Chapter 97 The Fairy's First Meeting with Her Mother-in-Law: "I deserve to die!"...
Mu Chuan rode alongside her on horseback. This was the inner city, inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles, and there were few people on the streets. Lin Daiyu simply lifted all the curtains and leaned against the window frame to talk to her third brother.
"Third brother, have you been practicing your calligraphy properly?"
"Of course. I'll have someone send it to you as soon as I finish writing it. Have you read it yet?"
"Of course, I even made some changes. Some of the characters you wrote were particularly well, and I circled them in red. Did you see them?"
Although it was all nonsense, one of them was sending it every day and the other was making changes every day, but the two of them kept talking about it endlessly and happily.
The group soon arrived at the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. Lin Daiyu got off the carriage and suddenly felt a little flustered. Didn't her third brother say last time that his parents had already returned?
Lin Daiyu quickly lowered her head and obediently moved forward with small steps.
The two often walked together, and Mu Chuan was already used to Lin Daiyu's pace. After taking only two steps, he looked back and saw that there was still a long distance between them.
He raised an eyebrow: "Your leg is... numb?"
Lin Daiyu glared at him and quickly caught up, saying, "I'm perfectly fine."
She followed Mu Chuan around the screen wall and then saw a little girl holding something in her hand. She rubbed it and it flew up. She had never seen it before and had never played with it.
Mu Chuan called out, "Yousheng." Then he turned to Lin Daiyu and said, "It's the name you gave him."
The group's eyes met, and then the boy came bounding over, calling out, "Third Uncle."
Two maids who were with her also came over to pay their respects.
Children don't usually greet people, especially shy little girls. Mu Chuan smiled and said, "This is your sister Lin."
You called out to Sister Lin again, "Thank you for naming me, I like it very much. You are so beautiful, Aunt Shen really didn't lie to me."
The child's words were so sincere that Lin Daiyu chuckled, "So you are Yousheng." But she hadn't brought anything with her today, not a gift.
Lin Daiyu subconsciously looked at Mu Chuan. Although Mu Chuan had a serious face, Lin Daiyu felt that he had ill intentions.
"You can give her calligraphy practice books."
You Sheng's expression immediately turned somewhat panicked: "I'm resting today, I won't practice calligraphy."
Lin Daiyu laughed: "Don't scare the child, go and play."
Then Sheng took her bamboo dragonfly and ran away.
The two continued walking inside. After taking a few steps, Mu Chuan didn't hear Lin Daiyu speak and found it a bit strange. She had just met his little niece, so why was she not saying a word?
Mu Chuan turned his head and saw Lin Daiyu with a smile in her eyes and a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth. She was clearly lost in thought, remembering something.
"You..." Mu Chuan said helplessly, "You're praising your looks again. You are indeed good-looking. It's not like you've never been praised before. You don't need to do this."
"I'm not the prettiest girl in the Rongguo Mansion," Lin Daiyu laughed at him. "What do you mean by that?"
Then Mu Chuan was stared at by a pair of big, bright, watery eyes, whose owner spoke in a soft, coquettish tone: "What is that you're holding? I've never played with that before."
Mu Chuan laughed too: "Bamboo Dragonfly, let's go to the study, I'll make you a paper one."
"Thank you, Third Uncle," Lin Daiyu said playfully. "Don't glare at me. You said I'm Sister Lin, so naturally I should call you Third Uncle."
Once in the study, Mu Chuan found some thick, sturdy stationery, cut it out, bent it at an angle, and then rolled a piece of Xuan paper to make a handle and glued it on. That was it. One sheet of stationery made exactly five pieces, without any waste.
"We'll have to wait. Don't look at me. We need to wait until it's dry."
Lin Daiyu snorted: "I don't know why, I just want it."
Mu Chuan thought for a moment: "Shall I fold you a paper frog? You Sheng likes it."
This time, the paper wasn't as thick. Mu Chuan folded the frog, pressed it down, and the frog jumped out.
Lin Daiyu covered her face with a round fan and laughed, then reached out and pressed it down as well. While watching the frog jump, she mocked Mu Chuan, "Third Brother is so childish."
“You’re not childish, you’re a grown woman.”
Lin Daiyu's laughter never stopped, but unfortunately she covered her face with a round fan, so Mu Chuan could only guess how beautiful her laughter was through imagination.
"It should be about ready, let's go try it." Mu Chuan reached out and touched the bamboo dragonfly; the stuck parts had hardened.
This thing is simple, but it's actually quite addictive. Especially for beginners, there's always a feeling that they can go higher and farther next time.
"Shall we compete in this?" Lin Daiyu looked at Mu Chuan with eager anticipation.
Mu Chuan sighed helplessly: "Look how much taller I am than you?" He stretched out his arm again, "It would be a miracle if you could win."
Lin Daiyu laughed again. This time, she wasn't holding the fan, so Mu Chuan could see it clearly. She really did look beautiful when she laughed.
