The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 538 - 505: Maybe Our Families Will Be In-laws Someday (2nd Update)
Song Jiao looked at Lin Xiaoyue’s expression of utter dejection and laughed, "Isn’t this exactly what Third Uncle intended? Ever since Mr. Xu came, our family’s Jinbao has indeed become more diligent than ever. These past few days, he’s been impressive—ask him anything he’s learned, and he can recite it."
"Really that impressive?" Lin Xiaoyue said with a hint of skepticism.
"It’s true," Song Jiao replied, "If Madam doesn’t believe it, you can test him yourself when Jinbao comes out later."
"Test...that’s not necessary. I was just asking casually," Lin Xiaoyue didn’t want to reveal her limited literacy skills.
She really came to the Song family purely out of curiosity, and witnessing Mr. Xu Dengke teach was an eye-opener for her.
Unable to bear Xu Dengke’s exasperatingly slow pace, Lin Xiaoyue suggested leaving, so the two went to Qingteng Residence to see Wen Wan.
Wen Wan had someone prepare bird’s nest congee, serving three bowls.
With the hot weather, Lin Xiaoyue didn’t have much of an appetite. After a few sips, she put it down and told Wen Wan, "That Xu Dengke is something else. Watching him from outside earlier, I couldn’t resist the urge to kick the door open and shut him up."
Wen Wan also put down her small bowl, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and laughed, "It seems my husband was wise after all. Jinbao has made rapid progress these days. Have you considered sending your Ah Nuan to our house to start learning?"
"Ah Nuan is only three," Lin Xiaoyue was speechless. "Besides, even if my daughter has to study, she can’t learn the same things as your son! I should have her learn something different."
Yun Cai teased, "Since Madam Su and my Madam are so close, maybe they could be in-laws in the future."
No sooner had she said it than Lin Xiaoyue and Wen Wan said in unison, "Don’t be ridiculous!"
Lin Xiaoyue had never thought about it. Being best friends with Wen Wan meant that if their children married, all would be well if they got along, but if not, even the adults would feel awkward.
Wen Wan wouldn’t agree to become in-laws with Lin Xiaoyue either.
Lin Xiaoyue’s older sister-in-law was the late Empress, who was Emperor Guangxi’s lawful wife. Strictly speaking, Su Pingting was in the same generation as her and Song Wei, making Lin Xiaoyue technically a senior. Despite familial generations being distant, Wen Wan still felt it inappropriate and preferred to avoid a marriage alliance.
Yun Cai didn’t expect such a strong reaction from the two ladies to her words and turned pale with fright.
Song Jiao intervened, "The little maid was just making a thoughtless joke. Third Auntie shouldn’t mind her."
Wen Wan wasn’t angry. "It’s not about minding or not minding. It’s just that the adults of both families have no such intentions. Servants should not speak recklessly. Otherwise, the young lady of the Su Family could get a tarnished reputation at a young age. What will happen when she grows up?"
Yun Cai bowed her head in apology, "This servant knows I was wrong."
Wen Wan waved her hand, "You may withdraw for now."
After Yun Cai left, Wen Wan turned to Lin Xiaoyue, "Don’t take those words to heart. I guarantee no one will leak anything."
Lin Xiaoyue laughed, "Who knew we’d be so united in opinion on this matter?"
"How could we not be?" Wen Wan said, "I don’t even know what kind of person Jinbao will become. If your daughter married into my family, I could treat her as my own, but husbands and wives have their own matters. As a mother-in-law, how can I meddle? If things went poorly, our friendship might break too."
Lin Xiaoyue nodded in strong agreement, "That’s why I figured I must find her a reliable husband’s family in the future. The husband needs to be reliable, and so should the in-laws. I can’t end up like me, married by accident. My real mother-in-law has a soft personality, can’t fight at all, and let others scheme her into a coffin. The step-mother-in-law doesn’t care for a concubine’s daughter like me. As for the man, he’s even less reliable. It’s been ages since he went on campaign, and he hasn’t even written to me."
Wen Wan asked her, "Didn’t you say earlier he sends a letter every two months?"
"I lied. He only wrote when he won that battle in the Northwest to say he couldn’t return to the capital. The Emperor ordered him to continue attacking West Yue. The rest of the letters were written by his Hidden Guards. The ones who aren’t on the battlefield are lounging in our home. Even if the handwriting and tone are identical, I’m Su Qing’s first wife. How could I not notice the letters are fake over time?
Now I am without in-laws, and my husband is absent—I’m all alone. Do you think I must have committed some sin in my past life?"
"In times of war, a letter home is priceless, Dudu’s wife," Wen Wan said, "Su Dada is out there with soldiers gambling their lives every day studying tactics. Where would he find time to write you a letter?"
"I’m not complaining about him not putting effort into me. At least give me some definite news of life or death! I longingly wait day after day, how easy do you think it is for me?"
Wen Wan interrupted, "All right, stop grumbling. Every time you come here, it’s like a cloud covers our roof. Besides, he’s the Left Army Commander, a dispatched lead general. If something really happened, the news would have been reported urgently long ago. Why would you need to complain here?"
Lin Xiaoyue sniffed, "Are you comforting me?"
"Of course I am!" Wen Wan glared at her, "Can’t you look on the bright side of things? Don’t turn yourself into some resentful woman hidden deep within the chambers. Others who see you are worried too."
Lin Xiaoyue frowned, "Okay, okay, motherly nagging like a chanting monk—I just don’t enjoy your nagging."
——
After returning to the palace, Song Yuanbao told Zhao Xi about the situation with Xu Dengke.
Zhao Xi had heard something about this person during the spring exams but didn’t expect Song Wei would invite him to enlighten Jinbao.
"Why invite him?" Zhao Xi was puzzled.
Song Yuanbao found dry explanations uninteresting, "Didn’t Your Highness plan to go out and inspect the progress of the mansion construction today? I’ll swing by home and bring him to you. Once you see him, you’ll understand why."
Zhao Xi didn’t know what Song Yuanbao was planning but acquiesced to him bringing the person for a bit of insight.
After lunch, the two left the palace. Zhao Xi went to his newly constructed mansion, while Song Yuanbao rode home, struggling hard to get Xu Dengke onto a carriage.
When they arrived, Zhao Xi stood outside the gate, watching as Ah Gui carried the person over to him.
Ah Gui tried to bow to His Highness on behalf of his master but was stopped by Zhao Xi, who raised his hand, "Let him do it himself."
Ah Gui had no choice but to step aside.
Xu Dengke extended his hands, slowly combining them into a salute-like gesture, then bent over, taking a long time to deliver his greetings to Zhao Xi.
Song Yuanbao was observing Zhao Xi’s reaction the entire time, seeing no particular expression on his face. Once Xu Dengke stood upright again, Song Yuanbao asked, "What does Your Highness think?"
Zhao Xi gave Xu Dengke a thorough look and suddenly said, "Back then, Song Sicheng made a vow to the late Emperor to summon talents from across the land for the Imperial Family in order to protect Master of Demolition, Chu Xu. I think this one here is quite capable."
