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Early the next morning, Chen Feng kissed Dabao, who was teary-eyed, and handed him over to Xue Dagui. Dabao was carried by him with Chen Lu to Tangyuan.
Chen Feng then took Mrs. Zeng and Summer, and they boarded the carriage. Four guards from Tangyuan accompanied them, including the two guards who had followed her previously, sent off by Mrs. Wang and Chen Ming. They waved goodbye along with Zhui Feng, Sasa, Qiqi, Gray, and Wangcai from a distance, as the carriage set off towards Dingzhou Prefecture.
She noticed tears in Sasa’s eyes. This was the first time it had left its mistress since arriving at Fengyuan.
The pets would also move to Luyuan with Chen Dabao. Chen Feng had already persuaded Zhui Feng, telling it that despite finding a good wife, brotherly friendship was still important. As the victor, it must be magnanimous and take the initiative to build a good relationship with Wangcai. If needed, it could help Wangcai find a good wife in the future.
The carriage was much faster, and before noon, they arrived at the gates of Dingzhou Prefecture.
At the gate, Chen’s steward, was waiting for Chen Feng. Chu Lingxuan had informed Chen Shiying that Chen Feng would arrive in Dingzhou Prefecture that morning, so Chen Shiying had specifically assigned someone to wait there.
The Steward saw the carriage from the Chu family and respectfully said, “I’ve seen Miss. The master and madam have instructed me to wait here for you.”
Chen Feng smiled and replied, “Thank you for your hard work.”
In Dingzhou Prefecture, Chen Feng would be staying at Chen Shiying’s house. In truth, she preferred staying at Chen Shi’s house – it was more relaxed and she got along well with Mrs. Zhang and Chen Aman.
However, it wouldn’t be appropriate to stay at Chen Shi’s house despite her preference, as Chen Shiying would not be pleased. Additionally, when they attended the birthday banquet at the Chu family’s house, she and the Chen family’s young ladies had to be escorted by Madam Jiang.
After entering the city gate, it took over two hours before they arrived at the Chen residence. In the front courtyard, she handed over the newly harvested corn and some fruits and vegetables from the countryside to the Steward and then took a sedan chair to the inner courtyard.
Upon returning to the Rose Courtyard, Qing Feng and two young maids were already waiting. After freshening up, the meal was served.
Qing Feng smiled and said, “Madam instructed that the first miss should rest well after the tiring journey.”
Chen Feng nodded, realizing it was already late afternoon, and they must have been resting as well.
In a hushed tone, Qing Feng continued, “The second miss returned early from the hermitage. Mrs. Tang fell ill two months ago and passed away. The young lady was so heartbroken that the master had her brought back ahead of time.”
Mrs. Tang had passed away? Chen Feng’s lips twitched, but she remained silent.
The three masterminds behind the incident, Mrs. Tang took the place of the other two and passed away. Perhaps Chen Shiying felt that he had fulfilled his obligations to her. Chen Yuhui had been punished to stay at the hermitage for half a year, but because of his birth mother’s death, Chen Shiying felt guilty and ended the punishment early. Fortunately, scaring the old lady into a stroke had prevented her from receiving any punishment at all.
After having her meal, Chen Feng went to rest, and due to the bumpy journey, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
As she slept deeply, Autumn woke her, “Miss, it’s time to pay respects to Madam.”
Chen Feng hurriedly got up, taking the two sets of clothes she had made for Madam Jiang and Chen Shiying, and went to the main courtyard. These clothes she had designed and cut, and they were mainly stitched by Summer and Autumn.
After paying her respects, Madam Jiang smiled and gestured for her to sit beside her, taking her hand and saying, “It’s been several months since we last met. Mother misses you so much…”
Madam Jiang’s gentle voice was comforting.
Chen Feng also noticed that, apart from the maids, there was a beautiful woman of sixteen or seventeen. The reason she paid particular attention to her was that she was dressed splendidly and had her hair styled as a married woman. She certainly wasn’t a maid, nor did she seem to be a servant’s wife. She was puzzled when she heard someone address her as “Mrs. He.”
Chen Feng felt a bit disoriented. Chen Shiying, her Father, was just too, too… too much. Glancing at Madam Jiang, she noticed that her expression towards Mrs. He was calm and untroubled.
A handsome, young, multi-talented man like Chen Shiying had taken such a concubine, and she wasn’t the least bit jealous or troubled.
Considering Madam Jiang’s attitude towards her, as the daughter of the woman he loved the most, she was treated exceptionally well.
Madam Jiang’s tolerance was as vast as the belly of Maitreya Buddha. Such women truly existed!
When love reaches its extreme, there are two possibilities: complete possessiveness or complete selflessness. Perhaps Madam Jiang belonged to the latter.
Of course, there’s another possibility: when one only treats the man as a superior…
Suppressing her emotions, Chen Feng conversed with Madam Jiang, but then heard the maids outside, “Second Miss, Third Miss, and Fourth Miss have arrived.”
The three young ladies greeted Madam Jiang and took their seats.
Chen Yuqing and Chen Yuxia warmly exchanged a word with Chen Feng. However, Chen Yuhui appeared much thinner, dressed in a willow-green jacket and a white embroidered bamboo leaf skirt. She looked at Chen Feng with resentment and didn’t acknowledge her.
Chen Feng had no intention of engaging with her. If she had disliked Chen Yuhui before, after the incident, she despised her and wished the malicious young girl would die soon and be reincarnated.
Chen Yuqing and Chen Yuxia listened as Chen Feng described their new dog, how beautiful and powerful it was, and how it had cried when it arrived at her house, among other things. The two young ladies were full of longing and couldn’t wait to visit Fengyuan again.
Chen Yuqing playfully tugged at Chen Feng’s sleeve, expressing a desire to see the large dog.
“Big sister, me too. I want to go to the countryside.” Chen Yuxia eagerly looked at Chen Feng.
Before Chen Feng could respond, Chen Yuhui sneered and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, saying, “Sister also calls that place the countryside. The countryside is dirty and messy, the people are uncultured, and lack manners. Aren’t you afraid of becoming uncultured and ill-mannered after spending so much time with the country folk?”
Chen Feng didn’t hold back, retorting, “Chen Yuhui made a valid point. You’ve truly been led astray by Mrs. Tang… You’ve turned completely dark inside. You look down on the countryside, yet you still eat its produce. Don’t you know that crops are watered with manure? In my opinion, our countryside’s manure is cleaner than you. You claim to be cultured, yet a cultured person wouldn’t eagerly try to snatch someone else’s fiancé.”
Chen Yuhui was left in tears by Chen Feng’s words, gripping her handkerchief and looking helplessly at Madam Jiang, “Mother.”
Madam Jiang didn’t respond to Chen Yuhui immediately, but instead smiled at Chen Feng, “You’re the elder sister, if your younger sister is in the wrong, you should correct her. But, one must be mindful of the method and not speak carelessly.”
Chen Feng quickly rose, lowered her head, and said, “Mother is right. I will remember.”