Chapter 642

Chapter 650: Preparing for Rain (Part 2)

"Eleven Lady watched as her son regained his usual liveliness and felt relieved, turning her attention to the busy New Year preparations.

After offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, sweeping away dust, replacing the old peachwood charms with new ones, and displaying ancestral portraits for worship, the family set off firecrackers and enjoyed the New Year’s Eve feast. She and Lord Xu then spent the following days paying visits to relatives and attending spring banquets, only settling down by the twelfth day of the first lunar month.

Then, out of the blue, Ten Miss’s adopted son, Duke Mao Wang Chengzu, came to visit her.

Eleven Lady was puzzled.

The year after the elder madam’s passing, the Dowager Lady Wang had also passed away. Ten Miss had entrusted the management of household affairs and social engagements to one of the dowager’s former maids, while she herself withdrew from society, living in near-total seclusion with Wang Chengzu. Apart from sending him with the maid to pay New Year’s visits to relatives, she kept him confined at home, focusing solely on his studies. It was said that Wang Chengzu’s birth parents had repeatedly confronted Ten Miss, accusing her of turning their once bright child into a dull puppet with no social skills.

Ten Miss had not uttered a word in response—she just had servants chase them off.

And so, Wang Chengzu remained secluded at home as before.

With the New Year still in full swing, why had he come now? In previous years, he had only paid a brief New Year’s visit to Lord Xu in the outer courtyard before leaving. He had never asked to see her.

“Let him in,” Eleven Lady said, recalling the fine-boned, handsome face Wang Chengzu had as a child.

He was the same age as Zhun'er. Seven years had passed—he must be a young man now. She wondered how much his appearance had changed.

As she pondered, she saw Amber usher in a tall young man dressed in a crimson Hangzhou silk robe embroidered with ascending patterns.

His lively eyes and fair complexion quickly overlapped with the image of the child in her memory.

“Duke Mao?”

“I don’t deserve such an address from my aunt,” Wang Chengzu said respectfully, bowing deeply. “I should have come to pay my respects long ago, but my mother’s widowhood limits our visits. I beg my aunt’s understanding.”

Was this the so-called dull and socially inept boy?

To her, Wang Chengzu seemed far smoother in speech and manners than Xu Sizhun, who had been meticulously tutored.

“How is your mother?” Eleven Lady asked, signaling Amber to fetch a chair for Wang Chengzu.

“My mother has been unwell for years,” he replied, his youthful face showing a sorrow too old for his years. Yet his eyes held a flicker of excitement, undercutting his grief’s sincerity. “As a child, I can do little to help. All I can do is light incense and pray for her on the first and fifteenth of each month, asking the Bodhisattva to grant her peace and health.” He then inquired about Jin Geer, “I last saw my sixth cousin when I paid New Year’s respects to my uncle in the main hall last year. He must have grown taller by now. With the New Year approaching, his tutor must have returned home—why isn’t he here?”

Eleven Lady disliked Wang Chengzu. She found him overly shrewd but lacking in sincerity.

“Your sixth cousin is training at the martial arts hall,” she replied curtly before changing the subject. “What brings you here today? Is there something urgent?”

“Nothing too urgent,” Wang Chengzu said, his cheeks pinkening slightly. “My mother has set my wedding date for the twenty-eighth of the first month. I came personally to deliver the invitation.”

Eleven Lady was stunned, taking a moment to recover.

*Who delivers their own wedding invitations?*

And directly to her, no less.

No matter how far the Duke Mao household had fallen, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse—there were still rules to follow…

“Aunt, I know this is somewhat improper,” Wang Chengzu said, shifting uncomfortably. “But it’s been years since I last saw you, and I feared you might have grown distant. So I put aside my pride and came to see you. My mother had instructed the old steward to deliver the invitation, but I thought… since she rarely interacts with you, and the wedding falls during the busy New Year season, if urgent matters kept you from attending, she would be heartbroken.” His eyes grew red. “I didn’t want to mention this, but… my mother… she began coughing blood in autumn… That’s why the wedding was scheduled so early…”

Eleven Lady was stunned. “Your mother is coughing blood? Has a physician been consulted? What did they say? How is she now?”

Seeing her barrage of questions, Wang Chengzu relaxed slightly. “Yes, a physician was called. They said it’s a chronic condition that needs gradual care. Her condition fluctuates—some days good, others bad. When the weather was colder, she coughed so much she couldn’t sleep through the night. But with the recent warmth, she’s improved somewhat.”

Eleven Lady remained silent for a while before instructing Amber to fetch two bottles of pear and fritillary bulb syrup for him. "Take these back for your mother. When the cough gets bad, it can soothe her throat."

Wang Chengzu thanked her profusely and, after chatting with Eleven Lady for a while, took his leave.

When Lord Xu returned, Eleven Lady recounted the incident to him. "Did you receive the wedding invitation from the Duke Mao residence? Wasn't the child supposed to be kept at home for his studies and writing? To me, this child seems more adept at handling social matters than even our stewards who deal with business dealings!"

"No," Lord Xu replied with a smile. "The boy has always been quite clever, and I've never heard of him causing trouble outside. It must just be his nature!" He then added, "Do you know whose daughter he's marrying?"

