Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 134

Chapter 134: Celebrating the Festival

Watching the fireworks gradually disappear in the night sky, Zhou Jingyun withdrew his gaze.

The night had deepened, and the sounds of firecrackers and fireworks in the capital city were fading away.

He turned around and saw that the women and children in the courtyard had all left, leaving only his brothers from the family.

“Go back and rest for a while,” Zhou Jingyun said.

His brothers laughed and said, “We’re not going to sleep, we’re staying up all night.” Then they called to Zhou Jingyun, “Marquis Zhou’s Heir, come play cards with us.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled and shook his head. “I won’t go. I’m getting old and can’t stay up late.”

His brothers were stunned and then burst into laughter. “Marquis Zhou’s Heir, don’t joke.” “You’re not even thirty yet.” “If I stood next to you, anyone would think I’m the older brother.”

With laughter and banter, Zhou Jingyun gave a few more instructions, reminding them to be careful with the candles, not to drink any more alcohol, and that they had to pay New Year’s greetings tomorrow, and then left.

Watching Zhou Jingyun’s retreating figure, his brothers, arms linked, chuckled softly.

“It’s not that Marquis Zhou’s Heir can’t stay up, it’s that he wants to go back and accompany his beloved wife.”

“That’s right, the other day, we were having a heart-to-heart talk with him, and even though it was late, he insisted on going back, saying he wouldn’t stay the night at our place no matter what.”

“This new Young Madam is young, but she’s truly captured Marquis Zhou’s Heir’s heart.”

“She comes from an ordinary background, and her looks are… well, average. How could she…”

“Heh, you guys weren’t home and don’t know. This new Young Madam is quite something. Not only Marquis Zhou’s Heir, even Madam has been won over by her.”

“Really? Come on, let’s talk about it while we play cards.”

The brothers laughed and dispersed.

On New Year’s Eve, the Marquis’s Residence was both quiet and lively, with laughter occasionally breaking the silence.

Zhou Jingyun walked all the way back to his courtyard. Seeing that the light was still on in the room, he entered and saw Zhuang Li sitting on the bed, reading.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” he asked.

Zhuang Li smiled. “Staying up all night, of course.”

Zhou Jingyun went to the washroom to freshen up and change into his nightclothes. Zhuang Li showed him a pouch.

“New Year’s money from Mother,” she said, then smiled again. “I asked Chun Yue to put it away with the ones Mother gave me before, so it’ll be easier to sort out later.”

Zhou Jingyun knew what she meant by “sort out.” Ever since she came to the house, Zhuang Li had carefully stored all the gifts from the family members in a chest, intending to return them to their original owners when she eventually shed her identity as the “fake” Young Madam.

Yes, fake. From the very beginning, their marriage was fake, their relationship as husband and wife was fake.

When he heard that someone else had been ruined by Zhang Ze because of Empress Jiang, simply because of a single word of praise for a hero, he suddenly felt an unbearable rage.

Learning that Zhang Ze had traced Master Zhuang’s past association with Bai Xun, and adding to that the information Madam Zhuang had previously revealed, he guessed that Bai Xun had a young daughter who was being raised by Master Zhuang. He couldn’t help but rush over and offer his protection to this orphan.

He was only doing it to protect her, for the sake of that one word “hero,” for the hero’s unfulfilled wish…

But was he truly protecting her?

Zhou Jingyun looked at Zhuang Li. This orphan girl, the one Shen Qing was so fixated on, was she really just an orphan?

Seeing his gaze, Zhuang Li smiled at him.

Zhou Jingyun looked away. “This is different from the others. It’s New Year’s money. You’re still young. Even if you’re not my wife in the future, my mother is still an elder, and she should give you New Year’s money during the New Year.”

Zhuang Li smiled and nodded. “Then I’ll accept it.” She paused for a moment. “Madam Zhuang used to give me New Year’s money too.”

Zhou Jingyun hummed in response. “Get some sleep. We have to pay New Year’s greetings tomorrow.”

He didn’t pick up on the topic of Madam Zhuang. Zhuang Li lowered her eyes, said “Okay,” put down the book, and lay down.

Zhou Jingyun didn’t pick up the book. He extinguished the lamp, lowered the bed curtains, and lay down as well.

In the darkness, the space within the bed curtains was silent.

“We have to go back to your maternal home on the second day…” Zhou Jingyun’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

Go back to her maternal home on the second day?

