The words being spoken here are a bit distant; the clan elder can’t catch them clearly.
But he hears the collective gasp from behind him.
"In broad daylight, does cousin know what he’s doing?"
"He actually touched his cousin sister-in-law’s face!"
"That’s a strange thing to say. If cousin doesn’t touch his cousin-in-law, should he touch you? They are a couple and don’t treat us like outsiders, is there anything wrong with being affectionate?"
Wei Zhao’s gaze was as calm and serene as an ancient well; when those eyes swept over, they held neither anger nor sharpness, yet they pierced the heart and chilled one’s spine.
Even though he did nothing, he made the entire room of younger relatives hold their breath once more and remain silent with their necks shrunk back.
"A month later is the civil service examination, how is the preparation going?"
As he approached, he didn’t single anyone out.
"How many of you are confident in becoming a Scholar? Stand forward, let have a look."
The younger ones exchanged glances, no one daring to step forward.
Wei Zhao snorted with a laugh, his voice betraying no emotion: "Is this all you’re capable of?"
"You have ti for idle talk, but no ti to go back to your room and read a few more books?"
Wei Zhao: "When you go for the exams in the Capital, don’t say you know , I’m embarrassed."
The younger ones: ??
What?
Cousin never scolded them so directly before?
A few younger ones hurriedly stepped forward at his words.
"Cousin, we’re confident."
Saying this, they straightened their backs, waiting for praise.
Wei Zhao tugged at his lips: "Not very modest, are you?"
"And if you do beco Scholars? If you’ve got what it takes, why not aim for the top rank and show ?"
Younger ones: ...
They dared not speak further.
It seed, whatever they said was wrong.
The clan elder asked Ning Suxuan.
"Are you tired from the long journey?"
Ning Suxuan: "Thank you for your concern, not at all."
The elder looked at Ning Suxuan with the affection an elder has for the younger generation.
Though he did not approve of Ning Suxuan being harsh with Wei Zhao in his youth, he understood that young saplings, if not burdened by snow, would not grow strong. He also knew well the hardships Ning Suxuan faced as a widow over the years.
"These years have been tough on you."
Clan Elder: "Things are better now, you can finally catch your breath. Not only does Gui Zhi have promise, but once his wife gives birth, the family’s lineage prospers, and the future looks even brighter."
Now that Suxuan’s life is well, Feng Xing in heaven can be at peace.
Ning Suxuan respectfully said: "You’re right."
The clan elder nodded and looked at Shen Jin.
Shen Jin knelt down.
"Please don’t, please don’t!"
The elder hurried to help her up.
"It’s appropriate to kneel."
Shen Jin: "When sister-in-law first ca over, she also paid her respects."
"In the Wei family, you are the only elder left as the clan grandfather; previously, Jing Yuan and I had always spoken of you with great respect."
"Today’s your birthday, I ought to make up for it."
The elder paused, inevitably nostalgic.
What a pity for such a good pair.
He slowly spoke: "Jing Yuan ntioned you to as well."
Shen Jin was taken aback.
"He was in a hurry to get to the border at the ti and didn’t stay long in Yiling, only seeing in passing. I always urged him to settle down soon. He used to never reply, but that ti he laughed and told next ti he would definitely introduce soone."
When will he bring soone?
Of course, properly and officially.
The elder helped her up: "Now that I’ve t you, at least that’s one matter off my mind."
With this happening, he quickly spoke to stop Yu Tingwan from kneeling. Gui Zhi was already the only line of Duke Shun’s Mansion, and this was Gui Zhi’s first child, the most precious of the precious.
Afraid that she might get hurt, that an accident might happen.
He smiled warmly at Yu Tingwan.
"Have you been eating well since becoming pregnant?"
Yu Tingwan: "Yes."
"Are you sleeping well?"
"Also well."
