Having committed to Concubine Chang in finding a suitable husband for Wen Ye, Madam Shen never forgot her promise.
Ten or so days after her second son's wedding, just as the Yongcheng Earl's Mansion held a banquet, Madam Shen took her two daughters-in-law there.
Oh, and Wen Ye was with them.
In total, there were three horse carriages. The first carriage was rather spacious, in which sat Madam Shen with her daughters-in-law and Wen Ye.
The middle carriage carried the gifts for the banquet and items Madam Shen had prepared for her grandsons and grandnephews, while the last carriage housed a group of maidservants.
Wen Ye sat upright in the carriage, alone on Madam Shen's right, facing her sisters-in-law.
The Yongcheng Earl's Mansion they were heading to was none other than the marital home of Wen Ye's eldest legitimate sister, Wen Yuwan. Eight years into her marriage, she had bestowed the previously child-barren Yongcheng Mansion with three boys and a girl. Interestingly, her firstborn were fraternal twins, a blessing just like Madam Shen had back in her day.
In this era, the birth of fraternal twins symbolized fortune.
The mother of the incumbent Earl of Yongcheng, Madam Ji, was still alive and utterly satisfied with her granddaughter-in-law.
With Madam Ji's doting, no one in the mansion could outshine Wen Yuwan, except for the wife of the Earl of Yongcheng.
Armed with this confidence, Wen Yuwan never behaved arrogantly. She was dutiful and humble toward her superiors, ruled her underlings reasonably, and was respected by everyone, including the concubines of the Earl. No one dared to cross any lines.
The harmonious relationship between her and the Earl's wife was even a subject of admiration among many married women in Sheng Jing City.
Wen Ye didn't know much about the married life of her elder sister Wen Yuwan, but from the look in Madam Shen's eyes whenever she mentioned her, it seemed that she was living quite happily.
Well, it made sense. A person as perfect as Wen Yuwan, no matter where she was, could not have too poor a life.
If it was up to her, well, in her past life perhaps, but in this life, Wen Ye only wanted to be a salted fish, occasionally flopping to show she was still alive.
The two mansions were quite a distance apart. Halfway through the journey, Wen Ye was feeling slightly drowsy. However, aware that she was not alone in the carriage, she pinched herself surreptitiously to stay attentive, she straightened up, though her bright eyes looked a bit vacant.
Madam Shen cast a glance at her, Wen Ye seemed to feel it instantly. Straightening her shoulders, she looked back at Madam Shen and tilted her head slightly: "Mother?"
Madam Shen:
"......"
After pondering for a while, she decided to give her some advice, "Mind your manners when we arrive."
Upon hearing this, Wen Ye nodded obediently, "I will keep what mother said in mind."
Surprisingly, Madam Shen had noticed her lapse in attention.
At this moment, Madam Yang, the eldest sister-in-law, reassured, "Mother, don't worry, we will take care of our little sister."
As far as Madam Yang was concerned, Madam Shen's worry should be Wen Ye's marriage. The flower banquet hosted by the Yongcheng Earl's Mansion was not a casual event. Earl of Yongcheng had only one son and several daughters. While the other daughters had been married off, the only one left was the ninth daughter born to the Earl's wife, who was just at the age of marriage.
Today's flower banquet was organized for this legitimate youngest daughter, inviting many ladies who have children of marriageable age to the mansion to enjoy the flowers.
Madam Liu, who also didn't quite understand the situation, spoke out: "Indeed, Wen Ye's appearances and temperament are both good. You needn't worry, mother."
She didn't know much about her sister-in-law of humble birth. In the over ten days since she had been married, she just thought that the girl was more decent than those snobby and competitive sisters from her maternal home.
In response to the reactions of her two daughters-in-law, Madam Shen didn't bother explaining, merely giving a soft 'Mm,' as an acknowledgment.
The fewer people who knew about Wen Ye’s temperament, the better. Even if she were to tell them, it would have to be after first getting Wen Ye married off.
Unexpressed thoughts concluded, Madam Shen once more raised her gaze and glanced at Wen Ye in silence.
Wen Ye promptly returned her gaze with an ‘honest’, ‘gentle’ shy smile.
Madam Shen: “......”
The carriage finally arrived at the front of the Yongcheng Earl's Mansion. After it came to a complete stop, the maidservants in the rear carriage got off and went toward the front carriage.
Madam Shen and the others were helped down from the carriage, with Wen Ye being the last to descend. She behaved obediently, bowing her head demurely, and gave the impression of being remarkably courteous and well-mannered. Yun Zhi stood by her side.
