Chapter 3 [3] The Changxin Marquis Family
【3】
At the same time, at the Marquis of Changxin’s Mansion.
In order to welcome the return of the young lady who had been away for many years, everyone in the Marquis' Mansion started making preparations as soon as they received the letter from home.
The eldest daughter-in-law, Li, and the third daughter-in-law, Qian, who were acting as housekeepers, were both working tirelessly to clean up their sister-in-law's courtyard.
Whether it is the material style of tables, chairs and cabinets, or the color style of window screens and curtains, they all require careful consideration and selection.
Tonight's family dinner is also held in the Mirrored Waterside Pavilion next to the garden, surrounded by gauze and bright lanterns. Not only is the environment pleasant, but the 36 hot and cold dishes on the rosewood round table are also catered to the tastes of everyone in the house.
Even though they had met once during the day, when Yun Ran changed into a new dress and appeared in the waterside pavilion accompanied by her maid, she still attracted the extremely curious glances of everyone in the Marquis of Changxin's mansion.
Yun Ran, who once again became the focus: "..."
She glanced at the handsome and beautiful faces around the table, wondering why everyone in her family was so good-looking. She looked at Zheng for help, "Mother, aren't we going to eat?"
Zheng understood very well how her family felt about looking at the "national treasure". In the first few days after she found her daughter, she wanted to glue her eyes to her daughter and loved her more and more no matter how she looked at her.
But at this moment——
"It's getting late, let's all take our seats and have dinner."
Zheng said, and then called Yun Ran: "Come, Ran Ran, sit next to A Niang."
"Okay." Under everyone's gaze, Yun Ran walked to Zheng's side and sat down.
The tall man sitting on her right was her eldest brother, Yun Yi.
"Brother." Yun Ran called out politely.
Her eldest brother was twenty-seven years old this year, a full generation older than her. He had served as the Dean of the Imperial College for many years and had the aura of a dignified teacher. He was not as approachable as her fourth brother Yunshang.
Yun Yi naturally noticed the little sister's restraint and felt uncomfortable in her heart.
When his sister was born, he was the happiest among his brothers. Every time he got home from school, the first thing he did was to go to the backyard and hug his sister. It can be said that Yun Ran was raised by him.
When he was little, his sister loved to cling to him the most. After she learned to speak, she would follow him around like a little tail all day long, calling him "big brother" and "big brother"...
The cute little sister who looked like a glutinous rice dumpling, in the blink of an eye, grew into a graceful and beautiful young lady.
Her eyes were still as lively and cute as he remembered, but the estrangement between the brother and sister really made him sad.
"I remember my sister used to love eating vine cakes, and the kitchen made some today."
Yun Yi picked up a plate of lotus-shaped cakes and brought it to Yun Ran: "Sister, try it and see if it still tastes the same as before."
Yun Ran didn't expect that the seemingly cold-hearted elder brother would actually take the initiative to add more food for her. She was a little overwhelmed for a moment, "Thank you very much, brother."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of pink and white cake and took a big bite with great enthusiasm.
After eating this, my eyes lit up.
The seemingly ordinary pastry is surprisingly rich and dense. The first bite brings the delicate fragrance of wisteria flowers and the sweet yet not greasy honey to the tip of your tongue, leaving a light sweetness and a refreshing sour aftertaste.
"Is hawthorn?" Yun Ran was surprised.
Yun Yi hummed, a gentle expression on her face. "When you were little, you loved eating cakes and pastries. Your grandparents were afraid you'd get indigestion from eating too much, so they ordered the kitchen to mix some chopped hawthorn into the cakes. It not only neutralizes the sweetness, but also helps strengthen your stomach and invigorate your qi."
When mentioning her grandparents, a hint of sadness flashed across Yun Yi's face.
When my sister went missing, my grandparents were deeply shocked and passed away one after another within twelve years.
Before leaving, the two elders held the hands of the Marquis of Changxin and his wife and tearfully urged them, "You must find Zhuzhu."
Yun Baozhu is Yun Ran's real name, and the meaning is clear at a glance.
