Watching the two figures walk further and further away, Madam Wen couldn't help but glance at the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, and her mind suddenly calmed down.
Perhaps she had too deep a prejudice against Nong Nong, always feeling that she was not up to par and was a good-for-nothing. But in fact, she also had her merits. Otherwise, how could someone as wise as Gu Linchao value her so much?
She stroked the prayer beads, sighed softly, and walked towards the front hall.
When Wen Nongnong and Gu Linchao arrived at the front hall, Madam Xu was leading her servants to set up the banquet. When she saw the two of them come in, she was about to invite them to sit down when her gaze suddenly fell on the dark blue sachet hanging from Gu Linchao's waist.
The pattern on it, resembling both snowflakes and a ball of yarn, made her blink, then exclaim "Huh!" and look at Gu Linchao in surprise.
"The sachet is so ugly, why did Your Highness wear it?" His tone was full of disdain.
Wen Nongnong: "..."
Unaware of her daughter's disapproving glare, Madam Xu continued, "I told you her embroidery skills were bad, but she insisted on doing it anyway, and she dared to show it off like that."
Wen Nongnong: "..."
"Are you my own mother?" She couldn't take it anymore and stomped her foot in protest.
A smile flickered in Gu Linchao's eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Wen Tingyun helped Lu Yingying in.
“Mother, it doesn’t matter if you don’t appreciate Nong Nong’s embroidery skills, as long as the Prince does.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu glanced at him suspiciously, then at Gu Linchao who remained silent. She suddenly realized that she had been too disrespectful to her daughter. What if the prince really disliked her? That would be terrible.
Thinking it over, she quickly tried to salvage the situation, lying through her teeth, "I looked at it carefully and thought it was quite beautiful. After all, this is the first time Nong Nong has ever done embroidery so seriously. This design is so unique and exquisite; you definitely won't find another one like it in the entire capital."
Wen Nongnong's lips twitched; she felt no joy at being praised.
Wen Tingyun couldn't help but chuckle and chimed in, "It is indeed quite unique; it is absolutely one of a kind in the entire capital."
Gu Linchao stroked the sachet at his waist with his long fingers, then suddenly spoke in a low voice, "I really like this sachet."
Now, both Madam Xu and Wen Tingyun were speechless.
It doesn't matter if it's ugly or not; what matters is that the person receiving it doesn't think it's ugly, but rather likes it a lot.
Wen Nongnong felt sweet inside. Even if her mother and older brother teased her, she didn't care, because Gu Linchao didn't mind.
“Our prince has the best taste,” she praised without any modesty.
Being praised by her in front of so many people made Gu Linchao's face flush. He squeezed her fingers, signaling her to speak less.
Just then, Wen Shiqing helped Old Madam Wen in.
Once everyone had arrived, Madam Xu instructed her servants to begin the feast.
Before long, the servants had served all the dishes, and the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.
The fact that Madam Wen did not nitpick at Wen Nong Nong, which was unusual, made Mr. and Mrs. Wen Shiqing secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
As Madam Wen was eating quietly, a pair of chopsticks picked up some meat and placed it on the plate in front of her.
She paused for a moment, then looked up and met Wen Nongnong's smiling eyes.
"Grandma, this mutton is stewed until very tender and tastes great. Please try it."
Madam Wen glanced at her in surprise, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't speak, instead picking up some mutton from the plate.
The worries that had been weighing on Xu Shi and Wen Shiqing were finally put to rest.
Although the old lady didn't say anything, she ate the meat that Nong Nong had put on her plate, which showed that her prejudice against Nong Nong had faded.
The two were both surprised and delighted, and busily served food to Madam Wen.
After finishing her meal, Madam Wen said to Wen Nong Nong, "It's still raining outside. If there's nothing urgent, stay here for the night and go back tomorrow."
Wen Nongnong nodded. "I understand, Grandmother. I was originally planning to stay at home for one night as well. As for the Prince..." She turned to Gu Linchao and asked, "The Prince should be..."
“I don’t have anything to do back home, so I can stay here with you for the night,” Gu Linchao interrupted her.
Wen Nong Nong blinked, looking at him with some surprise, but soon her little face was filled with joy.
The Wen family was also very happy.
Madam Xu hurriedly said, "I'll have someone tidy up the house." Actually, the house had already been tidyed up, but since Gu Linchao was going to stay here, it couldn't be neglected.
Madam Wen sighed inwardly, just as she had guessed, Gu Linchao really cherished Nong Nong.
Wen Tingyun poured Gu Linchao a cup of wine, "Your Highness, please have a cup of wine."
Gu Linchao nodded, picked up the glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
After the meal, Old Master Wen returned to Deshou Hall. Gu Linchao went to the study with Wen Shiqing and his son to talk, while Wen Nongnong sat in the room chatting with Madam Xu and Lu Yingying.
Not long after, Wen Shiqing returned.
Wen Nong Nong and Lu Yingying tactfully took their leave and ran into Gu Linchao and Wen Tingyun, who were waiting outside the courtyard.
Wen Nongnong thought for a moment and said to the two of them, "It's still early, why don't we go to my courtyard and play a game?"
"What game?" Wen Tingyun asked with interest.
Wen Nongnong tapped her chin with her finger. Originally, the four of them could have made a mahjong table, but it was too late to have someone make mahjong tiles at the last minute. Playing cards would also require making them on the spot. Thinking of this, she sighed and slumped her shoulders, saying, "Never mind, I'll invite you to play together next time when I have everything ready."
Hearing her say that, Wen Tingyun became even more interested. "What game is it that we have to wait until next time to play?"
Wen Nongnong then explained how to play mahjong and poker, which greatly piqued Wen Tingyun's interest.
"That's a deal! Next time you finish making something, you have to invite me first."
"Understood," Wen Nongnong replied.
"Alright, His Highness has to attend court tomorrow, so you should all go back and rest early. Yingying and I also need to go back and rest," Wen Tingyun said.
“Okay.” Wen Nongnong nodded, took Gu Linchao’s hand, and walked towards her courtyard.
Wen Tingyun stood there with Lu Yingying in his arms for a while, watching the two walk away before heading to his own courtyard.
At this moment, Lu Yingying suddenly exclaimed, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes today, I wouldn't have known that the Prince indulged Nong Nong so much. Nong Nong is so capable." To be able to make the current regent indulge and pamper her in every way is not something an ordinary person can do.
Upon hearing this, Wen Tingyun couldn't help but tease her, "Does Yingying mean that I haven't been indulgent enough towards you?"
Lu Yingying glared at him, "I was talking about the Prince and Nong Nong, why are you bringing me into this again? Besides, I don't need you to indulge me..." As she spoke, her voice lowered and her face turned a little red.
Seeing her like this, Lu Tingyun suddenly bent down and picked her up in his arms.
"What are you doing?" Lu Yingying glanced at the servants following behind her and was shocked.
Lu Tingyun's lips curled up slightly. His wife looked delicate, but she was always well-behaved and obedient, making her worry-free and causing him extra tenderness.
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