The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 824 - 782: Such a Strong Personality!

Ye Ling thought of her husband’s illness last night, unsure if one night’s rest had done him any good, she asked, "Husband, are you alright now?"

Yuanbao saw her naive expression and couldn’t help but want to laugh, but he held it in and shook his head, saying, "I’m fine, I have a peculiar constitution, a cold bath and a good sleep are all I need."

Ye Ling breathed a sigh of relief, "That’s good."

Otherwise, falling ill on such a joyous day of a new marriage wouldn’t be a good omen.

Several maids got up quite early, hearing movement inside, they knocked and entered, bringing washing utensils to the young couple.

Xiangxiu wanted to comb Yuanbao’s hair and tie it up, but Yuanbao didn’t let her, instead, he glanced at Ye Ling.

Ye Ling immediately understood, smiled, and instructed Xiangxiu, "You go make the bed, as for the master, I’ll take care of him."

Xiangxiu obliged, walked over to the step bed, and began folding the bedding.

Although knowing consummation was unlikely last night, she still looked hopefully at the mattress, not seeing any traces.

Ye Ling was focused on combing Yuanbao’s hair.

Yuanbao saw Xiangxiu’s behavior in the copper mirror, his brows slightly raised.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the couple washed up and left Harmony Pavilion.

Ye Ling had her hair styled in a married woman’s bun today, wearing a jade-colored jacket, with a skirt threaded with mugwort green underneath, covered with a moon-white Ruyi patterned overlay, a very simple and clean outfit.

The couple arrived at Qingteng Residence and found Wen Wan and Song Wei still washing up, while Lu Yanli was seated in a round chair by the square table, dangling his legs and eating breakfast with Jinbao.

Linglong had just finished serving Wen Wan, and coming out with water, saw Yuanbao and Ye Ling, smiled and said, "The mistress was just talking, saying it’s alright for the young master and young madam to come later on the first day of their wedding, as she can just take a nap."

Yuanbao asked with concern, "When did master and mistress return?"

"They just arrived at the residence not long ago," Linglong replied, "Stayed up all night, they don’t seem to have much energy."

"Knowing they are tired, but the bride’s tea must still be drunk," Yuanbao said, giving Ye Ling a glance.

Ye Ling nodded, "I’ll try to be quick, so mother can sleep a little longer."

"Sleeping isn’t possible, at most a short nap," Linglong poured the water and carried the empty basin, "Afterward, there’s still the palace to attend!"

Ye Ling exclaimed, "How can they handle it?"

Linglong sighed, "It’s unavoidable."

Then said, "Young master, young madam, please wait in the eastern side room for a moment, master and mistress will be ready soon."

Yuanbao nodded, leading Ye Ling to the eastern side room.

Meanwhile, in the main room, Wen Wan had just washed her face with cold water but still yawned repeatedly.

Song Wei saw she was struggling, then softly said, "Why don’t you take a nap first?"

"No need," Wen Wan yawned again, covering her mouth with her hand, "Later, on the carriage to the palace, I can sleep for half an hour, right now let’s drink the bride’s tea first."

Seeing Linglong enter, Wen Wan casually asked her, "Did someone go to the West Courtyard?"

"Yun Cai went personally," Linglong said, "Second master and second madam should already be at Rong’an Hall."

Wen Wan saw Song Wei was almost ready, so she said, "Let’s go too, the young couple is probably waiting outside!"

Letting Jinbao take care of his uncle, the couple left the main room, and in the eastern side room, Yuanbao heard the movement, he and Ye Ling came out one after the other.

Facing her in-laws formally for the first time, Ye Ling seemed somewhat restrained, lowered herself and saluted Song Wei and Wen Wan, "Daughter-in-law greets father and mother."

Wen Wan looked over.

The young girl was bright and radiant, ultimately not yet truly a woman, retaining the youthful innocence in her eyes.

Wen Wan was quite pleased, "No need for formalities, let’s go to Rong’an Hall, the Old Master and Old Madam are waiting there!"

Ye Ling nodded gently, stood up, hands overlapped at her waist.

Yuanbao spoke, "Earlier Linglong mentioned, father and mother must proceed to the palace later?"

Song Wei nodded, "Starting today is the grand mourning, within three days, every morning and evening requires mourning at the memorial hall, soon the new emperor will read the will outside the memorial hall, I definitely need to go."

Song Yuanbao nodded, indicating he understood.

They walked ahead, left Qingteng Residence, and soon arrived at Rong’an Hall.

Song Erlang and Second Lang’s wife had arrived early and were talking with Granny Song. Their voices could be heard just upon entering the courtyard.

Yun Xia, the head maid of Rong’an Hall, was standing outside. Seeing them, she called inside, "Master and Madam, Young Master and Young Madam have arrived."

