Chapter 1353 – Return of the Troops
Because Nie Xun had told the truth, Zhu Qing Ning felt a bit uneasy facing her mother-in-law Gu Zhen.
To avoid any slips, she could only reduce her visits to the Liu Residence and never stayed long.
Zhu Qing Ning was once a daughter and now a mother herself; she understood very well what a mother who truly loves her child should be like. Every word and action could reveal that. It can’t be said that this mother-in-law was bad, but her goodness felt superficial and unreal.
Gu Zhen was unaware of Zhu Qing Ning’s thoughts; she was worried about Nie Xun’s future.
Unfortunately, Nie Xun had always been avoiding her, so she couldn’t have a heart-to-heart talk with him to encourage or advise him. Many things had to be relayed through her daughter-in-law, Zhu Qing Ning. Today she brought up old matters again, hoping Zhu Qing Ning could persuade Nie Xun to take up an official position. Gu Zhen understood a bit of Nie Xun’s concerns, but Nie Xun was Jiang Pengji’s cousin; what family has so many taboos? Promoting him could be done with just a few words.
Zhu Qing Ning knew Gu Zhen meant well, but there was always something prickly about her words.
She didn’t think her husband had to become an official. A scholar who made a name in education would also be great; he could still be renowned far and wide.
If Nie Xun truly wanted to serve, did he really have to rely on family ties?
Gu Zhen’s remarks sounded reasonable, but they belittled Lan Ting’s talent and also looked down on Nie Xun.
Zhu Qing Ning was a clever girl; even if she wasn’t comfortable in her heart, she didn’t show it on her face.
She casually brought up Meng Heng’s wife.
“Has the elder sister-in-law come to visit these days? She mentioned some new embroidery patterns a few days ago, and I was thinking of sewing a little outfit for my daughter.”
Her daughter’s nickname was Nuan Nuan, and every time she called her, Nuan Nuan would curiously look over, utterly adorable.
Hearing her mention the elder sister-in-law, Gu Zhen laughed while playing with her granddaughter, “She doesn’t like to come often, probably because there are too many rules here that she’s not used to.”
Zhu Qing Ning could hear some dissatisfaction in her mother-in-law’s words.
Women who know how to navigate household struggles have sharp insights; seemingly casual words often hide deeper meanings.
Zhu Qing Ning caught the implication in her mother-in-law’s comments, hinting that she disapproved of the elder sister-in-law’s lowly background and lack of etiquette.
She probed a bit more, and the conclusion was indeed as Nie Xun said—the mother-in-law’s attitude towards the eldest son was rather cold.
Of course, this coldness could be brushed off as a distaste for a daughter-in-law of low status, making her grandchild less favorable in her eyes.
Mother-in-laws often have privileges; it’s understandable that one could take out their dislike for the daughter-in-law on her son and grandson.
After that, Zhu Qing Ning visited even less often, but Gu Zhen liked having her come by to hold the child and chat.
Gradually, Zhu Qing Ning noticed her mother-in-law was becoming more and more like a proper mother-in-law.
Though she hadn’t been harsh with her, her words and demeanor became much more assertive.
This assertiveness wasn’t deliberate; it was an unconscious flow of feelings.
Nie Xun said, “You go spend time with your mother or help your father write letters. I’ll deal with her. I’m pained to watch you go every day before dawn to pay your respects.”
He was typically a rational and reserved person; if others treated him earnestly, he would respond sincerely.
At first, Gu Zhen had moved him, but upon cooling down and reflecting on her attitude towards his elder brother and himself, his initially warm feelings turned cold.
As a conventional elder, she was acceptable; but the ideal of a kind mother with a dutiful son was just too hard for him to accept.
Zhu Qing Ning asked, “Will Mother get angry because of this?”
Having been married to Nie Xun for so long, she hadn’t played the daughter-in-law role, but she had heard tales of how difficult mother-in-laws could be.
“What will she get angry about?” Nie Xun said. “Lan Ting is coming back soon; I doubt she’ll have the energy to care about us.”
If Nie Xun had been a little denser, he might have been moved by Gu Zhen’s actions, but unfortunately, he was too clear-headed and saw right through it.
