Tong Mingyu turned around and apologized to her parents, brother and sister-in-law, "Father, Mother, we have guests at home, so I'll be leaving now. Let Ayi and Ayang stay, and please check their lessons when you have time, brother."
"Then stay. I happen to have some free time recently." Although Tong Guanghui didn't know what happened in the Xiao family, he agreed to his sister's request.
Mrs. Tong, who knew a little about the situation, said nothing and ordered the servants to load the prepared return gifts onto the carriage. Tong Mingyu asked Qiao Yue to hold the sleeping Xiao Yao.
"Ping'an is still asleep, why don't you stay too?" Minister Tong was reluctant to part with his granddaughter, so he quickly took his grandson back. Thinking of the brat, he still felt wet and smelly, and didn't feel comfortable at all.
"I know you like Ping An. We'll bring her over in a few days to pick up Ayi and Ayang so you can hold her as much as you want." It was impossible to leave all the children behind. It wouldn't make sense to leave three of the four children behind when I went back to my parents' home. Besides, he couldn't leave his daughter behind. So, despite his father-in-law's unfriendly gaze, Xiao Jingkang held his daughter tightly and walked towards the Tong family's gate without looking back. He hadn't taken a few steps when he heard a heavy snort and his mother-in-law's hearty laughter because someone's plan had failed.
Xiao Jingkang quickly turned around to please his wife, but was met with a cold stare. He lowered his head and pitifully muttered to his daughter, "Daddy is doing this all for you. You must not abandon Daddy, otherwise Daddy will be too pitiful."
Back at the Xiao family home, the couple first took their child to Yayuan. Xiao Yao had already woken up, and Tong Mingyu ordered someone to boil some medicine. After a period of nursing, their daughter recovered well. Her medication was changed from three times a day to once in the morning and evening. Aside from strenuous exercise, she was basically normal. Xiao Jun, probably exhausted from all the work, slept like a pig. After everything was arranged, the couple changed their clothes and headed to Ninghe Hall.
In the upper room, Qin was chatting and drinking tea with a couple in their fifties, dressed in splendid attire and adorned with gold and jade. A younger couple sat at the bottom, and behind them stood three teenagers: a man and two women.
"I have seen mother."
Xiao Jingkang and Tong Mingyu bowed and greeted Qin.
"Come meet your cousin from the Fang family."
Xiao Jingkang frowned slightly. What cousin from the Fang family? Ever since my maternal grandfather passed away and my second uncle took over, the two families' interactions have dwindled. My mother blamed my second uncle for taking over my eldest uncle's position and was furious. My second uncle complained a lot about the Xiao family's refusal to help. Although the relationship between the two families has eased somewhat, it will never go back to the way it was before. This Fang Yufu is my second aunt's brother, so I don't know what kind of uncle he is.
"Meet my cousin, my aunt." Tong Mingyu stepped forward and bowed. It was just a title, so it was fine. Now was not the time to have a falling out. She just wanted to make her mother-in-law smile, that was all.
"This must be Dalang and his wife, right? People in Kyoto are just different. Look at their demeanor, look at their appearance, I dare say there is no other like them in Xuzhou." Mrs. Fang kept praising them, and was extremely flattering.
Tong Mingyu smiled faintly, walked over to her already seated husband, and took a graceful seat. I'd only heard of the Fang family before, never met them, and had no impression of them at all. I definitely didn't like them, but did I dislike them? Not really. The moment I met Tong Mingyu today, I had a very bad feeling, and it wouldn't be easy to shake it off. As long as the Xiao family cared about their reputation, and the Qin family's, there was no other way but to compromise.
Fortunately, the agreement between the two families was ambiguous, stating only that the grandchildren of the Xiao and Fang families would marry off, with the decision of which family would marry the other being discussed separately. This left room for potential risks, but also for maneuver. If Qin had been frightened and had blindly agreed to the Fang family's request, then what about the Fang family? Tong Mingyu let out a sneer. It was because the Xiao family had no connections, no one to rely on, and their future wasn't bright. The marriage was agreed, and having multiple military commanders as in-laws was a good thing. Military commanders often met with disaster, and if the Xiao family fell into trouble or fell into decline, who could do anything about it if they reneged on a verbal agreement? It was a situation of both offense and defense.
Now that the Xiao family is thriving and their children and grandchildren are promising, the Fang family has arrived, and the timing is just right.
