The Wen family, though an established and respected lineage, could not compare to the power and wealth of the Duke's residence.
After some brief pleasantries, everyone entered the mansion.
Father Wen, accompanied by his two sons, went to the front courtyard to welcome Xu Yuejia, where they were met by a few other sons-in-law who had come out to greet them.
As for Wen Ye and Xu Yuxuan, they were received by Madam Shen and led to the inner courtyard to sit with the other female relatives. They would later move to the flower hall for the meal.
Madam Shen glanced at the child held by the nanny beside Wen Ye, her expression flickering with surprise for a moment.
Despite the freezing weather, the Duchess had allowed this precious child to leave the mansion.
Given Xu Yuxuan's status, even if he hadn't accompanied Wen Ye on her return visit, no one could have faulted him.
Madam Shen's gaze didn't linger for long, as if she had merely glanced casually, but it eventually settled on Wen Ye's still plump face. She remarked, "It seems married life suits you well, just as you had hoped."
Wen Ye felt grateful toward Madam Shen, her stepmother, and so she smiled and replied, "You have a keen eye, Mother."
Though Madam Shen held no genuine affection for her stepdaughters, she still wished for them to live their own lives.
After all, in this world, women could only survive by depending on men.
"The path you chose is your own," Madam Shen said, her tone casual, before her gaze briefly swept over Xu Yuxuan. She hoped Wen Ye wouldn't come to regret it.
Wen Ye noticed Madam Shen's glance and smiled faintly.
Along the way, Madam Yang, her sister-in-law, enthusiastically chatted and joked with Wen Ye as if they were long-lost sisters.
Madam Shen didn't intervene.
Wen Ye didn't mind Madam Yang's sudden warmth. Her sister-in-law had always been tactful, and even when Wen Ye was just a concubine's daughter, she had never been mistreated. Now, she was simply being a bit more enthusiastic than before.
Wen Ye understood human nature all too well. In her previous life, she had fought hard for her career and knew the value of power and connections.
Thus, she didn't slight Madam Yang, maintaining a gentle and warm smile throughout.
On the way to the main courtyard, Madam Yang also shared some news: her second sister-in-law, Madam Liu, was pregnant, just three months along.
However, due to the cold weather, Madam Shen had asked her to stay in the main courtyard to chat with the other ladies who had returned home.
Wen Ye wasn't surprised by Madam Liu's pregnancy. Madam Liu had been married into the Wen family for half a year, and she and Second Brother Wen had a close relationship. It was only natural for them to have a child.
But Madam Yang's mention of it made Wen Ye think of her own situation. She had already decided not to have children in this lifetime.
Though Xu Yuejia might tolerate some of her unconventional behavior, he might not concede on the matter of heirs.
When she was engaged to the Zhang family's son, Wen Ye had used a serious illness as an excuse to secretly seek out various contraceptive remedies. While they only slightly reduced the chances of pregnancy and weren't foolproof, they had the advantage of not harming her body.
But Wen Ye knew she couldn't rely on luck every time. This matter would require open communication and agreement with her husband to proceed smoothly.
However, there was still plenty of time. She had just married into the Duke's residence and hadn't fully understood the temperaments of the family's key members. She could take things slowly.
Unfortunately, to avoid any unexpected surprises, she would have to limit her intimate moments with Xu Yuejia until the matter was settled.
Madam Yang noticed the slight change in Wen Ye's expression and assumed she was envious upon hearing about Madam Liu's pregnancy.
Though the Duke's residence was wealthy, Wen Ye had married as a stepmother. The first wife had left behind a son, and given the Duchess's affection for the child, even if Wen Ye had a son in the future, he would likely never surpass this half-brother.
Madam Yang thought for a moment, then lowered her voice to comfort her, "Fourth Sister, don't worry. You and Second Master Xu haven't been married long. There's still plenty of time for everything."
Wen Ye didn't correct the misunderstanding, nor did she intend to explain. She simply brushed it off with a few vague words.
