CFB Chapter 8.2

Translator – Xiao He Lian

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Chapter 8.2

***

The Lu family of Duke Zhenguo has three family branches.

The eldest master of the Lu family, Lu Jun, married Princess Jing’an, the emperor’s sister. The second master of the Lu family, Lu He, married the daughter of the Right Prime Minister¹(The difference between the left prime minister and the right prime minister The right prime minister is the prime minister standing on the emperor’s right hand, also called the main prime minister. The prime minister on the left is the prime minister standing on the left hand of the emperor, also called the deputy prime minister. Basically, the official position of the right prime minister is greater than that of the left prime minister.), the Xiao family.

The youngest son, Lu Can, who caused Mrs. Lu the most headache, disobeyed the wishes of his family and married a merchant girl, who is now the third mistress, Madam Wen.

However, the Wen family is not an ordinary merchant. They are the largest cloth merchants in Jin State and a decent family. So when the old lady saw Lu Can, she was really moved, so she let him go. Since she was determined to marry him, there was no need to cause any unpleasantness to avoid more conflicts in the future.

However, the sisters of the Wen family were also promising. After the older sister was married to the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, the younger sister was married to a third-rank official in the imperial court.

The one just now was the daughter of the younger sister – Meng Suxi.

When Lu Yan walked in, everyone from the third branch of the Lu family had gathered in the main hall.

When everyone saw him entering the room, the atmosphere in the room became more lively. He walked forward and said with a smile: “Shi Yan would like to greet my grandmother. I wish you good health and happiness.” As he said that, the starling in his hand he sang twice, which was particularly beautiful.

Looking at the starling in his hand, the old lady immediately took it and teased it a few times.

While he was talking in this room, he heard the curtain swinging and a lady wearing a hibiscus-colored jacket and a golden floor-length skirt came out.

This beauty as bright as the blazing sun is Princess Jing’an.

Time has favored her. Although she has been married for more than 20 years, her appearance seems to have stopped more than ten years ago. Only her movements are a little more elegant than that of a young girl’s should have.

She walked up to the old lady, deliberately shook her wrist and said with a smile: “This dress was embroidered by myself. Mother, please don’t dislike it.”

Seeing her bright look, Old Lady Lu couldn’t help but smile and said, “Your craftsmanship has always been the best.”

Old Madam Lu likes Jing’an not because she is a noble eldest princess, but because of her temperament that has remained the same for the past ten years.

When Princess Jing’an first married into the Lu family, she always acted in a high-spirited manner. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship could be regarded as respectful and filial. But when it comes to her sister-in-law, she would immediately fall out and have a bad temper and refuse to restrain her temper at all.

But she is the Emperor’s favorite sister, who dares to challenge her.

At first, Old Lady Lu couldn’t help but feel sorry for her eldest son, fearing that one day he would anger the royal family.

It wasn’t until days passed that Old Lady Lu finally understood what kind of person the eldest princess was.

At first, when Madam Wen went out to socialize, there were always some people who liked to use her status as a merchant to make jokes. Madam Wen was embarrassed, so she never dared to say anything and tolerated it as much as possible. It happened that one time the eldest princess heard it and she turned on the spot, threw the tea cup, pulled Mdam Wen and turned around to leave.

Making everyone freeze on the spot.

On the way back, Princess Jing’an did not forget to reprimand her, “My brother-in-law has been married to you for many years and never said a harsh word. Why do you have to endure what other people say when you go outside? Even if you endured this kind of thing for a while, do you intend to endure it again and again?”

Madam Wen didn’t dare to reply and hesitated for a long time before murmuring: “I’m also afraid of causing embarrassment…”

After hearing this, the eldest princess couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows and sneered: “Third sister-in-law, let me tell you, as long as you are not afraid of embarrassment, it is others who will be embarrassed.”

Later, this sentence reached the ears of the old lady, which made her laugh for a long time, and she even ate half an extra bowl of rice for dinner. Only then did she finally agree with her son’s words – although Jing’an’s temper was good, and she is not gentle but she is sincere to everyone in the family, which is more important than anything else.

