Chapter 71: Double Morning Congratulations Red

  It was still dark outside when Shen Muqing was woken up by Ying Fen: "Miss, you need to go and worship the Stove God, pay respects to the Buddha, and offer incense to our ancestors at the temple..."

  Yesterday, she stayed with Liang Youhui until the second watch before sleeping. Shen Muqing was still a bit dazed, and Ying Fan's words made her jump up suddenly. Liang Youhui, who was sleeping beside her, rubbed her eyes and sat up: "Third Aunt, are you getting up?"

  Shen Muqing saw that she had not yet opened her eyes, and smiled: "You can sleep for a while... I'll let Qingbi keep watch, as long as you don't delay the ceremony in the main hall."

  Liang Youhui let out an "oh" and fell back asleep.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and shook her head, instructing Ying Fen and the others: "From now on, call me Third Young Madam, so that the people of the Liang family won't feel uncomfortable when they hear it."

  The British couple nodded slightly, and she went to the bathroom.

  She washed her face, combed her hair and put on a dress with golden peony flowers and went out.

  Diecai Courtyard is a three-entry courtyard with three rooms on each side of the wing, and there is also a two-room corridor at the back, with a total of eleven rooms. Liang Jimin rested in the east wing, which was originally his study.

  When Shen Muqing went out, Liang Jitian was already there, waiting for a long time.

  He wore a sky-blue robe, his clean face looked calm and peaceful in the dim light of dawn.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and walked up: "You're getting up late!"

  Ji Min smiled slightly: "Don't worry. Have you had breakfast?" Her voice was soft and soothing, making people feel calm for no reason.

  Shen Mu nodded quietly: "I ate a steamed bun."

  "You must have eaten too much last night!" Liang Jiemin said with a smile, handing her a handbag. "Don't bother about Yu Hui in the future. Once she gets crazy, there's no end to it."

  "What's this?" asked Shen Muqing, holding up a bundle.

  Liang Jimin smiled and said: "It's a sugar nest - after a while it will be hungry. Can also hold for a while."

  Shen Muqing opened her pouch and took out a piece of candy, tossing it into her mouth. Then she smiled sweetly at Liang Jimin to thank him.

  Liáng Jìmǐn looked at her big round eyes that curved into a crescent moon, and a joyful smile involuntarily floated onto her face.

  Two people went to Mrs. Liang's Guixuan Institute first.

  Mrs. Liang had just gotten up.

  During this time, she was busy with Liang Jiemin's wedding and had lost a lot of weight.

  Seeing the two of them come to pay their respects together, Mrs. Liang revealed a comforting smile and intercepted the tea that Xiao Yatou had poured for Shen Muqing: "Don't drink water, if you need to go to the ancestral hall during the ancestor worship ceremony, it would be embarrassing... After lunch, all the relatives in the house will leave, and you can also take a rest. Whatever it is, just bear with it for now. Women have always been like this."

  Shen Mu Qing hurriedly knelt down and apologized to Lady Feng.

  Feng saw her being gentle and obedient, and nodded secretly in approval.

  Liáng Jìmǐn and Shěn Mùqīng, led by their aunt Féng Wángshì, first went to the kitchen, where they kowtowed three times in front of the image of the stove god. Then they burned the paper image of the stove god, as well as yuanbao and yellow money, in a basin in the courtyard. After that, they went to the Buddhist hall located at the southeast corner of the Liáng family compound. Liáng Jìmǐn's uncle was already waiting there. The two of them kowtowed, and Liáng Jìmǐn's uncle read out a congratulatory text: "The great principle of male and female, marriage, is where posterity is tied..." Then they again burned yuanbao and yellow money. Finally, they went to the ancestral temple. Again, there was a round of kowtowing, paying respects, burning offerings, etc.

  The ceremony was soon completed and it was almost noon.

  The two went into the main hall.

