The next day, Matriarch He was actually bedridden. Among all the masters in Count Jing 'an's estate, only the eldest son, He Changqi, was in good health.

He Changqi was actually very worried and didn't have the mood to celebrate the new year. He left early and returned late every day to find out about the situation in the northern border army. He even used his connections to ask Princess Wei about it.

That morning, Count Jing 'an's estate, which had been quiet since the end of the year, was bustling with activity.

A few carriages bearing the banner of Count Jing 'an's estate stopped in front of the estate.

Soon after, a maidservant in a green dress jumped down from the carriage at the very front. The maidservant hurriedly placed a wooden stool by the side of the carriage. Then, she lifted the curtain and carefully helped the person in the carriage down.

The first to come out was a young girl wearing a dark green hood. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old and had a slender figure. She wore a plain short jacket and a crabapple skirt. Then, the young girl helped a middle-aged woman out of the carriage.

The woman was slightly plump and wore a green brocade cloak. Her hair was combed into a spiral bun, and there was only a silver peach blossom hairpin in the black bun.

The woman turned her head slightly and patted the young girl's hand as if comforting her softly.

The face that was revealed in front of others actually resembled Matriarch He of Duke Jing 'an's estate.

"Nianzhen, this is your maternal home."

He Ying's voice was clearly excited. She looked at the lintel of Count Jing 'an's estate with nostalgia and greed.

Pan Nianzhen hugged her mother's arm tightly. Her slightly slender eyes nervously and enviously looked at the thick and luxurious signboard in front of Count Jing 'an's estate, as well as the luxurious houses behind the high walls.

She swallowed nervously. "Mother, my maternal grandfather's house is so big. I've never seen such a big yard before. Can we live here in the future and not leave?"

He Ying smiled. "Of course. Since we're back, no one can chase us away!"

Senior Servant Liu had already come out to welcome them after hearing the servant's report.

Ever since He Ying married far away to Siyang, they hadn't seen each other in decades. Senior Servant Liu had mixed feelings when she saw the former eldest miss of the He family again today.

Liu mama walked in front of He Ying and first bowed to He Ying with the servants. Then she raised her head and said, "Eldest Aunt, you must be tired from the journey. Quickly follow this servant into the fu."

Even though they hadn't seen each other for so many years, He Ying still recognized the old maid who was more well-dressed than her at a glance.

"Nanny Liu, how have you been?"

After that, He Ying frowned and looked at the servants who came out with Nanny Liu to welcome her. Suddenly, she laughed mockingly, "How unwelcoming of me is it that you only sent servants to welcome us."

Liu momo's expression changed. She pursed her lips and swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She bowed her head and respectfully replied, "Eldest Great-aunt doesn't know, but the male masters in our fu aren't at home. Old Matriarch and Furen are bedridden, so it's this old servant's turn to go out and greet you."

He Ying frowned. "Mother is sick?"

Mammy Liu nodded worriedly, "First Madam and Young Lady, please go into the mansion and listen to me in detail."

He Ying didn't make a sound and allowed the servant girls to escort her mother and daughter into Duke Jing 'an's fu.

Qingwen Hall had already received the news. Perhaps it was because she was finally going to see her daughter after several decades, but Old Matriarch was in much better spirits than two days ago. She forced herself to get out of bed and walk around.

Old Matriarch allowed the servant girls to help her get dressed. Mu Xiang helped her to the warm kang bed in the reception pavilion and sat there, waiting to see her daughter who had been married away from home for several decades.

Old Matriarch He's pair of old eyes glanced at the door curtain from time to time and urged, "Mu Xiang, send someone to ask if the mother and daughter have entered the rear courtyard."

Mu Xiang pursed her lips and smiled. "Alright, this servant will go now. Old Matriarch, don't be anxious. Eldest Aunt has already arrived at the fu. She will enter the inner courtyard soon. Nanny Liu also sent a sedan chair. The people carrying the sedan chair are all old maids with fast feet. There won't be any delays."

Old Matriarch sighed. "I know, but I can't help but be anxious."

Mu Xiang walked to the door of the reception pavilion and had just drawn the heavy felt curtain when she saw Nanny Liu leading a group of people into the corridor. She immediately turned around happily to report the good news. "Old Matriarch, Eldest Aunt is here."

"Quick, welcome her in!" Old Matriarch was so happy and excited that she wanted to get up from the warm kang bed. Mu Xiang was so frightened that she hurriedly went to support her.

He Ying, who was originally full of arrogance, immediately changed her expression when Nanny Liu lifted the felt curtain.

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When she entered the reception pavilion, she fixed her gaze on Old Matriarch who was standing by the warm kang bed. Almost instantly, tears slid down her eyes.

"Mother!"

Old Matriarch looked at her daughter who had turned from a young girl to a middle-aged woman. Her old eyes were cloudy and she couldn't hold back her tears.

"Sister Ying, come to mother and let mother take a good look."

He Ying quickly walked into Old Matriarch's arms. Mother and daughter had not seen each other for decades and they cried bitterly in each other's arms.

Pan Nianzhen, who followed behind He Ying, carefully glanced at the benevolent old matriarch, then was attracted by the luxurious decorations in the reception pavilion.

She felt that her eyeballs weren't enough. She liked everything she saw and wanted to take it for herself.

Nanny Liu and Nanny Zhou were afraid that Old Matriarch's mood would go through ups and downs and she hurriedly consoled her. "Old Matriarch, now that Eldest Aunt is back and it's the New Year, you should be happy. Cousin Miss is still watching from the side!"

