228 A good man caught in difficult circumstances
As she spoke, the little girl shook her head and sighed as she looked at her cousin. Her helpless expression made Zhou Linghuai not know whether to laugh or cry.
Zhou Linghuai changed the topic and asked, “How was the small banquet?”
Yu Youyao nodded. “I’ve discussed with Nanny Xu about the people we’re inviting for today’s small banquet. Grandmother has also approved of them, so we’ve made a post. Third Miss Song is dignified and generous. We’ve played together in the past. Sixth Miss Qi is straightforward. Fifth Miss Tang is gentle, and her rules and upbringing are top-notch. It’s easy to get along with her.”
As she spoke, she also recounted what had happened at the small banquet. When she mentioned Yu Jianjia, she couldn’t help but purse her lips. When she mentioned Yu Qingning, her eyebrows didn’t even twitch.
Zhou Linghuai was not surprised. “In that case, you can take care of each other when you attend the Flower Festival at the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence.”
Since the Marquis of Changxing had invited the ladies of the Yu Residence, they had to invite other families as well.
He wasn’t worried that something would happen to Yu Youyao at the flower festival. However, it would be the first time she was going out, so it would be more appropriate to have someone she knew accompanying her.
Yu Youyao nodded. “That’s what Grandmother wanted too.”
Zhou Linghuai lowered his head and saw the embroidered fish pendants tied around the little girl’s waist. He could tell that this was a pair. When they were combined, they became a pendant. When they were separated, they were two pendants. Yu Youyao had always liked such exquisite things.
Noticing her cousin’s gaze, Yu Youyao lowered her head and reached out to fiddle with the embroidered fish pendant at her waist. The beautiful jade pieces clanged against each other, and the sound of the jade pendants was pleasant to the ears. “This is a birthday gift from Third Miss Song today. It’s similar to the embroidered fish on the longevity lock that my mother gave me previously. I think it’s exquisite, so I’m wearing it.”
Zhou Linghuai’s expression paused for a moment. He would carve a more exquisite one for the little girl another day.
Yu Youyao smiled and raised her eyebrows. She looked at her cousin’s green and gold-patterned robe. It looked really good, but…
When her gaze landed on the sachet on her cousin’s waist, Yu Youyao wanted to cover her face. “Cousin, why are you still wearing this sachet? You’ve been wearing it for a long time. The petals inside definitely don’t smell good. It doesn’t match your outfit today at all.”
When she had just finished embroidering this sachet, she had been so proud!
This was the first double-sided embroidery she had ever done.
When she gave it to her cousin, she also felt that her skills were a little crude. Nanny Xu had probably praised her too much. She felt that it was very impressive that she could learn double-sided embroidery. She didn’t feel that it was ugly, so she didn’t feel that she couldn’t give it to him.
But now, her embroidery skills had improved a little. Looking at this sachet again, she felt that it was unbearable to look at. To think that her cousin didn’t mind and actually wore it out.
Zhou Linghuai lowered his head. “It’s alright!”
He did not think that there was anything bad about this sachet. As it was personally embroidered by the young lady, he still felt that it was perfect.
He was also used to rubbing the embroidery on the sachet when he was thinking. The rough texture was a little awkward, but it calmed him.
If he stopped wearing it one day, he probably wouldn’t be used to it.
“No, no.” Yu Youyao looked embarrassed. She quickly squatted in front of her cousin and reached out to undo the sachet on his waist. “Cousin, you can’t wear it anymore. It’s too ugly. Hurry up and undo it.”
Zhou Linghuai grabbed Yu Youyao’s hand and frowned. “I think it’s good.”
Yu Youyao pouted, but her eyes were also filled with joy. “Of course I’m happy that Cousin likes the sachet I embroidered but…” she changed the topic and her tone became more serious, “Cousin has been wearing this all this time. If others see this, they will also think that my embroidery skills are crude and can’t be shown in public. I won’t admit it. My embroidery skills have improved a lot now. Nanny Xu said that I’m already on par with those who have practiced for three years.”
It turned out that she was worried that others would laugh at her because of this sachet. Zhou Linghuai let go of the little girl’s hand and protected the sachet at his waist, not letting her take it off. “It’s nothing serious. You don’t have to care too much about what others think.”
Yu Youyao was at her wit’s end. “At most, I’ll just embroider another sachet for Cousin. You can’t keep wearing this sachet. Even if you don’t mind, I can’t afford to lose face.”
Zhou Linghuai’s lips curled up. “When Cousin is done embroidering it, I’ll replace it.”
How could Yu Youyao not understand what he meant? She pouted, feeling both happy and troubled. “Alright, then. What kind of patterns do you like?”
Zhou Linghuai looked at the little girl’s bright and beautiful yellow and green clothes. “I like the pattern of the tung tree leaves. One side is a tung tree leaf, and the other is a tung tree flower. It’ll be very elegant.” Then, he added, “Just like Cousin’s clothes.”
Yu Youyao looked down at her outfit and felt that it was not bad, so she nodded. “Alright, I’ll embroider it later. The sachet is very small and doesn’t take too much time.”
She would take some time to do it every day and would be done in three to five days.
Zhou Linghuai nodded. The young lady usually did not care much about needlework. He didn’t think that she would be able to get it done in a short period of time. After all, the previous few times, she had dragged it out for a long time.
Yu Youyao forced herself to look away from the sachet. She grabbed her cousin’s sleeve and shook it gently a few times. “Cousin, your clothes today are very similar to what I’m wearing. It’s like…” She tilted her head and her eyes lit up.” Yes, it’s a sibling outfit.”
The dress she was wearing had been custom-made at Jinxiu Manor.
Later on, when she was making clothes for her cousin, she remembered that he liked parasol trees, so she chose Song brocade and embroided a Chinese parasol tree. She didn’t think much of it before, but now that he was wearing it, the similarities were obvious.
Zhou Linghuai did not notice this. Upon hearing her words, he took a closer look at the little girl’s yellow and green embroidered clothes. They were indeed very similar to his green and light gold clothes.
In particular, the patterns on hers were fresh and delicate, while his were elegant and deep. It suddenly reminded him that every time his father went out to wear something in the past, he would always choose something similar to his mother’s. “When I wear this and walk with your mother, anyone can tell that this woman beside me is my legitimate wife!”
At that time, he had joked, “It’s also a good way to let others know I am a good man caught in difficult circumstances.”
As a father, he was good at leading troops and fighting wars. However, as soon as he touched her mother, he became a fool. Even after marrying into the family for so many years, he still had the attitude of “there will always be unruly people who want to snatch my wife”. He showed off shamelessly at home, but outside, he still had to show off.
Everyone in Youzhou knew that the You King and the Princess Consort were deeply in love.
His father was so angry that he raised his foot and was about to kick him. “I’m showing off my love. Men are heroes outside, but at home, they’re like bears. Do you understand? This is a couple’s interest.”
He mocked, “It’s a public display of affection. In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Kai was too loving and showed off too much, making the emperor at that time feel that he was too sentimental and useless. In the end, he wasn’t ranked as a minister.”
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