Chapter 455: 451: Da He Returns_1

As they were talking, Aunt Jiang Yunniang came in, followed by the pregnant Hong Xiao.

Hong Xiao was already married and had happened to be visiting her parents’ home for New Year’s festivities that day.

“Yingbao,” Jiang Yunniang sat down next to Yingbao and handed her the box she was carrying, “This is the wedding gift I’m giving you.”

“Thank you, Aunt Jiang.” Yingbao accepted the gift, showing no hesitation, and asked, “Where do you live, Aunt? I’ll make sure to visit when I get the chance.”

She had heard her father say that he, along with her brother Dacheng, had bought a house in the county town for Aunt Jiang. This house was meant to be for Zhang Yuying’s wife, but the couple moved in as well. They argued that they had never technically split from the family, thus they should all live together to care for their mother in her old age.

Aunt Jiang was frustrated by their actions but couldn’t make them leave, so she had to endure them.

When Jiang Yunniang heard her niece wanted to visit, she was overjoyed. “I live in Willow Branch Lane, your mother knows where. When are you coming, Baobao? I’ll prepare dumplings for you.”

“I suppose I could come the day after tomorrow. I’ll use that time to familiarize myself with the house.” replied Yingbao.

Jiang Yunniang was moved to tears, knowing her niece was coming to her aid. Holding Yingbao’s hand, she said, “Alright, I’ll chop some more chives first thing in the morning.”

At this time, Hong Xiao stepped forward to perform a courtesy towards Yingbao, but Yingbao stopped her, “Cousin, there’s no need for formalities, you’re pregnant, please sit.”

The maid, Hupo, brought over a stool for Hong Xiao to sit down.

Hong Xiao was a bit tense. She smiled at Yingbao and greeted the elders present, then sat down on the stool, stealing glances at Yingbao, who was seated at the head of the table.

Yingbao was wearing a red gown adorned with golden phoenix patterns and a blue cloud-patterned shawl. Her hair was neatly coiled up, secured with a phoenix-shaped golden hairpin, flanked by two golden phoenix hairpieces. Her sparkling eyes and radiant teeth, as well as her delicate features, were as beautiful as ever, but now she carried an aura of authority.

Hong Xiao, feeling intimidated, stopped looking and listened quietly to the conversation.

Shortly after, the servants set up a feast in the side hall and invited the women to take their seats.

The main hall also had two tables prepared, and the celebration began.

As for the guards and servants, a feast was being prepared for them in the big kitchen, and they could eat when the masters were finished.

…

The next day, Jiang Sanlang and his wife took Yingbao and her husband back to the Plum Blossom Lane.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Dani running over, surprised at Yingbao’s appearance, “How have you changed so much?”

“What’s changed?” Yingbao laughed, “You’ve changed.” She felt Dani’s stomach, “You’re about seven months along, aren’t you?”

Dani blushed and nodded, taking Yingbao over to their grandparents.

Wei Zhan also came over, paid respect to his grandparents alongside Yingbao, and then distributed the gifts they brought.

Jiang Liu, Yingbao’s grandmother, was all smiles. She pulled Yingbao and Wei Zhan into the house and gave each of them a red envelope, “This is your New Year’s money.”

Yingbao laughed, “Grandma, we’re married now, we don’t need New Year’s money.”

“Who says!” Jiang Liu retorted, “We will give you New Year’s money until you have children.”

Dani chimed in, “It’s true, grandma said the same thing to me.”

Jiang Liu nodded her head with a grin, “Once you have children, I will give them New Year’s money instead.”

Just then, a few children ran in.

“They are Dani’s children, and that little girl is from my older brother’s family.” Dani introduced.

Yingbao took out a small silver gourd from her bag and handed them to the children.

Jiang Cheng’s youngest daughter, around four or five, was quite clever. She immediately bowed to Yingbao: “Happy New Year, Aunty!”

The other two followed suit, kneeling and bowing.

At this time, another girl, about six or seven, came in, leading a two or three-year-old boy.

“Happy New Year, Sister Yingbao.” Jiang’s younger sister formally greeted Yingbao and encouraged the little boy to wish his sister a happy new year.

Yingbao also handed gourds made of silver to Jiang’s younger sister and the little boy, saying, “Remember to put your brother’s silver gourd away later. Don’t let him put it in his mouth.”

“Alright.” Jiang’s younger sister was particularly sensible, “Don’t worry, Sister, I will put the silver gourd away.”

“Good, good. Little sister, you take our nieces and nephews to play now, I have to talk to your sister Yingbao.” Sister Dani had a lot to tell Yingbao and hurriedly dismissed the children.

Jiang’s younger sister glared at her, then finally left with her brother and the children.

A man named Wei Zhan also went out to talk to his father-in-law and Jiang’s two uncles about the agricultural and sericulture situations in Qinchuan County.

This county was also Yingbao’s fiefdom, and all taxes from this place belonged to her. Therefore, Wei Zhan needed to understand the situation here and review all the poor villages.

Inside the house, Sister Dani, eating snacks brought out by her grandmother, told her cousin, “Yingbao, let me tell you something, Chen Changping from the Xichen Village is back.”

Yingbao was surprised, “Chen Changping? I thought he was dead?”

“Who said he’s dead?” Dani popped a sesame candy in her mouth, creating a crunching sound. “I heard that the Emperor pardoned everyone, and he was released from the southern frontier.”

Yingbao was enlightened.

Chen Changping participated in the rebellion against the king, but he was just an unknown flunky. Maybe he wasn’t even a flunky, but was implicated in the mess and was sentenced to exile in the south.

Last year, when the Emperor celebrated the full moon feast for his son, he pardoned many people. Their crimes were less severe, and presumably, Chen Changping was among those pardoned.

Yingbao pretended to ask casually, “Is there anything special about him coming back?” This man was destined to be only a common man for the rest of his life. Even his scholarly reputation was probably gone.

Dani sneered, “As soon as he came back, he rushed to the Clan Leader saying he wants to teach at the school.”

Yingbao frowned, “With his abilities, he will teach? Which family would dare to let their child study under him?”

Dani chuckled, “That’s exactly what the Clan Leader said.”

“So what happened next?” Yingbao asked, “Did the Clan Leader let him teach?”

“No,” Dani grinned, clearly enjoying the story. “Why would they need him when they already have enough teachers at the school?”

Dani grabbed another handful of sesame candy, “Yingbao, you wouldn’t believe what’s happening now. Chen Changping is helping his second daughter sell dumplings at the market. Once they make some money, he takes it to town to gamble and loses it all. You can imagine how angry that would make Chen Zhao.”

Yingbao furrowed her brow.

Chen Changping’s behavior was within her expectations.

He wasn’t exactly a talented man to begin with. Once he fell into misfortune, it would be hard for him to rise again.

“Hey! I have one more thing to tell you.” Dani approached Yingbao with a mysterious air, her slightly corpulent face almost brushing against Yingbao’s nose.

Yingbao moved back a bit and asked, “What is it?”

“Lately, Chen Changping has been mentioning you to people, saying that you’re his daughter.” Dani winked at Yingbao. “He even went to your eldest uncle’s house to borrow money.”

Yingbao: “Did my uncle lend him the money?”

“Of course not. My uncle’s not a fool. If he were to lend money to that kind of person, who knows what kind of trouble he’d get into?”

Dani sighed and reached for more sesame candies, but Yingbao swatted her hand away. “Eat less sweet stuff!”