Wei Changying heard that and said, "Do you want me to ask my grandmother?"
"Now the situation on the side of Song Duan was not yet clear. If you had gone to ask, how do you want your third aunt to answer?" Madam Song scolded lightly. Because the house was full of confidants at the moment, she was not afraid to tell the truth to her daughter, "Since your grandmother has not mentioned the marriage of Gaochan these days, I am afraid that last time your third aunt said that your grandmother has aware of the marriage was only an excuse. Now your grandmother didn"t even have time to worry about you and Changfeng, how can she have the mood to worry about the third branch? Not to mention that the background of Song Duan has not known yet. If you go and bother her now, your third uncle will be scolded without the quick prevention of your third aunt. In this case, you don"t have to worry about it. I"ll go and talk to your grandmother with your third aunt later when she finds out everything."
Wei Changying was about to say yes, when Madam Song suddenly said, "Take this back and remember to apply it after taking a bath in the evening. Don"t wipe it off. Just sleep with it all night, and your face will be for sure recovered tomorrow."
She took out a celadon bottle from her sleeve as she said that. It was a very small bottle. Seeing Wei Changying looked confused, Granny Shi explained, "This is snow lotus cream. Didn"t First Miss get sunburned two days ago? Madam urged people to craft it, but it"s a pity that it"s not easy to store, so it can only be crafted when needed. Yet, it"s extremely moisturizing for the skin, especially for sunburns. Your skin will be for sure recovered if you apply it."
In the beginning, Wei Changying was worried about the reprimand from Madam Song, so she acted on purpose to cry about the ache from sunburn on her face. In fact, she didn"t get such a bad sunburn. Therefore, when she realized that Madam Song still remembered this even if she was busy these days, she was moved by it. She took the bottle personally and put it into her arms. "No wonder my cousin always envies me." She said, "It"s really different to have the love from my natural mother."
Madam Song was relieved to hear this and said, "It"s natural. You are the only apple of my eye. If I don"t love you, who else can I love?" After she said this, she thought right away that she should not say it in this way. It would be all right to say this to the second son. This eldest daughter is used to take advantage of people, and she has been self-taught to be spoiled and pampered since she was a child. It wouldn"t be that good if these words made her even more arrogant and unruly.
However, it was too late to correct herself, and Wei Changying triumphantly said, "I knew my mother loves me the most so that mother will make everything follow my will!"
Madam Song could only sigh and told her one last thing before letting her go, "Go dinner with your father the day after tomorrow! Think about how to dress up and put away all your messy things that will worry your father! If you say anything that annoys your father, see how I would hit you afterward!"
Although Wei Zhenghong was weak and sick, he had a good relationship with Madam Song. But Wei Zhenghong"s body was so weak that even if the Wei Family tried every means to take care of him and extended his life, he could not bear any noise. Therefore, after Wei Changying and her brother born, the couple started to live separately. After all, children always had to be noisy.
After that, out of the guard against the second branch and for the sake of the future of Wei Changfeng, Old Madam Song insisted that Madam Song became the family head. In the courtyard of the Madam in charge of the family, many people naturally went in and out to ask for instructions so that it was impossible for the courtyard to be silent. Therefore, even after Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng grew up and lived alone, Madam Song did not live back with her husband. After all, Old Madam Song"s arrangement was also for the long-term consideration of the eldest branch.
The present situation is that Wei Zhenghong had been served by several fine servants and lived in a secluded courtyard in Ruiyu Hall for many years. Only when he was in good health could he be reunited with his wife and daughter. But it would be only having a meal together and talked a few words. Because they couldn"t see each other every day like an ordinary family, for the eldest branch, such a reunion was like a holiday. The mother and sons would all start thinking about what they would wear and what to say a few days ahead. In short, they all tried their best to make Wei Zhenghong happy and ease.
For example, Wei Changying"s naughty since she was young and the warning from the future mother-in-law this time. These things would never be revealed in front of Wei Zhenghong.
For this father, who had been ill for a long time and rarely seen, Wei Changying did not dare to impudent, and she said yes. She then asked Madam Song whether she had other instructions before she retreated.
Two days pa.s.sed in a flash, and it was the time for the eldest branch to be reunited.
