Chapter 33: Taiji

  "Li and Zhong didn't get the reward, how can you get it just after returning to the capital?" The embroidered silk painting of a flying pipa on the inner door was rolled up, and an old lady with silver hair and a round, smiling face came out.

  Wu Mei hastily stood up, took a few steps forward and knelt down in front of the old lady, looking up at her with tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, choking back a sob, "Old Madam... have you been well these years?"

  "I'm the one who's been counting down the days to leave, but you're really doing well. In the past, you weren't afraid of anything, not even a little bit, but now you're sitting properly and drinking tea, letting the maid be slow and generous. I was right when I said it earlier, wasn't I? Leaving is only temporary, there will always be a time to come back." The old lady reached out to help, but Xiang Yu took over and helped Ruan Mei up.

  Lan Sheng was taken aback, what's going on, she got it wrong again? She first thought her father was heartless and unscrupulous, but it turned out to be a deeply emotional middle-aged uncle. Then she thought the old lady was the mastermind behind the mansion's power struggle, but it turned out to be kind and gentle towards her mother.

  Wu Mei stood up and helped the old lady onto her seat. The old lady held Wu Mei's hand and had her sit beside her.

  "When I was young, I made many foolish mistakes, fortunately the old lady pointed them out to me." Taking over the handkerchief handed by the little maid behind the old lady, Wu Mei wiped away her tears, "My original intention was to keep my sister's memory for a year, but..."

  "You don't need to say it, I already know. You're not the one who's in a hurry. Thinking about all these years, your sister must have asked you for help countless times. Now that you've finally returned, she naturally hopes you'll get married soon. Guarding the tomb is a precious sentiment, but as long as this precious feeling remains in your heart, there's no need to worry about the form." The old lady smiled slyly and said to everyone, "How's that? Am I not still an old antique who understands emotions?"

  Nan Yueya also sat down beside the old lady and said happily, "Mother has always been open-minded, I am grateful to you."

  Is this the great national teacher who makes her feel like dark clouds are pressing down on her just by being separated from him by a car curtain? Lan Sheng has already completely lost his way.

  "Is that Little Orchid?" The old lady finally noticed the greyish-blue fabric in the corner of the scene, "Sitting so far away properly, come closer and let Grandma take a look."

  Even if he heard a more endearing and intimate phrase, Lan Sheng could remain calm and walk forward to pay his respects to the elder, "Lan Sheng has seen grandmother."

  "It's not like when she was a kid, she's grown up now, and her phoenix eyes are just like her father's, that's why they say the first daughter looks most like her father." The old lady said, taking off a golden silk wristlet with a blue gemstone and forcing it onto Lan Sheng's wrist, "It came suddenly, rather than giving something worthless, I'd rather give this family heirloom."

  "Old lady, this should be given to Jinwei." Wu Mei exclaimed.

  "This should be given to Lan Sheng, who has been wronged since childhood. This compensation is not enough." The old lady insisted and turned her head to her son, "Choose a auspicious day to invite Master Fang to give Lan Sheng a fortune-telling and divination, I think there will be good omens."

  Nan Yueya's face turned cold upon hearing this, but she nodded in agreement. "Mother, they haven't decided where to live yet, you arrange it for them."

  The old lady smiled and patted her son, "I haven't managed these trivial household matters for many years, why are you asking me now? You men, big things are done with a flourish, but small things are muddled to death."

  Wu Mei also covered her mouth and laughed, "He had just told him to discuss with the two sisters, but turned around and forgot. It seems that in his heart, he was thinking about the autumn sacrifice national ceremony, and other things were not a big deal."

  "Now this matter still needs your help." The old lady understood.

  She understood that there was more to it, "Originally, since you've already returned, household matters should be taken care of by you, but you've only just entered the house for less than half a day. Although Li Shi and Zhong Shi are not as capable as your sisters, they're still somewhat skilled from their experience over the past two years while your sister was ill. People say that even without achievements, there's still hard work put in. As an elder who only knows how to open my mouth for food and stretch out my hands for clothes, I also can't just let them stop being busy from today onwards and have you take over as the head of the household. There needs to be a transition period, what do you think?"

  "Old lady, you're right. I didn't plan on doing anything as soon as I got back either. After all, it's been over a decade since I left home, and I need to get reacquainted with the people and things at home. And as you just said, I have to help my husband prepare for the ancestral rites. I'll ask one more favor of you, and you must agree - this will be enough to keep me busy for the rest of the year." Wu Mei said, with a hint of playfulness.

  "What's the trouble? Are you helping Xiang Yu find a husband? That doesn't count, it can only be done in your own free time." The old lady asked with a smile.

  Wu Meiyue smiled more and more like a flower, "I beg the old lady to give me a small piece of land in the mansion, I want to set up a small shrine for my sister according to the customs of Donghai."

  The old lady's smile seemed to be frozen, always at an angle of thirty degrees. Her old eyes turned to her son, not a bit dim, "I'm old and can't take care of these things. If Ruo Ya agrees, you can do as you please."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Lao. You've just taken your medicine and need to rest. I still have to discuss with the two sisters where we'll be staying. We can put our luggage away before dinner and focus on the autumn festival." Wu Mei stood up to bid farewell.

  The old lady pushed her son away, but spoke to Wu Mei, "There is also a place at home that is not available. There are two vacant three-bay courtyards in the northwest corner of the west wall, which have been unclean for many years and are a bit old."

  Wu Mei replied, "That's good, I'll just choose one of the two places, it will be more convenient, thank you, Old Lady Xie."

  "Go ahead, it's late today, have a good rest. Tomorrow morning come with Lanlan and we'll have breakfast together." The old lady made an appointment for breakfast.

  Lan Sheng, who followed her parents out, suddenly felt that this was a harmonious and peaceful family. As long as her mother "charged forward", even if the entire Nan Yue Fu was set on fire, she might not have smelled the smoke. It turned out that having a powerful and uncontrollable mother could still be beneficial. Although she was a rebellious and disobedient "pig", everyone thought she didn't have any real power. Her small temper was harmless, at least her parents thought so, and they could completely control her. But apparently, as long as things were handled properly, this could be mutually beneficial.

  "Mom, my legs are sore." A little bit of a temper, and she continued to throw a tantrum at her mom.

  "Wu Mei turned around and glanced at her daughter, 'It's taken you this long to complain, I suppose that means you're starting to understand things'."

  She then said to Nan Yue, "Lan has been ill for four months and her body is weak. It's getting dark now, so let's have her rest in the west wing first. I'll tell my sisters about it."

  "The northwest side is very secluded." Nan Yueya still didn't want to listen to Old Lady's words.

  "It's quiet and good." said Wu Mei.

  "Bei Jiao." Lan Sheng chimed in, adding under his parents' gaze, "North-facing... good feng shui."

  She walked so many roads, after roughly observing that the Nan Yue government is in a straight line with the west wind direction, the western courtyard is the most western, according to the explanation of Western ancient architecture knowledge, it must be one of the worst house locations. She may not care about auspiciousness or ominousness, but she cares about the rationality of building location, and if there's something to choose from, she'll definitely choose.

  But her father's one sentence stunned her.

  "Could it be that my daughter from Nan Yue has actually fallen for some heretical teachings?"