Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 552 - 543: Xijin Marquis Manor

Chapter 552: Chapter 543: Xijin Marquis Manor

Prince He was arranged to stay with Yu in the fourth-advance east wing. He did not like it, he particularly wanted it to be like before, living in his mother’s Warm Pavilion. He tugged Chen Afu’s sleeve quietly and said, "My mother-in-law, I’m having a hard time staying here, can it be like when I was a child?"

Chen Afu quietly laughed and said, "What do you call me now?"

Prince He hiccupped, his face turning somewhat red. He was now calling her mother-in-law, and it wasn’t proper for a son-in-law to live in his mother-in-law’s room, so he obediently went to the fourth-advance courtyard.

The next day, Chen Afu got up early. Chu Lingxuan had stayed in the outer court the previous night.

She had someone wake up Prince He and Chu Hanyan, they had to send off someone. She also personally brought Yu, who was soundly asleep, to the main house, woke him up, changed his clothes, had breakfast, and gave him some instructions.

She advised him to respect his grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as his maternal grandmother and grandfather, and not to be mischievous. Most importantly, he should often visit his paternal grandmother and talk sweetly to her. When dealing with his paternal grandmother, he should take a cue from how Yu’er interacts with his grandfather...

Yu was very composed and didn’t fully agree with his mother’s perspective. He said, "I should be respectful and talk sweetly, but not be clingy like my sister... it’s embarrassing..."

Chen Afu laughed and glanced at an oblivious Prince He. When he was young, his skill at sticking to her wasn’t any less than Yu’er sticking to his grandfather.

After breakfast, Chen Afu led Prince He, Chu Hanyan, Yu, Zhui Feng, and Sasa to the front courtyard. After they got on the carriage, Yu’s crying could be heard. He was just now realizing that he didn’t want to leave his mother, father, and his siblings, more than he wanted to go out and play, but it was already too late.

Tears welled up in Chen Afu’s eyes. Through the blur, she saw two birds chasing the carriage, circling above it. It was Hui Hui and Qi Qi.

After they returned to the countryside, they would have to follow someone or Jin Bao back home. The road was too long for them to find their way back by themselves. That little thing, Jin Bao, since he had Jin Bei, he spent most of his time outside in the wild, and he ran particularly far.

That day, Yu’er and Ming cried for a long time, they just wouldn’t be comforted. Especially Yu’er, his voice cried hoarse, and he was covered in sweat.

Chen Afu was both distressed and angry, threatening to spank their bottoms. It was Mrs. Chu who came and took the two children and Chu Hanyan to play at the Xijin Marquis Manor, saying she was going to see their grandpa’s new house, that finally stopped their crying.

The Xijin Marquis Manor was not far from Yong’an Marquis Manor, only separated by one street. Walking there would take a little over fifteen minutes, and it would only take half the time by carriage.

On the eighteenth of May, the third master’s family officially moved out to the Xijin Marquis Manor.

Mrs. Chu had already prepared Chu Lin and Chu Bi’s dowries. But she dared not leave them in the second master’s room, afraid that shameless Mrs. Li would quietly use it, so she left it at Yong’an Marquis Manor, to be sent over just before their weddings.

Chen Afu really didn’t want to part with the third master’s family. The third master, Mrs. Chu, Chu Lingwei, Chu Lingzhi, they all got along like one family with them.

Before she left, Mrs. Chu said to Chen Afu, "Keep the Minghe Residence for me, when it’s time for your childbirth, I will come back to accompany you."

Chen Afu rubbed her flat belly, particularly scared that this child might be a girl. She really didn’t want to hand over the child to Mrs. Chu for upbringing. If they hadn’t moved out, it would still be manageable, since they lived close. But now that they’ve moved, even though the two houses aren’t far apart, it’s not possible to see each other every day.

Chu Lingwei was already fifteen, and in a few years he’d be able to marry. Once Mrs. Chu had her own daughter-in-law, she wouldn’t yearn so much for the granddaughter in her womb.

Of course, Chen Afu didn’t dare share her thoughts out loud. She smiled and said, "I’ll always keep the Minghe Residence for you, my third sister-in-law. You can come and stay anytime."

