froze.
There was a clear, indescribable melancholy in her eyes. Lin Xu met Feng Daizhu's gaze and returned her a smile from afar. Only then did Feng Daizhu look away. The group sat and drank tea for a while longer before a wet nurse came over carrying the two young masters who had just woken up from their nap.
Two wet nurses each held a child in their arms. Lang Ge'er had just woken up, his fair face full of displeasure at being woken up, a few strands of hair standing up in the air in a rather messy manner, his eyebrows furrowed. Since his younger brother had just celebrated his one-month birthday, the wet nurses had dressed Lang Ge'er in a very festive brocade soft shirt with auspicious cloud patterns, clearly a child raised in luxury.
Chen Ge'er was a tiny bundle, curled up in his swaddling clothes, his little face still wrinkled. He must have been born with wrinkles, but now he was gradually growing up. Around his neck hung a golden lock engraved with the words "May you live a long and healthy life".
Looking at the child from afar, Lin Xu noticed that the child was even smaller than Xue Tuan'er. The child wasn't crying or fussing, just sleeping lazily, occasionally reaching out its little hands to grab at things; it was undeniably adorable. She had always loved children.
Seeing her two grandsons, Madam Bai was overjoyed. She immediately took Langge from the wet nurse, her smile so wide it almost overflowed the fine lines around her eyes. After holding her eldest grandson, Madam Bai went to hold her second grandson. For a moment, the children's babbling and playful noises filled the hall, creating a lively atmosphere.
Aunt Guo couldn't stop smiling either, and gently tapped Chen Ge'er's nose with her fingertip, laughing uncontrollably:
"Although Chen Ge'er is still young, his features are very similar to Da Lang's. I used to think that Lang Ge'er looked most like Da Lang, but now it seems that Chen Ge'er is the one who is exactly like Da Lang. Lang Ge'er, on the other hand, looks more like the eldest son's wife."
Feng Daizhu looked at Aunt Guo and smiled gently, but her eyes unconsciously dimmed a little.
After listening, Madam Bai carefully examined the two children. The little boy in her arms, Chen Ge'er, had a rosy, bright face, and his features already showed signs of intelligence and charm. She was instantly captivated by him, and holding Chen Ge'er, she sighed:
"...Who says otherwise? This child is exactly like Zhou Ge'er from before. When I was pregnant with Zhou Ge'er, I couldn't sleep well every night. I just felt that the child was restless in my belly. I didn't expect that I would suffer even more when I gave birth to him. I almost lost half my life. He was also a troublesome child. Fortunately, he is now growing up."
When Lady Bai gave birth to Dou Yanzhou, she had a difficult labor. It is said that she stayed up all night to deliver Dou Yanzhou. From then on, she naturally cherished him even more.
Lin Xu sat to the side, quietly sipping his tea. Before long, guests began to arrive one after another. The stewards of the manor, as well as Fu Zhen and Fu Lian, who served Bai Shi, hurriedly prepared to welcome the guests, and everyone was busy for a while.
The Dou family has recently been celebrating a series of happy events, with all three members of the family enjoying smooth careers. For this full moon celebration, the Bai family invited many ladies from prominent families who frequently visit the capital.
Since Lin Xu and Feng Daizhu were sisters-in-law, she naturally had to help out today. However, since the servants had done most of the chores, she didn't need to do anything. So Lin Xu and Feng Daizhu stood side by side in front of the hanging flower gate, waiting for the guests to come in, and then greeted them with smiles.
The surroundings were bustling with activity. Feng Daizhu had only recently finished her postpartum confinement and was still not ready to catch a chill, so Granny Zhao thoughtfully brought her a cloak to wear. The two stood amidst the dappled sunlight filtering through the flowers, watching the stewards at the gate bustling about with large and small bags of gifts brought by the guests. The mansion was naturally quite lively.
Lin Xu saw this and, thinking that he would soon be leaving this place with Dou Yanxun, couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
Towering vermilion gates and deep courtyards—the Dou family, having weathered many ups and downs, had gradually risen to become one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Mujing. But what did these joyous events have to do with her?
Wasn't the Lin family mansion just as lively before Mother passed away?
She still remembered her fifth birthday when her maternal grandmother was still alive. Because Liang Shuangyu was the only legitimate daughter of her maternal grandfather's family, she was raised with love and care since childhood. Even though her maternal grandmother was thousands of miles away, she still came by carriage to celebrate Xiaolin Xu's birthday in person.
My maternal grandparents were very wealthy; the wedding gifts they brought alone filled five carriages, each overflowing with gold and silver jewels. Lin Fu had lost both his parents at a young age, and his maternal grandmother was constantly worried that Liang Shuangyu would be mistreated after marrying into the family so far away, so she brought all the best things with her.
My maternal grandmother's hair was already gray at that time, but she was very energetic. After getting off the carriage, she didn't even have time to change her clothes. She hugged Xiao Linxu, who was waiting in front of the door, and kissed him again and again. She held him for a long time before letting go.
...I used to be loved and pampered, growing up surrounded by luxury and happiness.
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