By the time Wen Ye arrived, the main courtyard was already bustling with people.
Aside from Madam Yang's two sons and Madam Liu, who was seated nearby, Wen Yuwan, Wen Hui, and Wen Lan had also arrived.
It was quite lively.
Wen Yuwan had only brought her twins, who sat obediently by their mother's side, well-behaved and proper.
Wen Lan had also brought her four-year-old daughter, though her one-year-old son had been left behind. Her mother-in-law wouldn't have allowed it, even if she had wanted to bring him.
As for Wen Hui, after two months, she seemed more reserved. She was accompanied only by her five-year-old eldest son.
It was clear that the Du family had given her a thorough "brainwashing." Sheng Jing wasn't Xian Prefecture, and as the saying went, even a brick thrown here could hit at least a fifth-rank official. The Du family currently had a fifth-rank and a sixth-rank official, so it seemed Wen Hui had taken their advice to heart for now.
However, the first person Wen Ye noticed was her youngest sister, sitting at the very end.
It had only been a few days, but she seemed to have lost some weight.
Concubine Chang couldn't attend such gatherings, but given Madam Shen's character, she would likely allow Wen Ye to visit Xicui Courtyard for half an hour before lunch.
Wen Ye first exchanged greetings with everyone before turning her attention to her younger sister.
The girl seemed to sense her gaze and smiled at her.
Seeing this, Madam Shen said, "You sisters should sit closer."
According to the Wen family's usual seating arrangement, Wen Ye and Wen Ran would naturally sit together, but since Wen Ye had married Xu Yuejia, the original plan was for her to sit across from her elder sister, Wen Yuwan.
However, with Madam Shen's suggestion, Wen Ye was able to return to her usual seat.
Once Wen Ye was seated, Nanny Ji could no longer hold onto Xu Yuxuan, as the other young masters and ladies were sitting with their mothers.
Thus, Wen Ye found herself with a little clingy companion.
For Xu Yuxuan, it had only taken a moment of dozing in Nanny Ji's arms before he found himself surrounded by strangers. The familiar nanny was no longer holding him, so he clung to Wen Ye's leg to steady his anxious little heart.
Wen Ye didn't mind. After all, he was just a child, and this was his first time at the Wen residence. In an unfamiliar place, with all the familiar nannies and maids keeping their distance, it was only natural for him to seek comfort from her, even if they hadn't spent much time together. The fact that he hadn't cried was already commendable.
So, Wen Ye gently patted his little head, which was now free of its woolen hat.
It was round and warm, and before she knew it, she couldn't stop touching it.
Once the initial unease had faded, Xu Yuxuan finally noticed the hand messing with his hair.
He looked up at Wen Ye with wide, questioning eyes and asked, "Mother?"
Wen Ye paused for a moment, then smiled and praised him, "Xuan'er, your head is so perfectly shaped."
Xu Yuxuan seemed to understand that she was complimenting him and shyly pressed his lips together, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Children, after all, thrive on praise. With just one sentence, Wen Ye had earned the right to continue patting his head.
But to the others, this interaction carried a different meaning.
Madam Shen remained composed, while Wen Yuwan, having been forewarned by Madam Shen, only showed a brief moment of surprise before regaining her composure.
The rest of the group, however, hadn't expected Xu Yuxuan to be so affectionate toward Wen Ye, his stepmother.
In their eyes, the relationship between a stepmother and the child of a previous wife should naturally be one of mutual hostility, much like the rare instances of genuine harmony between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Indeed, someone who could marry into the Duke's residence as a stepmother was no ordinary figure.
Madam Yang even whispered to Madam Liu, "It seems Fourth Sister and the Duke's young master share a mother-son bond."
Wen Ye paid no attention to their silent exchanges. At the moment, she was simply curious about how Xu Yuxuan's head had become so perfectly round.