Today, Chu Lingxuan has to go to the office, Chu Lingwei is at the Imperial College, and Chu Lingzhi has to go to school. Only Chen Afu, accompanying her three children, was sending the Third Master and his wife to Xijin Marquis Manor.

Today, the Xijin Marquis’ Mansion is hosting a feast, and in addition to inviting Chen Afu’s family, the families of Prince Rui, Prince He, Grand Princess Rong Jing, the Xies, the Chen Shiying family, and the subordinates of the two third masters are all invited.

Today it’s an intimate banquet, while a huge one will be held on the 20th. The Third Master and his wife are known for their hearty character, and are both greatly favored by the current emperor, the late emperor, and the late dowager empress, they have many friends and most of the imperial relatives, nobles, and prominent families in Capital City will come to congratulate.

The gift Chen Afu brought today is four large jars of her specially brewed soaking wine.

Upon seeing such a simple gift, Chu Hanyan felt a little embarrassed. She said: "Mother, the gifts we usually give are mostly gold and jade ware, embroidered items, or brocade pieces, and the four treasures of the study. Even if we give wine, it’s usually a famous brand like Blue Flower Brew from outside. Why are we giving Third Grandfather this homemade soaking wine? It doesn’t look good."

Chen Afu laughed, the little girl often learned to manage the household with her, and it was indeed quite effective. She laughed and said, "This soaking wine is a good thing, it is soaked with rare herbs, which your third grandmother specifically asked for."

The exact words of Mrs. Third were, "I know you have unusually close relations with Master Wu Zhi, and he gave you a lot of good things. Don’t keep them for yourself, divide a few jars of your old cellar that’s been soaked with good medicine for me. My husband loves it. Make sure it’s mother-and-child, the big jar kind."

Mrs. Third knows her stuff, she knows that this wine is much better than the gold, silver, and precious jewelry. When she saw Chen Afu directing her servants to load four jars of soaking wine onto the carriage, she laughed so hard her eyes almost disappeared in mirth.

The Third Master also knew that the soaking wine was good stuff, he laughed heartily and kept praising Mrs. Third, "The wife is indeed wise."

This left Chen Afu quite helpless. This couple typically acted like this; no matter what they got from someone else, they always ended up expressing gratitude to each other.

Mrs. Third was entertaining female guests in the Hua Hall.

Because people from both the Xie and Chen families were present, everyone was eager to know the results of Lord Xie’s Palace Examination this year.

The Provincial Examination should have been held this February, but due to the mourning period for the late emperor and the late dowager empress, it was postponed until early April. The Palace Examination was held on the fifteenth of May, and today the results were announced.

Lord Xie did not disappoint, scoring one hundred and eighty-nine in the provincial examination. Although his ranking was somewhat at the back, it was a rare good achievement for a military family of nobility. He also benefited from the guidance of Chen Shiying. Without it, it is uncertain if he could have done so well. With this score, there is a high probability of being in the third class, but if he performs exceptionally well in the palace examination, he might be able to make it into the second class. Both the Xie family and the Chen family were very anxious, hoping that he would perform well in the Palace Examination and make it to the second class. After all, there is a world of difference between the treatment of the second and third classes.

Because the Xie family had special circumstances today, only Chu Hua and her three children came, the others were all at home waiting for news.

Mrs. Jiang, leading Chen Yuqing, Chen Yuxia, and Zhao, and all indeed arrived. Although calm on the surface, they were dying of anxiety inside.

Around early afternoon, someone came to report that Lord Xie had scored one hundred and forty-six in the second class of the Palace Examination and was granted the title of scholar.

Immediately, the Hua Hall was filled with congratulations. Mrs. Jiang was so moved, she cried. Chen Yuqing was also over the moon.

Chu Hua, on behalf of Xie Feng, thanked Mrs. Jiang, expressing gratitude for Mr. Chen’s guidance.

Mrs. Third turned to Mrs. Jiang and laughed, "In the future, I must ask Mr. Chen to give more guidance to my son, little Lingzhi."

Chu Lingzhi probably benefited from his early association with the agarwood, and did very well in his studies. In the future, Chu Lingwei would inherit his father’s title and enter the army, while Chu Lingzhi would take the imperial examinations.