Jiang Mingcheng stayed at the Guo residence as an honored guest, spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with his elder sister and her family. Although Wang Shi was dissatisfied with her second daughter-in-law, she treated the guest with great courtesy, repeatedly praising his "bright future." The servants treated him with respect, fearing they would neglect Jiang Yushu's younger brother.
In late August, the weather is clear and cool.
There is an open space in Guofu Garden, which has always been a great place for children to chase and play.
This morning, the autumn sun was warm, and the wind rustled the branches and leaves, making the air cool and pleasant.
There was constant laughter and joy in the garden. Three children were running, each holding a kite, trying to fly it into the sky.
"Mom!" Guo Ye had been busy for a long time, hot and tired, his cheeks flushed, but the kite was still tilted and couldn't fly. He shouted anxiously, "Come and help me!"
"Okay! But you have to wait a moment. Mom will help your brother and sister first."
Jiang Yushu wore a lotus-colored dress, no makeup, adorned only with a pearl flower, a pair of earrings, and a pair of jade bracelets. She looked simple, elegant, and capable. She was tugged at a kite, adjusting the string as she ran. After a few laps in the wind, the kite rose higher and higher, gradually stabilizing aloft. She said happily, "Look! The eagle is flying!"
The twins, a boy and a girl, followed their mother, excitedly looking up at the sky and cheering.
"Hahaha, it's flying! It's flying up into the sky!" Guo Xiaoyan clapped her hands excitedly, jumping up and down. Guo Jiong, eyes bright and shining, stood on tiptoe to tug at his mother's clothes, then reached out to grab the kite string.
Jiang Yushu looked down and hurriedly raised the kite spool. "You want to fly it yourself?"
"Yeah." Guo Jiong looked up at his mother with admiration, his eyes wide open and his cheeks chubby.
"No. The wind is too strong. You don't have enough strength to hold on to the thread. You'll be pulled and fall." Jiang Yushu handed the spool to the maid, squatted down to tidy up the child's clothes that were messed up by the wind, and instructed: "Wait a few years when you are older, then try to release it yourself. Remember?"
"I've got it." The little boy couldn't hide his disappointment, but he didn't cry or make a fuss. He pulled his sister along and chased after the maid who was responsible for stabilizing the kite.
Not far away, Guo Ye shouted again: "Mom! Are you okay? It's time to help me?"
"Don't worry, it's coming!"
It was a rare opportunity to reunite with the children. Jiang Yushu was very excited and did not even bother to wipe the sweat off her face. She ran to her eldest son, took over his carp kite, and patiently taught her son step by step.
There is a viewing pavilion next to the open space. The hall is furnished with low couches, tables and chairs, and snacks are placed on the tables.
Wang leaned back on the low couch, sometimes closing her eyes to rest, sometimes watching her grandchildren play, looking leisurely and comfortable.
Ji Yingru's belly was bulging, and she carefully embroidered a bellyband for her unborn child with an embroidery needle in her hand. She had become rounder, and looking at her lively and lovely nephews and nieces, she said softly, "My second brother and his wife are back, and the house is much more lively. Look, the children are having so much fun."
"Children, there's nothing they don't like to play," Wang said cheerfully. As her grandchildren cheered as they passed the pavilion, she quickly reminded them, "Hey, run slower! Watch out for falls!" Then, looking at her daughter-in-law's belly, she said expectantly, "Give Azhe a few more big, fat boys. Then our home will be even more lively."
A new bride, having her first child, Ji Yingru was naturally timid. She subconsciously touched her belly and replied in a whisper, "Hmm."
You can never have too many grandchildren, even if they are born out of wedlock, they are still descendants of the Guo family. Wang sighed and grumbled for the umpteenth time, "Alas, Hongyao died young, leaving behind only Yu'er. Your second sister-in-law suffered a broken heart when she gave birth to twins, and the doctor said she would have difficulty getting pregnant again. Honglei is henpecked and dares not take a concubine. Xiaoru, you must strive to be a good person and bring more children to the Guo family. Many children will bring blessings."
Ji Yingru was worried and uneasy, fearing that giving birth to a daughter would upset her mother-in-law, so she nodded timidly.
Family gossip is usually boring to chew on. It's not that Wang Shi didn't understand the situation, but she just couldn't get over her grudge against her second daughter-in-law. And since she's older, she likes to nag. In the middle of the conversation, her face turned stern and she said seriously, "Only a virtuous and sensible wife can bring prosperity to her husband and the family. Jealousy is the worst thing to do."
"Yes, you are right."
Wang said calmly, hinting at something. "Any powerful man in the world has three wives and four concubines. Poor Honglei, after getting married, let alone taking concubines, he doesn't even dare to use maids. A dignified general with the title 'Xuanwei', yet he's so henpecked, it's truly a joke. If this gets out, I don't know who will be embarrassed and who will be the target of gossip."
