Too embarrassing

  With Murong Jin's words, Li was much more at ease and immediately set about making arrangements. Since they had known in advance that the family would be returning, Lin Niang and others' living quarters were already mostly prepared, so it didn't matter if it took another day or two.

  Lin Yiniang was arranged in a courtyard on the right side, also with a single gate and yard, but after all, she was just a concubine, so it couldn't be too spacious.

  In the evening, everyone gathered for dinner. Murong Jin and Murong Qing, along with Third Brother Murong Zhi, arrived together, looking like they had just discussed something in the study, their faces not bad.

  It's rare for the whole family to gather together, and the old lady was particularly happy. She said with a smile: "Let someone bring out that big round table made of elm wood. We don't need to draw the curtains now, it's inconvenient to talk, and there are no outsiders around. Let's have a good meal together as a family."

  Wang smiled and replied, "That's right, it's been many years since our family had a lively dinner together. Today the kitchen has prepared delicious dishes, I secretly asked and have been craving for a long time, and there's also braised lion's head, which we usually only get to eat during Chinese New Year. No one is allowed to fight with me over it today." She smiled and played along with the old lady.

  The old lady chuckled and said, "Oh my, you're so old, but still acting like a kid. Be careful or your daughter and son will laugh at you."

  Wang was covering her mouth and laughing "hahaha", Li and Zhao were also surrounding her, giggling and having fun. The children were gathered around the old lady, laughing and making a ruckus, the old lady's eyes were narrowed with joy.

  The dishes started coming out one after another, and the old lady invited everyone to sit down and eat, saying "Come on, let's get started, dig in!"

  The Lis and the Wangs stood behind the old lady, ready to serve the dishes. The old lady waved her hand and said: "No need, you've all worked hard, come sit down and eat together, there are maids serving us."

  The old lady is still a very gentle mother-in-law. As long as she doesn't go overboard, there's no need for the daughter-in-law to come and pay respects every day, standing behind her serving dishes. As long as she can take good care of the men, that's enough. In all these years since her three sons got married, she has never favored one son over another. The aunties in the courtyard are either the ones who came with the daughter-in-law or were sent from outside, anyway, the old lady doesn't play favorites, so as not to make the daughter-in-law resentful.

  Li and Wang sat down after the toast, Wanyu sat next to the old lady, serving her dishes and chatting with her. Murong Jin glanced at everyone and smiled: "Let's eat."

  Everyone just started to move the dishes, Yun Shu looked around left and right, constantly looking around. Yun Qing was a bit curious and asked: "Second sister, what are you looking for? Let me help you find it." She said softly.

  Yun Shu was somewhat anxious and blurted out, "Why didn't my aunt come to eat with us?"

  Her voice wasn't loud, but it startled Yun Qing so much that she jumped and her chopsticks clattered onto the table, making a crisp sound that drew everyone's attention.

  Wang's face was slightly displeased, and he glared at Yun Qing with a low voice: "Yun Qing, what are you doing?"

  Yun Qing's face was strange and unbearable, "No, nothing." She didn't dare to speak randomly either, afraid of suffering the same fate as the pool fish again. She also thought that her second sister was also a concubine-born child, and it wasn't easy for them, so she might as well pretend not to know, rather than making an enemy for no reason.

  This kindness was not received by Yun Shu, who instead asked loudly again: "Dad, why didn't my mother come? What did my mother eat?" She stared at her aunt with piercing eyes.

  The old lady's face fell as soon as she heard this, and with a look of displeasure all over her face, she said: "Yun Shu, have you learned your manners to the point where they're stuck in your dog's belly? That is your aunt, and your mother is sitting right here. Don't you even know that much? I don't care if you're really foolish or just pretending to be, but starting tomorrow, you'd better learn some manners properly. When you've learned your manners well enough, then you can go out of the house."

  For such an unruly child, the old lady disliked him the most. She was also a girl from a high-ranking family and had always hated concubines and mistresses, so she never competed with her daughters-in-law, which made several of them very respectful of her.

  Yun Shu suddenly turned pale, how could she say something different to her aunt? The old lady didn't like her anyway. Now Yun Shu sat there stiffly, not knowing what to do next.

  Murong Jin's face also turned cold, "In the past, in the northwest, there weren't many people, and some rules I, as a grown man, didn't want to say much about. Now that you're back, you should learn more from your mother about family etiquette and propriety, don't learn that petty housewife air from your aunt. I've told you before not to learn those crooked and evil things from your aunt. You are a young lady of the Murong Marquis Manor, not some servant girl." By the end, his tone had become severe.

  "Madam, you should pay more attention to this child. He has been delayed in the northwest and can't help being a bit rough. Teach him some rules at home for now, and it's not necessary for him to go out yet. When he learns his manners, it won't be too late for him to go out."

  "Mr. Li's face remained calm as he replied, 'Yes, I will find a good nanny for the children.'"

  Wan Yu saw the scene was a bit awkward, Yun Shu sat there sniffling away tears, and the old lady also had a gloomy face. The originally lively family dinner was made unpleasant, personally ladled a bowl of soup with a smiling expression and handed it to the old lady, "Grandma, you must give me some face, this is the soup I personally simmered, personally added ingredients, it's really delicious."

