Chapter 123 Discourtesy
It was the fifth day of the ninth month, the third day after the birth of the eldest son of the third branch of the Zhou family.
Golden basins and jade water, auspicious words fill the hall.
The ceremony was held at Shou'an Hall.
The old man works like a slave outside, while the old woman sits in the highest seat.
Li Qu sat on the couch with the old lady.
Zhenniang sat down next to Li Qu, holding her child.
Green and orange fruits protected her on either side.
The female relatives sat together, chatting and laughing, showering the little boy with different compliments.
Those who come on the third day after the bath are all close relatives.
It's natural for people to want to hug and touch a baby.
Li Qu did not want the tragedy that happened to her mother to be repeated in her own life.
They keep a very strict eye on their children.
When female relatives who came up to see the child tried to reach out and touch the child's face, Cuiguo would smile and raise her hand to block them.
Women who wanted to hold the child were politely turned away by the wet nurse, Zhenniang.
Seeing this, the women exchanged glances and withdrew, no longer daring to step forward.
The atmosphere felt as if veiled.
The atmosphere was harmonious, but lacked intimacy.
Zhou Lan, seated in the honored position on the right, looked visibly weary.
Although she is not as radiant as before, she still habitually looks at people with her chin raised and her eyelids half-closed.
Upon seeing this, someone couldn't help but sarcastically remark, "It's only when you're a family that you like children that you want to hug and touch them."
"Third sister-in-law is really something, guarding against whom like she's a thief?"
Li Qu smiled gently upon hearing this.
"What my elder sister said makes perfect sense."
"That's what I told Third Master too."
"But Third Master said that letting anyone take your child is just causing them trouble."
Zhou Lan raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"
"Third Master said that if I let anyone hold and play with my child, and the wet nurse or maid accidentally hurts the child afterward, and then, out of fear of punishment, they frame the person who held the child, wouldn't I have to question the person who had contact with the child?"
"This not only hurts the feelings of family members, but also causes trouble for others."
"Let the wet nurse and maids work harder; if anything happens to them, they can't be allowed to escape."
Before Zhou Lan could speak again, Zhou Yu, who was sitting next to her, quickly chimed in with a smile, "That makes sense."
Zhou Lan rolled her eyes dismissively.
Li Qu smiled and quickly added, "Don't be angry, big sister."
"Third Master is meticulous. If he has offended Eldest Sister in any way, I will have him come to apologize to you in person later."
Zhou Lan's expression softened.
Sister-in-law Qiao from the Second Mansion smiled and got up to help Li Qu ease the tension.
"If you ask me, this is all because my third brother had a child at such an old age, and he cherishes him so much that he doesn't allow anyone to touch him."
"Hahaha, everyone, please understand how our third brother feels about having a child late in life."
The old lady of the three mansions, Madam Chang, who was seated in the honored position on the left, pointed to Sister-in-law Qiao.
"You can't keep your mouth shut. Why do you mention 'old' in front of your elders?"
Sister-in-law Qiao smiled and quickly got up to go to the center of the hall to apologize.
"I apologize to my aunt and third aunt. Please forgive me today for the sake of my son."
With her interjecting and cracking jokes, the atmosphere became lively.
The old lady of the second household did not come, and the other women in the second household did not appear as relaxed as Sister-in-law Qiao.
After chatting for a while, Huaixiang came to deliver a message.
“The boy’s name has been decided with the character ‘Xi’, and the ancestral hall has been opened and the name has been included in the family genealogy.”
The name itself reveals Zhou Jin's high expectations for this child.
When the auspicious time arrives, an incense table is set up with a copper basin, and the three-day-old washing ceremony begins.
Once everything was ready, the third branch of the main household would add a small spoonful of water to the basin according to seniority and age, and then add some gold and silver ingots, longan, red dates, and other items.
Each time something was added, a servant woman would shout auspicious words.
After the ceremony, the little one was already crying in fright.
Li Qu took the child and retreated to a side room to breastfeed the child and calm his nerves.
The little one was crying a lot, whimpering while nursing.
Xu Mama comforted Li Qu: "There is a brazier next to you. The young master is wearing a swaddle. Only a little water got on him, so Madam doesn't need to worry."
After spending three days with the little one, Li Qu found it increasingly difficult to bear the little one crying.
She smiled and poked the little guy's cheek with her finger: "Noble, powerful, and exceptionally intelligent, that is Xi."
"Your dad has high hopes for you."
The little guy ate with great relish.
After feeding the baby, Li Qu took her leave and returned to Fanghua Garden.
During the lunch break, the women also had other activities, such as watching plays.
Li Qu didn't need to worry about any of these things.
