Jinyi Spring

Chapter 214 Wang Tu's Family

The Emperor and Empress Dowager Xue's gifts were delivered to the Princess's residence on the east side.

Shui Chuchen had expected Empress Dowager Xue's reward and those heartwarming words.

She was like an old woman with a shiny, smudged face, seemingly impeccable.

Caiju smiled and said, "We servants all say that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is kind and fair, and Her Highness the Princess is very fortunate."

Shui Chuchen nodded and said, "Yes. Go to Cining Palace and kowtow to her a few more times on my behalf."

Caiju went off with a smile on her face.

Tang Jian, Granny Li, and others also shared in the honor.

When the second princess heard that even the emperor had rewarded Shui Chuchen and punished her, she cried even louder, but she stopped uttering any more unpleasant words.

The two punishments combined meant copying "Admonitions for Women" two hundred times and being confined to her quarters for two months, meaning she couldn't even leave the house during the New Year.

The palace servants who served her were also beaten and had their pay docked, and the princess's residence was shrouded in gloom.

Shui Chuchen had just finished eating when the Third Princess quietly arrived at the East Road with two other people. Afraid of being seen by those in the Central Road, she didn't go through the back garden, but instead circled around a grove of trees in the front yard.

Shui Chuchen needs to unite all her brothers and sisters except for the Second Princess and the Prince of Zhao.

The two talked for a while, and Shui Chuchen gave the Third Princess a small rabbit doll, which the Third Princess liked very much.

It snowed heavily all night, but the next morning the sky cleared up.

Before breakfast, the palace servants had already swept the snow in the courtyard clean. Under the bright sun, the snow on the roof tiles was bathed in a warm red glow.

At the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM), Xiao Henian, accompanied by his wife Song, his eldest son Xiao Ziming, his second son Xiao Ziyou, his eldest daughter-in-law Wang, his three-year-old granddaughter Jiaojiao, and Feng Buji, arrived at the princess's residence.

Before anyone could even bow, Feng Buji rushed forward, grabbed Shui Chuchen, and burst into tears.

"Sister, you are my own sister, I miss you! I don't want to leave you..."

He hadn't seen his sister for almost a month, and then he heard that she had become a princess and that they would no longer be able to live together. He was extremely saddened. Even though he suddenly received an official position and more rewards, he was not happy.

In his heart, his sister was always the most important person. What hurt him even more was that his sister would no longer share his surname, Feng, but would instead share the surname "Shui" (meaning "water").

Shui Chuchen hugged him, her nose tingling with tears.

She wiped away his tears and comforted him with a smile, "I'll always be your sister, and I don't want to leave you. But I can't take you to the palace to live with me because someone is malicious. Yesterday, I even beat someone up."

"Your uncle is my sister's uncle too. You won't be mistreated if you stay at your uncle's house. From now on, my sister can leave the palace once every ten days, and you can also come to the palace to see your sister..."

Madam Xiao also smiled and said, "The princess is right. Buji is also our nephew. From now on, treat our mansion as your home and don't be shy."

Feng Buji cried for a while, then finally stopped crying, took a step back, and solemnly bowed to his sister.

"Your younger brother greets Princess Yong'an."

This was taught to him by his uncle. In the palace, one must be mindful of etiquette.

Xiao Henian then led his family to formally pay their respects.

After the ceremony, Madam Xiao ordered someone to bring out a pot of the finest clivia. The flower was in full bloom, its fiery red blossoms densely packed together, numbering at least several dozen, exuding a delicate fragrance that filled the room with the warmth of spring.

Madam Xiao smiled and said, "Knowing that the princess loves flowers, I specially found a pot of them..."

Shui Chuchen thanked him, pulled Feng Buji to sit down beside her, held Xiao Jiaojiao on her lap, and ordered someone to bring the prepared gift.

The emperor bestowed upon his uncle Xiao Henian a superior Duan inkstone and a set of Huzhou brushes, and upon his aunt Madam Xiao two bolts of brocade satin and a pair of fragrant prayer beads. His cousins ​​and Feng Buji each received a jade pendant and a set of Huizhou ink, and his cousin's wife, Grandma Xiao, received a pair of gold-inlaid jade bracelets. Little Jiaojiao received six small palace flowers suitable for her age, four gold ingots, and a small duck doll.

Grandma Xiao was six months pregnant, and her belly was already quite noticeable.

Shui Chuchen took her pulse and smiled, "The fetus is fine. You should keep moving around every day. If the fetus is too big, it will be difficult to give birth. From now on, have Banxia come to the manor for a prenatal check-up once a month."

She didn't reveal that it was a boy, but only gave him instructions on how to take care of himself.

Madam Xiao was overjoyed. "When my eldest daughter-in-law gives birth, we'll go to Jinzhi Medical Clinic."

