After dinner.
Chu Hongyu pulled Yun Chu into the room and stuffed a wooden sculpture into Yun Chu's arms like a treasure: "Mother, do you like it?"
This is a palm-sized wooden doll. You can barely tell that it is a woman wearing a skirt. You can also tell that this is Yun Chu.
She looked at the wood carving again and again with joy: "Brother Yu, thank you. Mother likes it so much. She also has a gift for you."
She took out a purse and handed it over.
Chu Hongyu couldn't wait to open her purse and took out a small doll sewn from pieces of cloth.
This doll is only the size of a thumb, but its face and expression are lifelike, and its vivid expression makes people know it is Chu Hongyu at a glance.
"Wow, mother, you are really amazing. I like this doll so much!" the little guy said excitedly, "It would be great if this doll was bigger. I can hold it in my arms."
Yun Chu picked him up and put him on his lap, and said softly: "I made it so small on purpose that you can put it in your purse and wear it every day. Remember, you can't let anyone know that you have been to Xie's house. Don't let anyone know that you call me mother, otherwise I will be in great trouble."
Chu Hongyu nodded seriously, thought for a moment, and said hesitantly: "Can I let my sister know?"
He had long said that his sister could not speak, and of course a person who could not speak would not reveal secrets. Yun Chu nodded gently.
The little guy jumped up with joy.
Yunchu could tell that the brother and sister had a very good relationship, and the little girl must be as lovable as him.
Perhaps because he was leaving tomorrow morning, the little guy was particularly clingy. He put his arms and legs around Yun Chu, rested his head on her chest, and refused to close his eyes and sleep.
Yun Chu told him several stories and sang several songs. It was almost midnight before the child finally fell asleep.
In the dim light, she looked at the sleeping child in her arms. For some reason, she gently kissed the child on the face.
After kissing her, I felt like my empty chest was filled with something.
She hugged the child tightly and fell into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning, as soon as the faint morning light shone in through the window, Yun Chu opened his eyes, but the child in his arms was gone.
She was so anxious that she quickly got out of bed.
"Madam, the young prince got up and left immediately. Seeing that you were sleeping deeply, he did not allow the servants to wake you up." Tingshuang walked in with a basin of water, "Today is the old lady's birthday party, and all the courtyards are busy. Now, slave, let me help the lady do her dressing."
Yun Chu held the wooden carving in his hand. This was the only thing that proved that the child had been here.
She sat in front of the mirror. It took a lot of effort to drive the image of the child out of her mind. She looked at herself in the mirror and said, "The bun is simpler."
Tingshuang nodded, quickly combed the simplest hairstyle, inserted a plain-colored hosta, and then put on makeup for Yun Chu. She applied white powder on her entire face, no lipstick, and no eyebrows. She looked lifeless. Finally, she put on a dark purple dress, which made her face as white as paper.
As soon as the dressing up was finished, everyone arriving to pay their respects arrived.
Because it was the old lady's birthday, Xie Shi'an didn't go to school, and all the people waiting to greet her were waiting in the flower hall.
When Yunchu walked out, everyone saluted.
Xie Shi'an raised his head and looked at Yun Chu's face, hesitating to say: "Why is my mother's face so pale? Is she feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"
"I started having a headache in the middle of the night, and now my head feels like it's going to explode." Yun Chu pressed his temples, "Brother An, do you think I'm suitable for going out to welcome guests?"
Xie Shian pursed his lips.
If the mother did not welcome the guests, the rumors outside would probably get worse.
But the guests might be suspicious of her if they saw her mother's sickly appearance.
"Madam, I happened to bring lipstick." Tingyu stepped forward, "I will put some color on your lips. Your complexion should look better."
Yun Chu nodded and allowed her to mess around.
Just painting her lips red made her face look a little paler.
Xie Shi'an said: "My mother has fair skin, so it would be better if she didn't apply lipstick."
Ting Yu chatted so much that she had to wipe her lipstick with a handkerchief.
Tingshuang, who was standing on the side, felt unworthy of his wife. These people were only worried about whether her appearance would make the Xie family talk about it. No one really cared about his wife's health.
She suddenly understood why Madam no longer got close to the Xie children, because they were all white-eyed wolves.
Even if Madam raised these children with all her heart and soul, she probably wouldn't get a good word from them.
Not as good as the young prince of Pingxi Palace...
Yun Chu stood up and said with a smile: "Let's go, let's go celebrate the old lady's birthday."
The group of people cheered and headed to Anshou Hall.
The old lady was freshly dressed and sitting on the main seat in high spirits. The Yuan family had already arrived, and Yunchu's father-in-law Xie Zhongcheng had also arrived.
Among all the masters of the Xie Mansion, the one that Yun Chu had the least contact with was Xie Jingyu's father, Xie Zhongcheng, because most of his father-in-law lived in Zhuangzi outside the city, focusing on managing the Xie family's property.
She walked in, saluted one by one, then looked at the old lady and said with a smile: "My granddaughter-in-law wishes the old lady a birthday. I wish the old lady a blessing as good as the East Sea, and a life as long as the southern mountains. May you have this day every year, and this day every year."
The aunts, brothers and sisters behind her also came forward to say happy birthday and good luck.
The old lady smiled with a smile on her face: "Okay, okay, you all have filial piety. I, the Xie family, count on you to shine on our family!"
This is the only branch of the Xie family in the capital. After the birthday celebrations were over, they began to offer congratulatory gifts.
Xie Zhongcheng went to the temple to ask for a longevity charm for his mother. He claimed that he knelt for nine days and nine nights at the most sacred Hanshan Temple outside the city before he begged for one.
Mrs. Yuan gave the old lady a longevity jade bottle.
Xie Jingyu presented a picture of a fairy deer that he drew himself.
Next, it was Yun Chu's turn to give gifts. Every year on the old lady's birthday, Yun Chu's gift was the most expensive among all birthday gifts.
The old lady saw Tingshuang Tingxue coming in carrying a large object, and she knew it was a screen at a glance.
"Old lady, this is the hundred-year-old screen that my granddaughter-in-law spent three months embroidering for you." Yun Chu pulled down the red cloth, "My grandson-in-law is the daughter of a military commander and is not good at women's red. She has tried her best to learn some. It’s not very good, I hope the old lady won’t dislike it.”
Yuanshi said: "The most important thing about the gift is sincerity, the quality of the embroidery is secondary."
But when she saw the word "longevity" on the screen, Yuan couldn't praise it because it was so ugly.
If this screen were placed in the house, it would probably make people laugh, so it could only be stored in the warehouse, but it would also take up space...
The corner of the old lady's mouth twitched. The girl in her house who was the worst at embroidery was better than Yun Chu. If she was so bad at embroidery, she wouldn't be able to embroider. Wouldn't that be embarrassing?
But it is indeed not easy to embroider a hundred words of longevity, especially for people who are not familiar with female celebrities.
If she said something dissatisfactory and hurt Yunchu's face, there was no telling what outrageous things this granddaughter-in-law would do.
"Chu'er is interested." The old lady said against her will, "You carefully prepared birthday gifts even when you were ill. Your filial piety is touching."
Yunchu lowered his head and said he didn't dare.
Immediately afterwards, the aunt and the younger generation gave gifts, including clothes, shoes and other items, or calligraphy and paintings, nothing new at all.
After the gift-giving was over, the old lady stood up and said, "It's almost time. It's time to open the door to welcome guests. Let's go to the front yard."
