Wei Meng dipped ink to trace the bamboo leaf pattern, copied it on paper and kept it, Pei Yuan took the small drum back.

Bao Ning was coaxing Yuanzi to sleep in the side room, Su Mingyou had already left, and when she saw Pei Yuan coming in, she made a hissing gesture, tucked Yuanzi in, blew out the light and walked out quietly.

"I'll ask Madam Liu to go to town tomorrow and buy a maid for my sister-in-law." Baoning and Pei Yuan sat at the table, eating the leftover sweet apricots. "I didn't think it through. My sister-in-law lives alone in the room. She's about to give birth, and she must be nervous and lonely. There are no young maids in the manor. If she had one to accompany her every day, maybe something like today wouldn't have happened."

Pei Yuan asked, "Did she tell you that?"

Baoning shook his head: "She didn't say anything, just apologized profusely, and I persuaded her to go back."

Pei Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

Bao Ning said, "There is also a doctor, and we have to prepare him. My sister-in-law is more than seven months pregnant , so we have to prepare a urinary incontinence for her as soon as possible, so as not to worry about it later.

" "Just do whatever you want." Pei Yuan snatched the apricot from her hand and threw it into his mouth, "Don't eat it. You ate seven or eight in one night. Don't vomit acid in the middle of the night."

"Don't curse me." Bao Ning pushed him and lay on the table. After a while, she thought of Yuanzi and stood up again, "Why did you suddenly go out at that time? Do you think there is something wrong with the wave drum?"

"Black bear skin is a tribute from the Luosha Kingdom. It is too luxurious to make a drum head. The identity of the child is not simple." Pei Yuan said, "It has been handed over to Wei Meng to check one by one. There will be results in about half a month."

Bao Ning asked, "Do you think someone will come to pick up Yuanzi after reporting to the authorities for so long?"

"Who wouldn't be anxious if they lost their child? If they wanted to find a child, they would have done so long ago." Pei Yuan patted her shoulder. "Just wait. In half a month, your little sister will be one month old, and no one will come to pick up Yuanzi."

When Pei Yuan said this, Baoning was skeptical at first, but until she received the invitation to the full-month banquet at the Duke's Mansion, there was still no response from the government.

Yuanzi has become familiar with the manor. He is now like a normal child, running and jumping every day, but he still can't speak fluently. Baoning thinks that he may have acted stupidly because he was not familiar with them at the beginning. He didn't know what he had experienced in his original home.

Ah Mian grew up taller and longer-legged. He was a little ewe, very beautiful. Aunt Liu was thinking about finding a ram to breed with. The best time for breeding was in September and October, so that she could drink goat milk in the spring of the following year.

Jixiang had grown a lot, and his size seemed to be blown up. He was extremely strong and a good guard at the house. He especially stared at Su Mingyou and would not let her get close.

Although Baoning never understood why Jixiang was so hostile to Su Mingyou, he was second only to Pei Yuan.

Only Ah Huang seemed to have grown to a certain size, and was no different from the small dogs running around on the roadside. The only thing that could be praised was his good fur, which was smooth and shiny, as if it had been greased, and was very nice to touch.

...

The full moon banquet was scheduled for June 29th. Because the journey was long, Baoning and his friends set off a day in advance, stayed in the inn for one night, and went to the house the next morning.

The last time she went home was when she just got married. Half a year had passed in a flash. When she saw the familiar plaque on the gate of the mansion again, Baoning felt mixed emotions.

"Baoning is here?" Rong Guogong was welcoming guests at the gate of the mansion. When he saw Pei Yuan helping Baoning get off the sedan chair, his eyes lit up and he ran over quickly.

He had gained a lot of weight in the past six months, and his swollen belly was tight against his belt. He ran with a staggering movement. Only when he arrived in front of Baoning did he remember to salute Pei Yuan, and bowed, saying, "Fourth Prince..."

Pei Yuan helped him up and said politely, "Father-in -law, there is no need to be so polite."

Duke Rong's face was full of smiles. He kept agreeing with them and personally led them to the gate of the mansion: "I heard that you live quite far away. How did you live so far away? Is it inconvenient? If you need anything, just tell me..."