  The old lady saw her clever and pretty granddaughter coming to coax herself, and she couldn't help but laugh. She tapped her head and scolded: "You little monkey, I don't know you at all. You must have been helped by Old Lady Ma, don't think about cheating me out of a reward."

  Wanyu giggled and said, "Aye, grandma, you can't do this! Why are you always embarrassing me? It'll make my sisters laugh at me. I don't care, you have to praise me!" She pulled on the old lady's sleeve and acted coquettishly.

  Li and Wang Zhao burst out laughing, giving face to each other. Wang also chimed in, "I've never heard of someone asking to be praised before, you're like the old lady selling melons, self-praising!"

  Wan Yu's face turned red and she buried herself in the old lady's arms, who burst out laughing, and this episode was over.

  Everyone quickly glossed over the matter with a few words, and the old lady didn't want to make everyone unhappy, so she didn't mention it again. However, Yun Shu sat on the other side, looking a bit awkward, silently wiping away tears, lowering her head to eat, and not speaking to anyone. Yun Qing also subconsciously kept a distance from her, lest he be affected by association.

  Wan Yu suddenly remembered something and said, "The other day, Wang's nanny told me that in a few days, several nannies will be leaving the palace. A few of them are her old sisters and they have a very good relationship. If our family wants to invite any of them, we should take action early, as many families already know about this news and are waiting eagerly."

  This also implies that Wang's nanny is unwilling to teach others, and it's better to invite a more skilled one.

  Wang heard and was stunned for a moment, looking at Yuwen as if he wanted to further verify, Yuwen lowered his head with a difficult expression, and in an instant she understood that this was Wang's reluctance to teach others again.

  I was also surprised to see that this young girl had managed to coax Wang's nanny so well, and was so close to her heart, that she wouldn't even want to earn an extra penny.

  This is getting a bit tricky, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow. Just then, Li spoke up, "I've already sent someone to invite them, whoever comes will be fine. The silver will come from the estate, and it's better for the girls to study together. As it gets hotter, we can move to the pavilion on the other side of the lake, where they can also take a boat ride and enjoy the scenery. What do you think, brother?"

  She turned her head and looked at Wang with a gentle gaze, seeking his opinion.

  Wang thought for a moment, nodded happily, and since she didn't want to, it was not good to force her, lest the girl would be inconvenienced. It's better to change to another one, and it just so happens that the silver money doesn't have to come from our own family, and using public funds can also save a little.

  Nodding his head in satisfaction, he smiled and said: "Alright, we'll listen to Sister-in-law. You must invite a good one back, can't be too strict, or it will be counterproductive."

  The reason why I like Wang's nanny is not only because she is the empress dowager, but also because Wang's nanny is kind and patient. After all, even if Madam Wang is narrow-minded, she loves her daughter dearly and can endure any hardship for her sake, always thinking of what's best for her daughter.

  Li's heart also felt relieved, and she smiled with pursed lips: "I've already asked Wang Nai Nai about it, she said don't worry, when the time comes, she'll write a letter for us to bring over, and she'll definitely invite someone good back, won't let the girls all become fools."

  "I'm relieved then, I'll leave it to my sister-in-law." This time Wang Shi was truly humble. Although she couldn't invite Old Lady Wang and felt a bit regretful, she made it clear that if someone didn't want to come, they should just withdraw, otherwise her own daughter would be looked down upon for no reason.

  "Don't worry, I have it all figured out. Besides, our big house isn't going to make Cloud Comfort learn together with us, is it?" Li's eyes darted towards Cloud Comfort sitting in the corner.

  Wang's sarcastic smile curled up at the corners of her mouth as she called out, "Sister-in-law is here to eat."

  The family was together again, laughing and chatting. After dinner, Yuwen and her sister started, "It was too late yesterday, but today Yunchu is also here. The jewelry given by the Empress Dowager is quite a lot, I alone can't wear them all. I picked some nice ones, let's pick one together, see if there's one you like."

  Wan Yu opened the box in front of them, inside was a row of gold hairpins, all of which were inlaid with rubies, only the patterns were slightly different. The bottom layer was palace flowers, with various colors, twelve branches, and six golden hairpins, each with a unique pattern, exquisitely crafted.

  Wan Yi and Yun Qing were delighted, Yun Qing didn't have such good jewelry, in two years she would also be getting married, not having two pieces of jewelry to take out was also an embarrassing thing. Wan Yi thought that her elder sister was a nice person, so everyone chose together, there was nothing to complain about, and although there was a difference between the legitimate and illegitimate children, sisters should still be close to each other.

  Wanyi smiled happily and said: "So many are really good-looking, are you going to choose or not? If you don't choose, I'll take them all away."

  Yun Qing couldn't help but laugh, "You're always thinking of good things, who said I wouldn't choose it? I also want to choose, I like this plum blossom pattern, it's so elegant."

  Wanyi also chose a hairpin with an orchid and rose pattern, as well as a palace flower. Wanyu saw that Yunshu still looked somewhat unhappy, so she pushed the box towards Yunshu and said: "Yunshu, you choose two too, everyone gets two, it's just sister's little intention, don't decline." She said softly.

  I'm back, flower flower wants a collection, tears streaming down, why is nobody here?