Chapter 422: Meeting
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Zhaohua Courtyard where Mu Yangling and the others lived was not far from Zhaode Hall. There was only a very small garden between them, putting the two residences about 200 meters apart. Also, there was a small door connecting the two courtyards to the garden. According to Mu Yanglingâs understanding, this door was usually closed at night. These two side-doors were guarded by an old woman, and the key was in her hand.
As this was not Zhaohua Courtyard or Zhaode Hall, if she wanted to have the person replaced with her own, she had to tell Qi Haoran and let him handle it.
Mu Yangling calculated the number of people in her heart and decided to choose an old woman from her residence to take care of this door. Although she could climb over the wall without going through the door in an emergency, she felt that it was more normal to go through the door.
This way, there would be even fewer people for her to assign to Zhaohua Courtyard. It was inevitable that she would need a few servants arranged by the
Qi Manor.
Mu Yangling directly handed the matter to Mama Wang and said, âYou can arrange for the people sent over from the Qi residence. The key positions should be held by our people.â
Mama Wang said, âFourth Madam, since thereâs no small kitchen in the residence, why donât we deploy the people in the small kitchen first?â
When they came, they brought along the people who worked in the kitchen. They planned to set up a small kitchen for Li Jinghua, but there was no such precedent in the Qi Manor. They all ate together in the big kitchen, so those people could not be deployed.
However, Mu Yangling said with a smile, âDonât worry, your Fourth Young
Master will arrange it.â
Considering this was Qi Xiuyuanâs first legitimate child, Qi Haoran naturally had to be very careful. He definitely had to separately handle something as important as food, so they would certainly set up a small kitchen in Zhaode
Hall.
That night, the Qi family reunited. Mu Yangling and Li Jinghua finally met the master of the Qi Manor, Qi Feng, as well as his two sons, Qi Shaosheng and Qi Shaotai, and their children.
Qi Shaosheng had a three-year-old son, Qi Ming, while Qi Shaotai had a one-year-old daughter, Qi Jin. Both of them were legitimate children. As they were still young, their wet nurse followed them around. Mu Yangling and Li Jinghua simply prepared some small gifts for them and that was it. The children were too young and had been taught to be obedient and quiet. They were indeed not much fun to play with since they were sitting obediently in the wet nurseâs arms.
Madam Wu was still fuming about the fact that Mu Yangling had sent all the servants from Zhaode Hall back. Seeing that the two of them wore sullen expressions, Qi Feng had even taught Qi Haoran a lesson in the afternoon. However, Qi Haoran had straightened his neck and shouted, âThis is for the sake of the baby in Sister-in-lawâs stomach.â
Qi Feng was furious. âIs there anyone in the family who would harm her?â Qj Haoran sneered. âFather, if you dare to vouch for these words, Iâll let you make the arrangements. However, if anything really happens to the child in Sister-in-lawâs stomach, donât blame me for disregarding our father-and-son relationship. When the time comes, no matter if heâs the Emperor, Iâll dare to slaughter him!â As he spoke, his eyes met Qi Fengâs ruthlessly.
Qi Feng was even angrier. It was not only because of Qi Haoranâs attitude, but also because he did not dare to make this guarantee. Qi Feng felt waves of pain in his ribs. He felt that his youngest sonâs return could shorten his lifespan by ten years.
He clutched his chest and said, âUp to you. If anything happens, donât look for
me.â
Qi Haoran snorted. âOf course not. Whatâs the use of looking for you?â Qi Fengâs face contorted for a moment. Thinking that he was still waiting for His Majesty to summon him, he took a deep breath and softened his voice. âDo you know how to reply when you see His Majesty?â
Qi Haoran said inexplicably, âOf course Iâll speak the truth. Could it be that Father actually wants to deceive His Majesty?â
Hence, Qi Feng was angered again.
At this moment, when he saw Mu Yangling and Li Jinghua, he naturally did not have a good expression. However, he was a father-in-law, so it was not appropriate for him to teach his daughter-in-laws a lesson.
