Chapter 4 Meeting Cui Linghui tugged at Cui Shenbo's sleeve, bringing...
Three days later, the ship stopped at the dock.
When Cui Lingyan saw the bustling crowds of people at the dock, she felt a little dazed for a moment.
When she was six years old, she was sent to the Qi family and also left by boat from here.
At that time, her heart was full of grievances and fear. She only blamed herself for getting sick and infecting her younger brother Cui Shenbo, which made her mother angry with her and even forbade her to stay in the Marquis' Mansion.
Thinking about it now, she was really pitiful at that time. She was clearly hurt but still thought it was her fault. She didn't dare to feel any dissatisfaction with her biological mother Qi for being so partial to her.
Cui Lingyan frowned, unable to tell what she felt in her heart.
However, these are not the most important things to her. What she wants to know most now is the situation of Lu Bingzhi, the prince of Weiguo.
Aunt Zhan looked back at her and always felt that her niece was a little strange and seemed to be a little deep in thought.
"Why, are you nervous? Don't be afraid. It's been years since I've been back, so it's normal to be homesick."
Zhan was talking to Cui Lingyan when a group of people hurried over from a distance. The leading woman was wearing a sandalwood-colored jacket with floral patterns, her hair neatly combed, and a friendly expression. Cui Lingyan recognized her immediately as Madam Jiang, Qi's attendant.
In her previous life, it was Nanny Jiang, the confidant of this mother, who had looked down on her in the temple and reminded her to behave properly after marrying into the Qi family, otherwise she would not be able to stay in the Qi family.
But at this moment, Nanny Jiang had a smile on her face, and her eyes were filled with a hint of respect and courtesy. She was followed by several servants and three carriages. As soon as she arrived, she bowed to Zhan and said, "This old servant pays her respects to my aunt. My madam knew that my aunt, the young lady, and the young master would arrive in the next two days, so she ordered the maids to wait here every day. Today, my madam is so happy to see my aunt."
Mrs. Zhan nodded and greeted Nanny Jiang with a smile on her face, but she felt a little unhappy in her heart.
Her sister-in-law has been the marquis's wife for so many years that she has really started to put on airs. Even when her sister-in-law came, she refused to lower herself and come to greet her in person.
Not to mention, this time she was sending Cui Lingyan, the legitimate daughter of the Qi family, back to the capital. She had clearly accepted the Qi family's favor, but now she was putting on airs.
Zhan didn't show it, but turned her head to look at Cui Lingyan and said to Nanny Jiang, "As your aunt, I have sent Miss Yan safely to the capital."
"Yan girl, do you still recognize this Madam Jiang who is beside your mother?"
Nanny Jiang had long noticed the two girls and a boy following behind Mrs. Zhan, and she knew in her heart that they must be the children of her third daughter and her aunt's wife. However, she hadn't seen them for many years and was not sure which one was Cui Lingyan.
At this moment, Mrs. Zhan pointed out Cui Lingyan, and Nanny Jiang's eyes fell on Cui Lingyan.
The woman had fair skin and beautiful facial features. Her eyes were somewhat similar to those of the second young master Cui Shenbo. She had thick eyelashes and black hair. She stood there gracefully, and her whole body exuded the gentleness that only came from the water towns of the south of the Yangtze River.
She was truly a beauty, even more outstanding than the eldest, Cui Linghui. The eldest, Cui Linghui, was more dignified and steady, with a graceful demeanor. The third girl in front of them was even more outstanding and eye-catching.
Madam Jiang thought to herself as she bowed to Cui Lingyan and the others, "This old servant greets the Third Miss, Cousin Miss, and Cousin Master."
A few people dodged to the side and only received half a greeting from her.
It was not convenient for everyone to exchange pleasantries at the dock, so they all got on their carriages and headed towards the Ningshou Marquis Mansion.
In the carriage, Zhan gently patted Cui Lingyan's hand and softly warned, "You've lived in the Qi family for many years. Now that you've returned to the mansion, I'm afraid you won't be able to adapt for a while. Your mother is always a bit stubborn, and no amount of persuasion will change her. If you've been wronged in any way, just tell your aunt. Your aunt treats you as her own daughter and will definitely protect you."