Zhuang Li thought, her eldest sister was married far away and couldn’t make it back for the New Year. She would come back for a visit every summer.

And her second sister, after she got married, never came back.

Now that she was considered married, she didn’t need to go home either. She had no home to return to.

Zhou Jingyun’s voice continued.

“My aunt invited us over. She said since your family isn’t in the capital, you can treat her place as your maternal home.”

Zhuang Li replied with an “Okay,” then chuckled. “Then I can get another New Year’s money.”

Zhou Jingyun felt a surge of amusement, but the next moment, the smile faded. He moved his hand away from his chest, feeling a weight pressing down on his heart.

“Rest,” he said.

The person beside him hummed in agreement, followed by rustling sounds, the quilt shifting as she turned inward.

Zhou Jingyun stared at the canopy of the bed in the darkness, the silence heavy around him.

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✿✿✿

On the second day of the New Year, the front gate of the Xue Residence was bustling with activity, as the carriages and horses of the daughters-in-law returning to their maternal homes filled the space.

Seeing Zhou Jingyun and Zhuang Li also walking out, everyone was a bit curious.

They all knew she was an orphan who came from out of town.

“Going to my aunt’s house for a visit,” Zhuang Li explained with a smile.

The others didn’t ask any further questions and asked her to convey their New Year’s greetings to Madam Xue.

Zhou Jingyun and Zhuang Li got into their carriage, while the maids went to sit in another one.

Chun Yue remembered something and, before getting into the carriage, looked around for Jiang Yun, holding a hand warmer. “Jiang Yun?”

But she didn’t see Jiang Yun. Zhou Jingyun’s other guard responded and asked, “What can I do for you, sister?”

Chun Yue handed him the hand warmer. “This is for Marquis Zhou’s Heir. He always forgets to use it. Please help him keep it.”

The guard smiled and said, “Okay,” taking the hand warmer. Chun Yue was about to get back into the carriage when she couldn’t help but look around again. “Where’s Jiang Yun?”

Jiang Yun was always by Marquis Zhou’s Heir’s side, so why couldn’t she see him now?

The guard replied, “Oh, Jiang Yun escorted the sacrificial offerings back to our hometown.”

The Marquis of Dongyang’s ancestral home wasn’t in the capital. During the New Year period, sacrifices had to be made at the ancestral graves in the old residence, and New Year’s gifts had to be sent to the clan members.

This was something done every year. Chun Yue nodded, but Jiang Yun never had to go before. It was always handled by people arranged by the Marquis of Dongyang.

Perhaps now that Marquis Zhou’s Heir was back, he would be taking on the family affairs, so he was letting Jiang Yun familiarize himself with things.

“Sister, hurry up and get in the carriage,” Chun Xiang called out from inside the carriage, urging her.

Zhuang Li and Zhou Jingyun’s carriage had already started moving outwards. Chun Yue stopped asking and hurriedly got into the carriage.

Perhaps because of the New Year, the Xue Residence had a completely new look.

The maids and servants moved with grace and efficiency, busy but not chaotic.

Madam Xue’s face was rosy and she wore a smile. She had always been smiling when she met people before, but now her smile seemed more relaxed and genuine.

Madam Xue led them to pay their New Year’s greetings to Old Madam Xue. When they arrived, Master Xue was bickering with Old Madam Xue.

“If you want to live with the second son’s family, you have to see if they’re willing. The second son’s wife is sick every other day. If you go there, are you going to make Mother wait on her?”

“Then let their family come back here. I’m not dead yet. We shouldn’t have separated.”

Hearing that Madam Xue had arrived, they stopped talking. Master Xue looked at Madam Xue and sighed in relief. “Madam, you’re here.”

Old Madam Xue, on the other hand, turned her head away, not wanting to speak to Madam Xue.

Madam Xue smiled brightly and stepped forward, placing a hand on Old Madam Xue’s shoulder. “Mother, don’t be angry with Dalang.”

Old Madam Xue sneered with a cold expression. “I’m not angry with Dalang. Who knows who instigated the separation.”

Madam Xue sighed. “I also think this was a bit hasty.” She then looked at Master Xue. “Langjun, please talk to Mother properly.”

Master Xue immediately flew into a rage. “What’s there to talk about? The second son’s family is willing. What are you dissatisfied with, Mother?”