Seeing her complexion was indeed healthy, the clan elder was relieved: "Now that you’re in Yiling, stay for a while. Let Gui Zhi take you around; the mountains and waters here are good, perfect for nurturing a pregnancy."
Yu Tingwan responded with a smile.
The elder finally looked at the young generation he thought of daily.
He carefully examined from top to bottom.
Wei Zhao bowed deeply to the elder, performing a formal salute, and spoke with respect.
"Great-grandfather."
Old tears welled in the elder’s eyes, his voice trembled.
"Gui Zhi ah."
He genuinely worried and cared for this child.
Feng Xing and Jing Yuan, the two brothers, in the devouring Shangjing, with one in literature and the other in martial arts, could still support each other.
But since Gui Zhi was young, he’s carried heavy burdens, with his uncle and father having left one after another, who else could lead the way for him?
In this world, there are no lifelines, only himself stumbling across the river with a lamp.
The clan elder knew better than anyone that for their family branch to live peacefully in Yiling, they relied entirely on Wei Zhao.
He took Wei Zhao’s hand: "Let great great-grandfather have a good look at you."
He wanted to say Wei Zhao had grown thin.
But seemingly... not at all.
He wanted to say Wei Zhao didn’t look as spirited as before.
But seemingly... even less so.
Instead, there was a vigor about him that the elder had never seen before.
The elder was always a stickler for rules, and this wasn’t the place to chat. He refrained from further small talk, hastening them to first go to the ancestral hall to pay respects to their forefathers.
On the way to the ancestral hall, the nfolk pulled Wei Zhao aside to catch up, while the won gathered around Yu Tingwan and the others.
The n walked ahead, the won behind.
The won walked with eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts, all silently walking, not daring to speak unless Ning Suxuan addressed them.
The main reason being Ning Suxuan’s heavy matriarchal presence made it hard for them to look directly at her.
Yu Tingwan poked Ning Suxuan lightly.
She almost leaned over to whisper in Ning Suxuan’s ear.
"Look at yourself."
"You’re making them overly cautious."
Yu Tingwan thought for a mont: "The first ti I t my mother-in-law, I was very uneasy too."
Ning Suxuan: ?
Are you just making this up?
Yu Tingwan thought so more.
"Almost."
Yu Tingwan: "I almost scared such a good daughter-in-law away."
Yu Tingwan thought about the consequences, feeling a bit scared for Ning Suxuan.
"My mother-in-law would have nowhere to cry."
Ning Suxuan helplessly said: "Silence."
With those two words, many won glanced over, not daring to breathe.
Yu Tingwan kicked the stones underfoot, kindly explaining: "She’s talking to ."
The won were relieved.
In the next mont.
Yu Tingwan: "Don’t worry."
Yu Tingwan blinked: "I won’t listen anyway."
Wonfolk ????
They looked at Yu Tingwan in horror.
Ca to a conclusion.
This mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is terrible!
Then they heard Shen Jin laughing carelessly.
Wonfolk: ???
Ca to another conclusion.
The relationships between the three won in Duke Shun Mansion are all terrible.
Yu Tingwan gently asked them: "How much further is it?"
The new bride is beautiful, her eyes curved, and even that tear mole seed to contain so sentints.
The clan elder’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wang, felt her heart lting.
"There’s still so distance, is Gui Zhi’s wife tired from walking?"
"No."
Yu Tingwan: "Just a bit sunny."
Mrs. Wang: ...
It is indeed a bit sunny.
But so many won are being sunned on, and no one else said anything.
Aren’t you afraid your mother-in-law will scold you for being delicate?
Fu ng isn’t as bold as you are.
Ning Suxuan spoke: "If it’s sunny, put up with it, don’t fuss so much."
Mrs. Wang wasn’t surprised by her words.
Afraid of discord between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, she tried to ease the tension by saying: "This..."
"Gui Zhi’s wife, save your strength; once we pass through the corridor ahead, it’ll be shady."
User Comments
0 comments from readers