The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 330 - 299: Imperial Bestowal of the Vermilion Gate

Mr. Cui finished his report and glanced at his master’s reaction. However, Emperor Guangxi leisurely sipped his tea, seemingly unconcerned about the matter.

The Emperor was unhurried, but Mr. Cui grew anxious, "Your Majesty, over at the Empress Dowager’s side..."

"Mother will handle it," Emperor Guangxi slowly replied, gesturing for Mr. Cui to withdraw.

——

Shou’an Palace.

Princess Consort Jin, who had come to complain, knelt on the ground, occasionally lifting her eyes only to see the embroidered shoes under the Empress Dowager’s dress, not daring to look higher.

The hall was silent.

The delicate porcelain sound made by the Empress Dowager’s bowl cover lightly scraping the rim of the yellow-glazed dragon-patterned cup increased the anxiety in one’s heart.

Princess Consort Jin suddenly regretted recklessly having come despite knowing how formidable the person in Shou’an Palace was.

After an indeterminate time, the Empress Dowager’s voice finally came from above, "Princess Consort Duan has returned?"

"Yes." Princess Consort Jin nodded with difficulty, "From her appearance, she seems seven or eight months pregnant. Yet, before leaving the palace, I hadn’t heard the Imperial Physician mention Princess Consort Duan being with child, so this child..."

Her half-spoken words led to even more troubling associations.

The Empress Dowager casually glanced at the woman kneeling on the ground, "How many years has Princess Consort Jin been in the palace?"

"Replying to the Empress Dowager, I’ve been in the palace since I was sixteen, for thirteen years now."

The Empress Dowager placed the teacup on a small table, speaking casually, "You’ve eaten for thirteen years at the Royal Family’s expense, yet not a single dish has managed to nourish your mind?"

Princess Consort Jin: "..."

The surrounding palace attendants and eunuchs suppressed their laughter and lowered their heads.

Even if Princess Consort Jin was foolish, she quickly understood that Princess Consort Duan’s so-called illness, and being sent to Rehe Palace to recuperate, had all been excuses for her pregnancy.

The purpose was simply to protect the Imperial Heir from the concubines’ harm.

And judging by the current situation, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were aware.

Her complexion turned pale instantly, and Princess Consort Jin quickly kowtowed, "It was all due to my ignorance and impulsiveness in speaking wrongly. I beg the Empress Dowager for forgiveness."

The matter of Princess Consort Duan leaving the palace under the pretense of illness was something the Empress Dowager had not been aware of; she merely reacted first upon hearing Princess Consort Jin’s words.

"Leave now, and be careful next time, lest you lose your concubine position."

Princess Consort Jin’s face lost all color, and she trembled as she bowed and withdrew.

...

After Princess Consort Jin left, Nanny Qiu stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Su Family, asking if she should continue to remain undercover after the Prime Minister has been deposed?"

At the mention of this matter, the Empress Dowager suddenly laughed, "My people haven’t even made a move, yet the Prime Minister’s power has already been stripped away; this Song Wei is indeed not a simple character." No wonder he was chosen by Fanghua to be a son-in-law those years ago.

She continued, "The Su Family, now like a centipede that dies but does not fall over, still possesses a hundred years of heritage. Even without the Prime Minister, they will not completely collapse. Send a message back advising her to stay put and not make any rash moves that would expose her."

Nanny Qiu nodded, "Yes."

——

After sending away Princess Consort Duan, the west wing was left completely vacant. Without Song Wei’s authorization, Granny Song dared not touch anything inside, and occasionally, Mrs. Cao was sent to clean it up.

Song Wei took advantage of a day off to take the entire family to see a five-courtyard estate.

Not only was the five-courtyard estate larger than their current residence, but it was also more grand, with two large stone lions at the entrance. Upon entering through the heavy, majestic crimson lacquered doors, the interior revealed elegant buildings, corridors, rockeries, and waterside pavilions, all signifying wealth and opulence.

The backyard was further divided into main and side courtyards, each with its own name.

Granny Song was dumbstruck throughout. Having lived most of her life, she had never seen such a grand house.

Back in Ningzhou, she would sometimes pass by the gates of wealthy families in the county town, but those families used clear lacquered doors; none had red lacquer.

Her first impression of the red lacquered doors was wealth and prestige.

If not for Song Wei personally guiding her, she would not have dared to step inside.

Such a large estate was never something she could have imagined owning.

Granny Song looked around and asked Song Wei, "Third Son, is there some significance to the color of the doors?"

Song Wei nodded, "Crimson doors are part of an imperial grant and are considered a high level of honor. Being granted crimson doors means that in the future, you can have crimson households. Ordinary families cannot use this color without the Emperor’s personal grant."

"Oh, so this is an imperial color?"

"Yes."

Granny Song was so excited that she couldn’t speak for a moment, and she looked towards Wen Wan.

