The door to the room was opened just in time and Mr and Mrs Wen were about to enter when they looked up and saw Huo standing in the doorway and both froze.
Huo also noticed that she was too eager and opened her mouth to try to round up, “Why are you here? I thought ……”
“The First Lady let us in.”
Wen Zhong interrupted her.
After their mother and son had acted out that scene at the door last time, half of the capital knew that the First Lady did not allow Wen Zhong to come to the door, and there was speculation that it was because Xu Qingyuan had returned and Meng had the strength to try to deal with Huo.
Mrs. Wen Zhong bowed meekly, “Greetings, mother-in-law.”
Although they lived outside, they used to bring the two children back every ten days and half a month, one to see Huo and the other to let the First Mistress instruct the two children. This time, he hadn’t come for nearly a month because the First Lady wouldn’t let him in.
“Come on in, your father is sick.”
Wen Zhong sniffed and quickly glanced at Huo, who also happened to look at him, and as mother and son looked at each other, Wen Zhong immediately knew that Mr. Big’s illness was unusual.
Wen Zhong walked quickly to the bedside. Mr. Big was lying on the bed, his breath was weak and his face was flushed.
“Your father has not slept well these few days, he often stays in his study most of the night and has fallen ill inadvertently. I had a doctor look at him, and he said that it was an external wind chill combined with a worried mind, and this just drank the medicine and fell asleep, so he can’t even accompany the guests today.”
Wen Zhong nodded and softened his voice, “Let’s go to the living room to talk.”
The three of them moved to the living room, and before they could sit down, Wen Zhong said to his wife, “The First Lady is distant from me and does not want to see me. You are different, after all, you are a nominal daughter-in-law, go over and ask if there is anything you need help with?”
She was, after all, the first daughter of the Minister of Household Affairs, and Meng had to give her face anyhow.
After Mrs. Wen Zhong left with her maid, without waiting for Wen Zhong to ask, Huo told her about the old gentleman having the eldest pretend to be ill.
“Now that the whole house has guessed that we had something to do with what happened back then, Zhong’er, what should we do?”
“Mother rest easy for a moment.”
Wen Zhong had already guessed that this day would come, but so what? Without proof, they wouldn’t dare to take action, “Xu Qingwan is married after all, she can’t live in the capital all the time, as long as we stay calm, there’s nothing they can do to us.”
“But ……”
Huo remembered Wen and Xu Ling’er, that was her real family, especially Xu Ling’er, not only did she not marry her beloved Song Si, even Sun Jin who took a step back to choose abandoned her, alas, still don’t know how to cry?
“Mother don’t worry, I have everything in place, you just remember what I said and be peaceful, in time they won’t be able to do anything about it.”
Huo had always listened to this son and nodded her head vigorously at his words, “I know, I remember.”
As soon as the two mothers had spoken, Mrs. Wen Zhong returned with a not-so-good face.
As soon as Wen Zhong looked, he guessed that Meng hadn’t seen her and comforted her, “The First Lady is angry in her heart and it’s reasonable that she doesn’t see you, it’s because I’ve dragged you into this.”
Although she was the first daughter of the Minister of Household Affairs, she had been brought up in such a way that she had never suffered such an indignity, but Wen Zhong’s words warmed her heart and she said softly, “I am fine.”
Wen Zhong got up, “Then we will go over to the banquet first.”
Mrs. Wen Zhong nodded and after giving Huo a salute, she went over with him.
There were many guests today, and the men and women were separated.
When Wen Zhong went over and sat down, several people at the table greeted each other. Wen Zhong was only thirty years old and had already taken the position of Minister of Household Affairs, and his father-in-law was the Minister of Household Affairs, so his future was unlimited.
Another guest was welcomed in, the Duke of Qi, who was supposed to be at a neighbouring table, but instead turned his steps and came over here.
The Duke of Qi’s eyes fell on Wen Zhong, “Squire Wen, long time no see.”
The seating today was arranged according to official rank, and those who could sit with Wen Zhong were naturally not low in rank, and their eyesight was even better. When they saw the Duke of Qi greeting Wen Zhong alone, they knew they had something to say, so they found an excuse to go to another table to greet someone they knew.
In a flash, only the Duke of Qi and Wen Zhong were left here.
The Duke of Qi took his seat, and Wen Zhong followed suit after saluting.
“Your Highness has something to say, please.”
I have a distant relative called Zheng Qian, who came tenth in this examination.
This is the decision that Duke Qi and Aunt Zhang made only after much discussion. Zheng Qian is not a prominent person, if he chooses a young lady from a respectable family in the capital, they may not be willing to marry him. If the marriage is really successful, the reputation of the Xu family will be a boost to Zheng Qian. When Zheng Qian joins the Ministry of Household Affairs, Wen Zhong will definitely promote him as well.
The situation at the Xu residence is complicated, the Huo family is not in charge, the Meng family is not in charge of Xu Ling’er’s affairs, and Li An has been out of town, so the Duke of Qi can only take this opportunity to propose marriage to Wen Zhong.
Since the Duke of Qi personally helped out with the marriage proposal, his relationship with this relative should be extraordinary, and if Ling’er married Zheng Qian, they would be considered to have climbed up to the Duke of Qi’s house.
If they agree, I will send someone to return the message to the Duke of Qi.”
“Good, I will wait for news from Squire Wen.”
The Duke of Qi got up and went to his table. The others who had gone to greet their familiar colleagues returned one after another, all looking at Wen Zhong with envy, to be able to climb into a relationship with the Duke of Qi’s House was something that many people could not even beg for, and in future, Squire Wen’s future would be even brighter.
……
The future of Squire Wen is even brighter.
Gu Yi quickly entered the house and pulled Song Wan Yue out, “Uncle father has arrived, he’s over in South City, he said for you to go over, don’t let auntie know.”
“Let’s go.”
The two of them walked outside, and when they reached the gate Song Wan Yue said to Uncle Xu who was watching the door, “The two of us will go out for a while, if my mother is looking for us, you can tell her that we will be back soon.”
Uncle Xu cheerfully responded and instructed, “Come back really quickly, the banquet will start in half an hour.”
Song Wangyue answered, and Gu Yi and she got into the carriage and quickly returned to the southern city.
“Father.”
Song Lin was beating around in the courtyard when he heard the shout and turned back eagerly, “Yue’er, you’re back, what do you think father should do?”
After hearing the man Gu Yi sent back say that Xu was the daughter of the Great Confucian family, his whole body was dumbfounded, and he hadn’t come back to his senses until now.
“What should we do? Of course we should go to the door to acknowledge our relatives.”