Duke Wei's Mansion.
The plaque of "Fanyanghou Mansion" has been replaced by "Weiguo Gongfu".
The large golden block letters, set against a black background and illuminated by the sun, exude a dazzling brilliance, and everyone passing by admires them.
The entire mansion was undergoing a vigorous cleaning campaign, and the corridors, pavilions, courtyards, etc. were all decorated.
There are three great events that deserve such celebration.
First, Su Xian was awarded the title of Duke of Wei; second, Tang Shuwan was awarded the title of "Mrs. of the State"; third, Su Xian was about to return to Beijing.
No matter which one of these three great events is taken on its own, it is worthy of a big deal. Now, it is great that these three great happy events have come together.
It seems unreasonable not to hold a grand event with great fanfare.
As the mistress of the Duke's Mansion, Tang Shuwan personally took charge of the arrangements, and she demanded perfection in every detail.
Since she married into the Marquis Mansion, her housekeeping style has always been frugal, spending what should be spent and saving what should be spent, without wasting even one tael of silver.
But this time, she no longer pursues frugality, but prioritizes beauty and richness, and spends money like water...
After all, this time is a special situation, three blessings come to your door, and life passes by for decades. This situation is rare, so you must celebrate it properly.
While he was busy making arrangements, a servant suddenly came to report that Tang Shujing was here.
"Jing'er is here? Please come quickly."
Tang Shuwan was very happy. From what she saw, Tang Shujing should have come to congratulate her. On such a festive day, the more people who came to congratulate her, the better.
Moreover, Tang Shujing was the first to come to congratulate her, which is of great significance.
She is indeed a good sister, and her love for her is not in vain.
However... while Tang Shuwan was happy, she suddenly remembered something——
She had not seen this girl for a long time. It seemed that Tang Shujing had not returned to the Hou Mansion since the day Su Xian went to Nanchen as envoy.
In the past, Tang Shujing lived in the Hou Mansion for a long time, and she had a separate courtyard in the manor.
But for some unknown reason, this girl has been fooling around outside during this period. It is said that there are endless cases of investigation every day...
Tang Shuwan was thinking wildly. After a while, a tall and beautiful figure appeared in front of her eyes. That was her sister-Tang Shujing.
"elder sister……"
Tang Shujing walked towards Tang Shuwan with her long legs. She hugged her sister's body in public, regardless of the fact that there were many servants present.
There was no smile on her delicate face, but a complex expression of worry, sympathy, pity, anger and other emotions.
There was also a hint of crying in her voice. Not to mention cheerful, she didn't even have the carelessness of the past.
"Jing'er, what are you doing?"
Tang Shuwan was stunned. She thought just now that the girl was here to congratulate her, but now...it doesn't look like her at all.
"elder sister……"
Tang Shujing didn't say anything, she just hugged her sister's body, her face was still complicated, and there was still a hint of crying in her voice.
He looks like a kid who was bullied outside.
Tang Shuwan also felt the same way - this girl must have encountered very difficult difficulties after being out investigating all day long, right?
Hey, he was still a child after all... Tang Shuwan's eyes shone with a motherly light, ready to comfort her.
In her eyes, no matter how old Tang Shujing grows, she is just a naughty sister who needs to be taken care of.
With this in her mind, she immediately put aside all distracting thoughts, hugged Tang Shujing in her arms, patted her shoulder gently with her hand, and comforted her: "Okay, okay, don't be sad, my sister is here for everything..."
Everyone present, including the servants, servants, Liu Huixiang, Luo Xiuniang, the concubines, and Tang Shuwan's maid Minglan, were all stunned when they saw this.
When Tang Shujing ran over, hugged Tang Shuwan and shouted "sister", a thought popped into their minds: "Such a big person is still so childish. I wonder if today is your sister's big day?"
When Tang Shuwan comforted Tang Shujing in turn, everyone thought again: "Look, your sister is very knowledgeable. It was supposed to be a day of grand celebration, but she comforted you instead. Are you embarrassed?"
Tang Shujing was even more stunned after hearing her sister's comfort.
I thought my sister was so kind. She could think of others at such times and in turn comfort them, which really made it hard for people to calm down.
She resisted the urge to burst into tears, hugged her sister's body and said, "Sister, don't worry, from now on, I won't go anywhere, I will only stay with my sister!"
After hearing this, Tang Shuwan was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly realized, she thought to herself: "This girl must have encountered something difficult outside, or got into trouble, or...has no money to do good things, right?"
She knows that her sister often does good deeds and helps people in need.
She smiled and didn't point it out. She just replied:
"Okay, okay, Jing'er can stay in the house as long as she wants. I hope Jing'er can always stay by my side."
