Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Aunt Kong and Aunt Qin received...
Aunt Kong and Aunt Qin were very satisfied with the gifts sent by Shen Xuan. In her heart, she had some favorable impression of the prince's husband and thought that he was quite sensible and would not neglect them just because their status was not as high as Bai's.
The gift sent to Madam Wen was taken by Yinshuang. She brought the box to Madam Wen's room and said to her with a smile, "Madam, the prince's husband has returned and sent many gifts. I think everyone has a share."
"Brother Chen has always been a good person to get along with." Madam Wen was holding Xue Fengtang in her arms. When she saw what Yin Shuang brought, she asked Tian Jie to help her open the box and take a look.
The box contained a set of purple sea pearl head ornaments. Each pearl was the size of a soybean, smaller than the set given to Mrs. Bai.
But purple beads are precious, and it is not easy to collect such a set of purple beads for head ornaments. The price of the whole set of head ornaments is actually similar to that of Bai's set.
This was also a little selfish of Shen Xuan. As a junior, he always had to give face to Mrs. Bai. But due to certain relationships, I don't want to let her get the most benefits.
So Chen Xuan prepared a set of headgear of similar value for Madam Wen. If Bai Shi knew about it, she would probably be very upset.
Madam Wen took a deep breath and looked at the headgear, unable to let it go. She praised him, "This headpiece is really beautiful, but I'm old now, and it would be ostentatious if I wear it at home. When you get married in two years, sweet girl, I'll give it to you as a dowry."
"Girl! This style is obviously for you! Why can't you wear it at home?" Tian Jie'er saw that Madam Wen liked this headdress very much, and said with some disapproval.
"Besides, it's not like my sister-in-law hasn't given me something special before, right?" She said as she opened the box in front of her. Inside was also a set of sea pearl head ornaments, but the color was a light pink gold.
"Wow! The pink beads are so pretty!" Sweet Girl was really surprised this time and immediately took out the headdress and put it on.
The inlay of this headpiece uses the gold and silver wire winding technique. Although it is not as valuable as pure gold, it is more youthful and beautiful. Paired with pink pearls, it is just right for a sweet girl of her age.
"See what's your brother's?" Tian Jie'er said as she opened Xue Fengtang's box.
In the box was a complete giant clam screen the size of a plate, with exquisite carvings and poems inscribed on it. It was obvious that it was very expensive.
"I want it, I want it!" Xue Fengtang probably understood that the screen was for him, so he sat on Madam Wen's lap, pointing at the screen and talking.
"Sister-in-law is so generous!" Tian Jieer couldn't help but sighed: "Father has never given us such a valuable thing!"
"Shh, be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall!" Madam Wen frowned and said when she heard it.
Sweetie knew that she had spoken too much and quickly changed the subject.
Fortunately, there were only the mother, her two children and Yin Shuang in the room at that time, and they were all trustworthy people. Only then did Madam Wen ask Yin Shuang to put away all the gifts from Shen Xuan, and then she said to Tian Jie'er, "I heard that your sister-in-law is pregnant when she came back this time! This is a great thing! She has enough food and drink, so we don't have to send them. But I'm afraid the baby's clothes and shoes have not been prepared yet."
"You just happened to learn needlework, so you have nothing to do these days, so make some small clothes at home! Just follow the size you prepared for Tang'er before and choose the best material!"
"Yes, girl." The sweet girl nodded.
Madam Wen always asked her to please Xue Fenglin and Shen Xuan, and after she did so, she also gained a lot of benefits.
Not long after their last marriage, Xue Fenglin and Shen Xuan left the capital, and Tian Jie'er didn't have many opportunities to spend time with Shen Xuan.
This time when Xue Fenglin returned to Beijing, she and Shen Xuan would inevitably have to stay at home for a while. She would have more opportunities to interact with Shen Xuan, and she would just have to visit him more frequently in the future.
After Shen Xuan paid his respects to Lord Xue and others, he returned to his own courtyard with Xue Fenglin.
Although Xue Fenglin had been away from home for three years, as the crown prince, someone cleaned the courtyard of his residence in the Xue Mansion every day and kept it tidy.
Shen Xuan and he went back to Xue's house to stay for a few days. They ate and drank according to the old rules, and cooked everything in his small kitchen.
“When I saw your brother again this time, I always felt that he looked unhappy.” Shen Xuan said to Xue Fenglin.
