Chapter 115: Chapter 114: The Onset of Winter (190 Monthly Tickets)
As Old Mrs. Xia mentioned, this year’s winter arrived earlier than in previous years.
Just entering November, a grand snow had already fallen, prompting the blossoms of a tree of winter plum.
The underground fire dragon in Anhua Courtyard was set ablaze, making day-to-day life still feel not too cold.
Jin Rui helped Du Yunluo tidy up, and just saw Jin Ling bringing in a few winter plum branches.
"Just cut from the garden, miss, have a smell." Jin Ling smilingly brought the flower branches in front of Du Yunluo.
The fresh floral scent was invigorating, and Du Yunluo liked it very much, asking Jin Ling to put them in a vase, placing them in the East Wing.
Jin Rui glanced at Jin Ling and, with a smile, said to Du Yunluo, "Miss likes these winter plums, shall I draw some plum flower patterns? Embroidering them on handkerchiefs would also look nice."
Du Yunluo agreed, and Jin Rui was happy, selecting a water-red fox snow jacket, straightening the fur around the collar, and when Du Yunluo was about to leave, quickly tying it for her and handing her a warm hand warmer.
Drawing back the curtain to go out, she just felt the cold wind hit her face. After staying indoors for a long time, Du Yunluo found the cold wind invigorating.
On the way to Lianfu Garden, she saw everyone from the second branch was already there.
They exchanged greetings, and after a short wait, Yunuo arrived alone.
Old Mrs. Xia asked her with a smile, "Is your mother feeling better today?"
"Better than yesterday, granddaughter thinks she can get out of bed after resting for a couple more days." Yunuo replied.
Old Mrs. Xia nodded, "That’s good."
Miao secretly snorted upon hearing this.
This household, each one is quite idle.
Mrs. Zhen, being physically weak, when sick, lies down longer, and Miao could understand this.
But Liao, though not visibly stout, had fine bones, and now she also lay down for almost a month.
Unlike her, with a belly full of anger, tossed about by her family, she only stayed down for a few days before getting up because she had to manage household affairs and couldn’t dodge the chores.
Miao cursed Liao a bit for being pretentious, then talked business with Old Mrs. Xia.
The first house would not return to Lindong for the New Year. According to previous years, the New Year gifts should be prepared by now, and would be sent to the Capital in the coming days. Some things must also be prepared here in the Capital to be sent there.
Old Mrs. Xia was concerned about her eldest son in Lindong, and even more concerned about the Yan Family’s expected great-grandchild, soon to be born, so she carefully instructed Miao: "I’m at ease with your big sister-in-law managing the backyard, but Lindong is different from our Capital. We don’t know what they might have accumulated over time. Select more medicinal supplements beneficial for postpartum, and send them together. Yuntao’s wife is having her first child, so it’s better to prepare adequately."
Miao knew that Old Mrs. Xia would say this, so she responded accordingly, "There’s an old ginseng in the storeroom, I’ve asked someone to fetch it, and we’ll add other blood-replenishing herbs to send along."
After talking about New Year gifts, the matter of Laba naturally came up.
On Laba, porridge is given, which is a matter for the Prince Mansion, the Duke Mansion, the Marquis Mansion, and the Elder Mansion. In this Capital, where nobles are everywhere, regular official families don’t join in this bustling scene. It’s not that they lack the compassion for universal salvation, but they don’t want to steal the limelight, overshadowing the faces of the dignitaries.
Official families during Laba, just go to receive porridge, go to major temples on Potuo Mountain for porridge.
After all, it’s before the Bodhisattva, all for a sincere heart, and only madams and misses from various residences go, there’s absolutely no reason for older women to make up the numbers.
In previous years, it was Liao who took Yunuo from the Du Mansion. Busy with many things during the twelfth month, Miao often couldn’t leave, and since Liao was proactive, Mrs. Zhen didn’t compete with her.
"Fourth sister-in-law is still lying down now, I wonder if she will be energetic by Laba, going to the mountain frail with illness is something we are not comfortable with." Miao tested the waters asking Old Mrs. Xia.
How could Old Mrs. Xia not know her intentions, she gave Miao a semi-reproachful glance. Miao felt a chill through her neck, but calmly remained seated.
"Huaili’s wife, what do you think?" Old Mrs. Xia turned to ask Mrs. Zhen.
Mrs. Zhen answered generously, "Old Madam, there are still two weeks left. Yunuo just said, fourth sister-in-law could move around in another couple of days, let’s see how it goes. If she’s well, naturally she’ll go, but if by Laba she still can’t walk, I’ll take Yunluo."
This answer was smooth, pleasing no one while offending none.
Old Mrs. Xia thought for a moment, nodded, then looked at Du Yunluo sitting beside her, saying, "In a few days, it will be Yunluo’s birthday, why not invite a few close friends over for a party in the mansion, and let your second aunt arrange everything for you?"
Miao’s smile froze; she understood this was Old Mrs. Xia’s stance. If she wanted to ignore Liao and let Mrs. Zhen go receive porridge, she must trouble herself arranging a birthday banquet for Yunluo as compensation for the third branch.
It’s just that it’s a good and auspicious thing to get porridge, if not preoccupied herself, Miao would like to receive the porridge.
This good thing was given to Mrs. Zhen, yet Old Mrs. Xia wanted her to compensate, Miao was truly baffled.
Regardless of what she thought inside, Miao outwardly said, "That’s great, whoever Yunluo wants to invite, quickly tell your aunt."
Du Yunluo pursed her lips slightly, seeming thoughtful.
Old Mrs. Xia was dissatisfied with Miao stirring up trouble, hence she gave her some hassle, yet it left Du Yunluo embarrassed, having lived two lives, she really didn’t have many intimate girlfriends.
The fact is she disliked socializing around, whenever invitations came for the Du Family sisters, she hardly went, leaving others with an impression of her being haughty.
If on a normal day, Du Yunluo would honestly say she didn’t want to invite anyone, but knowing Old Mrs. Xia was trying Miao, not cooperating would surely upset her.
Thinking it over, Du Yunluo sulked slightly, "Grandma, you’re teasing me! Knowing I don’t have many close friends yet making me say it. Then, then just invite Sister A Yu."
Old Mrs. Xia laughed heartily, holding Du Yunluo, "You know you have few close friends? Then you should go out more. Otherwise, when you come of age next year, who will be the officials, the praiser for you? When there’s an invitation during festivals, you mustn’t refuse, even if you must be dragged out."
With the discussion reaching this point, Du Yunluo could only agree.
Miao, hearing only Shi Qingyu was invited, involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest promising to prepare lots of delicious and fun things, and only then did Old Mrs. Xia nod slowly.
With all matters discussed, Miao went to hear the reports from the old women.
After a busy morning, Miao finally relaxed a bit after a warm cup of tea, intending to return to Shuifu Garden, when someone came from the front, reporting that Mrs. Shi had arrived.
Miao hurriedly sent someone to inform both Old Mrs. Xia and Mrs. Zhen, and herself went to the second gate to welcome her.
Mrs. Shi entered with a broad smile, chatting and laughing with Miao until reaching Lianfu Garden, greeting Old Mrs. Xia after entering.
Miao stayed with them, and upon seeing Mrs. Zhen arrive, she excused herself, claiming still to have matters to attend to, seeking to retreat.
Mrs. Shi stopped her, saying with a smile, "No need to rush, second lady, I came today actually looking for you."
"Looking for me?" Miao was surprised.
Mrs. Shi nodded, seeing in the room the few trusted by Old Mrs. Xia, she said, "Do we know whether the marriage proposal for Yun Ying is settled?"
