The entire Marquis's mansion regrets it? Too late, their little one has become the darling of t

"The old lady of the Xingguo Duke's Mansion is celebrating her birthday, and she asked us to bring the children to offer our congratulations. She even specifically requested that the third branch of the family also bring their children. What exactly is going on?"

Cui Ruixin looked at the post in her hand, full of doubt.

"Could it be that Princess Ning Le gave her special instructions?" Li Shi reminded her.

Only then did Cui Ruixin remember Princess Ning Le.

After all, since Yu Ningyao was sent back to the Marquis's residence, she had never sent anyone to visit Yu Ningyao, nor had she taken Yu Ningyao to the Princess's residence to play.

Now that the nanny reminded her, she remembered that the Xingguo Duke's Mansion was Princess Ning Le's maternal grandfather's family.

"She's lucky," Cui Rui thought, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.

Even though she was unwilling, she still ordered someone to tell Shen Jinzhu the news.

Yu Ningyao, standing to the side, was overjoyed to hear that she could go out and play.

Ever since Yu Ziying tried to sneak out through a dog hole to take her out to play, her mother has become exceptionally strict with them.

When Yu Ziying mentioned wanting to go out and play, his mother gave him the account book to test him.

At first he was very enthusiastic, but after doing a lot of calculations, he didn't want to do it anymore.

He'd rather stay home and play than ask to go out.

Fearing that Yu Ningyao would come and make a scene, and he wouldn't be able to fulfill his responsibility as a good older brother, he even started avoiding Yu Ningyao.

Yu Ningyao was speechless.

She was overjoyed to finally be able to go out and visit guests.

"You're so happy just hearing you can go have fun?" Shen Jinzhu smiled and gently pinched the tip of her nose.

"Happy~(*^▽^*)" Yu Ningyao smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Shen Jinzhu was infected by her smile and couldn't help but smile along.

"Then you'd better behave when you go, or next time Mommy won't take you out," Shen Jinzhu earnestly instructed her.

"Good girl, Yaoyao~" Yu Ningyao raised her hand and swore.

"Miss is so clever! It seems like she understands everything Madam says. I've never seen such a bright child before." Emerald, standing to the side, couldn't help but praise her with a face full of surprise.

Yu Ningyao gave her a silly smile: "Yaoyao~ Clever baby~"

"Madam, you see, I told you Miss was clever," Emerald said proudly.

Shen Jinzhu covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed.

She could tell that this child was more precocious than the other children.

But excessive wisdom can be harmful.

Shen Jinzhu thought of her third brother who had died young, and suddenly couldn't laugh anymore.

Her third brother, Shen Minglan, was the most intelligent child in the Shen family. He had a talent for studying since childhood, and the teachers in the county school all said that he would definitely become the top scholar in the imperial examination in the future.

The Shen family's hopes for changing their fortunes rested entirely on him.

This bright child died of a high fever at the age of ten.

"It doesn't matter if she's smart or not, as long as she grows up safe and healthy." Shen Jinzhu reached out and touched her daughter's head.

Yu Ningyao didn't understand why her mother's mood suddenly turned so down.

Did she say something wrong?

She didn't know how to comfort her, so she pressed her cheek against her hand and gently rubbed it.

A smile returned to Shen Jinzhu's face.

"Indeed, a daughter is a warm and comforting daughter. Adopting this child was definitely the best decision my husband and I ever made."

Later, in the days that followed, she reflected on those words countless times.

……

Soon it arrived at the birthday celebration of the old lady of the Xingguo Duke's Mansion.

The Marquis's residence had prepared a carriage, and Cui Ruixin and Shen Jinzhu set off together with their child.

Cui Ruixin dressed her daughter up in a very festive way, the kind of look that an elderly person would like at first glance.

Shen Jinzhu didn't dress Yu Ningyao up too elaborately. After all, if a child wears too much jewelry, she might bump into something and hurt herself, which would be counterproductive.

"Third sister-in-law, isn't it a bit too plain for Yaoyao to be dressed like this? Others might laugh at our Marquis's mansion for its decline." Cui Ruixin couldn't help but start finding fault as soon as she got into the carriage.

"Could it be that you've run out of your personal savings these days, housekeeper? If you're working so hard, you might as well tell your mother and stop pushing yourself."

