Chapter 1406 - 1372: A Life Off Course 19
Chapter 1406: Chapter 1372: A Life Off Course 19
Just as Xin Lan was contemplating how to put medicine in Anning’s eyes, Mr. Wei returned.
By this time, it was already late spring, the weather had warmed quite a bit, and people were all wearing light spring clothes. Mr. Wei was no exception.
He wore a lotus-colored robe, a hat on his head, and entered with a smile as he lifted the curtain.
"Greetings to the Old Madam."
As soon as he entered, Mr. Wei paid respects to the Old Madam first.
After he straightened up, he smiled at the Old Madam, his face wrinkled like a blooming flower: "Just to let the Old Madam know, our Yuan’er is coming back. This time, Yuan’er passed the Imperial Examination and has already sought an external post, he’ll be home for two months before leaving to serve as an official."
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam was excited: "Really, did Yuan’er really pass the exam?"
Mr. Wei smiled, full of pride: "He passed, a second-class Advanced Scholar, truly bringing glory to our family."
The Old Madam was so happy that she stood up: "Blessings from the ancestors, blessings from the ancestors."
Xin Lan sat nearby, her face smiling yet full of shock.
She remembered that in the previous life, Wei Yuan only passed the scholar exam, not the Advanced Scholar exam, and later he also failed as an official, achieving nothing.
How did he manage to pass this time?
Why is there such a big change this time?
Xin Lan’s heart was filled with surprise and fear, but mostly with jealousy.
Wei Yuan, so young, passed the Advanced Scholar exam, Anning would surely live in glory following him. If he becomes a high-ranking official, Anning might even be granted an imperial decree.
Xin Lan then looked at the already aged Mr. Wei, her heart filled with some disdain.
Earlier, she thought Mr. Wei was quite decent, at least treated her well, looked after her. She even thought marrying Mr. Wei wasn’t bad, intending to live well with him. But now she changed her mind.
She felt Mr. Wei was old and ugly, where can he compare with the youthful, handsome, and capable Wei Yuan.
Mr. Wei’s age means becoming a Magistrate is likely the highest he’ll go, but Wei Yuan still has infinite possibilities. In any way, Wei Yuan is better than Mr. Wei.
"Good, good, when Yuan’er returns, we must celebrate properly."
The Old Madam happily held Mr. Wei’s hand while talking.
Mr. Wei agreed: "Definitely, it’s worth celebrating properly."
The Old Madam then looked at Xin Lan: "Lan’er, you let the servants tidy up Yuan’er’s courtyard, add what needs adding, clean what needs cleaning, so Yuan’er and his wife can rest well when they return."
"Yes."
Xin Lan rose with a smile to agree.
After returning from the Old Madam’s room, Xin Lan was full of anger.
When she was alone in the room, she started to vent her frustration, tearing several handkerchiefs before she felt a bit better.
Shortly after the Wei Family received the news, Xiao Yuan returned with Anning.
The steward of the Wei Residence received the news early and led many servants to greet them at the door.
Seeing Xiao Yuan and Anning, the steward quickly stepped forward: "Greetings to Master and Granny."
Xiao Yuan smiled and supported him: "No need for so much ceremony, let’s hurry back."
Walking alongside, Xiao Yuan asked: "How are the Old Madam and the Old Master? Are their health still good?"
The steward smiled: "Good, the Old Madam is very happy knowing Master passed the Imperial Examination, eating quite a lot these days."
Xiao Yuan also smiled: "That’s good."
Entering the Old Madam’s room, Xiao Yuan and Anning bowed to the Old Madam.
The Old Madam quickly stood up to support them: "We are family, why do all these formalities?"
Anning stood up smiling: "We’ve been away for so long, how could we return without bowing to you?"
The Old Madam took Anning to meet Xin Lan: "You haven’t met her yet, this is the newlywed Madam, you should get acquainted."
Xin Lan held herself with airs, a somewhat fake smile on her face: "This is the daughter-in-law then, indeed quite pretty."
She took a look at Anning, slowly sat down, waiting for Anning to serve her tea.
Yet Anning did nothing, only addressed her as Madam and sat elsewhere.
Xin Lan’s face changed slightly.
The Old Madam’s expression also turned a bit ugly.
Xin Lan squinted slightly, tears hinting in her eyes: "Old Madam, should the daughter-in-law serve me tea?"
