County Governor's Office's back courtyard.
A young man, dressed as a scholar and in his twenties, hurried toward a small courtyard.
"Greetings to Master Lin!"
The maids in the back courtyard saw the man and paid their respects one after another. They did not get up until he had walked far away.
"This Master Lin practically treats the County Governor's Office's back courtyard as his own home."
"Keep your voice down, will you? The madam hasn't said a thing; it's not our place to comment."
"Alas, since Lin's auntie is the favored concubine and her children are, therefore, favored too, the madam has no choice but to give her some respect."
"I wonder what Master Lin is doing at Shuangxin Courtyard?"
"Who knows? Whatever it is, it's none of our business..."
Shuangxin Courtyard.
As soon as Lin Cailiang entered the courtyard, he called out to a young woman of good looks and slender figure, "Hurry, get ready. We must go to the County Governor's Office's main gate immediately, the old lady has arrived."
"What?!"
Lin's auntie, who was watering the plants in the courtyard, was so startled that her watering can clattered to the ground.
Seeing Lin's auntie frozen in place, Lin Cailiang became increasingly impatient: "Oh, my dear sister, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and call for Wenbin and Yishuang. This is your first time meeting the old lady; you must make a good impression."
"I rushed over here to tell you first. I'm sure the madam will also receive the news soon, so you best be quick. If you manage to see the old lady before the madam does, the old lady will surely take a fresh look at you."
Just moments ago, he had been preparing to return home when he witnessed the conflict between the Government Official and Yan's old lady.
He took advantage of the moment the Government Official was stunned by Yan's old lady's status and ran to find his sister.
Seeing the affection the master had for his sister, winning the old lady's favor would certainly make their lives even better in the future.
By then, Lin's auntie had also come to her senses: "Right, right, you're absolutely correct." With that, she ran into the house like a gust of wind, simultaneously getting ready and instructing the maids to call her son and daughter.
At the same time, someone had also gone to inform Yan Zhigao and his wife, Madam Li.
------
County Governor's Office's main gate.
Yan's old lady tenderly wiped the dust from Yan Wentao's face with a look of distress.
Her third grandson was honest and obedient. Along the way, he had carried her on his back for most of the journey. Even though his legs trembled with fatigue, he didn't utter a single complaint. Just seeing him pinned to the ground by the Government Official, unable to move, truly made her furious to the point of fuming.
"Grandmother, I'm fine. It doesn't hurt at all," said Yan Wentao, trying to ease his grandmother's worries—though as soon as he finished speaking, Daohua's "devil's claw" reached out and prodded his cheek forcefully.
"Ouch, Daohua, what are you doing?" Yan Wentao exclaimed, covering his face.
Daohua replied calmly, "Some people are swollen with pride; shouldn't I expose that?"
She did it on purpose, wanting to show her grandmother how badly her third brother was injured.
At that moment, her feelings were those of disappointment.
Even though she hadn't spent much time with her parents in this life, she still had expectations for them, especially her father. As a county magistrate, she had hoped to see a diligent and benevolent official.
But the behavior of those few Government Officials had thoroughly disgusted her.
Their propensity to bully the weak was fully on display.
If small minds indicate what larger behavior may look like, her father was probably not as good as her grandmother had described him to be.
She knew her grandmother's character well. Despite being just an old lady from a farming family, she was most sensible. Even the Clan Leader of the Yan Clan was always respectful toward her.
Why?
Because they admired her profound sense of justice.
She wouldn't make a fuss over those Government Officials, but her father definitely couldn't escape a berating and scolding.
While Daohua was contemplating all this, a young and beautiful woman, each hand holding a child, appeared at the County Governor's Office's main gate.
"Who let these beggars in? Quickly, drive them away—they stink so much!" cried the little boy in the beautiful woman's hand, pinching his nose and looking disdainfully at Daohua and the others.
The little girl also seemed distressed and ordered one of the nearby Government Officials, "What are you standing around for? Go chase them away this instant!"
Lin Cailiang, who was following behind, almost fell to his knees upon hearing his nephew and niece's words.