She returned to Fanghua Garden and rewarded the servants.
The whole house was filled with joy.
There were also tables set up for the male guests.
Since they were all close relatives, and it was a joyous occasion, Zhou Jin was genuinely happy. Unable to resist the urging, he drank a couple more cups.
I took a nap at Mianxiaoju at noon, and after waking up, I had a personal seal made for my son.
It took Mo Yue two hours, until the hour of You (5-7 PM), before he finally went to Fanghua Garden with the carved seal to claim credit.
Before I even stepped through the back gate, I heard a woman shouting from inside the back wall.
"Although I have lost my father, I still have uncles and aunts, so I am not without support! How dare you block my way here!"
"Miss Xi, we are a perfect match, why are you rejecting me?"
"Since ancient times, marriage has been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Now my mother has entrusted my marriage entirely to my cousin, and I will listen to her."
"Lingrou, I love you. Marry me, and I will never let you suffer."
Huaiqiu glanced at his master, and seeing that his master was still walking, he decided not to interfere.
As the master and servant stepped into the hanging flower gate in the backyard, a woman's panicked cry suddenly came from behind the artificial hill to their right.
"Let me go! Let me go, you lecherous scoundrel!"
"Lingrou, Lingrou, marry me, and I will definitely treat you well."
The woman screamed repeatedly, her voice trembling as she cried, "This is the Zhou residence! How dare you do such a shameless thing!"
"What happened to the Zhou family? My third sister-in-law was initially taken by my third brother because of her stunning beauty."
“Even if there were people here, I would still dare to do this, since I learned it from my elder brother.”
Huaiqiu dared not breathe too loudly. The only person who could speak so arrogantly in the mansion and address Zhou Jin as "elder brother" was probably the youngest son of the Third Master, a playboy.
"Help, help, waaaaah, let me go, let me go."
"Hehe, no one's coming to save you. If you behave and submit to me, I will definitely pamper you like my third brother did for his wife."
Zhou Jin stopped in his tracks.
Huaiqiu immediately turned towards the source of the sound.
Within a breath or two, a man's agonizing scream rang out: "Which bastard dares to disturb us..."
Approaching footsteps sounded panicked.
Zhou Jin looked up and saw the woman in the light blue dress turn out of the path ahead, looking back in alarm as she rushed straight toward him.
The woman's black hair fluttered lightly, and her slightly disheveled blue dress billowed in the air like seaweed as she ran.
Zhou Jin turned slightly to the side.
The other person didn't run past him; instead, they fell at his feet.
Xi Lingrou propped herself up, raising a panicked face.
Seemingly unaware that there was someone in front of her, she looked up at the man standing in front of her.
She got up, hurriedly straightened her clothes, looking lost and ashamed.
She hid behind him, not getting close, but giving the illusion that he was protecting her.
Huaiqiu grabbed Zhou Jian and came over from the place where Xi Lingrou had just turned.
Zhou Jian was like a husky that had been locked up for too long, desperately trying to break free from Huai Qiu's clutches.
"I won't do it again! I'll never do it again!"
"Don't take me to see Third Brother, he'll beat me, he really will!"
"Release me right now, Huaiqiu, you dog slave."
The lackey shoved him forward.
Zhou Jian staggered two steps, his gaze falling upon the hem of a garment woven with gold thread.
He slowly straightened up, raised his gaze, and gave Zhou Jin, whose face looked terrible, a fawning smile: "Third, Third Brother."
The playboy was fortunate enough to accompany his nephew Zhou Feng to several banquets where Zhou Jin was present.
His eyes swept over Xi Lingrou behind Zhou Jin, and he suddenly realized.
"I didn't know she was the woman you, Third Brother, had taken a liking to..."
Zhou Jin stepped forward and kicked him to the ground: "You're spewing filth."
He turned and walked outside: "Come with me."
As soon as he turned around, Xi Lingrou quickly knelt down before him.
Zhou Jin kept walking, ignoring her.
Her eyes reddened, she raised her hand to her chest, looked up in his direction, her eyes pleading and pitiful: "Third cousin."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks and into her hair.
"What happened today is not my fault. I just came here to gather inspiration for my paintings."
"Unexpectedly, I encountered this lecherous man."
"If this gets out, my innocence will be jeopardized."
He walked past her.
She boldly grabbed his robe and looked up at him.
“If my third cousin doesn’t restrain people’s speech, he’s forcing me to my death.”
"Please, Third Cousin, have mercy on me."
Zhou Jin was surprised that she would be so audacious as to grab his clothes, so he frowned and pulled his robe back.
"You've been rude."
