Yi Ning said, "Grandma, who can complain about not getting enough sleep?"
Mrs. Luo then laughed at her: "You are greedy and sleepy, just like a little piglet."
After becoming a child, she couldn't control her craving for food and sleep. Yining felt a little helpless. Besides, she hadn't slept in over twenty years, so naturally she was a bit sleepy. Mother Xu asked Xuezhi to pick up Yining and follow Old Lady Luo to the main hall.
People who came to pay their respects have arrived one after another.
The Luo family consisted of two branches: Yining, his father, and his uncle. Yining's uncle held a higher official rank than his father, a third-rank official. And Yining's aunt, Chen, was even more distinguished by her scholarly background. When Yining saw a well-dressed woman enter with two girls, he knew it was his aunt, Chen Lan.
The two girls were Yining's older sisters, both Chen Lan's biological daughters. The fourth sister was Luo Yiyu, and the sixth was Luo Yixiu. Like their mother, the two girls were dressed elegantly and bowed to Old Lady Luo before taking their seats.
Yi Ning glanced at the two girls, but Luo Yi Yu glanced away, seemingly unwilling to see her. Luo Yi Xiu, however, winked at her. The two eldest sisters had very different personalities. Luo Yi Yu was self-assured and well-read. Luo Yi Xiu, a bit more clueless, had a good relationship with Yi Ning, but she was in dire straits with her own sister.
Soon, Lin Hairu brought in her illegitimate daughter, Luo Yilian, and Aunt Qiao's son, Luo Xuanyuan. Luo Xuanyuan was only three years old, and was held by his sister Yilian's hand, calling out "Grandma" in a baby voice.
Even if Old Lady Luo disliked Aunt Qiao, she would still dislike her grandson. She held Luo Xuanyuan in her arms and treated him affectionately.
Yining's uncle came with Yining's father Luo Chengzhang.
It was the first time Yining saw her father. Luo Chengzhang was nearly forty years old, with a delicate and elegant face and a thin figure. He looked very gentle. However, her uncle was more dignified.
Mrs. Luo asked Luo Chengzhang, "Why did you come here with your eldest brother today?"
Luo Chengzhang replied, "My elder brother and I were discussing the matter of Governor Lu coming to Baoding Prefecture."
Old Madam Luo asked curiously, "Is it the Ningyuan Marquis, Lu Jiaxue?"
Yining's heart skipped a beat when she suddenly heard the name.
Yi Ning had mixed feelings about her former husband, now the unfamiliar Ningyuan Marquis Lu. Of course, she hated him for his cruelty and murder. But now, she was just a seven-year-old girl, while he was a second-rank commander-in-chief with military power. Their differences were so great that they would never cross paths again.
Luo Chengzhang nodded and said, "It's him. The emperor has sent Commander Lu to Baoding for inspection, and all of us officials are going to greet him."
"Lu Jiaxue is a noble from a noble family, and now he holds the title of governor. He cannot be neglected lightly." Old Lady Luo raised two sons who are officials, so naturally she is no idler. "But you are not the top officials in Baoding Prefecture, and you cannot follow the Marquis around. There is no need to worry too much."
"Mother is right." Luo Chengzhang treated Old Lady Luo with great respect.
Luo Chengzhang then looked at Yining, and seeing that she didn't move, he frowned slightly. "Meimei, I'm here with your uncle, why don't you greet me?"
Only then did Luo Yining come to his senses.
So many people came in just now, but she didn't even greet them.
Old Mrs. Luo felt sorry for her granddaughter: "Chengzhang, Yining's illness hasn't healed yet, so it's better not to do the ceremony."
Luo Chengzhang strongly disapproved. He had always felt that it was Mrs. Luo's doting ways that had made Yi Ning increasingly spoiled. "Don't spoil her so much. She's becoming more and more unruly. Look at her sisters, Yi Yu and Yi Lian. They're both well-educated, well-mannered, and beautiful. Only she's been acting like a fool all day, not acting like a lady at all."
Luo Yixiu, whose name was omitted, twisted her butt and sat up straighter.
Yining knew that her father had always been strict with little Yining, and usually preferred her half-sister Yi Lian.
Let’s just forget it.
Just as Yi Ning was about to get up and bow, she saw another person step through the doorway, also kneeling and bowing, saying calmly, "Grandma, I'm fine. I'm sorry I'm late."
He raised his head, and Yining was suddenly stunned.
The sun was shining brightly today, and the latticed windows in the main hall were open. Golden light shone through the wooden lattices, falling obliquely on his shoulders. He wore a pale green robe with dark patterns. He was tall, thin, and had a handsome profile, though a bit pale.
Many years ago, she had seen him through the crowd, but at that time Luo Shenyuan was already a cabinet minister, surrounded by people. And she heard those young ladies from official families privately discussing how gloomy and cruel this young cabinet minister was.
I didn't expect that this elder was so handsome when he was young, but his eyebrows and eyes were still a little immature. He was just an ordinary boy.
It is unknown when the domineering power of controlling the entire world through equity will be revealed.
Before Yining could come to her senses, Mrs. Luo slowly said, "Since you are ill, why bother coming to pay your respects?"
Luo Shenyuan said silently: "This is my grandson's duty, I dare not neglect it."
Mrs. Luo's expression relaxed and she nodded gently: "Get up."
Luo Shenyuan stood up and greeted everyone again. After a while, his eyes fell on Yi Ning's face and he nodded to her lightly: "Seventh sister."
Yi Ning smiled and said, "Third brother."
Only when everyone was present did Mother Xu call for the dishes. The breakfast was a sumptuous affair, with plates filled with a variety of delicacies: crispy pastries, honey cakes, red bean and jujube paste rolls, bean curd buns, and golden fried pancakes. There were also pickled vegetables made from marinated goose and duck. Each person also received a bowl of bird's nest, a bowl of porridge, and two split pigeon eggs.
Everyone was extremely well-behaved, the only noise during mealtime being the rustling of bowls and chopsticks. Yi Ning looked up and observed. Yi Lian and Luo Xuanyuan, both illegitimate children, sat beside Lin Hairu, with Yi Lian occasionally serving food to her brother. Luo Yi Yu, on the other hand, stared intently at Luo Yi Xiu, glaring fiercely if she misbehaved. Luo Yi Xiu, oblivious, asked the maid to serve her a red bean and jujube roll, a dish a bit too far for her to reach.
Luo Shenyuan ate in silence, only taking the two dishes in front of him. Yi Ning noticed that he held the chopsticks with his left hand and the bowl with his right.
Yining suddenly found it difficult to eat.
This powerful official who will be on par with Governor Lu in the future is now in such a miserable state.
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