After Empress Dowager Wang, it was Concubine Qiong's birth mother. She was still sobbing. It was unknown whether it was because mother and daughter were reunited after a long separation or because her son had grown up and married. Ge Mama kept wiping her tears and coaxing her in a low voice.
Concubine Qiong took the teacup and burped in front of everyone's eyes. She sobbed and said, "I clearly remember that you were so young. Now that you are married and about to have a child, you must be well. The princess asked you to make do with my half-grown son. It's been hard on you." After speaking, she drank the tea in her hand and personally put the mutton-fat white jade bracelet that she had worn for more than 20 years on Wei Lingquan's wrist. The mutton-fat white jade had been with Concubine Qiong for many years, and there were countless blood vessels winding around the jade.
Wei Lingquan kowtowed and thanked her. "Thank you, Mother. I don't feel wronged marrying Prince Youran."
"Good child." It should have been a scene of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law being happy, but the one who said this was the childish Concubine Qiong. When the two were together, it was better to say that they were sisters than mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Even Wei Lingquan, who was a daughter-in-law, was much more mature than Concubine Qiong.
Empress Dowager Wang said, "Get up and take a seat."
Next, the concubines and the noble women of the imperial palace knelt and paid their respects. They also took Wei Lingquan, the bride, to recognize people and at least let her remember a few key people.
Wei Lingquan sat next to Princess Xiaoyao, Murong shi. As her sister-in-law, Princess Xiaoyao smiled warmly and nodded at her. Wei Lingquan naturally bowed slightly to greet her. Among the concubines, only Concubine Jin and Concubine Yan were people that Wei Lingquan had met before. Looking at the positions of the rest, she could guess a thing or two. She also had to thank Da Qing Emperor for having a small number of concubines in the harem, and there were only a few high ranking concubines.
While the higher-ups were chatting, Princess Xiaoyao pointed to a few key people and briefly explained their names, ranks, and family background so that Wei Lingquan could understand. Wei Lingquan was secretly relieved as she listened. Originally, as the princess of the Liu Kingdom, she was afraid that she would be ostracized by this group of noblewomen. At least for now, she was fine.
As for Grand Concubine Qiong, after she finished going through her own process, she was in a daze. She only instinctively saw people come up to her. They didn't say anything, probably just congratulating her. She just nodded.
Empress Dowager Wang also saw that she was absent-minded, so she said, "I think it's time to disperse. Consort Qiong hasn't seen Old General Yang for a long time. Today is a joyous day, so I won't keep you and Madam Chu any longer."
Old Concubine Qiong said gratefully, "This concubine thanks the Empress Dowager!" Seeing this, the madam of Chu, Wang shi, Luo Shuangli, and Wei Lingquan all thanked her and left.
At the entrance of the palace, Old General Yang and his eldest son, Yang Wendao, were already waiting there. When they saw the carriage of Prince Youran's residence, the two retreated to the side and bowed. "This humble subject greets Consort Qiong, Prince Youran, and Princess Consort."
Hearing her father's voice, Consort Qiong subconsciously wanted to lift the curtain, but Ge mama and Madam Chu stopped her. She said with a trembling voice, "Old General, get up. The ground is cold."
Seeing that Consort Qiong was about to cry again, Madam Chu's heart ached. She said, "Master, if there's anything, let's go to Prince Youran's residence first."
Half an hour later, a group of three carriages slowly drove into the residence. Consort Qiong got off the carriage first and personally helped Madam Chu off the carriage. She quickly walked to Old General Yang's carriage. Old General Yang had already gotten off the carriage with Yang Wendao. "Father —"
"Consort Qiong, you can't." Old General Yang hurriedly stopped Consort Qiong, who was about to kneel. Yang Wendao was also shocked. He wanted to help Consort Qiong up in a fluster, but then he remembered their current identities and feared that it would be inappropriate. He could only hold his father's arm.
Luo Shuangli and Wei Lingquan also came over. The former supported Consort Qiong, while the latter hesitated. Madam Chu beat him to it and stood awkwardly in place. She watched Luo Shuangli patiently coax Consort Qiong and said, "Mother, grandfather and the others have come from so far away. They must be tired now. Why don't we arrange for them to stay first? This time, Imperial Brother also gave a decree to allow grandfather and grandmother to stay until mother's birthday to leave. There's no hurry."
Consort Qiong didn't refuse again. She took the opportunity to hold Old General Yang's arm. Her eyes were red as she said, "I've been away from home for more than ten years, but I haven't been able to fulfill my filial duties to father and mother. Father and mother, please treat me as the little Mingzhu from when I was at home." Mingzhu was Consort Qiong's maiden name. It meant that she was the apple of her eye.
Seeing that his daughter was no longer as innocent as she was at home, Old General Yang, as a general, had fought for his country and family outside. He had shed his blood and done his best for his country. As a husband and father, he hadn't been able to protect his daughter. Instead, he had implicated his little Mingzhu. His little Mingzhu was only 30 years old this year, but she had already been a widow for three whole years. There was still a long period of loneliness to come. When he thought of this, even though he had been a man of iron blood all his life, he couldn't help but cry.
Old Consort Qiong and the Madam of Chu helped Old General Yang to the Pine Courtyard in person. Old Consort Qiong really didn't want to be separated from her family. She held her parents' hands and was very emotional. However, she just cried silently and didn't know what to say.
