Having spent seven days in the General's Mansion and been taught etiquette, Ling Dapeng didn't feel too out of place at the Minister of Rites' Mansion. He looked around with more curiosity than panic.
"Ling Dapeng, you'd better hold onto your senior sister's pipa carefully, because she'll be performing on stage later," the servant Zhou Yu said, glancing at Ling Dapeng.
Ling Dapeng carried a box on his back and several musical instruments in his hands, including Shishi's pipa.
"Isn't Shishi always accompanied by her pipa? Why does she need Dapeng to carry it today?" Another woman in the group, younger than Shishi but plain-looking, was a follower of another girl.
"Weren't Shishijie and your Ye Feijie called over together?" Zhou Yu said. "Ling Dapeng is strong and healthy, so it's perfect for him to carry these instruments. Or are you, Mao Xiao'e, feeling sorry for Ling Dapeng?"
“Zhou Yu, if you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute.” Mao Xiao’e glared at Zhou Yu.
Ling Dapeng chuckled sheepishly. Was this the Minister's mansion really nothing special?
"You can stay here." There was some food in the small house. The steward of the Ministry of Rites sent the people from the Education Bureau into the house and then went out to do his work.
"We're all from the same courtyard, yet we have to eat cold dishes and leftovers here, while the girls are enjoying delicious food and drinks up front. Sigh!" The one who complained was another servant, who also worked odd jobs at Fule Courtyard.
However, unlike Ling Dapeng, everyone else was registered as a musician, while he was a free person. During his few days at Fuleyuan, Ling Dapeng felt pampered and fawned over. Furthermore, knowing that he had lost his job standing up for Shishi, the people at Fuleyuan held him in high regard.
"Did you used to frequent the homes of high-ranking officials?" Ling Dapeng asked while eating.
"The girls from the Jiaosifang are usually there to sing and dance at official banquets," Zhou Yu explained. He was on good terms with Shishi and knew her purpose, so he spoke somewhat cryptically.
"Oh, just like the opening banquet of our restaurant... Zhaixinglou?" Ling Dapeng said knowingly, looking longing. It was the most amazing song and dance he had ever seen. The girls danced gracefully on the stage, their figures enchanting, making him feel as if he were seeing celestial beings.
“I went to Zhaixing Tower that day. The steward of Prince Rui’s mansion made the arrangements and even hired a musician to compose music.” Zhou Yu nodded and said, “Dapeng, I heard that your mother is still the manager of Zhaixing Tower. You two have a conflict now, but you will still go back in the future, right?” Zhou Yu deliberately changed the subject.
Ling Dapeng's expression froze. He had been away for so many days, and his mother hadn't asked about him at all. Thinking about it still made him angry!
"I'm not going back. Even if you ask me to go back, I won't. You guys are doing just fine here," Ling Dapeng said defiantly.
“Zhaixinglou is the largest restaurant in the capital right now. Your mother is the manager. Brother Dapeng, your family must be very well-off. Didn’t you say you came here as refugees?” Mao Xiao’e asked in surprise.
“I came here as a refugee. My mother… well, my mother is my mother, and I am me. My mother was just lucky. If you knew who my father was, humph… I’d scare you to death!” Ling Dapeng said angrily.
"Who is your father? He's got quite a background." Zhou Yu asked casually.
"I can't say. Anyway, my father is more powerful than my mother." Ling Dapeng really wanted to say it, but he had been warned many times that he was afraid of being caught and taken back to the general's mansion, so he held back.
Ling Dapeng, who was treated as the center of attention, enjoyed working at Fule Courtyard. Midway through the banquet, the steward from the Ministry of Rites sent them over with musical instruments, allowing Ling Dapeng to witness the extravagance of the banquet and the flamboyant appearance of the girls from the Music Bureau.
Tao Wanniang was very busy at the restaurant that evening, but in the midst of all that, she heard Ling Dahu say that Zhou Xiaoyun had arrived.
"You're here, so ask me what's on your mind. I don't have time for that," Tao Wanniang said without turning her head.
"They said Da Hu hasn't come home yet, and they want Mother to help look for him." Ling Dapeng had already asked, and he thought his sister-in-law was pregnant and might have become mentally impaired. Did his mother seem like the type to go looking for Da Hu?
"She's not a three-year-old. Let her wait at home. She'll come back eventually." Tao Wanniang thought Zhou Xiaoyun was acting strangely. The restaurant was still open at this time. Ling Dapeng hadn't gone back home when he worked at the restaurant before!
"My sister-in-law is heavily pregnant, so I don't dare to say anything harsh, Mother, what do you say..." Ling Dahu said with some distress.
"Hongyu, go!" Tao Wanniang immediately instructed Wang Hongyu.
Outside, Zhou Xiaoyun, accompanied by Aunt Liu, looked anxious as she looked around the restaurant.
"Sister-in-law, Dapeng hasn't come home yet. Can you help me think of a way?" Upon seeing Wang Hongyu, Zhou Xiaoyun immediately stepped forward and grabbed Wang Hongyu anxiously.
Wang Hongyu pulled Zhou Xiaoyun to a less crowded place and patiently comforted her, "Xiaoyun, it's not the middle of the night, it's normal that they haven't come back yet, maybe something has delayed them?"
“But Dapeng used to come home for dinner every day,” Zhou Xiaoyun said anxiously. “Sister-in-law, do you know where that Jiaosifang is? I want to go and ask.”
"Xiaoyun, listen to your sister-in-law, don't be like this. You're heavily pregnant, you should just stay home and wait," Wang Hongyu advised. "Maybe he's already back? Or maybe if you go there and he's not there, you'll miss him too?"
How should Zhou Xiaoyun put it? Ling Dapeng has been smelling of perfume lately. Although he comes home early every day, she can't help but overthink things.
"Don't any of you want to help me?" Zhou Xiaoyun's face darkened. "I saw it all. Your restaurant is doing so well. Do you think making money is more important than finding Dapeng? Mother won't even see me. Does she really not want to care about me and Dapeng anymore?"
Seeing Zhou Xiaoyun's agitated state, Wang Hongyu couldn't help but frown.
"Xiaoyun, I don't like hearing what you're saying. Wasn't it your idea to separate the family? Didn't you two talk about things going well when I visited your house last time? Dapeng is a father now, how could he get lost? Stop overthinking things. I'll just assume you're pregnant and overthinking."
Zhou Xiaoyun glared angrily at Wang Hongyu, and finally left the restaurant unwillingly. Thinking that Ling Dapeng might have gone back, she could only ask Liu Ma to help her home.
Back home, Zhou Xiaoyun actually saw Ling Dapeng.
"Wife, where have you been? Why are you going out so late?" Ling Dapeng looked at Zhou Xiaoyun in confusion.
"Waaah~" Zhou Xiaoyun threw herself into Ling Dapeng's arms. "You heartless bastard, why are you back so late? I was so worried about you."
"Um... Wife, I'm an exception. Something came up over there, and I even went to the Ministry of Rites' residence tonight!" Ling Dapeng hugged Zhou Xiaoyun, and suddenly a thought popped into his mind: had his wife gained weight recently? Her belly hadn't gotten much bigger, but her body had become rounder.
Zhou Xiaoyun looked up and her expression suddenly changed drastically. There was a lip print on Ling Dapeng's chin!
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