Old Master Sheng then took Sheng Wei to the study and sent Butler Song to carry Sheng Huaizhong there. Li Yuxin returned to the main courtyard with Hong'er and Yun'er, while Cuizhi led the two daughters to the side room, where they practiced needlework and calligraphy. Mother Liu, along with Nanfeng and Li Yuxin, prepared the evening banquet. Though it was a family feast, such a happy occasion required its own proper arrangements. The maids and servants were summoned to the hall to discuss the matter, and after their instructions were complete, they withdrew and began to work. The entire Sheng residence was festooned with lights and colorful decorations, exuding a festive atmosphere.
Li Yuxin then took out her writing brush and sent a report to the capital, also reporting Sheng Huaizhong's affairs. In his previous life, Sheng Huaizhong was reckless, and despite his solid academic performance, Sheng Wei was preoccupied with his studies and failed the imperial examination. Later, the family fell into ruin, their money gone. Without Xu Wen's support and the money Li Yuxin's family sent, the three of them would have struggled to make ends meet. With his brother's family in decline and Xu Wen's family losing their legitimate son, Sheng Wei, after much deliberation, gave up the imperial examination and turned to business.
Sheng Wei had been thinking about leaving for the past two years, but Old Master Sheng forced him to wait until this year to leave. Passing the Tongsheng exam at Sheng Wei's age wasn't unusual, but passing the Xiangshi exam just a few months after passing the Tongshi exam was another matter.
Li Yuxin had just finished writing the letter and asked someone to come in when Nanfeng came in to announce the news: "Madam, the third wife has returned home."
Li Yuxin handed the letter to Nanfeng and went to Shou'an Courtyard. When she arrived, the third master had just finished paying respects to the old man when he saw Li Yuxin coming. The couple, holding the crepe, bowed to Li Yuxin and said, "Greetings, Madam."
Li Yuxin stepped forward to help the third wife up, and after looking her up and down, she said: "Well, you have lost weight. Third Master and Third Sister-in-law, please take a seat quickly."
The third wife sat down with Li Yuxin and congratulated her, "I finally caught up. Congratulations, sister-in-law. Wei Ge'er is indeed smart."
Li Yuxin said with a smile: "Of course not. In two years, Brother Zhu will be able to play. Then it will be my turn to congratulate my third brother and his wife."
The Third Lady replied with a gentle look in her eyes, "Then I'll take advantage of your good wishes, sister-in-law. I'll give the prepared gift to Wei Ge'er at the banquet tonight."
Li Yuxin glanced at the third wife, covered her mouth and laughed, "When have you ever been less than Wei Ge'er's good things?"
The two sisters-in-law chatted for a while before leaving Shou'an Courtyard hand in hand. The men returned to the study and would not return until the banquet began. The third wife went downstairs to pack her luggage and would go directly to the banquet. Li Yuxin returned to the main courtyard to oversee the banquet preparations.
The Third House had a son and two daughters who were concubines, and this time they all went with the Third House's eldest wife to her parents' home. The Third House's eldest wife was cheerful and kind to her concubines and sons, but she was also very critical of any infractions and would deal with them harshly. Under her care, the Third House was harmonious.
This time, it was the Third House's eldest wife's elder who had passed away, and the Third Master had returned with her to attend the funeral. Originally, they had intended to leave the concubines' sons and daughters in the care of the First House, but the Third House's eldest wife disagreed. With a series of excuses, the entire family left, leaving only a few concubines and maids at home. Perhaps fearing the Third House's eldest wife's treatment, the concubines and maids had been living their lives in seclusion for a while now, not venting their anger.
Li Yuxin sometimes thought the Third Wife was more like the First Wife's wife, but then she realized the root of the problem lay with the man himself. Sheng Huaifeng deeply respected his wife and never interfered in matters of the inner chambers, let alone favoring a concubine that embarrassed his wife. If Sheng Huaifeng were a scoundrel like Sheng Huaizhong, the Third Wife would likely be in chaos.
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