✿✿✿

Dissatisfied? From now on, her second son would have to pay for his own food and drink. She wanted to help him out, but the servants and stewards in the house kept a close eye on her, treating her like a thief, preventing her from sending anything over. Even when she managed to send something, the servants dared to take a ledger and ask the second son’s wife for reimbursement.

Old Madam Xue slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “You unfilial son! I’m going to enter the palace and report you!”

Hearing this, Madam Xue held Old Madam Xue’s shoulder and said softly, “Speaking of entering the palace, Mother, please don’t get angry. You’ve just recovered from your illness. If you enter the palace and have another episode, it would be disrespectful in front of the Emperor.”

Master Xue immediately found a reason and said in a deep voice, “I think it’s better not to enter the palace. You’ve just recovered. The Imperial Physicians have been treating you for a long time, and the Emperor knows about it. He won’t blame you.”

Not only would he not blame her, but her illness had been diagnosed by the Imperial Medical Academy as hysteria, which, to put it bluntly, was insanity. The Emperor probably wouldn’t want her to enter the palace.

Old Madam Xue suddenly became anxious. If she really pretended to be sick and didn’t enter the palace, it would confirm that she had gone mad and wouldn’t be able to enter the palace in the future. She didn’t have much favor to begin with, and if this happened, who would remember her status as a princess?

“I know my own body. You don’t have to worry about it,” Old Madam Xue said, no longer accusing her son of being unfilial. “I’m fine. You all go about your business. Don’t stay here with me.”

Madam Xue smiled. “Jingyun and his wife are here to pay their New Year’s greetings to you.”

Zhou Jingyun and Zhuang Li walked in from the outer room and bowed to Old Madam Xue.

Old Madam Xue had never liked Zhuang Li, and now, looking at her again, she found the girl even more unpleasant. She was thin and small, with a pair of dark, piercing eyes and a cold expression. There wasn’t a trace of joy on her face, even though it was the New Year.

“Ah Li wanted to treat you before, Old Madam. Imperial Physician Wu also had that idea. But you’re fortunate, Mother, you were cured by the Imperial Medical Academy,” Madam Xue said with a smile. “She wasn’t able to do her filial duty.”

Old Madam Xue swallowed the critical words that were about to come out of her mouth. This little girl was sharp-tongued and knew medicine. The Imperial Physicians all knew about it. If she went out and said that her illness hadn’t been cured, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name even if she had a hundred mouths.

“Thank you,” Old Madam Xue forced a smile and asked a servant to bring a bag of money. “This is your New Year’s money.”

Zhuang Li bowed in thanks and stepped forward to take it. Zhou Jingyun also bowed again.

Seeing that Zhuang Li had received the money, Madam Xue led them away and called to Master Xue. “Langjun, come and have a drink with Jingyun. Don’t keep making Mother angry here. I’ll take care of Mother.”

Old Madam Xue waved her hand dismissively. “Go about your business.”

She used to find this daughter-in-law unpleasant no matter how she looked at her and felt the need to keep her under her watchful eye, constantly correcting and admonishing her.

Now, she found this daughter-in-law even more unpleasant, but seeing her too much would give her nightmares, so she could only minimize her appearances.

Madam Xue didn’t mind and bowed with a smile before leaving.

Master Xue was eager to leave and followed them out.

“You’ve worked hard, Langjun,” Madam Xue said with a look of distress. “Mother has just recovered from her illness and her temper is a bit bad. Please be patient with her. We’ll be filial to her.”

Being filial was truly not easy. Master Xue patted Madam Xue’s hand. “It’s all thanks to you.”

Watching this scene, Zhuang Li couldn’t help but smile.

Madam Xue stepped back, letting Zhou Jingyun and Master Xue talk. She winked at Zhuang Li and whispered, “See? It’s easy to be a good daughter-in-law or a good wife. Just say some nice words, do less work, and everyone will praise you as a good person.”

Zhuang Li whispered back, “Be careful, Mother and Marquis Zhou’s Heir might blame you for teaching me bad things.”

Madam Xue’s smile widened. “A good person can never be taught to be bad, and a bad person needs another bad person to grind them down.” She held Zhuang Li’s hand. “Don’t be like me, waking up from a dream after half a lifetime.”

Zhuang Li looked at Madam Xue and smiled. “It’s good to wake up from a dream, even if it’s a little late, it’s not too late.”

This child seemed strange. She had a smile on her face, but her eyes didn’t seem that happy. Could it be that Madam of Dongyang had said something behind her back again? Madam Xue didn’t say anything more. She was here to have fun today. She would ask about other things when she saw Madam of Dongyang.