Caught up in thoughts about Lady Ten, she had completely forgotten to ask.

Perhaps it was because she had never really cared to begin with.

"I didn't ask in detail," Eleven Lady said with a laugh. "In a couple of days, Song Mama will accompany us to deliver the gifts. She can help inquire then."

Lord Xu seemed to have asked merely out of casual interest. After exchanging a few more idle words, they retired for the night without further discussion.

A few days later, Song Mama returned from delivering gifts to the Duke Mao residence.

"I heard the bride is some relative from Duke Mao's maternal relatives," Song Mama reported. "Lady Ten wanted to arrange an early marriage for Duke Mao, and that side hastily pushed this girl forward. Lady Ten didn't hesitate at all and agreed immediately! Because of this, Duke Mao's birth parents have been greatly cheered up lately!"

Despite knowing that Wang Chengzu's birth parents were scheming against her, Lady Ten seemed utterly indifferent. Was it the courage of knowingly walking into danger, or the obliviousness of ignorance?

Eleven Lady didn't know what to say.

"How is her illness?"

"I couldn't tell," Song Mama answered truthfully. "When I went to greet Lady Ten, she was sitting by the window, transcribing the Earth Store Sutra. Everything seemed calm and composed—nothing out of place."

Lady Ten had always been proud by nature. Even if she were unwell, she wouldn't easily let others notice any weakness.

"I see. You may go now," Eleven Lady said, lifting her teacup.

Song Mama hesitated for a moment before adding, "I heard that Fourth Miss also received the wedding invitation delivered personally by Duke Mao," then withdrew.

Lady Ten had no intention of disturbing anyone, yet Wang Chengzu seemed desperate to ensure no one was left out... After years of peaceful obscurity, Duke Mao's household suddenly seemed to be buzzing with activity!

Still, this was Lady Ten's life, and outsiders had no right to comment.

On the twenty-eighth, Eleven Lady attended the wedding banquet.

The Wang family had few guests—mostly distant relatives and Lady Ten's kin. Wang Lin's side only sent gifts, with no one attending in person. Lady Ten, pleading her widow's status, did not appear. All the arrangements were handled by Yin Ping.

When she saw Eleven Lady, Yin Ping's eyes reddened as she showed her to the main hall to be seated.

Fifth Miss had taken her children to Dengzhou for the New Year and hadn't returned yet. Fourth Miss and Madam Luo the Third had arrived earlier. While Madam Luo the Third was easier to interact with, Fourth Miss seemed somewhat awkward around her. After exchanging greetings, Wang Chengzu hurried over upon hearing the news.

"Aunt Eleven, you've finally arrived!" he exclaimed, then chided Yin Ping. "Why have you seated Aunt Eleven here? Go inform Mother at once." He then offered to escort Eleven Lady to see Lady Ten.

Yin Ping looked troubled. "Duke, my lady said she isn't receiving guests..."

"Is Aunt Eleven just any guest?" Wang Chengzu cut her off impatiently. "If Mother refuses others, surely she wouldn't refuse Aunt Eleven? Just go and inform her—"

"Duke..." Yin Ping stood there helplessly.

"No need," Eleven Lady interjected, not wishing to cause trouble. "Your mother prefers quiet. I'll just sit here for now."

Wang Chengzu didn't press further. He sat beside Eleven Lady, making cheerful conversation with everyone. He asked when Xu Sizhun would marry, inquired whether Fourth Miss's second son Yu Li would sit for the civil exams this year, and even asked Madam Luo the Third about Third Young Master Luo's shop is doing. After failing the exams multiple times—once even fainting in the examination hall—Second Master and Second Wife had given up on his scholarly ambitions and helped him open a stationery shop instead.

He made sure no one felt neglected, being so attentively hospitable that one of the Wang relatives joked, "For father's side there are uncles, mother's kin has aunts. You're favoring your mother's family over father's!"

Wang Chengzu wasn't angry either and smiled, saying, "I was raised by my mother, so of course I'm closer to her!"

As if trying hard to mend the relationship between Tenth Miss and the Luo family. Fourth Miss and Eleven Miss were easier to deal with, but Third Wife Luo was exceptionally sharp.

When the bride entered the household, she stayed behind at the Wang residence to play cards with the Wang relatives, while Eleven Miss and Fourth Miss each returned home, then returned later with bridal gifts.

Wang Chengzu gradually grew closer to Third Young Master of the Luo family.

A few days later, Third Wife Luo brought a box of Huizhou ink to visit Eleven Miss: "These are all from our own shop, please don’t look down on them, Miss."

"How could I? They’re just what I need," Eleven Miss replied, having Amber take them and inviting Third Wife Luo to the sitting room for tea. "What brings you here today, Third Sister-in-law? How’s business at the shop?"

"Quite good!" Third Wife Luo nodded. She’d always been rather meek, as Third Young Master had never spoken with confidence at home, and she had adopted a similar demeanor. "I came today because our Third Young Master asked me to discuss something with you, Miss."

Eleven Miss listened attentively.

Third Wife Luo continued, "Our Third Young Master thinks that since Duke Mao is now married and Tenth Miss is a widow, many things in the household are inconvenient. It might be better to let Duke Mao take over the household! That way, Tenth Miss can focus on her Buddhist devotions in peace."