Although this year is not General Xiao's birthday, because his three sons are all officials, and everyone in Kyoto knows that General Xiao is the emperor's legitimate son and the teacher of Prince Jing, no one would agree to hold a small birthday party.
So the Xiao family began preparing early. Thankfully, having already held the event several times before, Tong Mingyu wasn't as flustered as she had been the first time. Everything was routine and easy to follow. Tong Mingyu kept an eye on the preparations for the birthday banquet while keeping a close eye on her daughter's studies. Ever since she learned about the "lottery" incident between her daughter and her brother-in-law, she never dared to be careless again. She feared something even more unexpected would happen if she wasn't paying attention.
Her husband accused her of making a big deal out of nothing, but her father-in-law praised her daughter, saying, "You're so smart," without saying a single extra word. Her mother-in-law, herself, and A-Yang were the only ones worried. The rest of the family happily accepted her daughter's behavior.
Her daughter now not only needs supervision from her as a mother, but also a good nanny. Tong Mingyu feels that it is absolutely not appropriate to let her daughter go out without three to five years of education.
Because of this matter, Tong Mingyu specially took time out to meet with her sister, Tong Minglan, the third wife of the Wen family. After explaining her purpose, Tong Minglan comforted her sister, saying, "Don't make yourself so nervous. Ping An is just naughty occasionally. It's not as serious as you say."
"Sister, you don't know, she's done a lot of strange things, and this isn't the only one. I'm really worried."
"I actually like her personality. By the way, why don't you bring her here? My mother-in-law was talking about her a few days ago."
"Writing at home!" She was punished to write at home! In fact, Tong Mingyu also saw clearly that her daughter was only naughty at home. When she was out, she behaved no worse than other girls.
"You punished me, right?" Tong Minglan said with a smile.
"Don't laugh at me, just help me think of a solution."
"You've come at the right time. Yesterday, my mother-in-law told me that a very famous maid in the palace is planning to leave. From what she said, she wants to find a suitable family to live with in her old age. But as you know, the more picky such people are, the more they will not be interested in ordinary children. I am confident that we will be safe. As soon as I get any news, I will definitely inform you first, so don't worry!"
"A nanny from the palace, there must be many people who want to ask for favors. I wonder if she will take a fancy to Ping An."
"If Ping'an can't satisfy her, then there's no hope for other people's children."
"Stop praising me. Do I need to prepare anything?"
"You don't have to be too nervous. My mother-in-law has a good relationship with this nanny named Ruan. When the time comes, ask her to say a few words for Ping An. There should be a good chance that this will work out."
"Then I'll leave this matter to you, sister."
"Why should we be so polite to each other, sisters?"
The two sisters talked about Tong Minglan's seventeen-year-old youngest son Wen Yan who was about to get married, and then the topic turned to Xiao Yi. The two cousins were only one year apart in age, one was about to get married, and the other didn't even know where his in-laws were!
Fortunately, the men in the Xiao family usually get married late, so considering my son’s age, it won’t matter if he gets married in two or three years.
Tong Mingyu returned home in a good mood because there was finally some progress in her daughter's affairs.
As soon as I entered the house, I was told that my father and mother had come, and my mother was playing with her daughter in Yayuan!
"Mother, why did you and father come here in person? Is there something wrong at home?" Tong Mingyu asked hurriedly.
"Don't worry, everything is fine at home. I came here to tell you something. As for your father, Ping'an has been taken to your father-in-law's study in the front yard." Mrs. Tong replied with a smile.
"It's also my fault. I've been too busy lately and haven't had time to go home to see you and father." Tong Mingyu felt very guilty.
"We are all family, it doesn't matter who comes and who goes!" Mrs. Tong comforted her daughter.
"I heard you went to your sister's."
"Yes." Tong Mingyu told her mother the whole story in great detail, and finally concluded with emotion: "Ping'an looks well-behaved and sensible, but the things he did..." It's really laughable.
"My granddaughter is just clever."
