Dressed as a middle-aged mistress, I want to lie down every day

Mo Chenxi followed Mrs. Wang. The nanny who greeted them looked at her strangely because the two daughters-in-law of the Nie family were walking behind her.

The leading nanny, as Madam Li's confidant, only knew that the Wang family was the Empress Dowager's maternal family, and that Madam Wang's brother was mistakenly believed by Madam Zhong Hanlin to be the son of Madam Li's aunt.

But it was strange to see Mrs. He and Mrs. Wang walking side by side, while the two daughters-in-law of the Nie family were walking behind.

Mo Chenxi had some idea of ​​what the ancient scholar families looked like. They were simple, elegant, and grand in every way. The corridors were exquisitely carved, which was amazing.

When they arrived at the second gate, Mrs. Li came to greet them wearing a cotton cloak, followed by a group of female guests who had arrived earlier.

Madam Li was Madam Wang's elder, so Madam Wang quickly stepped forward and performed the formalities of a younger generation. "Madam Li, why are you out in such cold weather? I feel embarrassed."

Madam Li reached out her hand and took Madam Wang's. "Madam Wang is my benefactor. I drank Doctor An's medicine, which is why I can hold this banquet now. If the Wang family hadn't called Doctor An here, how would I have met Doctor An?"

She said this to the other female guests, explaining that the Li, Wang and Nie families had interactions because Doctor An cured her illness.

Mrs. Wang naturally understood what Madam Li meant. She smiled and said, "I am deeply honored that Madam thinks highly of my Wang family."

Madam Li led them into the reception room. After everyone sat down, Madam Li took off a jade bracelet from her hand and put it on Madam Wang. "This is what my mother-in-law gave me. It has been with me for many years. I think it fits you perfectly. Don't dislike it."

Mrs. Wang suppressed her tears and smiled, "How could I despise something Madam gave me? I felt a warm welcome the moment I saw Madam. Madam, please don't think I'm vulgar. I'll come to pay my respects to Madam often in the future."

Madam Li said, "I'd love to see you bring your sister-in-law and daughter with you. I'd be happy."

Mrs. Wang introduced Mo Chenxi, saying that she was a good friend she met in Beijing.

Mo Chenxi stood up and paid her respects to Madam Li. The nanny beside Madam Li brought out a wooden box. Madam Li took it, opened it, and took out a gold hairpin.

"It's the eldest aunt of the Mo family. I remember your father. My master said that your father is the most pragmatic official."

Mo Chenxi bowed again, and Madam Li personally interrupted her, "Mrs. Mo is so lucky, with both parents and well-behaved children. Please come often when you have time."

The female relatives didn't know why Madam Li praised the wife of a sixth-rank official so much, and only mentioned her parents' family without mentioning her husband's family at all.

Next, Mrs. Wang introduced her two sisters-in-law. Xiao and Shang came forward to pay their respects. At this time, all the female guests looked at Xiao, and each of them thought to themselves, "How beautiful! If a woman with such beauty existed when the late emperor was still alive, Concubine Jiang would have no chance."

Madam Li took out a pair of fan-shaped jade ornaments, all inlaid with kingfisher feathers and gold filigree on top. The backs were inlaid with pearls, red and blue sapphires, and jadeite, and the tails were decorated with rubies.

Madam Li placed a pair of Huasheng on Xiao and Shang respectively, tears in her eyes as she said, "Seeing you is like seeing my daughter. My daughter is about the same age as you. If she were still alive, she would have married a good husband and had children like you."

Mrs. Li had a daughter who died young, so when she was crying, others thought she was thinking about her daughter who died young.

There was a lady next to her who looked quite like her. She comforted her and said, "Today is a good day. Don't cry. The guests will not know what to say."

Mrs. Li wiped her tears and said, "Look at me, I'm so happy today. Ever since I got better, I wanted to invite everyone to come and have fun."

The female relatives who came today seemed to have made an agreement. None of them brought their daughters or young daughters-in-law. All of them were middle-aged and elderly. Almost all of them were ladies with imperial titles. Those who did not have imperial titles had family names or titles.

For example, the Ji family.

The person who came from the Ji family was the mistress of the Ji family, Ji Chen. She looked about the same age as Madam Li. When Ji Chen arrived, Madam Li led all the female family members to greet her at the second gate.

Mo Chenxi knew what a noble family was. Although he didn't have an imperial title, no one dared to look down on him.

Mrs. Li went up to her and called her cousin. It turned out that the two families were relatives.

Ji Chenshi had distinctly southern Fujian features, and her hair was styled differently from the other women in the household. Her expression was indifferent, and her gait was stern and straight.

Everyone sat down again, and Mrs. Li introduced Mrs. Wang and several others to her, and this time the last one she introduced was Mo Chenxi.

Mo Chenxi discovered that when Ji Chen looked at Xiao again, she was surprised for a moment, but quickly recovered.

She thought that Xiao's beauty made even the calm Ji Chen look surprised.

All the guests brought flowers. Ji Chen brought lilies. The servants placed the flower pots in place, saying that they were going to enjoy the flowers, but no one paid any attention to the flowers.

Except for Mrs. Wang and the other three women, the other female relatives knew each other. Perhaps it was because of Mrs. Wang or the presence of Ji Chen, but there was no laughter or joy at this banquet. Everyone was very nervous.

Mo Chenxi kept smiling. Fortunately, no one greeted her. When everyone came to talk to Madam Li Ji Chen, Madam Li introduced them to Mrs. Wang.

There were refreshments on the table, but hardly anyone touched it.

In less than an hour, Ji Chen was the first to say goodbye, followed by Mrs. Wang and the other three, all of whom were personally seen off by Madam Li.

After getting on the carriage, Mrs. Wang breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's really awkward. I still prefer our Guanzhong. In Beijing, I have to be careful about every move I make, for fear that others will laugh at me."

Xiao smiled and said, "I think my sister is very good. I am speechless. The mistress of the Ji family is full of bookish air. I can't help but think of the saying: "Books are full of beautiful women."

Shang continued, "What my elder sister-in-law said is true. No wonder my mother always told me before I left home to talk less and to learn more from my elder sister and sister-in-law."

Mrs. Wang said, "You should learn from your sister-in-law. I saw it and said that dog meat buns can't be served at a banquet. I was so nervous that my palms were sweating."

She then said to Mo Chenxi, “Madam He, I’ve seen you’re the calmest and most composed. People who grew up in Beijing are different from us.”

She was intentionally praising Mo Chenxi, and it was obvious that Mo Chenxi was as nervous as they were.

Mo Chenxi said, "I was pretending. I admired Sister Wang for her ease in conversation and laughter. And Aunt Xiangxiang, she looked like a fairy when she sat there, making it hard to look away. The ancients weren't wrong; there really is a beauty on the other side of the water."

Mrs. Wang laughed and said, "You still say you're dull, but when Mrs. He praises people, her mouth is like honey."

Xiao felt a little embarrassed by the compliment. She knew she was good-looking, and few people praised her so directly.

Mo Chenxi said, "I haven't praised you yet. What I said just now was from the heart. Knowing you, my life has not been lived in vain. Just thinking about it makes my heart full of joy."

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "You have said what I was going to say. I think knowing Madam He is my real joy."

She was talking and laughing, but she was thinking that Ji Chen was surprised by the bracelet on Xiao's wrist, not because of Xiao's beauty.

That bracelet is a family heirloom in the Nie family, passed down only to the eldest daughter-in-law and passed down from generation to generation.

It was given to Chengping by his father when he was ten years old.