Cousin Qi Ruorou, who was sitting nearby, understood that her mother wanted Cui Lingyan to marry into the Qi family. She certainly didn't want Cui Lingyan and her aunt to have a close relationship, so she followed suit, saying, "Yes, Sister Yan hasn't been back home for many years. I'm afraid she's not feeling comfortable getting along with her cousins here. If you have any worries that you can't share with mother, the elder, then talk to me. Although we are cousins, we grew up together, so we're not much different from real sisters."
Cui Lingyan recalled the other faces of Zhan and Qi Ruorou in her dream. Although she didn't know whether the dream was true or not, she felt that the closeness between them was no longer the same as before. She smiled with gratitude, nodded, and said softly, "I understand. Thank you, aunt, and cousin."
Zhan and Qi Ruoruo looked at each other and said nothing more.
After about half an hour, the carriage stopped in front of the Ningshou Marquis Mansion.
Zhan and several others got off the carriage one after another. A maid saw this and knew that it was the aunt's wife who had arrived, so she hurried in to inform them.
Nanny Jiang led Zhan, Cui Lingyan and others to the Chuihua Gate. Upon hearing the news, the eldest lady Qi came out with several maids and greeted them with a smile on their faces.
"Sister-in-law is finally here. I was waiting so anxiously." Qi walked forward with a happy face, took Zhan's hand and started to greet her.
Then, he turned his gaze to Cui Lingyan and others.
"The daughter has met her mother."
"Shao Zhang, Ruorou greets her aunt."
Zhan asked Qi Ruorou and Qi Shaozhang a few questions in a friendly manner, asking if the journey was difficult. Then, she shifted her gaze to Cui Lingyan.
When the mother and daughter met again after many years, the atmosphere was inevitably a little awkward and they didn't know what to say.
Zhan smiled and eased the atmosphere, breaking the awkwardness: "Look, sister-in-law, how well I have raised Yan girl. Now that she is safely handed over to you as a mother, you should thank me."
Qi smiled and said, "Yes, sister-in-law has taken care of Yan for many years, so no matter how much I thank you, it's not enough."
Qi said, "The old lady must have heard the news by now. Let's go to pay our respects to her first."
Zhan nodded, and the group, led by Qi, headed towards Xilan Courtyard where Madam Zhai lived.
At Xilan Courtyard, when Old Lady Zhai heard the news that her aunt and her entourage had arrived, she instructed someone to tell Second Lady Bian, Third Lady Gao, and the young masters and young ladies in the mansion, and asked them to come and meet the guests.
When Cui Lingyan and the others entered, the room was very lively.
Old Madam Zhai sat at the top, wearing a dark red brocade jacket with a longevity pattern. Her hair was white but combed very neatly. She wore a set of red gold and jadeite headpieces. Her face was kind and graceful.
Everyone came forward to pay their respects, and Madam Zhai invited her aunt, Mrs. Zhan, to sit opposite her.
Afterwards, gifts were given to Qi Shaozhang and Qi Ruoruo. When it was the turn of Cui Lingyan, the biological granddaughter, to come forward to pay her respects, the atmosphere in the room became a little awkward.
After all, Cui Lingyan, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family, was raised by her maternal family since she was a child. Although she was under the guise of being filial to her grandmother, she knew her own affairs and the Marquis's family had caused Cui Lingyan some injustice.
If Madam Zhai, her biological grandmother, or the Marquis, her father, had been willing to make the decision for Cui Lingyan, how could Cui Lingyan have been raised in her maternal family since she was a child and only returned now?
Old Madam Zhai's eyes fell on Cui Lingyan. She saw that she was outstanding in appearance and there was not a single flaw in the way she greeted and greeted. She was gentle and proper, with the graceful and moving temperament that only women from the south of the Yangtze River could have. Her eyes lit up and she felt a little satisfied.
She was really afraid that Cui Lingyan had developed a petty and unpresentable character after living in the Qi family for so many years, which would bring shame to the Ningshou Marquisate.
"Good boy, come to grandma." Madam Zhai said gently.
Cui Lingyan stepped forward obediently and bowed to Old Madam Zhai: "Granddaughter pays respects to Grandmother."
