Lifting
It's dawn, time to get up.
Tai Shi Zheng did not oversleep this time. She sat up in shock and cried out, "It's over, it's over. How many more minutes have passed—"
"It's just the fifth watch, young lady... Madam." Fu Yuanzi happened to come out of the house carrying a basin of water. She pushed the door open and saw Zheng, and for a moment she couldn't change her words, "You woke up so early today?"
"I haven't slept before, I haven't slept before." Taishi Zheng smoothed his chest, then looked at the thin blanket covering him and the empty and cold bed beside him. "Yuanzi, where is the person lying here?"
"You mean my dear?"
Fu Yuanzi put down the basin and looked out the window. "I don't know. There was no one there when I came. Are you looking for him?"
"I won't look for it anymore." Tai Shi Zheng shook his head and didn't care.
hiss--
But why does my forehead feel a little painful to the touch?
Could it be that Cui Zhijun is a hypocritical hypocrite who took revenge on her last night while she was sleeping?
Tai Shi Zheng didn't dare to think about it too much and turned over and got out of bed.
Fu Yuanzi happily dressed Taishi Zheng. She told her, "My lady, you don't know how delicious the meal I had last night in the Earl's Mansion was. It was much better than what our master cooks. I'm tired of eating the same dishes every day. I really can't eat any more..."
"What? Stinky Yuanzi, can you be bribed by a meal? Just wait, I will tell dad when I go back home the day after tomorrow, and see how he will deal with you." Tai Shi Zheng curled his lips and laughed.
Fu Yuanzi was so frightened that he immediately admitted his mistake, "No, no. How could that be? Please don't..."
But before Fu Yuanzi could finish his words, Zheng followed up, "Whether it tastes good or not, your words don't count. I have to try it myself today. If you're not lying, I won't tell Dad."
The master and the servant were talking and laughing.
It still feels like the time when I was in Gaochunyuan.
Later, there was a simultaneous sound of revolving doors in the east and west rooms, and two strangers and inseparable people looked at each other from afar across the carved corridor.
It was just dawn, and Cui Zhijun could barely make out Taishi Zheng's face not far away. He remained silent, unsure of what to say. Zheng smiled and greeted him, "My dear, you're up so early. When did you leave? Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
Sleep more? That's easy to say.
There is one more person on the bed for no reason. Who can sleep well?
Cui Zhiyun frowned.
No, she can sleep.
Cui Zhijun didn't respond to Zheng's words. He respectfully called her Madam and said, "Let's go. It's time to pay our respects."
Tai Shi Zheng felt that Cui Zhijun was a little strange, but he didn't ask much and just walked towards him.
But when the two of them were walking side by side, Zheng suddenly noticed that Cui Zhijun's gait seemed a little strange, so she asked with concern, "My dear, what's wrong with your leg? It seems that you walk a little unsteadily. You were fine yesterday."
What's wrong?
She has the nerve to bring it up!
Cui Zhijun looked at the people around him in surprise, "Taishi Zheng, don't you remember anything at all?"
"I don't remember, was it me who did it?" Zheng shook her head and fell into deep thought.
Did she kick him because she wasn't sleeping well? But Cui Zhijun was tall and strong, how could she kick him? How come she couldn't remember anything except the lotus leaf roast chicken last night?
Zheng's mind went blank.
I guess I fainted yesterday, not fell asleep.
Cui Zhijun, however, covered his left hip and buttocks, where Taishi Zheng had hit him, and sighed, then walked forward with his head held high. "Forget it, if I can't remember, then I can't remember. It's not a big deal. The most important thing is to pay my respects. Everyone should be here by now."
Cui Zhijun was as gentle as jade and did not get anxious even at this point.
Although Tai Shi Zheng did not remember what happened last night, she still felt guilty and ran forward to help up her husband who was injured because of her.
"Let me help you."
It was the first time that a woman held his arm tightly. Cui Zhijun felt a little embarrassed and awkward. He hurriedly pulled his arm away from Taishi Zheng's embrace and said, "No need. I can do it myself."
Cui Zhijun just limped forward stubbornly.
Seeing this, Taishi Zheng chased after him stubbornly. She said, "How can this be possible? A man should take responsibility for his actions. Although I don't remember it, since it was me who did it, I will take responsibility!"
But when Cui Zhijun wanted to escape again, he found that Tai Shizheng was holding him tightly and refused to let go.