At this moment, there were only two words in his heart: it's over!
He had been so focused on urging that he forgot to tell his sister about Madam Yan's attire.
Madam Lin also suffered from the stench emanating from the five beggars not far away, but she still had some sense of propriety and didn't send them away.
With Madam Yan's arrival, she had to display her virtuous and graceful side.
However, she couldn't hide the disgust in her eyes and it almost spilled out.
In the distance, Daohua looked on with a playful expression at the beautiful woman and the two children who looked very similar to each other, for the first time not going to calm the furious Madam Yan.
Why?
She had guessed the identity of these three people.
This woman must be her father's favored concubine, Madam Lin, and those two children, the twins she bore, were her father's beloved son and daughter.
Indeed favored. The principal wife hadn't arrived yet, but they had dared to come over with such grandiosity.
This protocol...
All of a sudden, Daohua felt it was not surprising that her father had been county magistrate for nine years.
If one does not sweep one's own house, how can one sweep the world?
If one's own household affairs were in such disarray, how could his official achievements be any good?
His perception wasn't that great either; these three were clearly an inefficient team, totally wasting the early warning they had received.
Otherwise, being the first to rush to greet his long-traveled mother might not be proper, but it showed his filial piety.
In this ancient era governed by filial piety, that was an excellent reputation.
What a pity!
These three really couldn't wait to present their heads on a platter.
On their first meeting, knowing Madam Yan as she did, they would be utterly defeated!
"Mother!"
Just then, an emotionally charged and excited voice came from the County Governor's Office, and then everyone saw Yan Zhigao in official robes sprinting out, 'thump' kneeling before Madam Yan.
The sound was so loud that Daohua felt pain on his behalf.
"Son is unfilial, making Mother suffer!"
Yan Zhigao did not hesitate and embraced Madam Yan at once.
At that moment, Madam Yan was also streaming with tears, tremblingly hugging her eldest son's head, so choked up she could not speak.
Next to them, Daohua arched an eyebrow.
Her father was ruthless; it wasn't her saying, but the scent on them at this moment was genuinely hard to bear.
Yet he simply buried his face against Madam Yan.
Quite ruthless!
All this, if it wasn't for genuine emotion and not minding at all, then he was a master of disguise.
While Daohua was thinking this, suddenly, her arm was grabbed, and turning around, she saw the dignified and beautiful Madam Lin looking at her with blurred eyes.
"You must be Daohua, right?"
Madam Lin's voice trembled slightly, her gaze at Daohua was both loving and excited.
Almost instantly, Daohua knew who she was.
"Mother!"
This call from Daohua was spontaneous.
At that moment, she didn't sense any disdain, but instead saw unmistakable joy in Madam Lin's eyes.
"Ah!"
Madam Lin's tears flowed down at once, and she pulled Daohua into a tight embrace.
Leaning into Madam Lin's embrace, feeling her excitement and joy, Daohua became somewhat stunned, swiftly glancing at Madam Yan and Yan Zhigao, still embracing and weeping together, a complex emotion welled up in her heart.
The affection between mother and son, mother and daughter, are the purest feelings in the world, heartfelt and devoid of calculation, aren't they?
Daohua suddenly realized that she seemed to always look at everything around her with the perspective of her previous life, overlooking the fact that genuine feelings still existed in this world.
Regardless of distance or appearance...
"Your daughter-in-law pays respects to you, Mother. You must have had a hard journey!"
After helping Yan Zhigao to his feet, Li Family's Madam hastily let go of Daohua and, with a 'thump', knelt down in front of the Yan Family's Old Madam, the sound of her kneeling no quieter than the one Yan Zhigao made.
Daohua's eyebrows twitched hard at the sound.
"Good, good, good, these past years have been easier because you've been by Zhigao's side, taking care of household matters, considering everything, you've worked hard." The Yan Family's Old Madam grabbed Li Family Madam's hand and quickly helped her up.
She was very satisfied with the eldest daughter-in-law.
Gentle and quiet, dignified and graceful, most importantly, she was empathetic and magnanimous.