"Please stop praising me. My daughter is going to be worried sick."
"A little kid, if she can't do what she wants at home, that's too pitiful. Besides, Ping An, although young, still knows her limits. Look, she's never made a mistake outside or in front of others. Isn't that enough? Don't control her so much that she becomes stupid, like some young ladies who can't do this or touch that. In the end, they don't know anything except the rules. That's really scary!"
Tong Mingyu thought about it carefully, and compared the image of a well-behaved and obedient girl with her daughter's naughty and lively appearance in her mind, and felt that her daughter was more likable.
Mrs. Tong did not interrupt her daughter's reverie. She was more convinced that her and her husband's ideas were correct. It would be best for Ping'an to marry back into the Tong family. None of her grandparents and uncles would be willing to blame her. She was not the eldest daughter-in-law and could live a free and easy life. As for her daughter-in-law's ideas, she was just one person and could not do anything alone. With her and her son watching over her, she would not dare to treat Ping'an badly.
After a moment's silence in the room, Mrs. Tong came back to her senses first. She had something else to tell her daughter today. There was still a long way to go before her daughter was safe. She was also sure that there was no family more suitable than her own, so she was not in a hurry at all.
"At a banquet, I overheard the daughter of Lord Yu, the Minister of Rites, mention to others that she would be visiting your home in a few days to celebrate the old general's birthday. From her tone, it seemed as if both your families had already recognized her relationship with Fourth Uncle Ping'an. I wanted to ask you what was going on."
"Is this young lady a little crazy? We never agreed to anything. Lord Yu didn't dare to look for my father-in-law, and couldn't find Fourth Uncle Ping'an. She keeps pestering my husband and Second Uncle Ping'an. What's going on? We have already clearly refused. But because she is a girl, we want to save face for her and her family, so we never told anyone. I didn't expect this young lady to be so excessive."
"So be careful at this banquet. Find someone to keep an eye on the Yu family, especially Miss Yu, to make sure nothing happens. Also, tell your brother-in-law to be careful too."
"My daughter has made a note of it."
"Your brother-in-law should get married soon, so that there will be no trouble. Ayi is not a child anymore and there is no need to delay any longer. I have seen some good young ladies. Your second brother and sister-in-law already have candidates for their daughters-in-law, and now the only one missing is your Ayi." Mrs. Tong lowered her voice and said this. She must not let other people in the Xiao family hear it.
"Please keep an eye on it for me. Actually, Ayi can wait for two years. The men in the Xiao family usually marry late. If his fourth uncle doesn't marry this year, will he marry next year or the year after? By then, even if we don't say anything, my father-in-law won't let him do it anymore."
"That's true."
The mother and daughter chatted about their private affairs, and it felt like time flew by. At noon, Qin treated her in-laws to a sumptuous banquet.
Everyone else was normal, except for the two old relatives who were a little drunk.
"Let Ping'an go with me to the Tong family and stay for a few days." Minister Tong said with his tongue straight and his eyes blurred with drunkenness.
"No, I can't bear to leave yet!" General Xiao was in a slightly better condition, but his body was a little shaky.
"Do you still want to keep Ping An by your side forever? I tell you, in ten years, Ping An will be mine, and belong to our Tong family."
"What do you mean?" General Xiao felt that there was something else in his relative's words, and he became uneasy.
"Father, you've had too much to drink. I'll have someone take you home."
Tong Mingyu had cold sweat on her forehead. Normally, no one dared to mention her daughter's future or marriage in front of her father-in-law. Every time he heard it, her father-in-law would get angry, and his anger was no less than that of an enemy.
"Old Tong, please explain it to me clearly." What do you mean Ping An is from the Tong family? Why does it sound so awkward?
Mrs. Tong also came forward quickly. Today was not a good time to propose marriage. Seeing that General Xiao was about to turn hostile, it would be better to leave first.
A group of people were busy trying to appease the two old men, but they were still arguing incoherently. For a while, people were in chaos and it was very lively.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
