Now her husband said he wouldn't take concubines, but what about in the future? However, it seemed that her father - in - law didn't have concubines, and the Sixth Prince didn't either. Maybe it was true. For some reason, Luo Jiao felt a bit uneasy. The in - law's family doted on the younger sister - in - law so much. Would they be partial?
"Go to bed early, Xiaojiao. We have to offer tea to our parents tomorrow. And younger sister and her husband will return to their mansion after you offer them tea."
Hearing her husband say "younger sister" and "brother - in - law" so casually, Luo Jiao was a bit unsure. "You just call the prince 'brother - in - law' without any honorifics?"
"Honorifics? If the prince wants honorifics, he should ask our younger sister. Our younger sister said that once married, we are all family. Outside, we act as we should, but at home, the brother - in - law is just the brother - in - law."
"The younger sister - in - law is really bold. I don't dare to do that," Luo Jiao exclaimed in surprise.
"Just follow my lead and call him like that tomorrow. There won't be any mistakes. It's almost been a year since younger sister got married. If there were any mistakes, they would have shown up already. Go to sleep..." Mei Haoxuan wrapped his beloved wife in his arms and soon fell into a deep sleep. Only Luo Jiao was still thinking about what the younger sister - in - law and her husband had said. She would know the truth tomorrow, but she was really nervous.
It was still dawn when the maids stood outside the door. The four Spring maids had long noticed the handsome appearance of the young master. Each of them was dressed up beautifully, hoping to catch the young master's eye and rise to a higher position.
Unexpectedly, the young master just opened the door and carried in the water for washing his face by himself.
Seeing her husband wash his face by himself without asking for help from others, Luo Jiao quickly washed her own face too. Some of her personal matters were still served by maids. Oh yes, the younger sister - in - law said yesterday that many things should be done by herself. It turned out to be true. When combing her hair, she only knew how to do a slanting cloud - shaped hair bun and only inserted a few simple hair ornaments on her head.
In the future, she would have to learn how to do hair from Shihua.
"Isn't this too plain?" After dressing herself up, Luo Jiao asked her husband to look at her makeup.
"You look good whether in light or heavy makeup. It suits you perfectly. It's just fine. You'll see mother later when offering tea."
"She's my mother - in - law."
"Mother - in - law is the same," Mei Haoxuan didn't care. He didn't know why his wife was so nervous.
"Shihua, bring the gift I prepared,"
"Yes, miss!"
"Now you should call me the eldest young mistress. Don't make a mistake again,"
"Yes, young mistress!" Shihua was holding a tray with only one gift on it. Since there were no other junior members in the Mei family except the younger sister - in - law, she only needed to prepare a gift for her.
"Son and daughter - in - law offer tea to mother. May mother enjoy good health and a long life," Seeing her son and new daughter - in - law kneeling in front of her, Xia Ruolan couldn't stop smiling. After drinking the tea from her daughter - in - law, she personally put on a pair of emerald bracelets that were so green they seemed to glow: "May you two live in harmony as husband and wife and have children soon."
"Thank you, mother," After bowing to her mother - in - law, she had a pair of valuable emerald bracelets on her hands.
"Son and daughter - in - law offer tea to father. May father enjoy good health and a long life,"
"Good." Mei Zhenguo gave a jade pendant he had collected.
"May the husband and wife be of one heart, and may the family thrive,"
"Thank you, father." The jade pendant from her father - in - law was obviously a rare item. The younger sister - in - law pouted her lips.
When it was time to offer tea to the younger sister - in - law, Mei Qingxue quickly stood up. Luo Jiao said, "This cup of tea is to thank you for matchmaking. Younger sister - in - law, please. This small gift is just a token of my gratitude." On the tray carried by Shihua was a delicate ivory hairpin inlaid with jade.
"You two are a perfect match. I just did a little favor. I wish elder brother and sister - in - law have children soon. This is my wedding gift to you two." Mei Qingxue took a bag from Du Guqing's hand and gently put it into her sister - in - law Luo Jiao's hand: "Our family has few descendants. Sister - in - law, you'll have to work hard."
"Brother, no concubines or maid - servants as concubines are allowed in our family. Father didn't tell you, but I will. If you treat sister - in - law badly, I'll ask mother to teach you a lesson."
"Congratulations, elder brother. My wife and I only prepared one gift. Qingxue said it's in the bag and insisted on making it a mystery." Du Guqing had white hair.
He was so stunningly beautiful that only a beautiful girl like Mei Qingxue standing beside him was a perfect match. Anyone else standing beside him would pale in comparison.
"Alright, Xuan'er and Xiaojiao, sit down. Your father has something to say,"
Xia Ruolan said. Looking at her children in the hall, her heart was filled with joy.
"Yes, mother," Luo Jiao replied. The jade bracelets on her hands clinked and made a pleasant sound.
"Now that Xuan'er is married, Xue'er is a married - out daughter. I won't say much about her," Mei Zhenguo was about to continue when Mei Qingxue said dissatisfiedly, "Father, you're so partial. I won't expose you. Just because I'm a married - out daughter, I'm not your daughter anymore? Mother, twist father's ear and don't let father into the room." Mei Qingxue said angrily.
A look of embarrassment flashed across Mei Zhenguo's face. How could he have just said one word and his daughter was already instigating her mother not to let him into the room tonight.
"Father said the wrong thing. Father admits his mistake."
"Humph..."
