Chapter 645 Land and Water Ceremony

Chapter 645: Land and Water Ceremony

Jiao Shi’s stomach dropped when she saw that not only was her mother-in-law, the Dowager Duchess of Xin, present, but also her father-in-law, the Duke of Xin.

To be honest, she was still a little scared of her father-in-law.

But seeing that both her in-laws looked quite cheerful, she hesitated for a moment before collecting herself and asking with a smile, “Father, Mother, could we hold this year’s Land and Water Ceremony at the White Cloud Temple instead?”

The Duke of Xin didn’t completely dislike Yu Mingzhu, but after she had hurt her elder sister-in-law, it was truly heartbreaking. What made things worse was that when the Dowager Duchess fell ill, Yu Mingzhu picked a fight with Xingxing, the woman who had saved her mother-in-law’s life. The elderly couple felt they couldn’t keep letting her get away with such behavior.

However, time had passed, and since Mao Fuqu was looking much better now, the Duke and his wife had been thinking about checking whether Yu Mingzhu had learned her lesson. If so, they planned to bring her back home.

When Jiao Shi brought up the topic of the Land and Water Ceremony, the elderly couple exchanged glances.

Then the Dowager Duchess slowly said, “You manage the household affairs—you may decide for yourself.”

Jiao Shi’s heart soared. She understood this meant her in-laws had no objections. Which meant, she could later propose bringing Zhu Zhu back, and they probably wouldn’t object either!

Just as she was about to speak, the Dowager Duchess added, “By the way, there’s one more thing—Xingxing is coming and should arrive soon. You should stick around for a bit.”

Jiao Shi’s heart gave an odd little jump.

Her in-laws had hinted before that Xingxing might actually be her own daughter—after all, the resemblance to her own childhood appearance was uncanny!

Yet, for some reason, Jiao Shi couldn’t help feeling afraid of facing Xingxing.

Plus, Xingxing always treated her with polite distance. Every interaction stung like needles, and over time, Jiao Shi had started fidgeting whenever she thought of meeting the girl.

The Dowager Duchess shot her a sidelong glance.

Truthfully, she’d never had a real problem with this daughter-in-law.

Except for babying her daughter too much, Jiao Shi handled everything else perfectly. She managed the household like clockwork and treated the sons born to concubines fairly—there had never been any mistreatment.

But lately, the Dowager Duchess had started losing patience with her.

She thought Jiao Shi was completely clueless.

It was understandable to grow attached to a daughter who wasn’t biologically yours.

But here was a girl who might very well be her real daughter, lost since childhood, standing right in front of her, and Jiao Shi not only refused to look into the truth, but seemed to be avoiding it altogether!

Ridiculous!

The Dowager Duchess grew angrier just thinking about it.

Seeing Jiao Shi fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat only made her mood worse, and her face fell.

Just then, a maid burst in excitedly from outside, announcing that Princess Fusui had arrived.

The Dowager Duchess’s face instantly brightened, and she rose with a wide smile.

Though Jiao Shi had been avoiding the matter, hearing the name “Princess Fusui” still made her instinctively turn toward the door.

The maid lifted the curtain, and in walked a young girl wearing a peach-red jacket, her hair adorned with pearl hairpins, glowing with good health, her expression calm and composed.

Before Xingxing could speak, her face was already brimming with smiles: "Hello, Dowager Duchess. Hello, Duke of Xin."

She paused, then turned to Jiao Shi with a smile, saying, "Greetings, Lady Heir."

The Dowager Duchess of Xin beamed, holding Xingxing's hand tightly. "What a good girl."

Jiao Shi pursed her lips, sensing that the greeting "Lady Heir" lacked the warmth of the previous two, feeling oddly formal.

Her heart ached again, and she thought, *Is this really my daughter? Then why does she seem so distant? She’s nothing like Zhu Zhu, whom I’ve raised for so many years.*

Every time Zhu Zhu saw her, the way she called her "Mother" was so sweet it could melt your heart.

Sitting there, Jiao Shi rubbed the armrest, missing Yu Mingzhu even more.

The Dowager Duchess paid no mind to Jiao Shi’s thoughts. From the moment Xingxing entered, her gaze had been fixed on the girl without wavering.

The old Duke of Xin was the same.

A battle-hardened veteran who had spent his life on the battlefield, he had turned to putty in the presence of his lovely granddaughter, his smile never fading.

As usual, Xingxing took the old Duke’s pulse as a wellness check, then did the same for the Dowager Duchess.

Though she joked, “Didn’t you just check me two days ago?” the Dowager Duchess happily extended her wrist.

