Before they knew it, it was time for the Ning family's youngest daughter's 100-day celebration. Zhu Jiayu, unusually, didn't sleep in that day and went to the Ning residence early in the morning with her mother and Wei Qinglou by carriage.
When the late emperor was still alive, Ning Han was highly trusted by him. He was a civil official with a kind and honest nature. Later, when the new emperor ascended the throne, he also favored him and promoted him to the second rank.
Therefore, his daughter's 100-day celebration was a very worthwhile event for powerful and wealthy families in the capital.
However, when the carriage stopped outside the Ning Mansion, the women of the various households saw that today's host was not in the front hall greeting guests, but was standing at the door, seemingly waiting for someone.
The women were all puzzled: "Could it be that some important person is coming today? Otherwise, given Lord Ning's status, who would dare to make him wait so patiently?"
With this question swirling in their minds, everyone was so curious that they didn't even want to get out of the carriage. They insisted on waiting inside, eager to see just how important this person was. They wanted to have something to talk about when they got back.
After a short while, the sharp-eyed young lady noticed a smile on Lord Ning's face and immediately called out to her mother, "Whose carriage is that ahead? Could it be that the person Lord Ning is waiting for has arrived?"
Upon hearing this, the lady in the carriage immediately sent her servant to inquire further.
A short while later, the servant returned and whispered, "Reporting to Madam and Miss, the carriage from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has arrived."
"Could it be that they're waiting for the Duchess of Zhenguo?" A woman from the Marquis's household, who had also sent a servant to inquire, thought to herself.
"Although the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is of noble birth, Ning Han shouldn't be in such a state, right? After all, the Ning family has been an official family for generations..."
The ladies chatted in small groups, their eyes fixed on the hosts.
To everyone's surprise, when the Wei family's carriage approached, Ning Han indeed hurried forward to greet it.
Zhu Jiayu poked her head out of the carriage and called out to him, "Uncle, what are you doing here? Are you waiting for someone?"
Ning Han first greeted the Duchess and exchanged a few pleasantries before replying, "I was waiting for you here. Your aunt urged me several times, asking why you hadn't come yet, and then asked me to come to the door to meet you."
Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "My aunt always loves me."
Ning Han led Wei Qinglou to the front hall, and then had the maids in the mansion take Madam Wei and Zhu Jiayu to the back courtyard. It wasn't until the group had passed through the front courtyard that the ladies and young ladies in the carriages outside the mansion gate got off one after another.
Having witnessed Ning Han come to greet the people from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, they didn't want to get off the carriage at this moment, lest they be inferior to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Lady Wei was one thing; she was the legitimate daughter of the Wang family, a family of scholars and officials, and her superiority meant they had something to compare themselves to, so there was nothing to resent. But the young mistress, in terms of background and seniority, was far superior to many of the ladies present. If she were to be outshone by her, they would find it hard to swallow their pride.
But there was nothing I could do. I was already here, so I couldn't just turn back, could I? I could only go in a little later and console myself that out of sight, out of mind.
Upon arriving at the backyard, the Duchess met with Xiao Wan, exchanged a few greetings, and then went to chat with the ladies she knew, leaving Zhu Jiayu there to keep her aunt company.
As soon as she left, Xiao Wan asked her niece, "How is Wei Qinglou treating you? Are the servants in the courtyard obedient? Do they submit to your discipline?"
Zhu Jiayu smiled and nodded, then asked her, "Why did you make your uncle wait for me outside? If someone sees this, who knows what they'll say?"
Today is the 100-day celebration for Ning's little cousin. In private, Ning Han is the elder, and she is the junior. It is always the case that juniors treat elders with respect. How can an elder host a banquet and then personally go out to greet the junior?
This is completely against the rules.
Zhu Jiayu herself felt she couldn't accept it.
Xiao Wan frowned and asked, "Ayu, how long are you going to keep this from me?"
Zhu Jiayu was bending down to play with her little cousin in the cradle when she heard this and suddenly paused, "Auntie?"
“On that night last winter, if it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to save this child. How could you keep such a big thing from me all this time? If your uncle hadn’t let it slip a few days ago, I don’t know when I would have found out.”
Before Zhu Jiayu could speak, her aunt continued, "I know you all meant well, and after it all passed, I felt it didn't matter whether I talked about it or not. But Ayu, it's not like that. Even with close relatives, grudges should be settled clearly. Such a great favor..."
"Don't even mention asking your uncle to come out and greet you; even if you asked him to repay you with kindness in your next life, it would be fine."
Zhu Jiayu chuckled and gently tapped her little cousin's dimple: "Your mother is exaggerating too much, don't you think? Hmm? How did it come to the point of 'repaying kindness with kindness'? Isn't it only natural for family members to help each other?"
Seeing how much she liked the child, Xiao Wan felt very comforted. She picked her daughter up from the cradle and said to Zhu Jiayu, "Your cousin doesn't have a nickname yet. Why don't you give her one?"
Upon hearing this, the baby girl suddenly grinned and blew out a bubble.
Seeing this, Xiao Wan smiled and said, "You see, she likes you."
She then showed Zhu Jiayu the birthmark on the back of her daughter's neck, which was as red as blood and resembled a small five-petaled peach blossom.
Zhu Jiayu suddenly burst into tears.
When she changed Tao Yao's clothes, she also noticed that there was a peach blossom mark on the back of her neck.
Tao Yao said that this was because she was pricked by a sharpened wooden stick when she was a child, and that's how she gradually grew into this shape. That's why the scholar named her Tao Yao.
"A Taoist priest who happened to be passing by read her face and said she had a very fortunate destiny. Ah Yu, when she gets a little older, I will definitely teach her to treat you like her own sister."
Zhu Jiayu nodded with a smile.
She lowered her head to tease her little cousin, but a hot tear dripped from the corner of her eye and landed on the back of her little cousin's hand.
The baby girl seemed to have discovered something interesting and started giggling again.
Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "Auntie, Qianqian was born in spring and has a peach blossom birthmark on the back of her neck. Why don't we give her the nickname Zhuozhuo?"
She said softly, "The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful. This maiden is going to her husband's home, she will be a good wife and mother. That wandering Taoist priest was right, our A-Zhuo is clearly blessed with good fortune. From now on, if anyone dares to bully her, I will be the first to make them pay."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan nodded and said, "Zhuozhuo, that's a good name." She then teased her daughter, "Zhuozhuo, did you hear that? You must grow up quickly and protect your sister Ayu."
Zhu Jiayu felt like crying.
She doesn't need her sister to protect her.
She only wished for her to be safe, happy, and carefree.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com