Jiang Pengji had planned to return after the New Year, but since the construction work outside was ahead of schedule, she returned early.
That day happened to be the twenty-fifth day of the New Year, the day Golden Scales Academy took a half-year break.
The homebody Nie Xun also managed to step out for a change.
The whole Xiangyang County was enveloped in a festive atmosphere, with shops following the trend and offering discount promotions.
“Anyone who doesn’t know might think it’s the New Year.”
Nie Xun chuckled lightly, a smile there but his eyes lost in thought.
“Perhaps this is what the people desire.”
Zhu Qing Ning gazed far into the distance at the young “General” trotting along on horseback, just like the carefree young man from the Luoyang Pear Blossom books of yore.
Jiang Pengji hadn’t changed back into women’s clothing, still dressed in her battle attire, looking imposing and causing quite a stir with admirers trailing behind.
Leaning by the window, Zhu Qing Ning sighed, “I really had good taste back in the day—”
Nie Xun sensed something was off. “What taste?”
Zhu Qing Ning chuckled, “One year during the Flower Festival, my father intended to pick a suitor for me, and I immediately picked her.”
Nie Xun asked, “…Who?”
Which little enchantress?
Zhu Qing Ning explained, “But my father said Lan Ting and I were incompatible and wouldn’t disclose the reason. Later, I learned that the perfect match was actually a woman.”
Nie Xun: “…”
“Eek—”
Nuan Nuan blew a big bubble, and as it popped, she sneakily wiped her drool onto her father’s clothes.
Zhu Qing Ning teased, “Could it be that my Young Master is jealous over this too?”
Nie Xun took a deep breath and waved his hand weakly.
“Not going to argue with a woman!”
Whether this “woman” referred to Zhu Qing Ning or Jiang Pengji was up to one’s interpretation.
Jiang Pengji returning with part of the troops caused quite a stir across several provinces.
Feng Zhen and the others were grinding their teeth in frustration; they couldn’t even enjoy the New Year properly—was their lord not doing this intentionally?
Cursing inwardly but smiling on the outside, what a conundrum!
“I wasn’t in Wanzhou for a while; did anything significant happen?”
Even though Jiang Pengji had a terrifying amount of energy and had ridden long distances, a hint of fatigue was evident between her brows; still, her overall spirit was quite good.
Of course, there hadn’t been anything significant; communication between the back end and the front lines kept a steady flow of information. If anything important had happened, she would have known about it.
However—
Xu Ke said, “The elder lady has arrived and is currently residing in the main city mansion.”
Elder lady?
“Is it the stepmother?”
She habitually referred to Gu Zhen as “stepmother,” only to realize Meng Heng was also there to welcome her. She calmly corrected herself, “Mother isn’t feeling well; she can’t tolerate those medicines, and her condition hasn’t improved… Why has she traveled all the way to Xiangyang?”
Xu Ke responded, “The elder lady heard news of Nie Chengyun and specifically came to see him.”
Xu Ke knew of the entanglements and grievances between Meng Heng and Nie Xun.
Jiang Pengji let out a flat “oh.”
“Have you seen her?”
Xu Ke reflected, “The elder lady has a kind heart, but Nie Chengyun has been avoiding her—”
Jiang Pengji didn’t even blink.
From Xu Ke’s words, did it mean Gu Zhen wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon?
Jiang Pengji sighed, “After all these years of war and battles, I hardly get to spend the holidays with my family. As a daughter, I feel quite guilty. Since Mother is in Xiangyang this year, we should properly celebrate the New Year banquet; I can’t let her come such a long way and leave with any regrets.”
In the vast Liu Residence, if there was one person Jiang Pengji didn’t want to perform a scene with, it might just be Gu Zhen.
She didn’t know how to evaluate this woman.
It was she who first noticed that Liu Xi had been possessed, and her reaction was the most composed.
The System once asked why the stepmother could calmly acknowledge her identity despite realizing something was amiss.
She had said it was because the two had come to an agreement.
What agreement?
She let the stepmother enjoy the so-called “great fortune,” and in return, she inherited Liu Xi’s legitimate identity.
The twelve years of raising Liu Xi could not compare to a “lost soul” that could bring her the honor of a queen dowager.
