Xiu and Xiao Yu led them to the main hall. When they got there, Wang Luo Hai had just arrived along with his won. Yao Ying and Yao Ling greeted them politely just like how they used to be.
Wang Luo Hai laughed rrily and patted Yao Ying’s shoulder, "You don’t need to bow that low. We are a father and son now." Then he turned to Yao Ling, "And you are my daughter-in-law." Yao Ying and Yao Ling both smiled at him and nodded in agreent.
"I’m sorry, Father-in-law. It’s a habit," Yao Ling explained, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"No worry... no worry... you can change it slowly," Wang Luo Hai smiled.
"Co on! Let’s go inside the main hall." Wang Luo Hai led them to the main hall and everyone followed him.
They waited for the matriarch for a little while, before she finally appeared. Yao Ying, as a man, didn’t really pay attention to the Matriarch. For him, she’s just an old lady. However, Yao Ling paid attention to every detail.
The matriarch’s black hair had a hint of white hair here and there, but her face! She looked younger from her real age and not to ntion... beautiful. She’s supposed to be fifty-eight years old. Yao Ling finally knew from where Wang Luo Hai got his handso look. If you didn’t look at a slight wrinkle on the corner of her eyes and smiling line around her mouth, she could pass as young as thirty years old woman.
When she walked, her face was slightly raised. She was looking a bit proud, but not annoyingly arrogant. Her walk posture was the epito of elegance. Yao Ling was in a trance. In her village, the old won there looked wrinkly and usually, their backs were slightly bent, maybe because they had to work hard on the field every day.
She forgot where she was and praised the Matriarch, "How beautiful!" She said that from the bottom of her heart without trying to curry favor. Yao Ling was usually very blunt, so it was no surprise to Yao Ying. He nudged her to remind her to behave.
It seed like her voice wasn’t low enough, because the matriarch laughed after she turned around and sat down on the head table. When Yao Ling realized that the matriarch was laughing at her, she lowered her head in embarrassnt.
The matriarch had been living long enough to understand people’s character. She could hear a hint of sincerity in Yao Ling’s voice; she genuinely praised her. Which woman didn’t like to be called beautiful, especially when she already felt she was getting older?
The matriarch wasn’t stupid. If she heard a trace of currying favor, she wouldn’t like her. But this Yao Ling proved her otherwise. She also already heard how her talent in embroidery was really good and she also started to teach a few embroiderers under her to lessen her burden on massive orders.
Wang Luo Hai led everyone in the room to pay morning respect to the matriarch. Then he introduced his new son and daughter-in-law, "Mother, this is Yao Ying and Yao Ling. I’m asking your permission to let them beco a part of this family as my son and daughter-in-law."
Even though he was the one in charge of the family, Wang Luo Hai always put filial piety first. His mother was in charge of inner yard family matters, so this matter had to get pass through her first.
"Grandson ets Grandmother."
"Granddaughter-in-law ets Grandmother."
The matriarch nodded and received their respect. Although Yao Ling’s posture was a bit wrong, she didn’t pick on her. She noted it and knew she had to send soone to teach her etiquette. When both of them beca a part of this family, they had to know the certain etiquette as not to let them embarrass the Wang family na.
As a rchant family, their standing wasn’t as high as noble families, but they dealt a lot with the person from upper class. The Matriarch was actually the late Empress’ younger sister, but she fell in love with Wang Luo Hai’s father – a re rchant. She didn’t mind even she had a lower standing, but for her, etiquette was still important.
"Let take a look at both of your face clearly." The matriarch gestured them to co closer. Both dutifully ca closer to her, but still didn’t dare to raise their head.
"Raise your head!"
Both of them raised their head. Both of them actually felt quite nervous, because the higher class families had more rules and regulations. They weren’t used to it.
The matriarch looked at the girl in front of her and admired her beauty. In two or three more years, she was sure Yao Ling would beco more and more beautiful. Her eyes were pure and crystal clear, without any hints of viciousness. She liked this girl.
When her gaze landed on Yao Ying, she scrutinized him. A healthy handso young man with a beautiful wife and had great business talents. Everything about him was likable too, but the matriarch felt not sure with his past. He lost his mory so she couldn’t do a background check and it made her anxious, but their story was all true.
Yao Ling and her deceased mother helped him, then all the events that led to their marriage. After she listened to Wang Luo Hai’s wish to make them his heir, she dispatched people to check on them. She had to make sure they didn’t bring in wolves under sheepskin. She knew Wang Luo Hai must have done it too, but she needed to double check in case they missed sothing.
Yao Ying and Yao Ling felt nervous under the matriarch’s sharp gaze. They sighed in relief when they saw her laugh.
"Good! I like you both. My son has a good judgnt," she praised his son sincerely. She could see both of them were good kids, only Yao Ying’s unclear past that kept weighing at the back of her mind. She couldn’t bla Yao Ying about this, so she could only wish his past wasn’t bad.
"Thank you, Grandmother," both said at the sa ti.
Yao Ling understood the position inside the household. Yao Ying wouldn’t have much chance to get in touch with the inner yard; he would be busy dealing their business with Wang Luo Hai. She was the one who had to deal with the won every day and got a foothold for themselves in this household. She had to hold tightly onto this golden thigh in front of her – her new grandmother.
That’s the only way they would be at peace in this family. If the head of the family didn’t like her, it would be a disaster. It would also affect Yao Ying.
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