After a quick wash, Jiayin hurried to the front yard.
Inside the main room, Tao Hongying changed into a dark red brocade jacket with gold and silver embroidery. Her black hair was tied in a single bun, fastened with a carved silver comb, and a beeswax hairpin with filigree flowers was tucked behind her head.
Her complexion, which was originally a bit dark, became much brighter after applying a layer of powder.
Her eyebrows were carefully drawn, with a touch of black, and paired with bright red lips, she looked incredibly radiant and elegant.
Sitting in this chair, even just flipping through a booklet, he exudes a more dignified and elegant air than usual.
Granny He stood to one side with her head bowed, occasionally whispering a few words...
Jiayin rushed over and was stunned to see her mother like this. She then rushed forward and hugged her mother's arm with a smile.
"Mother, you look so beautiful today! This is exactly how you should dress! I prepared so many dresses and jewelry for you before, but you've been keeping them hidden away. Now they won't be left to gather dust!"
Tao Hongying was actually quite nervous; she had gotten up an hour early and that's why she was in this state.
Now that she had received her daughter's praise, she straightened her back even more.
She lovingly tidied her daughter's disheveled hair and said with a smile, "From now on, I'll listen to you and dress however you like!"
"I've already decided on today's menu and given it to Shuiyun. You stay home and keep Grandma company. I need to go to town to check the shop's accounts and also to visit your Aunt Liu."
"And the bird's nest from last night, I forgot to stew it for you, I'll make it up tonight."
Jiayin guessed some of her mother's thoughts, feeling a bittersweet warmth in her heart. So she kept nodding and obediently agreed, so that her mother wouldn't have to worry about her while she was away.
Soon, the whole family came over for dinner.
Li Zhensheng and Li Lao Er had already left with Mr. Wen from next door. At the dinner table, besides Old Lady Li and Zhao Yuru, there were only the three Jiaren brothers.
Everyone was surprised to see such a big change in Tao Hongying, but they didn't say anything, for fear that she would feel uncomfortable.
After finishing her meal, Tao Hongying settled things at home and then took Granny He by car into the city.
Jiayin was worried that someone might cause trouble on the way, so she wanted Shuiling to come along, but Tao Hongying refused.
Jiayin stood in front of the door, the cold autumn wind blowing, and remained silent for a long time.
Grandma Li picked up Xingxing and stepped forward, advising, "Don't feel sorry for your mother. Everyone has things they don't want to do, but have to do."
"Moreover, your mother's situation isn't just because of you, but also because of An'er and your father."
“When An’er gets married in the future, your father will need a virtuous wife, not a cook.”
"Actually, it's not just your mother, but also your third aunt and I will be going out more often in the future..."
Jiayin was worried that her grandmother's arms would get sore, so she took Xingxing and held him, then took off the pearl necklace from her wrist for him to play with.
She tried to cheer herself up and changed the subject with a smile, "Grandma, I want to eat sugar-coated fried cakes. Fry a plate for lunch, okay?"
Before the old lady could respond, Xingxing clapped her chubby little hands excitedly, "Xingxing wants to eat too, sugar cake, sugar cake!"
Grandma Li couldn't help but laugh, tapping the chubby boy's nose, "Just like your aunt when she was little, such a glutton."
Just then, Madam Wen brought Yueya over and, upon hearing this, said, "Auntie, let Yueya have a piece of sweet cake for lunch too. I'm going back to the estate today."
"The autumn harvest is so busy, I haven't been back even once."
Grandma Li readily agreed, and so another fair-skinned, chubby girl joined the line for sweet cakes.
When the sun was high in the sky, a young couple sat side by side on the threshold of the Li family's kitchen.
Both were fair-skinned and chubby, holding small bowls, their mouths covered in sugar stains and their little hands greasy.
Jiayin sat on a chair inside the door, also eating sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes from a small bowl, but she kept sighing, which aroused the curiosity of Huiniang, who had come to deliver dried mushrooms. Huiniang asked, "What's wrong, Fu Niu'er? Is the sugar-coated glutinous rice cake not good? Why are you sighing like that?"
Jiayin feigned grievance and replied, "Master, I've fallen out of favor!"
"The throne that was once mine has been snatched away! A sugar-coated cake can't heal my wounded heart at all."
Grandma Li was just holding some sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes, intending to take a plate of them back to Hui Niang. Upon hearing this, she immediately tossed one into her granddaughter's bowl and scolded, "Then two are fine!"
Jiayin immediately put on a smiling face and said exaggeratedly, "Oh dear, what do you mean by 'falling out of favor'? I had no idea."
Everyone could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.
Wan'er and Wenjuan were originally in the backyard, but with so many things happening at home, they were a little panicked, so they brought Yuanyuan to the front yard.
Just as they stepped through the side gate, they suddenly heard such cheerful laughter. The two exchanged a puzzled look, not understanding what had happened, but their hearts immediately felt much lighter...
In the Liu family courtyard in Xindu.
At this moment, Madam Liu personally went to the second gate to greet Tao Hongying, took her arm and led her inside, saying with a smile, "Hongying, weren't you just busy with Yuanyuan's full moon celebration yesterday? How come you have time to come and talk to me today?"
Tao Hongying replied, "Yesterday I heard from the nanny next to you that you were not feeling well, and I was worried about you. Since I came to the city today, I brought you two kinds of snacks."
"Also, I have something I'd like to ask my sister-in-law for help with."
Madam Liu blushed slightly upon hearing this and quickly said, "It's nothing serious, I just had my period and wasn't feeling well, so I lay in bed all day."
After saying that, she quickly changed the subject, "Why is Yuanyuan having a full moon celebration? I remember our family usually celebrates a 100-day celebration."
"There's nothing we can do about it, when in Rome, do as the Romans do," Tao Hongying replied nonchalantly. "We northerners are used to celebrating the 100th day, but in the two years since we moved here, we've seen everyone celebrating the full month, so we've changed our tradition."
"Actually, it doesn't matter. It's just to announce to everyone that we've had a big, healthy baby boy. Come and give us your gifts!"
Madam Liu was amused by her and went into the flower hall. The maid brought up tea and snacks and invited Granny He to go down and rest.
Madam Liu then asked, "Hongying, if you need my help, please don't hesitate to ask. The Earl just came by and spoke with my master and father for quite a while."
"Finally, our master left with the Earl. Out of curiosity, I asked him a few questions, and it seemed something had happened in our family."
Tao Hongying's eyes darkened, and she grasped Madam Liu's hand.
"Sister-in-law, I need your help..."
As the sun began to set, Jiayin still hadn't seen her mother return from the city. Feeling a little worried, she went to the village entrance to check on her.
Just then, Ye Shan and Dong Mei returned from outside and went up to report to their master.
Ye Shan said, "Princess, all the tasks you assigned have been completed."
"So fast!" Jia Yin was pleasantly surprised.
She felt furious no matter how she thought about it last night. Even though her grandmother didn't want her to take action or seek revenge herself, she still planned to do her best to protect herself.
Without revealing the secret, teach the enemy a lesson.
For example, they dug up the old secrets of the Wu and Wang families!
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