  The main hall of the Liang family is a five-bay open hall with thick black lacquered pillars, purple sandalwood lintels, twelve fans with chicken wing wooden seats, and glazed tiles that shine like mirrors. The spacious space creates a solemn and dignified atmosphere in the main hall.

  Because it was Liang Jimin's wedding, two armchairs with red silk and bamboo flowers were specially set up in front of the wooden screen in the main hall. The left side where Father Liang Yuan should have sat was empty, and only one person sat on the right side. Mrs. Liang led a group of women in the western wing, while the men were all in the eastern wing, chatting in small groups or whispering to each other. Shen Muqing suddenly felt a sense of relaxation wash over her tense mood as she recalled the scene before meetings at the company.

  She and Liang Jiemin first kowtowed to Madame Feng. Madame Feng gave Shen Muqing a pair of ruby-studded gold bangles and a red envelope. The rubies were as big as fingernails, obviously extraordinary goods. Shen Muqing returned two pairs of insoles and two handkerchiefs to Madame Feng as a gift.

  Then she also kowtowed to her male relatives on the east side with Liang Jimei.

  Liang Jimin's older brother was not around, and his father was serving under Town An Wang, so he didn't have time to rush back. However, she met her second brother, Liang Shuxin. He looked very similar to Liang Jimin in terms of facial features, but his expression seemed much more gloomy than Liang Jimin's, with a hint of arrogance between his eyebrows. When he gave Shen Muqing the red envelope, Shen Muqing even smelled a faint scent of alcohol on him. In comparison, the husband of Princess Shang, who was also Liang Jimin's cousin, looked more similar to Liang Jimin. Not only did they share similar facial features and temperament, but their gentle and considerate way of speaking was also very alike.

  After bidding farewell to her male relatives, Shen Muqing followed Liang Jieming to the west.

  The old lady sat alone on a purple sandalwood couch, surrounded by her female relatives standing or sitting around her. Wang Wenxuan was like a butterfly flitting from flower to flower, responding softly to these relatives, unlike the low-key atmosphere on the east side, the atmosphere here was very lively.

  As Shen Muqing walked to the west, she was immediately drawn to the woman sitting below the Old Madam, who wore a bright yellow robe with golden cloud and dragon patterns on her right sleeve.

  She was about twenty-seven or eight years old, with a long face, single eyelid, fine eyebrows that extended to the temples, and particularly tender skin.

  Delicate and refined, just sitting there quietly, gives people a sense of elegance and luxury.

  Shen Mu's heart skipped a beat in his quiet and clear mind.

  Could it be Princess Chang's wealth and luxury?

  But how did she come?

  The woman smiled at Liang Jieming and said, "Jieming, your new daughter-in-law is as lovely as a lilac flower. No wonder you were in such a hurry to bring her into the house!"

  Shen Muqing only felt that what was said was somewhat inexplicable.

  Li Qiming just smiled and said nothing, leading Mu Qing to kowtow to the woman, and whispered to Shen Muqing: "This is the Eldest Princess!"

  Quietly busy collecting

  The Empress Dowager smiled brightly and sized her up, with an unusual glint in her eyes that she couldn't understand. She instructed Liang Qiming: "Bring your new wife to my palace during the New Year's celebrations!"

  Liang Jimin respectfully replied with a "yes".

  The Empress Dowager turned her head and said to a woman sitting next to her: "Shuang Rui, you are the most beautiful among the three wives of Eldest Brother."

  Mu Qing immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

  Is this praise or harm in this situation?

  However, knowing that Princess Chang was standing next to Jiang Shuangrui, Shen Muqing still couldn't help but glance over.

  Jiang Shuangrui, like Madame Chiang, was not tall, with fair skin and bright eyes and teeth, unexpectedly pretty and lively, completely unlike the meek and timid daughter-in-law she had imagined.

  She was wearing a light green dress with a right lapel and a large red skirt with gold trim, her belly slightly bulging as if she were five or six months pregnant. Upon hearing the words of the princess, she smiled brightly at Shen Muqing: "Of course it's better to have one stronger than the other." Her tone was extremely sincere.

