The mother and daughter returned to Jin's Ruyi Hall. Cui Wenxi, as the eldest daughter in the family, acted appropriately and thoughtfully. Whenever she returned to her parents' home, she would always bring some gifts to each room.
When the other two families learned that she had returned home, they also came over with their brothers and sisters to say hello.
Cui Pingying, the Duke of the town, is quite authoritative in the family and has a clear mind. A wife is a wife and a concubine is a concubine. The following offenses must be disciplined by the family rules. He runs the family strictly, so the situation in the mansion is not as complicated as other families.
In addition, the Jin family strives for success, and all three of their children are highly motivated. They are very proud of Cui Pingying, and their status is unshakable.
There are five younger siblings in the two-bedroom concubine's room, including two sons and three daughters. Only one daughter is left unmarried, and the rest are married.
Cui Wenxi ordered Fang Ling to distribute the brocades he brought to them. He chose the best brocades from the Zhiwei House and made several bright and beautiful spring clothes, which were very popular among the concubines.
The whole family sat together and chatted about home affairs. After chatting for a long time, the two concubines dispersed.
After they left, Cui Wenxi asked about the eldest brother's situation.
The eldest son Cui Wenjing is currently the minister of the Ministry of Industry. Although he has a title, he still passed the imperial examination and entered the official career, which makes Cui Pingying look good.
Two of the three sons in the family passed the imperial examination and became officials, which can be regarded as having some real ability. Only Saburo was less qualified and got a job from the sixth rank through family connections, which was barely enough.
In general, there are no dandies.
Four of the five daughters have all married well, and the one who has married best is naturally Cui Wenxi. The noble prince in Beijing is already considered the top one, and the next one is the palace. Their family does not have such big ambitions.
Seeing that his sister-in-law Wang was not looking well, Cui Wenxi specially gave her a bird's nest.
Now the Wang family is assisting the Jin family in taking care of the Duke's family business. In the next hundred years, her natal brother and sister-in-law will be her backing, so the relationship will always be close.
Cui Pingying is currently visiting the Hou Mansion and won't come back until the afternoon. At noon, the Wang family, mother and son are also having dinner at Ruyi Hall.
Knowing that Cui Wenxi loved to eat fish jelly and roasted mutton, Mrs. Jin specially ordered the small kitchen to prepare them, and also ordered her servants to sort out the Jinyuyuan where she lived before leaving the palace.
The cook in the house is good at making fish jelly and dipping it in spicy and sour sauce. Cui Wenxi likes it the most, and she uses a lot of it.
Jin teased: "Look at how embarrassed you are, could it be that Shiro didn't give you anything to eat?"
Cui Wenxi took a sip of pigeon soup and replied: "No, it's miserable to be disliked."
Jin knew that the two had a deep relationship, but he didn't take it seriously.
But her daughter was already quite old, and her inability to have children was always a worry for her, so she muttered again: "A while ago, I heard that a mother-in-law came from Guangyang..."
Before he finished speaking, Cui Wenxi interrupted: "My mother has given up on this. I don't want to drink medicine anymore and mess around."
"Why is this nonsense?"
"If you give up on this idea, your daughter will be destined to have no offspring." He added, "I have been to the hospital several times, and there has been no good diagnosis. Don't want anything you don't have in your life." It’s forced.”
This was really depressing. Jin sighed and complained: "When Yuanniang was a child, a fortune teller came to see you and said that you were destined to be rich and noble. I didn't believe it. How could you end your good fortune?" After that."
Cui Wenxi laughed and said, "My mother has been deceived by others. She was destined to be rich and noble when she was born in the Duke's palace."
Kim: “…”
She was choked and speechless.
Cui Wenxi didn't want to mention this and changed the topic to talk about something else. Jin finally gave up.
After lunch, Mrs. Wang took the children back to her yard, while mother and daughter drank tea to eat.
Cui Wenxi had something to say to the Jin family and ordered Fangling to send away the idle people and others.
When only the mother and daughter were left in the wing, she stopped talking and said, "Mom, I came back today because I wanted to tell you something."
Jin took a sip of tea and asked curiously: "Why do you have to hide it?"
Cui Wenxi was silent for a long time before saying, "It's between me and Shiro."
Kim: "???"
