Chapter 163 Time to Return to the Earl's Residence
Knowing that her daughter was worried about her, Su Chengniang cheered up and said, "Your father is of course good to me, so you don't need to worry. I just feel that I have let you and your brother down."
“Mother, you’re here again. Don’t say such things again. However, I do think that what Madam Wan said just now reminded us.”
Su Chengniang looked at Yu Qingci with a puzzled expression.
Yu Qingci said seriously, "Mother shouldn't stay outside for too long. It's time to go back to the Marquis's residence."
Su Chengniang: ...
She understood what her daughter meant. When she first returned, the old lady of the Ming family hated her to the core, and there was also a woman named Qiao stirring up trouble behind her back. If she went back, her life would definitely not be easy. That's why she chose to stay at the Su residence to avoid the limelight.
Now, several months have passed. Although she is not in the Earl's Mansion, she has a fairly good understanding of the people and things there, so she won't be completely clueless when she returns. Moreover, with her children not by her side, she has no more worries. If the old lady and Madam Qiao want to cause any trouble, she is not so easy to bully.
She was comfortable living alone at the Su residence, and her husband cared about her and would often stay by her side. Now that she was asked to return to the Earl's mansion, she really didn't want to.
Yu Qingci sat down next to her mother: "People in the capital have always had various speculations about my mother's identity. Although my father once publicly revealed the identities of the three of us, my mother and I, my mother, as the legal wife, has never appeared in public as the Lady of Nanping. Many people still regard Qiao as my father's first wife. How many people know my mother now?"
Take Madam Wan for example. She was my mother's close friend back then and should know about the things between my mother and father. Yet, when she saw my mother, she still kept calling her a mistress and deliberately making things up. This shows how those who don't know the truth view my mother.
Moreover, according to the customs of this dynasty, a married daughter only needs to observe a one-year mourning period for her parents, and her maternal grandfather's mourning period has already ended before the new year. If Mother stays outside alone any longer, she will likely attract even more gossip. I'm sure Father also wants Mother to return home as soon as possible, right?
Su Chengniang sighed and said, "I have my own plans for this matter, so you don't need to worry. I will give it serious consideration when your father brings it up with me again next time."
Her husband had indeed mentioned to her many times that he wanted to take her back home, but because she didn't want to go back, she kept making excuses to refuse. She knew in her heart that dragging it out would only be detrimental to herself and her two children, but she would never easily agree before discussing it with her daughter.
Yu Qingci: "Of course, Mother can't just go back quietly like this. At least it has to be open and known to everyone. If Mother trusts her daughter, then leave this matter to me."
Su Chengniang looked at her daughter in a daze, feeling that her daughter had suddenly grown up since coming to the capital. She was no longer the innocent and ignorant little girl who used to cling to her and act spoiled all day long. Instead, she often helped her with ideas and made her feel at ease.
This daughter made her feel both heartbroken and gratified.
Parents are supposed to be their children's support, but now it seems that the roles have been reversed between mother and daughter.
Yu Qingci, on the other hand, began to ponder another matter. Back then, because her father still cared about her mother, he had never requested an official title for Qiao Shi. This made the Qiao couple very dissatisfied with their son-in-law. Now that her mother had returned, it was time to request the title.
Of course, it wasn't for Qiao Shi, but for my mother, her legal wife.
Her father now holds a second-rank official position in the court, and according to the law, his wife can be granted the title of a second-rank lady. It seems she should remind her father to apply for an imperial title for her mother as soon as possible. Once her mother has an imperial title and returns to the Earl's Mansion, who in the entire capital would dare to question her mother's status?
However, we shouldn't tell Mother about this yet. We'll tell her after it's all done, and then we can give her a surprise.
The mother and daughter each had their own plans, and tacitly changed the subject, no longer discussing the matter.
Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Su Chengniang couldn't stay here with her daughter, so she left in the afternoon with her personal servants.
After washing up in the evening, Yu Qingci was preoccupied with her thoughts and couldn't fall asleep. She asked Tong'er to light a candle and then told them to go to sleep first. She then took out a book and sat down at the table to read it.
Seeing that their mistress wasn't asleep, the two maids naturally didn't want to leave either, and both looked at Granny Pei.
Granny Pei came over and said, "You two should go to sleep as the young mistress says. I'll stay here and watch over you tonight."
Yu Qingci: "Granny, you should go to sleep too. I don't need you to keep watch at night when I'm in the manor, and it's the same now that I'm out here."
Granny Pei shook her head in disapproval: "Young Madam also said that now that she's out, the temple is not as good as our mansion. Last night, Madam accompanied her, but tonight, this old servant will accompany Young Madam so that she can feel more at ease."
Yu Qingci couldn't persuade her, so she simply kept quiet. The two of them sat quietly under the lamp reading, one of them taking out a Buddhist rosary from her bosom and gently turning it while muttering incantations.
Another hour passed in the blink of an eye. After reciting a round of scriptures, Granny Pei, seeing that she showed no sign of wanting to rest, spoke up to remind her:
"Young Madam, it's time to go to bed. We have a religious ceremony early tomorrow morning, so you can't stay up too late."
Yu Qingci reluctantly put down her book, stood up, stretched, and then asked:
"Have you prepared the incense, candles, and Buddhist scriptures for tomorrow?"
Granny Pei nodded: "Everything is ready. The scriptures copied by the old lady and Miss Yun Chu are also ready. Young Madam, please rest assured."
Yu Qingci nodded and said, "Granny, you don't need to stay here tonight. I'm used to sleeping alone. This room is small, and if you stay, I won't be able to sleep. I'd better go back to my room to sleep. It's just next door anyway. I can call you if I need anything."
The temple provides accommodations for pilgrims in a connected area. Although the house they booked was a separate courtyard, it was not in a remote location. Moreover, the courtyard was well-built, and the layout of the house was like a miniature version of the main courtyard of a wealthy family, with three main rooms and side rooms on the left and right sides.
After all, those who can afford to rent out the entire courtyard are not ordinary people, and Taijue Temple is a famous temple far and wide. Nobles from the capital often come here to chant sutras and fulfill vows, and the courtyards in the temple for guests are very particular.
Last night, Su Chengniang came over with several of her personal servants and maids to stay. Everyone squeezed in and didn't feel anything was wrong. Now that they've left, we'll just stay as arranged before.
Yu Qingci lived in the central room. Since Madam Ning and Yun Chu did not come, Pei Mama lived in the left room for convenience, Tong'er and Lian Qiao lived in the right room, and the other old women who came with her lived in the side rooms.
The group was close together, so any slight movement from her side could be heard on both sides. There were also martial monks patrolling at night, so there were no safety issues.
Since the young mistress insisted, Granny Pei had no choice but to give up. She checked the bed again, gave a few more instructions, and then left.
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