Duke Rong shut up embarrassedly: "Look how confused I am. I even forgot my identity as an aunt. How could the Fourth Prince need anything? Haha."

Baoning felt embarrassed for him. She could clearly sense that her father was trying to please them on purpose. He was not fawning on them like he would do to someone in a higher position. He felt that he had let her down and wanted to make amends.

In fact, Duke Rong had always been like this since he was a child. He had no status in the mansion and was suppressed by Mrs. Tao. When Mrs. Tao bullied her, Duke Rong did not dare to stop her. After she had done bullying her, he would come to coax her and give her candy.

Bao Ning originally blamed him a little, thinking that this father was not as good as the others, that he was incompetent, and that he did not even have the courage to support her. Maybe now that life has gotten better, the feeling of blame has faded. Bao Ning thought that Duke Rong also had his own difficulties. Although he was a little cowardly, he really loved her. After all, he was her father.

Pei Yuan greeted him along the way, and although he didn't say much, he made Duke Rong very happy.

After sending them to the mansion, they went their separate ways. Duke Rong turned his head and stared at their backs until they turned around the screen wall at the door and could no longer be seen. Only then did he reluctantly turn his head back and continue to greet other guests.

"Did I perform okay just now?" Walking on the corridor leading to the backyard, Pei Yuan lowered his head and tugged at Bao Ning's sleeve, "Actually, I was a little nervous just now."

"There are a lot of people here today, and many eyes are watching. Be careful of your behavior. What if you get laughed at?" Bao Ning put his hands straight and asked, "What are you nervous about?"

"Does your family have a bad impression of me?" Pei Yuan's hands were dishonest again. He took advantage of the wide sash of his coat to hold Bao Ning's fingertips, "I'm just anxious to flatter you. I have to make your father look up to me. Although he is not very important, it is also the first hurdle. I felt nervous when I met him just now. I don't know if I will make a fool of myself when I meet your aunt later?"

"What are you talking about?" Bao Ning didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "What do you mean my father is not important."

"He's not that good to you, isn't he just a dispensable person?" Pei Yuan pinched her fingertips, "Ningning, give me some advice, how should I act when I meet your aunt?"

"I told you, there are so many people watching! Don't make any moves!" Bao Ning shook his hand away and whispered, "Just compliment her on her beauty. You can compliment her on her pretty clothes, her pretty hairpins, and her good complexion." "That

's not enough." Pei Yuan frowned, "You only compliment her a few words, and if my aunt is very happy and wants to hear more, I won't be able to say anything, how embarrassing."

"What do you mean?" Bao Ning stopped and turned to look him in the eye, "Are you saying that there's nothing good to compliment about my aunt, and I have to prepare words in advance, otherwise I won't be able to compliment her?"

"Of course not—" Pei Yuan stood there for a while with his hands on his hips. He felt that this was similar to the first time he went to the battlefield to fight, but now he was a little more nervous.

Because he knew he would not lose the war, but he had no advantage at all when he went to meet the Xu family. Pei Yuan regretted that he had no foresight at the time and offended almost all of Baoning's family.

He had a cold and hard look to begin with, and now he had no smile on his face, which made him look even more frightening, as if he was arguing with her.

Bao Ning saw that several ladies who were originally planning to take this route turned around and took a detour.

"A Yuan, don't talk here, let's go to a quiet place and I'll teach you." Bao Ning felt that it was not a good idea to argue here, so she pulled Pei Yuan's sleeve and wanted to take him to a place with fewer people.

"What if we meet my aunt on the way? Wouldn't that make us even less prepared?" Pei Yuan did not move, "I'll teach you here." Bao

Ning said, "If you are here, people won't dare to take this road..."

Before she finished her words, she suddenly heard a snort of laughter from behind: "Bao Ning, I still have to advise you, even if you and your brother-in-law are not in harmony, don't quarrel here, it will make people laugh. I heard that your brother-in-law has a bad temper. If he can't help but slap you here, I don't know if I should speak for you."

