Yun Tiankuang pursed his lips, bowed slightly to his grandmother, and then slowly walked upstairs.
While chatting with Old Madam Yun, Madam Su skillfully used a tea brush to prepare a cup of tea and brought it to Old Madam Yun.
"Aunt, you taught me how to make this tea back then. Please have a taste and see if my skills have become rusty."
Madam Yun sighed, "Yes, you grew up under my care since you were little, and I personally taught you many skills. Those mischievous kids couldn't sit still at all, and since I don't have a daughter, I naturally treat you like my own daughter."
Su's eyes reddened slightly, and she said coquettishly, "Aunt...you...you're making me cry for no reason again."
Madam Yun took a sip of tea, her eyes beginning to moisten, but her words became more serious. "Since you married into the Jiang family, our mother-daughter relationship has faded somewhat, but your filial piety has been evident to your aunt these past few days, and I appreciate it. There are some things your aunt has wanted to ask for a long time. Can you tell your aunt what exactly happened to the Jiang family? Back then, you were the most beautiful woman in Dingzhou, and you and the most talented man, Jiang Mingyi, were a perfect match. Why did you end up separating?"
Since the two are like mother and daughter, as the mother, there are some things I have to ask to clarify.
Madam Su forced back the tears in her eyes before coldly saying, "Jiang Mingyi is too arrogant. He clearly wants to climb up to the princess daughter of Prince Rong, yet he actually plotted to frame me so he could divorce me and marry that princess. They... planned to get me drunk on my mother's sixtieth birthday to frame me for having an affair. Fortunately, Zhao Mama was alert and discovered their scheme. I played along, gathered witnesses and evidence, and he was forced to write a divorce agreement and agree to let me leave Dingzhou with my two children."
Although the son and daughter cannot change their names for the time being, Jiang Mingyi is eager for her to take the children far away so that he can marry the princess as soon as possible.
These few words enraged Old Madam Yun. "The Jiang family! Jiang Mingyi! It's a pity I wasn't in Dingzhou last year, otherwise I would have stood up for you. Such a wicked husband, this old woman will go to his door and scold him until he has no face to show in public, and I will definitely make you divorce him in public! What kind of trash is he, daring to bully my Su family's daughter!"
Upon hearing this protective remark, Madam Su burst out laughing. "When you scolded that Lady Yongkang back then, you were so valiant and capable, a true heroine. Ya Rong still remembers your domineering and straightforward nature, so when she was in the Jiang family, she would never let herself be taken advantage of."
Madam Yun laughed heartily, "Is that how you use the phrase 'women are not inferior to men'?"
The two looked at each other and laughed again, the barrier between them long gone.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the stairs, and a line of five little kids dressed almost identically walked down the stairs in a row, from tallest to shortest.
Following behind, Madam Yu said with a hearty laugh, "Mother, Cousin Su, do you think it's all neat and tidy?"
The five boys were all dressed in light gray-blue trimmed long coats, with dark blue embroidered gold cloud patterns around their waists. Their clothes were almost identical, but in those days, clothes were handmade, so even identical garments would have slight differences. The difference lay in the color of the short, overlapping neckline; some were dark blue, some gray, and some white, but all were harmoniously matched.
Even Xiaoyou's hair was tied up again like the little boy's, with a small silver hair crown on her head.
Madam Yun clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Excellent! Now we don't have to worry about losing it!"
Xiao Youran was especially proud. She walked to the open space, performed a set of the Eighteen Steps of Soaring Clouds, and finally pointed her sword above her head with a dashing air, striking a pose and asking, "Isn't baby handsome? Isn't he so handsome that he's blinding your titanium alloy..."
"Ahem," she quickly corrected herself, "Isn't he so handsome that he blinded your sharp eyes?"
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu ran to Xiao Youran's side and struck the exact same pose as her, asking in unison in a crisp voice, "Isn't she so handsome that she blinded your sharp eyes?"
Yun Tiankuang and Jiang Youchen, who were standing next to them, were speechless.
When did Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu develop this inexplicable adoration for Xiao Youran?
Madam Yun, Madam Su, and Madam Yu laughed so hard they bent over, clapping and giving them a thumbs-up.
These little bundles of babies are so cute and adorable.
Xiao Youran stood at the back, grinning and beckoning to her older brother, "Brother, you go in front of Xiao Wu, and Cousin Tian Kuang, you stand at the very front. Let's stand in a row. Come on, the whole family should be together!"
Jiang Youchen is half a year older than Xiao Wu. Hearing Xiao Youran's words, she awkwardly walked in front of Xiao Wu.
Then, Yun Tiankuang, with an even colder face, walked to the far left, looking helpless, and stiffly struck the same pose as them, which made the three adults laugh even harder.
At that moment, two dark figures appeared outside the door.
It was Nan Zhuo who carried his master's wheelchair across the threshold.
Xiao Youran's eyes lit up as soon as she saw him, and she ran towards Wen Yuanbai's direction, "Senior Brother Dabai, you're here?"
Then she called out to Madam Yu, "Fourth Aunt, could you please find another set of clothes like this for Senior Brother Da Bai?"
However, Wen Yuanbai coldly refused, "No need."
Ms. Yu's movement of getting up froze on the spot.
Wen Yuanbai's aloof expression made them dare not force him.
Wen Yuanbai gestured to Nan Zhuo to push him in front of the old lady, cupped his hands in a junior's greeting, and said in a gentle voice, "This junior greets the old lady and wishes her a happy and healthy new year. May both ladies have a prosperous new year and a successful business opening."
All three of them were meeting Wen Yuanbai for the first time and repeatedly said, "No need for formalities."
Madam Yun expressed her gratitude to him, while Madam Su apologized for her daughter's reckless act of breaking his leg.
Wen Yuanbai responded appropriately.
Just then, Butler Zhang strode in, panting, carrying two food boxes.
Upon meeting, he bowed to the three ladies before catching his breath and asking, "Madam, ladies, it's almost noon. I've already booked a table at Zuixianju next door. Why don't we have them bring the food here? It's quite lively outside today. After you've rested here for your afternoon nap, you can go out and stroll around at your leisure. What do you think?"
Since he had considered everything so thoroughly, Madam Yun couldn't refuse and could only thank Young Master Wen.
He secretly wondered what kind of background this young master of the Wen family had.
It seemed that ever since they arrived in the village, the young master of the Wen family had been taking extra care of them.
Especially after the first mudslide disaster, he sent a cartload of grain, half of which was given to their family. To say it was out of consideration for Xiao Youran… at that time, Xiao Youran and this young master of the Wen family probably didn't even know each other, right?
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