Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 306 - 305: Two Treasures

Chapter 306: Chapter 305: Two Treasures

In the dim light, Chu Lingxuan saw Chen Afu’s eyes still open, saying, "Go to sleep soon, we need to get up early tomorrow."

His voice was hoarse as he was exerting all his strength to suppress himself.

Chen Afu hummed in response and closed her eyes. Jin Yanzi’s voice echoed in her mind, "Who would have thought, that stinky Dabao turns out to be a prince. Mommy is truly blessed, she found two treasures at once; one is Jin Bao, the other is Dabao. No wonder you’re called Afu; from now on, people might as well call you Mommy Fu..."

She prattled on and on, causing Chen Afu to regain her alertness.

Chen Afu thought that Jin Bao truly was a treasure, while Dabao... he might be a treasure, or perhaps a great trouble.

The next day, they both slept rather soundly. It was Xia Yue who announced from outside, "Master, Ma’am, dawn is breaking."

They both opened their eyes and sat up, Chu Lingxuan said, "Come in."

Xia Yue and Yu Zhuo came in and served them as they dressed and freshened up.

As they were getting ready, they heard a maid report from outside, "Mrs. Su is here."

Upon hearing that, Chu Lingxuan got up and smiled, "Let her in."

The person receiving such courteous treatment from Chu Lingxuan had to be Mrs. Su, who Mrs. Chu must have brought from the palace. Not only does she take care of Mrs. Chu’s daily life, but she also manages many affairs. The last time Mrs. Chu went to Tang Garden without her, she was left in charge of the Marquis’ Mansion. Apart from Mrs. Chu, only she could keep Mrs. Chu in check.

She must have come to collect the betrothal gifts.

Hearing this, Chen Afu also hurriedly stood up.

Mrs. Su walked in with a smile on her full face. She was in her forties, quite elegant, wearing a ginger-yellow brocade dress, adorned with a jade-inlaid solid gold hairpin. Her makeup was also immaculate.

As soon as she entered, she first bowed to Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu and smiled, "Congratulations to the crown prince and the lady."

Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu both smiled and invited her to sit, the maids brought tea, and Xia Yue offered her two wallets.

Mrs. Su thanked them, and after a sip of tea, under Yu Zhuo’s guidance, she went to the bed and picked up a betrothal gift from under the pillow. She took a look at it, smiled, folded it neatly, and put it into the brocade box in her hand.

She turned around again to congratulate Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu before she left the room.

After seeing off Mrs. Su, Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu had a casual meal and then began to tidy up once more.

Today being the day of the family reunion, Chen Afu needed to dress up formally for the auspicious occasion. Because her status was not high, it was also the first time she would appear in front of the Chu family, she had to present herself more gracefully. It didn’t necessarily have to be extravagant, but it had to be dignified.

A long crimson brocade dress, with a row of ten double-swallow dark disk buttons on the front, and a bright red skirt embroidered with wraparound lotus patterns. The dress accentuated her waistline and set off her snow-white skin even more beautifully. It was perfumed with agarwood before her marriage, giving it a faint scent.

Hong Fei combed her hair into a bun known as a cloud bun, adorned it with a solid gold phoenix pendants hairpin with hanging pearls, and she wore pearl earrings and the jade bracelet given to her by Abbot Liao Chen.

Xia Yue did her makeup, knowing Chen Afu’s preferences, the eyebrows should be slightly light, the cheeks should be rosier, and the rouge for her lips should be mixed with pomade...

When Chen Afu appeared in the east room, looking at Chu Lingxuan who was waiting there with a playful smile in his eyes, he commented, "Hmm, very good, excellent."

Leaving the upper room, Chen Afu saw that the courtyard was very large. There were two gardenia trees under the windows of the main house, and several Bougainvilleas were planted in front of the side rooms. They hadn’t bloomed yet; only the winter jasmine in the flower pots was fluttering in the wind. In the middle of the courtyard were several rockery stones, surrounded by a clear pond, inhabited by Koi carps. There was a sweet osmanthus tree on the left of the courtyard gate and a few bamboo poles on the other side, making a rustling sound when the wind blew.

This courtyard was called the Bamboo Pavilion, where Chu Lingxuan lived as a child. It got its present shape after being renovated just before their marriage. The yard was once filled with bamboos.

Chu Lingxuan laughed and said, "It used to be called the Bamboo Pavilion; if Afu doesn’t like this name, she can change it."

Chen Afu indeed didn’t like the name much. It sounded like a scholar’s study, lacking the warmth of a home. However, considering she wasn’t going to stay here for long, she decided to retain the name for now.

Leaving the courtyard, they walked left along a flower path, passed through a walkway, and arrived at the Anrong Hall, where Mr. Chu and Mrs. Chu were boarding temporarily. The place used to be the main court where Marquis Chu and Abbot Liao Chen used to reside. In order to help Mrs. Chu snatch the authority of the household smoothly from Mrs. Chu, the previous Marquis let them move in. Being aware of their status, they knew they wouldn’t stay here for long, therefore, they chose to live in the back guest room, leaving everything else as it was.

Since the old Marquis now resided in the outer court, the family reunion was to take place here.

After entering the hanging flower gate and walking through the covered walkway, they reached the back guest room of the fifth lane. Anrong Hall was even larger, filled with green grass, red flowers, fine woods, green bamboo, and a courtyard full of birdsong...

Entering the main house, it was furnishing with red sandalwood furniture throughout, the floor was covered with rugs from the Western Regions, and there was a faint scent of agarwood. Everyone was there, full of jewelry, but the atmosphere was relatively heavy, only the laughter of Mrs. Chu and Chu Hua was heard.

No one from the Chu’s old home in Huzhou came for their marriage, no one from Luo’s mansion in Shizhou came, only the second and third family, along with Chu Hua’s family. No one from the old home came because they were not invited, while the Luo’s family members did not come because they were still upset. After Abbot Liao Chen became a monk, the Luo family never visited Marquis Yong’an again.

The old Marquis was sitting on the left side of the square table, with a man in his forties sitting to his right, followed by Mr. Chu, and finally a series of men or boys arranged in descending order of age. Therefore, the man next to the old Marquis must be Mr. Chu. Chen Afu didn’t dare to take a closer look and merely glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Mrs. Chu was sitting in the first chair on the right side, followed by Mrs. Chu, Chu Hua, a daughter-in-law, and two ladies.

They stood in front of the old Marquis, and maids brought two cushions for them to kneel on. They bowed to the old Marquis and said, "Grandson (granddaughter-in-law) greets grandfather, wishing grandfather happiness and longevity."

The old Marquis took a sip of the tea Chen Afu served him and simply said, "Hmm, the granddaughter-in-law should serve her husband well, and bear children soon." Having said that, a maid behind handed him a red envelope.

Chen Afu replied, "Yes," got up, and took the red envelope handed over by the maid before passing it to Xia Yue behind her.

Next was greeting Mr. Chu. There was no need to bow on this occasion, merely a curtsey would suffice.

Although Chen Afu had never seen Mr. Chu, she had thoroughly inquired about his character.

It was said that he was academically excellent in his youth, and had even become a scholar before he was disabled. He was also physically attractive, with an upright demeanor that won the hearts of many ladies. Unfortunately, the heavens opposed such talent, leaving him disabled with one arm amputated. Thereafter, he became temperamental and unpredictable...