Bao Ning turned around in surprise and met Ji Jiaying's smiling eyes. Pei Xiao was standing next to her. Perhaps because of Pei Xiao's company, she looked more arrogant.

Several passers-by stopped and looked over here in whispers.

Ji Jiaying said, "Didn't you learn etiquette when you were a child? Don't lose face when you go back to your parents' house, or you will lose face for the entire Duke's Mansion, and I don't have the face to lose face for you."

Baoning looked up at Pei Yuan and saw that his face was already very ugly. She was afraid that he would scold Ji Jiaying on the spot, and if this matter got out, the Duke's Mansion would really be embarrassed, so she quickly pulled his sleeve.

This action gave Ji Jiaying an excuse.

"Baoning, you are so rude." Ji Jiaying said unexpectedly, "In front of the public, did you pull your husband's sleeve casually? You don't mind being embarrassed, but you should consider your husband's dignity. As your sister, I want to teach you. After meeting mother, come to me and I will tell you what the duty of a wife is."

The whispers around became louder.

You can guess what they are talking about without listening. They say that Ji Jiaying is lucky. Although she missed the opportunity to marry the fourth prince due to illness, she married the prince in a blink of an eye. What's good about the fourth prince? He was a cripple before, but now he is not crippled, but he has lost all his power. What's the use of having his name on the jade plate? How can she compare to Ji Jiaying, the prince's concubine, who might become the imperial concubine in the future. If she has another son, it is not impossible for her to become the empress dowager.

Pei Xiao has been staring at Baoning's face. He is not happy with Ji Jiaying's behavior, nor is he happy with her petty-mindedness. He married her first because of the fate predicted by the state teacher, and second because her uncle is the general Tao Maobing. But he did not speak out to stop Ji Jiaying's behavior, because he wanted to see Baoning's reaction.

His admiration for Baoning started from her beauty, and then he liked her personality, but he didn't know her temperament. He wanted to see if Baoning was worthy of this admiration.

Hearing the people around her praising in low voices, Ji Jiaying felt even happier. She took a step forward and tapped Baoning's shoulder: "The husband is the guide for the wife, Baoning, haven't you heard of it?"

Baoning couldn't bear it any longer and slapped her hand: "Of course I've heard of it."

Ji Jiaying's smile fell when she said the next sentence: "I just don't know if you've heard of it."

She asked with a stern face: "What do you mean?"

"You're not my wife." Baoning took a step to the side and grabbed Pei Yuan's arm, and said slowly: "Look, you don't even dare to use bright red coral earrings. You have to choose aqua red ones, not because you don't dare. You are so humble in front of the Crown Princess, but you show off in front of me. Tell me what the duty of being a wife is."

Ji Jiaying gritted her teeth and looked at her. Baoning continued: "But what can you teach me? How to be a concubine who is obedient and inconspicuous? , I don't need to learn."

Pei Yuan lowered his head and leaned close to Bao Ning's ear, and asked in a low voice: "Can I scold her now?"

Bao Ning said: "You should speak softly, don't let too many people hear, it will have a bad impact."

Pei Yuan got permission, looked at Ji Jiaying, and said coldly: "You are simply sick in the brain."

Ji Jiaying was about to pout in anger, she looked at Bao Ning with trembling teeth, and wanted to say something sarcastic, Pei Xiao said in a low voice: "Enough."

She shut her mouth.

Pei Xiao looked at Pei Yuan and said calmly: "Jiaying is young and doesn't speak with caution. Please don't be offended, fourth brother."

"Instead of apologizing here, why not go back and teach your concubine how to behave." Pei Yuan smiled, "Besides, she is not young anymore, and she is not like our Baoning."

Pei Yuan put his hand on Baoning's shoulder: "My wife is gone, I don't have time to listen to a mad dog biting people here."

He raised an eyebrow at Pei Xiao: "See you again if we are lucky."

Pei Xiao looked at him coldly without answering.

A war without gunpowder ended hastily. Pei Xiao took Ji Jiaying to the west, and Pei Yuan and Baoning went to the east.

When passing by, Baoning heard Ji Jiaying say to her: "Don't think I'll let it go. It's your fault that Lingjun became like that, right? We'll see!"