"It's strange that he would look good after hearing my good news." Xue Fenglin smiled and said, "Didn't you see Bai's face just now? It was as black as the bottom of a pot. She could only vent her anger on Fengli's concubine."
Shen Xuan also laughed when he heard this. Xue Fenglin is now a fourth-rank official and is calm and measured outside. But as long as he returns home, he will face his incompatible relatives as usual. He feels happy when he sees them unhappy!
The two chatted for a few sentences, and suddenly someone came from outside the courtyard to report that Madam Wen had brought Xue Fengtang and Tian Jie'er to say hello.
"Please invite them in quickly." Shen Xuan said hurriedly.
After a while, Madam Wen came in with Tian Jie'er standing on one hand and a little boy who was less than three years old on the other.
The little boy was wearing a red jacket with a white fur trim. He was chubby and fair, with round eyes and a round face. He was very cute.
"Fengtang, quickly call your sister-in-law and brother!" Madam Wen pulled Xue Fengtang's hand and taught her.
"Sister-in-law, brother..." Xue Fengtang followed Madam Wen's sweet words and said obediently.
"This child looks like his mother." Shen Xuan smiled and called Xue Fengtang over, taking a plate of yam and taro paste cake from the table for him to eat.
It was also the first time that Xue Fenglin met his half-brother. Seeing that he was very young and looked more like Madam Wen than his annoying father, he felt somewhat favorable towards him and nodded.
The cooking skills in Xue Fenglin's small kitchen were better than those in the large kitchen in the mansion. The cakes were delicate and sweet. Xue Fengtang ate two pieces in a row, then pointed at the remaining cakes on the plate and said, "My dear, this cake is so delicious! Can I take it home to eat?"
Madam Wen's face flushed, and she said quickly, "You ate it, kid, but why are you thinking of taking it with you? It's outrageous!"
Shen Xuan laughed out loud, thinking it was quite interesting, so he teased Xue Fengtang and asked, "If you want to eat cakes, come to your brother's yard and I'll have someone make them for you?"
Unexpectedly, Xue Fengtang said seriously after hearing this: "I ate it myself, but my father hasn't eaten it yet. I want to bring it back for him to try!"
When Xue Fenglin heard this, his face turned dark. He couldn't help but said to Xue Fengtang, "Don't give it to him! You are a filial son. You even know how to use my food to honor him as a favor!"
Xue Fengtang was doted on by Lord Xue since birth and was raised in the palm of his hand. He had never seen Xue Fenglin look so fierce!
He was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears. Madam Wen and Tian Jie'er were also in a panic. They hugged Xue Fengtang to comfort him while apologizing to Xue Fenglin.
"He's just a kid, why are you being so mean to him?" Shen Xuan said to Xue Fenglin speechlessly, "Okay, okay, didn't you say you still have some matters to sort out before taking office? Why don't you go now?"
Xue Fenglin blurted it out just now, and he didn't really want to argue with a little kid, so he stood up with a stern face and went to the study.
After he left, Shen Xuan said to the somewhat dazed Wen Yi Niang and Tian Jie Er: "Feng Lin's relationship with the Marquis is just so awkward. It's not directed at the little kid. You don't have to take it to heart."
"We are all elders in the family, so we know it." Madam Wen said quickly.
Shen Xuan coaxed Xue Fengtang a few more words, took the plate of yam and taro paste cake and asked him to take it back to eat.
However, Madam Wen and Tian Jie'er were determined not to let him go. After exchanging greetings with Shen Xuan, they took Xue Fengtang away.
After they left, Shen Xuan came to the study and saw Xue Fenglin sitting at the desk in a daze.
"How can a little kid know your taboos?" Shen Xuan came to Xue Fenglin and said, "It's just a casual remark, it can be regarded as a bit of filial piety."
"You suddenly lost your temper just now and scared Madam Wen and Tian Jie'er quite a bit."
"The Marquis must love him very much..." Xue Fenglin was silent for a while before speaking, "Just like he loved Xue Fengli when he was a child. Otherwise, how could he think of leaving every bite of food for a weak and immature child?"
Shen Xuan was slightly startled, then he realized that Xue Fenglin suddenly got so angry, half because he hated Lord Xue, and the other half was probably because of jealousy.
No matter how distant Marquis Xue was from him, he was still his biological father. However, he doted on Xue Fengli and Xue Fengtang, but was particularly cold to his eldest son Xue Fenglin.
