Chapter 020 Night Banquet

The Yan family was a family of prominent officials, all of which Yan Ningxin knew very well. However, even so, when she saw the numerous memorial archways at the gate of Xinghuafang and the long and winding mansions with a solemn and formal atmosphere, she suddenly felt that she had entered this place by mistake.

A group of maids dressed in gorgeous clothes and brightly dressed surrounded her as she went in.

Yan Ningxin was dizzy and turned around. She sat in the sedan chair and took deep breaths. She was not a Westerner, but she was better than a Westerner. After so many years, she was found and brought home by the Prince of Qi this year. The Prince of Qi's mansion was no longer the same as it used to be. Even her cousin was in a difficult situation. Otherwise, Minister Yan would not have written a letter and the Prince of Qi would not have sent him over in person.

After she got off the sedan chair, several people came to help her walk through a long corridor with eaves and green tiles not far away. At the end of the corridor was a moon gate. After passing the moon gate and going around the stone screen, she saw that the floor tiles below were all decorated with the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity, with the tiles matching each other. There was another hanging flower gate ahead, and then she arrived at the main courtyard.

"Songtao Courtyard" was written at the gate of the main courtyard, and Yan Ningxin thought that this was where her grandmother, Madam Yu, lived.

There was a maid opening the curtain at the door. A wave of heat hit Yan Ningxin as she entered the room. Before Yan Ningxin could stand still, an old woman with gray hair hugged her and cried. She felt so soft-hearted because this was her family.

"Grandma." Yan Ningxin called out.

Old Mrs. Yu pressed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and looked at Yan Ningxin subtly. She saw that she walked with big steps, her head swayed when she walked, her steps were too big, her teeth were slightly yellow when she opened her mouth when she spoke, and there were traces of scars on her hands. She was puzzled.

It was Zhen who persuaded her, "Old lady, I know you have missed my eldest sister for a long time. Now she is back with you. This is a great joy. You should stop crying, lest you hurt yourself."

Old Madam Yu introduced Yan Ningxin, "This is the eldest lady."

Zhen introduced her to the second wife, Mrs. Xie, with a smile on her face. When Yan Ningxin saw Mrs. Xie, she couldn't help but sigh that her cheap father was so lucky. Both Mrs. Zhen and Mrs. Xie were supposed to be in their thirties. Zhen was quite pretty, and this second wife, Mrs. Xie, was even more like an immortal.

Xie had a very pleasant voice. When she saw her, she just said, "I'm glad you're back. I'm glad you're back. I've been thinking about you."

"These are your three sisters." Zhen pointed at Yao Niang and the other three.

Yan Ningxin looked over. The second sister was called Qianniang. She looked pretty elegant and amiable. Qianniang stepped forward and saluted, "Big sister."

The third sister, Yao Niang, had a face as white as jade, skin as tender as jade, eyes as bright as autumn water, cheeks as beautiful as peach blossoms, and a charming look. She was still young, and who knew how stunning she would be when she grew up. She smiled and bowed to herself, "Big sister."

Yan Ningxin looked at her youngest sister again. She had a round face with baby fat, dark eyes, rosy cheeks, and a lively and pretty look all over her body.

But it is said that while Yan Ningxin was observing everyone, Yao Niang was also looking at this older sister who grew up in the palace. She had a petite figure and a charming face. She looked a little timid, but her eyes were clear.

Then she saw Old Lady Yu calling her to sit beside her and said, "Your father and brothers will see you later. Now let's have a good chat."

Yan Ningxin didn't dare to say much, just nodded silently.

Yao Niang, who was sitting below, thought that her grandmother had never been so affectionate when she came back from outside, and she had never heard her grandmother come to pick someone up on other days. Could it be that it was so grand because the Prince of Qi came personally to send her over?

Then I heard Old Lady Yu ask, "Have you ever studied in the palace?"

Yan Ningxin followed the answer of the Prince of Qi: "I usually read Biographies of Women and Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars."

"That's great. Filial piety is the most important virtue. Your sisters are all studying. It would be better for you to study together in the future so that you can have each other's company." Old Mrs. Yu said with a smile.

Yao Niang looked at Yan Ningxin and said, "That's great. Two people left our school one after another. Now that the elder sister is here, the school will be lively again."

Yan Rubei got married two years ago, and Zhao Fang went back with her brother Zhao Xian because he was going back to his hometown this year to prepare for the provincial examination. In addition, Xin Wan's health was sometimes good and sometimes not, so there were usually only three sisters in the school.

Because Yan Ningxin had never interacted with women before, she felt grateful when she saw Yao Niang smiling while talking and being so friendly.

Then Zhen and Jie asked about her life in Prince Qi's mansion. Yan Ningxin said very little and did not give many answers. Everyone could understand this. After all, she had not been back for more than ten years. If it were not for Yan Jingzhao's wedding, they would have been afraid that Prince Qi's mansion would not let her go, just like in previous years.

Fortunately, people outside said that Yan Yingqi and his son had come. Yan Ningxin had never had any deep impression of her father since she was born. The father in her impression turned out to be her deceased adoptive father.

According to her impression, Yan Yingqi, who was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites, should be pot-bellied, with a long beard, walking in an official manner, and looking very imposing. But she did not expect that the man who came in looked very energetic, tall, handsome, and young. He looked at her and said, "My room is full of joy, and everything I wish for will come true."

Old Madam Yu smiled and said to Yan Ningxin, "Go and pay your respects to your father."