The Old Madam felt somewhat troubled.
If she didn’t say yes, it wouldn’t conform to etiquette, but if she did say yes, she didn’t really want to offend Anning.
Looking at Anning’s indifferent demeanor towards Xin Lan, if she forced Anning to serve tea, Anning might retaliate by complaining to Chief Bai or Noble Princess Consort Chu, which wouldn’t be beneficial for the Wei Family.
The Old Madam understood that now, whether it was Mr. Wei or Wei Yuan, both needed to rely on Chief Bai in their official careers. If they truly upset Anning, Chief Bai only had this one goddaughter, and those old eunuchs harbored vicious thoughts. If he wanted to vent for Anning, who knows what might happen to the Wei Family.
"Well... the daughter-in-law has traveled a long way, it’s better she rest first, the tea can be served another day."
The Old Madam said no more, merely postponed the matter.
Anning, however, unwilling to delay.
She never intended to serve tea to Xin Lan.
Now, she was someone with backing, holding onto the golden thigh tightly, not willing to wrong herself.
Moreover, Chief Bai had told her that she could do as she pleased, everything could follow her heart, even if a huge mess was made, Chief Bai would handle it.
With words said this way, if Anning still swallowed grievances, she would be too cowardly.
"The Old Madam is of an age where respect is due. Not saluting this Commandery Princess is one thing, but Madam, being so young, looking barely one or two years older than me, how come she feels like old limbs can’t kneel anymore?"
Anning looked at Xin Lan with a slightly mocking smile.
"Me serving tea to Madam is a family ceremony, Madam kneeling to salute me is a national ceremony. In any situation, the nation should come before family, shouldn’t it? Madam hasn’t performed a national ceremony to me, how could I perform a family ceremony to her?"
Saying this, Anning turned to look at Xiao Yuan: "Husband, am I saying it correctly or not?"
Xiao Yuan quickly nodded: "The Commandery Princess is right. Madam hasn’t knelt for the salute, the Commandery Princess shouldn’t serve tea anyway, even if serving tea, the Commandery Princess is sovereign, Madam is subject, a sovereign doesn’t kneel to subject."
This meant Xin Lan had to kneel to Anning, but Anning only needed to offer tea to Xin Lan.
This truly angered Xin Lan.
She took deep breaths: "I didn’t know... where does this Commandery Princess come from?"
Anning blinked, staring at Xin Lan as if looking at a fool: "Madam didn’t know? I am the imperially titled Princess Rong’an. I am the goddaughter of Noble Princess Consort Chu, His Majesty titled me as Commandery Princess..."
"Impossible."
Xin Lan shrieked.
Her face full of disbelief: "Impossible, how can Noble Princess Consort Chu still be alive..."
Xin Lan stopped herself hastily, not daring to continue, afraid she might be charged.
In her memory, Noble Princess Consort Chu had already passed away by this time, and after her departure, Emperor Jianyuan was deeply affected, fell gravely ill, and his health had not been good since...
Xin Lan suddenly awakened.
She realized she hadn’t heard of Noble Princess Consort Chu’s death between last year and this year.
Noble Princess Consort Chu was dear to Emperor Jianyuan; had she passed, he certainly would have given her a grand funeral. She remembered in the past life, when Noble Princess Consort Chu passed, not only did officials from the Capital observe mourning, even regular households observed many meatless days.
In this life, she had no such memory, meaning Noble Princess Consort Chu was still well alive.
Anning’s eyes carried a fierce look: "What, what was Madam going to say just now? Are you suggesting why the Noble Consort is still alive? Does Madam know something?"
Xin Lan, frightened, waved her hands hurriedly: "No, I, I just heard the Noble Princess Consort Chu was seriously ill..."
Anning laughed: "Previously, she was gravely ill. By chance, I uncovered the Imperial List when entering the Capital and happened to cure Noble Princess Consort Chu. Now, the Empress appreciates my character, so she adopted me as her goddaughter."
Frightened, Xin Lan retreated a few steps: "You, you know medicine?"
Anning nodded: "Yes, how else could I save lives without knowing medicine? Madam asking like this is truly amusing."
Just as she was speaking, Wei Susu and Wei Xing ran in from outside.
The two children were about to call Xiao Yuan, but turned to see Xin Lan looking red-eyed and pitiful.
The two ran towards Anning, intending to hit her: "You wicked woman, did you bully grandmother?"