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After enjoying lunch, they bid farewell to the Chu family. As Luyuan didn’t have a steward, Steward Luo walked at the rear and presented the list of gifts and the gifts to Chen Ming. The gifts included famous snacks from the capital, fabrics, stationery, ornaments, and a variety of colorful items.
In the afternoon, Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang went to their backyard to pick the ripe fruits and cucumbers. After finishing, they only had a small basket of produce. Along with two boxes of homemade snacks, these would be the gifts for Third Madam Chu to take back to the capital.
Both of them felt embarrassed. The Chu family had given them so many gifts, while they were only giving such a small amount. They wondered how they could present such a meager offering and feared that it would embarrass their daughter. Mrs. Wang went to Fengyuan to discuss with Chen Feng and asked what else they should prepare.
Chen Feng smiled and said, “Fruits and cucumbers are in high demand right now, and such items are much coveted. As for the snacks, those sold in the shops may not necessarily be better than the ones we make. There’s no need to prepare anything else. They are not lacking in items that can be purchased with money. Even if we send these, Third Madam Chu won’t make the effort to bring them to the capital.”
Mrs. Wang then suggested, “Didn’t you ask Mother to make a beautiful pair of panda slippers for the embroidery workshop? Mother has already made them, and the shoes are beautifully embroidered with a pair of baby pandas. Let’s give those slippers to Third Madam Chu. She will surely love them.”
Chen Feng declined, “The gift should be from the younger generation to the older one. I can’t bear to let you do this, Mother. Third Madam Chu, despite being born into the royal family, is just like you, my elder. How could I let you make shoes for her? No, I’ll make her a pair when I have the time. If you still feel uneasy, I’ll design a ‘Pandas Playing with Bamboo’ pattern for you. You can embroider a small screen, and we can present it as a New Year’s gift to the Chu family. They will surely appreciate it.”
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang agreed.
Chen Feng felt awkward about presenting the outfit and purse to Third Madam Chu in front of everyone. She had Mrs. Wei help with the delivery. She kept only a copper tube containing a piece of Swallow’s Agarwood and had Autumn prepare to take a panda doll and the homemade snacks outside to wait for Chen Ming’s family. When they came out, they all went to Tangyuan together.
Third Madam Chu was delighted to see Mrs. Wang and them bring a basket of fruits and cucumbers. She said, “To be honest, I was thinking of asking you for some, and you’ve brought me so much.”
Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang were both extremely happy to see their gifts being so well received.
Chen Feng then gave the Swallow’s Agarwood to Third Madam Chu, saying, “The master only gave me three pieces. I gave one to Abbess Liao Chen, and I used another myself. Please don’t let others know about this. If other dignitaries ask, I really won’t have any left.”
Third Madam Chu took out the Swallow’s Agarwood incense from the copper tube, and its refreshing fragrance immediately permeated the air. Her eyes widened, and she deeply inhaled, saying, “I never expected to have one of these treasures. I’ve been thinking about this scent ever since I smelled it at Sister Yingshuan’s place.” She further remarked, “Rest assured, I won’t cause you any trouble. I’ll simply say that I luckily obtained it by chance. I can’t bear to use this either. I will offer it as a filial gift to my grandmother when I return to the capital.”
Chen Feng chuckled foolishly upon hearing her bring up such a prestigious figure. Although she had ten pieces of Swallow’s Agarwood, nine of them were not to be exposed. She couldn’t possibly take out the only one she had, could she?
After dining at the Chu residence, they chatted for a while longer. Chen Ming’s family hailed from the countryside, and Third Madam Chu had spent many years at the border, so there were no formalities, and everyone sat together and chatted freely. The old Marquis also mentioned that a tutor had been arranged for Dabao and would arrive from the capital in a few days. Then, Dabao, Lingzhi, and Lu would study with the tutor.
Chen Ming was ecstatic upon hearing this news. A tutor was a Jinshi, and his knowledge was even better than that of Mr. Jiang, who was a Xiucai. With this, Chen Lu’s hopes of becoming a Jinshi were even higher.
As the skies darkened, the evening glow in the west had disappeared behind the Honglin Mountain, leaving only a circle of golden clouds hanging on the mountain peak. It was then that the Chen family bid their farewells.
Chu Lingxuan led Chu Hanyan and Chu Lingzhi to see the Chen family off. Chen Lu, Dabao, and Chu Lingzhi had been playing very well together. The three children were holding hands, with one of Dabao’s hands also holding Chu Hanyan’s, running ahead and laughing continuously.
Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang followed behind, while Chu Lingxuan and Chen Feng walked at the end, and the servants tactfully did not follow.
Once they left Tangyuan, the children stopped in the empty space between Tangyuan and Fengyuan and stayed there, laughing and playing. Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang felt that since the children were accompanied by Third Madam Chu and Chen Feng, it was appropriate to let the two of them have a private conversation, so they returned to Luyuan first.
Chu Lingxuan and Chen Feng stood under a willow tree. Chu Lingxuan said softly, “I really like the clothes and the purse you made.”
“Oh.” Chen Feng responded.
Chu Lingxuan then asked, “Do you like the bracelet I gave you? I bought it specifically from Jitai Silver House in the capital.”
“I do.” replied Chen Feng.
Chu Lingxuan added, “I won’t be able to return in the next few days. I’ll try to come back in three days.”
“Mm.” Chen Feng responded again.
Chu Lingxuan continued, “While I’m away, my grandfather, Hanyan, and Zhi will rely on you.”
“No trouble.” Chen Feng replied.
Chu Lingxuan shook his head, chuckled lightly, and said, “Can’t you say a few more words to me? When you’re talking to Third Aunt and Hanyan, you’re quite chatty. Especially with Hanyan, you can talk for ages.”
Chen Feng also laughed upon hearing this. Truth be told, although she had been in contact with him for some time, they hadn’t conversed much. She didn’t know what to talk to him about.
The last bit of golden light from the west merged into the mountaintop, and night fell like a tide. In an instant, it was dark, and a few stars appeared in the sky, twinkling.
Under the starlight, the willow tree appeared even darker.
Seeing the children playing wildly and not paying attention to them, Chu Lingxuan moved closer to Chen Feng and took her small hand in his, clasping it in his palm. Chen Feng’s hand twitched but didn’t pull away, allowing him to hold it. She felt his hand was large and warm, with calluses indicating hard work, likely from training.
Chu Lingxuan, seeing that Chen Feng didn’t resist, smiled happily, his lips curling upwards with joy.
At that moment, they noticed Dabao looking in their direction. After a glance, he took Chu Hanyan’s hand and ran over.
Chu Lingxuan quickly let go, and they both moved away.
Dabao approached and said, “Mom, it’s getting late. We should go home.” Then, he reminded Chu Lingxuan, “Father, aren’t you supposed to get up early for military camp tomorrow? If you sleep too late, you won’t be able to wake up on time. Being late will lead to reprimand from the officers, and you might even get your palms beaten. One of my classmates was late and got his palms swollen from the beating.”
Chu Hanyan looked at Dabao admiringly and said, “Big brother knows a lot. Why didn’t Hanyan think of that?”