However, Yun Ran has already gotten used to his current name, and Zheng also appreciates the gradual meaning implied by the word "Ran", so he did not mention changing the name.
At the moment, everyone at the table thought of their deceased parents and felt a sense of regret, especially their grandmother who passed away just two years ago...
If you can hold on until today, you won’t have to die with regrets.
"Okay, okay, this table of delicious food hasn't been touched yet. Ranran, eat less cakes and try more vegetables."
Zheng quickly brought the topic back to the topic and glared at Yun Yi again: "Da Lang, you're the same. You've been taught so much that you've become stupid. How can you serve cakes and pastries right before a meal?"
Yun Yi pursed her lips.
His wife, Mrs. Li, beside him, chuckled: "Mother is right, he has always been a dull person."
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and put some food into Yun Ran's bowl. "This crab meat lion's head dish is made by our newly hired Huaiyang chef. Sister, try it. Is it the same as what you had in Yangzhou?"
Yun Ran hurriedly picked up the bowl and said, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Li smiled and said, "We are family, so there is no need to be polite. Come and try it."
The eldest sister-in-law, Li Wanrong, was from the Zhaojun Li family. She was beautiful and elegant. Her every frown, smile, and gesture showed the style of a noble family.
Sitting together with the eldest brother Yunyi, the couple is simply the typical example of "equally matched".
Sitting next to this typical pair were the third brother and his wife, who were recognized in Chang'an as "not a good match" -
Twenty-year-old Sanlang Yunze, handsome as jade and talented, is a hot candidate for the top three in the next imperial examination and the dream lover of countless ladies in Chang'an City.
However, due to an accident, he had physical contact with a merchant girl named Qian in public, and had no choice but to marry her.
At the wedding ceremony last year, countless young ladies in Chang'an City cried their eyes out, cursing Qian, the merchant daughter, for being shameless and plotting to blackmail Yun Sanlang, saying that she had defiled the white swan with her words.
Before coming, Yun Ran was also full of curiosity about his third brother and his wife.
Seeing it with my own eyes, my third brother was indeed tall, handsome, and white as a swan. But my third sister-in-law was as beautiful as a flower, with a graceful figure, and she had nothing in common with the leper.
And the couple's relationship is not as "reluctant" as people say.
Look, the third brother picked up the third sister-in-law's cup and drank tea naturally.
"Why doesn't my sister eat the vegetables?"
Seeing her sister-in-law staring at her with her bright eyes, Qian glanced around the table and suddenly realized, "Do you want to eat this mustard fish head? Someone, quickly place this dish in front of me."
As she greeted them, she explained to Yun Ran, "I was born and raised in Shu, and I love spicy food. I thought you'd prefer a lighter palate after spending so many years in Huaiyang, so my sister-in-law and I prepared some light and fresh dishes for you. Don't be offended, sister."
"My sisters-in-law treat me so considerately. I am so grateful that I cannot even begin to blame them."
Yun Ran saw that his third sister-in-law had misunderstood, but it was difficult to explain, so he had to pick up a piece of mustard fish head with chopsticks under his third sister-in-law's expectant gaze.
The taste was so fresh, fragrant, refreshing and numb that it was so spicy that she was smoking. She breathed out a cold breath and quickly looked for water.
Seeing this, the four-year-old nephew sitting next to Marquis Changxin immediately raised his cup and said, "Auntie, drink A Zong's lychee paste water. It will help with the spiciness!"
Yun Ran naturally would not compete with the child, and soon a maid poured her another cup.
It was sweet and refreshing, but at least the spiciness was suppressed. My nephew, A Zong, covered his mouth and laughed secretly: "Aunt is just like me. When she eats spicy food, her face turns red."
Qian Shi hadn't expected Yun Ran to be unable to eat spicy food, and looked embarrassed: "How are you, sister?"
"It's okay, it's okay." Yun Ran said embarrassedly, "This dish looks like it only has a little bit of mustard, but I didn't expect it to be so potent."
Yun Ran was full of admiration. He then looked at his third brother Yun Ze, who was eating spicy chicken without changing his expression, and asked in surprise, "Can third brother really handle spicy food?"