At these kinds of gatherings, she generally took the more reliable Yun Zhi with her.
As members of the household of the wife of the heir to the Earl of Yongcheng, their arrival was greeted with considerable enthusiasm.
The Earl of Yongcheng's wife personally came to receive them. After exchanging pleasantries with Madam Shen, she led everyone into the mansion.
As they were walking, she explained, "Yuwan was supposed to come too, but then our little Yu suddenly started crying, so we couldn't..."
Little Yu is the youngest grandson of the Earl of Yongcheng's wife, barely six months old.
Madam Shen quickly reassured her, gently patting the back of her hand, "It's perfectly normal for Yu to miss his mother at his age. Besides, we're not strangers here. You shouldn't have had to come to greet us personally. Next time, just send a maidservant."
Such heartfelt and considerate words from Madam Shen produced a more genuine smile on the Earl of Yongcheng's wife's face.
Laughing and chatting, they both entered the mansion.
As kin to the Yongcheng Earl's household, Madam Shen arrived much earlier than others. Thus, the Yongcheng Earl's wife took them first to the courtyard where her daughter-in-law lived.
After calming down her fussy son, Wen Yuwan handed him to a nursemaid to watch, then quickly neatened her clothes and made up, preparing to greet Madam Shen and the others.
Just as she walked out of the main house, she saw her mother-in-law leading the guests over.
A smile crept onto Wen Yuwan's face, and she quickened her steps. She reached out, took the Earl of Yongcheng's wife's arm in a loving yet dignified manner, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, mother."
In front of her own mother and mother-in-law, Wen Yuwan instinctively drew closer to her mother-in-law first. Wen Ye subtly raised an eyebrow at the scene. It was evident that the Earl of Yongcheng's wife appreciated the gesture.
There wasn't a significant change in Madam Shen, only a slightly gentler and more genuine look than when she arrived.
Today's banquet was indeed for the only daughter in her family. However, the Earl of Yongcheng's wife, who was preoccupied with something, didn't stay in her daughter-in-law's courtyard for long. But she gently patted Wen Yuwan's hand, her eyes brimming with affection, and added, "Alright, it's not easy for your mother to visit, make sure you entertain her properly."
Wen Yuwan readily agreed, "Wan'er understands."
Madam Shen followed with her suggestion, "Mother-in-law, you go and be busy. We will manage here as Weiwen is with us."
After thinking for a moment, Earl of Yongcheng's wife said without any further refusals, "Then, after all the guests arrive, let Wan'er take you over."
Madam Shen nodded with a smile.
Subsequently, Earl of Yongcheng's wife left their son and daughter-in-law’s courtyard along with a host of maids and servants.
After her mother-in-law left with the servants, Wen Yuwan immediately called out to Madam Shen, "Mother."
Taking her hand, Madam Shen asked, "Is Yu asleep?"
With her mother, Wen Yuwan looked genuinely weary and confessed, "Yu happens to be fussier than the others."
Patting her daughter’s hand sympathetically, Madam Shen said, "Little children are like that."
Wen Yuwan nodded, then addressing those at her side she said, “Elder sister-in-law, younger brother's wife, fourth sister.”
Madam Yang and Madam Liu responded in unison, “Madam Crown Prince.”
/
Marrying into the Yongcheng Earl's Mansion, Wen Yuwan could be considered as having ‘married up’. The Earl and his son supported important official positions; her influence as the Crown Prince’s wife was not light.
Thus, what Madam Yang and Madam Liu said was appropriate.
Wen Yuwan personally helped Madam Shen into the room. Hearing the way her two sisters-in-law addressed her, she showed a hint of amusement and said, "There's no outsider here; elder sister-in-law and younger brother's wife, you don’t have to be so formal."
Madam Shen also echoed, "Listen to what Wan'er is saying."
After hearing their mother-in-law, Madam Yang and Madam Liu also adjusted their calling – “younger sister/big sister”.
Their words now had a sense of closeness.
Listening and being satisfied with their responses, Wen Yuwan then turned her attention over to Wen Ye, whose presence was always inconspicuous. Looking at her more carefully, she said, "It’s been several days since we last met, fourth sister, you have grown even more beautiful."
Wen Ye politely replied, "Thank you for your compliment, elder sister."
Neither humble nor pushy, always the same.
Finding Wen Ye unchanged, Wen Yuwan retracted her gaze, instructed her to find a seat and began conversing with Madam Shen.