Everyone sat down and the music started playing.

After a while, the dishes were served and after eating four servings everyone stopped eating to watch the troupe’s performance.

After the song ended, the beautiful girl left, and a man in strange clothes entered the room. He was wearing a long double-breasted coat with sleeves that were long on one side and short on the other. His makeup was also pockmarked on one side and clean on the other.

Everyone was talking about the novelty when the old lady saw Princess Jing’an and Lu Yan, their eyes were complicated, their brows were furrowed, and the corners of their mouths were involuntarily pursed.

The old lady couldn’t help but smile.

Madam Xiao, the eldest wife of the second branch, saw this and asked quickly: “Why is mother laughing?”

Old Lady Lu quickly whispered to Madam Xiao.

When Madam Xiao heard this, she naturally looked at Princess Jing’an and her son, with their identical expressions and instantly laughed out loud.

This mother and son have always been picky and difficult to satisfy and everyone in the Zhenguo Duke Mansion knows this.

At this moment, Madam Xiao’s eyes fell on the Meng family’s daughter Suxi and she whispered: “I think that the little girl from the Meng family is really good-looking, and there’s nothing to pick on.”

The old lady glanced into the distance.

It has to be said that the Meng family’s daughter has a very pleasant face, with a pair of big eyes like washed grapes, black and bright, a round nose, and a row of white teeth when she smiles, which makes people unable to help but give birth to a….. good impression.

Everyone knows what the Wen family’s daughter’s intentions were, when she moved into the Duke’s Mansion at this time.

But as long as Lu Yan can take a liking to her.

The old lady nodded, “Go and call her over and I’ll say a few words to her.”

Madam Xiao complied, walked to the end of the table and patted her on the shoulder.

The old lady was getting older, so she naturally liked young girls. She held Meng Suxi’s hand, looked at it carefully, and then called Lu Yan over.

The drum music on the side didn’t stop, and he didn’t hear a word the old lady said to him. In desperation, he had no choice but to bend down and put his ear close to her.

Meng Suxi was closest to the old lady, and when she saw him leaning forward, her face suddenly turned red.

This picture of the girl being shy naturally fell into the eyes of Ola Lady Lu and the eldest princess.

***

After dinner in the evening, the Madam Wen went to Meng Suxi’s room and said, “Xixi, have you met the heir apparent just now?”

Meng Suxi’s face turned red instantly, and she stuttered: “A…aunt.”

Madam Wen took hold of her hand and said earnestly: “Your mother must have told you about Princess Jing’an’s identity. I have been with her for more than twenty years, so I know her to some extent. If you really want to marry into the Lu family, Believe me, don’t restrain yourself too much. The eldest princess will mainly talk to you these two days. You should answer whatever she asks you. Being straightforward is the best.”

“Don’t worry, aunt. If the eldest princess comes to ask questions, I will definitely won’t beat around the bush.”

Madam Wen pinched the tip of her nose and said, “You are as clever as your mother.”

Meng Suxi shook her aunt’s hand coquettishly.

Madam Wen said, “Okay, I feel relieved now that I’ve said that. Go get some rest early. If you need anything, just tell me and treat this place as your own home.”

After Madam Wen closed the door and went out, the smile in Wen Suxi’s eyes disappeared instantly.

The shyness just now was completely gone.

She sat in front of the mirror and looked at herself in the bronze mirror and slowly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a self-deprecating smile.

Her aunt was lucky enough to marry into a family like the Lu family, so she became naive.

She even dares to say such ridiculous things outright.

Her mother has no son, and everyone in the Meng family looks down on her. Even the concubine born daughters come to bully her.

If she cannot please the eldest princess this time and successfully marry into the Lu family, she will have no choice but to obey her father’s words and participate in next year’s draft when he returns to Jingzhou.

But she really didn’t want to enter the palace.

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  (The difference between the left prime minister and the right prime minister The right prime minister is the prime minister standing on the emperor’s right hand, also called the main prime minister. The prime minister on the left is the prime minister standing on the left hand of the emperor, also called the deputy prime minister. Basically, the official position of the right prime minister is greater than that of the left prime minister.)