Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Fang Ying brought Zhou Congshan’s handwritten letter...
Fang Ying rested for another two days and almost tidied up the house. She was ready to visit the Feng family with Zhou Congshan's handwritten letter. When Ji Yanlang heard about it, he wanted to send her there personally.
She had heard in the past two days that some neighborhoods in Luoyang City were not so peaceful, and her third uncle was busy catching thieves every day in the Inspection Office. Knowing that Ji Yanlang was worried, she agreed.
Zhangshanfang, where the Feng family lives, is located in the southeast of Luoyang City. Most of the families in the square have lived in Luoyang for generations, and it is relatively peaceful. What Ji Yanlang is worried about is that there will be some scoundrels on the street who are careless and disturb her.
So he rode a tall horse, brought a few strong servants, and sent Fang Ying to the door of Feng's house. "I'll wait outside the alley. You can ask someone to knock on the door."
The Feng family consisted of women and children. Ji Yanlang was afraid that people would not open the door after seeing their state, so he told Fang Ying and took the strong servants out to the main road, found a teahouse to sit in, and waited while drinking tea.
Fang Ying asked Mai Cao to knock on the door. The person who answered the door was indeed an old servant with gray hair. Mai Cao introduced himself and handed the letter given by his wife to the old servant.
When the old servant heard that it was a female family member, he looked out and saw a sedan chair parked outside. He said, "Please wait a moment, guest," closed the door, and went in to report.
Fang Ying sat in the sedan chair and waited for a while. The door of Feng's house opened and a middle-aged woman walked up to the sedan chair. She bowed and said that her wife invited the guest to come in and get out of the sedan chair.
The sedan bearers lifted the sedan chair, entered the courtyard, and lowered it steadily. Mai Cao and Lichun lifted the curtains, and Fang Ying came out holding their hands. She saw two women in mourning clothes coming towards them.
The first one was thin and had a weathered face, but he looked calm. When he saw Fang Ying getting out of the sedan chair, he stepped forward and said, "We are from the Feng family, Wang family. We were not aware of the distinguished guest's arrival and are sorry for not welcoming him."
Fang Ying, acting as a junior, replied, "My lady, you are too kind. I am visiting relatives on behalf of a friend, and I am so presumptuous as to not be considered an honored guest. I hope you don't blame me for being an uninvited guest."
Wang smiled slightly and invited Fang Ying to take a seat in the hall. She also introduced the young woman beside her: "This is my little girl, Qi Niang."
Fang Ying greeted her. Although she felt that Feng Qinnan had a kind face and looked somewhat similar to Zhou Congshan, she did not say much - they had just met and did not know her personality yet. It would not be too late to say these words later.
The three of them sat down as host and guest. Wang said apologetically, "As a family in mourning, we can only offer plain water to our guests. Please don't be offended."
Fang Ying hurriedly said it was no problem, and then introduced herself: "My surname is Fang, my given name is Ying, and I am the eldest daughter in my family. When the Crown Princess was still in her boudoir, she always addressed me as sisters. You two are her aunts, and therefore also my elders. Such courtesy makes me feel uneasy."
In fact, Wang and Feng Qinniang had already learned from Zhou Congshan's handwritten letter that the visitor was Zhou Congshan's close friend. Seeing that she was traveling with the manners of a wealthy family, they thought that she was a noble lady like Zhou Congshan, and that she was willing to come in person just to appreciate the power of the Crown Princess and Uncle Zhou.
Unexpectedly, when they met, this Madam Fang was not only polite and amiable, but also called the Crown Princess "junior" all the time. Moreover, she was a beauty, making it difficult for people to feel alienated from her. So Wang omitted the formalities and asked directly about the Crown Princess's recent situation.
"I heard that a little grandson was born?"
"Yes, the little grandson is already eight months old."
"Eight months..." Wang calculated, "Doesn't that coincide with the dog days of summer?"
"Yes, I was born on June 22nd of last year."
