Duke Chen's Residence.
Although night had yet to fall, the entire Chen Residence was filled with jubilation.
The residence was decorated with lanterns and colored banners. Guests arrived and chatted with each other. Servants and maids walked among them, serving delicacies and wine. The atmosphere was joyous.
To the Chen Residence, today was even more lively than the New Year, Lantern Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
"This lowly official greets Lord Chen."
"Today, there is only Chen Qing, not Lord Chen."
"Long time no see, congratulations on your promotion, Lord Chen."
"Today is my youngest sister's birthday, let's not talk about these things. Sit over there …"
"Lord Qin, welcome … Cui Liu, bring Madam Qin to the ladies in the inner courtyard …"
…
The Chen family's status in the imperial court was not low, and it could even be said that it played an important role. This was not only because of Minister Chen's prestige and connections in the past, but also because the Chen brothers held important positions in the imperial court. One was a minister, and the other was now an official's attendant. Anyone who was invited to today's banquet more or less had the intention to curry favor with them.
Chen Qing personally welcomed a few important guests, then turned around and frowned. "What time is it? Why haven't Third Sister and Second Brother returned yet?"
A servant replied respectfully, "Master, Second Master went out to fetch Third Miss a long time ago. I don't know why, but there has been no news yet."
"The banquet is about to begin. Send someone out to take a look."
"Yes!"
Chen Qing gave an order and the servant immediately retreated and ran out of the mansion.
In Willow Alley, Third Miss Chen walked out of the courtyard and smiled at the two girls. "I still have to thank you for your hospitality today. Sorry for the trouble …"
Wan Ruoqing bowed slightly and said, "You are too polite. It is just a simple meal."
"Although it is simple, it is better than all the luxurious clothes and food."
Third Miss Chen looked at Li Yi, who was standing at the back. After a long time, she said, "It is getting late. We have disturbed you for so long. We should go back."
"Be careful."
Chen Chong helped her down the stairs and looked back at Li Yi. His brows were still furrowed, but there was no longer the intense hostility from before.
"Drunk Ink, I'm going back too." Ceng Shichun smiled, then turned and walked towards the entrance of the alley.
When this assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Minister Chen parted ways at the mouth of the alley, they looked at each other again. After exchanging some information, they got into their respective carriages.
In the courtyard, Li Yi and Zeng Zuimo sat on either side of a stone table. Seeing this third young lady again today made his heart feel uneasy again.
The Chen family had always been the most solid force of the King of Shu's faction. It was also a force that he and the Eldest Princess could not avoid in the future.
However, the Chen Family was different from the Cui Family, the Yu Family, and the Qin Family. The Li family owed Third Miss Chen too much. Since ancient times, conflicts between factions had always been cold-blooded and heartless. However, if they really used unscrupulous means to achieve their goals and caused her to suffer even a little more harm, even if their ultimate goal was achieved, they would never be able to live in peace for the rest of their lives.
This matter needed to be discussed at length.
Ceng Zuimo put a cup of tea on the table in front of him, looked at him and said softly, "Are you still thinking about Mrs. Chen?"
Li Yi took a sip of tea and nodded slightly.
She thought about it and said, "This matter … is not your fault."
Li Yi shook his head. "But it is still related to me."
Fang's head had poked in twice from outside. Li Yi looked up and said, "It's getting late, I …"
She nodded. "Well, you can go back."
"I have a lot of things to do in the next few days. I may not have much time to come." Ruyi's due date was less than three months. Li Yi did not intend to let the old lady and the other women take her to pray for Buddha's blessing all day. After a pause, he said, "If there is anything urgent, send someone to find me. The new house is not far from here. You should know where it is, right?"
"Then … Wait a minute."
She was stunned and hesitated for a moment. Then she turned around and walked quickly back to the room. Soon she came out and handed something to Li Yi, saying, "It's not good. It's not as good as Sister Ruoqing … If you don't like it, throw it away."
Li Yi looked at the baby clothes in his hand. It was indeed not as good as the one made by Ruoqing, but compared with the one she made before, it was like heaven and earth.
Her needlework was just like her culinary skills. It was incredible that she could make such great progress in such a short period of time. It was enough to guess how much effort she had put into this area these days.
"Let me see." Li Yi grabbed her left hand, and sure enough, there were quite a few dark red spots on her white, jade-like fingers.
This time, she did not struggle. Seeing his slightly distressed expression, a smile appeared on her face. The dull pain in her hand did not hurt so much.
At the door of the room in the back, a figure had come out. Seeing the situation in the courtyard, he slowly retreated.
Li Yi was a little touched and angry. He sighed and said, "Don't be so silly in the future."
She shook her head and said, "It's never wrong to learn more things. Besides, in the future, I have to do a few things for my child."
"That's true." Li Yi nodded and said, "But you have to be careful. No one is like you, hurting your hand when making clothes. Anyway, it's still early. If you do it slowly, there will be a lot of clothes. It will save me the trouble of buying them outside."
She slightly lowered her head, feeling a little disappointed. Yes, the only thing she could do was to sew a few small clothes for him and Miss Liu's child.
She subconsciously wanted to withdraw her hand from Li Yi's hand, but he held it even tighter.
Li Yi looked down at her and asked, "Do you want to have a son or a daughter? I think a daughter is better, but it's not up to us. When the time comes, it still depends on luck …"
Hearing this, her body trembled, and then her face immediately turned red. She struggled even harder to break free from Li Yi's hand. "Who, who wants to have a child with you …"
Li Yi could only see the back of a panicked fleeing figure. He said helplessly, "Why are you running? In the future, in the future, not now …"
Some things were vague. It would indeed save a lot of trouble if it was not said or poked through the layer of paper.
But this was very unfair to her. As a man, he was a little less responsible.
The timing was not very right. But in the coming days, he had a lot of things to do. It would be difficult for them to meet again. Li Yi thought for a long time and still felt that it was better to say these words.
"Miss, why are you covered in the blanket? Is it very cold?" Inside the room, Xiao Cui stood in front of the bed and looked at the figure who was curled up in the blanket.
She listened carefully and heard a low sobbing sound coming from under the quilt.
"Miss, are you crying?"
Panic immediately appeared on her face, and she said anxiously, "Did Li bully you … Miss, don't cry. I'll go find him now!"
"Don't!"
A figure quickly jumped up from the bed. Zeng Zuimo grabbed Xiao Cui's arm, and her face was full of tears. She shook her head repeatedly. "Don't go, it's not his fault. It's me …"
Xiao Cui asked doubtfully, "But Miss, why are you crying …"
"Because, because …" She looked out of the window in a daze, then held Xiao Cui in her arms and whispered, "Because today's dumplings are too delicious …"
The young girl's face revealed an extremely surprised expression. She cried like this because the dumplings were delicious. In the past ten years, she had never realized that the young miss actually liked to eat dumplings so much …
In the courtyard, a figure sat at the stone table in a daze, looking at the full moon that had already risen into the sky. There was a smile on his face, and his clear eyes were like a pool of green water, but there were sparkles flashing in them.
Fang sat in the carriage and looked back at the carriage. He sighed and said, "Son-in-law, you're so wise. It's too troublesome to have a boy and have to raise him up to marry him. I also think it's better to have a daughter!"
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