Seventeen gather together

  The coachman stopped the carriage steadily at the east outer gate, and the maid in front of Li's family quickly moved a small stool forward. The first to jump down was the personal maid of Wang Shi from the second house, who held a six or seven year old little girl as she got off the carriage, closely followed by Wang Shi herself.

  Behind her was a girl of seven or eight years old, who looked slightly more mature, acting cautiously and quietly following Mrs. Wang without saying a word.

  Next came the third wife, Madame Zhao, and her young son Murong Hao, whom people called Gege, ranking fifth in birth order.

  Mrs. Li and Wen Yu hastened to welcome them, while Wen Yi immediately paid her respects to the two aunts with a gift of good fortune. Mrs. Li warmly grasped the hands of Wang and Zhao, at the same time slipping a small hand warmer into their palms for them to warm themselves with. "Second Brother and Sister, Third Brother and Sister, you've finally come back! We've been waiting anxiously for several days now. And look, Wen Yi and Yun Qing have grown so big! Ah, Hao Ge has become a grown man too... Auntie doesn't have anything good to give you, just take this bangle to play with."

  She immediately took off two bracelets that were almost identical in style but slightly different in gemstone inlays from her hands. The one given to Wu Yan was a bracelet inlaid with rubies and sapphires, while the one given to Yun Qing was a bracelet inlaid with peridot and cat's eye.

  Wanyi and Yunqing blushed and didn't dare to take it immediately, but instead looked at their mother, Wangshi. Wangshi touched the golden hairpin on her head, took it off and smiled: "I'm talking about you, look at your daughter, she's growing up so big and beautiful, just like a little fairy, play with it."

  Zhao also took off the silver bangle on her wrist and handed it to Wanyu, and the three sisters-in-law chatted warmly about family matters.

  Wang saw her nod and politely put it away, elegantly expressing gratitude with a "thank you", "Thank you, Auntie, big sister is really beautiful, just like the fairy in the painting." She smiled slightly, her large almond-shaped eyes shining with cuteness.

  Wanyu smiled and thanked Wangshi Zhao, then took the initiative to hold Wanyi and Yunqing's small hands, laughing: "Sisters are also good-looking, aren't you cold? The early spring weather is still a bit cool, use my warm sleeves to warm up." She saw that Yunqing was wearing something thin, only wearing a crimson cross-collared jacket, which was still 70% new and slightly thin. A small section of her wrist was exposed outside, and her frozen hands were white. Hurriedly, she quietly stuffed the warm sleeve into Yunqing's hand.

  Yun Qing felt grateful and thanked her sincerely, "Thank you, big sister."

  Wan Yi was wearing a colorful brocade embroidered with orchids, a brand new outfit, and she was still holding a warm stove with a pattern of birds and flowers made of porcelain, wearing pearl earrings. Compared to Yun Qing's shabby appearance, she looked rich and majestic.

  Wang wore a carnation pink embroidered lotus flower brocade jacket with silver red eight treasure Hunan skirt, which set off her beauty.

  Zhao wore a lake-green embroidered jacket with a grass-green pleated skirt, looking elegant and refined.

  The three of them chatted briefly, and then Li said with a smile: "Look at me, I'm so happy that I can't stop talking. It's cold outside, hurry back home to warm up. Your mother is still waiting for you in the house. I've had hot soup and water prepared. After we pay our respects, you can go back and freshen up."

  "Trouble you, sister-in-law." Zhao smiled and thanked her.

  "It's still better at home, no matter how good it is outside, it can't compare to being at home." Wang sighed.

  "It's not, is it? You're back, and Mother won't be lonely anymore. There's someone to keep Mother company playing cards now. Let's have a family reunion lunch at noon, I've already told the kitchen to prepare. For now, you two eat some light porridge and snacks to fill your stomach first." Li said with a smile, chatting away.

  Wang's frown gradually relaxed, "But I just want to drink a bowl of hot porridge, my stomach has been cold all the way, I'm fine, but I'm afraid that the few kids will get frostbite again."

  A group of people chatted and laughed as they entered the residence, where the old lady had been waiting impatiently. She had sent someone to the door several times to ask if they were coming, and finally saw them arrive. Wang and Zhao led the children in greeting the old lady with a bow, amidst another flurry of activity.

  The old lady was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn't help but shed a few tears. Yu Rou, afraid that the old lady's emotions would get out of control and make her uncomfortable, quickly ran over to comfort her, "Grandma, Grandma, look! I have little brothers and sisters now, and I'm a big sister too! Aren't my little sisters pretty? And I have lots of beautiful hairpins, can I give them to my little sisters later?" She pulled on the old lady's sleeve, chattering away in her soft, sweet voice, which soon brought a smile to the old lady's face.

  Wang looked at Yuwen with a profound gaze, unexpectedly this little girl was so capable, making the old lady so happy, and growing up to be so beautiful, even her own daughter couldn't compare, thinking of this she frowned again.

  The old lady affectionately patted Wen Yu's head, her eyes shining with approval, and praised: "Good child, that's right, you're the older sister, take care of your younger sister, don't quarrel and play well."

  "Hmm, I know, all of you sisters have to listen to me, I'm the older sister." Wan Yu proudly tilted her head back, with an air of arrogance, making everyone burst out laughing.

  Wanyu saw that the adults had something to say, so she pulled her two younger sisters and said: "Sisters, let's go to the warm pavilion. I have beautiful pearl flowers to give you, and also my own rosewater made from grinding rouge. Come on, let's go play."