Despite being a merchant's daughter, she managed household affairs tightly and in order, leaving the Old Madam with nothing to complain about.
The approval of the Yan Family's Old Madam deeply moved Li Family's Madam, her recently restrained tears spilling out again as she choked, "Mother, this is all that your daughter-in-law should do."
The Yan Family's Old Madam still meant to say more, but on the side, another woman knelt down.
"Mother, your second son's wife pays her respects!"
Without letting go of the hand of Li Family's Madam, the Yan Family's Old Madam looked towards the kneeling woman and smiled, "Ah, the second son's wife, rise, no need to kneel."
Seeing that the Yan Family's Old Madam didn't personally help her up like she did with the Li Family's Madam, a flash of dissatisfaction crossed Sun Family's Madam's eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a smile, got up by herself, and beckoned to a few youths huddled together not far away, "Wenjie, Yihuan, Yile, what are you standing there for? Hurry over and greet your grandmother."
Yan Zhigao, standing aside, shook his head and said, "There's no rush, Mother has traveled a long way and must be tired. Let's let her wash, rest a bit in the backyard, and then it won't be late to see the grandchildren."
Sun Family's Madam's expression paused for a moment before she smiled, "That's me not thinking things through. It's just that Wenjie and the others talk about wanting to see Grandmother every day. I got excited and crossed the line; yes, she should wash and rest first."
Yan Family's Old Madam waved her hands with a smile, "This old woman isn't that tired, but Wentao is, I was carried all the way here by him." After speaking, she looked around and indeed spotted Wu Family's Madam in the corner.
"Third son's wife, what are you standing over there for? Won't you come over and see your son?" This Wu Family's Madam, though virtuous enough, was a bit too honest. She had arrived as well and hadn't come to greet her.
Look at the second son's wife, how articulate and tactful she is.
With a shy smile, Wu Family's Madam approached, "Mother, wasn't I thinking that you haven't seen big brother and sister-in-law for such a long time? I wanted you to talk more."
The Yan Family's Old Madam retorted without a good temper: "Because they want to talk to me, you don't?"
Wu Family's Madam shook her hands repeatedly, "No, that's not it."
Seeing the somewhat bewildered third aunt, Daohua, who had been standing in the background, walked over with a resigned smile. Not caring whether her presence was desired, she took Wu Family's Madam's arm, "Third Aunt, Grandmother is just joking with you, right?"
Upon hearing what Daohua said, Wu Family's Madam immediately relaxed, looking fondly at Daohua. Seeing dirt on her face, she quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it for her, expressing her heartache, "Poor Daohua, it must have been a hard journey, hasn't it?"
Daohua: "..." She turned her head to look at Yan Wentao, sighing inwardly: Poor third brother, standing right there, yet ignored by his own mother. How heartbreaking must it be?
In fact, at that moment, Yan Wentao was grinning foolishly.
If Mother liked Daohua, he liked her too. It was only right to be good to her.
It was then that Yan Zhigao finally turned his gaze to his eldest daughter.
Uh... like a little beggar girl.
She was 9 years old and had grown quite tall. As for the rest, it was still not apparent.
Li Family's Madam was also looking at Daohua, but her attention was more on the arm Daohua had wrapped around Wu Family's Madam. Seeing them so close, she felt a twinge of sourness.
Her daughter was somewhat distant to her!
Seeing Wu Family's Madam close with Daohua, the Yan Family's Old Madam was very happy, yet she eyed Daohua sternly, "You girl, with your own mother right there, still cling to someone else as you did back in Yan Family village, snatching away your third brother's mother. You better give her back in good time."
Daohua pouted, "Grandmother, isn't your favoritism a bit too obvious?"
The Yan Family's Old Madam chuckled a few times and then turned to Yan Zhigao and Li Family's Madam, "I've brought this girl to you, now you must manage her well in the future." Disapproval was written on her face, yet her tone could hardly hide her doting.
Yan Zhigao and Li Family's Madam smiled and repeatedly agreed.
The mother cherished her eldest daughter, and they were also happy in their hearts.
