CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER 337: I AM THE MARQUIS MANSION DOWAGER 26

Anning was pondering over which household to find for Wu Lan when Ruyue rushed in hastily, "Master, Miss Xu has arrived in the capital."

Anning couldn’t help but be delighted upon hearing this, "So soon."

Wu Lan too knew that Miss Xu was her aunt’s cousin. Upon hearing of her arrival in the capital, she too was quite happy, "Then you should hurry back, lest Cousin Xu becomes anxious not seeing you."

Anning couldn’t linger any longer; after a few words with Wu Lan, she hurriedly left.

Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion

Zhang Feng’er was reclining on a couch, listening to Xiao Xi recounting the events of the day when they went to receive Miss Xu.

"Second Mrs. had sent a servant girl to fetch Miss Xu, dispatching only one carriage. Second Mrs. said that not many from the Xu Family could come, so there was no need for such grandeur."

Zhang Feng’er’s eyes were piercing, her gaze filled with a trace of scorn, "You go and send a few more carriages over, lest Cousin Xu feels slighted."

Xiao Xi quickly agreed with a smile.

Zhang Feng’er looked down at her freshly painted bright red nails, "Our dear Lady sure has lived in comfort for too long, becoming so arrogant."

Even Zhang Feng’er was aware that the situation in the mansion was different from before.

Ever since the arrival of that aunt from her mother’s side, even the Old Madam steered clear, not daring to show her face. On the contrary, it was Second Mrs. who got more audacious, truly acting as if the Marquis Mansion was hers; she did as she pleased.

"When the Old Dowager returns, Second Mrs. might just receive a scolding," Zhang Feng’er speculated.

Xiao Xi responded with an agreeing smile.

It would please both mistress and servant if Second Mrs. faced difficulties.

Who asked Second Mrs. to harbor ill intentions? Fully aware that Zhang Feng’er was pregnant, she purposely sent her a wallet with added ’ingredients’.

If it hadn’t been for the Old Dowager spotting the anomaly, Zhang Feng’er’s pregnancy would have been in danger. It was not only the child that might have been lost, but Zhang Feng’er’s health could have also been ruined.

This matter made everyone from the main family wish they could flay Second Mrs. alive.

Especially Tang Tao, he now looked askance not only at Second Mrs., but even towards Second Old Master, he was quite dismissive.

Recently, Second Old Master asked Tang Tao to help with some affairs; Tang Tao retorted back at him, infuriating Second Old Master to the point of complaining to Old Master. He claimed Tang Tao showed no respect for his elders, only for Old Master to rebuke him as well, nearly causing Second Old Master to cough up blood in anger.

Zhang Feng’er was just musing over the misfortunes that might befall Second Mrs. when a young servant girl came to report that Anning had returned.

Zhang Feng’er hurriedly gathered her spirits to welcome her.

As it turned out, she saw Anning, all smiles, walking hand-in-hand with Xu Wan.

As it happened, Anning had encountered Xu Wan’s sedan chair outside the mansion.

At that time, Xu Wan was sitting in a small sedan, about to be carried to the West Corner Gate, when Anning intercepted and suggested they enter together.

Of course, Anning did not insist Xu Wan must enter through the main gate.

It is known that for a household like that of Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion, the main gate is rarely opened.

Except on significant festivals or when nobility visits, or to receive imperial decrees, besides these occasions, it is usually the various smaller gates or corner gates through which the masters of the house would come and go.

Xu Wan, being a junior, Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion wouldn’t possibly open the main or side gates to welcome her, but they also couldn’t let the child go through the West Corner Gate commonly used by servants.

Anning, however, did not scold the servants, nor did she rebuke Second Mrs.; she simply invited Xu Wan to enter warmly and with a smile.

Xu Wan was already acquainted with Anning, and she liked her a great deal. Without hesitation, she followed Anning inside.

Then, Anning did not directly take Xu Wan to the main quarters; instead, she went straight to Zhang Feng’er, asking her to bring Xu Wan to see Mrs. Song.

Anyway, Anning was not too keen on seeing Mrs. Song, feeling nauseated at the sight of this foolish woman.

But Mrs. Song was the mother of Tang Bai and Tang Zong, and the official wife of Tang Dingguo who was properly married according to social rites. For the dignity of the Tang Family, Anning couldn’t just do whatever she pleased with Mrs. Song.

All she could do was suppress her behind the scenes, preventing Mrs. Song from doing foolish things, but she also wouldn’t publicize the affairs of earlier years for the whole world to know.