The Leyi Yard, where Wei Zhenghong lived, was at the southeast corner. The location was warm and now it was even more wooded during this season. Because Wei Zhenghong was afraid of noise, cicadas were all glued cleanly. In summer, walking into the courtyard under the shade of the trees and flowers, with the fragrance of medicine filled up the air, everyone only felt calm.
Although this eldest son of the family was rarely seen in Ruiyu Hall and had been ill for a long time that he often lay on the soft couch even when he met his wife and daughter, it could not hide his elegant demeanor. Wei Zhenghong was in his forties, but he looked only more than 30 years old. His eyebrows were like swords, his eyes were black and bright, his nose was fairly high. All in all, he was extremely handsome. If not for his pale lips and pale complexion due to the resting in house for a long time which showed the weakness of his body, he did not look like a patient but was more similar to the elegant celebrities who leaned on the soft couch and took a nap in the afternoon.
The two things that distinguished family cared about, manners and gestures, were shown entirely on him. This could not be concealed by the sickness.
It was just that no matter how good Wei Zhenghong looked, whenever he spoke, he would reveal that he was short of breath. His voice was light and fluttering and was difficult to hear clearly if not close enough, "Changying looks very refreshed in this garnet dress today."
Wei Changying today"s costume was picked with Mrs. He"s help, garnet and twining magnolia dark embroidery, watercolor dress, red waist, single bun on the head, two magnolia hairpins on the head. The weather was already hot now, and garnet red was the reddest and the most gorgeous color. People would be a little irritable when they saw her clothes. However, here at Leyi Yard, red flowers and green leaves matched each other, so that made her beautiful appearance even more elegant that it was almost impossible to look directly at her.
Hearing her father"s praise, Wei Changying smiled and said, "I knew my father would praise this outfit. Before that, my mother asked me to change into another cloth with the color of lotus! How can the color of lotus be as bright as the garnet red?" Saying this, she made a face to Madam Song.
Wei Zhenghong smiled softly. With unspeakable grace, he said in a slow voice, "The color of lotus will also be great. My daughter is born to be beautiful so that everything will look good on you."
Although it was a saying that was common to be used by parents to coax their daughters, when said by him, it seemed convincing for no reason. He had been ill for a long time, yet he still had such an elegant demeanor. No wonder Old Madam Song took great care of this son that she couldn"t let go of him and reconcile with the reality.
It was only that Wei Zhenghong was born with a long illness, yet he was able to cultivate this prestigious demeanor. If he had been a healthy person, what was more to worry about the branch of Wei Huan?
Madam Song glared at her daughter and spat, "Don"t always spoil her! She is more and more unruly now. I can"t control her anymore."
"How couldn"t my mother control me?" Wei Changying flattered, "I listen to my mother"s words the most!"
"It"s not easy for your mother to take care of you, so don"t let her worry too much." Wei Zhenghong still smiled and advised in a soft voice.
After Wei Changying stuck out her tongue a bit and said yes, Wei Zhenghong turned to Wei Changfeng and said, "How"s your schoolwork these days?"
"Both the teacher and grandfather said that I was diligent." Wei Changfeng said respectfully and modestly. He was a typical son of a famous family that he had already paid great attention to gestures and speech at an early age. Although he tried to be elegant and calm even when facing his biological father, he looked a little inexperienced because of his age. His gestures and demeanors were far less than Wei Zhenghong"s elegance which infiltrated deeply into his bones, and he always looked a little stiff when compared to his sister.
Yet Wei Zhenghong had different requirements for his children, he had only one son. Although he didn"t share the feeling with Old Madam Song who considered Ruiyu Hall and Wei Huan"s everything should belong to Wei Changfeng, he also hoped that his only son can be the pillar of his branch. Therefore, he was very satisfied with Wei Changfeng"s sensibility. He said softly, "Zhijiao is well-known far and wide, and it is your blessing to be able to study with him. Although you have won praise, you still can"t be slacking off."
Wei Changfeng hurriedly answered, "Yes, father."
Madam Song scolded, "Changfeng"s schoolwork is very good. I don"t worry about it at all." Knowing that Wei Zhenghong had limited energy, when she saw that he had already asked about his children, she changed the subject and said, "How have you been these days? Do you feel better?"
A faint smile appeared on Wei Zhenghong"s pale face. In the smile, there was tiredness and helplessness that could not be concealed, but he said, "I"m better now."