Cui Wenxi thought for a while, "This time Shiro brought a girl back from Weizhou, and she is pregnant. She is less than three months old and the fetus is not stable."
Hearing this, Jin's face changed. He knew her thoughts and guessed, "Do you want to make peace with him?"
Cui Wenxi did not answer.
Jin was anxious, "He brought back a pregnant girl from outside in a good manner. How did he explain to you?"
Cui Wenxi said seriously: "Aniang should know what my daughter is thinking. When he asked for marriage, he made an oath that he would not take concubines and would not have other women. Now that he has broken his promise, my daughter cannot tolerate it, so she proposed to him Peace and separation."
Jin was furious when he heard this, "He said he wanted to take a concubine?"
Cui Wenxi: "I never mentioned it. I just told me to leave the mother and keep the child. After the girl gave birth, she took the child into my lap and raised her. As for the birth mother, whether she sells or sends it away, it is all up to me. He has no control over it." Complain.”
Jin finally felt a little relieved, "You don't agree?"
Cui Wenxi nodded, "My daughter is very small-minded and can't stand other girls sharing her husband."
She knew her daughter, Mo Ruomu, and Jin knew her stubborn temper, but she didn't say anything.
I believe that no matter which woman suddenly learns that her husband brings someone back from outside, she will not be able to accept it, let alone a pregnant woman.
Thinking of this, Jin felt distressed and helpless, "This matter needs to be discussed in the long run. When your father comes back, we will discuss it carefully."
Cui Wenxi looked at her quietly, knowing that they would definitely not allow it. The purpose of coming back today was just to tell them, not to get their permission and support.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Jin said with a lump in his throat: "Yuan Niang has a hard life. I don't know how many people envied this marriage at the beginning, but now it has ended up in this situation. It really makes my mother feel bad."
Cui Wenxi stood up and sat next to her, held her hand and said, "It's my daughter who failed to live up to her expectations. She can't continue Shiro's incense. I can't blame him."
Jin sighed.
Cui Wenxi continued: "He is a prince. He will always need an heir to inherit the title in the future. The daughter is infertile. If she wants to maintain this marriage, she can only adopt her from elsewhere.
"If the girl gives birth to a daughter this time, there will be a second girl who will give birth to a child for him until there is an heir to continue the family legacy.
"Auntie, you know your daughter's temper. I can't bear it, and I can't bear it."
"Yuan Niang..."
"He went to another hospital last night, and I waited in Tingxue Hall until curfew. At that time, I understood that I couldn't bear my husband being with another woman, not even for a moment."
These words made Jin worried and said helplessly: "Yuan Niang has suffered."
Cui Wenxi tried his best to look sad and helpless in front of her, "Auntie, my daughter feels wronged, but she doesn't dare to vent her anger in front of him. After all, this is my fault."
Jin's lips twitched, wanting to say something, but she finally endured it, "This matter is related to your future for the rest of your life. You need to think it through carefully. Now that you are angry, don't make impulsive decisions. We can discuss it after your father comes back, okay?" "
Cui Wenxi nodded and followed her words: "I'm a little tired, so I'll go back and take a lunch break."
Jin: "Okay." He added, "Don't worry Yuanniang, there should be room for maneuver in the matter between you and Shiro."
Cui Wenxi did not answer.
Back at her Jinyu Garden, Fang Ling helped her change into comfortable home clothes.
Cui Wenxi removed the flower hairpins and other things from her bun and took off her makeup. She seemed to have expected something and said to Fangling: "If my mother calls you over for questioning, you know how to respond."
Fang Ling nodded and whispered: "I know this, and I will try my best to make my wife's situation in the house as pitiful as possible."
Hearing this, Cui Wenxi couldn't help but laugh, "Don't go overboard."
Fang Ling also smiled.
Sometimes she had to admire her master, who was still as stable as a mountain in the face of marriage changes. This kind of calmness was really not something that ordinary girls could achieve.
As expected, not long after Cui Wenxi lay down, the maid from Jin Yuyuan came over.
Fang Ling followed her to Jin's place.
Jin was in a bad mood and looked sad.
The maid opened the door curtain and Fang Ling came in to salute. Jin looked at her and asked, "Can Yuanniang rest?"