Seeing this, Prince Youran knew that he couldn't persuade his mother to leave now. He was also worried that his grandfather and grandmother were old. If they were so sad, it would be bad for their health. He looked back at Wei Lingquan, who was a little embarrassed. For a moment, he didn't know whether he should look after his mother or comfort his new wife first.
Yang Wendao noticed this from the side. He bent slightly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, don't worry. My wife and I will take care of here. Your Highness and Consort Qiong have worked hard today. Why don't you go back and freshen up first?"
Only then did Luo Shuangli remember that she and Wei Lingquan were still wearing formal clothes. As a new wife, Wei Lingquan had a very heavy coronet on her head. She nodded and said, "I'll leave it to First Uncle."
"It's okay. By the way, I want to congratulate Your Highness. Not long ago, Fourth Brother gave you another cousin. Fifth Brother's family also has a cousin. Next year, Your Highness will be a cousin again at this time."
"Congratulations to you too." It was quite interesting. Old Concubine Qiong was the youngest in the family, but Luo Shuangli was the eldest in the generation of the Yang Family.
Luo Shuangli took Wei Lingquan back to her bedroom. Under the help of the maids, they washed up and changed into regular clothes. Then, they could sit down and talk.
Luo Shuangli said seriously like a little adult, "Consort Qiong has worked hard today."
"Your Highness, you are too polite. Lingquan is also a tough girl at home. This little bit of hard work is nothing." Wei Lingquan still couldn't bear to look directly at her husband. He was really too young, and it always made her feel awkward.
Luo Shuangli first asked the people around her to come and greet Wei Lingquan. At the same time, she asked the housekeeper and several housekeepers who had been waiting for a long time to come together with the account books. She said through the screen, "Now that there is a Consort Qiong in the mansion, you can slowly hand over the affairs of the mansion to Consort Qiong in the future."
Wei Lingquan hurriedly declined, "Mufei is still so young and is at her most energetic. Chenqie will serve Consort Qiong first."
Luo Shuangli had the housekeepers leave behind the account books and the storehouse keys. Other than a few close ones, everyone else was dismissed. Seeing this, Wei Lingquan also took the initiative to call her people out, leaving only the husband and wife.
"Does Consort Qiong have something to say to chenqie?"
Luo Shuangli hesitated for a long time before saying embarrassedly, "Consort Qiong, you should have felt it today. Mufei, she … … is too young. In these many years, she hasn't touched any affairs, so in the future, Consort Qiong will have to work harder."
What you want to say is childish, right? Wei Lingquan thought to herself, but did not show it on her face. She said humbly, "Chenqie, as a daughter-in-law, naturally has to share Mufei's burdens. As long as Consort Qiong is willing to believe in chenqie, chenqie will definitely help Mufei manage."
"Then I'll have to trouble Wang Fei," Luo Shuang Li solemnly cupped her hands and began to talk about the Yang Family, "Ben wang's maternal family also needs to tell you a little bit about it so that you can have a good idea. But before you come, you should have some things to inquire about first."
Wei Lingquan hurriedly said, "Chenqie did know a little before coming, but I ask Consort Qiong for more details."
"The details are like this … …"
Old General Yang and his wife had five sons and one daughter, Consort Qiong was the youngest. Yang Da Yang Wen Dao was the current commander-in-chief of the Yang Family, his wife was the daughter of one of the four great families, the Wang Family, and now had two sons. Yang Second Brother Wen Huan was the Left General of the Yang Family, married to the Chen Family of Luo City, which was also one of the five great families, and had only one son. Yang Third Brother Wen Da had taken the imperial examination, originally holding a post in Jing, but later was sent to Qing Zhou to be a political envoy. His wife came from the Yun Family of the capital, but had nothing to do with the Empress Dowager Jin Yue and the Mu Fei's maternal family. It was a remote side branch outside of the five great families, and the couple still had no children. Yang Fourth Brother Wen Yi had retired at the age of twenty and stayed at home to take care of his parents. He had married the daughter of the Wu Family of Hu City, who was already in decline. It was unknown if the Wu Family really had some secret formula, but this fourth wife was the most beautiful of all the daughters-in-law, and could be called a beauty. Yang Fifth Brother Wen Tu was a deputy general under the King of Bliss. His wife, Zhao Shi, was in a delicate situation. If it wasn't for the fact that she didn't have much contact with the Zhao Family, and the face of the King of Bliss and King Youran, she would probably have been imprisoned.
Wei Lingquan went through the whole story in her heart after listening to it. She was the legitimate princess of the King of Liu. Over the years, she had been influenced by what she had seen and heard, so she could immediately see the purpose of the Yang Family's five sons marrying these five women. It seemed that they had married the daughters of several influential families in Jing City one by one, as if they wanted to curry favor with everyone, but in fact, they were not close to any of them. They had removed themselves from the political whirlpool, and also expressed their loyalty to the present day, weakening the threat of the Yang Family.
However, she also admired the Yang Family for being able to marry the daughters of the Wang Family and the Yun Family at the same time. Although they were all from the side branches, it should be known that the Wang Family and the Yun Family had accumulated hatred for a long time. To exaggerate, as long as the Wang Family and the Yun Family met face to face on the street, they would have a "debate" even if they didn't fight.
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