However, Anning didn’t wish for Mrs. Song to perish too early either.

Getting rid of Mrs. Song too soon wouldn’t be very interesting.

The thing Mrs. Song most wanted to do in her life was to snatch the title away from the main branch of the family, which was her lifelong belief. Thus, Anning would make the main branch better and better, ensuring Mrs. Song would never be able to snatch the title, leaving her unsatisfied for life.

Zhang Feng’er warmly and affectionately pulled Xu Wan into the main room.

Mrs. Song had been waiting. As soon as the curtain was lifted, Zhang Feng’er led in a girl who looked skinny and frail, yet also had a fairy-like jade appearance. Mrs. Song’s tears instantly flowed down as she stretched out her arms to embrace Xu Wan: "My poor child, come here and let your grandmother take a good look at you."

There were also tears in Xu Wan’s eyes, but she still let her maidservant place a cushion for her to kneel on. After kowtowing to Mrs. Song and calling her grandmother, she then sat next to Mrs. Song.

When Xu Wan got closer, Mrs. Song originally wanted to cry again and talk about the deceased Tang Xu.

But then, upon seeing Xu Wan’s appearance more clearly, she suddenly found herself unable to cry.

Whether it was an inherited trait or not, Xu Wan looked strikingly similar to Anning—her eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, as if carved from the same mold.

This made Mrs. Song feel as if there was a thorn in her heart when she looked at Xu Wan, she just couldn’t show that kind of caring and loving attitude no matter what.

Come to think of it, it might also be a case of skipping a generation.

Anning and Tang Fang both had good looks, Anning with her incomparable beauty and Tang Fang, although a military general, also had a handsome and elegant appearance. Regardless of their personalities, the children of the Tang Family were all flawless in their appearance.

Most of these children resembled Tang Fang, and there were hardly any who looked like Anning.

It was only Tang Pei who bore some resemblance to Anning, and then there was Xu Wan.

Standing together with Anning now, Xu Wan looked just like a biological sister, leaving Mrs. Song feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Mrs. Song’s expression gradually turned cold as she looked at Xu Wan.

Xu Wan didn’t know why, she couldn’t understand why her grandmother, who was just crying and caring earlier, suddenly changed her attitude towards her.

Her mind was sensitive; she noticed the coldness in Mrs. Song’s demeanor in that instant, and she felt more uneasy.

Of course, Mrs. Song couldn’t truly be cold to Xu Wan. After a short while, she took Xu Wan’s hand and began to cry again: "I only had your mother as a daughter, I dearly loved her when she was at home, like the apple of my eye, who would have thought... It’s only been a few years since I’ve seen her, and she left me just like this, she was still so young, why did she leave so early, I’m in so much pain, it’s as if I, this old woman, should’ve left early instead, how wonderful it would have been had she lived."

Her crying caused Xu Wan to think of her deceased mother and she began crying too.

Zhang Feng’er stood by, gently comforting Xu Wan, and softly said to Mrs. Song: "Old Madam cares about your sister and loves your aunt, we all understand that, but you’re getting on in years, and seeing how my sister’s health isn’t so good after the passing of your aunt, it would not be good if she cries herself into sickness now."

Mrs. Song then took the hint and stopped crying.

Once Xu Wan had collected herself, she asked Xu Wan: "I see that you’re a bit frail, is there anything you lack? If you need any medicine, just tell your aunt, and she will prepare some for you."

Xu Wan hurriedly stood and said: "It’s only because I fell ill after my mother passed away and have not fully recovered yet. Otherwise, there’s nothing much; I’ve been robust since childhood. I only look skinny, but I haven’t really been sick, and there’s no need to trouble my aunt with medicine. Before coming here, my father specially found a renowned local physician to prepare Medicine Pills for me, and I have been taking them continuously. I dare not take any other medicine for fear of interfering with their effectiveness."

If it were before, Xu Wan would probably have just told the truth, that she has always been weak since birth and has been taking medicine ever since she was born.

But later on, Anning once visited Yangzhou and spent some time carefully instructing Xu Wan.

Anning told her that when away from home, one should never tell others about their own frail health. No matter who asked, she should always say that she has been strong since birth, only appearing thin.

Xu Wan was a well-behaved child, close to Anning, and she took Anning’s words to heart.

Thus, even today in front of her grandmother, she would not show any weakness.

Mrs. Song felt somewhat absent-minded: "You are a bit stronger than your mother, she was weak since childhood."