The voices in the main hall abruptly stopped, and everyone looked in their direction.

Second Lang’s wife had long heard that Yuanbao’s young bride was a famous little beauty. Upon seeing her, she clicked her tongue twice, "No wonder our Yuanbao was determined to marry her, thinking of her day and night. She truly is a remarkable person."

Granny Song, sitting at the head, listened and lifted her eyelids, "Our Yuanbao is a newly minted Champion Scholar; his judgment couldn’t be poor, could it?"

Song Qi, sitting on the circular chair next to Second Lang’s wife, glanced at Ye Ling upon hearing this, then dropped his gaze, pulling at his kerchief without saying a word.

Second Lang and his wife sat on the left-hand side, while Song Wei and his wife took seats in succession on the right-hand side.

Ye Ling had already been briefed by Song Yuanbao on the way, explaining that their family originally had three branches, but the first branch had an accident leaving only him as the sole heir. Now, the West Courtyard housed the second branch, and Rong’an Hall had the grandfather and grandmother.

The family structure was not overly complex, and Ye Ling could basically tell who was who without asking.

When Yun Xia brought over the tea tray, she started offering tea from Old Song, serving each one in turn.

After the grandfather and grandmother, she moved on to her in-laws, and after them, offered tea to the second branch.

When it was Song Qi’s turn, Ye Ling paused; she didn’t recognize him.

Granny Song said, "That’s your Sister Song Qi. She’s of your generation, you don’t need to serve her." She added, "She has an older sister who got married last year."

Song Jiao had previously sent someone to deliver a note to Ye Ling; she remembered her.

Upon hearing that Song Qi was Song Jiao’s sister, she smiled and called out, "Second Sister."

Song Qi said, "You’re calling me, but I didn’t prepare a red envelope for you like the others did."

Ye Ling was about to say something when Song Yuanbao interjected, "If you didn’t prepare one, you didn’t. Don’t sound so aggrieved, as if someone forced you to come."

Song Qi’s face froze. She didn’t dare to retort and just lowered her head, continuing to pull at her kerchief.

After serving tea, Ye Ling collected a pile of plump red envelopes and sat down next to Song Yuanbao in the seat next to Wen Wan and the others, then listened to Granny Song’s lecture.

Granny Song wasn’t one for flowery words. She directly told Ye Ling that upon marrying into the Song family, she was now one of them. If she had any real skills, she should use them outside and not engage in scheming inside the household, making it all squalid and painful to her eyes.

Ye Ling’s grandmother, Old Madam Ye, though strong-willed, didn’t speak so directly.

It could be said that Granny Song was the most straightforward and acerbic-tongued elderly woman Ye Ling had ever met.

Others, when speaking, would always consider this and that, thus saying things that were polite on the surface but implied something else. Old Mrs. Song, however, would boldly tear off the modesty veil and bluntly expose the parts people least dared to speak of, least wanted to speak of, and least wanted to hear.

Ye Ling didn’t understand Granny Song and initially thought the family’s matriarch seemed very strict, which scared her into holding her breath.

Song Yuanbao quietly told her, "My grandmother has this kind of personality. With time, you’ll get used to it. She’s like this with everyone."

Ye Ling felt like her husband was trying to comfort her.

But soon, she realized it wasn’t just comforting, because regardless of whether it was with her mother-in-law or Second Aunt, the tone Granny used was exactly the same, showing no favoritism even though her mother-in-law was the wife of a fourth-rank official.

Ye Ling was momentarily stunned, then found it amusing. It seemed she misunderstood; the Song family’s matriarch wasn’t intolerant of people, but simply had a strong personality, very strong!

With the rush to enter the palace, they didn’t delay long for the tea ceremony at Rong’an Hall.

Granny Song, now like Wen Wan, was a fourth-rank lady, and in the event of a national mourning, had to enter the palace with the others.

Song Qi, who had no classes and didn’t need to go to Hongwen Academy, was eager to try and asked, "I’ve grown up to this age and have never seen what the Imperial Palace looks like. Can I go with you?"

Apparently, no one responded to her.

Granny Song said, "Wait until you win the top prize at this year’s exam and receive a reward from the Holy Emperor. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to enter the palace and see the world."

Song Qi immediately shut her mouth. Her performance at Hongwen Academy was very average. To win the top prize, she would already be doing well if she got a B grade. Her grandmother, obviously, was criticizing her for not working hard!

Was it her lack of effort? With so many female students at Hongwen Academy, only one top prize winner a year received the Holy Emperor’s reward. The rest got nothing. She thought it’d be better to find a noble husband to marry, with prosperous riches and glory at her fingertips, rather than waste time on those trivial things, which was simply a waste of time!

Granny Song, unwilling to argue further, instructed the servant to arrange for the carriage, preparing to enter the palace.