After examining both elders, the Dowager Duchess glanced at Jiao Shi, who seemed distracted, and frowned.

Just as she was considering how to suggest Xingxing also check Jiao Shi’s pulse, Xingxing spoke up first, smiling, “Since Lady Heir is here, would you like me to check your pulse too?”

Xingxing felt that since the Dowager Duchess and the Duke had given her many rare and precious medicinal herbs—saving her much effort in sourcing them—it was only right to reciprocate by offering more check-ups for the household.

The Dowager Duchess was deeply moved. “Our Xingxing has such a kind heart.”

But Jiao Shi was miles away.

The Dowager Duchess’s expression darkened. “Jiao!”

Jiao Shi jolted back to the present. “Hmm?”

The Dowager Duchess said coolly, “Xingxing wants to check your pulse.”

Xingxing also asked with a smile, “Lady Heir, would that be alright?”

Looking at Xingxing’s smiling face, Jiao Shi felt as if she’d been punched.

*This girl, likely my own flesh and blood, treats me so warmly, yet here I am, lost in my thoughts.*

Flooded with guilt, Jiao Shi extended her hand but could only manage a stiff reply: “…Thank you, my dear.”

After checking her pulse, Xingxing said, “Your health is good, though you’ve been overly anxious lately. Some daily calming tea would do you good.”

Tongue-tied, Jiao Shi nodded meekly.

When Xingxing wasn’t looking, the Dowager Duchess gave Jiao Shi a disapproving look.

But when Xingxing turned back, the Dowager Duchess was all smiles again, asking, “Xingxing, in a few days, our household will be holding our Water and Land Ceremony at Baiyun Temple. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I’d love some good company. Would you like to come with us?”

Jiao Shi froze, instinctively glancing at the Dowager Duchess.

*Their Water and Land Ceremony—bringing Xingxing, who is still an outsider, along? What would people think?*

The Dowager Duchess of Xin ignored Jiao Shi and instead looked at Xingxing with hopeful expectation.

Xingxing was free, but she remembered that her grandmother, Granny Wei, had mentioned a couple of days ago that she wanted to go into the mountains to pray to the gods.

Xingxing brought this up and asked if the Dowager Duchess would allow her grandmother to join them on the trip.

The Dowager Duchess was happy to agree: “Granny Wei has such a broad mind and generous heart—I truly enjoy her company. Bring her along; it will be nice to have someone to chat with during the journey.”

Jiao Shi pressed her lips together, wanting to say something but holding back for fear of disrespecting her mother-in-law.

After Xingxing left, Jiao Shi lingered, clearly uneasy, and said to the Dowager Duchess, “…Mother, isn’t it a bit inappropriate to bring outsiders to our family’s water and land ceremony?”

The Dowager Duchess shot her an icy look: “Outsiders? If you’re unwilling, we can just pick another place.”

Hearing about changing the location, Jiao Shi quickly said, “No, no, I didn’t mean that…”

Not wanting to make things harder regarding Yu Mingzhu, she forced a smile and replied, “I was just asking casually. Since you’ve decided to bring Granny Wei and Princess Fusui along, you must know best.”

The Dowager Duchess replied coolly, “Good, I’m glad you understand.”

After Jiao Shi left, the Dowager Duchess couldn’t help but frown as she told the Duke of Xin, “…I just feel like our eldest daughter-in-law is not very dependable. She’s Xingxing’s birth mother, yet she doesn’t seem to care one bit about how hard Xingxing’s life was all those years away from home. But when it comes to Mingzhu—who brought this upon herself—living well enough in Baiyun Temple, she acts heartbroken. It makes me so angry just thinking about it.”

The Duke patted his wife’s hand gently. “Enough now. Our eldest daughter-in-law may be clueless, but as long as we two old folks are clear-headed, that’s what matters. Xingxing isn’t young anymore. In a few years, we’ll need to find her a husband, and I doubt her mother will even think of giving her a proper dowry. I know the Yues love Xingxing and will make sure she’s well provided for, but that’s their gift. As her grandparents, we should make up for what her foolish mother fails to give.”

The Dowager Duchess nodded enthusiastically. “You’re absolutely right. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Our descendants live comfortably, each with their own fortunes. I plan to set aside half of my savings to help with Xingxing’s dowry when the time comes.”

The Duke chuckled. “Great minds think alike!”

They shared a warm smile.

Little did Xingxing know, she had unknowingly gained two unexpected windfalls.

When she returned home, she told Granny Wei about the invitation from the Dowager Duchess for the two of them to visit Baiyun Temple together.

Granny Wei had always been used to praying to the gods, and hearing that the Dowager Duchess—who she had gotten along with so well before—had personally invited her, she was thrilled and immediately accepted.

