~ A FAMILY REUNION ~
The Old Madam looked at Mu Yunyao on one side, and there seemed to be a flash of different emotions in her eyes: “This is Yao’er, right?”
Mu Yunyao folded her hands together and bent over to kowtow, “Yunyao greets Grandmother.”
Amongst the two beautiful women, the one dressed in the lotus colors on the left went up to Mu Yunyao and helped her up. She has a bright face, with her willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes. She was the second daughter-in-law of the Old Madam.
The Second Madam took Mu Yunyao’s hand and pulled her to look at her carefully, “Eldest Sister-in-law, look at Yao’er. She has a beautiful appearance, almost as if she was born to be born into the heavens. Besides, she is proficient in embroidery techniques and has a deep knowledge of tea art. Her appearance and temperament are not inferior to Yuyi. She was the granddaughter of the Old Madam, so she was comparable to her own granddaughter. Now that you have returned to the side of Old Madam, I wonder how many people will envy after carefully nurturing her for a few days.”
Another woman smiles and nods. She was the Eldest Madam of the Su family, who is in charge of the Su family’s internal affairs. Compared to the Second Madam, she looked gentle and elegant. Standing in the distance, she stood straight, orderly, and well behaved. It seems that even her smile is calculated carefully, and it will never be one point more or one less, making people impossible to people to see and understand her, “Younger Sister-in-law is right. Yao’er is indeed extremely outstanding.”
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand and took Mu Yunyao’s hand over. The meticulously drawn face carried a slight smile, and she lifted her hand to take down the pair of jade-green gold silk bracelets from her wrist, “When Eldest Aunt looks at you, I like you very much, so this bracelet will be treated as a greeting gift.”
The Second Madam quickly spoke up. “Yao’er, quickly take them. These bracelets are good stuff. I’ve been envious of them for a long time!”
“Look at what my sister-in-law said. I still have another pair. They are the same as this one, and they came out from the same piece of material. I’ll have someone deliver it to you later.”
“That’s great. I can be considered to have basked in the glory together with Yao’er.”
Mu Yunyao’s face had a bashful expression, but her eyes were clear and bright, and her smile is also contagious: “Thank you, Eldest Aunt.”
The Eldest Madam had the ability to win over the hearts of people. She had been in charge of residence for many years, but no one had ever said that she was not good at anything. She has never been stingy with silver, and she treats people with rewards and punishments. Her reputation for virtue spread widely.
“As long as you like it.”
Mu Yunyao heavily nodded her head, a beautiful smile on her face, and her entire person became even more charming and beautiful: “Of course, I like it.”
There are two branches in the Su family right now. Su Wenyuan, the eldest son of Old Madam Sun, married Meng Yunxiang, the second daughter of Meng Youran, the Grand Preceptor, and gave birth to a son and a daughter, Su Qingwu and Su Yuyi. In the Su family, the two of them got favored and pressured the other children so that they couldn’t lift their heads completely.
Su Zhiyuan, the second son of Old Madam Sun, married Qi Rou, the daughter of Qi Shouye, Guanglu Temple’s Minister. Qi Rou had been married into the Su Family for many years and had been pregnant several times. However, she was unable to protect her child successfully. For the last time, she worked hard and gave birth to a daughter named Su You, but injured her body.
She hopes Su You blessed by the heavens to grow up safely. For many years, she has been ill and has not been well. Even the slightest disturbance could cause trouble for the entire second branch.
The background of Meng’s family and Qi’s family is quite different. However, the Old Madam has a strong preference for the Second Madam, and she loves much the sickly granddaughter Su You. Thus, even though Eldest Madam was in charge of the Su family’s internal affairs, she didn’t give Second Madam any mercy at all.
MadamQi is in the second branch. But there is no bargaining at all. Therefore, the first branch and the second branch look harmonious, but the two sisters-in-law were somewhat at odds.
Now that the Eldest Madam gave her a greeting gift, the Second Madam naturally wouldn’t let it go and directly pulled out a Danyang hairpin with a red jade embedded in it from her hair. “I think Yao er’s face is as beautiful as lotus. This hairpin exactly matches you. It’s just a little bit of Second Aunt’s heart and takes it as a formal greeting gift. I’ll make it up for you later.”
Mu Yunyao hurriedly bowed and thanked her. “Thank you, Second Aunt. I was in a hurry when I came. Mother and I also prepared a present for Grandmother and the two aunts. I wonder if the people below have sorted them out.”
The Eldest Madam smiled but remained silent. The Second Madam, on the other hand, looked very interested. “I’ve heard that Yao’er’s embroidery skills are unrivaled. Even the Emperor is full of praise. Have you prepared clothes for me?”
Mu Yunyao’s face turned slightly red, and she looked somewhat embarrassed. “I’ve never seen Second Aunt before, so I’m afraid that the clothes I made won’t fit you, so I only prepared an ordinary gift. Please forgive me, Second Aunt.”
“Second Aunt is just teasing you. I heard that you have many businesses in Jingling City and that you rushed here immediately after making arrangements. How could you have time to make clothes? Besides, the family is the most important, and the gifts are second to none.”
Mu Yunyao couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. No wonder Old Madam Sun liked this daughter-in-law. It was because Madam Qi’s words were too pleasant to hear, and every single one of them could enter people’s hearts. Not to mention that her personality was very straightforward, and has a sincere smile on her face.
It is actually easier to get close to the Second Madam, who can’t understand the depth.
At this moment, Qi Mama walked in quickly. She had a smile on her face, but upon closer inspection, she found that she forced. “Paying respects to the Old Madam. Paying respects to the two Madams.”
The Eldest Madam looked over. “Has the courtyard been tidied up?”
Qi Mama looked even stiffer when she heard the words.
Earlier, she had clearly sent someone to the residence to report that she asked the Eldest Madam to sent more people to the dock to help deliver the gifts. However, upon returning, she found that the little servant who had passed the message had twisted his legs and came back later than them. Now, those gifts are hanging on the dock, and many people hear the wind to watch the fun.
When the Eldest Madam saw Qi Mama’s expression, her heart violently trembled. She suddenly had a bad premonition. Just as she was about to inquire, Mu Yunyao opened her mouth to speak.
“Qi Mama, did my mother and my luggage had sent to the residence? It just so happens that Second Aunt asked just now. Let Jin Lan, Jin Qiao, and the others bring the stuff here.”
Qi Mama stammered, “This … Reporting to Young Miss, the gifts ….”
Mu Yunyao blinked her eyes in doubt, “Because there’s too much luggage, so you can’t find what Mother and I prepared for a while? Let Jin Lan, Jin Qiao, and the others look for them. Those boxes are all specially marked, and the patterns on them are easy to distinguish.”
Qi Mama found it hard to say anything. “That’s not true …”
The Second Madam frowned slightly and said, “Qi Mama, you’re an old people of the residence. How can you be so hesitant in front of the Old Madam? If you have anything to say,
you only need to say it!”
Qi Mama glanced at the Eldest Madam and then lowered her head. “It’s Madam and Young Miss’s gifts. They’re all on the docks right now, and they’ll need a few more people to bring everything back.”
With that said, the Eldest Madam’s expression changed, and she quickly smiled, “I was not thoughtful enough. I didn’t expect my sister and Yao’er to bring so much luggage here. Qi Mama, you should also be the same, if you lack any helpers, you can call for help from the East Courtyard.”
I’m just laughing at how well Yaoyao set them up so badly. Ah well... more to come. 😏
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