webnovelfull Chapter 146 Returning to Beijing
Chapter 146 Returning to Beijing
After Wen Jiayue's tireless efforts, Shen Fuhan finally agreed to her request when they were nearing Chang'an.
However, he only agreed to let Zhaozhao adapt for two or three days first, and if it didn't work out, he would let Zhaozhao continue to sleep in the side room.
Wen Jiayue did not argue. Although it was only temporary, at least half of her goal had been achieved.
If both sides take a step back, the world will be a better place.
She lifted the carriage curtain and looked with a smile at the city of Chang'an, which was so close at hand.
The carriage entered the city gate and passed through smoothly after its identity was checked.
Wen Jiayue longed to return to the Marquis's mansion, but the road seemed exceptionally long, as if it would never end.
After being separated for half a month, she had never been away for so long before, and she couldn't wait to hold her sweet and soft daughter.
The carriage came to a steady stop outside the Jing'an Marquis's residence.
Shen Fuhan got out of the car first, and Wen Jiayue followed him out with his help.
"Uncle! Aunt!"
Wang Chengyao's loud shout came from ahead, and Wen Jiayue looked up in response.
Then they saw Shen Fuyou, Shen Funian and Wang Chengyao standing in front of the gate, smiling at them.
"Big brother and sister-in-law, you're finally back."
Shen Funian was the first to run down, panting, and said, "I thought you guys were having a great time in Yuzhou and weren't planning on coming back."
She looked Wen Jiayue up and down. Despite traveling for so long, she didn't seem tired at all; on the contrary, she looked even more radiant.
Wen Jiayue smiled gently: "How could that be? I think about you all the time."
"I think you're worried about Zhaozhao. Don't worry, Zhaozhao is fine."
Shen Funian pulled her towards the mansion.
"I originally wanted to bring her out, but it's a bit windy today, and she's only recently recovered from a cold, so I'll pass."
"Speaking of which, I also want to thank you for taking care of Zhaozhao..."
"We're family, so there's no need for formalities. If you keep being so polite, I'll get angry."
The two women, aunt and niece, were as close as sisters, leaving the three men behind.
Shen Fuyou chuckled: "Sister-in-law and Third Sister have such a good relationship now, it seems even better than that between Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law."
Shen Fuhan glanced at him, then looked at the two people walking hand in hand intimately in front of him, and fell into deep thought.
Seeing that he ignored her, Shen Fuyou realized he had made a fool of himself, so he touched his nose and started talking about something else.
"Brother, is Yuzhou fun?"
"It's alright."
"Then I want to go sometime too." Shen Fuyou remembered something, "By the way, did you take your sister-in-law to see the grottoes and waterfall? Weren't they beautiful? Weren't they magnificent?"
"No."
"Huh? Where did you take her? You didn't just stay in the mansion all day, did you?"
Shen Fuhan remained concise: "Temple."
“What’s so fun about that?” Shen Fuyou sighed. “Temples are everywhere, of course we should go and see sights we’ve never seen before.”
"Your sister-in-law wants to go."
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuyou gave up. "Alright, as long as my brother and sister-in-law are happy."
“However, elder brother, shouldn’t you go to the palace to report on your duties before returning to the Marquis’s residence?”
Shen Fuhan said, "No rush, let's talk about it after we see Grandmother. The Emperor won't blame us."
Shen Fuyou clicked his tongue in admiration: "As expected of the emperor's most trusted minister, even such an important matter can be postponed."
Wang Chengyao finally had a chance to interject, and mustered up his courage to ask, "Uncle, did you bring me anything delicious?"
Shen Fuhan shook his head.
Wang Chengyao immediately pouted.
“Your aunt brought it,” Shen Fuhan said. “Go ask your aunt for it.”
Wang Chengyao's eyes lit up, and he quickly ran forward and grabbed his aunt's hand.
Interrupted from her conversation, Wen Jiayue looked at Wang Chengyao with a gentle expression.
"What's wrong with Yao'er?"
Shen Funian said irritably, "You ungrateful brat, can't you see your mother is talking to you!"
"Mother, put your matter aside for now; my business is more important."
Shen Funian: "...?"
Wang Chengyao looked at Wen Jiayue, his mouth practically watering.
"My uncle said my aunt brought me some delicious food, and I want to eat it right now!"
Shen Funian slapped him on the head: "All you do is eat! You haven't lost any weight after all this time, how can you even eat like this?"
Wang Chengyao said, feeling wronged, "If you don't want to eat, then don't eat. Why did you hit me?"
Wen Jiayue quickly coaxed, "Your aunt is telling you to eat. Don't listen to your mother. Your mother can't beat me."
After saying that, she looked at Ruyi and said, "Take Yao'er over there."
Watching her son walk away, Shen Funian sighed.
"Fine, for your sake, let him finish this meal before he starts dieting."
Wen Jiayue smiled and said, "It's better to move around more than to eat less. Let Yao'er practice martial arts with Fourth Brother."
Shen Funian curled her lips: "With his physique, he would have trouble even stretching his arm, so let's forget about it."
As they were talking, they arrived at Ninghui Hall.
Wen Jiayue sighed. No matter how much she missed her daughter, the first thing she had to do upon entering the mansion was to pay her respects to her elders.
She didn't want to go in early, so she stood outside and waited for Shen Fuhan.
Shen Fuhan quickly caught up and instructed, "I will explain in a moment, you don't need to say anything more."
Wen Jiayue nodded.
Shen Funian asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Wen Jiayue then quietly told her about Hui'er.
Shen Funian listened with excitement, but before she could speak, she entered the hall.
She had no choice but to shut her mouth and join her elder brother and sister-in-law in offering their greetings.
"Good, good, you're finally back," the old lady said, carefully examining her grandson. "Has Fuhan suffered any hardship?"
Shen Fuhan calmly replied, "No, my grandson is doing well."
The old lady didn't notice any signs of injury on her grandson and nodded in satisfaction.
"That's good. Please sit down. You must have had trouble eating and sleeping on the journey. I specially had your favorite dishes made. Please eat more."
From beginning to end, the old lady never uttered a single word of concern for Wen Jiayue.
Wen Jiayue was happy to be at ease; it was best not to talk to her and just pretend she didn't exist.
While having her meal, the old lady looked around and asked, "Where is Hui'er?"
Shen Fuhan said calmly, "She did something wrong, and I betrayed her."
His voice was completely flat, as if it were the most ordinary little thing in the world.
The old lady couldn't sit still any longer and asked in astonishment, "What did you say?"
Shen Fuhan then repeated it again.
The old lady slammed her hand on the table and stood up, glaring at Wen Jiayue, and asked, "Did she instigate you to be sold off?"
“It has nothing to do with Yue’er,” Shen Fuhan explained. “She even pleaded for the maid, but it was my insistence that we do it this way.”
Wen Jiayue was taken aback. When did she plead for mercy?
However, Shen Fuhan said this for her own good, so she continued to play the fool.
The old lady was furious: "Then tell me, what mistake did Hui'er make!"
"First, she was not focused on her work; second, she almost exposed my identity; third, she deliberately seduced me."
Shen Fuhan listed three charges in one breath and asked coldly, "How can such a person remain in the Marquis's mansion?"
The old lady's face tightened.
But it's too late to say anything now.
If the questioning continues, it will damage the relationship between the grandparents and grandchildren.
It's not worth it for a maid; we can just find another opportunity to send her one.
Thinking of this, the old lady waved her hand and said, "Fine, let it be sold then. You decide."