Chapter 157: Chapter 156 The Fruit Sent by the Rival in Love
Jufeng’s marriage was more than just taking a bundle and leaving; the young madam, to avoid giving people anything to gossip about, bestowed a dowry upon Jufeng.
And when Jufeng got married, she also held a banquet for her, inviting some maids and old women to enjoy the wine.
Of course, it wouldn’t be as grand as when the Tang Family married off a daughter, but it was still a small sedan carried by eight people that took her out the door. Although it wasn’t through the main entrance, it was still considered a moment of glory, more so than other maids getting married.
The young madam didn’t know if her husband would have any thoughts about marrying Jufeng off.
However, she saw that on the surface, her husband didn’t show any emotion, and she knew that he did not wish to covet the grass by his own pot.
Lady Tang felt that since she had already given birth to two sons, and as the eldest legitimate grandson, she should firmly hold her husband in her grasp. Even if the concubines gave birth to sons, she might be jealous and resentful, but she dared not harm them.
The Tang Family, for the sake of their progeny, under the sole governance of Madam Tang, absolutely wouldn’t allow anyone to stir up trouble within the mansion.
After a while, the maid brought Tang Shunyan to the young madam’s courtyard.
Tang Shunyan arrived and performed his salutations.
“Brother, brother…” The little one saw his brother and ran towards him, wanting to be held.
Tang Shunyan also felt brotherly affection for this little brother, but he only took his little brother’s hand and didn’t hold him.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t close to his brother, his growing hands were strong enough, but he felt that he too was still a child. With wet nurses and maids at home, he absolutely should not hold his brother, a sentiment stemming from a desire for favoritism.
His mother placed more love on his little brother, and although he didn’t show it outwardly, there were some thoughts buried in his heart.
Tang Shunyan took his brother’s hand and sat down on a bench together.
“Mother, did you want to see Yan’er for something?”
“Yan’er, mother wanted to see you after you’d been out all day, worried that being out for the day…”
“Mother, I’m fine, just a bit tired, but I’ve rested now,” Tang Shunyan said while patting his body twice, indicating that he was strong.
“Hmm, did you have fun today?” The young madam nodded slightly.
“Mother, going to the Ye family is what makes Yan’er happiest. This relaxation made me feel most joyful,” he declared.
“Hmm, but you must not neglect your studies. The assessments start tomorrow, and you must achieve the best results,” she noted.
Lady Tang’s smile faded upon hearing that her eldest son had the most fun at the Ye family, her heart filled with annoyance and regret.
She shouldn’t have initially brought Mrs. Li into their home. It had been over a year since Mrs. Li had stopped being a wet nurse, yet her son still respected and thought highly of her, which disgusted her the most.
“Yes, Mother, Yan’er will go to the study now.”
Tang Shunyan exited his mother’s courtyard with an obedient demeanor.
“Brother, brother, I want brother…”
The calls of the little brother and the sound of his running footsteps followed, but his wet nurse picked him up, which did not cause Tang Shunyan to stop in his tracks.
The Tang Family sent lychees and fruits to the County Magistrate’s back house, and Mrs. Meng, upon receiving these fruits and lychees, had some delivered to her daughter’s courtyard.
Meng Zhaojun was nearly six years old and now visited the Tang Mansion less than before.
With Tang Shunyan going to academy, she wasn’t idle either. Besides drawing some toy patterns, she often felt frustrated without inspiration.
A teacher had been hired at home to instruct her in needlework, Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting, and the rites, and she had learned more skills this past year than before.
Meng Zhaojun retained the memories of her former life, which made her more intelligent than others from her childhood. She excelled in Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, and would even occasionally pen a few awkward lines of poetry.
However, she had no talent for needlework, mastering only some basic embroidery skills.
Every day, Meng Zhaojun had people inquire about Tang Shunyan’s every move. Even if she didn’t frequent his presence, she still wanted to know his whereabouts.
In the morning, the agents she’d sent out reported that Xinghe Academy had a day off today and would have assessments over the next two days.
Upon hearing this, Meng Zhaojun immediately prepared to visit Tang Mansion to see Tang Shunyan, but was told by the informant that Young Master Tang had left the city early in the morning in a carriage, surrounded by a group of guards.
Meng Zhaojun asked which city gate he had gone through.
The informant replied that it was the eastern city gate. Upon hearing this, Meng Zhaojun knew Tang Shunyan must have gone to the Ye family.
Meng Zhaojun, in her anger, threw things around, but she threw only those that were not easily damaged, such as pillows from the bed and dolls.
Seeing the young Lady’s temper, the informant bowed his head and withdrew.
The maid stood aside, wanting to offer comfort, but dared not say much.
After venting her frustration, Meng Zhaojun glared towards the east with annoyance. The Ye family had always been her competitive rival.
It wasn’t the rest of the Ye family she referred to, but her competitor was Ye Shiqi, a girl reputed to be a genius, who was her greatest adversary.
Once, after hearing that Tang Shunyan had left through the eastern gate, she secretly had one of the maids ask for a carriage and had the driver covertly take her to the Ye family’s residence.
That meeting left her heart pounding—the toddler girl appeared to know even more than her, seeming to be a time-traveler like herself, and what’s more, this time-traveler seemed to possess a Golden Finger.
Unaware of what Golden Finger the girl relied on, she felt the biggest competitor in her life would be this child through the talents she exhibited.
Although she had a premonition, she dared not ask; she never dared reveal her own secret to anyone, and this greatest adversary might well be the rival of her future life.
After that secretive trip out of the city, her family imposed stricter controls over her, and without Mrs. Meng’s permission, the maids didn’t dare to secretly arrange for carriages to fulfill the young Lady’s whims, for that could cost them their lives.
Meng Zhaojun paced her room anxiously, disinterested in her noon meal and absentminded, displaying such behavior that she dared not visit her mother’s courtyard.
She even excused herself from her teacher’s lessons, with her mood so foul, how could she learn well?
“Lady, these are lychees and watermelon. Madam said they were sent over by the Tang Family.”
The maid had Madam’s personal maid place the lychees and watermelon on the table.
“Hmph, who wants them?” Meng Zhaojun snapped angrily, slapping the table.
The maids kept their heads lowered, not daring to utter a word in the face of the young Lady’s anger.
Faced with such tempting lychees and the watermelon, they didn’t even dare to think about snatching a bite.
“Smash these things into a pulpy mess,” she commanded.
Seeing the lychees and watermelon angered Meng Zhaojun further; these were gifts from her rival to Tang Shunyan. If she ate them, not only would she get a stomachache, but it would also infuriate her beyond measure.
“Young Lady… these lychees and watermelon are quite rare.”
“What’s so rare about them? Do I, the young Lady, lack such things to eat? Can’t I afford to buy them? Should I eat what’s sent by a rival?” During her tantrum, Meng Zhaojun spoke without restraint, forgetting just how young she was.
“You’re right, Lady. They say that in the county these lychees and watermelons are extremely expensive, even pricier than those from other regions,” said the maids, motionless, actually trying to suggest that the food the young Lady refused to eat could be given to them instead. It would be such a waste to smash it.
The maids thought the young Lady, so young, wouldn’t be concerned with love affairs; she must be simply angry at someone.