CH 103.1

For this trip to Duke Ningguo Manor, besides Yaoniang and Xiaobao, Consort Jin, Side Consort Xu and Side Consort Liu were also going.

Consort Jin was the legal wife of Jin Wang. Since Jin Wang and his family had returned to the capital, a visit to his maternal home was to be expected. Jin Wang wasn’t able to go himself, so Consort Jin would naturally visit on his behalf. As for Yaoniang, she’s the biological mother of Xiaobao. Now that Jin Wang has a child, naturally, the child would be brought over to visit his great-grandparents.

Duke Ningguo Manor was located in the northeast corner of the city, not far from Jin Wang’s Manor. After a quarter of an hour in the carriage, they arrived at their destination.

The entrance of Duke Ningguo Manor had the elegance and sophistication worthy of being a Duke’s residence, but it was a bit desolate. When Yaoniang and the others arrived, the main entrance was still shut. It wasn’t until someone knocked that a side gate opened from the inside.

Some people came out from inside. In the lead was a man that resembled a steward.

But this steward was a bit different from what one would expect. Not only did he have a three-inch scar on his face, but he also limped when he walked.

“The duke and the duchess are waiting inside, as well as the second master, second madam and the eldest madam.”

Consort Jin nodded with a reserved smile on her face, then led the people inside.

Along the way, the house felt deserted as they encountered very few people. Although Yaoniang was born in a small family, she also knew that this kind of situation was rare for a duke’s residence.

Thinking of Jin Wang’s weird tone from last night, she thought to herself that there was likely more to it.

They soon arrived at the main courtyard, Jingxin Residence. The courtyard was very spacious. Under the corridor, stood four maids in green, all standing with their heads down and their hands hanging by their side. As the crowd neared, one person went in to report, while the other three bowed to salute. When they stood up, they said that the duke and his madam had been waiting for a long time, and led everyone inside.

In the hall sat a few people.

Duke Ningguo and Duchess Ningguo sat in the main seats.

Duke Ningguo had white hair and a beard, but his face was firm. When he was young, he was a man of iron and blood. Now that he was getting older, his skin and flesh loosened, but his pair of eyes remained piercing and strong.

And Duchess Ningguo was also quite old. With a head of silver hair, her round face had many wrinkles, but her skin was still white and delicate. One could tell that she was an affable elderly.

Sitting below them on the left was a middle-aged couple. The man, seemingly in his thirties, was dressed in grey with thick eyebrows and sturdy facial features. He looked 70% similar to Duke Ningguo and strongly resembled him when he was the same age.

The woman sitting next to him was his wife. She looked strong, with fine brows and skin as fair as snow. Dressed in yellow, she looked decent but plain.

Sitting across from them was a chubby woman in her forties, looking very gaudy. There were gold flowers embroidered everywhere on her clothes. On her head was a set of rose gold hair accessories inlaid with rubies. All in all, her face seemed to scream riches and wealth.

To be honest, the woman’s dressing wasn’t unacceptable, and it fit her identity as a member of a ducal household. It’s just that she was the only one adorned so brightly in the entire room, so she was very eye-catching.

Yaoniang thought to herself that they were likely Jin Wang’s grandfather and grandmother, along with his second uncle, second aunt, and widowed eldest aunt.

After waking up this morning, Jin Wang briefly explained to her the general situation of Duke Ningguo Manor.

Sure enough, with Consort Jin leading the greetings, this was how she addressed them.

“Get up, there’s no need for you to bow since you’re pregnant, lest it affects the child in your belly.” When it was Yaoniang’s turn to salute, Duchess Ningguo reached out to help her up.

Second Madam Shen’s face flashed a hint of embarrassment. She stepped forward and said, “The respect that should be given, should be given. But just do it for father and mother. As for your second uncle and me, there’s no need to. Think of it as us feeling distressed on mother’s behalf.”

As she spoke, she winked at Duchess Ningguo. Only then did Duchess Ningguo realize that Consort Jin had already bowed. For her to let a small concubine skip the greetings now, would not be very appropriate.

It was also because Duchess Ningguo had been at the border in her early years that she rarely paid attention to this kind of etiquette. She simply blurted out those words after seeing Yaoniang pregnant with a big belly.

While they were speaking, Yaoniang had already bowed down. Not only did she pay respects to Duke Ningguo and his wife, but also Second Master Shen and Second Madam Shen. Because Eldest Madam Shen had been sitting to the side while Second Master Shen and Second Madam Shen were standing, Yaoniang bowed to her last.

Eldest Madam Shen received the ceremony without remorse. When Yaoniang straightened up, she raised her eyebrows and said, “Much better. It can’t be said it was the elders who didn’t let you salute. Feel at ease and pretend what happened just now didn’t happen.”

After speaking, she smiled and said to Duchess Ningguo, “Mother, you too. Yanru bowed to pay respects, but you didn’t want her to bow. You can’t treat them differently just because one is pregnant¹. “

These words made the atmosphere a bit awkward. It was unknown what Duchess Ningguo thought.

Duchess Ningguo was so embarrassed that her old face flushed.

Second Madam Shen tried to smooth things over. “Sister-in-law, mother saw that Yaoniang was pregnant and was afraid of disturbing the fetus.” Then she explained to Consort Jin, “Yanru, don’t misunderstand.” 

But the current atmosphere wasn’t something that could be alleviated by a sentence or two.

Yaoniang was also very embarrassed and felt as if she was being targeted by everyone.

Fortunately, Eldest Madam Shen didn’t make any other astonishing remarks. With Second Madam Shen smoothing things over, Consort Jin also didn’t make it difficult for her. Like this, the matter passed.

Second Madam Shen picked up Xiaobao then leaned over towards Duchess Ningguo to show her. “Mother, don’t you think he looks like His Highness when he was a child?”

Duchess Ningguo was getting old, but her body was still healthy. Only her eyesight was a little dim. She peered at him for a while before she could finally see clearly. Her eyes turned red, and her mouth murmured, “Alike, really alike!”

Actually, Xiaobao didn’t only resemble Jin Wang, but also Consort De. Shen Luan was akin to the pearl of Duchess Ningguo’s palm.