Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 630: Chapter 630: Conferment of the Title of Princess Ruyu
 

Compared to the lovey-dovey atmosphere over there, Elderly Mr. Di’s side was thunderclouds all over.

As Ms. Zhao returned to her room to check, she discovered a large part of her skin turned red from the scalding water.

“Oh my! This damn thing really intended to kill me! Look at this large red area, what a cruel heart…” Ms. Zhao cursed in fury.

While she was eager to make a fuss outside, she was afraid it would leave a scar. She quickly instructed her servants to fetch a doctor for treatment.

To her surprise, upon arrival, the doctor promptly cleaned his hands: “Old woman, you haven’t got any serious injuries! All you need is to soak in cold water for a time as long as it takes to make two cups of tea, and then you can get up!” After finishing, the doctor picked up his medicine box and left without prescribing any medication.

Two cups of tea again! The moment Ms. Zhao heard the word “tea”, she panicked!

Seeing the doctor about to walk out the door, Ms. Zhao shouted desperately: “Doctor, doctor! You…are not going to prescribe any medicine before you leave…”

The doctor walked away by himself, but Ms. Zhao did not dare to neglect and promptly commanded her servants to prepare cold water for her to soak in.

When she finally rose from the cold water, she remembered that she had missed dinner time, and ordered her servants to bring dinner from the kitchen. What they brought back were only some leftovers, which, for someone who was recently choosy about her food, was unacceptable.

She immediately exploded into a yelling fit that could be heard from far away.

Di returned from outside and could not stand her attitude any longer. He harshly criticized her.

“Have you had enough yet? You yell about everything all day. Look at yourself first before you want to play the role of an old lady laying down laws for a daughter-in-law. I think you have lost your mind and one day it might all be over for you when not even God can tolerate you anymore!”

With the old man’s words, he had poked a hornet’s nest!

“Well done, you, you old fool, are you cursing me to die? After years of dedicated care to you, you treat me like this…I can’t bear this anymore…”

The quarrel grew louder and louder, in the end, the two used both civil and military means, and the argument got more intense.

Although the noise from the old couple’s quarrel could be heard by everyone in the manor, no one was able to step forward to stop the fight. After all, what could a junior do on the spot except to be scolded? And who would want to play the part as a punching bag?

So, the noise went on until late into the night. When the bell of the fifth night watch struck outside, the quarreling finally stopped.

However, the result of the clash was that Ms. Zhao had been grounded by Elderly Mr. Di!

Rumor has it that she was grounded for half a month, but no one believed she could last even ten days.

Di Yelei originally planned to send someone to Lin County to store up on grains, but a big piece of news arrived unexpectedly the next day.

Early in the morning the next day, Liu Sisi was still in the side hall overseeing YingEr’s meal. The child had recently become addicted to sweets and had not been eating properly. Therefore, this morning, Liu Sisi insisted that she finish the half a bowl of porridge in front of her.

This plain rice porridge and small dish were generally delicious, but they were akin to poison for YingEr, who was craving sweets.

At the moment, she looked at Liu Sisi extending a spoon, and after a long time reluctantly ate a spoonful.

“YingEr, listen to me, eating too many sweets can not only make you pudgy, but can also cause cavities. That wouldn’t look good. If you finish this bowl of food, once you wake up from your afternoon nap, I will ask Nanny Hu to give you osmanthus cake, okay?”

YingEr’s eyes brightened in an instant, but she pouted, “Hmph! I don’t want to eat it, it tastes awful!”

“You…What a stubborn child…”

This stubborn child, who was arguing back and forth, made Liu Sisi laugh involuntarily.

Just as she was about to say something, a flustered soldier rushed in from outside: “Madam! A serious matter has arisen! Madam…”

“I, your lady, am still sitting here hale and hearty. What exactly has happened?”

The soldier was somewhat taken aback. Was Madam making a joking with him?

“Outside, the Imperial Envoy has arrived, he’s outside right now! He claims he is here to read the Imperial Decree!”

Read the Imperial Decree? Why would His Majesty issue a decree to her, it’s so strange!

Although, with that said, the whole family was instantly thrown into a flurry of activity.

Liu Sisi commanded someone to set up an incense table for the reception of the decree, as well as someone to find Di Yelei and bring him back. Ye Lei had just gone out not long ago and should not have wandered too far. There were also the clothes, she needed to put on the heavy court dress which she had never worn before. The hot weather was going to be unbearable…

While everyone here was arranging things, at the main entrance, Di Yelei led a white-faced, beardless old man into the front hall.

This time, Liu Sisi did not care about propriety, she hurried forward to greet him.

“The humble wife greets the Imperial Envoy. The Imperial Envoy has come a long way, and this humble wife failed to journey out to meet you. I pray for Your Excellency’s forgiveness!”

The old man was dressed in dark blue attire, over which he wore a yellow horse-robe. Seeing Liu Sisi kowtow, he hurriedly sidestepped and extended his arm to gently help her up.

“Are you the daughter of Mrs. Lin? Our family has had the good fortune to serve Mrs. Lin for a while in the past. It is a rare pleasure to meet the daughter of an old friend. Please rise.”

He actually knew her own mother?

Liu Sisi was stunned and forgot to struggle. She was helped up by him without any resistance.

“So, it turns out to be an old acquaintance of my kind mother. Please forgive Sisi for not recognizing you.”

“That’s fine, fine! Madam, please take your seat. Just call me Eunuch Xiao.” Eunuch Xiao smiled widely.

“Please be seated, Eunuch Xiao.”

So he’s a eunuch! No wonder she had served her mother before.

“Thank you, Madam, for gracing me with a seat!”

Eunuch Xiao made a slight bow before sitting down on the chair.

Watching Eunuch Xiao savoring the fragrant tea, Liu Sisi quietly glanced at Di Yelei who was standing aside. She slightly lifted her eyebrows. Di Yelei secretly shook his head at her. Clearly, he also had no idea what the mission of the Imperial Envoy was.

Eunuch Xiao paid no mind to their small movements, but kept chatting odds and ends with Liu Sisi, reminiscing about Lin Xiner’s past. This allowed Liu Sisi to understand that this Eunuch Xiao had been accompanying the current Emperor since his childhood and had always been by the Emperor’s side. He was also with the Emperor at the time of the “Heilong Mountain Secret Incident” and had continued to be so even to this present day.

This sparked countless thoughts in Liu Sisi’s mind. The fact that he had been accompanying the Emperor from his childhood till now, and had also been privy to many of the Emperor’s confidential affairs, she should not underestimate Eunuch Xiao’s capabilities. She listened quietly to Eunuch Xiao’s reminiscing, occasionally chiming in with an agreement, her heart filled with deep suspicion about his real purpose of visit.

Only when the incense table was ready and a servant quietly came to report, did Eunuch Xiao stand up from his chair.

“Madam, seeing as the time is getting late, I thought it better to take care of the important matter at hand first, and then we can chat more later.”

Naturally, Liu Sisi and the other person had no objection.