On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, Chu Lingxuan, the third master, and Chu Lingwei returned, along with the old master and Ming Ge'er.
The old man came back to celebrate the full moon for little Shuangshuang.
Chu Lingxuan said sadly, "My uncle and aunt have both gone to Tangyuan. No matter how much we persuaded her, my mother would not agree to return to secular life."
Chen Afu was also helpless after hearing this. Everyone knew that Liaochen was not really devoted to Buddhism, she was just ashamed, angry, wronged, and unwilling. Her family couldn't bear to let her stay in the Buddhist temple and grieve alone. If she was really like Queen Mother Shan, who could only find comfort in Buddhism, other family members might accept it except the old marquis.
Unfortunately, the heavens do not always go as one wishes. As the Queen Mother, although she had long wanted to become a nun, she could only stay in the palace for the sake of the Emperor. After the Emperor truly took control of the throne, it was unknown whether she could get what she wished for.
Chen Afu advised, "We expected that mother-in-law would do this. When the child is older, we will ask for help again. As the saying goes, where there is a golden city, there is a golden stone. One day, mother-in-law will change her mind."
Chu Lingxuan nodded and sighed, "It's the only way." He added, "My father misses his children, but he doesn't want my mother to stay alone in Yingxue Temple, so he has to stay in Fuyuan and go to Honglin Mountain every two or three days. Even if he can't see my mother, he wants my mother to know that my father is nearby to accompany her."
He took out two small red sandalwood necklaces and said, "These are what my mother gave to Li Ge and Xiao Zhu Er. She specifically asked Master Gui Ling for them. They have been soaked in medicinal soup and are good for the children's health."
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Xiao Shuangshuang was one month old. They were weighed early in the morning. Li Geer weighed 10 jin and Xiao Zhuer weighed 5.5 jin. Everyone was quite satisfied with their growth. Although Xiao Zhuer was lighter than many newborns, she was healthy and lovable, much better than expected.
On this day, the Chu family held a grand banquet, and most of the royal relatives and famous families in the capital sent people to congratulate. The old master, Chu Lingxuan, the third master, Chu Lingwei, and Chu Lingzhi entertained the male guests in the outer courtyard, while the third wife, Chu Hua, and Chu Hanyan greeted the female guests in the Dingxiang Hall.
What was unexpected was that Princess Ronghe and Feng Miaohua actually came.
Chu Hanyan got scared when she saw Feng Meihua. The Third Madam squeezed her hand and whispered, "They are here to curry favor with us. Show your strength."
The little girl said sullenly, "I don't like them."
The Third Lady smiled and said, "If you don't like it, just ignore it. Even if our eldest sister is disrespectful to others, they can only watch."
Princess Ronghe came over to greet the Third Lady. Feng Miaohua hid the reluctance in her eyes and smiled as she pulled Chu Hanyan's hand. Chu Hanyan didn't smile and turned away.
The Third Madam smiled at Chu Hanyan and said, "Look, Rong Jing, Miss Zhu, and Miss Yang are calling you, go over and play with them."
After hearing this, Chu Hanyan turned around and went to look for her good friends.
Feng Miaohua was so angry that her eyes turned red. She was about to curse, but when she heard Ronghe cough, she swallowed back what she was about to say.
Before lunch, Empress Dowager Shan and Empress Zhang came to the palace one after another. The Empress Dowager gave the little brother and sister two seven-treasure necklaces, two strings of red musk beads, and two jade ruyi handles, while the Empress gave the little brother and sister two golden unicorn statues and two small jade locks.
Faced with such great grace from the emperor, no one would not be envious.
After dinner, the guests watched a play, while Chen Ahfu took the two children back to the main room to rest. He also invited Chen Yuqing, Chen Ahman, and Mao to the side room to rest, as all three of them were pregnant.
In mid-February, the weather was getting warmer, and the old man was ready to take Ming Ge'er to live in the countryside. Chen Afu prepared a lot of things for them, including more than 20 sets of clothes from inside to outside, and many daily necessities. The old man and the old marquis had no women to take care of things, so Chen Afu helped prepare most of these things. The old man still had the third wife to take care of him, and the old marquis basically relied on Chen Afu.
When Xiao Yuer heard that her great grandfather was going to take her eldest brother to the countryside to visit her grandfather again, she was extremely sad and cried every day, "My eldest brother and second brother took turns going, but they didn't take Xiao Yuer with them. How could this be possible... wuwuwu..."
Chu Lingxuan felt sorry for his daughter, and discussed with Chen Afu, "Look how pitifully our daughter is crying, let her go, and bring more people with her. Besides, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are also there."
When Xiao Yuer heard that there was a way, she looked at her mother with tears in her eyes and said with a pout, "Mother, mother, Xiao Yuer begs you..."
After hearing this, Yu Ge'er also pleaded for his sister and said, "Mother, just let my sister go. I will take care of her."
Looking at Xiao Yu'er, who was stronger than other children of the same age, Chen Afu nodded in agreement and said, "You can go, but you can't stay for long."
Xiao Yuer and Yuger cheered after hearing this, but Mingger started crying again with a pout.
Chu Lingxuan was troubled by the quarrels of these brats every day. He had no patience for them. He frowned and scolded, "You have already gone to play, why are you still arguing with your sister? If you make trouble again, you will have to face the wall and reflect on your mistakes."
Ming Ge'er was afraid of his father, so he quickly closed his mouth and sobbed silently.
Chen Afu pulled Mingger over, wiped his tears, and coaxed him a few words.
They were going to leave on February 20th. But the day before, Chu Lingxuan received a letter from Uncle Luo, saying that Old Lady Luo felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to go and persuade Lechen in person, and asked Chu Lingxuan to go to Tangyuan to help persuade her. They were going to leave in early March, when the weather would be warmer.
Old Lady Luo is already 67 years old and has been paralyzed in bed for more than ten years, but she actually wants to go in person.
Chu Lingxuan was touched and distressed. He discussed with Chen Afu, "My grandma wants to go to Tangyuan, why don't you take the children with you? With so many people persuading her, even if my mother has a heart of stone, she will be melted." He added, "Not now, wait a little longer, go in early March when the weather is warmer."
From her nearly 70-year-old mother to her several-month-old grandson, Liaochen would definitely not be able to resist this strong dose of medicine. If this could not make her return to secular life, then she was truly devoted to Buddhism, and there was no need to persuade her any further.
Chen Afu nodded in agreement and started preparing things for the children.
Chu Lingxuan went to discuss with the old man again and asked them to leave a few days later.
On February 25, Chu Lingxuan was not at home that night. Chen Afu took Li Ge'er and Xiao Zhu'er into the space together. At midnight tonight, Jin Yanzi was going out again.
Not to mention Jin Yan Zi's excitement, Jin Bei was also extremely excited. Jin Bei was a good sister, she was not a migratory bird, but she was afraid that her brother Jin Bao would be lonely, so she always accompanied him and never left the space alone.
When Jin Yanzi heard that Mommy and Daddy Chu would bring all the children back to Fuyuan, she was even happier. She chirped, "Mommy, take Chou Dabao with you. We can go back together and have a big reunion. How wonderful it is. Without him, something is missing."
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