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The Empress Dowager’s actions were not only for show but also to prevent Princess Rong Zhao from returning to the palace, fearing she might bring “bad luck” with her.
This decision brought immense joy to the Chu family as they would be reunited on the thirtieth day of the lunar new year. The Princess and the Marquis were initially set to return to the Chu residence, but now due to the Empress Dowager’s actions, it ensures Princess Rong Zhao wouldn’t come back. Of course, the delighted Chu family members didn’t include Second Madam Li, who had been hoping for Princess Rong Zhao’s return to stir trouble for Chen Feng and her two sons.
Chen Feng was overjoyed and no longer feared Princess Rong Zhao causing trouble for her and her children. The next day, which was the twenty-ninth day of the lunar new year, she had recovered from her illness. In the evening, Chu Lingxuan finally returned.
He arrived looking weary and frostbitten. After soaking in a hot bath, a pot of lamb soup was waiting on the kang table.
Chen Feng poured him a glass of wine and scooped some soup, saying, “Drink up, it will warm you.”
After two glasses of wine, Chu Lingxuan began to recover. He reassured Chen Feng, “Don’t worry, everything is fine at home. We have an ample supply of firewood and food. Dabao, Yanyan, my in-laws, and younger brother-in-law are all doing well. Everything is in order, and life is worry-free… Also, although there was a snow disaster in Dingzhou, the situation is better than in the capital.”
Chen Feng felt relieved after hearing this.
After dinner, Chu Lingxuan played with the boys. A message arrived from the outer courtyard, saying that the Marquis had summoned the heir to the study, and he himself was on his way.
The men held a meeting that extended into the early morning of the next day. Exhausted, Chu Lingxuan returned, washed up, and went to bed. Before falling asleep, he cheerfully told Chen Feng, “Father will rest in the outer courtyard today.”
This was the first time since marrying Princess Rong Zhao that the Marquis rested at the Chu residence, a rare occurrence.
Chen Feng instructed the staff to decorate the Bamboo Garden and then got herself and the children ready. By midday, Chu Lingxuan had also woken up, and they all headed to Anrong Hall.
Today was New Year’s Day, and the whole family gathered there for the New Year’s meal.
As they entered, the others were already seated in the main hall, including Marquis Chu. The family members respectfully greeted their elders as they approached.
The Marquis was thrilled to meet his grandsons for the first time. He presented them with a precious jade sculpture of a mythical creature as a gift and gave each of them a red packet.
The children were awake by then, and they joyfully interacted with the Marquis. He refrained from holding them as they were too young but observed them closely, touching their little faces. Previously, he had thought his father was simply trying to please him by saying the boys resembled him in a letter. Now, seeing them in person, he realized how true it was. He felt a deep fondness and imagined how delighted Lady Lou (Abbess Liao Chen) would be to see her grandsons so alike. Without her presence, even if surrounded by family at the Yongning Marquisate, the warmth of home would still be lacking.
Chen Feng had been back for a while but this was the first time she met the Second Branch after many days, the Second Master and Second Madam, accompanied by her children, she pay respects as juniors.
Madam Li remained mostly silent, heeding the warnings of the Second Master to refrain from causing trouble. Over the past few days, the Third Master, Chu Ling’an, had conversations with Madam Li, urging her to abandon any inappropriate intentions. With the arrival of their own grandsons, and potentially more in the future, the situation in the main household had changed.
Seeing the Marquis happily gathered with his grandchildren was a stark contrast for Madam Li, who realized her aspirations were now unattainable.
On this day, Madam Li was unusually quiet, showing a somber expression without uttering any inappropriate remarks.
During the meal, the men’s table was lively with laughter and toasts, while the women’s side was less amicable. Third Madam, Chen Feng, Chu Lingwei, and Chu Lingzhi conversed cheerfully, but Madam Li maintained a sour expression. The other women and children in the Second Branch didn’t dare speak up, quietly eating their meals and staring off into space.
As the festive meal continued into the evening, the Marquis and the younger men stayed in the outer courtyard for the New Year vigil, while the boys played with firecrackers in the yard. Chen Feng led her two children back to the Bamboo Pavilion.
Upon opening the red packets given by the Marquis, each contained five hundred taels of silver. The jade sculpture gift from the Second Master was well-received, while the two pieces from Madam Li were of inferior quality. Chen Feng promptly gave the rough jade pieces to the maid at the door. If Madam Li didn’t value her reputation, why should Chen Feng bother about preserving it for her?
After dismissing the servants, Chen Feng entered the living space with her children. The Golden Swallow was playing with Jinbei. Chen Feng remarked, “Now that Jinbei is here, Baby won’t be lonely during the New Year.”
The Golden Swallow chirped, “Exactly, loneliness is hardest to bear, but with a companion, it’s much more fun.”
Chen Feng chuckled and remarked, “You’ve been here for so long, but it seems like you haven’t fixed the house at all.”
The Golden Swallow chirped, “I have so many houses that there’s enough for Bei and me. I’ll work hard once Bei has life.” With that, he carried Jinbei and flew onto the small bed.
Siyu and Siming eagerly waited to play with the Golden Swallow and Jinbei. As soon as they joined them on the bed, the room echoed with their excited chatter.
Observing the collection of swallows’ droppings in the Golden Swallow’s container, Chen Feng had gathered quite a bit. In the countryside or Dingzhou Prefecture, she would have surely grown some garlic sprouts to eat. However, here, Third Madam would take the delicious food to the palace to offer to the Empress Dowager. Chen Feng didn’t want the royal family to know that the good things originated from her. Her occasional baking was already conspicuous enough.
On New Year’s Day, the heavy snow continued with fierce winds. Apart from paying respects to their elders, no one made grand visits to relatives and friends, as even the royal family had halted such New Year gestures. Many affluent households placed large pots outside, distributing porridge and steamed buns to the needy, including the Chu family.
In the morning, the Marquis and the old Marquis Chu led all the men in their family to the ancestral hall to pay respects to their ancestors and added the names of Chu Siyu, Chu Siming, and Chu Hanyan to the family genealogy.
Later in the day, Chu Lingxuan took Chen Feng to visit Chen Shiying. If they didn’t go today, he wouldn’t have time to accompany her later, as he was heading to Dingzhou Prefecture the next day. Even then, he wouldn’t make it back in time for the third day.
Due to the inclement weather, everyone was anxious about Chen Feng taking the children to Dingzhou Prefecture, opting to wait for better weather before returning.
Chen Feng thought, “Can’t I just leave the children in the space?” That was indeed her plan. She intended to dismiss the two maids to another carriage and take the children alone. Apart from feeding them, putting them into the space would suffice.
However, voicing this plan was out of the question. She hesitated, knowing that breaking her promise would upset the children.
Dressed in a padded jacket, skirt, boots, and a fur cloak, with a hand warmer in hand, Chen Feng sat in the carriage feeling chilled despite her attire.
Chu Lingxuan didn’t ride a horse and joined Chen Feng in the carriage. Without a hand warmer, his hands were still warm, occasionally using them to warm Chen Feng’s face and nose. At times, he would sneak a kiss while warming her face.
Noticing the rouge on his lips, Chen Feng had to wipe it off with her handkerchief. Just as she cleaned it, he would steal another kiss.
After about an hour’s journey, they arrived at a quiet alley, entering a three-section courtyard before the carriage came to a stop.