Wen Wan, like her father-in-law, was relatively calm, and upon seeing her mother-in-law looking over, she smiled, "Warding off bandits and protecting Princess Consort Duan and the Imperial Heir, these two major achievements combined, it makes sense for my husband to be granted a red gate."

The group sat down in the pavilion, and Granny Song exclaimed, "Just a few years back, I couldn’t have imagined that one day I would become an official’s wife. Old man, pinch me quickly, let me see if I’m dreaming."

Old Song, holding Jinbao, slouched to one side, lazily ignoring her.

Song Wei’s face was smiling, "Even if it’s a dream, it’s one you won’t wake up from. Once we move here, Mother can live peacefully!"

Granny Song glanced at the rocks and greenery around the pavilion and couldn’t help but sigh, "Such a big estate, how many servants would it take to manage it?"

She continued, "Hiring servants is too expensive. Anyway, your father and I are idle, why don’t we do the work around the estate ourselves?"

Wen Wan disagreed, "Mother, you and Father are now the grandpa and grandma, how can you still do such menial work?"

Granny Song furrowed her brows, "To bring in maids and servants, each would cost at least half a coin per month. With our current financial situation, just supporting one family is considered good, how can we afford several servants?"

Wen Wan said, "Even if we don’t hire servants, it wouldn’t be right for the grandpa and grandma to do work themselves. If word got out, outsiders would criticize my husband for being unfilial."

Granny Song opened her mouth and looked at Song Wei.

Song Wei said gently, "Bringing Father and Mother to the Capital is to let you both enjoy a peaceful life. As time goes by, you’ll get used to it."

At this moment, Jinbao, sitting on his grandfather’s lap, pointed at the lotus pond and shouted, "Fish fish~"

Next to the pavilion was a lotus pond. At this time of year, the lotuses were blooming beautifully, and amid the emerald leaves, occasionally one or two red koi would dart past.

Wen Wan pulled her son over and asked him, "Jinbao, do you like fish fish?"

Jinbao: "Eat."

Wen Wan: "...You want to eat fish?"

Jinbao: "Eat fish fish~"

Seeing him drooling, Wen Wan couldn’t help but laugh, "Alright, once we go back, Mother will buy a big fish fish and cook fish porridge for Jinbao tonight, okay?"

"Okay~"

The soft and tender voice could melt one’s bones, wishing to offer the best to the little guy.

...

After this, the whole family continued strolling around the estate.

Granny Song and Old Song walked ahead, while Song Yuanbao and Song Wei followed closely behind, the father and son whispering to each other.

Song Jiao stayed at the back, with Wen Wan holding Jinbao’s little hands on either side.

Having been in the Capital for over a month, Song Jiao had seen many things different from the countryside, especially the grand estate they were in now, which left her feeling stunned. She couldn’t help but exclaim, "Third Uncle is truly capable."

Such a grand estate, obtained just like that, and granted by the Emperor no less. What an incredible feat!

Song Jiao had never imagined that one day she could transform from a village girl into a young lady with servants to attend to her.

Wen Wan looked at the young girl, "The inner courtyard has two nice courtyards. You can pick one you like, and when we move in, I’ll have your things moved in directly."

Song Jiao showed surprise, "A... courtyard?"

Wen Wan nodded with a smile, "Yes, this place is big, with many courtyards. In a couple of years, you’ll be a grown woman and should have your own courtyard."

For Song Jiao, this was incredibly tempting. She paused, showing excitement on her face, "Third Aunt is really kind."

Wen Wan raised an eyebrow, "Would I be unkind if I didn’t give you a courtyard?"

"No, that’s not what I mean," Song Jiao replied, at a loss for words.

Wen Wan smiled again, "Do you still want to return to marry a farmer?"

Song Jiao blushed and looked down, "Third Aunt, stop teasing me. Only after coming here did I realize how superficial my views were before I went to Beijing. There’s a phrase, frog in a well. Yes, I was that frog, only able to see a handful of sky, thinking I understood everything, completely indifferent to the Capital or anything else, but in the end..."

In the end, she had been thoroughly humbled.

Seeing her ashamed expression, Wen Wan comforted, "Since you’re here, don’t overthink it, just stay peacefully. As long as you learn well from the nanny and recognize all the characters, read more books, when your Third Uncle gets promoted, as his niece, your status will naturally rise. By then, it won’t be hard to find a good husband."

Hearing her Third Aunt’s thorough plans for her, the shy girl could only blush again and say, "The Capital is good, and my Third Uncle and Aunt are even better."

Wen Wan laughed and moved on, continuing to stroll through the garden holding Jinbao’s little hand.

After picking the courtyard, it was already dusk, and Jinbao was hungry, calling out to go home.

The group didn’t delay, and after leaving the main gate, they got on the carriage and hurried home.

Upon arriving home, they found Aunt Xie already waiting in the main hall.