Xue Fenglin had longed for fatherly love since he was a child. Now, seeing the loving relationship between Lord Xue and his youngest son, it reminded him of his sad memories.
Shen Xuan took a step forward, hugged Xue Fenglin and said, “The Marquis doesn’t love you, but I do, so don’t think about those unpleasant things!”
Xue Fenglin had already calmed down, and only then did he take Shen Xuan's hand and said, "When our child is born, I will definitely hold him in my hands and spoil him, and make him the happiest child in the world!"
"Okay." Shen Xuan smiled, and after being affectionate with Xue Fenglin for a while, he left the study.
He had just returned to the main room and hadn't even sat down when he heard Jin Gui hurried in to report, "Brother Chen, outside the courtyard is the second young master's concubine, Shen Congshuang. He said he wanted to come over to thank you for the gift. Do you want to let him in?"
Shen Xuan raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised that Shen Congshuang would come. After all, he had sent him something once a few years ago. It was said that after he received it, he smashed it in front of Xue Fengli.
After Shen Xuan thought for a moment, he nodded and said, "Okay, go and bring him in."
Shen Congshuang then followed Jingui in, accompanied by his attendant Qingzhu.
Shen Congshuang was dressed quite simply. The jewelry on her head and body were all made of white jade, but the texture didn't look transparent, so she guessed they weren't worth much silver.
When they got inside, Shen Congshuang bowed to Shen Xuan and said softly, "I am Shen Congshuang. Thank you for your gift, sister-in-law. But I really can't come up with a decent gift in return. I feel guilty, so I can only come here to thank you in person."
Shen Congshuang was used to pretending to be submissive and submissive, and her attitude towards Shen Xuan was completely different from a few years ago. It was obvious that she came here to show her goodwill.
Shen Xuan didn't really like Shen Congshuang's hypocritical nature, but he had no conflicts with him. In addition, Shen Congshuang was Xue Fengli's bedmate, and it would be beneficial to Xue Fenglin to win her over, so she nodded to him very politely and invited him to sit down at the Eight Immortals Table.
When Shen Congshuang came to Xue Fenglin's courtyard for the first time, she looked carefully at the furnishings in the house. She saw that both the furniture and utensils were finely carved and elegantly arranged, with great style. They were even better than those in Xue Fengli's house, and she couldn't help but feel envious.
But now, no matter how envious he is, seeing that Xue Fenglin's momentum for ascension is irreversible, he can only hold on to the chips in his hands and gain the greatest benefit for himself!
Shen Congshuang calmed down, smiled slightly, and after his eyes fell on Shen Xuan's belly, he said straight to the point: "Sister-in-law and I are both brothers, and we got married not far apart. Now that you are pregnant, I really envy you."
"I have been married to Feng Li for three years. Now that I am older, Feng Li is not as kind to me as before. The Marquis's wife hates me very much and does not allow me to have Feng Li's child. If I don't have a child to support me, I will always be like duckweed on the water in this Marquis's mansion, without any foundation."
Shen Xuan didn't expect Shen Congshuang to speak so bluntly. He was slightly stunned for a moment, and then he heard him say, "Sister-in-law is very smart. If I continue to beat around the bush with you, it will inevitably appear insincere. I came here to visit sister-in-law today because I wanted to find a backer. When the prince inherits the Xue Mansion in the future, I will have a place to stay in the mansion."
Shen Xuan thought about it for a moment and knew that what Shen Congshuang said was the truth.
Xue Fengli has not married yet. For the sake of his future, she would definitely not let Shen Congshuang, a concubine, give birth to Xue Fengli's eldest son prematurely.
And judging from Xue Fengli's attitude towards Shen Congshuang in the main hall today, it seemed that he didn't care much. No wonder he has now turned against me and Xue Fenglin. I'm afraid he has been forced into a corner by them!
Seeing that Shen Xuan did not reply quickly, Shen Congshuang hesitated for a while, then gritted her teeth and said with a flickering look: "If you are willing to be my backer, I have a secret about Xue Fengli that I can tell you!"
Shen Xuan's eyes flashed when he heard this, and he was about to ask what the secret was, when he suddenly heard Wu Wang's announcement from outside the courtyard: "Prince's husband! Madam You from the Marquis's side came over, saying that she had brought Madam's words and wanted to tell you in person!"
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