Chapter 236: Chapter 236
"Mother, are you worried about eldest sister?"
Spring was the season for laziness.
During the afternoon hours, lazily leaning against her mother's side, seeing that the embroidery pattern in the other's hand hadn't been touched for a long time.
Only then did An Ning blink her big eyes and ask softly.
"You child, you're really becoming more and more precocious..."
The little girl in her arms proudly lifted her small head, the crimson palace tassel in her hand constantly being twisted into various shapes:
"Mother, don't think I'm young and don't understand things. In fact, your daughter understands a lot!"
"I know, Mother must think eldest sister is too impatient, acting hastily before understanding brother-in-law's temperament and preferences, right?"
"Just like me and Mu Yang, we hate it most when playing or eating and having others tell us what we should or shouldn't do, though of course Mother doesn't count!"
Finally, she happily added:
"Father doesn't count either, and little brother... well, half counts..."
"Yes, no matter how good one's temperament is, no one likes others casually telling them what to do, especially people they're not very familiar with. If only it had been a bit later..."
Even just a bit more affection would be better!
Thinking of her eldest daughter's tone and expression earlier, and that son-in-law, Yu couldn't help but sigh softly.
Perhaps her eldest daughter hadn't even realized it herself—when she spoke earlier, her tone had unconsciously taken on a admonishing quality. Though she appeared shy, it somehow didn't convey much intimacy between husband and wife.
Besides, though they were married, she had only been married for a few days, and the number of times they had met before marriage could be counted on one hand. Moreover, the Cui family clearly had very strict rules.
To adopt such a submissive posture so soon after marrying in...
Actually, Yu herself hadn't been very approving of this marriage from the beginning. The Cui family had a flourishing population in this generation—not counting the two levels of mothers-in-law above, though the son-in-law was the legitimate heir, he had four younger brothers beneath him. Not only was there a legitimate youngest son doted on by the mother-in-law, but several illegitimate sons were close in age.
It was said that in another half year, the Cui family's second son would be marrying a new wife.
To outsiders, this appeared to be a sign of flourishing population, but as the saying goes, more people mean more complications. Over the years, occasionally going out to socialize, Yu had heard about the dirty laundry in large families.
Most importantly, this marriage had been strongly promoted by the Cui family's elderly madam. Although the mother-in-law seemed amiable, she might not have been without opinions internally...
It's just that back then...
Thinking of something, Yu's eyes darkened again.
Suddenly, she lost the desire to think further.
Perhaps being from a family of officials for generations had benefits she couldn't imagine!
She just lovingly stroked her little daughter's small head, her jade-like face unconsciously showing a trace of melancholy:
"Speaking of which, in a little while, our A-Ning will soon be having her coming-of-age ceremony. I wonder..."
Because she had gained the favor of the Empress Dowager, as the coming-of-age ceremony approached, there had been no shortage of people coming to sound them out recently.
But just thinking about her treasured daughter, who had been pampered and spoiled, marrying into another family in the future made Yu feel terribly uncomfortable inside.
It's just that some things, no matter how uncomfortable, still needed to be planned early.
"Anyway, I don't want to be too far from Mother. It would be best if I could stay by Mother's side forever..."
Snuggling tightly in her mother's arms, An Ning shook her small head like a child.
"You child, talking nonsense again!"
Though she said this, Yu's face still showed a bit of a smile, like a spring-blooming crabapple flower, radiant and breathtaking.
"Hehe, anyway, your daughter will cling to Mother for this lifetime..."
On the other side, in the carriage
After leaving the Yang residence, perhaps because they had spoken too much earlier, the newlywed couple now found themselves at a loss for words.
Seeing his wife repeatedly bring up that rather obscure poem from earlier, after a moment of silence, Cui Yu finally spoke:
"Father-in-law and mother-in-law seem very harmonious, truly enviable as rumored..."
"However, from what your husband observes, madam's appearance doesn't seem very similar to mother-in-law's?"
Nor were they particularly close to their only legitimate younger sister.
Of course, Cui Dalang didn't speak this last sentence aloud. Thinking of what his father had said about this highly praised Tanhua's knowledge and abilities, and recently about the sister-in-law who had gained the Empress Dowager's favor and might very well marry into the imperial family, Cui Yu paused slightly in his speech, though his expression remained as elegantly gentle as ever.
Unfortunately, the person before him didn't perceive the true meaning behind his words.
Mentioning appearance, Yang Wan subconsciously stiffened for a moment, now completely forgetting about the poem. After a while, she finally said with some difficulty:
"Yes, father has always been extremely good to mother."
As she spoke, she glanced somewhat shyly at her husband from earlier.
In the carriage, the earlier silence quickly returned.
In the blink of an eye, it was mid-April, the perfect day for An Ning's coming-of-age ceremony.
On this day, not only did the Empress Dowager from the palace personally send gifts, but surprisingly, that Mingde Emperor also sent countless objects for appreciation.
For a time, it left people quite puzzled. But this wasn't the time for worries:
Early in the morning, Mu Yang had pulled her mother, who served as the main officiant, to come over early. During the ceremony, she watched with her own eyes as her little friend became adorned with increasingly elaborate and magnificent decorations symbolizing adulthood, revealing an unparalleled bright and dazzling beauty.
Among the crowd, occasional looks of astonishment appeared.
After the ceremonial praises, Mu Yang was the first in the crowd to tear up. As soon as they reached the backstage, she tightly embraced her friend: "A-Ning, aowoo... how can someone be so beautiful!"
Thinking of the occasional snippets she heard from her mother, Mu Yang held on even tighter.
She only wished she weren't a man, otherwise even if the heavenly king himself objected, she and her little friend would definitely never be separated in this lifetime.
An Ning, who occasionally heard her little friend's quiet muttering: "..."
She made it sound like they were really separating.
Speechlessly patting her friend's head: "Who are we? The closest people in this lifetime!"
Mu Yang nodded heavily. Seeing her friend's emotions finally calm down, An Ning then pulled her to the inner chamber, arranging the items she had received earlier before her. She quietly asked the newcomer:
"Yunjia, do you know why His Majesty suddenly remembered to bestow these gifts?"