Springtime with its blooming flowers is beautiful, the blazing sun is beautiful, the crisp autumn air is beautiful, and winter—winter is beautiful too.
However, paper dragonflies are not very sturdy, and the five of them went their separate ways after playing for a short time.
Lin Daiyu smoothed her hair, feeling both happy and a little unsatisfied: "Third Brother."
"Do it, do it, do it!" Mu Chuan said, then realized something was wrong. "I have a whole bunch of Curry's, I'll have someone get them for you."
Mu Chuan had returned to take care of important business, and Lin Daiyu knew this, so she didn't stay long and didn't even offer him tea. But as he was leaving, he casually touched the table, and the paper frog vanished.
Mu Chuan saw it, and besides, Lin Daiyu didn't mean to hide it from anyone. Not only did she not hide it from anyone, she even winked at Mu Chuan.
"Oh dear." Mu Chuan's surprise was mechanical, his tone almost emotionless, as if he were going through the motions. "Where's the thing I just put on the table? How did it just disappear right under my nose?"
Lin Daiyu laughed again: "Third Brother, your handwriting is very good! I've almost finished writing my calligraphy copybook. How about I continue teaching you to write tomorrow?"
Mu Chuan hesitated for a moment: "Although it doesn't take much effort, spring and autumn are the best times of the year. If you go out for a day, you'll need to rest for a day. Why don't you wait until it gets hot in the summer and come back then? It's cooler to stay in our study."
"You're so considerate—you're really not slacking off?"
"I wish you would stay and never leave."
Lin Daiyu smiled and took two steps forward: "You wish."
Mu Chuan escorted Lin Daiyu out and walked to the front yard. There was a familiar-looking person there, ostensibly sweeping the floor, but actually spying on her.
"Mother..." Mu Chuan called out helplessly.
Huang Guihua was unusually embarrassed: "You child, you're too honest."
If Huang Guihua, with her purely extroverted personality, is like this, then Lin Daiyu is even more so. She feels burning red inside and out, and wishes she could just lower her head to her chest.
Seeing my third brother is one thing, but seeing my mother-in-law is another.
They're not married yet.
"This is my mother, her surname is Huang."
"Madam Huang." Lin Daiyu's voice was soft and gentle, which made Huang Guihua even happier. She reached out her hand, wanting to take a good look at the person, but Mu Chuan coughed twice, and Huang Guihua withdrew her hand.
"I still have to go to the palace, Mother. I'll take Miss Lin back first."
"Well, I just wanted to see. You Sheng said a fairy had come to the house, and that Granny Shen wasn't lying to her. If I came over properly, you'd have to bow, which would be too much trouble."
As Huang Guihua spoke, she glared at Mu Chuan again: "Third—Da Chuan has always been an honest child, he never lies, you've seen that too."
Although Lin Daiyu's face was still flushed and her head was still lowered, the corners of her mouth had already turned up. She gently hummed in agreement and then said, "Third—the Marquis of Zhongyong still has to go to the palace. I dare not delay him, so I will go back first."
Huang Guihua laughed as soon as she heard this, and Lin Daiyu wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.
Taking advantage of the girl's lowered head and inability to see, Huang Guihua looked at her son and mouthed: "You go ahead, I'll keep her here for dinner."
Mu Chuan shook his head seriously: "It's the first time, don't scare them."
Huang Guihua was extremely disappointed. With such good looks, she could have proudly shown off at the entrance of the village for the rest of her life.
"Alright, I'll call you my third brother, you call me your third brother." Huang Guihua grabbed the broom and hurried off again. "I'm going to talk to your father, but he's being rather reserved and won't come out."
It wasn't until they were almost on the carriage that Lin Daiyu dared to speak a little.
Shyness, joy, and excitement welled up in her eyes, but her voice was a little weak: "Third Brother, will you tell Auntie that I call you Third Brother?"
"Well, my mother can guess. Besides, I can't exactly say you called me Third Uncle, can I?"
Lin Daiyu let out a soft sob and covered her face, saying, "I'm too ashamed to face anyone."
“My mother loves you very much,” Mu Chuan said with a smile. “She can even openly boast about things without feeling guilty. Look, she even dressed up specially to see you, afraid that you would feel uncomfortable. She has even gone against her own conscience for you.”
Lin Daiyu's face remained flushed: "Then why did you say it out loud?"
"Otherwise what?" Mu Chuan sighed earnestly. "If you really wait until the morning after the wedding, and you go to serve tea, only to find out, 'Oh dear, I've met this mother-in-law before,' wouldn't that be even more unbearable?"
Lin Daiyu thought about what he said and felt a kind of awkward embarrassment, like someone lying on their deathbed looking back on their life and still feeling embarrassed when they thought about this matter.
I just don't know if the Meng Po soup will work.
"I'm ignoring you!" She covered her face and got into the carriage.
Mu Chuan laughed: "It's clear you're really used to it; you can climb up without even looking at the bench. I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Okay." Lin Daiyu let go of her hand, her face full of smiles, and then covered her face again after speaking.