She shook her head and looked at him stubbornly: "I just want to live."
"He took advantage of me, what wrong have I done?"
"But if rumors spread, they could kill me!"
Zhou Jin was never one to show mercy to women.
Out of respect for his second sister-in-law, he decided not to pursue the matter.
He strode away without looking back.
She pleaded, "Third cousin, even if it's a stranger, you can't just stand by and watch him die."
"Is this an attempt to avoid suspicion because you're afraid your third cousin's wife might misunderstand?"
"Lingrou will explain it clearly to her third cousin-in-law."
Only Zhou Jian looked back at her with heartache, wishing he could go up and hug her, wiping away her tears.
Huaiqiu gave him a push.
He glared angrily at Huaiqiu: "You dog slave."
Only after the three figures disappeared did Zhou Jian's servant turn out from the side path.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and dashed out like an arrow.
"Master, master, save us! Third Master has captured our master!"
Xi Lingrou's maid peeked around from a distance, and only after everyone had disappeared did she come forward with a stack of blank drawing paper to help her mistress.
"Miss, the money has been spent."
"Those two gossips will definitely spread the news that Miss wants."
Xi Lingrou wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and, looking lost and disoriented, took the hand of her maid and walked towards her courtyard.
Her light and cheerful voice drifted on the wind.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing how that third cousin's wife reacts."
By forming alliances and strategic alliances, the weak can overcome the strong.
If we cannot defeat the enemy from the outside, we must divide them from within.
Moreover, she has made new allies today.
Heaven is helping her.
*
Inside Mianxiao Residence, Zhou Jin stared at the bookshelves. When Zhou Jian finally dawdled in, he turned around and asked, "How do I get to the inner courtyard?"
"I was wandering around the outer courtyard when I heard the voice of a woman from the Xi family coming from the inner courtyard, so I went to look for her."
Why are you wandering around the outer courtyard?
“Ah? Hehehehe…” Zhou Jian, “I want to see Lady Xi.”
How did you come to know Lady Xi?
"I just know her," Zhou Jian explained.
"I heard that a stunningly beautiful woman from the Xi family has arrived at the main residence, and my second sister-in-law is looking for a husband for her."
"So I tried every means to meet him from afar."
"She is indeed as stunningly beautiful as the rumors say."
"So I asked my father to help me propose marriage."
“My father asked my mother to ask my second sister-in-law.”
"My second sister-in-law replied with a bunch of flowery words, which translates to: Xi's daughter looked down on me as a good-for-nothing and rejected me."
He wasn't embarrassed at all.
He chuckled, "Well, I just had a sudden inspiration and thought of another way."
Zhou Jin then asked, "Where did you hear about the Xi woman?"
"The second aunt of the main house spread the word everywhere, saying that the Xi family had a daughter who was extremely beautiful, gentle and generous, but unfortunately she had a bad fate."
"He has been observing mourning for six years, which has delayed his marriage. He is still unmarried, which is heartbreaking."
"My second aunt pulled out all the young talents from the major families in Hezhou City for a look."
"It's as if the Second Aunt's sky would collapse if she didn't find a good husband for this Xi woman."
Zhou Jin then asked, "When you went to find Lady Xi, where were the maids who accompanied her?"
"Ah? I hid to the side and watched for a long time, and only dared to go forward when the maid went back to get the painting paper."
"Shunzi was keeping watch for me."
"Who would have thought that, as I was looking around, Third Brother, you would arrive."
He quickly said, "Third Brother, don't worry. I was blind and didn't see that you were standing behind Lady Xi before."
"I will never dare to offend you again."
Seeing that he hadn't gotten any information, Zhou Jin said to Zhou Jian, "I have absolutely no connection with the Xi woman!"
Then he sternly rebuked her: "How dare you utter such disrespectful words towards your third sister-in-law!"
Zhou Jianfang then realized which heavenly rule he had violated.
He immediately slapped his own mouth hard: "I won't dare to do it again next time."
"Entering the inner courtyard without permission, disgracing civility, and speaking inappropriately, shall be dealt with according to family rules."
Zhou Jian had a crying face, his mouth wide open, sobbing...
He stubbornly squeezed out through gritted teeth: "Third Brother, you only allow officials to set fires while forbidding ordinary people to light lamps. That's not fair."
"Disobedience is an even more serious offense."
Zhou Jian immediately begged for mercy.
In the end, he was beaten so badly his buttocks were bruised and he was carried home.
*
Rumors, under the cover of night, spread freely in the wind.
Zhou Jin and Li Qu were completely unaware of this.
After dealing with Zhou Jian's matter, he returned to Fanghua Garden.
