Chapter 1672: Chapter 1672 Unwilling
Lady Gu was unhappy, "Why can’t I give it to my son?"
Sir Liu was worried about his own materials, "That’s the material I saved for making stamps for myself!"
Lady Gu said, "Our son wanted to choose a piece of material, but there was nothing suitable in the big storeroom. I told him to check your small storeroom. I was so busy before the New Year and forgotten to tell you. Is my apology not enough?"
Sir Liu was full of anger but couldn’t vent on his wife, feeling deeply frustrated, "That’s the material I got with great difficulty."
He had been keeping it and couldn’t bear to use it; just thinking about it makes him angry. Everything he couldn’t bear to use has been taken by that brat.
Lady Gu laughed, "Alright, don’t be mad. The Third Miss Zhou is going to the hair-pinning ceremony, and our son wants to give her a hair-pinning gift. Didn’t you also want to marry the daughter-in-law sooner?"
Sir Liu stood up, "No way, I have to put the valuables away again."
Lady Gu watched her husband leave in a hurry, thinking to herself, "Serves you right for being tightfisted and not using it!"
The tenth year of Sheng Hui’s reign, Marquis Zhou’s residence didn’t have lively shows; they had a plain New Year celebration, and Zhou Shuren and his wife preferred to stay in the main courtyard for leisure after the New Year.
They left the reception of New Year guests to Zhou Senior and his wife. Mingyun was not at home; Ming Teng was at Rong An Hou Residence, and Ming Hui was recruited to help out.
Liu Yuanbo and Yu Yueyang, who were already engaged, chose the same day to visit and coincidentally arrived at the Hou Residence together.
Liu Yuanbo had a somewhat unnatural expression, "Why are you staring at my knee?"
"I think Brother Liu is walking a bit unnaturally."
Liu Yuanbo didn’t see the amusement in Yu Yueyang’s eyes and cleared his throat, "I bumped my knee during the New Year."
"Oh."
The tone was drawn out a bit.
Liu Yuanbo’s ears turned a bit red. His father punished him, and he kneeled for a long time. If it weren’t for the New Year, he would have kneeled even longer!
Yu Yueyang was the first to enter the residence gate, Liu Yuanbo touched his nose and followed, and the two went to the main courtyard.
Zhulan had prepared red packets after the two young men finished paying respects for New Year, "In the new year, may everything go smoothly for you both."
Zhou Shuren saw the two young men being afraid of him and waved his hand to let them leave.
After the people left, Zhou Shuren asked, "Am I very scary?"
"Your tales are everywhere in the capital; what do you think?"
Zhou Shuren chuckled, "Then I shall make more legends."
Zhulan stood up, "And become the tale that scares the children to tears?"
Zhou Shuren thought it was quite good and chased after his wife as he saw her walking away, "Where are you going?"
Zhulan said, "I want to paint."
"I’ll accompany you."
"Just don’t cause trouble."
Qing Xue signaled the maids in the room to leave. The maids left with smiles on their faces; the Master’s and Madam’s relationship was indeed great.
On the other side, Liu Yuanbo and Yu Yueyang paid New Year’s respects to other elders in the Zhou family, received many red packets, and then saw their fiancées.
Yu Die was about to have her hair-pinning ceremony. Facing her fiance, she was more reserved than before and shyly turned her head away from his gaze.
Liu Yuanbo’s fingertips touched his knee; he could bear the punishment for marrying his wife sooner. "I personally made a flower lantern, shall I draw it for you to see if you like it?"
Yu Die’s ears turned slightly red, "Okay."
Yu Yueyang felt defeated as he rarely made gifts by hand for his fiancée. His gifts were mostly bought!
Ming Hui coughed; were they flirting like this with so many people around?
Yu Wen rarely had the spirit to watch the scene unfold, hiding her smile behind a fan.
Yu Die blushed, "We are playing a game."
Yu Jiao teased, "Is Third Sister shy?"
Yu Die gnashed her teeth, "I’ll deal with you later."
Yu Jiao was fearless, muttering, "A shy paper tiger."