  Wanyi and Yunqing were not very familiar with the Hou Mansion, so they looked at Wangshi, saw her smiling and nodding, and happily followed Wanyu to play in the warm pavilion, where it was warmer.

  Yu Rou ran out again, "Nanny, pour us a cup of red date stewed pear water, my sisters are also thirsty. Bring some snacks too, both sweet and savory." After finishing speaking, she saw her brother Murong Hao staring at her with eager eyes, so she smiled and beckoned him to come over, "How did you hide behind there without me noticing? Come, follow sister to eat some snacks and drink sugar water. I still have your fourth brother's toys, I'll get them for you to play with."

  Murong Hao's eyes lit up as soon as he heard it. Zhao patted his head, "Go on, go play with your sister, don't make trouble."

  Murong Hao nodded happily, he quite liked this beautiful sister, smiled very beautifully, and had a friendly attitude, so he followed her to eat snacks with a smile.

  The four kids were shooed away, and the adults finally sat down to have a quiet chat, giving the old lady an update on what they had been up to all these years, their achievements and things that needed to be said.

  Wanyu and her siblings were chatting and laughing in the warm pavilion, playing games. She was afraid that Murong Hao would be bored, so she took out several of Qi Ge's toys for him to play with. She also brought out her own jewelry box, which contained mostly pearl flowers and silk ribbons. The valuable jewelry had all been put away by Li Shi, mainly because Wanyu was still young and didn't know how to take care of them, and she was afraid that the servants would steal them. Besides, at her current age, she wasn't even old enough to wear her hair in a bun, let alone gold jewelry.

  "Look, this is the pearl flower of Nan Zhu's silk pile. When it gets a bit warmer, you can wear it. This pearl has a round and smooth head, and its color is also beautiful, with a faint pink hue. Do you like it, Yun Qing? I'll give it to you. Wan Yi, which one do you like? Choose for yourself. There are also velvet flowers here, these few are not bad, pick one out. The weather is suitable for wearing them now." Wan Yu enthusiastically took out all her pearl flowers and laid them out for them to choose from.

  It seems that Yun Qing is not too daring to take action, so she first picked a pearl flower for Yun Qing that can be taken out. At their age, they usually just wear a pearl flower and don't need to dress up deliberately, because they can't braid their hair yet, so they can't wear hairpins or other things either.

  Yun Qing really liked the pink pearl bead flower, it was very pretty. She thought that her elder sister would give it to her younger sister Wan Yi first, as she was the legitimate daughter and always got the good things first, leaving only leftovers for Yun Qing herself. But unexpectedly, her elder sister gave it to her instead, and looked at her with a face full of surprise.

  Wanyu casually stuffed the pearl flowers into her hand, and happily invited them to pick some more. She had so many of these things that she couldn't fit them all in. Not only did Li Shi regularly send them over, but also the old lady would have the steward deliver them to the mansion. Li Shi herself owned a jewelry store, so she didn't lack for these items.

  There is also Jing Fei who occasionally brings in some palace flowers as rewards. Since the household only had one girl before, naturally there were more than enough to use.

  "These are the palace's pearl flowers, and they still have a fragrance. You smell them, you all pick some to take back. In the past, I was the only girl in the house, my brothers grew up and didn't play with me anymore, it was so boring for me alone. From now on, it will be better, we can play together." Yuanyu was very happy and excited to have a younger sister, hastily taking out her favorite things to share with her sisters.

  Wanyi and Yunqing both felt Wanyu's sincerity, happily nodding their heads. Even Yunqing's courage grew a bit, "Thank you big sister, I like this yellow color, I want this one. This one has the fragrance of jasmine flowers, it smells so good."

  Wanyi has never suffered since she was a child, and these things are abundant at home. Except for the palace, everything else is readily available, so it's not like Wangshi would wrong her own daughter, so there's no excitement like Yunqing, but she's quite fond of Wanyu.

  "Big sister, I like this peony flower, can you give me two? I really don't have any peonies." Wan Yi looked up with her small face and begged, her lovely almond eyes blinking, looking adorable.

  Wanyu thought for a moment and said: "Peony, I think I still have a palace flower box, bring it to me, let me pick one out for my sisters."

  She named the maids in the courtyard according to the names of flowers, which sounded good and were easy to remember. The maids were also very satisfied with their names, which were much better than those given by their own families.

  "Wait a moment, young masters," Peony said with a smile, scanning Wen Yi and Yun Qing before continuing, "I'll get them for you. The palace flowers that the Empress Dowager bestowed upon me a few days ago are in two boxes." Her slightly upturned lips made her appear extremely affable.

  Jing Fei liked Wan Yu very much, and Wan Yu was sweet-tempered, cautious, and never caused trouble or showed off. This caution made Jing Fei more and more satisfied with her. Every year, she would choose a good time to let Wan Yu enter the palace for a short stay, playing with the fourth prince. Fortunately, they were relatives and still young children, so no one said anything about it.

  Because of her lovely appearance, even in the emperor's place, she could occasionally meet him once or twice, which made Yuanyu particularly delighted and willing to enter the palace to accompany Jingfei, as she could take advantage of the opportunity to absorb a bit of dragon energy.

  Thank you, Little Courtyard, for the lovely pumpkin lanterns from Mu Ran Zi Ji; haha, it's so cute! Thank you, Meng Chong Xiao Jing Ling, for your reward.