He stayed in the Cining Palace and talked with the Empress Dowager until lunch time before returning to the Chen Mansion.
On the day of going to the Shangshu Mansion, Li Yun and his family prepared clothes for two days and a cart of gifts and went to the Shangshu Mansion.
When they arrived at the gate, Minister Ma and his wife were already waiting there. When the carriage stopped, Li Yun jumped out first, carrying Dabao, his three siblings, and Xiaohua down, and the coachman also helped Chen Mo and his wife get out.
This time, only Changjiang and Qinglian were brought along, not anyone else.
Li Yun brought his family to the presence of Minister Ma and his wife to pay their respects.
"I, your daughter, bow to you, Father and Mother, and wish you good health!"
"Your humble servant, I greet the Minister, Madam Minister!"
"I, a commoner, greet the Minister and his wife!"
Li Yun brought his family to pay their respects to Minister Ma and his wife.
"We are all family, there is no need to be polite," said Minister Ma.
"Princess, I heard from Cai'er that he was taken care of by you in Qingshan County. And you gave me so many gifts, but I haven't thanked you properly." said the Shangshu's wife.
In reality, Li Yun was a princess, a third-rank official. The Shangshu was also a third-rank official, but Shangshu had real power, while the princess did not. The Shangshu's wife was given the title of a third-rank imperial consort, a lower rank than a princess, so she had to perform formalities.
"Mother, you are the mother of my sworn brother, and you should be my mother. So you don't have to call me princess, just call me Yun'er like my parents. We don't need those red tapes, just call me by the name of family." Li Yun said to the Shangshu's wife.
"Madam, Yun'er is right. We should just treat her as our daughter." Minister Ma said to his wife.
"I will listen to the master and Yun'er. Let's go in and sit down!" The Shangshu's wife led everyone into the main courtyard.
In the other side yard, the Second Concubine gnashed her teeth in her room. How could a village woman be so favored by the master, while her son was denied his affection? She could only cower in this place, as if she couldn't see the light of day.
The master also refused to allow them to appear in front of guests, saying it was disrespectful. Thinking that she had lived here for twenty years and had never received a good look from the master, she felt disappointed and resentful.
The second son, Ma Youdao, had different ideas from his aunt. He only wanted to marry the princess. Then he would be the Marquis of the County, and those who had bullied him would have to look down on him. As the Marquis of the County, he would be able to move into the Princess's mansion, where he would have endless money to spend and endless women to use.
Ma Youdao really loves to dream, even daring to dream of becoming a prince. It's amazing that he can think of it. Even if he really becomes a prince, I'm afraid it won't be possible to have women around him, but being a eunuch is possible.
The Third and Fourth Concubines had no particular concerns. They were both born into poverty and were brought home by the Master when they had nowhere else to turn. They were grateful to the Master for allowing them to live a comfortable life in his mansion. They had always warned their children to be law-abiding, not to have any undue thoughts, and to live a down-to-earth life in the mansion. Fortunately, their children were obedient and did not cause any trouble. The Madam and the Young Master also took good care of them and did not give them any trouble.
Li Yun followed the Shangshu's wife into the hall, and soon the maid brought them tea.
"Yun'er, how is the revision of the Princess' Mansion going?" Minister Ma asked Li Yun.
"Father, it will be ready in a few days. Yun'er will hold a housewarming party then. Father and mother should go over early to help." Li Yun said to Minister Ma and his wife.
"Of course, we will definitely arrive early," said the Minister's wife.
"Yun'er, I'll take you to Tingyuxuan, where Yun'er lives. You pack up and take a rest. We'll talk again after lunch." Taking into account that Li Yun and the others had just arrived, the Shangshu's wife let them rest first and then took them to familiarize themselves with the mansion.
"Thank you, mother!" said Li Yun.
Tingyuxuan is located in a small courtyard south of the main courtyard. It has two master bedrooms, an annex next to the master bedroom, and four side rooms. There is a long corridor in the courtyard, which is a duplex courtyard.
Li Yun and Chen Mo lived in the master bedroom, Qinglian lived in the side room next to Chen Mo and his wife, Dabao and Erbao lived in the side room next to Li Yun, Sanbao and Xiaohua slept with Li Yun. Changjiang lived in the side room next to Li Yun so that he could protect him.
Put away your luggage, freshen up, and then start to rest.
At lunchtime, the Shangshu's wife came to take Li Yun to the dining room for lunch.
After lunch, the Shangshu’s wife took Li Yun and his family to visit the Shangshu Mansion to familiarize themselves with it.
After lunch, Minister Ma and his wife took Li Yun to Baomo Hall to pay their respects to Madam Ma.
"Your son (daughter-in-law) greets you, mother, and wishes you good health!"
"Granddaughter greets grandma and wishes her good health!"
Minister Ma brought his wife and Li Yun to pay their respects to Madam Ma.
"Okay, get up!" said Mrs. Ma.
"Thank you, mother (grandmother)!" Minister Ma stood up with his wife and Li Yun.
"You must be Princess Jiahui, right? Yes, you are very graceful and beautiful." Old Madam Ma looked at Li Yun and was very satisfied. She heard that she had done many things that benefited the people and was named Princess.
This was the first commoner woman to be conferred the title of princess since the founding of the country.
"Yes, grandma!" Li Yun said respectfully.
"Mother, this is a gift from Yun'er to you!" Minister Ma came over with a big box and handed it to Old Madam Ma.
The personal nanny beside Madam Ma took it and opened it. Inside was a string of glass bracelets, a glass bangle, and a small glass mirror.
Madam Ma looked at the glass, her eyes widened. It was so beautiful! She was very satisfied with her granddaughter. She felt that she was a good person and knew how to use such expensive glass to please her.
In fact, she did not approve of her son's adoption of Li Yun as his goddaughter, as a village woman was not worthy of their Shangshu Mansion. But since her grandson had already adopted her, she had become his granddaughter, so she had no choice but to accept her.
Later, she heard that the village woman had been conferred the title of Princess, with the same rank as her son, so she agreed to let her son let the Princess stay for two days. Now that she saw Liuli, she truly acknowledged her granddaughter's identity.
"My princess, this is very thoughtful. I like the gift very much!" said Madam Ma. Madam Ma had no title or rank. In front of the princess, she could only be the family of a minister.
"As long as grandma likes it!" Li Yun saw Madam Ma's reaction before and after seeing Liuli, and knew that she was a very materialistic person. Li Yun disliked such people very much and just dealt with them lightly.
After chatting with Madam Ma for a while, Minister Ma took his wife and Li Yun out of Baomo Hall and sent Li Yun back to Tingyuxuan.
Back in the yard, Li Yun went to find Dabao and the others.
"Mom, you're back." Sanbao said happily when he saw his mother.
"Well, what are you doing?" Li Yun asked Sanbao.
"Mom, it's so boring. There's nothing fun to do." Erbao said.
"How about we play hide-and-seek?" Li Yun also felt that there was nothing fun to do here, so it would be better to play hide-and-seek.
"Hide and seek? What is that?" Sanbao and Erbao asked their mother at the same time.
Li Yun told them what hide-and-seek was, and after listening, they asked to play.
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