Chapter 78 Uninvited
As soon as Gu Huan went out, she saw Zhou Zhilan coming. She quickly handed the gift box to Dong Hua, walked up to her, took her arm and walked out.
Zhou Zhilan smiled and said, "Before the guests arrive, let's go and pay our respects to the old lady. There are red envelopes to be received."
Gu Huan was puzzled: "Isn't it just a family meal? Why are there guests?"
"You don't know. Others don't have to care, but the second and third wives of the old Duke's branch will be given some respect by their masters. After all, the two masters call the old lady their legitimate mother."
"Ah? It turns out the Duke has other cousins."
She always thought that Mu Junyan was a single household.
Seeing Gu Huan's curious face, Zhou Zhilan did not hide anything and briefly told her about the Mu family.
Gu Huan then found out that the second and third branches of the Mu family were both born out of wedlock, and that neither branch was good at martial arts, so their descendants all turned to literature.
The title of the old Duke was originally inherited by Mu Junyan's brother, but later, his two elder brothers and several nephews all died in battle.
After he inherited his eldest brother's title of Duke, he discussed with the old lady to divide the two rooms.
For this reason, rumors were rife in Bianjing City, saying that Mu Junyan was heartless and ungrateful. After he became successful, he ignored the other sons of the old Duke and kicked all his illegitimate uncles and cousins out of the Duke's Mansion.
But who would have thought that within two years, Mu Junyan's wife died and he still had no children.
The capital began to spread rumors about Mu Junyan, saying that God had punished him by making him childless.
In the first two years, the two branches of the Mu family had no contact with the Yongguo Mansion. However, after Mu Junyan inherited the title of Duke, he became even more powerful than the old Duke. He made great military achievements and forced Southern Xinjiang to retreat. The Mu family army expanded rapidly, and his status was even higher than when the old Duke was alive.
As the careers of the two families were mediocre, they began to make moves again, sending people to visit the old lady from time to time, hoping to get close to her.
As the two were talking, they soon arrived at Xiangrui Hall.
The old lady is in particularly good spirits today, her eyes are bright and she seems very sober.
As soon as he saw Gu Huan and the others coming in, he immediately waved to them.
"Two girls, come here quickly."
Gu Huan and Zhou Zhilan bowed with a smile and shouted that they wished the old lady a long and healthy life.
The old lady was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling: "Yi Niang, red envelopes, give red envelopes to the two children."
Yi Niang smiled and gave each of them a big red envelope, then pulled them up and said, "Go and talk to the old lady, she's been making a fuss about wanting candy."
The old lady's eyes flashed, she glared at Yi Niang, and grinned: "Today is my birthday, I'm the oldest, so what if I want to eat candy?"
"Okay, old lady, have some candy."
Zhou Zhilan smiled and took a candied fruit from the candy dish on the coffee table and put it into the old lady's mouth.
Gu Huan stood aside and watched and laughed.
The old lady suddenly grabbed Gu Huan's hand, rolled up her sleeves, and her smile disappeared immediately: "Daughter-in-law, where is the bracelet?"
Gu Huan was stunned.
Zhou Zhilan smiled mischievously: "Yes, where is the bracelet?"
Gu Huan's face turned red, and she looked at Yi Niang helplessly, begging her for help.
"What bracelet?"
A loud voice was heard, and Mu Junyan, wearing a cobalt blue python robe, strode in.
The old lady pouted like a child meeting an adult, "I gave her the bracelet to be my daughter-in-law, but she didn't wear it."
Gu Huan was extremely embarrassed and looked at Mu Junyan for help.
He looked at her and said, "Well, she dared not wear the bracelet her mother gave her as a gift. She deserves to be beaten."
"No, that won't work. You can't hit her. The girl is so pretty, if you beat her you won't have a wife." The old lady quickly pulled Gu Huan to her side and stared at her son warily.
Mu Junyan: "..."
Mom, you've overacted.
"Mother, she forgot her bracelet. Her son also had a gift, and she put it on and it looked just like the bracelet."
The old lady was overjoyed and pushed Gu Huan over to her, "Put it on and show it to me." Gu Huan was confused and suddenly saw a black box that appeared in his hand out of nowhere.
He opened it, took out a jade hairpin, walked up to her and pinned her hair in public.
Gu Huan froze. It was difficult to take her down now.
The old lady clapped her hands happily: "My son has finally gotten the point."
Gu Huan's ears turned red. Everyone in the room was staring at her with smiles. She didn't know where to put her hands.
Mu Junyan reminded: "Don't you have a birthday gift for the old lady?"
"Ah, yes."
Gu Huan quickly asked Donghua Dongqing to open the box.
"Wow, it's so beautiful." Everyone in the room exclaimed.
Gu Huan held out the headband and said shyly, "Madam, this is the headband and a set of sleeping clothes that Huan made for you. I hope you like them."
"I like it, I like it." The old lady touched her headband and looked at her pajamas, unable to let go.
Yi Niang's eyes were red: "It's been a long time since anyone made a headband specifically for the old lady, and it's so unique."
"Girl, put it on for me."
Gu Huan personally put the headband on the old lady.
Yi Niang brought the bronze mirror and said, "Old Madam, take a look and see if you like it."