Wang sighed, "I'm afraid he suffered a lot." She then asked if he had recovered now.
Seeing her expression of concern, Fang Ying told her the truth that she had met Zhou Congshan once after the little grandson was one month old. At that time, Zhou Congshan was fine except that she was a little thinner. She also said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince loved the Crown Princess very much. Now that the Emperor and his concubines were staying in Luoyang, the Eastern Palace would be quiet and peaceful, so there was no need to worry about her not being able to recover.
Feng Qiniang finally spoke up when she heard this: "I was still a child at heart, and in the blink of an eye I've become a mother."
Wang also sighed softly: "Yes, she was only eight or nine years old when we left."
Fang Ying said at the right moment, "The maids in the Zhou residence all said that the Crown Princess resembled my late wife. I met Aunt Feng today, and she was indeed very familiar."
"Me?" Feng Qiniang raised her hand and touched her cheek, shaking her head. "My elder sister was a famous beauty in Bianjing back then. I can't even compare to one tenth of her."
Wang continued, "She meant that since the Crown Princess resembled my aunt, even if she didn't look much like her."
Feng Qiniang nodded in agreement. Fang Ying smiled and said, "Aunt Feng is too modest. From my perspective, the Crown Princess and Aunt Feng are at least three-quarters similar."
Wang said, "Qiniang is similar to the eldest aunt, but she always feels that she is not as beautiful as the eldest aunt..."
"Sister-in-law," Feng Qiniang interrupted Wang and shook her head, "Saying this in front of a truly young and beautiful lady..."
Wang couldn't help but smile: "You're right. Now there's a truly young and beautiful person here, why bother talking about the past?"
The two sisters-in-law looked at Fang Ying together. She felt a little embarrassed and said with a smile, "The younger generation only has the word youth."
"That's not the case." Wang praised Fang Ying a few more times, and took the opportunity to ask about her family background and how she became close friends with Zhou Congshan.
Fang Ying answered truthfully, omitting only the part about Xiangguo Temple when it came to her acquaintance with Zhou Congshan, and spoke according to what she had told Ji Yanlang.
When Wang and Feng Qinnan heard that she had also lost her mother at a young age and that she and Zhou Congshan had become friends because of their shared suffering, they felt pity for her and their expressions became even gentler.
When she heard that Madam Zhou had passed away, and Zhou Congshan had gone to Xiangguo Temple to observe mourning, Feng Qiniang couldn't help but lament, "I didn't expect Madam Zhou to pass away so early. Congshan must be very sad."
Wang also lamented that Madam Zhou treated them very well and was a very respectable elder. Fang Ying took the opportunity to mention that Uncle Zhou had resigned from his official position and returned to his hometown. After burying his parents and wife, he also had to observe mourning for his father, Prince Guang'an.
"Just went back for burial? I thought..." Wang stopped talking.
Fang Ying explained, "After retaking Northern Zhao, the Zhou family rebuilt their ancestral tomb, and it wasn't completed until last year."
Wang nodded: "No wonder."
By this point, the three of them had become much closer. Fang Ying felt that the time was right and said, "This junior has come to visit you on behalf of the Crown Princess, and I have brought some small gifts..."
She turned her head to look at Lichun who was serving her behind her, and Lichun immediately retreated.
"We are very happy to receive the letter from the Crown Princess and hear that everything is going well for her. There is no need for gifts." Wang declined.
At this time, Lichun and Maicao had already come in together, each holding something in their hands. Fang Ying looked at Wang and Feng Qiniang and replied, "How can we come to visit our elders empty-handed?"
He then explained that it was nothing valuable, "I heard that there was a young lady and a young master in your mansion, so I asked the cook to make some snacks that are popular in Tokyo recently, as well as two boxes of cold cakes, which I bought at the market."
Lichunmaicao listened to his wife talking, brought the gift to Wang and placed it on the table.
Fang Ying was afraid that Wang would still refuse, so she specifically said that she and her daughter had tasted it and that was why they bought the cold cake from this shop.