“For a noble lady like her to be so kind and treat a country bumpkin like me so well,” Granny Wei said, deeply touched. “She really is a good soul.”

Xingxing smiled. “That’s because you’re good too, Grandma, which is why the Dowager Duchess treats you so well.”

Granny Wei beamed even more brightly.

Xingxing thought that the Dowager Duchess and the Duke of Xin were indeed kind-hearted people, and she genuinely felt close to them.

On the day of the water and land ceremony, Xingxing and Granny Wei got into their carriage early in the morning and met up with the long line of carriages from the Duke’s household outside the city gates.

They were immediately invited into the Dowager Duchess’s private carriage, where only she and her maid, Nanny Qingluan, were seated.

Even with the addition of two more passengers, the carriage didn’t feel crowded at all.

Nanny Qingluan laughed, “Our Dowager Duchess was actually quite nervous today! Earlier, she kept asking me, ‘Is my hair messy?’ ‘Do I look neat?’ I told her, anyone who didn’t know better would think you were going on a date instead of meeting Granny Wei at the temple!”

The Dowager Duchess laughed heartily, pointing at Nanny Qingluan. “Oh, you and your sharp tongue!”

The atmosphere in the carriage was cheerful, and Granny Wei took out a deck of playing cards. With four people present, they started playing right away.

In another carriage sat Mao Fuju, a daughter from the second branch of the family, and another girl from the third branch.

These two illegitimate daughters also naturally addressed Mao Fuqu as "Eldest Sister-in-law (Dàsǎo)," being a year or two younger than Yu Mingzhu.

Mao Fuqu seemed calm enough.

Yu Xiuxiu, the second household’s illegitimate daughter, softly asked Mao Fuqu, “Eldest Sister-in-law, are you feeling better now?”

Mao Fuqu gave a slight nod. “Thank you for your concern, Second Sister.”

Yu Xiuxiu perked up with delight. “It must mean Eldest Sister’s prayers at White Cloud Temple were truly effective. When I see her later, I’ll tell her that Eldest Sister-in-law has improved greatly—she’ll surely be delighted.”

Mao Fuqu couldn’t help but lift the corner of her mouth slightly.

Delighted?

Probably not.

...

The long caravan of the Xinguo Duke’s estate wound its way forward, traveling most of the day before finally arriving at White Cloud Temple.

Deep in the mountains, the temple could no longer be reached by carriage beyond the foot of the hill, so they had to switch to palanquins.

Lady Jiao had made meticulous arrangements, and several palanquins were already waiting by the roadside.

Old Madam Wei initially wanted to decline, insisting she could easily climb three mountains without difficulty. But seeing the Dowager Duchess of Xinguo being helped into a palanquin by Nurse Qingluan, she hesitated and followed suit.

The two illegitimate daughters from the second and third households, still full of youthful energy, didn’t want to ride in palanquins. They tugged at Mao Fuqu’s hand. “Big Sis-in-law, hike up with us!”

Mao Fuqu hesitated briefly before declining. “The mountain path is steep—I’ll take the palanquin.”

The two girls could only make faces and then ran off to climb on their own.

Xingxing, who was accompanying the Dowager Duchess of Xinguo and Old Madam Wei, also chose a palanquin.

Lady Jiao and her sisters-in-law likewise rode in palanquins, while the rest proceeded on foot.

The group advanced as a long caravan toward the mountainside where White Cloud Temple stood.

Of Yu Chongjie's brothers, apart from the third brother who was away on scholarly travels, all were present today, walking up the mountain together.

Yu Chongen, watching Xingxing and Old Madam Wei riding ahead in palanquins, suddenly bristled and approached Yu Chongjie to complain: “Eldest Brother, why are they even here for our family’s Land and Water Ceremony?”

Yu Chongjie lowered his voice. “Enough. Grandmother invited them. Don’t make waves. Besides the ceremony, our main task today is to bring Zhu Zhu back home.”

Yu Chongen muttered in reply.

Yu Chongjie was about to say more when his gaze fell on Yu Chongen’s neck—and he abruptly paused.

There was a red mark there. As a married man, he immediately understood what it meant.

Yu Chongjie frowned. “What happened to your neck—”

Yu Chongen, noticing his brother’s stare, instinctively yanked his collar higher to cover the mark and coughed. “Nothing. Just a mosquito bite.”

Then, trying too hard to deflect, he added, “Eldest Brother, I wanna see Zhu Zhu. I’m going ahead—I’ll be the first one to reach White Cloud Temple.”

With that, he took off like a shot, bolting ahead.