Chapter 251: Chapter 251

The County Magistrate’s Wife smiled gently at Li Yuzhu and said, "We’ve arrived, Miss Li, please alight."

"Yes, madam." Li Yuzhu nodded.

However, she didn’t rush to get off the carriage. Instead, she shifted her body slightly to sit in the corner, making it easier for the County Magistrate’s Wife to alight first.

This considerate action made the County Magistrate’s Wife regard her in a new light.

In contrast, her son, upon hearing they had arrived, immediately lifted the curtain and jumped out on his own.

He didn’t even bother to ask her.

Completely forgetting she was his elder, and he was the junior, and that juniors should defer to their elders. He even waved to Li Yuzhu to get off together, but Li Yuzhu politely shook her head and didn’t follow.

It seemed her son still hadn’t fully learned proper manners.

After two maids helped the County Magistrate’s Wife off the carriage, Li Yuzhu then alighted.

She turned back and saw Mu Yuanxiu also dismounting from the mule, dusting off his sleeves.

Li Lixing glanced at the tightly closed gate and instructed the government officials, "Go knock and open the door quickly!"

With a demeanor like a young master.

"Yes, young master." One of the officials ran to knock on the door.

Another official, after tying the two horses by the roadside, came to untie the rattan luggage boxes at the back of the carriage.

Those two boxes belonged to Li Yuzhu.

Li Xing’an knew the boxes contained treasures and repeatedly said, "Be careful, be careful, there are valuable items inside."

The official curled his lips, thinking, what good items could people from a poor mountain village have?

However, they were the madam’s guests, so he didn’t dare offend them, and said, "I will be careful, don’t worry."

Li Xing’an was still not at ease, especially with the box full of mosquito coils, which he personally took down.

Mu Yuanxiu came over to give a hand.

The gate opened, and the doorkeeper saw that the madam had returned and immediately came to greet her, "Madam, you’ve returned?" Then, seeing Li Lixing as well, he exclaimed, "Ah, young master, you finally returned." Wearing poor people’s clothes, where had he been roaming?

After sitting in the carriage for half a day, Li Lixing was already hungry, and he said to the doorkeeper, "Quickly call for food to be prepared, I’m hungry."

"Yes, yes, I’ll go immediately to call someone."

The doorkeeper bowed to the County Magistrate’s Wife before running back inside.

The coachman went to park the carriage, one official went to stable the horses, and another official carried the luggage of Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an. Everyone crowded around the County Magistrate’s Wife as they entered the residence.

Mu Yuanxiu followed among them.

After all, it was the County Magistrate’s family, and although it was night, the residence was not completely dark.

On both sides of the small paths in the courtyard, bright lanterns hung from the branches at intervals, lighting the path. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel·fire·net

In some places, special windproof lamps for candles were also built.

These small structures were somewhat like modern streetlights.

But only about a person’s height, with a candle placed inside a stone box cut out on all sides, protected from the wind by transparent glass.

The doorkeeper called the housekeeper of the residence over.

A plump woman bowed to the County Magistrate’s Wife, "Madam and young master have returned? There’s porridge kept warm in the kitchen, would you like some first?"

The County Magistrate’s Wife nodded, "Send it to the Qiushi Courtyard, we have three guests, so bring more food."

The housekeeper glanced at Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu, then at Li Yuzhu, eyes flickering, wondering how these three, dressed so poorly, could be guests?

However, she dared not ask more, only responding before departing.

It was too dark, so Li Yuzhu couldn’t see how large the residence was, only knowing that after passing through two gates, turning left and right, they stopped at a large courtyard.

Under the eaves of the courtyard gate hung two bright large lanterns, lighting the plaque "Qiushi Courtyard."

The County Magistrate’s Wife’s maid stepped forward to knock, "Open the door, the madam has returned."

The door quickly opened, and two senior maids bowed together, "Madam." Upon seeing Li Lixing, "Young master." Their eyes then moved to Li Xing’an, Mu Yuanxiu, and Li Yuzhu with curiosity.

"Quickly prepare towels and hot water, madam is tired," instructed the elder servant woman.

The two maids hurried inside.

Everyone entered the courtyard.

Several maids bustled about, serving the County Magistrate’s Wife and Li Lixing in washing their hands and changing clothes.

The older maid arranged for Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an Mu Yuanxiu to wash their hands.

In wealthy families, there are many rituals.

However, Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu have been familiar with these intricate rules since childhood.

They didn’t feel the least bit flustered.

Mu Yuanxiu has always had a calm demeanor and handles things without alarm.