Meanwhile, Wen Ran, after greeting Wen Ye with a "Fourth Sister" and exchanging a few words, became curious about Xu Yuxuan.
She asked softly, "Is this my little nephew?"
Wen Ye nodded. "You could say that."
Since Xu Yuxuan now called her "Mother," Wen Ran was, in a sense, his aunt.
Wen Ran's eyes lit up briefly before dimming again. She now understood the meaning of the term "stepmother" and knew that society often viewed such figures with inherent prejudice and disdain.
Her fourth sister now held that role.
While outsiders might think Wen Ye had married well, as her younger sister, Wen Ran felt only heartache and concern.
As sisters from the same mother, Wen Ye could easily read the emotions on Wen Ran's face. However, some things couldn't be discussed openly.
Her marriage had already stirred envy in many, and if word got out that she was living a carefree life in the Duke's residence, she might drown in the gossip of Sheng Jing's elite ladies.
Wen Ye stayed in the main courtyard for a little over half an hour before Madam Shen suggested that she, along with Wen Lan and Wen Hui, return to their respective courtyards to visit their birth mothers.
Though this was the official reason, everyone knew it was Madam Shen's way of giving them time to speak with their concubine mothers.
However, since Concubine Bai was no longer around, and the weather was so cold, Wen Hui chose to skip the formality and stayed in the main courtyard, offering some excuse.
As long as Wen Hui didn't stir up trouble, Madam Shen wouldn't care whether she stayed or left.
Before leaving, Wen Ye glanced at Xu Yuxuan, who was clinging to her, and said, "Why don't you stay here?"
With Nanny Ji, as well as Qingxue and Bai Mei sent by Madam Lu, and Madam Shen overseeing things, there was nothing inappropriate about Xu Yuxuan staying in the main courtyard. Wen Ye felt completely at ease.
She was going to visit her concubine, and bringing Xu Yuxuan along would only slow her down. Moreover, Nanny Ji and the others would undoubtedly follow, and Xicui Courtyard was so small. How could she have a proper conversation with her concubine and younger sister with so many people around?
Sensing that Wen Ye seemed about to abandon him, Xu Yuxuan immediately clung tightly to her leg, clearly refusing to stay behind.
Nanny Ji stepped forward at this moment, hesitating as she said, "Though the weather is cold, as long as we bundle the young master up warmly, nothing serious should happen."
In Nanny Ji's mind, Wen Ye's reluctance to bring Xu Yuxuan to Xicui Courtyard was likely due to concern that the back-and-forth journey might expose the young master to the cold wind, and she didn't want to take responsibility for that.
Of course, staying in the main courtyard would be best, and Nanny Ji fully agreed with that.
But the young master was so eager to be close to the second madam, and now he looked as though he couldn't bear to be apart from her.
Wen Ye wasn't swayed by Nanny Ji's reasoning, and in an instant, she came up with a solution.
She glanced at Qingxue and Bai Mei and said, "It's been so long since the young master and his father have seen each other. I'm sure they must miss each other terribly."
"Qingxue, go to the front courtyard and report that the young master misses his father."
"Bai Mei, you and Nanny Ji must take extra care to escort the young master safely to the front courtyard."
Qingxue, Bai Mei, and Nanny Ji: "..."
*
With the matter resolved smoothly, Wen Ye, along with her younger sister, Tao Zhi, and Yun Zhi, walked briskly toward Xicui Courtyard.
Meanwhile, in the front courtyard, the men who had been discussing court affairs fell into a collective silence as they looked at the child in Xu Yuejia's arms.
Finally, Father Wen broke the awkward silence with a cough and offered an explanation on Wen Ye's behalf, though it was somewhat strained: "Ye'er's actions were indeed a bit improper. I hope you can overlook it, Zitan."
Xu Yuejia glanced at his son, who looked slightly aggrieved in his arms, and replied, "It is my good fortune that Xu Yuxuan's mother is so thoughtful. You needn't worry, Father-in-law."
