Work at sunrise, rest at sunset.
As dawn began to break, Madam Xu, who was still in postpartum confinement, was not lying in bed. With her hair loosely tied behind her, she skillfully helped her husband tie his hair in front of the mirror. The atmosphere was quiet and relaxed, just as it had been in the capital.
After applying some hair oil and examining from all angles, Madam Xu nodded with satisfaction. "There, now even the wind at the dock won't mess it up."
Zhu Changning turned around, "It's not worth you getting up and going through all this trouble just for this. Go back to bed and focus on recovering your health."
"Everything concerning my husband is important to me."
Madam Xu lowered her head slightly, exposing a stretch of fair skin on the nape of her neck. This posture was most appealing to Zhu Changning, and sure enough, his voice carried a hint of a smile.
"Tying hair is hardly a big deal."
"I can hear the wind outside and know it's strong today. It'll be even worse at the dock. If your hair gets messed up, you'll be so uncomfortable."
It was indeed true. Zhu Changning helped his wife back to the bed and his tone softened, "Rest well. Eat whatever the kitchen sends up. No being picky. You need to make up for all the hardships your body endured on the journey."
"Yes," Madam Xu smiled sweetly, but then her expression became anxious as she remembered something. "Are we supposed to pay our respects to Mother and Grandmother today? I haven't left the house since we arrived in Yunbei..."
"You're in postpartum confinement. No one will find fault with you. My mother isn't the type to make things difficult for people."
Zhu Changning's response was certain and without hesitation. Madam Xu quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I just feel uneasy. Since I became pregnant, Mother has exempted me from morning and evening greetings for so long. As a daughter-in-law, I shouldn't take advantage of Mother-in-law's kindness and disregard proper etiquette."
Zhu Changning was easily pleased. Hearing this, he already felt that Madam Xu was sensible, and his smile grew. "Don't worry about it. Mother knows you suffered hardships on the journey. When you're done with postpartum confinement, you can fulfill your duties as a daughter-in-law then."
"...Yes."
"Alright, I'm leaving now."
"Please be careful."
"With Changle around, what safety concerns could there be? Don't worry." Zhu Changning walked out of the room and said to Lady Qin who was standing guard at the door, "Take good care of Madam. Make sure she drinks all of her tonic."
"Yes, sir."
After seeing the Second Young Master walk away, Lady Qin entered the room and closed the door, unable to suppress her smile. "Did you hear that? The Second Young Master cares so much about your health."
Thinking of how her husband had mentioned taking care of her health several times, Madam Xu lowered her head and smiled.
"You see, isn't the effect excellent?" Lady Qin looked pleased with herself. "Don't bring up things the Second Young Master doesn't like. Just agree with whatever he says and everything will be fine. One of these days, I'll find an opportunity to casually mention to him how you've been trying to improve your relationship with the Fourth Young Miss behind his back. How could he not appreciate your efforts?"
Madam Xu smiled at first, but then frowned. "But Zhu Changle won't even enter my room. How can I make my husband believe our relationship has improved?"
"If you've made many efforts and the relationship still hasn't improved, whose problem is that?"
Madam Xu was stunned for a moment, then smiled. Indeed, she had shown goodwill several times, but Zhu Changle not only failed to show respect to her as a sister-in-law but even refused to see her. Surely these couldn't be held against her. Even if Mother-in-law wanted to protect her younger sister, she couldn't distort the facts and say that she, as the daughter-in-law, was in the wrong.
Lady Qin blew on the ginseng tea to cool it and handed it to her mistress, whispering, "You've already captured the Second Young Master's heart. Make sure he always takes your side. In the future, won't the Zhu Family..."
The mistress and servant exchanged a glance, leaving the thought unfinished.
In the main hall, Zhu Maonian put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth. "I've been thinking about Little An's formal name. Let's call him Zhengyao. We've come a long way on this journey, and it wasn't easy."
"Zhengyao, Zhu Zhengyao." Zhu Changning repeated a few times, finding it more pleasing to the ear with each repetition.
Zhu Changle was more direct, putting down her chopsticks and clapping. "It sounds wonderful! Father is the best."
Zhu Maonian teased, "Tell me, is there anything in your eyes that isn't the best?"
"Of course there is. Second Brother isn't the best."
Zhu Changning glared at his impertinent sister.
Zhu Changle made a face. She wasn't afraid of this paper tiger!
Lady Zhang placed a flatbread in her bowl, gesturing for her to stuff her mouth with food.
Zhu Changle giggled, picked it up and continued eating. She wasn't full yet!
"Changning, reading isn't about memorizing books verbatim," Zhu Maonian advised earnestly. "You need to learn to apply what you've learned, to make the knowledge from the classics your own, rather than just picking out sentences and applying them to certain situations. That's the least meaningful approach."
Having raised a son like Zhu Changwang, Zhu Maonian was no ordinary father. Or perhaps because of Zhu Changwang's excellence, Zhu Maonian had unconsciously developed a different way of interacting with his children compared to other families. He was a father who could sit down and talk with his children, without maintaining too much distance. As a result, Zhu Changning respected his father but wasn't afraid of him, and given his honest nature, he was genuinely willing to listen to his father's words.
He stood up and bowed respectfully, "Son will remember."
Zhu Maonian patted his shoulder, "Changle has been close to the common people during her years away. She knows how to interact with them. Listen to her more."
"Yes."
"Father, don't worry. I have this," Zhu Changle felt around under the table and chairs, pulling out Grandmother's cane with a brilliant smile. "Second Brother, recognize this?"
Zhu Changning glared at his little sister.
"Glaring won't help. Father and Big Brother both said if you don't listen, I should beat you," Zhu Changle glared back. "Don't believe me? Ask Father."
Zhu Changning wanted to ask, but he also knew the answer would certainly not be what he wanted to hear.
"When you're outside, leave some face for your Second Brother," Zhu Maonian hadn't expected this girl to blurt out these words so directly. He couldn't agree, but he couldn't disagree either, so he tried to soften the statement.
"I understand, Father," Zhu Changle agreed readily. "When I need to beat Second Brother, I'll take him somewhere private."
Zhu Maonian decided not to get involved in this sibling matter anymore. He stood up to leave, "I'm heading to the magistrate's office. Be mindful of your behavior outside."
"Respectfully seeing Father off."
Lady Zhang gave her mischievous, unruly daughter a light slap. Looking at her second son, she couldn't help but feel sympathy. Faced with Changle and her mischievous ways, how could Changning possibly be a match? But at least Changle wouldn't harm him.
"Second Brother, are you full? We need to go," Zhu Changle asked after swallowing her last mouthful.
"I'm full from your irritating behavior."
"As long as you're full, it doesn't matter how," Zhu Changle clapped her hands and picked up the cane, twirling it. She looked every bit the picture of a smug troublemaker.
"Mother, I'm off!"
Lady Zhang held her back and straightened her clothes, silently advising, "Leave some face for your Second Brother."
Zhu Changle nodded very sensibly, but her agreement came too quickly and eagerly, making Lady Zhang feel even more uneasy.
"Aunt Feng, you don't need to keep watch there anymore. Now that we know what's going on, come play with me," Zhu Changle shouted as she ran out carrying the cane. "Qiuli, Qiuli, where are you? Let's go play!"
Her clear voice rang out from the back courtyard to the front, not only summoning Qiuli to her side but also waking up the entire Zhu Family.