First, they rubbed their hands with soap to remove dirt, rinsed off the soap with clean water, then poured scented water over their hands to remove the soap fragrance, and rinsed with clean water again.

Then, applied another type of scented oil.

After repeating this process three times, Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu felt like they were back at the Prince Mansion, their actions even more refined than the County Magistrate’s Wife’s.

Even though Mu Yuanxiu was dressed as a farmer, his demeanor was not vulgar.

This surprised the four maids greatly.

They wondered to themselves, what sort of immortal characters had the madam invited home?

After washing hands, the evening meal was served.

The County Magistrate’s Wife, being ill, ate medicinal porridge.

Li Yuzhu’s nose was sharp; she smelled the porridge as soon as it was served.

Li Lixing had fish fillet and shrimp porridge.

Li Yuzhu, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu had the same type of porridge as his.

This was arranged by the County Magistrate’s Wife, and she instructed the housekeeper that henceforth, their dietary standards should be identical to Li Lixing’s.

Besides the porridge, the cook also brought out a few small dishes and pastries.

There was hand-torn chicken breast drizzled with sesame oil, thinly sliced marinated beef, glutinous rice meatballs, and fried rice cakes.

Li Yuzhu raised an eyebrow, wondering why such indigestible foods were served at night.

She thought that while it was fine occasionally for someone healthy like her, the County Magistrate’s Wife had stomach issues; eating these foods would surely be detrimental to her health.

"Madam, these foods are not good for your stomach, especially at night; you should eat less," Li Yuzhu advised, pointing to the snacks and small dishes.

The County Magistrate’s Wife smiled slightly, "I can’t eat them either; I’m already done eating."

Li Lixing, growing taller and having spent a few days in the countryside eating simple meals, had cleared out the oil and water from his stomach and was craving the food, chewing on a few slices of beef and mumbling, "Mom doesn’t eat them, I’ll eat."

Li Yuzhu said, "You should eat less too. If your stomach isn’t too hungry after a late-night snack, you can fast. During the day, after eating, you’d be active and the food would digest quickly in your stomach, but at night, eating and then sleeping, your stomach will be overburdened with too much food, which over time is a heavy burden on the stomach."

The County Magistrate’s Wife said, "The old doctors treating me have also reminded me of this." She then instructed Li Lixing, "Eat only one piece of each, and have more if you want in the morning."

Since it was Li Yuzhu’s suggestion, Li Lixing dared not eat greedily.

After everyone finished their evening meal and rinsed their mouths, a young and beautiful woman, supported by a little maid, gracefully walked into the County Magistrate’s Wife’s main room.

She was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slim figure, wearing a zhu red summer dress, and adorned with lavish hair ornaments, which were particularly dazzling under the candlelight in the room.

In comparison, the County Magistrate’s Wife’s attire appeared lackluster.

The four maids in the room all frowned with disgust upon seeing her approach.

"Has the Madam and Young Master returned? Why didn’t you let someone notify me so I could welcome you?"

The young woman, smiling radiantly, walked to the County Magistrate’s Wife, lifted her skirt slightly as if to bow.

But she was immediately stopped by the County Magistrate’s Wife who raised her hand, "No, you are pregnant, there’s no need for you to bow. It’s late, and I’m tired too, you should go and rest as well."

The young woman straightened up and smiled gently, "Yes, I will take my leave."

As she turned, she cast a disdainful glance over Li Yuzhu, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu.

Sitting close to the County Magistrate’s Wife, Li Yuzhu clearly heard a "hmph" from the County Magistrate’s Wife’s nose.

The young pregnant woman wore extravagant clothing; could she be the County Magistrate’s concubine?

The concubine’s attire was more splendid than the legitimate wife’s, and she dared to wear pure red and behave arrogantly; could the County Magistrate be favoring the concubine over the wife?

Looking at the County Magistrate’s Wife’s illness, having such a vexing presence at home might hinder her recovery.

Li Yuzhu grew worried for the County Magistrate’s Wife.

"Aunt Tian, it’s late, arrange for the guests to settle down first," the County Magistrate’s Wife instructed the older maid, "Arrange for Miss Li to stay in my courtyard, and arrange the Third Young Master Li and his companion in the guest room."

"Yes, Madam," Aunt Tian replied.

Li Xing’an took his luggage out of the rattan box and, along with Mu Yuanxiu, followed Aunt Tian out.

Of course, as Li Xing’an left, he quietly reminded Li Yuzhu to stay alert and not be bullied by the maids here, saying the maids here tend to look down on people.