Sanlang Yunze's impression of his younger sister is far less profound than that of his elder brother.
He was only eight years old when his sister went missing. He might have felt sad, but as he grew older, his childhood memories faded.
Seeing his sister taking the initiative to talk, he was silent for a moment before saying, "I only started eating spicy food after I married your third sister-in-law."
Yun Ran let out a soft "wow".
Yunze looked at her in confusion.
Yun Ran smiled and said, "It seems that the relationship between the third brother and his wife is very good!"
Yunze: “……?”
Is this what you call a good relationship?
If his sister knew that Qian, this shrewd and fierce woman, had smeared chili peppers all over her lips as lip balm to tease him, and that the spiciness made him jump out of bed in the dark to look for water... she didn't know what she would think.
"Father, don't just look at Ranran."
Silang Yunshang, who was sitting at the end of the table, raised his eyebrows and winked at Marquis Changxin. "You are the head of the family after all. Today we are reunited as a family. Why don't you raise your glass and say a few words?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the table looked towards the main seat.
Marquis Changxin Yun Biao is forty-five years old this year. Although he has gained weight in middle age and has become a big, thick-shouldered, dark-faced, rough man, under his beard, sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, high nose and thin lips, one can still glimpse some of his youthful grace.
He was originally staring at his darling daughter with a heart full of fatherly tenderness, but his eyes were suddenly exposed by his fourth son. He glared at Yun Shang unceremoniously with his tiger eyes.
Seeing that everyone at the table was looking at him, he had no choice but to stand up with his glass in hand. "Today is a family dinner, and there are no outsiders, so I won't say any polite words. Just one thing, Ranran has been away for many years and has suffered a lot. Now that she has finally returned home, your mother and I will naturally not let her suffer even a little bit."
"As for you brothers and sisters-in-law, I hope you can show more love and tolerance to my sister. If she has any shortcomings, please be more tolerant. If there are any frictions or disagreements, please feel free to tell me and your mother. Don't hide them or keep them in your heart. Remember, a harmonious family is the foundation of everything else."
After he finished speaking, there was silence at the table.
Just when Yun Ran was worried that his father's words might be too biased and might upset his brothers and sisters-in-law, he saw his eldest brother and sister-in-law raise their glasses and stand up. "Father is right," he said. "As the eldest brother and sister-in-law, we will protect our younger sister and never let her be bullied."
The third brother and his wife also stood up: "We are the same."
"Then I don't need to say anything."
Yun Shang winked at Yun Ran and said, "From now on, Fourth Brother will protect you in Chang'an City!"
"And me!"
The little nephew A Zong also lifted his two short legs and said: "I am a little man. If someone bullies my aunt, I can protect her."
As soon as the child's innocent words were uttered, all the adults in the room laughed.
Yun Ran's heart slowly calmed down and he began to laugh.
That night, she lay in her soft silk quilt, stroking the lightning-struck jujube wood bracelet on her wrist, and murmured softly, "Master, don't worry. Everyone in my family is very good. Although their personalities vary, they are all kind people."
He was not as difficult to approach as she had imagined, nor was he treated with contempt or disdain as she had feared.
Although I haven't met my second brother and his wife yet, since everyone else in the family is so nice, they must be pretty good too.
Yun Ran also has confidence that she will live a good life in such a good home!
As the night deepened, the silvery moonlight enveloped the quiet Changxin Marquis Mansion. The little girl who had come all the way to Chang'an finally let go of her worries and tensions along the way and fell into a deep sleep.
The author has something to say:
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List the characters of Changxin Marquis Mansion——
Old Marquis x Old Lady (deceased)
Marquis of Changxin Yunbiao (45 years old) and his wife Zheng (44 years old)
The eldest son Yunyi (27 years old) and Li Wanrong, daughter of the Zhaojun Li family
The second son, Yunrui (23 years old), and his daughter, Lu Baozhen, from the Lu family of Fanyang.
The third son, Yunze (20), married Qian Sijin, daughter of a tea merchant.
The fourth son, Yun Shang (18), is unmarried.
Fifth daughter Yun Ran (15), future husband online ing [let me see]
My nephew A Zong (4 years old)
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