But these two people with such a stark contrast are actually the biological mothers of Xu Ruyu and Xu Ruyan, respectively.
Xu Ruyan's birth mother was named Xu Feng, a name given to her by Xu Jinshu. She had never had a formal name, but she liked Xu Jinshu very much, so she asked Xu Jinshu to give her a name and requested that she share the same surname as Xu Jinshu.
As for Xu Qian also having the surname Xu? Sorry, I forgot.
Xu Jinshu's name was given to her by her parents and was derived from poetry. Naturally, Xu Jinshu also referenced poetry when choosing her name. The character '芃' describes lush vegetation and implies that the woman is full of vitality and energy.
She thought it suited this lively and lovely girl very well, so Xu Feng finally got her own name, her official name, when she was seventeen.
Xu Peng loved the name very much, and unsurprisingly, her child, Xu Ruyan, was also named by Xu Jinshu.
Xu Jinshu originally intended to give Xu Ruyan a different name, but Xu Peng liked this name, which was clearly that of a brother.
Ruyu and Ruyan, what a wonderful relationship they have!
Xu Peng was already clinging to Xu Jinshu, happily saying, "Sister smells so good!"
The other three just watched Xu Feng's actions quietly.
Because they were all used to it. Xu Peng had always liked Xu Jinshu the most, and Xu Peng's personality had always been like that; he hadn't become more mature with age.
There are only five women in the East Courtyard. Besides Xu Jinshu and Xu Feng, these three women are also Xu Qian's women in name only.
Although Xu Jinshu was Xu Qian's legal wife, while the other four were only concubines, Xu Qian never treated them as wives or concubines. He addressed them as "Madam" to the servants.
So the servants also started calling them that.
The five women gathered together, and Xu Jinshu told them about it, asking them to dine with her in the dining hall.
Xu Peng was delighted, "Really! The princess is here too!"
Everyone present knew that Xu Ruyan and Princess Yuanyin were in love, because Xu Feng had already met Yuanyin and often boasted about his future daughter-in-law in front of them.
Xu Jinshu nodded, and Xu Feng happily went to change her clothes, leaving the four of them behind.
The woman who just called Xu Jinshu "Ashu" is named Ming Zhanhe, and she is Xu Qianna's first concubine.
Ming Zhanhe, just like her name suggests, is gentle and has a childlike heart. Among the four, she is most similar to Xu Jinshu in personality.
After a moment's thought, she understood why Xu Qian had suddenly asked them to have a meal together. She smiled and said, "It must be something Siyuan said that made Xu Qian do this."
Xu Jinshu clearly thought the same thing. However, she took the opportunity to go and see the new emperor. She knew that her son, Xu Ruyu, had always had a good relationship with the new emperor, and she also knew Xu Ruyu's thoughts.
It's a good thing to have the opportunity to see His Majesty.
The other two women, who remained silent throughout, were somewhat different. They were twin sisters named Xin Hengyan and Xin Yaoye, and were the last to enter the household.
They were mute before entering the manor, and Xu Qian didn't explain much to them, so the three of them didn't know much about the two sisters' past.
However, they still treated each other like sisters, and the five of them got along very well and had a very good relationship.
Xu Jinshu said to the two of them, "Do you want to come along? If you don't want to go, you don't have to, it's fine."
They both knew the two sisters' personalities; they disliked meeting strangers and had a natural fear of them, especially strange men.
Apart from Xu Qian and the others, the other people in the dining hall were all within the range of fear for the two of them.
She worried that since the two had finally gotten along a little, going with them would only bring back the things she didn't want to remember and increase her sorrow.
The two women exchanged a glance, and the older sister, Xin Hengyan, answered Xu Jinshu's question.
She quickly began to use sign language, and Xu Jinshu and Ming Zhanhe immediately understood what they meant. They were worried that Xu Qian had originally said they would dine together, and if they didn't go, Xu Qian and His Majesty would be angry.
Xu Jinshu shook her head and said, "Don't you know Xu Qian's personality? How could he be angry about this? Besides, your situation is special, His Majesty and the others will understand."
Seeing this, Ming Zhanhe chimed in, "Yes, I've been in the manor for twenty years and I've never seen Xu Qian get angry. You've been in the manor for ten years and you've never seen him angry either, right? Relax, go if you want to, and don't go if you don't want to, that's all."
Just then, Xu Feng came out after changing her clothes and heard their conversation. She immediately understood the situation. The Xin sisters must have fallen into their indecisiveness again. They just liked to think about other people's feelings without considering their own inner thoughts.
Xu Peng stood between the two, one on each side, and said to them, "You two, here we go again! So many years have passed, we're not the young women we used to be. If we still have to worry about what others think all the time, how tiring is that! Learn from me, I never think so much, and I live a very carefree life!"
Seeing that the two had made up their minds, Xu Peng continued, "Why are the three of us going? It's because this is different from before, when only Xu Qian or Xu Ruyu are there. This time, Sister Jinshu is going to see His Majesty, I'm going to see the Princess, and Sister Zhanhe is definitely thinking of going to see Lord Zhao. She and Lord Zhao have been acquainted for many years, and they must have a lot to talk about."
"Since you don't have anyone you want to see, and you're not in the mood for watching a play, you might as well follow your heart! Don't worry, you all know Xu Qian's personality. Besides, His Majesty and the Princess are even less likely to be angry about this, and you've all met Lord Zhao, he would never say anything."
Clearly, compared to the brief words of Xu Jinshu and Ming Zhanhe, Xu Feng's actions immediately grasped their thoughts.
Xin Hengyan and Xin Yao also thought about it for a moment, but decided not to go, because they knew their own problems and were worried about embarrassing themselves in front of His Majesty and the others.
At the same time, she also chose to listen to Xu Feng and follow her heart.
Seeing that the two had finally stopped going against his wishes, Xu Feng finally smiled with joy.
She entered the household after Ming Zhanhe. After giving birth to children with Xu Jinshu one after the other, she had nothing to do, so she transformed the East Courtyard into a vibrant place that perfectly suited her two older sisters' tastes.
Xu Jinshu and Ming Zhanhe both had their own businesses, and she also learned to do some of them. Later, she lived a leisurely life in the East Courtyard with her two older sisters for ten years.
Until the Xin sisters entered the household, the two women became extremely sensitive in their behavior. They vaguely sensed that something was amiss; the sisters might have other past experiences.
So the three of them worked together, mainly Xu Feng, who single-handedly transformed the two of them into what they are today, at least able to communicate with the outside world, unlike the heartbreaking situation they were in before.
After calming the two down, the three of them went to the dining hall together.
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