Ming Jung chimed in, "It’s clearly a cooked crab!"
The room burst into laughter, Yu Die’s face turned even redder, and Liu Yuanbo felt pitiful, with his future brother-in-law and sister-in-law being too sharp-tongued!
After New Year, the capital was abuzz with discussions about Earl Ye marrying off his daughter into the Duke of Yongan Residence; the betrothal gift drew crowds initially, and the cold weather after the New Year didn’t stop people from watching the bridal procession.
With the marrying off of Earl Ye’s daughter, it was quite the spectacle, with sedan chairs carrying dowry parading through the street, stirring discussions among the onlookers.
Zhulan was pulled out by Lady Li to watch the commotion, "The Count Residence has given quite a few lands as dowry."
Lady Li stood by the window, "This dowry is too substantial."
Zhulan said, "Before the year-end, Chang Xhong saw Zhuo Guyu and Ye Jing together. With the two families united, the dowry is a gesture of sincerity."
Lady Li said, "Fortunately, I only have one daughter."
Zhulan laughed, "The sons have to provide betrothal gifts."
Lady Li looked relieved, "In the main house, only Ming Hui and Ming Jung are left. Ming Hui’s is already prepared."
Qing Xue walked in, "Madam, Empress Dowager Chen is at the tea house; she invites you for tea."
Zhulan stood up, "Let’s go."
In Empress Dowager Chen’s booth was Princess Qi, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo were discussing something argumentative; it stopped when they saw Zhulan.
Empress Dowager Chen said, "Sorry to make you laugh."
Zhulan noticed the booklet beside the Dowager, smiling and asked, "Discussing story plots?"
Empress Dowager Chen smiled and said, "Yes."
Zhulan sat down, "Is the Dowager preparing a new storybook?"
Empress Dowager Chen was quite thankful to Yang for introducing this hobby to her, "Yes, many people are eager to read new stories."
Zhulan originally felt strange upon learning that Empress Dowager Chen wrote story books for sale. She even asked Shuren if the Retired Emperor minded, but he actually didn’t care. Since a pen name was used and Prince Qi didn’t let more people find out Mr. Yan’s identity, those who knew didn’t dare to spread it. Thus, Empress Dowager Chen’s late-life career flourished.
Of the Dowagers, Empress Dowager Chen indulged in writing stories; another passed away with Prince Liang and seemed to enter a religious retreat, and the third indulged in raising grandchildren!
Empress Dowager Chen suddenly said, "You have many ideas; how about joining me in writing storybooks once you’re done managing the orphans?"
Princess Qi coughed, and Empress Dowager Chen realized she had misspoken.
Zhulan remained composed, "What does the Dowager know?"
Even Shuren hadn’t told her anything!
Empress Dowager Chen’s eyes wandered, contemplating that Yang would learn sooner or later, "Prince Qi has been entering the palace every day lately."
Zhulan didn’t ask further, sighing with the sentiment that if things were as the Emperor discussed with Prince Qi, Prince Qi and Prince Chu’s abilities would indeed be worthy of a monarch; what a pity!
Empress Dowager Chen admired Yang, with her son frequently speaking of Yang’s talents, yes, and also of Mr. Fengqing, "That’s unfortunate for you."
Zhulan asked, "Hmm?"
Princess Qi held her forehead. Her mother-in-law didn’t care about anything, which made her happy, but her mother-in-law, being too content, has become less cautious than before. However, the Zhou Marquis couple were indeed trustworthy simply because they lived with clarity.
Empress Dowager Chen smiled, "Our Chen family has many good Er Langs; would you consider a Chen family son-in-law?"
Zhulan smiled, the topic switched quickly. The Chen family was indeed good, but unfortunately, with Prince Qi alive, no matter how good the Chen family was, the Zhou family wouldn’t marry into them!
Princess Qi coughed, Empress Dowager Chen sighed, knowing Yang well enough to dare mention it, aware that the Duke would have been delighted if the Chen and Zhou families had formed marital ties. But unfortunately, the Zhou family didn’t want it.