Cui Zhijun turned his head and looked at Taishi Zheng with a sincere face.
He had no choice but to compromise, and with the help of those around him, he stiffened his body and kept as much distance as possible as he could all the way to Xiangrong Hall. However, walking this way would probably make Cui Zhijun's already injured hip even worse...
-
In Xiangrong Hall, Yu Yuelan got up early and dressed up. Her happy face had been grinning since yesterday's banquet.
Now that her son has gotten married, she is looking forward to having grandchildren.
But it was strange that no matter whether they were legitimate children or illegitimate children, those who had been married for a few years or a few days, there was no movement from anyone in the mansion except Zou Shuangtong from the second house who gave birth to a girl.
She only hoped that her two could outdo them, so as to boost her morale. Otherwise, the Earl's Mansion, known for its large population, would be living up to its reputation.
"Fu Qile, have you gone to invite the old lady? Why hasn't she arrived yet? Why don't you ask someone to go check again—"
Yu Yuelan glanced at the front hall. The first and second wives, the second aunt, the fourth aunt, and almost everyone in the family had arrived.
But everyone was in a commotion, just wanting to catch a glimpse of Empress Shunhe's niece, the daughter of the old uncle of the emperor.
Fu Qile glanced outside and replied to Yu Yuelan, "Third Aunt went to the old lady's place a while ago, so she should be here by now. Did something delay her?"
The master and the servant chatted in random order.
Cui Yu, the host standing nearby in a purple official uniform, a goldfish bag on his waist, and holding a tea bowl, overheard this and began to lecture her inexplicably: "You're always pushing me. Why didn't you go and invite her yourself? What's the point of delaying Mother? Didn't Zhijun and the others not arrive yet? Besides, what's the harm in delaying her? It's only natural for the younger generation to wait for the elders."
Looking for trouble early in the morning.
Yu Yuelan turned her head and looked at Cui Yu's scowling expression, feeling very unhappy. She didn't want to indulge him and retorted, "Cui Dalang, you are the only filial one in the whole family. We are all ungrateful. I just asked casually, why are you making such a fuss? If you don't like me, just tell me earlier and I will make room for you. Don't look for trouble all day long."
"You shrew! You are unreasonable!" Cui Yu felt that his authority was challenged and put down his tea bowl in disgrace.
Everyone in the hall was so shocked that they fell silent.
Only Cui Yu's concubine, Tao Fengqin, looked around and timidly stepped forward to comfort him, "Master, please calm down. My mistress is asking kindly, probably because she's worried about what's going on with the old lady. Please be quiet. How about I go to the old lady's room and see if she has any instructions? That will help you two to feel more at ease."
Tao Fengqin is actually a timid person.
She was afraid that if she spoke too much, she would make more mistakes, end up complaining in vain, and even bring trouble to her children.
But the people in front of her were in a stalemate, and she was the only one who dared to say a few words to Cui Yu, who was angry. In order to make a big thing smaller, someone had to speak up to mediate, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and speak.
Speaking of Tao Fengqin, she was originally a maid who grew up with Cui Yu. However, Cui Yu, nostalgic for the past, wanted to marry her. However, Tao Fengqin's family was not a good match, so he only promoted her to a concubine after she gave birth to his eldest son.
Now the eldest wife had three sons and one daughter. Except for Cui Zhijun, the legitimate son, the rest were all born to Tao Fengqin. Therefore, she did have more weight in the mansion than the concubines of the second wife.
But Tao Fengqin lived a decent life, not only because Cui Yu was nostalgic and had children, but more because she was a law-abiding person who could endure humiliation.
Otherwise, with Yu Yuelan's bad temper, Tao Fengqin would have been sold out hundreds of times.
Cui Yu seemed to have listened to her advice and was willing to remain silent. But the firecrackers over there had already been lit, and before they were extinguished, wouldn't he have to pour out a few more sarcastic remarks before he would stop?
Yu Yuelan smacked her lips. "Hey, Fengqin's words are indeed effective. The first one to arrive is more effective than me who came later. Look, I really have to make room for you!"
Cui Yu glared, but Tao Fengqin held her master back and stopped him from saying anything.
What about the others?
Everyone seemed to be watching the fun, staying out of the matter. However, who doesn't know that when it comes to Yu Yuelan's affairs, one should stay out of it?
She is very vindictive.