"Xue'er is a married - out daughter. Father didn't say much about you because I've already told you everything. If I say more, you'll say your father is talkative," Mei Zhenguo quickly coaxed his daughter. Luo Jiao, who had just married into the family on the first day, almost couldn't hold back her laughter when she saw her father - in - law coaxing the younger sister - in - law.
"Father, at that time elder brother wasn't married. You've said everything. Today you did it on purpose. You're biased. I'm on mother's side. Father, you can spend the night getting familiar with your study tonight."
"Father really made a mistake."
"I won't forgive you," Mei Qingxue turned her head away. Her father had collected several good jade pendants. She hadn't got any of them, but Du Guqing got one and the new sister - in - law also got one. Why didn't she have one?
"Father is just the most partial. Later I'll look for two items in your collection. If I find them, it's okay. If not, humph..."
"Father promises, promises!"
Mei Zhenguo said painfully. He was just used to talking in an official way, and accidentally his feudal thoughts showed up. As a result, he offended his daughter.
"Just say what you want to say quickly. Your daughter - in - law is waiting," Xia Ruolan urged.
"Both of you siblings are married. From now on, you should focus on your own small families. Your mother and I don't need you to worry about us. You should take good care of yourselves and live in harmony with your spouses. Your mother and I will be at ease then. We're just waiting to enjoy the company of our grandchildren."
"Father," Mei Qingxue almost cried.
"Silly girl," Mei Zhenguo motioned to Mei Qingxue, "Look, your elder brother isn't crying."
"Father, if elder brother dares to neglect you and mother, I'll tear down his nest and take sister - in - law away," Mei Qingxue said. They haven't been granted a fief yet, and father hasn't retired. Elder brother won't neglect them. It depends on the sister - in - law. If the sister - in - law isn't filial to her in - laws, she will return her.
She could really do this. In this world, father and mother were the people who loved and doted on her the most. Now they were getting older. As children, it was their duty to be filial to their parents.
"Father, I've drunk sister - in - law's tea. We'll leave now,"
Du Guqing saluted Mei Zhenguo and then Xia Ruolan: "Father, mother, your son - in - law will take Xue'er back to the mansion first. Your son - in - law will often bring Xue'er to visit."
Du Guqing bowed to Mei Haoxuan and saluted his sister - in - law.
The two of them left hand in hand. Only then did Luo Jiao believe it.
After they left, several people looked at the bag in Luo Jiao's hand. Mei Zhenguo was also interested in waiting to hear what gift his daughter had prepared.
"Open it quickly. Father and mother are really curious," Mei Haoxuan urged. He didn't know what surprise his sister, that little elf, had prepared.
"Okay," Luo Jiao opened the bag. Inside was a folded scroll.
"Open it!" Mei Zhenguo stood up.
His daughter couldn't be an ordinary person.
"Harmony in the family brings prosperity" was signed by the Jade - faced Gentleman.
"It's an authentic work," Mei Zhenguo took a look and laughed heartily.
"Good, good. Daughter - in - law, don't mind the lightness of the gift. This is good. Harmony in the family brings prosperity. This is the best,"
"I don't mind, I don't mind," Luo Jiao had heard of the reputation of the Jade - faced Gentleman. This calligraphy and painting wouldn't be cheap.
"Eh?" Luo Jiao let out a surprised sound, and everyone's attention was drawn to her.
"There's something else." She reached into the bag and took out several small packages of medicinal herbs, all neatly wrapped. Her hand also brought out a small note. Mei Haoxuan saw it and picked it up. "These are all top - grade medicinal herbs. Sister - in - law and elder brother should boil them and drink them every day so that they can have a little nephew soon."
"Father, look at what sister..."
Mei Haoxuan's handsome face blushed in embarrassment. Why did his sister even care about this?
The one with the reddest face was Luo Jiao. She didn't expect the younger sister - in - law to give such a gift. Her younger sister - in - law was really different from others.
"Good, good. Your sister is really considerate!" Xia Ruolan was the first to react. Her Xue'er was really thoughtful. She even thought of something that she, as a mother - in - law, hadn't thought of. No wonder people said that daughters were their mothers' little cotton - padded jackets.
Luo Jiao was so shy that she almost wanted to find a hole to hide in. This younger sister - in - law didn't know how to be discreet. It was so embarrassing.
Mei Zhenguo stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "Xue'er's intention is good. Our Mei family just has few descendants." Enjoying the company of grandchildren was his biggest wish now. It was a pity that the emperor didn't allow him to retire.
The emperor said he was still in good health and could serve for a few more years. He had applied for retirement several times, but the emperor never agreed. He just wouldn't let him go.
Now that he had a daughter - in - law, after having a grandson, he would apply for retirement again. By then, he would have a good excuse. He would wait for another two years.
"Father, when is the day set for taking Xiaojiao back to her natal family?"
Mei Haoxuan didn't know, so he asked his father. Mei Zhenguo rolled his eyes. "What? Do you think your father knows everything? This is also the first time your father has a daughter - in - law."
"But..."
"But what? Go home and ask your wife." He was even asked about this. How didn't he know he had become so important?
No, Mei Zhenguo's nerves tensed up. What did his daughter say just now? Ask her mother not to let him into the room. What should he do? He just said the wrong thing.
Later, after the son and daughter - in - law left, he would apologize to his wife.
Let's see if he didn't have to sleep in the study tonight.
"Xiaojiao, let's go back to our room. Father and mother got up early today. Let them rest for a while,"
"Okay,"
Mei Haoxuan gave his father a mischievous smile before leading his wife back to their yard.
"This naughty boy!"
"Then tell me, who smells nice?"