"Qinglian, Qinghe, come meet Master Tong and Madam Tong." Madam Fang called the two girls forward to meet them and said with a smile, "Take out your gifts. Why aren't there any young masters and young ladies?"
"What's Lord Tong, Madam Tong? Why be so formal? Just call her..." Qin was a little stunned as she really didn't understand what the generations were.
"You should call them Lord Tong and Madam Tong. Etiquette cannot be abolished. The rules must be established from now on. You can call them whatever you want in the future." They will change their words after they become a family.
The meaning revealed is self-evident.
Is this a test? Tong Mingyu didn't want to hide it and replied, "The children's uncle is worried that they will only play during the New Year and fall behind in their studies, so he said he wants to test them. While my brother is free now, he can help them with any problems they have. The two little ones have returned, but unfortunately they fell asleep on the way, so they can only come back tomorrow to pay their respects."
Fang Yufu and his wife couldn't help but look at each other, with clouds in their eyes. What a coincidence! The boy of marriageable age from the eldest branch of the Xiao family stayed at his maternal grandparents' house, and the boy from the second branch had not returned from visiting his master. Today, the main person was missing. What does it mean? It goes without saying, do you want your family to withdraw on their own initiative? Fang Yufu snorted in his heart, forget it. If the Xiao family was not as good as before, they would not have mentioned the marriage even if they asked. Now that the Xiao family is prospering, it depends on whether they are willing to regret it. It would have been great if the marriage certificate was written in black and white back then. Who would have thought! They really have a firm foothold in Kyoto and the court, and have in-laws that are more powerful than the other. They are really lucky and blessed!
"There is a long way to go and there are plenty of opportunities. We will stay in Kyoto for a while to deal with some things. We will leave when we have finished." Fang Yufu, who had been silent all the time, spoke up.
That is to say, they can only leave after the marriage with the Xiao family is confirmed, otherwise...
Qin lowered her eyelids, twirling the Buddhist beads in her hand, and the trace of regret in her heart expanded again.
Tong Mingyu stood up and said humbly to her mother-in-law, "I'll go to the kitchen and tell them to use their best skills to entertain our guests tonight."
"My son has something to do in his study, so I'll take my leave now."
Not in the mood to stay for the social event, Xiao Jingkang and Tong Mingyu both chose to leave.
"You've been tired all day, so you don't have to come over for dinner tonight. Eat in your own room. And tell Qingyuan she doesn't have to come either. We'll see each other plenty of times in the future!" Had the Fang family stayed in Xuzhou too long? Or perhaps they didn't know the Xiao family well enough to assume they would be intimidated, leading them to act self-righteously. Qin, having caused the incident herself, chose to defend her son and daughter-in-law, making her position clear.
"Yes, son (daughter-in-law), take your leave." Xiao Jingkang left immediately, and Tong Mingyu bowed slightly and left.
"Sister, look at this..." The granddaughter's gift was not received, and all the previous preparations were in vain. The Xiao family was too disrespectful, and they showed their power too quickly. They were so arrogant on the first meeting. How is the granddaughter going to live in the future? This was completely Mrs. Fang's one-sided idea. In Fang Yufu's heart, the interests of the family are above everything else. As long as the relationship between the two families is confirmed, so that she can smoothly open up the Kyoto market and gain a firm foothold, she doesn't care about sacrificing her granddaughter. If the Xiao family hadn't hidden their grandson first and embarrassed herself, she wouldn't have said the words just now. Humph, let's see how long you can hide.
Xiao Jingkang and Tong Mingyu walked slowly along the corridor leading to the elegant courtyard. Seeing that their master was in a bad mood, the servants became more cautious.
"Brother, did they make any requests? For example..." engagement, selection of a partner.
Xiao Jingtai was dressed in his official uniform, with his sword still hanging from his waist, indicating that he had come directly here. When it came to matters concerning his children, no one could remain calm. Unfortunately, the situation was a bit tricky, and it was difficult to handle.
"Maybe I should go to the upper room like this." Xiao Jingtai patted his sword and straightened his back.
"Maybe you should use it directly, the effect might be better." Xiao Jingkang said calmly.
The situation was more serious than they had imagined. Xiao Jingtai and his wife came to the same conclusion at the same time. Although depressed, they didn't care much. The general's mansion was afraid of him, a mere merchant. At worst, they could just fight the enemy with their own troops and cover the water with earth. After thinking it through, the two brothers went to drink together, and the two sisters-in-law went to see the children together.
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