Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 862 - 864: Acknowledging Relatives (5)

Chapter 862: Chapter 864: Acknowledging Relatives (5)

Originally, Mu Zhongqing suspected the Crown Prince of Guangling because his marriage proposal to Fei’er had been rejected, and thus, he wondered if Fei’er had been abducted by him. However, reports returned from the men sent by Cao Jin indicated that these past few days the Crown Prince of Guangling had favored a girl from Xianggu Pavilion and had not even returned home, making it impossible for him to be with Fei’er.

At this point, Fei’er’s whereabouts had become a mystery, plunging Mu Zhongqing and his wife into deep grief. Fortunately, Lady Du’s pregnancy had passed the three-month mark, otherwise, with such sadness, they might have even lost the child.

Fei’er was also very anxious at this time. Her mom and dad were unaware of her situation. Right now, they must be beside themselves with worry. If only she could send out a message!

She leaned against a pillar in the garden pavilion, gazing up at the sky and sighing heavily, when a girl around twelve or thirteen, dressed in cyan-blue armor and with fair, clear skin, came walking over. Bowing to Fei’er, she said, "Miss, the Old Madame wishes to see you, please accompany this servant for a visit."

Fei’er, nervous, stood up and clutching her handkerchief tightly, she said, "How would the Old Madame know of me? Why would she wish to see me?"

The maid laughed and said, "Who in the entire mansion doesn’t know about the eldest son keeping a beauty hidden in the Back Garden? Miss, don’t be embarrassed, just follow me. The Old Madame and the Madam are the kindest you could ever meet, they won’t make things difficult for a girl like you, let’s hurry."

After the maid said that, she moved to leave. Fei’er dared not disobey and followed the maid’s fast-walking pace with small hurried steps.

Duke Li Guo’s Mansion, being a century-old prestigious family, had a construction that conveyed profound heritage, unlike the pursuit of flashy decor of Duke An’s Mansion or the luxury of Bishui Villa. They walked out of the garden filled with pavilions, pergolas, and lush bamboo, onto a cobblestone path that led straight to the gate. The maid led Fei’er to turn east, passing through a hall that ran east to west, before arriving at a courtyard inside Yi Gate, which featured a large main hall with five rooms, flanked by side rooms with antler-like eaves and gate apertures resembling mountains, leading to different passages, grand and imposing.

In the verandas of the side rooms, several maids dressed in red and green curiously gazed at Fei’er. A maid dressed in an apricot-colored armor lifted the curtain and quietly informed the people inside the hall.

"Old Madame, Miss Mu has arrived!"

Fei’er, filled with apprehension, followed the maid in cyan-blue armor into the hall and saw an old madame with hair like silvery frost seated at the front. Above her head was a large plaque with a black background and three large characters reading "Enxi Hall"; on the massive purple sandalwood, dragon carved desk, a coral ornament over three feet high stood, and two rows of sixteen Nanmu round chairs filled the space, atop which sat more than a dozen ladies dressed in jewels, silks, and satins. Behind the women bloomed a colorful array of maids standing in clusters.

A maid placed a meditation cushion on the ground in a gesture that was both subtle and obvious.

Fei’er, though nervous, nonetheless steadied herself. She moved forward, knelt on the meditation cushion, and with utmost respect, kowtowed, saying, "Fei’er pays her respects to the Old Madame. I have intruded upon the mansion for several days without having had the chance to kowtow to you in timely fashion, which is my fault. I beg the Old Madame’s forgiveness!"

"Oh, what a sweet talker you are. No wonder you’ve stirred some affection in that blockhead Zi Qi!"

Someone made a remark, provoking laughs from the crowd. The Old Madame said, "You mischief-makers, be careful not to frighten the girl. Quick, Ming Yue, help her up."

The very maid who had earlier placed the cushion quickly stepped forward to pull Fei’er to her feet.

"Girl, come over here, let this old woman have a good look at you."

The Old Madame, seated at the head, beckoned Fei’er over with a kindly and benevolent smile. Fei’er, timidly stepping forward, was scrutinized by the Old Madame for quite some time before she finally said, "Indeed, she is quite a beauty. In my opinion, she is even prettier than that girl Zhao Yang!"