Raiders of the Duke and Duchess

Chapter 970 Not too early, just right
Upon hearing the news, the old lady rushed over immediately. She asked about the situation and was relieved to hear that nothing serious happened. Then she began to explain everything in detail. Ning Xiuren simply found a pen and paper and listened carefully and took notes without asking anyone else. He occasionally nodded or asked questions that might not be very important to many men.

Because of this good news, the yard, which had been deserted all day, suddenly became bustling and lively until dinner time.

The carefully prepared Jiangnan cuisine was supplemented with a few dishes from Yanjing City and dumplings with various fillings because of the presence of two guests from the Duke's Mansion.

For the first time, Madam Ji and Master Shangguan sat in the main seat in a friendly manner to accept the greetings and blessings from the younger generations, and then distributed New Year's money with a smile. Of course, behind this peaceful appearance, the two old people had a friendly and harmonious exchange for half an hour on the issue of who should sit on the "more main" left hand side.

In the end, Madam Ji won with clearer reasoning.

There were no so many rules at the dinner table. The "children" who received the New Year's gifts quickly became friends. Shangguan Chu and Ning Xiuren drank together. If you drink one more sip, I will drink half a cup more. If you drink half a cup more, I will grab the wine pot and drink directly. They are all very good drinkers and behave like decent people on weekdays. At this moment, they are like three-year-old children, very childish.

The Second Madam was not allowed to drink alcohol, and Ji Wuyan did not drink much either. He chatted with her and found the laughter and scolding at the table very interesting. "I didn't expect that the Second Brother would be like this. I thought he was serious..."

"Men, they are serious for outsiders to see. They are probably like children at home..." The second wife propped up her chin and looked at her husband, then tilted her head to look at Ji Wuyan, "The Duke is also childish at home. But I have never seen the childish side of my brother-in-law... Before you, I always thought that my brother-in-law would probably be like this for the rest of his life, marrying a princess, holding a high position, not happy or angry, cold, noble... and, pitiful."

Ji Wuyan was slightly stunned. Looking at the Second Madam who was obviously absent-minded as she said this, as if she was reminiscing, a smile appeared on her face. She really had a kind of wisdom hidden deep inside.

She asked back, "Pathetic? Isn't this the kind of success that many people wish for?" Perhaps, this was the first person who used the word "pathetic" to evaluate Ning Xiuyuan. Perhaps, even Ning Xiuyuan didn't know that such a high-ranking gifted son of heaven was pitiful in the eyes of a "woman".

In the background of the clinking of cups, laughter and scolding, she took a sip of milk tea, and then said with a sense of loss, "The splendidness is for others to see... Everyone knows that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Being an official in the court is already physically and mentally exhausting, and when I return home, I have a princess wife whom I can't say I like... These days, I usually go home after the court, but it feels like I'm still in the court."

After saying this, the Second Madam grinned, and the feeling of being the only one sober while everyone else was drunk disappeared...

I went home, but it seemed like I hadn't gone home... His words were so novel, he was really an interesting person.

"That's true." Ji Wuyan said with a smile while helping the second lady to serve the dishes, "In that case, Ning Xiuyuan should thank me for helping him escape from his suffering. Next time, I will analyze this statement with him and make him deeply aware of my importance..." After saying that, he thought of the word "pitiful" and found it very interesting, and smiled to himself.

The Second Madam looked at the man who walked in from outside, her mouth slightly opened in surprise, and subconsciously nudged Ji Wuyan with her elbow, "It seems that there is no need to analyze... You should be more important than anyone and anything."

At the state banquet, leaving early, doesn't that show its importance? Who would have thought... I always thought this brother-in-law was so mature that it was scary, who would have thought that now he would have such a reckless and irrational side. Ji Wuyan followed her gaze and saw the man who walked in under the bright orange candlelight. Under the dark cloak was a purple court dress that he had not changed yet. He walked in with the frost and coldness of the winter night. He first glanced at himself, then walked to the main seat and saluted respectfully to the two elders, "I am a little late, please don't blame me."

It was not yet midnight, so the night banquet in the palace must not have ended. He was obviously leaving early because he was here. He had left such an important state banquet and His Majesty, who had just recovered from a serious illness, and showed up here on New Year's Eve... He didn't mention a word about these, only saying "Don't blame me for being late", almost understating it.

The old man, who had always been very dissatisfied with him because he took away the precious jade cabbage that he had carefully protected, snorted, but did not show any coldness in the end. He said objectively, "Officials in the court are not in control of their own lives. They are not like us old people who are idle at home and businessmen... We are not..."

Before the great truth was finished, the old lady lost her patience to listen to all this nonsense. She took out the last red envelope she had prepared early in the morning from her bosom with a smile, "Here, yours... This red envelope from the old man is for good luck, so you can't refuse it. Keep it, and have a smooth and safe year ahead."

"Yes." Ning Xiuyuan took it with both hands, "Thank you, grandma. I also wish you a long life and good health."

The old lady agreed with a smile, and waved to Ning Xiuyuan who was about to leave to keep him. Then she suddenly glanced at the people around her and said sarcastically, "What about yours? You didn't prepare anything, did you? Oh... You old man, don't think that you don't have to give New Year's gifts if people don't come tonight? Oh my God! How could you, a stingy old man, do such a tasteless thing?"

"Shut up! You noisy old woman, if you don't speak, no one will think you're dumb!" The old man was so annoyed by her that he had a headache. He glanced at her and took out a thick New Year's gift from his arms. He glared at the old lady before handing it over with one hand, "Here! It's yours!"

Ferocious and unwilling.

I took away his family's pig with the best cabbage, and now I still want him to give me a red envelope for the New Year. I feel reluctant to do that.

However, he really couldn't do something like refusing to give away the red envelopes during the Chinese New Year, which would bring bad luck to himself and others - after all, he was his future grandson-in-law.

Ning Xiuyuan took it cheerfully and thanked him, "Thank you, Grandfather. I also wish you all the best and a long life."

The old man snorted, looking unmoved, and said in a deep voice, "It's a little early to call you grandfather."

Ning Xiuyuan was a shameless person. He put the red envelope in his arms with a smile and said, "It's not too early. It's just right."