Fang Ling replied: "I'm already lying down."
Jin made a gesture and the maid in the side room withdrew. She asked, "What happened to the girl that King Qing brought back?"
Fang Ling recounted what she knew in detail, which made Jin feel uncomfortable. She lowered her eyes and said sadly, "She never made any noise?"
Fang Ling said: "My wife has never had any conflict with Prince Qing from the beginning to the end, which shows that she has restrained herself." After a moment of pause, "My servant had advised her at first to turn a blind eye and tolerate the past, but when I saw her last night I sat alone in Tingxue Hall until curfew, and then I realized that slave seemed to be wrong."
Jin sighed, "She must feel aggrieved."
Fang Ling said "Yes" and said, "My wife told my slave that she couldn't bear it. She would go crazy when she saw Prince Qing going to another courtyard. Moreover, she was ten months pregnant, so there would be friction in the future. She just wanted to save her own dignity and invited herself." Go down to the hall."
Jin looked at her and said: "Fangling, you are also a girl. In her current situation, making peace with Prince Qing is undoubtedly the worst choice."
Fang Ling remained silent.
Jin said realistically: "I have worked so hard to raise such a daughter, how can I watch her destroy her future? If she is motivated, it will not do her any good."
Fang Ling asked tentatively: "Does Madam mean to persuade you to make peace?"
Jin nodded, "You are her personal maid. She is close to you on weekdays. Being divorced is a bad idea for her. If you want to protect her future, please give her more advice in the future."
Fang Ling: "I understand."
Jin made a dismissal gesture, and Fang Ling bowed and left.
In the afternoon, Cui Pingying, the Duke of Shenshi Town, returned to his residence. The servant informed him that Princess Qing had returned to his residence. He was overjoyed and hurried to Jinyuyuan.
Cui Pingying is over fifty, with a face with Chinese characters, a tall and burly figure, and a majestic look all over his body. He is a person who speaks his mind.
When Jin heard that he was back, he stood up and went out to greet him.
Cui Pingying asked from afar: "I heard Yuanniang is back, but is she here?"
Jin made a blessing and replied, "I have something to discuss with Mr. Lang."
Seeing her solemn expression, Cui Pingying calmed down, made a "please" gesture, and the two of them went to the wing.
The maid served tea, and Cui Pingying asked: "Can Yuanniang be in Jinyuyuan now?"
Jin nodded, and after the maid stepped back, she explained Cui Wenxi and Prince Qing's affairs to him in detail, which made Cui Pingying frown.
The room became silent for a moment.
I don't know how much time passed before Cui Pingying paced back and forth with his hands behind his back: "This matter depends on Prince Qing's attitude. If he is sincere, he will definitely come to take Yuanniang back. He has to give us an explanation."
Jin said worriedly: "You know Yuanniang's temperament, I'm worried that she won't be able to bear it."
Cui Pingying felt uncomfortable, and said helplessly: "If she reconciles, her future will be completely ruined."
Jin sighed and murmured: "Yes, if Heli, how can she get married in the future?" He added, "She is aloof and arrogant, and most men look down upon her. It would be good if she could have children, at least she would have a child." There is a way out, but..."
Cui Pingying sat back on the chair, took a sip of tea and said nothing.
Jin looked at him and said, "I think the two of them probably still have some room for maneuver. Lang Jun will give Prince Qing a hard knock. If he really takes Yuan Niang to heart, how about we try to persuade her more?"
Cui Pingying said seriously: "This matter all depends on Prince Qing's sincerity. If he sincerely considers Yuanniang, we will naturally give him more advice."
Jin nodded.
Cui Pingying continued: "Don't mention this matter again until King Qing comes."
Kim said yes.
The couple talked about other things, but Cui Wenxi's marriage always came up.
The two of them were always worried. If they really came to the point of separation, her future would be really worrying.
Thinking of this, Cui Pingying became worried.
The daughter who had put so much effort into raising her was so proud at first, but now she is so disappointed.
He was not only afraid of hurting her, but also afraid that she would face difficulties in the future.
It's not that the Duke's mansion can't support her, it's just that I can't reconcile myself to the thought of such an excellent girl stopping here.
He once regarded her as the pride of the Cui family, and sometimes wondered why she was not the son-in-law. If she were the son-in-law, the Cui family's burden should be on her to make the entire family prosperous.