"..."
At this time, a servant came to report that Tang Ju and Mrs. Chen were on their way to the Duke's Mansion and would be arriving soon.
Tang Ju is Tang Shuwan's biological father, and Mrs. Chen is her biological mother. The father and mother are here hand in hand. Besides, it is such a happy day today, how can it not make people happy?
Tang Shuwan immediately pushed the girl away, looked at Liu Huixiang and said with a smile: "I'm sorry for Sister Liu here. I'll go greet the two elderly people."
"Don't worry, Sister Tang." Liu Huixiang nodded.
In terms of background, Liu Huixiang is no worse than Tang Shuwan. She is also the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family and has no problem with her housekeeping and financial management abilities.
Tang Shuwan smiled and thanked her, then held up her skirt, took Ming Lan and other maids and servants, and rushed straight to the main entrance of the Duke's Mansion.
Tang Ju and Mrs. Chen are her closest relatives and must go out of the house to welcome them.
Tang Shu quietly wiped the crystal from the corners of her eyes, and Busy followed behind. In her opinion, the reason why Tang Ju and Mrs. Chen came here should be similar to hers.
But Tang Shuwan believed that the two old people came purely to congratulate her.
Thinking of this, she was very happy and proud.
Looking back on the past, when she was a child, she had witnessed with her own eyes how her father, Tang Ju, was despised, ridiculed, and ostracized by the family.
At that time, the life of aristocratic families was generally difficult, but the Tang family was relatively well off. If the family was willing to contribute, Tang Ju's ability could definitely serve as an official in the court.
Although he could not reach the level of minister or prime minister due to the empress's suppression, he was still relatively successful.
But the result was that Tang Ju took his two sisters, Mrs. Chen and Tang Shuwan, to Yingzhou, Hebei Province, and became a small county magistrate, which was really a bit of an indignity.
Tang Shuwan understood that the root cause of all this was that she and her sister Tang Shujing were both daughters.
Tang Ju had no children and could not get the family's important training...
But it's fine now.
Although she is a daughter, because of her husband Su Xian, she not only received a first-class imperial title, but was also named "Mrs. of the State", which far surpassed all the men in the Tang family in terms of status.
His biological father, Tang Ju, relied on his son-in-law's help to rise through the ranks and became the governor of Henan Prefecture. There is a possibility of getting even closer in the future.
Nowadays, Tang Ju's status in the Tang family has soared, and even the head of the Tang family needs to be polite to Tang Ju...
Whenever Tang Shuwan thinks of this, she feels tears filling her eyes. She is proud. The fact that Tang Ju and Mrs. Chen are here today is an affirmation for her!
"By the way, hurry up and clean up a yard. You must let your parents stay at the house overnight today, so that I can fulfill my filial duty."
On the way to the mansion, Tang Shuwan gave instructions to Minglan and other maids.
"Yes." A maid took the order, left the big team, and went to find someone to clean up the yard.
Tang Shuwan suddenly thought of another question and ordered another maid: "Prepare the bedding and changes of clothes that I specially ordered for my parents some time ago."
"Yes." The maid took the order and left.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the maid left, another little maid ran towards her. After hearing Tang Shuwan's instructions, this maid seemed to have different opinions and shouted loudly:
"Madam, no need, no need..."
"No?"
Tang Shuwan stopped and was surprised. Her face immediately darkened. As a woman, she just wanted her parents to live more comfortably. How could this maid dare to say "No need"?
Minglan, Tang Shujing and others also followed suit.
"Yes, madam, no need, because... the governor came with bedding and a change of clothes, and also said that he would stay in the Duke's residence for ten days and a half!" the maid said with a smile.
"Stay here for ten days and a half!"
Tang Shuwan was immediately overjoyed. In her original expectation, Tang Ju and Mrs. Chen would only stay for one night at most and would leave the next day.
Because Tang Ju is really busy as the governor of Henan Prefecture.
And Mrs. Chen... was busy playing cards and had no time at all.
Ten days and a half is good. Tang Shuwan was so happy that she couldn't stay with her parents for such a long time since she got married.
Although her married life with Su Xian was happy, there were still some regrets. It was better now. Ten days and a half were enough for her to fulfill her filial piety.
On the side, Tang Shujing glanced sideways, looking at her sister's "forced smile" smile, and felt extremely uncomfortable in her heart, as if being pricked with a needle.
Actually, it doesn’t have to be like this…
But she also knew that her sister was so considerate of others that she didn't know how to persuade her even if she wanted to.
After a while, everyone walked out of the mansion and came to the wide bluestone street outside the door.