During the conversation, Wen Yuwan sent a maidservant to call her daughter. In the Yongcheng Earl's Mansion, apart from her mother-in-law's legitimate child, the other common-borns didn't receive much attention. Fortunately, her daughter was born at the same time as the eldest son.
Being twins gave her daughter the privilege of love and favour.
Madam Shen was also fond of this only granddaughter of hers, so upon seeing her granddaughter, she quickly requested Nanny Han to bring over a box of gifts, which had been prepared much earlier.
Wen Yuwan visibly disapproved after glancing at it: "Mother, today is not Shuer's birthday; these gifts are a bit too much."
Holding her obedient granddaughter, Madam Shen replied, "Not all of them are from me, some were added by your two sisters-in-law, and your fourth sister."
Upon opening the wooden box, it revealed several layers. The top layer contained several finely made summer dresses; they were clearly meant for Lin Shuer.
In addition to these, there was a piece of mutton-fat jade token. Madam Shen said, "This is a peace jade token I got for Shuer at Puqing Temple, blessed by Master Xuanqing."
With only one daughter of her own, and a granddaughter who resembled her daughter so much, Madam Shen was undoubtedly devoted to her.
Patting the little plaits on both sides of her granddaughter's head, Madam Shen lovingly asked, "Shuer, do you like them?"
Lin Shuer hugged Madam Shen with an adoring look in her eyes, "I like it. My grandma's the best."
The layer below contained two sets of refined jewelry. Madam Yang laughed, "I and your second aunt didn't consider as carefully as your mother. These two sets of jewelry are gifts for Shuer's future dowry."
Madam Liu also added, "Shuer is so well-behaved. I hope she could share some of the familial fortune."
Her words trailed off as she blushed.
Wen Yuwan smiled and said, "Shuer, come and thank your two aunts."
Upon hearing her mother's words, Lin Shuer got out from Madam Shen's arms and greeted Madam Yang and Madam Liu with an appropriate respect of a younger relative. Her voice was childish, "Thank you, first aunt, second aunt."
As her sons were cared for by their grandmother, grandparents, and husband, Wen Yuwan naturally favored her daughter a little more.
She watched her daughter give the formalities tenderly.
Madam Yang, who had no daughters, saw in Lin Shuer a politeness that exceeded her own sons' at this moment. Her eyes filled with love as she said, "There's no need for formalities. In the future, if there's anything you like, just tell your aunts."
Madam Liu beside her nodded in agreement.
The last layer contained the gifts from Wen Ye, which were sparing by comparison to Madam Shen's thoughtful gifts and the wealthy gifts of Madam Yang and Madam Liu.
These gifts had only been given a glance by Madam Shen. Except for her, everyone else was puzzled upon seeing what was in the box.
It contained wooden objects that looked like toys – small wooden dolls less than a palm-length tall, wearing mini dresses, along with small tables and chairs, toy kitchen utensils, small wardrobes, and small wooden beds.
Wen Yuwan was the first to question, "Fourth sister, what are these?"
At first glance, she thought the fourth sister had intentionally sent some inexplicable items, but she realized a moment later - that was impossible. Mother wouldn't let her behave so willfully.
The fact that these items had left the Wen Mansion and arrived here meant mother knew about and approved of them.
Wen Ye explained, "They're handmade toys."
Luckily, she had mastered woodworking skills in her past life to secure a quirky business partner.
Unexpectedly, she had use for them in this life, too.
She had made these as a way to kill time, but not long after they were finished, Madam Shen informed her that they would be attending a banquet at the Yongcheng Earl's Mansion.
Having nothing worthy of gifting, she decided to give this set of 'playing house' wooden toys, which was quite suitable.
Most importantly, it was cost-saving.
Under the scrutiny of the others, Wen Ye started demonstrating how to play with the toys. She made the little wooden doll sit on the small chair, lie in the bed, and even pose as if writing at a desk, only missing a piece of paper to complete the scene.
The wooden doll was smoothly polished, with a cute expression carved on its small face. Its eyes were painted so that its pupils stood out; even its tiny lips were stained with a faint layer of lipstick.
"It's quite interesting." Wen Yuwan observed for a moment before understanding what they were, adding her comment.
She glanced at her daughter, cradled in her mother's arms. The girl's eyes were glittering, her attention riveted on the doll in Wen Ye's hand. Evidently, she was very fond of it.
Wen Yuwan couldn't help but smile, her younger sister really was as unique as their mother had said.