Here she goes again! She starts complaining about her second sister-in-law again… Ji Yingru stopped embroidering and listened to her mother-in-law nagging awkwardly, unable to respond.
A few trusted servants were used to it and stood by with their heads down, as if they heard nothing.
"Xiao Ru, you won't stop Azhe from taking a concubine?"
A woman can only have one man, but a man can have three wives and four concubines. This is unfair. Even if the relationship between husband and wife is weak, the woman has to consider the children. Therefore, the wife often hates concubines and maids.
Ji Yingru was no exception. She and her husband had known each other for so long, loved each other, and had been married for less than two years. How could she possibly approve of him taking a concubine? Yet, bound by etiquette and rules, she dared not disobey her mother-in-law. To appear virtuous and sensible, she hesitantly replied, "How could that be? Mother is right. Many children bring blessings. Everything else... depends on his wishes, and I'll also listen to the elders' arrangements."
"Well, good, very good, that's sensible."
Wang smiled with satisfaction, then changed the subject and instructed, "However, Azhe is weak and sickly, and cannot bear the burden. He cannot enjoy the blessing of three wives and four concubines, so you must give him more children."
Ji Yingru felt as if she had been pardoned and said respectfully, "Please rest assured, mother. I will definitely take good care of him!"
"That's right. Serving your husband is a wife's duty."
"yes."
Wang leaned against the low couch and looked at her third daughter-in-law who was respectful to her. Although she was satisfied, she looked down on her timid attitude and thought she was from a small family and petty.
The next moment
"Grandfather," Guo Yu said, his face pale as he slowly walked into the viewing pavilion. "What were you and Third Aunt talking about?"
"Hey, Yu'er!" Wang turned her head at the sound, "Just chatting."
"How is it?" Ji Yingru asked with concern, "Does your head still hurt?"
When Wang saw her eldest grandson, she immediately smiled and waved lovingly, "Come, sit here!"
Guo Yu bowed to the two elders before sitting down next to his grandmother. "I slept for a while, so the pain isn't as bad, but I'm a little dizzy."
"Then why are you out here? Go back to the house and rest for a while!"
"No, I can't sleep. Lying down makes me even more dizzy. I might as well get up and take a walk." Guo Yu yawned and raised his hand to rub his solar plexus. As the eldest grandson, and with both parents orphaned, he was always doted on by his grandmother and cared for by his uncle and aunt. He practically held him in his hands for fear of dropping him, and held him in his mouth for fear of melting him.
Not far away, Jiang Yushu turned her head and saw it. She told the nurse to take care of the child, walked quickly towards the pavilion, and asked with concern from a distance:
"Yu'er, do you still have a headache?"
Guo Yu quickly stood up and bowed, "Thank you for your concern, Second Aunt. My nephew is much better now."
Jiang Yushu took a closer look and said gently, "We're family, there's no need to be so formal. You look a little pale, so it's best not to be caught in the wind after you've been drunk."
"Yes, it's windy today, you should go back to your room quickly!" Wang was afraid that her eldest grandson would get sick, so she urged him to go back to his room to rest.
Guo Yu shook his head and sat down again, leaning against his grandmother. He had been used to acting like a spoiled child since childhood and said softly, "It's stuffy in the room. I want some fresh air."
"Oh, all right." Wang compromised and ordered, "Bring him a cloak immediately!"
"Yes." The servant took the order and left quickly.
Jiang Yushu sat next to her sister-in-law. She had been playing with the child for a long time and was sweating profusely. As she wiped her sweat, she said, "It's all your uncles' fault. They took your nephew to the banquet but didn't take good care of him, and he got you drunk."
"No, I don't blame the uncles." Guo Yu smiled sheepishly and whispered, "Well, after lunch yesterday, a few friends and I were joking around and secretly got a jar of rice wine. We ended up drinking too much."
Wang looked at her grandson anxiously and said in feigned anger, "Hmph, a bunch of naughty boys, all they know how to do is make trouble. This will not happen again!"
"I won't dare to do that next time. Being drunk is too uncomfortable." Guo Yu regretted it deeply. "Alas, if I wasn't drunk, I should have gone hunting with my uncles today. I heard that my second uncle is a great archer, but I can't feast my eyes on him. What a pity."
Wang disagreed. "Hunting is dangerous. What's the fun in it? Even if you're not drunk, you're not allowed to go."
Guo Yu was not afraid at all. "I just wanted to see something new. My uncles will protect me."
Jiang Yushu asked with a smile: "The county magistrate's wife invited me to go on an autumn outing in the suburbs. Your uncles and Ye'er's uncle will also be there to enjoy the scenery. Do you want to go?"
"Yes!" Guo Yu's eyes lit up and he asked excitedly, "When?"
"the day after tomorrow."
"Hurrah!"
