Chapter 80: Women of the Qiqiao Society Gathering to Embrace the Moon
As they were talking, the two of them walked to the door.

Parrot and Danxing lifted the curtains to the left and right, and the two of them entered the main room. Old Lady Wang and her daughter-in-law Pei, who were talking, saw them come in, smiled happily, and stretched out their hands to ask them to sit down.

"Didn't I tell you to rest more? Why are you here again?"

Old Lady Wang looked at her granddaughter-in-law Xiang with a hint of "blame". Xiang smiled, then walked up to the old lady, took her hand and spoke.

"I heard that Ah Nian and my aunt are coming over, so my granddaughter-in-law is coming to join in the fun. Especially Ah Nian, who is hiding at home embroidering wedding clothes every day. It's a rare opportunity for her to come over, so I naturally want to come and see her."

Upon hearing this, Madam Pei also asked a question.

"Last time you said that your aunt and third sister would help you embroider. How is it? Can you handle it? How about I find a few embroiderers to help."

"We can handle it. The three of us are only embroidering the horse mask. Aren't the others all made by my aunt? There's no need to add more people to the yard. My place is small and there's really no room for them."

Jiang Shiyuan replied helplessly, but Mrs. Pei was very happy.

"That's right. The betrothal gifts that Zi Su sent were huge, and your father wrote them all into your dowry list with a stroke of his pen. Naturally, there are some things that can't be piled up, but there won't be many days left. When you get married, you can move all your things to the new garden. It's spacious there, and even if there are some extra things, it will be enough for you two young couples."

Jiang Shiyuan believed this because she had been to that house several times.

She used to envy the princess and joke with her, but she never thought that she would be able to live there. When she thought about it, she felt that everything was destined, especially the Yincuitang.

"That's what my aunt said."

The grandparents and grandchildren were happily talking about something when they heard someone outside saying that Madam Pei had also arrived. Madam Hou got up and went to greet her in person. Jiang Shiyuan did not hesitate to follow her and soon bumped into Madam Pei who was entering the house.

Mrs. Pei rarely wore an apricot-yellow skirt today, which actually brightened her originally cold temperament a lot. Although her expression was still indifferent, she looked a little warmer.

"Oh, sister-in-law is wearing bright clothes today, it's rare."

Perhaps it was the sister-in-law's enthusiasm that ignited Mrs. Pei. She seldom smiled, but today she curved her eyes after hearing these words. Then she looked at Jiang Shiyuan behind Mrs. Pei. Jiang Shiyuan stepped forward and saluted and said.

"Meet Aunt Pei."

"Well, I know you're coming today, so I brought you some gifts for begging for wisdom. They are all Hanzhou customs. You can take them back and let your sisters at home have a taste."

"Thank you, Auntie. I understand."

One of them had kind eyes, and the other was graceful and generous. It seemed that the future mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a very good relationship. The Marquis's wife, Mrs. Pei, who was standing next to them, was no less friendly. She immediately reached out her hand and asked a question.

"Sister-in-law brought gifts, it can't just be for Ah Nian, what about ours?"

"Hanzhou's Qiqiao gift is only given to unmarried girls. Why are you fighting for it?"

With just one sentence, everyone burst into laughter. This aunt and sister-in-law pair were really interesting. It seemed that the marquis's wife would have the advantage with her sharp tongue, but unexpectedly, she was always convinced by her sister-in-law.

Old Madam Wang was also happy to see her daughter-in-law being humiliated, so she was laughing happily. But Madam Pei said something to her the next second.

"But I have prepared other gifts for the old lady and Su'er's wife, and I will send them over later."

"Okay, sister-in-law, I'll be left alone!"

"So what?"

It was rare to see a teasing expression on Mrs. Pei's face. Jiang Shiyuan was a little curious whether some happy event had happened that made her so happy.

Before she could say anything, Madam Pei spoke first. "Zi Su sent a letter saying that Kuan'er has safely entered the Capital Water Conservancy Bureau and is now working with the governors of several places to repair canals. Everything is fine. Hong'er has also returned to the army. As for the brother and sister, they will probably be able to return after finishing their work, at the latest by the end of August."

"So soon? Could it be that you miss Anian so much that you can't stay in Hanzhou anymore?"

It was the end of August, and he had clearly left at the end of June, so it was only a few days before he had to return to Xijing City. Excluding the time wasted on the journey, Pei Zisu only had more than a month to do his work in Hanzhou. Could he really finish it?

Jiang Shiyuan was not quite sure, but since Mrs. Pei said so, she just believed it.

Her cheeks were slightly shy, and she was not surprised by any teasing from her aunt Pei. After chatting with her for a while, she spoke frankly.

"I will not have dinner at home today. Daddy promised to take me and my third sister to Lanyue Tower to watch the Qiqiao Festival, so I can't delay any longer."

"Have you booked a private room?"

"It's settled."

"Okay, then go back quickly to avoid keeping them waiting. Come back next time when you are free and have dinner with me, your wife."

"Thank you for your consideration, grandma. I will leave now."

"I'll give it to you."

If someone else had said this, everyone would have thought it was nothing. But when these words came out of Mrs. Pei's mouth, everyone knew something. Maybe Pei Zisu had sent something for Mrs. Pei to pass on. Jiang Shiyuan also guessed it roughly, nodded with a smile, and the two of them went out together.

They looked like real mother and daughter. Although they were not overly intimate, they had a tacit understanding. After the two left, Madam Pei's eyes rolled and she said something.

"I haven't been there for a few years. How about we go to Lanyue Tower this year?"

"You do know how to make arrangements every day, but the private rooms for such grand events are reserved long in advance. If you go now, I'm afraid you won't be able to choose a good seat."

Old Lady Wang knew that the Jiang family had booked a private room, but it was impossible for her son-in-law to book a very large one given his ability, so she did not rashly ask to go together. Madam Pei had obviously thought of this as well, which was why she did not say anything when Jiang Shiyuan was here.

"You don't have to worry about this. Is there anything that can't be handled by your daughter-in-law? Where's Xiuqing? Do you want to go and see her?"

When Xiang heard that she was going out, she was extremely happy.

But her belly was now quite bulging, and she was afraid that it would be too tiring if she went out, so she couldn't agree to it right away. Pei knew her concerns and said something.

"Don't be afraid. Ask three or five maids to surround you. Even if someone comes, they won't bump into you. We can also go earlier so it won't be crowded."

Hearing this, Xiang smiled.

"It's up to the mother-in-law to make the arrangements. I, your daughter-in-law, will listen to you."

Pei looked at Old Madam Wang. The old lady had nothing else to say and so she waved her hands helplessly.

"You, you must have had this idea in mind for a long time."

"My daughter-in-law is innocent. My sister-in-law has just come to Xijing City and hasn't walked around yet, so I wanted to arrange a show so that my sister-in-law can see the prosperity under the feet of the emperor."

No one could speak nice words as well as Mrs. Pei. She was quick and efficient. After getting a positive answer, she immediately asked someone to make arrangements. Outside, Mrs. Pei was talking to Jiang Shiyuan in the corridor.

"This letter was sent to you by Zi Su alone. I didn't open it because I thought about the matter between you two. You should deal with it yourself."

The letter was thick, and one could tell at a glance that it must have contained many pages.