His illness was brought out as he was born. It was congenitally inadequate, so it was beyond the human power to help with it. At that time, Wei Huan and Old Madam Song asked the famous doctor in the country to live in the Wei Family for two years before Wei Zhenghong recovered slightly. However, it was only hung on to his life with medicine after he had a pair of children.
Even so, he still had minor illnesses from time to time. While he looked elegant and leisurely, in fact, he had to suffer every few days. And it was common for him to toss and turn all night when he didn"t feel well. Even the famous doctor who had been hired before could not do anything about this. He had done his best to extend Wei Zhenghong"s life to this point.
Wei Zhenghong knew very well about his body, and he would be dragging his days like this throughout his life. Although living was suffering for him, he was willing to live in such a painful but gratifying life for the sake of his children and parents as well as his cousin, who had been married here for decades to be the pillar of the eldest branch regardless his poor health.
Wei Zhenghong had become accustomed to this kind of pain, but Madam Song had been gripping her heart for him. In order not to worry his wife, he didn"t want to talk much about his health at this moment. He changed the subject and said, "Last time Changying just mentioned lotus seed cake, and Lu Quan went to the garden early this morning to pick lotus seed. You all can taste it later."
His purpose of changing the subject was obvious, and Madam Song could not help but look gloomy when she understood the meaning. It was not that she didn"t know that her husband"s health would be like this, but she didn"t want to give up. She hoped that one day she might find another great prescription or heaven would have mercy to make Wei Zhenghong suddenly get better so that the couple supported their eldest daughter and young son together and relied on each other.
The couple was feeling sad. Fortunately, Wei Changying was lively that she grinningly leaned on father"s bed and said, "Lotus seed cake? Father, you didn"t know that my maid was playing with water in the garden two days ago. She picked wild water chestnuts back. I ate a few of them, and I thought they had a unique flavor. Why don"t we let Lu Quan make water chestnuts cake next time?"
Madam Song immediately glared at her, "Your father remembers the food you mentioned casually, yet you are changing fast!"
"It"s just a pastry. Since my daughter has asked for it, how can I not to satisfy her?" Wei Zhenghong smiled gently and raised his hand to the servant nearby, "Write it down and ask Lu Quan to make them next time."
Lu Quan was the person in charge of Wei Zhenghong"s diet in Leyi Yard. Speaking of it, he was taught by that famous doctor at that time. He was good at a medicinal diet, but he could also cook ordinary food in a unique way. Even if Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng were extremely picky about eating, they still admired his cooking.
... As they talked about eating, Wei Zhenghong might just as well order to begin dinner. The lotus seed cake mentioned by Wei Changying last time was served first, accompanied by Poria cocos cake, cloud bean rolls, and litchi porridge.
Seeing the lotus seed cake with light green and lovely color and sprinkled with a layer of sugar, Wei Changying"s eyes were brightened. She clipped one and put it in front of Wei Zhenghong. At the same time, Wei Changfeng also raised his sleeves to serve Madam Song one cake. After Wei Zhenghong smiled and asked them to help themselves, the brother and sister began to eat happily.
Wei Zhenghong had been ill for a long time and had medicine three times a day so that his appet.i.te was naturally not good. Madam Song was worried about her husband, she also did not have much interest in pastries. Both of them ate a little casually. On the contrary, Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng were at the young age of having a good appet.i.te that they ate very happily. The couple looked at their children"s healthy and lively appearance, the gloom that they had due to the worry toward Wei Zhenghong"s health had unwittingly dissipated.
When Wei Changying finished one and wanted to have one more, Madam Song said hurriedly, "Don"t eat too much. This thing is made of glutinous rice. If you eat too much, I"m afraid your stomach will get stuck!"
Wei Changying had to reluctantly look at the lotus seed cake when she heard this. She took a casual bite of a piece of Poria cocos cake and threw it back to the plate in front of her. When Madam Song was about to give her daughter a lesson about not wasting again, all the dishes started to come up one after another. It was family banquets and because of Wei Zhenghong, most of them were medicinal meals and only two cold dishes were served.
After fresh bamboo shoots mixed with celery and steamed garden chrysanthemum, the next dish was a soup with caterpillar fungus and duck. Without paying attention to what she wanted to say before, Madam Song hurriedly rolled up her sleeves and served soup for her husband. Thus, Wei Changying got the chance to muddle through it.