"You can say these things in private, but don't say them outside. Don't forget what happened to the second son of the Earl of Dongchang. What he said was exactly the same as what you said. When it reached the ears of His Majesty, He blamed the Earl of Dongchang for not educating his son well and fined him a year's salary. His second son was also beaten with 20 sticks and had to recuperate at home for a whole month.
You are a woman, your physique is not as strong as a man's. It's not a big deal for your father to lose a year's salary. But if you also get these twenty strokes of the cane, you will lose half your life. Then those noble ladies in Kyoto will laugh at you to death!"
Cheng Moyang knew how to control Cheng Xueyun. What she cared about most was her face, especially in front of those noble ladies.
She was also most afraid of pain. Knowing the fate of the second son of the Duke of Dongchang, she would always be obedient for a while.
Cheng Xueyun was indeed scared when she heard this. If she was beaten with twenty sticks, not only would she be half dead, but those noble ladies who had a grudge against her would also laugh at her. They would then have one more topic to laugh at her.
"I know, brother. I'll pay attention!"
Seeing the fear on her face, Cheng Moyang finally smiled a little. In fact, his sister was easy to fool. She had some brains, but not much.
As soon as they returned to the Marquis' Mansion, the wife of Marquis Xuanping sent someone to invite the brother and sister.
It was said that Princess Anping of the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion would hold a spring banquet in three days and invited these noble ladies from aristocratic families to attend.
It's only March now and it's still cold in Kyoto. Is it too early to hold a spring banquet?
"It's only a few months now, when the weather is still cold. How can we hold a spring banquet at this time to see any trace of spring?
I think the Princess of Anping is just idle." Cheng Xueyun said, rolling her eyes.
As expected, the wife of Marquis Xuanping also had a pair of dimples, so her son also inherited this feature.
She is already forty years old, but she still looks well-maintained. She and Marquis Xuanping have always had a good relationship, and they live in harmony and treat each other as equals.
Marquis Xuanping also had a concubine, but this concubine was a worry-free person. She never competed for favor with the wife of Marquis Xuanping. Instead, she got along harmoniously with her. Not long after she entered the mansion in her early years, she took the initiative to drink the contraceptive soup so that the wife of the marquis could rest assured about her.
She was born a concubine's daughter and her family background was not prominent, but she was very smart and knew how to protect herself. As soon as she entered the mansion, she gained the trust of the marquis's wife. The bowl of infertility soup she drank ensured her wealth and peace in the marquis' mansion.
Therefore, the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion only has one prince, Cheng Moyang, and one "legitimate daughter", Cheng Xueyun!
The wife of Marquis Xuanping was famous for her good temper and being easy to get along with. She was always gentle and approachable.
Many people say that although Cheng Xueyun grew up under the care of Mrs. Hou, she did not learn any good things from her. It can only be said that like father and son, like mother, like son, and like mice, their children will dig holes.
This is a bad habit that she cannot change. Even if she has the status of a legitimate daughter, she cannot change the moral character of a bastard.
But there's nothing I can do, I'm just lucky.
"Xue Yun, don't talk nonsense. Princess Anping is very talented and has an engagement with His Royal Highness Prince Xun. She is the future princess and has a noble status. You shouldn't be so rude. The princess has only invited noble ladies to attend the Spring Banquet. When you go there, you must be careful in what you say and do, watch and learn more, and talk less to avoid any trouble."
The wife of Marquis Xuanping took great pains to take care of her adopted daughter. No matter how she tried to teach her, she couldn't learn well. But she had watched her daughter grow up, and because of her feelings for her, she couldn't bear to be too strict with her.
Cheng Xueyun curled her lips, agreed perfunctorily, and went back to the yard to rest, making the excuse that she was tired.
Only Cheng Moyang was left with his mother.
Cheng Moyang helped his mother sit down and served her tea. The relationship between mother and son is always very harmonious.
Cheng Moyang was still thinking about what happened in Baixi Garden, so he told the matter to the wife of Xuanping Hou as a joke:
"Mother, today at Baixi Garden, my son met a very special woman!"
When she heard that her son had met a special woman, Lady Xuanping Hou's eyes lit up, thinking that he had fallen in love with her.
"Really? Have you asked which family the daughter is from? If she is unmarried and her family background is acceptable, then we should take the initiative to propose marriage."
He knew his mother would misunderstand him. Now he was already twenty-two years old and still unmarried. His mother became anxious and angry. As soon as she heard him mention which rich girl, she started to plan to propose marriage.
"Mother, you misunderstood. That girl is already married and wears her hair in a bun. I think she is special because when she smiles, she looks about 60% similar to mother in her prime. I was in a daze at the time. That girl was only about 17 or 18 years old, but she got married so early. I think this has always been the custom among the people. It's not like our family, where girls get married later."
Upon hearing this, Lady Xuanping Hou felt a little disappointed.
Oh, I thought my son had finally come to his senses and wanted to get married.
However, after hearing what he said, Lady Xuanping Hou thought of her daughter who died young.
"Seventeen or eighteen years old. If your sister were still alive, she would be about that age. I naturally don't want her to get married so early. If she were still alive, I don't know if her temper would be more like mine or your father's."
The face of the wife of Marquis Xuanping looked somewhat sad.
I had originally intended to let my mother listen for fun, but who knew it would remind her of sad things again.
"It's been a while since I last visited your sister. When the weather gets warmer, why don't you accompany your mother to visit her?"
Lady Xuanping Hou refers to visiting her daughter's grave.
"It's up to mother." Cheng Moyang was well-known for his filial piety, otherwise he wouldn't have the reputation of being the most benevolent and filial.
Little did they know that Cheng Xueyun had overheard the conversation between the mother and son. She didn't leave at all, but hid at the door and eavesdropped.
My mother still remembers that short-lived girl. It has been eighteen years. Can't I replace her?
I remember when I was only eight or nine years old, my mother had a high fever and was not conscious. She actually held my hand and kept calling me "Nannan". That was the nickname she gave to her own daughter. Her love and kindness to me were actually all about looking at her own daughter through me!
Cheng Xueyun was jealous and unwilling. Why couldn't she be better than a dead person?
…
Three days later, at Ning'an Marquis Mansion, Xia Wanning's Spring Banquet was held as scheduled. Today, the clouds were thick and there was no sunshine, so the atmosphere on the scene was indeed not right.
But there was a reason why she insisted on holding this spring banquet.
She knew clearly that Suisui was bullied by Cheng Xueyun in Baixi Garden that day.
Therefore, the purpose of today's Spring Banquet is to find a place for Jiang Sui. If she doesn't let Cheng Xueyun go back crying today, she is not Xia Wanning.
If anyone dares to bully her good sister, she will be finished if she sees how she really is!
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