Mingzhu invited several madams from Suzhou City to her ho to enjoy the flowers. In the past few years, Mingzhu often hosted such gatherings and was quite adept at it.
Gu You saw Mingzhu coming over and smiled, saying, "Madam, my master is still in the studio!" These days, her master was once again spending all day in the studio, completely absorbed in painting, with only breaks for eating and sleeping.
Mingzhu glanced at the studio and asked, "How much longer will it be?"
Gu You smiled and said, "I don’t know. But it’s alti now, and I was just about to call her!" If it’s just casual doodling, Yueyao would co out for als without any reminder. But when Yueyao gets serious about painting, soone has to remind her, or she’d definitely forget to eat.
Mingzhu entered the studio and stood next to Yueyao, already used to getting no response. She was well aware that once Yueyao got serious about painting, she regarded everything and everyone around her as re air.
Mingzhu didn’t disturb Yueyao, but instead looked at the painting she was working on, sowhat surprised. Wasn’t this a painting of their courtyard? Mingzhu couldn’t help but ask, "Yueyao, why are you painting the garden?"
She waited for half a day, but there was no reaction. Yueyao’s eyes were still on her painting.
Gu You laughed and approached, holding Yueyao’s hand: "Madam, it’s ti for lunch."
Yueyao reflexively looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Seeing it was alti, she put down her brush and murmured, "Ti flies by so quickly." In the blink of an eye, half the day was gone.
Mingzhu chuckled, "Hurry up, the kids will be here soon for dinner." Normally, Yueyao and Mingzhu would dine with their respective children in their own courtyards. But if Niu Yanghui was not around or if Mingzhu had sothing going on, then this pattern would change.
Only then did Yueyao notice that Mingzhu had arrived and said with a smile, "At this point, it’s ti for the children to return for dinner. Join us for the al!" When Yueyao was busy, she could only see the children during altis.
Just as Yueyao finished washing her hands, Kexin brought along Brother Shengsheng and his brother. The three children called out in unison upon seeing Mingzhu, "Hello, Aunt!"
Mingzhu took Brother Shengsheng and Brother Xuxu by the hand and prepared to wash their hands. Brother Shengsheng and Brother Xuxu quickly stepped back, saying, "Aunt, we can wash ourselves." If they let Aunt wash their hands, they were sure to get scolded by their mother later.
Mingzhu gave Yueyao a glance, disapprovingly saying, "Yueyao, you’re a bit too strict with the children." Mingzhu knew that Brother Shengsheng and Brother Xuxu did everything by themselves, and the maids and old nannies assigned to them were just decorations. They weren’t behaving like scions of a noble family, but rather like children from an ordinary household.
Yueyao replied, "One should be a bit stern with the children." Compared to Brother Shengsheng and his brothers, Brother Yaoyao and Brother Yaoer were truly young masters. They still had everything done for them. It’s not that Mingzhu was wrong to do things her way; in the Capital City, any family with a little background had children who were pampered, while Brother Shengsheng and his brothers were a bit out of the ordinary.
Mingzhu’s lips twitched, but in the end, she didn’t continue the discussion with Yueyao about this topic and quietly had dinner.
After dinner, the group took a walk in the garden. Mingzhu recalled the painting Yueyao was working on: "Why are you painting the garden?"
Yueyao smiled, "It’s an assignnt from Elder Liu. Once it’s done, it needs to be reviewed by Elder Liu!" Yueyao was painting very diligently.
Mingzhu made a sound of understanding and didn’t pursue the matter further; she didn’t quite understand painting: "Tomorrow, with so many people coming, don’t let it tarnish your reputation! You’re a Third-rank Imperial Decree Lady, two ranks higher than !"
Yueyao chuckled, "Don’t worry, it will be presentable."
Mingzhu halted, looking Yueyao up and down, her eyes showing a glimr of annoyance: "What do you an by presentable? Your current appearance would dazzle everyone."
As they were talking about painting, Niu Yanghui appeared before them. If it were just Niu Yanghui, it would be fine, but beside him was Maternal Aunt Gao, dressed in a Crescent White gown.
Mingzhu was so angry her eyes seed to shoot flas, and she couldn’t help but pinch Yueyao’s arm, making Yueyao frown in pain.
Yueyao patted Mingzhu’s hand, then stepped forward to greet Niu Yanghui, saying, "Brother-in-law."
Niu Yanghui’s expression remained calm as he nodded slightly: "I didn’t expect to et like this." Though Yueyao lived in his house, they had only t twice in all the days she had been there.
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