Chapter 119: Hard to Recite Scriptures
Zhang Ma took one look and saw through Madam Leng’s very soul, knowing she was the type to resort to any despicable means to curry favor.
However, she had to maintain a facade of politeness, so she said, “Madam Cui, please don’t be so formal. Our Madam feels these gifts are too meager.
It’s just that Second Miss Cui is kind and righteous. That day in the outskirts, she discovered villains had kidnapped our Fourth Young Master and rushed to the mansion to report it.
She even spared no effort to accompany us in searching for half the day. When we couldn’t find him, Second Miss Cui stayed at Jingxu Nunnery to continue the search.
How could we not be grateful for such actions? Fortunately, our Fourth Young Master returned safely in the end. Our Madam was greatly alarmed and has been ill these past few days, but she didn’t dare forget Second Miss.
Therefore, she repeatedly instructed me, this old servant, to bring some gifts first. Please accept them and do not refuse.”
After hearing Zhang Ma’s words, Madam Leng finally understood the whole story. Although she was displeased, she knew how to put on a show in front of outsiders. She quickly said to Cui Baozhu, “My child, you are too tight-lipped. Why didn’t you tell me?
This is a good deed to save someone, and it also accumulates blessings for yourself. As your mother, I should be happy to hear this!”
She then turned to Zhang Ma and said, “Zhang Ma, I’m not boasting, but although this daughter of mine didn’t come from my womb, I love her even more than my own children!
When I came to this mansion, she was only seven or eight years old, and I raised her myself. I always told her, first, to be kind to others, and second, to have upright character. This child has taken it all to heart.”
Zhang Ma also smiled and said, “Indeed, it is the Madam’s excellent upbringing that has led Second Miss to perform such a good deed.”
Madam Leng’s face lit up with a smile, and she quickly asked Zhang Ma to sit down, ordering tea to be served.
How could Zhang Ma drink her tea? She declined, saying, “We still need to return to report. We won’t disturb you further.”
She then said to Cui Baozhu, “Our Madam invites Second Miss to visit our mansion on the nineteenth. A carriage will come to pick you up. If Madam and Third Miss are not busy, you are also welcome to come along. More people make for a livelier occasion.”
Madam Leng had one son and one daughter. The daughter was the elder, three years younger than Cui Baozhu, and she also had a twelve-year-old son.
With Madam Leng present, Cui Baozhu did not immediately agree but looked at her stepmother.
Madam Leng was naturally willing for such an occasion, so she said, “How could we refuse your esteemed residence’s invitation? However, your Madam has been ill lately and may not have fully recovered by then. Please do not overexert her. As for our two families visiting each other, any time is fine.”
“Madam need not worry, our Madam will surely be much better by then,” Zhang Ma said. “If that’s the case, then it’s settled.”
Madam Leng repeatedly said yes, and Cui Baozhu was also quite happy.
After Zhang Ma returned to the mansion, she found that the Little Madam of Duke Feng’s Family had brought Feng Tianzhu to visit Wen Mingqian.
“Zhang Ma, you’re back,” Wu Shi said to Zhang Ma with a smile. “I’ve brought a cook from our residence to ask you to teach her a couple of medicinal cuisine recipes, so she can make them for the Master and Madam when they return.
As the weather gets hot, their appetites both decline. The Duke was too greedy for coolness a couple of days ago and ate a piece of melon, and he’s had a stomachache ever since.”
“Little Madam, rest assured, I will teach her shortly,” Zhang Ma readily agreed.
Wen Mingqian then asked her, “Did you see the Cui family?”
“I saw Second Miss Cui and her Madam, and I’ve delivered the gifts,” Zhang Ma said. “They have also agreed to be guests at our mansion on the nineteenth.”
“You’re inviting Cui Baozhu?” Wu Shi asked.
“Yes, it’s only right to thank them for Changan’s matter,” Wen Mingqian said. “Will you be busy that day? Come over early!”
“To be honest, I was quite surprised. I didn’t expect Cui Baozhu to do something like this. Before, I thought she was wicked and malicious, the same sort as Song Xiulian!” Wu Shi said. “However, her stepmother is not someone to be trifled with; she’s shrewd and unscrupulous. She’s the kind of person who’d carve lean meat off a egret’s leg and scrape fat from a mosquito’s belly.”
“Little Madam speaks the truth. I also think the Cui family’s second wife is someone who loves to count her pennies,” Zhang Ma said. “No wonder their family, with no strong foundation, could rise to the rank of Fifth Rank Official.”
Before the words were even finished, Feng Tianzhu and Gong Changan walked in, with Gong Bao’an following closely behind.
“It’s hot, run less. Look at how much you’re sweating,” Wu Shi said, pulling Feng Tianzhu over and wiping his sweat.
“What’s wrong with sweating? Doesn’t Imperial Physician Liu say that I need to sweat more for my condition to improve?” Feng Tianzhu said. “Since I started playing with Changan, how long has it been since I had an episode?”
Wu Shi heard this and said, “It’s true, it’s been three months now, hasn’t it? Not a single episode.”
“That’s wonderful,” Wen Mingqian also expressed her happiness for her. “As he gets older and his body becomes stronger, I believe he will gradually recover.”
“Alas, I dream of this day,” Wu Shi said. “May heaven bless him and let him get well!”
Gong Changan stayed close to Wen Mingqian, who also raised her hand to wipe his sweat.
Gong Bao’an watched from the side, and his eyes couldn’t help but turn red.
Although he was young, he was sensible. No one in this mansion treated him poorly, but without his biological mother, he always felt lonely and desolate.
He still didn’t know about his birth mother’s wicked deeds. He only knew that she had been carrying a younger brother in her womb, but then he was gone, and then his mother died.
Now, seeing others being held by their mothers, he couldn’t help but recall the times he was doted on by Madam Song.
“Bao’an, come here,” Wen Mingqian called out softly to Gong Bao’an.
When Gong Bao’an came over, she took his hand and said, “Didn’t you say yesterday that you wanted to eat iced rock sugar balls? I’ve already had someone make them, but since they’re iced, you can only eat a little. Eating too much will give you a stomachache.”
“Thank you, Madam,” Gong Bao’an’s face immediately broke into a smile. “I won’t eat too much.”
“When the weather cools down, you can also go to where Brother Changan studies. The two of you, along with Young Duke, will have companions for studying and playing,” Wen Mingqian had already made plans.
“That would be wonderful!” Gong Bao’an jumped up with joy. “If I can always be with Fourth Brother, I won’t be afraid of anything.”
“Let’s go out and play! Don’t disturb the adults talking here,” Gong Changan said. “I have something good to give you.”
Wu Shi heard this and pulled him, smiling as she asked, “Brother, tell us what good thing it is?”
“Old Uncle Li, who brought us back last time, had a bamboo basket on his cart with three puppies inside. They were going to be sold.
My mother wanted to thank them, but they refused to accept anything. Later, I said I would exchange those gifts for the three puppies from the cart.
Although these three puppies are mongrels, they are very clever and have already been weaned, so they can be raised. I thought it would be great if each of us three raised one?”