“Come on, let’s go see the banquet your aunt has prepared for you.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

“I’m not here to eat at Aunt’s banquet,” Xue Silang said repeatedly in the front hall. “We’ve separated, I know.”

Master Xue glared at him. “You’re still a Xue even if we’ve separated! What nonsense are you talking about!”

Xue Silang hurriedly bowed again and again. “Uncle, that’s not what I meant. I mean, I also have a banquet, guests to entertain. I heard Marquis Zhou’s Heir and Young Madam were here, so I came to pay my respects. I won’t be staying for dinner.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled at him. “You’re too polite, Silang.”

Master Xue’s expression softened a bit, but he still snorted. “What guests do you have? Don’t bring your good-for-nothing friends to the house.”

Xue Silang said with a hint of pride, “They’re not good-for-nothings. It’s Shangguan Yue.”

Master Xue’s softened expression immediately turned furious. “You’re still saying they’re not! Why bring that thing into the house!”

Aside from his questionable background and being a good-for-nothing, everyone knew that Princess Jinyu disliked this boy. Princess Jinyu had a volatile and cruel temperament. If this caused trouble, it would be disastrous!

“Uncle, don’t talk nonsense. You haven’t heard? The Princess is about to acknowledge Young Master Shangguan. He’ll be the Princess’s son from now on,” Xue Silang said loudly. “In a way, we’re related to him too.”

Master Xue spat in disdain. What kind of relationship could they have with an illegitimate son who couldn’t even be acknowledged publicly?

Zhou Jingyun smiled at Xue Silang. “Alright, go have fun.”

Xue Silang bowed to him and turned to run away.

Master Xue angrily flicked his sleeve and called everyone to take their seats. “Ignore him.”

Zhou Jingyun followed Master Xue to his seat.

Zhuang Li lagged behind, glancing in the direction Xue Silang had left.

“Ah Li, come here to your aunt,” Madam Xue called out.

Zhuang Li withdrew her gaze and walked over with a smile.

…….

…….

The residence of the Xue family’s second branch was no smaller than the main branch’s.

Especially Xue Silang, who was deeply favored by Old Madam Xue, had his own small courtyard.

A banquet was set up in the warm pavilion, with wine and dishes, quite lavish.

“This isn’t considered lavish. My mother is stingy now that she’s in charge. If it were before, when we were with Grandmother, we would have delicacies from the mountains and the sea,” Xue Silang said.

Shangguan Yue, sitting opposite him, was looking around with great interest, his eyes full of admiration. “This is no less impressive than my pleasure boat. Silang, you’re living the good life. You truly are of imperial lineage.”

He then smiled.

“We are truly alike.”

These words made Xue Silang beam with pride. He hadn’t expected his status to be so high in Shangguan Yue’s eyes. He hurriedly raised his wine cup. “From now on, you and I are like brothers.”

The seniority seemed a bit off, but he didn’t care. It didn’t matter.

Shangguan Yue clearly didn’t mind either and raised his wine cup. “I toast to you, brother.”

The two clinked glasses and drank it all down, then burst into laughter.

In the midst of their merriment, a maid walked in from outside.

The maids serving Xue Silang saw her and were a bit surprised. “Sister Cai Lan, why are you here?”

This was a maid from Madam Xue, Elder Branch’s side.

Xue Silang also looked over and saw that Cai Lan was carrying a food box.

Cai Lan had a smile on her face, but her eyes seemed a bit vacant. “Madam heard that Young Master is hosting a banquet and asked me to bring a dish.”

Madam Xue, Elder Branch was always thoughtful. Knowing that her nephew had a guest, it was reasonable for her to send over a dish.

Xue Silang stood up happily. “Aunt is so kind.”

He hurriedly went to receive it himself.

Shangguan Yue, on the other hand, looked at the maid with a casual expression, but his hand holding his chopsticks tightened.

The maid looked at him, and Shangguan Yue felt his vision suddenly freeze. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Xue Silang opening the food box, the maids surrounding them, chatting and laughing, but he couldn’t hear any sound.

All he could see was the maid’s mouth opening and closing, and then he saw words floating in the air one by one.

“Meet me at the Zhang Family Medical Clinic tomorrow afternoon.”

The corners of Shangguan Yue’s mouth curled up, and a thought flashed through his mind.

He had come to the right place today.