Yan Ningxin learned the etiquette hastily, so her manners were very stiff. Everyone thought she was nervous because she met Yan Yingqi for the first time. Then she heard Xie introduce him, "Miss, this is your big brother."

Yan Ningxin saw that Yan Jingzhao looked 50% similar to Yan Yingqi, but his eyebrows and eyes were more delicate. He looked like an immortal with a beautiful appearance and was surprisingly handsome. She couldn't help but call him "Big Brother".

"Big sister, no need to be so polite." Yan Jingzhao has many brothers and sisters, but he doesn't have any deep feelings for them.

After the few people met, Yan Yingqi sat down. He was always calm and said, "Your cousin told me about your life in recent years. You should live well in the mansion in the future." Then he said to Zhen, "Clean up Xiayue Tower and let her live there."

Yao Niang thought to herself, this Xiayue Tower was chosen by Ying Niang, and she told them about it at the beginning. Now it has been snatched away by Yan Ningxin. Ying Niang will definitely be angry? But this matter has nothing to do with her, so she won't say anything.

As for Zhen, she didn't show any embarrassment at all, and smiled and said, "I understand."

Yan Yingqi still believed in the ability of Zhen's housekeeper, so he said to her: "From now on, this will be your own home. If you need anything to eat, play with, or use, just ask the first lady."

After some instructions, the men all left. Old Lady Yu wanted to stay and talk to someone, so the rest of the people went their separate ways.

In fact, everyone has their own things to do, and they are not very interested in Yan Ningxin. Besides, at her age, she may have to go out in two or three years. Who would make an enemy of her? Not to mention the prince of Qi, even if he is the king of Qi, to the Yan family, he is just a vassal king of Shandong. The vassal kings of this dynasty have noble status, but not much real power.

After Yao Niang returned to her room, she began to read books and did not do so until dinner time, when she changed her clothes and went to the main room to eat.

The eldest old lady and Madam Yu moved their chopsticks for a few minutes before leaving. Yan Yingqi then said to Yan Ningxin, "The prince came and went in a hurry. We were planning to have a banquet in the evening, but he said he had something else to do and left first."

Of course, the prince of a vassal state could not leave the vassal state for a long time. Yan Ningxin knew that her cousin had taken time out of his busy schedule to see her off. However, she felt uneasy when she thought of his departure, as if a young swallow had left its nest. However, she still managed to say, "My cousin didn't say goodbye to me either."

Yan Ningxin felt a little lost. Everything about her was unfamiliar, even though it seemed that everyone in the Yan family was nice to her.

These things are the eldest wife's family affairs, and Yao Niang can't say anything. The most important thing in living in this house is not to meddle in other people's affairs, but to do your own things well first.

Yan Yingqi said, "We will meet again if we have the chance in the future."

Yan Ningxin spends more time with men and is actually quite casual about it, but she is in the Yan family, where rules are everywhere and the atmosphere is suffocating.

No one talked while eating or sleeping. After the meal, everyone rinsed their mouths and sat for a while. Xie took Yao Niang and Yan Jingzhao home first, and Yan Yingqi stayed in the main room today.

In the past few years, Dad almost always spent the night in the third room. There were complaints from the first room. Yan Yingqi was a man who did what he wanted, but he also knew that he was the head of the family. Therefore, he would rest in the first room for a few days from time to time.

Xie was not very jealous. After all, the third room had no concubines or maids, so she was at peace. Moreover, her daughter-in-law was about to marry into the family, so she had to be more dignified.

Xiayue Tower was decorated very well in just one day. Zhen personally led her here and said warmly, "If there is anything that you are not satisfied with, just tell me."

Yan Ningxin felt bad and said, "It's already very good."

Zhen took her hand again and said, "Among your three sisters in our family, the second and third sisters are very easy to get along with, but my fourth sister has always been unruly and willful. Because she is young, she is used to being spoiled by her sisters. If she offends you in any way, just come to me."

This was also what Zhen was worried about. Yingniang had originally wanted to live in Xiayue Tower, but now Yan Yingqi had assigned her to Yan Ningxin. She was really afraid of any conflict, so she made preparations in advance so that at least she wouldn't cause trouble in front of Yan Yingqi.

Yan Ningxin didn't know the reason, but she just thought it was great to have a mother's child, so she smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm the older sister, I will definitely give in to my younger sister."

"Why talk about giving in or not? Go to school tomorrow and get closer to your sisters." Zhen said.

After saying this, she tapped the maid who was serving Yan Ningxin before leaving.

Yan Ningxin sat on the bed, sometimes thinking of her cousin the Prince, sometimes thinking of the Yan family. All these flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

It was the maid who reminded her: "Young lady, it's time to rest. You have to visit the Second Madam tomorrow."

"Second Madam?" Yan Ningxin thought of Xie and yawned, "But didn't we meet her today?"

"I met her in the main house today. The second lady is the mistress of the third house, so she should go and meet her." As the person assigned by Old Lady Yu to serve Yan Ningxin, she would definitely serve the eldest lady as a dowry maid for the rest of her life in the future, so now she was doing this for Yan Ningxin's own good.

Yan Ningxin nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Isn't it just a visit to Xie? It's not that difficult.

Seeing that she was so indifferent, the maidservant spoke more seriously: "The second lady is very favored, and the third lady is the apple of our eldest master's eye. Especially the third lady, she is a very weird person, you must not offend her." She was afraid that the eldest lady did not know her own limits and would offend others.

Yan Ningxin suddenly became nervous when she thought of the smiling Yao Niang today.

It’s too difficult. It’s too difficult to live like this where you only know a person’s face but not his heart.