Chapter 43: Welcome the Pei Family Inside and Outside the Mansion
As they were talking, suddenly two magpies came outside and chirped non-stop towards the window. Liuhua was serving tea nearby. When he saw the magpies, he said with a smile in his eyes.

"Third Miss, a magpie on a tree branch is a good sign."

Jiang Shishu didn't expect this either. She leaned over to take a look at the bird on the branch. Her eyebrows relaxed a lot and the corners of her mouth raised a small arc, making her already gentle temperament even more lively.

……

It was hot in June and suddenly it rained.

The rain fell all night long, and it woke up Jiang Shiyuan from her sleep. The fresh air after the rain was accompanied by a hint of earthy scent. She stretched herself and saw Liuhua coming in with water to help her wash up.

"What time is it?"

"Girl, it's already time."

"I slept really soundly this time. Any news from my third sister?"

"Don't worry, young lady. Someone from the Princess's Mansion came to tell you early in the morning that everything is fine with the third young lady and the embroidery is progressing smoothly. It is estimated that it will be completed in less than two months. Luluo also sent the news to Aunt Yang. Aunt Yang was very grateful, so she asked her to bring some food back to thank you, young lady."

After hearing this, Jiang Shiyuan was finally relieved. It had been ten days since she sent her third sister to the princess's mansion. She was naturally worried. After all, this was the first time she had been away from home for so long. She was also happy to hear that her third sister could live harmoniously in the princess's mansion.

"That's good."

"Girl, the old lady sent a message, saying that if you get up, go over there, she has something to tell you."

Jiang Shiyuan nodded slightly. She knew why. She just wanted to find out about her third sister. It was rare for a girl in the family to be favored by the princess. It was beyond her expectation that her grandmother would wait until now to ask.

"Wash up first."

"Yes, girl."

Jiang Shiyuan hurriedly got up to meet Old Madam Jiang. On the other side, the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion also opened its doors to welcome the guests from afar.

Because it was a birthday party, the house was swept very cleanly.

The red silk hangings were even more festive, and the servants had all changed into their new summer clothes, which added a lot of bright colors in this hot summer. When the steward Qing Bo and the servants were waiting in front of the door, he had a smile on his face the whole time.

After a while, a team of carriages and horses came straight towards them, led by the three brothers and sisters of the Pei family. Today, Mrs. Pei brought her children to Xijing City, and they were picked up by Pei Zisu himself. As for the things they brought, of course they were arranged to be sent back to Ning'an Garden earlier.

Therefore, when they came, they were traveling light, with only two boxes on the back of the carriage, which were prepared as gifts for the Marquis Wenyuan's Mansion.

Seeing someone coming, the manager Qingbo immediately stepped forward and said with a smile.

"This old servant greets Madam Pei, the eldest cousin, the eldest cousin, and the third cousin."

"Qing Bo, you're welcome."

Pei Zisu spoke a few words and then dismounted to greet his mother.

Mrs. Pei had been exhausted from the long journey, but she was still very graceful. Her hair was as black as ink, tied up simply with a jade hairpin. She looked as cold as snow, with a natural aloofness between her eyebrows that made people dare not act rashly.

She was a taciturn and cold person, with an indifferent expression as if everything she saw around her today had nothing to do with her. In comparison, the two people she brought seemed much more excited.

"Go into the mansion."

"Yes."

Madam Pei led the people in, and the steward Qingbo led the way. Pei Zisu was familiar with the door as if it were his own, but the two brothers and sisters behind him had lively eyes and looked around curiously. After a while, one of them spoke quietly. "Kyoto is indeed under the feet of the emperor. Even the Wenyuan Marquis's Mansion has such strict rules. Third brother, look, those old women won't even laugh."

The one who said this was a woman wearing a fiery red brocade dress with tight sleeves and unicorn patterns. She was tall, with cold features like Mrs. Pei, but with a sharp look in her eyes. She looked thin, but in fact, she walked with the air under her feet, and was so brave that she could not be stopped by any man. She was Pei Ziyao, the eldest daughter of the Pei family.

The person whispering with her was her twin brother, the second legitimate son of the Pei family, Pei Zimiao.

Although the two were twins, they did not look alike. Pei Zimiao had a pair of almond-shaped eyes, which looked quite cute on his baby face. His skin was wheat-colored, and it was obvious that he had been severely trained in the army. But because of this face, he was laughed at by the enemy several times when he went to the battlefield. Therefore, Pei Zimiao deliberately practiced swearing and started to speak to his sister.

"Shut up, kid, what do you know? Be careful not to let your future sister-in-law see you making fun of me, or I'll spank you!"

"Humph, Pei San, are you itching for trouble?"

Although the two spoke in low voices, they were particularly obvious to the ears of the manager who was leading the way. Seeing his face change, Pei Zisu, who was walking in front, became a little uneasy. He turned around and gave a warning in a cold voice.

"Shut up."

The brother and sister were startled and instinctively glared over with fierce faces, but when they saw that it was their eldest brother Pei Zisu who turned around, they immediately laughed awkwardly and made an expression as if they were about to shush, which was quite well-behaved.

After walking through the hall and corridors for a while, the Pei family arrived at the front hall of the main courtyard.

When a few people were standing in front of the door and were about to go in, they heard the manager Qing Bo who had just led the way shouted.

"Mrs. Pei is here, Young Master Pei is here, Miss Pei is here, and Third Young Master Pei is here."

The Pei family had seen all kinds of battlefields before, so today's scene certainly didn't make them feel restrained. Pei Zisu glanced at his brothers and sisters-in-law behind him, and seeing that they looked calm, the corners of his mouth rose as well.

I lifted the curtain and entered the main room, and all the people from Wenyuan Marquis's mansion were there.

Sitting in the middle were Marquis Wenyuan and Old Madam Wang, who were already semi-retired at home. One was elegant and refined, the other wealthy and noble.

Especially Madam Wang!
Her family is descended from the founding fathers, so she is naturally a proper noble lady. She is usually very amiable to everyone she meets, and today she is smiling brightly, and it is obvious that she is very happy about the arrival of the Pei family.

Sitting on the right was the Marquis' wife, Mrs. Pei, and behind her stood four young men, all of whom were handsome and had a bright future. Next to one of the men was a virtuous woman, who was also looking at the arrival of the men with a smile on her face.

Seeing this, Madam Pei, who was more polite than anything else, took a few steps forward and paid her respects to Madam Wang.

"Hanzhou Peimen Wu Clan greets the old lady, greets the Marquis, and the Marquis's wife."

"Hanzhou Pei Ziyao (Pei Zimiao) greets the old lady, the Marquis, and the Marquis's wife."

After the three of them paid their respects, the men and women behind Madam Pei also respectfully paid their respects to Madam Pei.

"I have met my aunt and cousins."

"Ah."

The two families were in-laws, so naturally they followed the formalities and called each other relatives when they met. Mrs. Pei was still as cold as ever, but the two people standing behind her were very excited.

"Sister-in-law, you are finally here."

The person who spoke was naturally the Marquis's wife, Mrs. Pei. She had always missed Hanzhou, and now that someone from Hanzhou had come to her house, she was of course more excited than anyone else.

(End of this chapter)