Chapter Thirty-Five Entering the Ancestral Hall

  Let's not mention Xu Mingjin and his siblings, who slowly walked towards their respective courtyards. As for Xu Ruoyi, he hastily left the courtyard, ignoring Madam Xu's attempts to retain him, and went to the study in the outer courtyard. After Madam Xu sent someone to investigate, she found out that he wasn't sleeping with any of his concubines tonight, which slightly alleviated her concerns. She then let the matter drop.

  Mrs. Xü was actually still anxious in her heart, she had always been afraid that Xü Ruòyì would find out, it was she who killed the woman he loved. However, she coldly smiled: What's the use of loving again? Didn't you personally design and push away the marriage proposal? What's the use of being infatuated with her now? You don't even dare to investigate how she died! Fán Yùyáo, what do you think you are? Compared to his official position, you can't even touch the edge!

  Mrs. Xü coldly smiled repeatedly, lying on the bed, tears unknowingly flowed out, but she still couldn't help but mock Pán Yù Jiǎo's pitifulness in her heart.

  In fact, even she herself couldn't tell whether she was ridiculing Fan Yuqiao or self-mocking.

  It's already very late at night.

  Xu Ruoyi hastily arrived at the outer courtyard study, and immediately dispatched his trusted men to investigate the matter described by Xu Mingjin.

  After everyone left, Xu Ruoyi sat listlessly on the purple sandalwood carved chair, closing his eyes deeply. In his mind, he saw Fan Yuyao's bright and beautiful face with a clever smile.

  She was originally his childhood sweetheart and fiancée. She was also the woman he loved most in his heart during his youth, and still is now. But what did he do? Xu Ruoyi felt a twinge of regret in his heart. The beauty had passed away. If he hadn't done that back then and married her instead, would things be different now? Another voice in his mind said: "No, if I had married her, I wouldn't be the current top official, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. At most, I'd just be a small seventh-grade official. Over the years, he's seen many sons of heaven, thinking that passing the imperial examination would make them high officials, but in the end, they're still swept away by the tide and left with nothing. How many times has he been grateful for his choice back then?

  Xu Ruoyi was in a dilemma, and he still said to himself in his heart: "Yu Yao, I am sorry for you." However, he knew in his heart that if he were to do it all over again, he would still do the same thing, still be an unfaithful person.

  Xu Ruoyi murmured Yu Yao's name in her mouth, slowly sinking into a dreamland.

  ……

  Xu Mingjin first arranged for Xu Niang to follow Xu Mingxuan back to Songfengyuan, and then he slowly headed towards Feicui Garden. At this time, everyone knew that Xu Mingjin's mood was not good, so even Chun Xing, who loved to talk the most, also closed her mouth obediently.

  Xu Mingjin returned to the Emerald Garden arranged by Xu Ruoyi for her. To be honest, this name was both common and unpleasant, but Xu Mingjin didn't bother to change it. After all, she was just a temporary guest here, no need to fuss over such trivial matters.

  As soon as they entered, Xu Mingjin found that the Emerald Garden was indeed large. Chun Xing couldn't help but ask: "Miss, do you live in this courtyard alone?" Xu Mingjin gave her a white eye and said: "Don't all of you who serve me live here?

  "How can that be? Of course we'll stay where Miss lives, we'll live there." Chun Xing hastened to express her stance.

  Xu Mingjin smiled slightly and led the way inside.

  Xu Mingjin walked while sighing, no wonder Mrs. Xu had just looked so painful, this courtyard, if it were herself, would also be painful. These carved corridors and painted buildings, every one of them showed extraordinary craftsmanship. Xu Mingjin was seeing such a delicate and elegant courtyard for the first time, and she couldn't help but feel overjoyed as she walked through the courtyards and corridors to her own residence, only to find that the environment here was even better than what she had just seen.

  "Miss, don't look anymore, hurry back to rest! Tomorrow morning still have to get up early!" Qiu Yun advised.

  Xu Mingjin nodded and entered the inner room, letting Chun Xiang and Qiu Yun serve her as she removed her hairpins and washed up. However, there was still no sign of Mrs. Xu.

  Xu Mingjin was unwilling to sleep immediately, he had to know how Ming Xuan was doing in Songfengyuan before he could fall asleep.

  Chun Xing and others knew Xu Mingjin's temper, but none of them advised her to rest. They all silently accompanied her.

  Finally, Aunt Zhou is back.

  "Auntie, if you don't come back soon, I'll fall asleep." Xu Mingjin's older brother yawned and covered his mouth.

  "Miss, I've been walking so fast all the way!" Old Zhou hurriedly said: "Mainly because Songfengyuan is far from our Feicui Garden, not even a little bit."

  Xu Mingjin raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? So far?"

  Madam Xǔ saw that Xu Míngjǐn was angry and feared she would get upset and harm her body, so she said: "It's not too far away, Miss wants to go see Young Master, it's also very convenient."

  Xu Mingjin didn't have time to dwell on this issue because she was really too tired. She seized the opportunity to ask, "How is Mingxuan doing at Songfengyuan?"