Two sisters, Tang Shuwan and Tang Shujing, stood side by side, looking at the end of the street from time to time, waiting patiently. Tang Ju and Mrs. Chen's carriage had not arrived yet.
Behind the two sisters are the servants, maids, etc. of the Hou Mansion. A large group of people are arranged neatly, which reflects Tang Shuwan's excellent housekeeping skills.
On both sides of the crowd, there were guards from the Duke's Mansion wearing armor and swords, standing there majesticly.
After a while, a motorcade finally appeared at the end of the street, gradually approaching, and the sound of horse hooves and wheels rolling over the bluestone street became increasingly clear.
"Mom and dad are coming soon."
Tang Shuwan was very happy and smiled brightly.
She looked sideways at the motorcade in the distance, wishing she could grow a pair of wings and rush over.
She was about to see her parents soon, and she couldn't hide her excitement. She couldn't help but think that, first of all, Mrs. Chen would be very happy.
After all, the son-in-law has been promoted again.
Then there is dad Tang Ju. Tang Ju is a serious person and may not smile as brightly as Mrs. Chen, but his happy expression should not be concealed.
"Xu..."
The carriage finally stopped slowly.
Tang Shuwan didn't think much and hurriedly walked to Mrs. Chen's car. Before the curtain of the car was moved, she bowed and said with a smile, "Mom, it's been a hard journey..."
Before she could say a word, Mrs. Chen got out of the carriage. The moment she saw Tang Shuwan, her expression changed immediately. Then she jumped out of the car, hugged Tang Shuwan and cried:
"My daughter, my poor daughter... don't be afraid, mother is here to accompany you, don't be afraid..."
Mrs. Chen ignored everyone present, hugging Tang Shuwan and wailing, and patted Tang Shuwan's shoulder gently, with moist eyes and a look of love and care on her face.
"Well……"
Tang Shuwan froze on the spot.
Dumbfounded and confused.
If she was crying with joy, it was possible, but Mrs. Chen's words also contained words such as "bitter life", "don't be afraid", "accompany", etc., which was very strange.
Isn’t today a big day? Why does my mother have such an expression?
Tang Shuwan couldn't understand, and her brain immediately shut down.
At this time, Tang Ju stepped out of the carriage and saw the scene of Mrs. Chen and Tang Shuwan "mother and daughter hugging each other and crying". His face darkened, he shook his head and stood silently aside.
Especially Tang Shuwan's "stiff face" and "lost soul" appearance made his heart hurt like needles.
After all, Tang Ju was a man, much more mature and tolerant than Mrs. Chen. He sighed deeply and said to the mother and daughter: "It's windy outside, so let's go inside first."
"What father said is true, mother, let's go in first."
Although Tang Shuwan was confused, it was not the time to delve deeper. Didn't she see the servants, maids, guards, and people passing by looking at them strangely?
So, everyone entered the house.
As a daughter, Tang Shuwan was naturally closer to her mother. Moreover, Mrs. Chen was a distinguished guest, so she planned to help Mrs. Chen enter the house, so as to show her respect for her mother.
However, Mrs. Chen didn't know she had taken the wrong medicine, and she actually supported her in the opposite direction, making her look weak and in need of care, and it was not in line with etiquette.
That's not all, her sister Tang Shujing also changed from her usual carelessness and actually walked to the other side of her and held her other hand.
this……
Tang Shuwan suddenly became filled with doubts.
But they didn't show it externally, and they never got to the bottom of it. They just thought that the three of them, mother and daughter, hadn't been together for a long time, so they wanted to get closer and have some affection.
Behind the mother and daughter, Tang Ju followed suit. When he walked under the brand new plaque, he paused and looked up -
Duke Wei's Mansion!
What a great honor!
If the incident with Nan Chen had not happened, he would have been happy.
But right now...eh!
Tang Ju shook his head, followed the mother and daughter, and slowly entered the Duke's Mansion.
The mansion was very big, and everyone was chatting as they walked, only to hear Tang Shuwan say: "My daughter has long wanted to invite her parents to stay in the mansion for a long time, so that her daughter can fulfill her filial duty."
"But, my mother likes to play cards, and my father is busy with work... This time, I wonder why my father and mother have the idea of staying with my daughter for a long time?"
Mrs. Chen patted her hand gently and said earnestly: "How can playing cards be more important than my precious daughter? It's been a long time since we, mother and daughter, talked all night, right? I will sleep with you tonight as my mother."
Later, Tang Ju also said that official duties were not as important as his daughter, so he specifically handed over official duties to his deputy...
Although Tang Shuwan was happy, after all, this was what she had been looking forward to, she still felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't put it into words when she thought about it.
