Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 632 - 632 633 Provocation_1

Chapter 632: Chapter 633 Provocation_1 Chapter 632: Chapter 633 Provocation_1 Zhong Yulang had already brought the performance troupe to the Capital a few days ago. The previous tour location was merely a ten-day journey away from the Capital, so naturally, they arrived a bit quicker. Now, everything had been settled down, and he was currently waiting at the city gate solely to pick up Tianniu.

“You behave yourself,” Muniang instructed Tianniu, “if you want to see Zhao Jiangshui, you must let Zhong Yulang accompany you; you cannot just run around on your own. The Capital is not like Qinghua City, it’s full of royalty and nobles you cannot afford to offend. These few days I’ll need to return to my husband’s family. It might take a few days to settle in, so you listen well to what Zhong Yulang says and don’t be reckless, understand?”

Tianniu nodded obediently; although she was somewhat wild by nature, she was not disobedient. Now that she was away from home, she naturally knew she needed to be more reserved.

After giving her instructions, Muniang handed Tianniu over to Zhong Yulang and then returned to the Marquis Chen Mansion with Yu Ze.

A message had already arrived saying they would be there today, so the maids had been eagerly waiting at the entrance. Seeing them return, they hurriedly ran in to report their arrival.

Yu Ze walked in front, with Muniang following a step behind, leading a child by hand as they walked through the long courtyard, where maids and servants respectfully greeted them, “Greetings to the heir, greetings to the Princess.”

Muniang, accustomed to such a scene, was unfazed, but the two little ones found it novel and blinked their large eyes in wonder as they looked around. Seeing the beautiful hairpins worn by the others, they giggled delightfully, winning hearts with their charm.

Jian Yue and Yu Guang were naturally already waiting in the front hall. As the family of four entered, they performed their greetings.

The two little ones, affectionately clingy, said, “Hello Grandpa, hello Grandma.”

Upon hearing this, even the always-serious Yu Guang couldn’t help but laugh and reached out his hands, “Good children, come to Grandpa quickly, Grandpa will hold you.”

Xiaobai and Xiaohua held onto Muniang’s hand and looked up at her, their big eyes rolling around curiously.

Muniang squatted down and smiled, “Grandpa is calling for you. Go and let Grandma and Grandpa have a look at you, they miss you dearly. Later, they’ll give you something tasty to eat.”

As soon as they heard about the tasty treats, the little ones’ eyes lit up, and they scampered over, “Grandpa, hug.”

Yu Guang let out a hearty laugh as Jian Yue also felt relieved seeing the two healthy and sensible children.

“Alright, you must be tired from the journey back. Muniang, go and rest for now; Ze’er, come with me to the study,” Yu Guang, holding a grandchild, seemed rather reluctant to let go but still remembered there were matters to attend to.

Muniang, a bit worried, glanced at Yu Ze. The last time he had returned to the study, Yu Ze ended up getting beaten and only recovered after half a month. This time…

Yu Ze pinched Muniang’s hand and whispered, “Don’t worry, you go back to your room and rest first, I’ll be back soon.”

Only then did Muniang nod her head.

This scene, witnessed by Jian Yue and Yu Guang, was one of resignation, they had thought that he had married this woman only to repay a favor and that any affection would be fleeting. However, three years had passed since their marriage, and he still clung to her as if nothing had changed.

After all, Muniang was well-behaved, and now that they had a grandson, there was not much for the two elders to fuss about, so they said nothing more.

Muniang’s worries turned out to be unnecessary. Although Yu Guang summoned Yu Ze to the study to question him about his unilateral action in taking someone away, Yu Jin was also a child he dearly loved. How could he bear the thought of his own son suffering and wandering outside the home? Now that Yu Ze had brought him back, wasn’t it precisely what he had wished for?

So what seemed like a rebuke on the surface was actually a discussion of strategies to deal with the emperor and Qilian Kingdom.

As for Muniang, there was naturally no time for her to rest; her mother-in-law was still there, and with two children to amuse, particularly after what had happened before, Jian Yue’s impression of Muniang had significantly improved. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law now got along much better, and their conversation mainly revolved around the children.

Nanny Li was also very attentive, frequently praising Muniang’s excellent household management. Needless to say, such compliments made Jian Yue happy, and Muniang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having successfully navigated this incident.

Dinner that day was a big family reunion. In his joy, Yu Guang invited all the concubine’s sons and daughters, as well as the concubines, to dine at the same table. Yu Jin and Yu Ze were both back home, so it was indeed time for a harmonious and jubilant feast.

In the Daqian Dynasty, the status of concubine’s sons and daughters was low. Usually, they were not allowed to sit at the main table without special permission. Muniang had spent little time in Marquis Chen Mansion before, and given her exalted status as Princess, it was not necessary for her to specifically recognize them. Although they all lived under the same roof, Marquis Chen Mansion was vast, with each Lady having her own courtyard. If they didn’t make a deliberate effort, they would hardly encounter one another, so this was in fact her first time seeing them.

There were three concubines in Marquis Chen Mansion. Yu Guang was not a man who indulged in lustful pleasures. Moreover, he and Jian Yue had a good marital relationship, and he had little interest in taking more concubines. These three, including several less esteemed concubines, were either placed by the emperor or sent by others over the years. He kept the ones that couldn’t be refused and pushed away the rest; clearly, neither Jian Yue nor Yu Guang worried too much about them.

There were two concubine’s sons, the elder being twenty-three and the younger sixteen, and five concubine’s daughters, three of whom were already married. The whole family seemed harmonious and content. Muniang had heard that in large households, there was often insidiousness, and male children born to concubines typically did not survive. However, the two sons in Marquis Chen Mansion grew up healthy. Had she not witnessed Jian Yue’s treatment of the servants, Muniang might have thought of Jian Yue as lenient. Now, it seemed that there was more to it, and Muniang had no desire to get involved in these matters. After all, with her esteemed status, keeping Jian Yue happy was her priority; as for the others, they likely had neither the courage nor the inclination to provoke her.

“Our family seldom has the opportunity to gather like this; it’s been over a decade. Jin’er is back, and Ze’er is here too. That I could live to see this day is truly a blessing from the heavens,” Yu Guang laughed heartily, his voice brimming with joviality. With more drinks, his cheeks flushed with a rosy glow.

Jian Yue smiled gently, “Indeed, Ze’er has been fortunate to have gained two lovely children all at once. It’s a double blessing for our Yu Family.”

As she spoke, she cooed to Xiaobai in her arms. Jian Yue was fond of the two children and doted on them during meals. Now, she was holding one child, and Muniang the other. Yu Guang, looking at the two children, was overjoyed: “Exactly! Our Yu Family is truly harmonious!”

However, Lady Feng, the second concubine, suddenly said, “Indeed, Lord Marquis is now blessed with children and grandchildren. Our Li Xiao is already seven years old and will be able to take care of his younger brothers and sisters in the future.” Yet, her words carried an undertone of boastfulness.