On the surface, she was showing concern for the third wife's family, but in reality, she was mocking Shen Jinzhu for the fact that the housekeeper had been bribing the servants with money during this period.

We're so poor now that we can't even afford to buy jewelry for our daughter.

Even little Yu Ningyao understood the unspoken meaning behind those words.

Shen Jinzhu wasn't angry; she just smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. I don't feel tired at all. Money is something you can have more of the more you spend. It's all small change; there's no need to be stingy."

"Besides, the most important thing for a child is to be comfortable. Feel the fabric on Yaoyao's clothes; it's even more comfortable than the most popular Yusi brocade in the capital."

“This was sent by my family a few days ago. It’s a very popular cloud-mist silk fabric in the Jiangnan region. I heard that the empresses in the palace also use this fabric to make clothes. However, it’s produced in very limited quantities, so I only received three bolts. I gave one to my mother, one to Princess Anle, and the last one to Yaoyao to make new clothes. My sister-in-law didn’t get any. You don’t mind, do you?”

With each word she spoke, Cui Ruixin's expression grew more unpleasant.

Shen Jinzhu's words made her seem like someone who had never seen the world.

"Third sister-in-law, you're joking. What do I have to mind?" Cui Ruixin gave a fake smile and then shut her mouth.

For the rest of the journey, Cui Ruixin did not speak a single word to Shen Jinzhu.

Shen Jinzhu was able to enjoy some peace and quiet.

They soon arrived at the Duke of Xingguo's mansion.

The maids led them to the flower hall.

Many ladies were present, and upon seeing them, they greeted them with smiles.

The main purpose was to greet Cui Ruixin.

They didn't take Shen Jinzhu seriously, considering her to be just a merchant's daughter.

Cui Ruixin finally regained a sliver of her sense of superiority.

Shen Jinzhu was completely at ease, showing no sign of embarrassment.

She had become accustomed to this deliberate neglect.

"Lady of the Marquis of Jing'an, this must be your daughter. She's so adorable," said He Yunqing, the wife of the heir apparent, with a smile as she greeted Cui Ruixin.

“Yes, this is my daughter, Ruowei,” Cui Ruixin replied with a smile.

“What an adorable child! I took a liking to him the moment I saw him. I wonder if Madam would be willing to give this child to my son, Yuanzhi? The two of them could be betrothed as children, grow up together, and be childhood sweethearts—it would be a wonderful story.” He Yunqing’s words stunned both Cui Ruixin and Madam Ruan, the wife of the Duke of Xingguo.

Ruan glared at her daughter-in-law.

She clearly remembered that the imperial decree sent back by her sister-in-law in the palace was to have her grandson marry the legitimate daughter of the third branch of the Jing'an Marquis's family, even though Yu Ruowei was clearly the child of the first branch.

How did the daughter-in-law make a mistake?

He Yunqing ignored her mother-in-law's warning look.

She didn't want her son to marry an adopted daughter he had picked up, plus a mother-in-law from a merchant family.

Therefore, she chose to finalize her youngest son's marriage on the day of her husband's grandmother's birthday, in front of all the noble ladies in the capital.

That way, even if the imperial concubines in the palace blame her in the future, she can claim that she misheard and only remembered that she was to marry the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jing'an.

Cui Ruixin never expected that the Duke of Xingguo's family would be interested in forming a marriage alliance with them.

But she didn't want to!

She had high expectations for her daughter; even if she couldn't be the Crown Princess or a Princess, she wanted her to be the matriarch of the sect.

How could a mere young son of a duke's mansion be worthy of her, Weiwei?

The eldest son inherits the title, while the youngest son usually gets very little property and has to live at the mercy of his elder brother for the rest of his life.

Just think about the life Shen Jinzhu is living now; isn't that exactly what Weiwei will live in the future?

Cui Ruixin has always been proud and arrogant, and she was unwilling to accept this verbal marriage agreement.

Just as she was about to think of an excuse to cancel the marriage, she heard a servant announce that Princess Ning Le had arrived.

Everyone hurriedly got up to greet her.

Princess Ning Le waved her hand, gesturing for them to sit down, and then she looked at He Yunqing.

"Congratulations to my cousin-in-law on finding Yuanzhi a wonderful wife. I also have some good news to announce, and I would appreciate it if you all could witness it for me. It's a double celebration."