As expected, at the mention of Cousin Miss, Old Matriarch gradually calmed down no matter how agitated she was. Mother and daughter separated and wiped their tears. She first looked at her daughter and then at Pan Nianzhen.

He Ying pulled her daughter to her side. "Nianzhen, this is your maternal grandmother. Greet her quickly."

Pan Nianzhen was a little timid. She quickly glanced at the benevolent and dignified old matriarch before calling out in a low voice. "Maternal grandmother."

"Good child!" Old Matriarch reached out to hold Pan Nianzhen and looked her up and down. "How old is Nianzhen this year?"

He Ying looked at her daughter with a face full of relief. "She had her hairpin ceremony this summer. She'll be sixteen after the New Year."

Sixteen years old was a young lady in the Great Wu Dynasty. It was the age to discuss marriage and it wasn't suitable to delay it.

Old Matriarch immediately had an idea.

She pulled the mother and daughter to sit beside her. At this time, she naturally saw the mother and daughter's plain and somewhat shabby attire.

He Ying seemed to notice her mother's gaze and lowered her head in shame.

Old Matriarch frowned. "Why are you dressed like this?"

He Ying glanced at her mother. She opened her mouth but didn't say a word. She seemed very guilty.

"Even if you don't dress up properly, you should make some good clothes for Nianzhen.

At her age, it's time to dress up. "

When Old Matriarch said this, He Ying finally couldn't hold it in. "Mother, it's not that I don't want to, it's that I really don't have that much money on hand."

Old Matriarch couldn't believe it. "You used up all the money I gave you back then?"

At the mention of this, He Ying felt extremely wronged. "Mother, it's been so many years. How could there still be tens of thousands of silver left?"

Old Matriarch really hated iron for not becoming steel.

He Ying had the nerve to say it was only tens of thousands of silver. Tens of thousands of silver was a small sum?

Even if she used these tens of thousands of silver to buy a store, it would be enough to buy a dozen. Even if she only ate the rent from these stores, she shouldn't be so poor that she didn't even have the money to buy clothes and jewelry for her daughter.

Old Matriarch almost fainted from her daughter's words.

No matter how angry she was, she couldn't really watch her daughter and niece dress so shabbily.

Looking at her daughter up and down, Old Matriarch said, "You and your daughter will be temporarily settled in my Qingwen Hall. Ying jiejie's figure is about the same as mine at that time. Just put up with my best clothes for now. Mu Xiang will bring someone to get clothes for Eldest Grandaunt later."

Mu Xiang respectfully complied.

Old Matriarch sized up Pan Nianzhen, who didn't dare to raise her head, and felt troubled.

Pan Nianzhen was fifteen, the best age for a girl. Old Matriarch didn't have clothes for her to wear. Even if she called someone from the embroidery room over to measure a few sets of clothes, it would take a few days. It was nearing the end of the year. The silk and satin clothing stores outside had already closed and she couldn't buy them.

For a moment, Old Matriarch was really troubled.

Liu mama was the best at reading people's expressions. She laughed and suggested in a low voice.

"Old Matriarch, why don't you send someone to Third Madam's courtyard to ask?"

With Liu mama's reminder, Old Matriarch finally understood. Wasn't that right? San Lang's wife was also fifteen this year. Although the two children's figures were a bit different, they wouldn't be too different.

"Xiangyun, then bring Biao Xiaojie to San Lang's courtyard to borrow two sets of clothes for emergencies. Also, in the afternoon, have the fu's embroidery lady come over to measure the mother and daughter and make a few sets that can be worn." Old Matriarch He instructed Liu mama.

After making these arrangements, Old Matriarch held her daughter's hand and began to talk about these past years.

He Ying wanted to cultivate a good relationship with her mother and naturally served the old matriarch with all her heart. The mother and daughter talked about He Ying's childhood, all the way to lunch.

At noon, lunch was set out in the reception hall of Qingwen Hall. Old Matriarch He led the mother and daughter pair to eat.

On the table were eight treasure duck, pickled fish with pickled vegetables, flat bridge tofu, yuxiang shredded pork and a clear soup meatball. There weren't many dishes, but it made He Ying and her daughter dumbfounded.

They had never eaten or seen any of the exquisite dishes on the plates before.

The reception hall was filled with the tempting aroma of food.

"Mother, this … what are these?" He Ying pointed at the dishes on the table and asked, swallowing hard.

Speaking of this, Old Matriarch became proud. "These dishes were all thought up by that girl Lian 'er and taught to the fu's chefs. They're much better than the food we used to eat. Come, have a taste. Nianzhen, eat too."

He Ying was puzzled. "Mother, who is Lian 'er?

Your maidservant? "

Old Matriarch glared at her daughter. "What nonsense are you talking about? Lian 'er is your niece-in-law. She married San Lang at the beginning of autumn this year."

He Ying stared. "San Lang got married?"

"Child, you're getting older and older. San Lang is already twenty this year. How can he be delayed any longer!"

Hearing her mother's words, disappointment flashed through He Ying's eyes.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's eat first. After eating, I'll have Xiangyun tell you about the fu's matters."

Pan Nianzhen's mind was no longer on what her mother and maternal grandmother were talking about. She had just eaten a mouthful of eight treasure duck. It was so delicious that she almost swallowed her tongue. She couldn't help but think: how could there be such a delicious dish in this world?