Chapter 167: Continuing the Family Line
Wen Wan sneezed several times in a row.
She sat on a small stool by the stove, holding a bowl of hot chicken soup, muttering, "Someone must be saying bad things about me behind my back again."
When Mrs. Liu, who was preparing food, heard this, she glanced at her coldly.
"Xiao Wan, you are the general's concubine after all. Why are you always staying in the kitchen with us? I heard that the general's carriage has arrived at the street corner. Why don't you go to the front door and wait to show your face to the general?"
Another woman washing vegetables chimed in, "Yes, that's the saying. A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier, and a concubine who doesn't want to climb into someone's bed isn't a good concubine."
Wen Wan: “…”
She laughed dryly. "The first half of your sentence makes sense, but you made up the second half yourself, right?"
The old woman laughed cheerfully, "It's true, but the truth is there. That's all that matters."
Wen Wan pretended to sigh, "You think I don't want to show my face in front of the general? I was punished by the madam. Without the madam's permission, I am not allowed to get close to the general."
"I wasn't even allowed out of the yard the past two days. My wife is in a good mood today, so she allowed me to move around a little."
The two maids sneered again, "So, you came to our kitchen? I think you are just a mischievous kid who is greedy."
Wen Wan was used to being nice and fawning in front of her elders, so she smiled and said, "You can't blame me for this. It's because the two aunts in our general's mansion cook the best food. I've been living in the open air all year, and my life has been so hard..."
"Okay, you've only been back a few days, and you've already told me about your hard times eight hundred times. The roasted sweet potatoes in the ash pile are ready. I'll dig one out for you."
Mrs. Liu interrupted her, dug out a roasted sweet potato, wiped off the dust and handed it to her.
Wen Wan was so grateful that she kept thanking him.
She lived in the general's mansion for three years and lived a leisurely life. The mansion was not like other mansions filled with intrigues.
At least, before the general returned home, everyone could live in peace and lead a simple and happy life because there was no conflict of interest.
Wen Wan was eating roasted sweet potatoes with a confused mind. When she thought of this, a gloom gradually rose in her eyes.
The former general's mansion was really a great place.
It’s a pity that this time the general has returned from the border town, and all the women are staring at one man. The peace in the backyard will probably be broken soon.
She had eaten half of the roasted sweet potato in her hand when she saw the maidservant beside Zhao hurried to the kitchen.
"Hurry up, the general has returned home and is now talking to the old lady and the lady in the main hall. Are the imperial snacks prepared in advance still warm? Give them to me quickly."
The two maids responded immediately, one took the food box and the other put snacks on the pot.
Wen Wan stared with her big eyes, watching everyone busy.
"You're back soon?"
To be honest, she was quite curious about Shen Yu.
His name is so well-known that my ears are numb from hearing it, but I have never had the chance to meet him in person.
Shen Yu returned to the Imperial Capital, but what about Chai? Would he come with him?
Not only Wen Wan was curious, but several people busy in the kitchen were also curious.
Soon, a young maid who had only entered the mansion in the past two years took the opportunity to ask Wen Wan's questions while the maids were packing snacks.
"Sister Ling'er, everyone says that when our great general was young, he was famous in the Imperial Capital for his good looks. Have you seen the great general? Is he really that good-looking?"
Ling'er reached out and poked the little maid between her eyebrows.
"At such a young age, he's quite lively. Our great general is naturally very handsome. You didn't see it just now. When he got off the carriage, the concubines in the backyard were all staring at him."
The little maid seemed to find it difficult to imagine that exaggerated scene. Ling'er saw it and her heart is still hard to calm down.
"Alright, we can't say much about the master's appearance. Just keep an eye on her. The concubines in the backyard are still watching her eagerly. Don't get too close to her without thinking."
While the two were talking, the lunch box had been packed, and Ling'er quickly left the kitchen with the lunch box.
After Wen Wan finished drinking the hot soup, she went to say goodbye to the two maids. Before leaving, she also took away a roasted pig's trotter, which caused the two maids to laugh and scold her.
*
In the main hall, Shen Yu sat below the old lady, and opposite him sat Zhao, who was wearing a heavy silk dress.
Behind Zhao stood seventeen or eighteen gorgeously dressed women. The expressions on their faces were all the same, shy and bashful, and they would secretly glance at him from time to time.
Shen Yu irritably picked up the tea at hand and took a sip, then frowned and looked away.
The old lady asked about the patient's health, wiped her tears from time to time, and kept muttering to herself.
"You've lost weight, Yu'er has lost weight. The border is such a torturous place. It's only been three years, and Yu'er has changed so much."
The old lady loved her grandson so much that she couldn't wait to prepare a banquet. She also ordered the old nanny who served her to buy ginseng, deer antlers and other tonics, saying that she must nourish Shen Yu well.
Shen Yu patiently comforted the old lady, "Grandma, your grandson is guarding the family and the country, so what does it matter if he suffers a little? The wind and sun in the border town are all the glory of your grandson and the glory of our Shen family."
The old lady nodded repeatedly, "Well said. You are worthy of being a good son of my Shen family."
She paused, "Alas, our good son of the Shen family still has no offspring. Don't worry, before you came back, your father and I went to the palace to petition and told him about the difficulties of our Shen family. The emperor is wise and has agreed to let you stay in the capital for a while this time, until you have an offspring."
They had just met and had only exchanged a few words when the old lady couldn't wait to tell him the news.
This is enough to show how important this matter is to the old lady and Prince Anding.
Shen Yu received the news on his way back, and when he heard it from the old lady, he did not have any extra reaction.
He did not disobey the old lady and only responded softly.
The old lady pointed at Zhao and the group of women behind her and said, "You have met Zhao. She is the mistress of our general's mansion. Those standing behind her are all your concubines."
"Continuing the family line is a top priority, there is nothing shameful about it. You are the general of the current dynasty. Your offspring is just a matter for the Shen family. On a larger scale, it is also a matter of great importance to the court and the country."
"So, Yu'er, you must also shoulder the responsibilities of the Shen family and get along well with your wife and concubines."
In front of everyone, the old lady didn't want to be too blunt, but Shen Yu could clearly feel her anxiety.
His brows unconsciously furrowed tighter and tighter, his lips moved, but he finally held back and did not refute on the spot.
Seeing him like this, the old lady sighed again and added:
"I've made it clear to Zhao's face. It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, and Zhao is tolerant. Today, I, an old woman, am the one making the decision. If you can't let go of your mistress, send someone to bring her back."
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