The old lady looked around in the bronze mirror, and she loved it more and more. She touched the three-dimensional pomegranate flower with her hand and said, "Oh my God, with such a skillful hand, how did you think of making a pomegranate flower out of ruby?"
Seeing that the old lady liked it, Gu Huan was also very happy, and said with a smile: "Pomegranate flowers represent wealth and honor, and they are beautiful in shape and bright in color, representing wealth and good luck."
Zhou Zhilan smiled and continued, "Yes, it also means having many children and grandchildren."
Gu Huan was startled and her face turned red instantly.
Mu Junyan looked at her meaningfully.
Gu Huan suddenly felt a sense of oppression.
I thought to myself, damn, she didn’t think of this.
Would the Duke misunderstand that she is ambitious and wants to get pregnant?
Although, she also wanted to come.
But she was always asked to drink contraceptive soup, so she gave up the idea.
The old lady was so happy that she danced with joy: "Girl Zhilan is so right. Having many children means a lot of blessings. Yan'er, you should work hard."
Gu Huan's face turned red and she lowered her head, not knowing what to do.
Mu Junyan put his fist to his lips, coughed twice, and secretly reminded his old mother.
The show is over.
The old lady ignored his gaze and pulled Gu Huan to keep talking: "Next time you come, you must bring the bracelet I gave you. Oh, no, you must wear it every day and wherever you go, otherwise I will be angry."
Gu Huan had no choice but to nod: "Madam, Huan'er will definitely take it."
The room was filled with laughter and the old lady was smiling as happily as a child.
“It’s so lively.”
When Mu An's voice was heard, the laughter in the room stopped abruptly.
Following behind him was Gu Wanru, who was dressed in red.
Both of their eyes fell on the old lady holding Gu Huan's hand, and their faces changed slightly.
Two young men in gorgeous clothes followed in. Mu An and Gu Wanru withdrew their gazes. They all bowed to the old lady and congratulated her on her birthday.
The old lady let go of Gu Huan's hand, grinned like a child, and stretched out her hands: "Where is the gift?"
Mu An looked at Gu Wanru with a smile: "Grandma, your granddaughter-in-law has prepared a gift for you."
Gu Wanru stood still and asked Jin Kui to bring a large box forward. She smiled and said, "Grandma, this is the fresh snow lotus that my daughter-in-law specially asked someone to pick in the snowy area. It is the best for making medicine and maintaining health."
The box was opened, and there was ice inside. A white snow lotus bloomed in the ice.
"So beautiful." The old lady nodded and reached out to touch the pomegranate on her headband: "I still like pomegranate flowers."
Gu Wanru's smile froze and she looked at the ruby pomegranate flower on her headband with a look of disdain.
They are just petals made of gravel and are not worth much.
The Pei family spent a lot of effort to find this snow lotus.
Old crazy woman, don't know the value of things.
Several young men came forward with gifts, and the old lady happily accepted them.
Zhou Zhilan whispered in Gu Huan's ear: "The one on the left is the second wife's eldest son, Mu Silang, Mu Yong, and the one on the right is the third wife's eldest son, Mu Liulang, Mu Feng."
Gu Huan nodded. Did the two families only send a younger generation?
It’s a bit…
Gu Huan glanced at Mu Junyan secretly. He was only busy talking to the old lady and didn't even look at the two juniors.
Mu Silang and Mu Liulang happened to meet Mu An and his wife at the door, and now they respectfully bowed to them.
They both called out affectionately, "Sister-in-law."
Gu Wanru felt like she was living a year in a day during this period. Everyone in the Duke's Mansion was serious and was even perfunctory towards her.
Today, I have a rare opportunity to act like the young lady of the Duke's Mansion, straighten my posture, and return the greeting with a smile.
Mu Liulang was seventeen years old and had a lively personality. As soon as he entered the room, he saw the girl with white teeth and starry eyes standing next to the old lady.
While talking to Mu An, he glanced at her.
Mu Junyan noticed his gaze and glanced at him coldly.
He asked calmly, "Why are Silang and Liulang here?"
When the two brothers saw that Mu Junyan finally paid attention to them, they walked forward with surprise on their faces.
Mu Feng answered with a beaming smile, "Uncle, the Autumn Examination is coming soon. The academy is closed for a few days to rest. My parents asked me to come here to celebrate my grandmother's birthday."
Mu Yong then replied: "My nephew is taking a day off today because he has to come to celebrate grandma's birthday."
Mu Junyan nodded and glanced at the excited Mu Feng calmly: "Are you confident of passing the imperial examination this year?"
Mu Feng smiled and nodded: "Of course. The teacher said that it would be no problem for my nephew to pass the imperial examination."
Mu Feng is the legitimate son of Mr. Mu Sanye who was born in his old age. He is very spoiled and has a lively and simple temperament with a very cheerful personality.
It was rare to see his second uncle, who held a high position, still cared so much about his autumn examination, so he started talking nonstop.
It's a rare occasion for the family to chat about daily life.
"The banquet is ready. Please move to the Lotus Pavilion." Yi Niang reported.
At this time, a maid came in hurriedly: "Master, old lady, County Lady Jiang brought a birthday gift to ask to see the old lady."
Gu Huan was stunned.
Jiang Ruoxi, you came here uninvited?
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