Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 495 - 493

Chapter 495: 493

Shangguan Xuanyi seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, barking, "Move along!"

Hearing him, the rest hurriedly caught up.

They had watched Shangguan Xuanyi’s gloomy face all the way, realizing the two must have had a conflict.

Di Shaowei’s curiosity was piqued. He decided to satisfy his own curiosity after meeting the crown prince of the Eastern Jin Dynasty!

Interestingly, Shangguan Xuanhao had the same thought.

The group swiftly left.

Shen Chengyao wanted to ask Xiao’er whether she had an argument with the Sixth Prince, but seeing the streams of people here, he held back his words.

Finally, it was Liu Minhong’s carriage’s turn to enter the city.

After the guardsmen checked, the coachman drove the carriage up to Shen Chengyao and others, drawing the curtains of the carriage.

Shen Chengyao performed a long respectful bow, and respectfully greeted, "I pay my respects to my great grandfather and mother-in-law."

Then he gave a bow of equal rank to Liu Minhong.

"We’re a family, no need for such formalities," said Mr. Shi and Xiao’er’s grandmother Mrs. Liu Lin.

Jingrui and his siblings also hurriedly bowed.

Liu Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu also jumped off the carriage and bowed.

"Let’s go home first. Grandfather and mother must be tired after such a bumpy ride," Shen Chengyao suggested, with a smile.

Everyone nodded.

Back at the Marquis Shengping Mansion, Mrs. Liu, who had just woken up, heard her maid say Mrs. Liu Lin and the others had arrived. She thought she must have heard wrong.

After double-checking that she heard correctly, she hastily headed to the front yard.

Luckily she remembered the big ball she was carrying in her stomach and refrained from running.

Shen Chengyao was leading them over at that moment.

Seeing Mrs. Liu striding over in the distance, Shen Chengyao quickly rushed over, "Easy, easy, no rush!"

Mrs. Liu was moved. Although she wanted to reproach Shen Chengyao for not informing her earlier, she was too excited to utter a word.

Arriving in front of Mr. Shi and Mrs. Liu Lin, she fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably: "Undutiful daughter pays respect to grandfather and mother."

Unable to wait to perform the ceremony inside the house, she knelt down immediately. Seeing her kneel, Shen Chengyao followed suit. Xiao’er and her siblings also quickly knelt down to pay their respects.

Mrs. Liu Lin quickly helped her up. "You’re not a first-time mother anymore! Why are you kneeling? What if you hurt the child!"

Seeing her own daughter become younger and more youthful, Mrs. Liu Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Because I feel I’ve let you down, mother. I haven’t been home for several years."

In the past, she rarely returned home when they were living difficult lives. Now that life was good, she couldn’t go home.

"Silly child, it’s not your fault! If you can’t come to us, we can come to you!" Mr. Shi said.

Mrs. Liu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, nodded, and turned to pay respects to Liu Minhong and Mrs. Tan. "Brother, sister-in-law, you have had a hard time over the years!"

"Don’t be silly!" Seeing his long-lost sister, Liu Minhong was also full of relief.

"It’s not a hard time, we are living well now. You don’t need to worry, little sister." Mrs. Tan looked Mrs. Liu up and down, finding her even more beautiful than when she was a girl which relieved and amazed her at the same time.

Who in the world would be blessed enough to become younger with age?

"Let’s go inside first! Grandfather and mother have had a long journey and must be tired." Shen Chengyao suggested.

"Yes, I was too excited that I forgot about that."

Naturally, the room was filled with pleasantries and small talk.

At lunchtime, Liu Jingshu and her husband, who had received the news, also came over with their children.

Shen Chengyao also invited Shen Chengzu’s family to come over.

For family members who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, there was naturally a lot to discuss. They kept talking non-stop even after finishing their meals.

The men talked about business and official matters.

The women discussed household affairs.

The children were talking about their fun and games experiences.

Liu Minhong, along with her three children spent the night there.

Because Prince An returned to the Imperial Capital, both Shen Chengyao and Lai Zhewei had to attend the palace banquet, so both men and women dined together, enjoying a hotpot.

Mrs.Tan hadn’t been to the Imperial Capital for many years, her grandchildren were now grown-ups.

Mrs. Liu Lin met her granddaughter’s children for the first time. After embracing each one of them, she refused to let go of Jingshu’s daughter, Lai Mengtian.

Master Shi held onto his eldest grandson, Lai Yanping, refusing to let go. Mrs. Tan held onto Lai Yan’an in the same manner, while Liu Minhong watched them, feeling envious.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the flower hall to talk.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, the business back home is now on track; the furniture shop has opened branches in many county towns, so why not consider moving to the Imperial Capital like my fourth uncle and aunt?" Xiao’er suggested.

Due to transportation being quite slow, Shen Chengyao’s longest holiday of the year, which is during the New Year, is less than a month long, barely giving enough time to visit home.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liu Lin shook her head: "I’m old, I’m used to living in Shengping County, I don’t want to move."

Even though Mrs. Tan missed her daughter, she also didn’t like the lifestyle of the Imperial Capital. The rules of living there were too stringent for her!

"Living in Shengping County is much more relaxing!"

The Imperial Capital requires a lot of etiquette that she can’t abide by. She couldn’t live such an uneasy lifestyle.

"How are Zhiwen and Zhiwu’s studies going?" Mrs. Liu didn’t persist on the matter after hearing this, after all, the most important thing about life is to feel comfortable.

"The teacher said that next year the two brothers can try for the examination." Mrs. Tan couldn’t help feeling proud while talking about her sons.

Currently, both Zhiwen and Zhiwu are studying in Juxian Academy, and both brothers are doing well in their studies.

"Next year, Jinghao will also try for the examination. After Zhiwen and Zhiwu pass the scholar examination, let them come to the Imperial College in the Imperial Capital to study."

"Let’s discuss this later, the education at Juxian Academy is quite good."

Mrs. Liu didn’t persuade any further, indeed, Juxian Academy is highly reputed and attracts many students from afar.

"Since we’re here, we should pay a visit to Madam Lai. Shall I send someone with a note tomorrow?" Mrs. Liu asked Mrs. Tan and Mrs. Liu Lin.

"Absolutely, the sooner the better."

The next day, Mrs. Liu sent someone to Lai Mansion with a note and on the third day Mrs. Liu accompanied Mrs. Liu Lin for the visit. Everything went smoothly.

After the Lai Family’s second branch moved out of Lai Mansion, Madam Young Master Lai, Mrs. Zhu, started acting normally, her reality didn’t allow her to act otherwise! After all, she gave birth to another daughter, and the childbirth had taken a toll on her. The imperial doctor said it would be difficult for her to conceive again.

Even though Madam Lai heard from Mrs. Lai that Mrs. Lu had also been hurt during childbirth, and later Mrs. Liu gave her a pill which helped her conceive soon after, Madam Lai couldn’t bring herself to ask Mrs. Liu for the same favor. She didn’t want to put Mrs. Liu in a difficult position, so she had Young Master Lai take a concubine. The concubine proved herself to be resourceful as she gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy at the first try. The baby was only three months old now. Madam Lai, out of the fear of how Mrs. Zhu might raise the boy given her temperament, decided to have the baby registered under Mrs. Zhu’s name but would personally raise him in her own courtyard.

Madam Lai senior also agreed to this, she too didn’t think highly of Mrs. Zhu.

No one knew the level of frustration Mrs. Zhu was harbouring inwardly, but she indeed stopped making a fuss.

When Mrs. Tan heard about this, she had no sympathy for Mrs. Zhu.

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