Madam Zhai carefully examined her features and saw that there was no complaint or grievance in her eyes. Instead, she was calm and gentle, with a pair of beautiful eyes as clear as water. She felt more satisfied and took off the Canaan Incense Eighteen-Bead Bracelet from her wrist. Without allowing Cui Lingyan to refuse, she took Cui Lingyan's hand and put it on her.
"Good boy, you have been filial to your mother in front of your grandmother, allowing her to focus on managing the household affairs. This contribution deserves a reward, and I will give you this eighteen-bead Canaan Incense bracelet that I have worn for many years."
With just a few words, Old Lady Zhai determined that Cui Lingyan would live in the Qi family for a long time. No matter what others thought or what the facts were, they had to take Old Lady Zhai's words into consideration.
A hint of sarcasm welled up in Cui Lingyan's heart, but she was also a little surprised. In that dream, when she returned to the Marquis' Mansion to meet her biological grandmother, her grandmother only gave her a mutton-fat jade bracelet, which was not much different from the one she gave to her cousin Qi Ruoruo.
The Canaan Eighteen-Bead Bracelet she was wearing at the moment must have been extremely valuable. Otherwise, everyone in the room wouldn't have looked so surprised at the old lady's actions.
Cui Lingyan suppressed these thoughts in her heart and bowed to thank the old lady for the reward.
After stepping back from the old lady, he paid his respects to the second wife, Mrs. Cen, and the third wife, Mrs. Gao, and then paid his respects to his second sister, Cui Lingyin, who was born out of wedlock from the second house.
Cui Lingyan was a little surprised to see that the eldest master Cui Shensi, the eldest daughter Cui Linghui and her younger brother Cui Shenbo were not there, but she did not show it on her face.
It was only when Second Madam Bian saw the puzzled look on Madam Zhan's face that she finally explained, "I didn't know Madam and Yan were arriving today. Si'er is out meeting friends, and Hui'er has been recuperating lately. I'm afraid she still needs to put on her makeup before she can come and see us. As for Bo'er, he's also staying in the outer courtyard now, so it'll take some time for him to get to the inner courtyard."
As soon as Bian finished speaking, she heard footsteps outside, and then the voice of a maid came into the house from outside.
"Meet the eldest lady, meet the second young master."
Hearing this address, Cui Lingyan knew that Cui Linghui and his younger brother Cui Shenbo had come together.
What a coincidence, it shows that the relationship between the siblings has been particularly close over the years.
If it weren't for that dream, Cui Lingyan would definitely feel envious and jealous, and feel very uncomfortable.
But at this moment, she felt that she only felt a little sad in her heart, and she was not as envious and jealous as in her dream.
After all, in that dream, she was plotted against and lost her reputation and was sent to the temple, and her brother Cui Shenbo never came out to defend her.
Come to think of it, they didn't grow up together, and with what happened back then, it's possible that Cui Shenbo also felt, like his mother, that she had a strong horoscope and would bring bad luck to him as her younger brother.
Thinking of this, Cui Lingyan looked towards the door.
Second Madam Bian and Third Madam Gao were somewhat surprised to see that Cui Lingyan had a calm expression and showed no signs of grievance or displeasure.
The two looked at each other and looked towards the door.
Cui Linghui and Cui Shenbo came in from outside the door one after another.
Cui Linghui wore a deep blue Shu brocade jacket embroidered with magnolia flowers, had her hair styled like flowing clouds, and wore a mutton-fat jade hairpin inlaid with tourmaline and two pearl flowers in her hair, looking dignified and steady.
Cui Shenbo has a handsome appearance and a tall stature, looking like a young man from a wealthy family. However, he has been weak since childhood, and although he has been well taken care of over the years, he still looks a little thin.
"Granddaughter, grandson greets grandmother." After the two of them saluted Madam Zhai, they also saluted Mrs. Zhan and the others.
When the younger generations were greeting each other, when it was Cui Lingyan's turn, Cui Shenbo, the younger brother, couldn't help but show some restraint in his behavior.
After all, everyone in the mansion knew why Cui Lingyan's sister was sent to the Qi family.
Cui Linghui tugged at Cui Shenbo's sleeve and scolded him with a familiar smile, "Look at you, second brother. You always miss your third sister Yan Yatou and look forward to her return home. But now that she's really back, you can't even call her third sister."
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