"Mom, let's go in!"
"Alright!"
Madam Yan was supported by the Yan Zhigao couple as she entered the back courtyard of the County Governor's Office.
As they passed through the main gate of the County Governor's Office and saw Aunt Lin with her two children, Yan Zhigao wanted to introduce them to Madam Yan, but she didn't even glance their way and walked straight past.
Daohua, who was a step behind, caught this situation with the corner of her eye and her lips curved slightly.
Upon entering the back courtyard of the County Governor's Office, Madam Li, while supporting Madam Yan, turned to look at Daohua, "Daohua, the mistress has ordered a maid to take you to the main compound to wash up. After you've freshened up, you can come to Madam Yan's courtyard."
Logically speaking, as the mother, she should be by her daughter's side at all times, especially when she has just arrived. However, since the mother-in-law has also just arrived, she must attend to her personally, or else it would be neglecting her duty as a daughter-in-law.
Madam Yan had intended to ask the eldest daughter-in-law to take care of her granddaughter, but after seeing the second and third daughters-in-law following behind, she thought better of it and did not speak up.
This was not Yan Family Village, and one couldn't act as whimsically as before. Some things, even if you didn't like them, you had to endure.
Daohua didn't see it as a big deal. Soon she saw a maid about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pretty face and twin buns in her hair, smiling as she approached her. She bent her knee in a curtsy, "Ping Tong sees the big miss!"
Daohua straightened her chest and nodded calmly, "Mmm."
Having been in ancient times for nine years, it was the first time someone had paid her a formal courtesy. Though she didn't show it outwardly, she felt a bit nervous inside.
She was well aware that this was the ancient era, where people placed great importance on etiquette and propriety. She certainly didn't want to become a laughing stock by making a faux pas upon her arrival.
Ping Tong stood up, and even though Daohua's scent was quite pungent at the moment, her expression did not change as she smiled, "Big miss, let this servant take you to the main compound."
Daohua looked toward Madam Yan and the others, "Grandmother, father, mother, second aunt, third aunt, Daohua will go and freshen up first and return later to pay respects to the elders."
Madam Yan nodded with a smile and waved her hand to signal that she could leave.
Seeing how appropriately Daohua had conducted herself, Yan Wentao and Madam Li exchanged a silent look and sighed a breath of relief in unison.
They felt a sense of guilt toward their eldest daughter.
Raised in the countryside, she had not been finely schooled in rules and etiquette. With many people in the County Governor's Office, it was inevitable there would be some gossips; they did not want their eldest daughter to become the subject of others' conversations.
Once Daohua had left, Yan Wentao was also led away by a manservant, while the rest of those present accompanied Madam Yan to Songhe Courtyard, which was prepared for her.
Madam Li, "Mother, this is the courtyard the master specially prepared for you. Try living here first; if you're not comfortable, we can change it."
Madam Yan shook her head, "There's no need to go to such expense. I'm just an old woman; where can't I live? There's no need for all this changing."
Yan Zhigao chuckled, "Mother has worked hard for most of her life; your son also wants to fulfill his filial duties."
Madam Yan, "If you are all doing well, that is already fulfilling your filial duty. By the way, be careful with how you treat Daohua. If I find out you've wronged her, I won't stand for it."
Upon hearing this, Madam Li's smile immediately grew wider.
Sun Family, smiling, chimed in, "Mother, Daohua is the eldest brother and sister-in-law's daughter, who would dare to wrong her?"
Madam Yan, "That's good to hear." Saying this, she glanced at her eldest son, her eyes conveying a warning.
Yan Zhigao felt inexplicably scrutinized, though he too cherished his eldest daughter.
Watching from the side, Sun Family was somewhat surprised by Madam Yan's doting on Daohua and feigned jealousy, "Mother really loves Daohua. Two out of three sentences are about her."
Madam Yan matter-of-factly, "Daohua is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yan Family; naturally, I should dote on her more!"
In their first meeting, Madam Yan did not hide her favoritism for Daohua.
In response, the Yan Family members all had their calculations.
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