In Fanghua Garden, Li Qu, dressed in a loose-fitting undergarment, is doing yoga and some exercises that help with postpartum recovery.
Seeing him enter, she happily rose from the soft carpet, ran forward, and sweetly called out, "My husband~"
He unconsciously opened his arms to her.
She jumped into his arms, wrapped her legs around his waist, and put her arms around his neck.
He lifted her hips and guided her into the inner room: "Haven't you eaten yet?"
She smiled at him and suddenly realized he looked very handsome today: "No, I'll wait for my husband."
She kissed him and said, "I miss my husband."
He was genuinely happy, patted her buttocks, and placed her on the couch.
He got up, took off his outer robe, and turned around to wash himself quickly with the water brought by the maid.
She sat on the tatami mat, her hands supporting her weight, her legs dangling freely, and looked at him with a smile.
"The name my husband gave Xi Bao'er is very beautiful."
"Is that why you're staring at me?"
"This is why I love my husband even more."
He threw the towel into the basin, turned around, knelt down beside her, and leaned over to push her down onto the couch.
He leaned down and braced himself against her.
Their noses almost touched, their breaths mingling.
He kissed her.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, responding sweetly to his gesture.
Upon seeing this, the maids and servants all withdrew.
He cornered her on the tatami mat, half-kneeling in front of her, his gaze falling on the wet fabric of her clothes.
"Miss me?" His voice, tinged with a hint of a smile, was intoxicating.
She blushed slightly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him: "I told you as soon as you walked in."
"Then, may I have a taste?"
She laughed and pushed his face to the side: "No, this is good for Xi Bao'er."
He grabbed her hand and bent down to bite and tug at the sash of her dress.
"Just a little bit, it's okay."
"You don't love Xi Bao'er at all."
He is not as good as you.
He touched her carefully.
I've heard that breastfeeding women are very vulnerable, and that vigorous movement can cause blocked milk ducts.
A gentle, milky scent lingered around his nose.
He was greedy.
She could accept it at first, but when he started to act badly, she couldn't stand it anymore.
She instinctively hugged his head and softly called out, "Jinlang~ have mercy on me."
His fingertips slipped inside her clothes, moving upwards from her waist.
The touch of his fingertips sent shivers down his spine.
She unconsciously tightened her grip on her toes, which were resting on the bed.
Desires entangled in the heart, but as time went by, they were gradually compressed into the depths of the heart.
He stopped, his gaze falling on the undulating peaks and valleys, and he breathed slightly out of breath.
Her cheeks were burning hot, and she raised her hand to cover them.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Beautiful."
What ruined the couple's intimacy was the sound of Xi Bao'er whimpering and searching for milk in bed.
She quickly nudged him gently: "He's going to cry because he can't find anything to eat."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xi Bao'er, realizing that her job had been taken away, started crying loudly.
Startled, Granny Xu entered the room and glanced into the inner room.
Zhou Jinzheng came out and ordered, "Call the wet nurse to feed the child."
Granny Xu replied, "Yes."
I dare not ask why the madam has been nursing Young Master Xi herself these past few days, but Young Master Xi hasn't been able to eat this meal.
The wet nurse took the child away, and Zhou Jin took out a small red rectangular seal: "Can you recognize the words on this?"
Li Qu took it and carefully examined it.
Nowadays, seal engraving mostly uses the Great Seal script.
She doesn't know her very well.
"It must contain the character '玺' (xi).
“You can take your time to look it up in the book.” Zhou Jin smiled faintly, lost in his own imagination of how she would roll around happily after getting the answer.
*
The storm brewed in the south amidst the calm.
But the storms in the north came fiercely.
Rong'an Hall of the Marquis of Weiwu's Mansion.
Lin Xiaocong smiled at his mother and asked again, "Is your son engaged in marriage with a woman from the Wang family? And we've already exchanged betrothal gifts?"
Madam Lin leaned back in her chair, nodding with a smug look on her face.
What does it matter if she loses a fight? She can make up for it in other ways.
"Um."
“Your grandmother also met Ms. Wang and was very satisfied with her.”
As she spoke, her mocking gaze fell on Li Rong, who was sitting next to Lin Xiaocong.
He was still talking to Lin Xiaocong.
"Tomorrow is your day off, so the two families can exchange marriage certificates."
A nameless, lowly prostitute, ptooey!
Li Rong lowered her eyes and played with the bracelet on her wrist, thinking about what she should bring when she went to see her fourth sister tomorrow.
Lin Xiaocong looked at the old lady Lin: "Grandmother?"
Grandma Lin served tea: "Mingxu, it's time for you to get married."
Lin Xiaocong suddenly smiled broadly.
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