Banxia came over again to take Grandma Xiao's pulse and listened to Shui Chuchen's explanation. Xiao Henian mentioned the tutor he had hired for Feng Buji, a scholar who had previously taught the Xiao brothers. Now that Xiao Ziming was the heir of a marquis and Xiao Ziyou had entered the Imperial Academy, he would focus on teaching Feng Buji.

Shui Chuchen was very satisfied and thanked her.

Xiao Henian waved his hand and said, "Your younger brother is my nephew. Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite."

Upon hearing this, Feng Buji stood up again and bowed deeply to Xiao Henian and his wife, saying, "Thank you, Uncle; thank you, Aunt; thank you, brothers."

The group chatted and laughed, and soon it was time for lunch.

The imperial kitchen delivered two tables of food, one for the men and one for the women and children.

After the meal, the family and Feng Buji said goodbye.

As he left, tears welled up in Feng Buji's eyes again.

Shui Chuchen smiled and said, "On the second day of the month, I'll have someone pick you up and take you to the palace for a day."

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, I went back to my parents' home and brought my younger brother over.

Feng Buji then stopped crying and started laughing.

Not long after they had rested, Cai Lao Nu Yi's mother, Cai Lao Madam, Cai Lao Nu Yi's eldest daughter-in-law, Zeng Shi, and her grandson, Wang Nianwei, came to pay their respects to Princess Yong An, accompanied by Cai Yu Xiu.

The group greeted each other according to custom, and Shui Chuchen personally helped Grandma Cai up.

The old lady offered a century-old ginseng.

After Shui Chuchen expressed his gratitude, he ordered someone to reward the old lady with two bolts of brocade and two strings of incense prayer beads. Zeng and Cai Yuxiu each received two bolts of brocade, and the grandson Wang Nianwei received a jade pen holder and two pairs of gold ingots. He also rewarded the old female doctor Cai's mother-in-law with two bolts of brocade, which Zeng was to take back.

Dr. Cai's father-in-law has passed away, and her mother-in-law is old and has difficulty walking.

Shui Chuchen spoke earnestly about how Dr. Cai had saved her life. The old lady and the others listened, recalling past events, and were moved to tears. Half an hour later, Cai Yuxiu and the others rose to take their leave.

Before long, Wang Tu arrived with his wife and children.

Wang Tu was extremely tall, with his hair tied up on top of his head and wearing a large hat with a brim. Beneath the brim, the old scar on his left cheek was striking—a rough, uneven scar that snaked from the corner of his eye down to his jaw. Yet his expression was calm, his gaze steady, without the slightest hint of evasion.

His wife, Liu, who was standing beside him, was not even as tall as his shoulder. Even though she was wearing a loose dress, it was still clear that her right leg was severely bent, and she walked with a limp.

But her face was fair and delicate, her eyebrows and eyes gentle, her gaze calm, without a trace of self-pity. It was just that upon first meeting the princess, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her husband's clothes.

Behind them was their son, Wang Dongqian, who was eleven years old and already taller than his mother. The boy was handsome and dashing, with both his father's fortitude and his mother's gentleness in his features.

The three knelt down and paid their respects according to the proper etiquette.

Shui Chuchen got up, gave Wang Tu a helping hand, and then curtsied to him.

"Chu Chen thanks Uncle Wang for saving her life. Uncle Wang has suffered so much these past years."

Wang Tu quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Your Highness is too kind." He then looked Shui Chuchen up and down and smiled, "Your Highness is always the most dazzling wherever you are."

As he spoke, he presented a painting titled "Diao Chan Worshiping the Moon" woven from Xiang bamboo. The bamboo strips were as fine as hair, and the painting was lifelike.

Shui Chuchen accepted the painting and then rewarded Wang Tu with a superior Duan inkstone, a set of Huzhou brushes and Huizhou ink, two bolts of brocade satin and a pair of red gold bracelets, and Wang Dongqian with a jade pendant and two pairs of two-ounce gold ingots.

He invited them to sit down and then carefully examined the injuries on Wang Tu's face.

He said gently, "I will perform surgery on Uncle Wang in a few days. Although it will not restore him to his original state, it will at least make the scar lighter and better than it is now."

Wang Tu had already heard about this from Shangguan Ruyu, so he quickly stood up to express his gratitude.

When Shui Chuchen inquired about the past, Wang Tu spoke of it in a calm tone, even with a hint of relieved smile, as if he were talking about someone else's past.

He rarely mentioned his own suffering, but spoke more about how his wife, Liu, held up their precarious family and how the Liu family helped him evade investigation. His tone was full of gratitude, and his gaze towards his wife was full of tenderness.

"At the time, I didn't know whether those people were friends or foes, so I didn't dare to show myself. If I had known earlier that Lord Ming was one of our own, I wouldn't have had to go through such a long and complicated process."

As they spoke, the evening glow painted the window paper red, and it was dinnertime again. Shui Chuchen invited them to a royal banquet in the palace, and only saw them off as the gates were about to close. (End of Chapter)