Mu Chuan chuckled twice, and after her carriage left, he mounted his horse and headed towards the palace.
There were four ministers in the Imperial Study.
The three officials involved were Liu, the Second Grand Secretary; Ran, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies; and Shi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. All three were connected to the arrival of the hostage prince from Beili in the capital.
There was also Lee Tae-gu, one of the three Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, who was probably there to discuss other matters, so he stayed as well.
When the emperor saw Mu Chuan enter, he smiled and said, "Qiao Yue, please sit down. We are discussing something."
Lord Liu's eyelids twitched. His Majesty is truly gentle; he didn't mention at all that the Marquis of Zhongyong arrived a little late.
Mu Chuan bowed and sat down in the seat reserved for him.
Although he ranks third in official rank, he holds the highest noble title, so his position is the first one on the left.
Mu Chuan has always responded to all changes with a steadfast approach; in short, he focuses on doing his best and reaching the pinnacle of his abilities.
He bowed to the officials and then said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I just went back and looked at the armor I will be wearing tomorrow. The armor is indeed magnificent, with gold and silver inlaid on it, and the helmet is decorated with gemstones. The red tassel is also brightly colored, but this is not what a general should wear."
Mu Chuan sighed, his face darkening. He then pointed to the rusty, battered, and tattered armor that the emperor had kept in the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, I wish to wear this."
Before the emperor could finish his thought, the second-in-command, Liu, spoke up first. He laughed and said, "Lord Zhongyong, don't be ridiculous. Don't tarnish the prestige of our Great Wei Dynasty. Tomorrow, not only will the hostages be arriving in the capital, but envoys from other dynasties will also be attending the ceremony."
Mu Chuan stood up and stood in front of the tattered armor: "Your Majesty, all the marks on this armor were left by the Beili people. The bloodstains on this armor are not only from the Beili people, but also from the Great Wei people."
Li Taijiu stared dumbfounded at Mu Chuan, while Lord Liu already sensed something was amiss. The remaining two lower-ranking officials even turned their heads away. "You've been to court with the Earl of Zhongyong before," they thought, "don't you know his style?"
Even if he didn't know, when had the emperor ever rejected his ideas? Even if the Marquis of Zhongyong mainly listened to others, his words still carried weight!
"I am a rough man, and I cannot speak profound truths." Mu Chuan pointed to a small dent on the left chest of his armor. "This was left by a strongman from Beili with a spear. As for why the mark is so shallow, it is because someone stood in my way, and the spear pierced his shoulder. He did not return; he died on the battlefield. I want him to see that we not only captured the arrogant chieftain of Beili, but also forced Beili to obediently offer up a hostage."
"And here too." Mu Chuan pointed to a welded mark on the abdominal armor. "It was cut by the Beili people. The abdominal armor was split in two, but I didn't die. It was the Beili people who died. I also want to show the Beili people that we, the people of Great Wei, are not afraid of death or fighting."
The emperor's eyes were red, and Lord Liu wished he could slap himself twice.
Li Taijiu sighed, “The most important matters of state are sacrifice and war. We have only captured a chieftain of Beili, so we should not celebrate recklessly. The lesson of enduring hardship and biding one’s time is a lesson from the past.”
Li Taijiu was so happy he wanted to jump for joy. Lord Liu was the second-in-command, and he was the third-in-command, but so what?
The Marquis of Zhongyong is his ally. Regardless of whether there's anything wrong, he'd really dare to step on someone if given the chance!
If he does this a few more times, Lee Tae-gu will be promoted to Second Grand Secretary.
"Qiao Yue is right!" the emperor said decisively. "Wear this tomorrow. Let the Northern Li people see it, and let the envoys attending the ceremony see it too!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" Muchuan saluted.
"Your Majesty is wise!" The other ministers followed suit.
Emerging from the Imperial Study, Lord Liu looked at Mu Chuan with a complex expression: "Lord Zhongyong... let's discuss this in advance next time."
There's really no way to plan ahead; Mu Chuan only knows what to wear tomorrow an hour earlier than Lord Liu. However, after Daiyu's reminder, he also realized it was a very good idea.
"Don't worry, sir. It was just a sudden idea. I will definitely inform you in advance in the future."
Lord Liu left, and then Li Taijiu came. He didn't have much to say; he was afraid that if he opened his mouth he would burst out laughing, so he just tiptoed and patted Mu Chuan before leaving.
That evening, the emperor returned to the inner palace to dine with the empress. As they ate, he remarked, "Qiao Yue is truly..."
What was it? The Empress waited for a long time but didn't hear anything.
The emperor laughed as he spoke: "Others would just bend over and lower their heads so that I could comfortably pat them on the shoulder, but Qiao Yue is different. He stands so straight that I have to stand on tiptoe."
What could the Empress say? She could only roll her eyes in a subtle way and then smile, "The gifts for the name-asking ceremony on the day after tomorrow are ready. The wings of the two geese have also been clipped, and they look very healthy. I guarantee they will be well taken care of."
"I trust the Empress to handle matters."
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