  Madam Xu looked at Xu Mingjin's exhausted appearance and said briefly: "The young master has already fallen asleep on the other side, and it looks fine in Songfengyuan. Everything is new."

  Xu Mingjin listened and then sent them all away, crawling into his quilt to sleep.

  The next morning, Xu Mingjin was woken up by Chun Xing. Xu Mingjin was still a bit dazed, but Chun Xing didn't care about that. Along with Qiu Yun, they quickly helped Xu Mingjin change into her clothes and sat her down in front of the dresser. One person combed her hair while the other wiped her face before applying makeup. In just a moment, everything was done. Chun Xing and Qiu Yun stood on either side of Xu Mingjin, each holding one of her arms.

  Ming Jin's arm, propped her up and walked out. Xu Ming Jin was finally shaken awake, Chun Xing hastily said: "Miss, if you don't hurry, you'll miss the auspicious time of Young Master entering the ancestral hall!"

  Xu Mingjin heard this and said, "What's the hold up? Let's go quickly!" After saying that, he broke free from the two of them and hastily walked forward. However, after a moment, he returned: "How do we get to the ancestral hall?"

  It turned out to be a fork in the road ahead.

  Chun Xing hadn't had time to respond to Xu Mingjin's words when a soft, melodious female voice called out: "Ah, Sixth Sister, why are you still here? Seventh Young Master's auspicious hour for entering the ancestral hall is almost upon us!"

  Xu Mingjin heard the sound and looked over, seeing that it was indeed Second Miss Xu Mingying. He then paid his respects, saying: "Second sister, good morning."

  Xu Mingying glanced at her faintly and returned the courtesy before walking forward. Xu Mingjin followed slowly behind.

  "Big sister returned home early this morning."

  Xu Mingjin looked at Xu Mingying in confusion, what did she tell her this for?

  "Big sister is the most troublesome person in the mansion, you and your younger brother should be careful from now on." Xu Mingying said this and didn't wait for Xu Mingjin's response, she hastily left.

  Xu Mingjin also quickened her pace. She didn't take Xu Mingying's words to heart, what kind of person Xu Mingxia was, Zhou Niang had long since confessed, she knew what to do, no need for others' hypocritical reminders.

  When Xu Mingjin arrived at the ancestral hall, there were already many people.

  Just as the ceremony was about to begin, Xu Mingxia, the eldest young lady of the Xu family who had been rumored to have returned home, finally arrived fashionably late.

  Xu Ruoyi glared at Xu Mingxia and ignored her, ordering someone to open the ancestral hall.

  "Wait!"

  Xu Ruoyi turned around and saw that it was her eldest daughter Xu Mingxia who had spoken.

  "Why did you stop?" Xu Ruoyi said impatiently.

  "Dad, you can't register Seventh Brother under Mom's name."

  Everyone looked at Xu Mingxia, the most beloved daughter of Xu Ruoyi. Xu Ruoyi suppressed his impatience and calmly asked, "What's going on?"

  "Because, my mother is pregnant!"

  A stone stirred up a thousand waves, and everyone began to whisper to each other, occasionally glancing at Xu Mingjin's siblings with schadenfreude, hoping to see anxiety and shock on their faces. However, they were all disappointed. Because Xu Mingjin's siblings remained calm and stood there as usual.

  Xu Ruoyi was stunned for a moment, then disbelievingly asked Mrs. Xu: "Really? When did the doctor take her pulse?"

  Everyone's eyes were on Mrs. Xu, anxiously waiting for her response. But in the eyes of more people, there was envy, jealousy and discontent.

  Mrs. Xü looked around and found that Xu Ming and Jin were unmoved, her heart couldn't help but tighten, didn't they believe it at all?

  Madam Xü nodded with a feigned blush and said, "Just last night, I felt dizzy and asked the imperial physician to come. Who knew that after taking my pulse, he would say that I've been pregnant for several months?" As soon as Madam Xü finished speaking, she suddenly felt weak and her vision went black before fainting.

  The scene immediately became chaotic. Xu Ruoyi was extremely nervous and personally carried Mrs. Xu, shouting for the doctor repeatedly.

  Xu Mingjin stood by, not speaking. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that there was something fishy going on. Last night, Xu Ruoyi had just mentioned wanting his younger brother to enter the ancestral hall, and then Madame Xu became pregnant. She hadn't been pregnant in the morning or evening, but suddenly she was now. It would be strange if Xu Mingjin believed it.

  It seems that we can't enter this temple today.

  Everyone was delighted with the misfortune. However, no one expected that Xu Ruoyi would only find a doctor, carry Mrs. Xu to the nearest house from the ancestral hall, order the doctor to take her pulse well, and he himself came back to continue Xu Mingxuan's entry into the ancestral hall.

  Everyone's eyes were wide with shock.

  Xu Mingxia couldn't help but say: "Dad, how can you treat mom like this!"

  Xu Ruoyi didn't even bother to reason with her.

  Xu Mingxia finally left with her face covered.

  The ancestral hall finally opened, and Xu Mingxuan also followed Xu Ruoyi in. The crowd stood outside the door, and couldn't help but cast their eyes on Xu Mingjin, who was standing still and expressionless beside them, as if deep in thought.