Wang Shi asked, "Have you given birth to a daughter? How old is she?"
"Nineteen months." Fang Ying replied with a smile.
Feng Qiniang said, "I really can't tell. I thought this child had just gotten married."
Wang smiled and said, "Me too."
"I am one year older than the Crown Princess." Fang Ying replied with a smile.
"Just now I heard that your husband's surname is Ji? Is he also from Shuzhong?" Wang asked.
Fang Ying nodded: "Yes, my husband is now in command of the Imperial Guards. My mother and I will be staying with him in Guiyifang for the time being."
Although Wang Shi didn't know any of the high-ranking families in Shu, she saw Fang Ying's attire and the servants accompanying her, and guessed that her husband's family must be unusual. Her eyes fell on the gifts and she said, "I'm afraid this isn't just food, is it?"
"The rest were sent here by the Crown Princess. I have always been loyal to the person who entrusted me with this. I hope you two elders will accept this gift for the Crown Princess's longing for her family."
Wang shook her head: "Child, if I hadn't asked this, would you have just tried to trick us into accepting it?"
Fang Ying had indeed been deliberately vague, using the food she had prepared as a cover-up. However, even though Wang had exposed her, she showed no displeasure and her tone remained cordial. She smiled and admitted her mistake, "I didn't explain it clearly."
Wang was about to decline, but Fang Ying quickly continued, "The Crown Princess has suffered a series of bereavements, and now she's finally been able to communicate with you two elders. Could you bear to reject her feelings for these few external things?"
These words made Wang Shi feel sad. After exchanging a glance with her sister-in-law, she sighed and said, "Since it is a gift from the Crown Princess, we will accept it."
Fang Ying was delighted, but then she heard Wang continue, "But only this once. Please inform the Crown Princess that our family is in mourning, so it's only natural that we live a frugal life. We have savings at home, so please don't worry, Crown Princess."
"I have just arrived in Xijing, so I'm afraid it will take some time before I can write to Bianjing. If you two elders have any letters for the Crown Princess, please give them to me and I will send them back together."
Wang was stunned: "This...will not cause trouble for the Crown Princess?"
"No, there are still servants left at the Zhou Mansion in Bianjing. Before I came here, the Crown Princess told me that any letters should be delivered to the Zhou Mansion first."
Fang Ying told her which alley in Guiyifang she lived in, and that anyone could come to find her whether they had a letter or something important. Then she said goodbye, saying that her husband was waiting for her outside.
Wang was surprised and hurriedly stood up with Feng Qinniang to see her off.
Fang Ying asked them to stay, and finally said, "We will all live in Luoyang from now on. As long as you two elders don't mind disturbing me, I will come to visit you often."
Wang and Feng Qinniang still sent her to the courtyard, watched her get on the sedan chair, and then drove out of her house before returning to the hall.
The aunt and sister-in-law asked the maid to open the gifts. They were indeed filled with snacks and cold cakes wrapped in oil paper. There were also two boxes of dried fruits, four cans of new tea, a piece of plain fine cloth, and two strings of coins sandwiched in the cloth.
"I knew it."
Wang was looking at the money and sighing when Feng Qiniang opened a box of dried fruit and asked in surprise, "Why are there silver ingots in here?"
She took one out and handed it to her sister-in-law, then picked up another one and examined it herself. "It's newly minted, five taels each."
Wang asked them to pour it all out, thinking that if there was too much, she would have someone send it back to Ji's house. However, when she poured it out again, there was no more. What was left were all dried fruits. There were only two silver ingots and ten taels of silver in total.
"This kid really counted us all in." She smiled bitterly and shook her head.
Feng Qiniang said, "I think the child is right. He is doing good out of kindness, so my sister-in-law should accept it."
"Why should I accept it? It's not just for me, there's also a share for you."
Feng Qiniang smiled and said, "I rely entirely on my sister-in-law for support, so I'm still leaving everything to her, right?"
Wang had no choice but to put the silver and money away.
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