Twenty-six cross the river

  "How is it?" Old Lady Gu waited in the room and saw Wang Shi's face with a difficult expression standing on the ground, then she said to the maid again: "Serve you two ladies to sit down."

  Wang returned to the Wang mansion and rushed straight to De An's residence. Although he understood that this matter was bound to happen, because his elder brother and daughter both coincidentally advised him to put on a show in front of Old Lady, he hesitated and nodded: "You also know, my father has been ordered to inspect the riverbank, only my elder brother is at home. I asked my elder brother, he..." He stopped here, with a difficult expression on his face.

  The old lady's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and she said in a low voice: "He refused?"

  Wang Tingran has always had a reputation for being proud and aloof. Thinking back, she realized that Boqi and herself had indeed wronged her badly last time. This time, she must find an excuse to save face. As she thought this, her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, her head was dizzy. At first, she thought that after all, Wang Xiuying was still the daughter of the Wang family, and had been pampered since childhood. Even if they had wronged her in some way, they could still turn things around with her face. Could it be that Wang Tingran wouldn't even give her own younger sister any face?

  Wang quietly went to look at her expression, seeing that she was disappointed, and then softly said: "It's not that I don't want to. It's just that my elder brother said that although he knew Liu Taichang in the early years, he didn't know if the other party still recognized him now. He can only be a mediator in between, whether it can be done or not, and how it can be done, depends on ourselves."

  Is there still hope? Old Lady Gu suddenly opened her eyes and stared at Wang, nodding after a moment: "Whether it can be done or not, we will always remember your brother's kindness."

  Mrs. Guo was also a figure who had come through wind and rain, how could she not understand the implicit meaning of Mrs. Wang's words? It must be that the Wang family was reminding themselves that this matter would definitely be remembered by the Hou Mansion, and the Hou Mansion would have to acknowledge it, and they would have to treat Mrs. Wang well. Indeed, he was the son of that old fox, cunning enough.

  News came today that Lu Hanxuan's illness outside the city has become more serious, and it is feared that he will not be able to enter the city. She knew that things had become even more serious, and this time if even Wang Tingran did not help, relying on Old Master Hou's cautious nature, it was absolutely impossible for him to offend the favored one by the emperor's side because of a son-in-law. However, she couldn't bear it, after all, Gu Yun is her only daughter.

  Wang's daughter is not likable, Gu Boqi has never liked her since she came, and he doesn't worry that she will stir up any trouble in the future.

  This deal is a bargain, so Mrs. Gu accepted the dozen glances and smiled at Wang Shi: "Go back and tell your brother for me, and then send your uncle and second master to thank him in person."

  Wang was not that kind of person to begin with, seeing the situation made her uncontrollably happy, she was overjoyed that she didn't have to be stuck between her natal and marital families, so she immediately said: "Mother, please don't say such things, brother is not that kind of person."

  Old Mrs. Gu saw the situation and didn't say much more, saying she was tired and wanted her to leave.

  Wang's family left De'an residence with satisfaction, all the way with a smile, which made the servants scratch their heads and speculate that the Hou Mansion was about to change its fortune.

  At that time, Gu was waiting with two senior maids, four third-grade maids, and three small maids who were responsible for sweeping the floor in Wang's room. They were preparing to let Wang make a decision. When she saw Wang enter the room with a smile on her face, she knew that this matter had been settled. It had been a long time since she had seen Wang smile so carefree. She didn't ask Wang how she had answered, but just sat and smiled as she listened to Gu's repeated words about how the two families would finally be able to resume their relationship in the future.

  After saying that, Wang Shi let Meng Yu call in several maidservants selected by Gu Man and looked at them one by one, giving them the names "Zhi Hua", "Bao Yu", "Ling Long", "Qi Qiao", "Zi Wei" and "Qiang Wei". As for the little maid who swept the floor, she didn't give her a name, letting Gu Man decide for himself.

  Gu Man smiled and nodded, letting the maids help Wang Shi back to her room. She then wrapped her arm around Wang Shi's arm and asked with a smile: "Is Uncle doing well? I heard this matter has caused him some trouble?"

  Wang thought of his elder brother, feeling both heartache and joy at the same time. After a long while, he said: "Brother agreed, but told me to not easily agree with Old Lady when I return."

  Gu Man knew that Wang Tingran was also thinking the same way as herself, and when she heard Old Lady Gu say that she wanted to let Gu Boqi and Lu Mozheng come back to thank him, she knew that Old Lady Gu was showing her gratitude for the help from the Wang family. Only then did she truly feel happy, and at least the Hou and Wang families had restored their relations. The Hou family owed a favor to their own uncle's family, which would make life easier for the Wangs in the future.

  Just then, a little maid lifted the curtain and laughed: "Eleventh young lady has arrived."

  Gu Yan always had a way with things, even as a concubine's daughter she could make people treat her like one of the legitimate daughters. Gu Man smiled and took a deep breath, watching as Gu Yan performed a polite curtsy before saying, "Eleventh sister arrived quite early."

  "Come a bit earlier and see if you can get a free dinner from mom." Gu Yan smiled mischievously at her, naturally taking Wang Shi's hand and sitting down on the kang: "I've been craving your chicken soup for a long time, Mother."

  Gu Man nodded to her and turned to Wang Shi, "Speaking of chicken soup, it's just in time for me to discuss something with Mother." Gu Zhao had been taken away by his aunt a few days ago to stay for a while, so Gu Man had more time to spend with Wang Shi.

  Wang took the blanket handed over by Meng Yu, leaned on the pillow on the kang and smiled at her: "You girl's recent affairs are getting more and more, say, what's going on?"

  Gu Man took the opportunity to say that the garden was far from here, and wanted to set up a small kitchen in Mingyuelou as well. Wangshi thought for a moment, indeed feeling that the recent weather was cold, Gu Man's busy schedule was not easy, so she immediately called Qinpozi and her daughter-in-law Qin'erjia to go to Mingyuelou to serve them.

  Gu Yan just smiled and looked at her, her face still smiling, but she felt a bit depressed in her heart. This small kitchen might solve many problems. Now they were all eating the same food made by the large kitchen, each with their own share. If they wanted to eat something special, they had to pay extra themselves. Being the legitimate daughter was good, but opening one's mouth could get anything she wanted.

  In ordinary days, if there was something as important as adding a small kitchen to the house, Mrs. Gu would have to ask about it. It seemed that all the big and small things in the Hou Mansion were handled by Wang Shi and several of her sisters-in-law, but in fact they were still under the control of the old lady. However, at this moment, the old lady didn't have the heart to take care of these things. She casually placed the letter in her hand on the kang table and smiled: "Although Wang Tingran is a bit sly, he is indeed capable of doing things."

  Madam Xü saw that she was praising Wang Tingran, so she knew that things had been settled. However, as the old lady's confidante, she naturally knew that the old lady was only happy because Gu Yun could return to the mansion, and not entirely because of Wang Tingran's sake. So she hastily accompanied her smile with a remark: "Indeed, now that things have been settled, our young mistress and master can also return to the city."

  Old Lady Gu nodded: "Send the letter out then. Since Han Xuan is ill, let them come as slowly as possible, don't rush him."