When I think of the former glory reduced to today's disgrace, I feel like I have a lump in my throat, which is not a pleasant feeling.
In the evening, the family gathered together to have a meal, and the large long dining table was filled with sumptuous food.
Cui Pingying and Kim sat directly above, Cui Wenjing and his wife sat on the side, Cui Wenxi sat opposite them, and behind them were the two concubines and their children.
The distinction between seniority and inferiority is strictly enforced and never exceeds half a step.
The dishes on the table were served one after another. The rouge goose breast was bright in color, and the sweet and sour apricot blossom sauce was the most decadent. Only twelve pieces of goose breast were dotted on the white porcelain plate, which was very eye-catching.
The Buddha Jumping Over the Wall in the soup cup has a rich meaty aroma, and the soup is thick and made from ingredients such as abalone and sea cucumber. It is fresh but not greasy.
Braised spring bamboo shoots in oil is the favorite of the Cui family. No one can resist the tenderness and crispiness of spring bamboo shoots. In this season, it is indispensable on almost every household's dining table.
The fish meat made from Anhui fish is a test of knife skills. It needs to be sliced as thin as paper. Its color is as white as frost and crystal clear. It is extremely delicious when dipped in special dipping sauce.
The mutton sauce is bright yellow, fat but not greasy, and has a salty taste. It is a common meat dish among wealthy families.
The spring dish is placed in a round bamboo woven rice dumpling with a thinly baked crust. The accompanying vegetables include soybean sprouts, shredded radish, leek, eggs, bamboo shoots, fungus, day lily and other vegetarian dishes.
If you are tired of eating meat, it is best to wrap it up with a spring plate to relieve your tiredness.
The desserts and pastries have not been served yet, and they will only be served after the main meal is almost eaten.
Usually, each room distributes its own food, and only for family dinners or festivals will the young and old sit together. Today, Cui Wenxi returned to her parents' house, and the whole family gathered together to chat about home affairs.
Just when the Cui family was about to use their chopsticks, they suddenly saw a servant coming to report that King Qing's carriage had arrived at the door of the house.
Everyone was startled and looked at Cui Wenxi involuntarily. She smiled awkwardly and said to Cui Pingying: "Maybe I came here to ask for a stutter."
People who didn't know what was going on covered their mouths and snickered. Jin was happy and said hurriedly: "Go and invite her."
Cui Pingying was also very happy in her heart. She looked at her daughter with soft eyes.
Cui Wenxi pretended to be nonchalant, feeling a little irritated, knowing that she would probably be besieged by her family next.
Not long after, Zhao Chengyan walked into the wing. He was dressed in a robe, with an elegant figure and an official hat. Apparently he came over before he had time to change after returning from duty.
Everyone stood up and saluted him.
Zhao Chengyan looked at Cui Wenxi with hot eyes. As soon as he returned home and learned that she had waited for the curfew at Tingxue Hall last night, he couldn't sit still for a moment and hurried to the Duke's Mansion.
Zhao Chengyan stepped forward with dignity and called his father-in-law, personally helped the two elders get up, and said hello to Cui Wenjing.
Everyone stood up one after another.
The maid brought a copper basin for him to clean his hands. He thought the official hat was in the way, so he took it off and handed it to Fang Ling.
The servant added bowls and chopsticks, and Zhao Chengyan looked at Cui Wenxi and joked: "It's better to arrive early than to arrive by chance. Yuan Niang, see if I can beg for food quickly enough?"
As soon as this was said, everyone laughed.
Cui Wenxi glanced at the man and said coldly: "I'm afraid it won't be easy for Shiro to get this stutter next time."
Zhao Chengyan knew that she was competing and said firmly: "Nonsense." After saying that, he looked at Cui Wenjing and asked, "Dalang, did you leave a portion of the Cui family's meals for me, Zhao Silang?"
Cui Wenjing smiled and said: "Yes, Shiro can come anytime!"
The whole family was chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was relaxed and joyful, as if nothing had happened.
Cui Wenxi said "tsk" without saying a word.
Fang Ling looked at her with some worry, and he could imagine that she would be besieged by the Cui family.
I'm afraid this journey will be difficult.