Suddenly, there was a deafening sound of a cane knocking against the ground. Everyone looked outside and heard someone say, "Yu Yuelan, you are so bold. Do you think my Cui family is a theater for fun? You can give up the position of mistress just by saying so—"
Yu Yuelan was startled and quickly stood up to greet him.
Look, here comes the old lady Feng Dai'e, who always has the final say. The third aunt helps the old lady into the hall, and Tai Shi Zheng follows with Cui Zhijun in.
They met outside the hall and walked in together. Three generations of the family walked past under everyone's gaze until they arrived in front of Cui Yu and Yu Yuelan.
Yu Yuelan looked at Feng Dai'e, who looked annoyed, and called out tentatively, "Mother..."
But the old lady scolded her mercilessly in front of everyone, "Daughter-in-law Dalang, I haven't asked about family affairs for a year. Have you almost forgotten that there is an old woman like me in this uncle's mansion? It's okay for you to quarrel and compete on weekdays, but today is the first day that your grandson's wife comes home, and you still don't know how to restrain yourself? Do you want your uncle to take you back and reflect on your actions for a few days?"
Yu Yuelan felt embarrassed, but didn't want to argue with the old lady, so she said, "Mother, the new bride is here, please give her some face."
Who would have thought that the women in the Earl's Mansion were so strong and powerful.
Feng Dai'e admonished her daughter-in-law as if she were admonishing a child, "Face? Do you even know what face is? Face is earned, not given by others. If you really knew how to save face, you wouldn't have made such a fuss."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are arguing endlessly, and this is not a good way to go.
To calm the situation, Cui Yu took the old lady from Cui Banqin and ushered her to the main seat in the center. He then said, "Don't blame me, mother. Yuelan is just a bad-tempered person who says one thing and means another. I'm worried about you because I haven't fulfilled my duty of teaching her. I will discipline her more in the future. But now that all the family members are watching, and the bride and my son have arrived, I ask you to forgive her this time for my sake."
Cui Yu had spoken, so Feng Dai'e naturally had to give her son face. She held the cane in her hand and stopped lecturing him in a high-handed manner.
Although Yu Yuelan kept her mouth shut, she sneered at Cui Yu.
He was acting like a good guy? Wasn't he the one who started this? Why was she being blamed for it?
This family is really united, excluding her as an outsider, and yet they can make such an indiscriminate judgment?
If today wasn't the first day the bride came to pay her respects, Yu Yuelan would have definitely argued with them for herself.
By the way, the bride greets you...
Things finally got back on track amidst the chaotic quarrels.
Yu Yuelan looked at Taishi Zheng, with a somewhat embarrassed look on her face. She didn't care about other clan members. Who hadn't seen her like this?
She embarrassed herself in front of her own daughter-in-law on the first day. How can she continue to be a mother-in-law in the future?
Although Yu Yuelan thought so, Taishi Zheng disagreed. She had seen many secret intrigues in the palace, but this was the first time she had seen such a noisy and turbulent situation.
Standing among the bustling crowd, Zheng glanced around curiously, not paying any attention to their quarrel.
But where are these people looking?
Tai Shi Zheng followed everyone's gaze to the left and saw Cui Zhijun frowning and silent because of the endless quarrel.
Zheng saw that his eyes were full of disappointment.
Yu Yuelan noticed her son's mood was off, so she asked, "How is my son doing on the first day of his wedding? Why is he like this?"
She seemed to think that what happened just now was nothing, but Cui Zhijun fell into complete silence.
But what about Zheng? She mistakenly thought her mother-in-law was concerned about her husband's hip injury, so she quickly admitted her mistake with a positive attitude: "Mother-in-law, this is all my fault. I was too strong last night and injured Erlang's hip. But don't worry, I won't touch him again in the next few days until Erlang recovers. I will definitely take care of him and do my best."
Taishi Zheng, you have to listen to what you are saying...
A faint blush crept onto Cui Zhijun's gloomy face. The tense atmosphere in the hall was surprisingly easily dispelled, gradually becoming more ambiguous.
Some people were laughing, some were whispering.
I think this young man is really unrestrained.
Yu Yuelan's astonished eyes were filled with a hint of secret joy. She threw away her previous displeasure and nodded repeatedly in response: "Okay, okay, I'll do my best. As for whether to touch it or not, that's all up to my wife's wishes—"
Whatever she wants.
Isn’t this mother-in-law quite “reasonable”?
Tai Shi Zheng smiled brightly upon hearing this and responded readily, "Okay."
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