Madam Xu and Little Madam Wu naturally wouldnât speak up unnecessarily when their in-laws were in a bad mood. Hence, the Qi familyâs reunion meal was very depressing.
At night, Mu Yangling rolled into Qi Haoranâs arms and said, âRemember to set up a small kitchen for Sister-in-lawâs residence tomorrow. Weâll buy the ingredients ourselves.â
Qi Haoran hugged Mu Yangling and rubbed her body. âNo problem. Iâll give the order tomorrow morning. Itâll be done in the afternoon.â
Mu Yangling slapped his hand away and said, âAlso, we have to replace the people at the two side doors with our people, and the key has to be in our hands.â
Qi Haoran nodded as his hand slid into Mu Yanglingâs clothes naughtily. Mu Yangling pulled his hand out and turned over, then said sleepily, âHurry up and sleep. I still have to wake up tomorrow morning to serve tea.â
Qi Haoran felt a little regretful, but he also knew that his wife was extremely tired, so he hugged her and closed his eyes to sleep.
Due to the humidity in the room, there was still a faint smell of decay after an entire afternoon. Mu Yangling muttered, âI donât like sleeping on the bed. I still prefer the brick bed.â
Qi Haoran patted her shoulder and said, âLet them dry the blanket tomorrow and smoke the room. If you donât like to sleep on the bed, weâll sleep on the couch until the weather is warmer.â
âHOW can you fit in it considering itâs so small?â Mu Yangling mumbled as she fell asleep. When she woke up the next day, Qi Haoran had already returned from practicing martial arts.
Mu Yangling did not expect herself to sleep so deeply that she did not even know that Qi Haoran had woken up.
When Qi Haoran came in and saw that she was in a daze, he asked, âWhatâs wrong?â
Mu Yangling said, âI think my vigilance has deteriorated. I didnât at all sense that you had woken up.â
âThat was because you were sleeping beside me.â Qi Haoran said proudly, âI gave you a sense of security.â
Mu Yangling instantly stopped feeling sad. She got up and said, âGet out. I want to change.â
Qi Haoran snorted. âYou never admit to such things even though itâs the truth. However, he still left the room to let Mu Yangling change.
Mu Yangling changed her undergarments before calling Spring and Rain in. It was better to leave the matching of clothes to them.
When Mu Yangling went out, Qi Haoran was already sitting at the table eating pastries. He handed Mu Yangling a bowl of porridge and said, âThey made this with a small stove. Fill your stomachs first. I wonder if sheâll torture you this morning.â
There was no one else in the room, so Mu Yangling frowned and asked, âWere we too aggressive yesterday? Will outsiders say that weâre unfilial?â Qi Haoran sneered. âDo you regret it now? Why didnât you think of it when you talked back yesterday?â
âWerenât you the one who flared up first? I was influenced by you.â Qi Haoran raised his head smugly and said, âDonât worry about her. Calling her âMadamâ is flattering her.â Qi Haoran sneered. âHer âMadamâ title isnât even supported by a marriage contract. Even if the genealogical tree records that she has been promoted, without a marriage contract, sheâs not recognized by the law as the legitimate wife. Therefore, you and Sister-in-law donât have to be restrained. If you donât want to salute them in the morning and at night, donât go after tomorrow. Iâll talk to Father.â
Mu Yangling shook her head. âNo, I still have to be polite on the surface. Even if I donât go, Sister-in-law will definitely go. I might as well stay by
Sister-in-lawâs side.â
âThen donât talk so much. Just eat more. Leave the inner residence to Sister-in-law. Donât flare up when youâre wronged. Come back and tell me. Iâll avenge you,â Qi Haoran said as he stroked Mu Yanglingâs hair.
Mu Yangling pursed her lips and smiled. After finishing the porridge, she went to Zhaode Hall with Qi Haoran, before going to serve tea with Li Jinghua..