  The old lady listened and showed a satisfied smile, while Wang Wen, who was standing behind the old lady, lowered his head to tidy up his collar.

  Everyone in the hall burst out laughing, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.

  Madam Tai hurriedly called out to Madam Jiang: "Would you kindly make an introduction?"

  Madam Chiang smiled and nodded in response, then led Liang Jiemin and Shen Muqing to kowtow and offer tea to their elders, before sitting down to receive the respects of their juniors.

  Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shen Muqing whispered to Liang Jieming: "Why haven't you seen Yu Hui?"

  Liang Jimin's face wore a gentle and calm smile as he smiled back quickly with a reply of "I don't know".

  Although it was only three short words, Shen Muqing could feel his concern.

  When Liang Jiemin and Shen Muqing returned to Diecui Garden, it was already late afternoon.

  The two of them both looked tired, Shen Muqing sat on the windowsill kang and didn't want to get up. Ji Min looked at her and smiled, turned around and went into his own room to fetch a box of osmanthus cake for her, saying: "Fill your stomach!"

  Shen Muqing is indeed very strange.

  The outer courtyard is hosting relatives from home for dinner, don't they have a share?

  Li Qiming seemed to know what Shen Muqing was thinking. He said, "Today's banquet is made by the family chef, and there are only a few people in the house. Making such a banquet must be short-handed. If we go to serve the dishes again, it will take half a while, and it will also add trouble."

  Shen Mu Qing looked at him, unsure of what to say next.

  He was the first member of a wealthy family she had met who still cared about what the cook thought.

  Or is he concerned about the person in charge of the kitchen?

  He is the legitimate son, not a bastard, will he still be afraid that Lady Feng won't be pleased?

  "Someone in our house will go down to the kitchen and cook for themselves. What do you think?" Shen Muqing asked him.

  He hesitated: "But these firewood, rice, oil and salt will be adjusted in the kitchen..."

  Shen Mu Qing Suo asked him: "Who is in charge of the kitchen?"

  Li Qiming furrowed her brow, seeing Shen Muqing staring at her, paused for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "It's Huang Mama. She followed Grandma here and has been with our family for over 40 years." There was a hint of warning in her tone.

  Shen Muqing didn't make a sound, she suddenly didn't want to eat anything.

  She called Nianbi over: "What did Second Miss bring back? Who is attending her?"

  Jade Smile said: "It was Second Young Lady's purple gauze from her room who came to receive Second Young Lady, saying not to miss Third Young Master's meeting gift."

  Shen Mu Qing furrowed her brow and told Ning Bi to go take a look at the new bamboo courtyard where Liang You Hui lived.

  Liang Jimin saw Shen Muqing move but didn't touch the osmanthus cake he brought, and slightly furrowed his brow.

  After Dai Ying went to find Liang Youhui, he called Chun Shu, Bi Yun, Shi Se and Cheng Xin by his side to kowtow to her.

  Chun Shu and Cheng Xin had seen her ten times, but Bi Yun was meeting her for the first time. She was one or two years older than Chun Shu and was also a beautiful woman with clear eyebrows and bright eyes.

  Shen Muqing also called for someone from the side room to come and pay respects to Liang Jitian.

  Liáng Jìmǐn was very interested in Bǎi Mù who had served as Shěn Chángzuí, while Bì Yún stared at Yíng Xiù for several seconds.

  Everyone exchanged greetings, and Jingbi returned, saying: "The second young lady is not in the Xin Zhu courtyard either. I asked Sister Zisa, and Sister Zisa said that she had sent the second young lady to the main hall early in the morning. However, the second young lady said that she didn't need anyone to serve her, and told her to go back and help finish making a few pairs of children's shoes for the second young mistress quickly. Sister Zisa saw that the second young lady was following the eldest young mistress, so she returned alone."

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  Chapter 71: Double Morning Congratulations Red