"Alas, this is all due to the Prince's constant supervision and inspection. I have no choice but to practice seriously."
Wen Zhu said helplessly, his words revealing a bit of awe for the rigorous attitude.
"I see. No wonder they are so powerful. They must have been guided by masters."
Mr. Ding joked on the side, his tone gentle but full of approval.
During the conversation, Wen Zhu's fingers jumped nimbly on the abacus board and continued to work.
The crisp sound of beads, accompanied by her concentration, makes people feel that the professionalism of this job cannot be underestimated.
A few days later, the housekeeper respectfully walked up to Wen Zhu and whispered a piece of news that she had never heard before: it turned out that the mansion's second wife was named Luo Qiongying.
Her family and her ex-husband's family all live in the suburbs outside the bustling city.
Before this, Luo Qiongying and her late first husband had worked hard and jointly ran a small restaurant in the capital that was well-known and had an excellent reputation.
However, the good times did not last long. After her partner passed away, the restaurant frequently encountered various problems, such as malicious slander from competitors or sudden policy changes. These troubles eventually made it difficult for the small shop to continue, and it had to close down.
What is even more sympathetic is that after experiencing all kinds of twists and turns, for unavoidable reasons, this strong mother left her two biological children to be taken care of by their original family, and then started a new life and became a member of this family.
After learning about such a sad story, especially when he learned that Luo Qiongying's relationship with her original family members deteriorated sharply due to her remarriage, and even developed to the point where she could not see her own children, the kind and delicate Wen Zhu could not help but sigh for her experience, and silently made a decision to let his right-hand man strengthen his care and support for this poor woman in her daily life.
At the first light of the next morning, Wen Zhu accompanied him to Xuanheyuan to pay his respects as usual.
Upon seeing her arrival, the Duke's wife smiled and said to her, "Today is a special day—it's the birthday celebration of our beloved Princess Consort. Why not join me in the celebration?"
Faced with such an invitation, although her heart was filled with gratitude and excitement, Wen Zhu still seemed a little worried. She lowered her eyes and said hesitantly: "Considering my current personal status, is it really appropriate to show up at such an important occasion..."
In the past, when she was a maid, it was reasonable and natural for her to accompany her masters to various social events; but since she was promoted to a concubine, she has hardly ever set foot out of the house. According to traditional etiquette, it is indeed not appropriate for her to appear in public for social activities.
Seeing a flicker of unease on the other's face, the Duke's wife immediately showed full understanding and offered reassurance, "This might be a sensitive topic for other royal palaces, but our two families enjoy a very close and friendly relationship. Furthermore, both the noble and dignified Principal Consort and the gentle and virtuous Consort are particularly fond of you. Just come with me without worry. I will absolutely not embarrass or embarrass you."
In fact, during the previous visits and exchanges, the noble lady Concubine Xiao had mentioned that she had not seen her dear sister Wen Zhu for a long time, and her words revealed her longing for her.
After hearing these words of encouragement, Wen Zhu's uneasy heart finally calmed down. He nodded gently and replied, "In that case, everything will be left to your discretion, Madam. I will follow your instructions no matter what."
At this moment, the Duke's wife's eyes could not help but fall on the sleeping little treasure in the corner of the room. "What a pity! If it weren't for the cold weather and the fact that the baby is less than a hundred days old, I would really like to take our little one with me to enjoy some happy time together."
Although her words were tinged with regret, she quickly regained her optimism and continued, "But look at our boy! He's so strong and healthy! You wouldn't even know he's a baby less than three months old. He definitely has a bright future."
Everyone in the room couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, and their laughter was full of understanding and tolerance for the Duke's wife.
The Duchess's wife dotes on her grandson so much that she usually pronounces "rou" as "rourou" when speaking to him. This surprises people who know her because she always appears in a majestic image in front of other people, and such a nickname is very contrasting.
"We can only let Amei stay at home to take care of Xiaobao. I will take Wenzhu and Suchan with me."
The Duke's wife stood up reluctantly and spoke softly.
Her eyes were full of love and reluctance for her grandson. Even though she was only away for a short while, she still felt a little uneasy.
As he stepped into the Prince's Mansion, Wen Zhu couldn't help but sigh that time passed so quickly.
Last year, when she was a guest at the Prince's Mansion, she unexpectedly discovered that she was pregnant. Her feelings at that time were complicated and indescribable. Now, more than a year has passed, and everything has changed a lot.
Seeing the Duke's wife and her entourage arrive, the Princess of the County immediately greeted them warmly. With a kind smile on her face, she quickly stepped forward to greet them, "Cousin, you're finally here. Ever since you had your wonderful grandson, it's become increasingly difficult to invite you out."
The Princess spoke in a relaxed tone, clearly expressing her understanding and approval of the Duke's wife's love for her descendants.
"My previous grandchildren were all born and raised in the frontier, and I didn't get to hold them many times. This time, I finally got to hold this little guy. This little baby really captured the heart of an old grandmother like me."
The Duke's wife said with a smile, her eyes shone with tenderness, as if the whole world only had her and that little life.
Speaking of these grandchildren, they are naturally referring to the four children in Sheng Huaichen's family. They grew up in the border area and rarely had the opportunity to see their elders. Therefore, every family gathering is a precious and unforgettable moment for them.
In public, the Duke's wife was very careful about her words and actions, for fear of accidentally saying something inappropriate and hurting others.
For example, whenever Sheng Shuyan is mentioned, the term "second daughter" is always used instead of "concubine's daughter".
This not only shows that everyone is treated equally, but also protects children from being influenced by prejudice.
Wen Zhu felt that he could learn a lot of useful things by attending such gatherings with the Duke's wife.
She always tried to get as close as possible to listen to every word and every opinion of the Duke's wife, and carefully observed how she handled interpersonal relationships. At the end of each gathering, she felt that she had gained a lot and benefited a lot.
After the routine greetings, everyone walked towards the main hall together.
Among the people walking in the team, there was an old lady who looked energetic and stood out. Her expression was serious yet solemn.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
