Wei Ling said, "He's a very busy man. I don't know if he will come!"
It looked like the news of the Duke of Ying's family finding their daughter would spread quickly throughout the aristocratic circles of the capital. The treatment Zhao Mingzhu received when she was brought home was probably even better.
Yining looked at her father Wei Ling standing behind her with his hands behind his back, and suddenly felt very confident.
"Mother, I'll take Yining out for breakfast first. I'll show her her new yard later. I have to take my leave first." Wei Ling was afraid that Yining would be hungry, so he wanted to take her away first.
"What's the rush?" Old Mrs. Wei smiled and saw Zhao Mingzhu still sitting next to her. She said, "How can a grown man like you understand what a little girl wants? Take Mingzhu with you." She then said to Zhao Mingzhu, "Your sister Yining just came back, so stay with her for a while."
Zhao Mingzhu stood up and saluted, then pursed her lips and followed Wei Ling out of the west room.
Old Madam Wei picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. Mother Song said softly beside her, "It's no wonder that you feel comfortable looking at me. The young lady's eyebrows look a bit like yours when you were young!"
Mrs. Wei sighed after hearing this. "Thank goodness Wei Ling found this child. If she had lived under the Luo family's roof, she wouldn't have known what life would have been like. My daughter, the Duke of Yingguo, must be pampered... I think she's well-behaved and sensible. Mingzhu, on the other hand, isn't as lively and polite as she used to be."
"Miss Mingzhu has always been spoiled by everyone, so it's understandable that she's not used to it for a while," Mother Song said. "I think you want them to get closer?"
Mrs. Wei shook her head after hearing this. "I've spoiled Mingzhu so much that I've lost my temper. No matter how much she's favored, she's still not Wei Ling's biological daughter. If I go, Wei Ling will definitely not treat her well. She even treated Yi Ning like that just now. That's why I'm trying to find a good marriage for her, to make her life less difficult in the future... It all depends on whether this child can understand."
Upon hearing this, Mother Song sighed inwardly. It wasn't Zhao Mingzhu's fault; the disparity in future prospects would likely only grow. The young lady from the Duke of England's mansion had suffered many grievances while abroad, and upon returning, the old lady and the Duke of England naturally doted on her even more. And just now, despite being a common housekeeper, she possessed a truly impressive demeanor. Even Miss Mingzhu, despite her wealth and jewels, felt overshadowed by her.
The old lady had a soft spot for her granddaughter, a natural affinity born of blood. But raising a child for over a decade wasn't just a joke. Old Lady Wei would definitely protect Miss Mingzhu, just as she had asked her to go along earlier, hoping to improve her relationship with Yining. She truly loved Miss Mingzhu.
The old lady was right. It all depended on whether Miss Mingzhu could understand. If she could, the Wei family would still ensure her a lifetime of wealth and prosperity. If she couldn't, it would depend on Wei Ling's attitude.
*
When Songzhi was at the Luo family, he thought Zhao Mingzhu's show was grand enough, but he didn't expect that her show at the Duke of England's mansion was even grander.
She was accompanied by a large group of maids and servants who treated her like a young lady. When she had breakfast in the front hall, there were maids who served her the dishes and selected the food.
She doesn’t eat this, and she doesn’t eat that. None of these can be placed in front of her. This is what Old Lady Wei had ordered.
Songzhi was shocked, but Zhao Mingzhu seemed to be used to it. She directed the maids and servants with ease.
Songzhi looked at his own Miss Yining again... and suddenly felt that Yining was the best. Except that she liked to eat meat more, she was very easy to serve in other aspects.
Qingqu was surprised by the breakfast at the Duke's Mansion for the first time.
Food was served in a continuous stream. On the plate in front of Yining were plum blossom almond pies, date paste mille-feuille rolls, and icing sugar-dusted pastry. Next to them were chopped pigeon eggs in a delicate bowl, and a small bowl of goat's milk. Next to that was pigeon meat porridge, topped with two thin slices of ham.
It's just breakfast, and setting out so many things is such a waste. How much can three people eat? Qingqu thought with some regret, it's really such a waste.
In fact, not to mention Qingqu, Luo Yining herself was a little shocked. Back when she was in Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, it was not as powerful as it is now. This kind of life of luxury was the first time she had seen it. It was indeed very luxurious.
Wei Ling looked up at Zhao Mingzhu. He thought she was being spoiled too much. If someone outside didn't know her, they might think she was the real lady. It was a pity that the old lady was too kind to the child she had raised with her own hands and would not tolerate others' criticism. Wei Ling turned back. He had already piled a lot of vegetables in his daughter's small bowl and urged Yining, "Eat more vegetables. This pigeon meat is very delicious." Or he picked up some cheese for her, "This cheese is made with milk. It's even more delicious than bone-in abalone... Only our chef can make it."
Yi Ning looked at the food in the bowl and suddenly remembered the days when she was a child and Mrs. Luo and Lin Hairu tried their best to make her gain weight.
She is a young girl now, she can't return to the chubby little girl she was back then. Who told her to gain weight if she eats a little more? Dad, are you aware of this?
Wei Ling saw that she didn't eat much and frowned slightly: "Why don't you eat it? Don't you like it?"
Why haven't you eaten yet? I just ate half a bowl of porridge, two pastries, and three pigeon eggs. Yining frowned and said, "I ate a lot of snacks on the way, so I'm not hungry. Didn't you say you would take me to see the new courtyard?"
Wei Ling was a little hesitant. Was she unhappy that he picked up food for her?
Even a man who made decisions thousands of miles away on the battlefield wasn't sure how to raise his new daughter, fearing he hadn't properly nurtured this delicate child. It seemed he'd have to ask the Marquis of Dingbei. He'd ask him when he arrived this afternoon. Wei Ling made up his mind, gave a faint "hmm" and stood up to take her by the hand, intending to show her the new courtyard.
Yining finally breathed a sigh of relief.
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