Wang glanced at her second daughter-in-law, frowned and said, "Yu'er is not feeling well and is not suitable for the autumn outing. You——"
Upon hearing this, Guo Yu quickly hugged his grandmother's arm, rocking her left and right, pleading, "I just drank a little too much, I'm not sick. The day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, I'll definitely be back to normal! I'm so bored staying in the academy or the study all day. I beg for permission, Grandma. I've been wanting to go on an autumn outing for a long time. Please."
Jiang Yushu took a sip of tea, smiled and said nothing.
"You, you kid, forget it, just go if you want to."
"Thank you, ancestor!"
Wang couldn't bear to see her precious grandson disappointed, so she had no choice but to compromise. However, she put the blame on her second daughter-in-law and sternly instructed her, "You have aroused the child's playfulness. You must take good care of him when the time comes."
Jiang Yushu nodded readily, "Don't worry, we're just a bunch of us here to enjoy the autumn scenery. We'll take good care of the child! I've been getting invitations almost every day lately, so I decided to take my nephew out more often to broaden his horizons, help him learn how to socialize, and learn some worldly wisdom."
Guo Yu stood up gratefully, bowed and said, "Thank you, Second Aunt, for your cultivation!"
"You kid, you're being so formal. Sit down quickly."
"Well, that makes sense." Wang's expression softened. "At thirteen or fourteen, it's time to start learning how to socialize. You should teach Yu'er carefully."
“It’s natural!”
After a few people chatted for a while, Jiang Yushu turned around, admired the embroidery, and praised: "Oh, what a delicate embroidery, Xiaoru has such a skillful hand."
Ji Yingru spoke softly and modestly, "I have nothing to do, so I do some needlework to relieve my boredom. My embroidery isn't very good, and the red background shouldn't go with the apricot yellow."
"Where? I think the colors go together well."
"Yeah?"
"Red background with yellow bats, how festive!" The two sisters-in-law laughed while talking about embroidery.
The young man showed no interest in embroidery. After listening to a few words, Guo Yu stood up and left the pavilion to play with his cousins, running around with a kite.
Wang smiled as she watched her grandchildren playing. After a while, she asked calmly, "When do you and Honglei plan to leave for Yongzhou?"
Jiang Yushu looked up. "Twenty. We've been at home for half a month, and there's probably a lot of work piled up that we need to deal with. Also, my cousin's child is having a hundred-day celebration, so I have to go to the wedding."
"What's the rush? Besides the magistrate, aren't there many other minor officials in the government office? Can't we just let them handle the official business?"
Jiang Yushu explained, "Due to my duties and responsibilities, there are some things that others cannot do for me. The magistrate must make the final decision."
"You can't go home more than twice a year. The children are so pitiful, especially Ye'er, who longs for her mother to come home all day long." Wang said seriously and sternly, "Now that Honglei has finally made it, and the family finances are no longer difficult, shouldn't you consider resigning from your official position?"
Jiang Yushu was stunned. "Huh?"
"I'm old, Xiaoru is pregnant, and there's no one to take care of the housework. You've been an official for several years, aren't you satisfied? It's time to resign and concentrate on taking care of the children and managing the house. Isn't being a general's wife more leisurely than being a county magistrate?"
Jiang Yushu calmed herself down, thought for a moment, then slowly but firmly shook her head, apologetically replying, "I can't resign right now. I'll urge the stewards to take care of the household chores, and I'll try to go home and visit my family as often as possible."
"Why not?" Wang frowned. "Could it be that you're addicted? Or can't bear to give up your official position?"
Ji Yingru looked at her mother-in-law, then at her sister-in-law, unable to get a word in, and could only watch helplessly.
How could I just give up on a business I'd worked so hard to build, even if it hadn't yet achieved success? Jiang Yushu carefully chose her words and replied sternly, "It's not that I'm reluctant to give up my official position. Who doesn't like a leisurely life? I enjoy a leisurely life, but I've just taken office and haven't achieved any outstanding achievements yet, and I don't have any compelling reasons to resign. How would my superiors and the court view me if I suddenly resigned? If I resigned because I was afraid of hardship, I would be betraying the emperor's grace and the court's trust. I'm unworthy of being promoted, and at best I'd be questioned, and at worst, punished."
Wang stared at her second daughter-in-law, "Really?"
"certainly!"
Jiang Yushu smiled helplessly. "You've lived in the capital for most of your life, so you should have some understanding of officialdom. Which official would dare to resign so easily? This is no joke. Only old age, serious injury or illness, or mourning for one's father are grounds for resignation."
"After all, it seems to me that you are reluctant to part with it."
"I really can't resign now, please understand, old lady."
Wang stared intently, her smile had long since disappeared, and her face was gloomy.
Jiang Yushu remained calm and informed her mother-in-law: "By the way, Honglei has an idea. He plans to take Ye'er to Yongzhou—"
"What?"
"no!"
Wang was shocked and in disbelief. She interrupted and scolded him, "Ye'er is doing well at home, why did you take him away? Did you instigate Honglei?"
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