amaotonovel Chapter 949 The Former Second Wife
Chapter 949 The Former Second Wife
After all, Chen Zijun was completely loyal to the late emperor, not the current one.
If there's no goodwill, the more you try to curry favor with your superiors, the more likely it is to backfire.
Ahem, of course, given Grandpa Jiu's personality, he wouldn't do such a thing.
If we want the Earl's Mansion to truly live up to its name, we still need to rely on future generations.
If a member of the Chen family is exceptionally talented and catches the eye of other families, gradually supporting the family's reputation, then the title can be considered secure.
Grandpa Chen Jiu was aware of this as well, and had recently been inquiring about various academies in the capital.
When the clansmen go to the capital, they will definitely send the young men to study.
The Imperial Academy requires genuine talent and learning to pass the entrance exam, so it's not easy to get in. However, you can study at other academies for a few years first, and then take the exam again.
"When I get home, I'll ask my brother; perhaps he knows about the academies in the capital."
Fang Nanzhi Road.
Her brother was at the Imperial Academy, and he was much more astute than her when it came to information about reading and literacy.
"it is good."
Chen Feng was grateful.
As the brother and sister were talking, the steward of the front yard arrived.
"Young Master, Miss, we have a guest. It is the Second Madam of the Yuan family."
What a coincidence! We just talked about people.
"Please come in quickly."
Although the Yuan family, as in-laws, avoided suspicion when the Chen family got into trouble, they even wanted to take their great-aunt back.
But in the end, he didn't go back; he died on the road to exile.
The Chen family will never forget this kindness.
Because the Chen family did not have a matriarch who could make decisions at the moment, Fang Nanzhi could only act as the matriarch for one time, since the second wife who came was the mother of the sixth aunt, and thus an elder.
She wanted to call her former grandmother, so she and Chen Feng went to the second gate to greet her in person.
The Second Madam was seen to be very grand, followed by six maids, some carrying her cloaks, others hand warmers...
Before the person even got close, a fragrant breeze wafted over.
Looking at the woman walking ahead, Fang Nanzhi couldn't help but glance at Chen Feng.
The latter lowered his voice and reminded her: "Sixth Aunt's biological mother passed away ten years ago. This is the second master's second wife, and she is only twenty-four years old."
Fang Nanzhi understood; no wonder she looked so young.
But she's so young, why is she calling someone "grandmother"?
She was a little confused.
Madam Yuan didn't hesitate and called out from afar, "Oh, this must be Old Master Zhou's little apprentice? The famous young doctor in the capital. Good boy, come here quickly and let your grandmother take a good look at you."
That loving tone, paired with that innocent face.
Fang Nanzhi felt as if ants were crawling all over her, and gave her an awkward smile.
She didn't go over, but directly bowed and said, "Greetings, former grandmother."
Chen Feng also bowed in response: "Grandmother, my grandfather went to pay respects to Uncle Zijun and just left..."
"Get up quickly, no need for formalities. My husband is very busy these days, and I apologize for disturbing you by coming here unannounced." Madam Yuan spoke with the demeanor of an elder.
However, she was more enthusiastic towards Nam Gyi.
He held Fang Nanzhi's hand as they walked inside, chatting casually with her, as if they were truly grandmother and granddaughter.
Fang Nanzhi: ...
Upon entering the front hall, Fang Nanzhi instructed her maids to serve tea and water, keeping a distance from the Second Madam, before taking her seat.
The former second wife felt somewhat regretful.
Chen Feng seized the opportunity to find out the purpose of the Second Madam's visit.
The former second wife seemed very kind.
"It's a good thing that the Chen family has been exonerated. Our two families are related by marriage, so it's only natural that I've come to congratulate them and see if there's anything the Chen family can help with."
"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. My family hasn't come to the capital yet. There are fewer people now, so we can still manage."
Chen Feng declined.
Even if I intend to continue my relationship with the Yuan family, this is not the way to do it.
Furthermore, it's truly baffling that the Second Master didn't intervene, but instead sent a second wife who had never dealt with Madam Chen before.
The Second Madam of Pianyuan did not seem to find anything wrong with it.
She took out her handkerchief and sighed, "I wonder when the rest of the Chen family will come to the capital?"
“Alas, my husband hasn’t seen You Niang for over ten years. He doesn’t say it, but he misses her dearly. Is she going to the capital? If she does, she should stay at her parents’ home for a few more days.”
You Niang, whose full name is Yuan Xiuyou, is their sixth aunt.
Chen Feng's face also showed more sadness.
"I'm afraid we'll disappoint Grandmother. My sixth aunt... sigh, she died of illness on the way to exile. It was my Chen family that failed to take good care of her. When my sixth uncle returns, I will personally go to your residence to apologize."
The Second Madam was first shocked and then saddened; tears welled up in her eyes without warning.
"what?"
"My poor daughter, how could she have died so young? If your father knew, he would be heartbroken."
The Second Madam cried so intensely that her tears were genuine.
But... Fang Nanzhi thought that when the Second Madam entered the house, the Sixth Aunt was no longer in the mansion, so the two of them should not have met.
They've never met, and they're not even related by blood, so how could they possibly have any feelings for each other?
How could she cry like that?
Also, Aunt Liu died on the way to exile. If the Yuan family really cared about her, they should have known long ago.
With the Yuan family's capabilities, investigating this matter wouldn't be difficult, would it?
After ignoring her for over a decade, it suddenly seems a bit unbelievable that the former Second Master Yuan is now concerned about his daughter.
The second wife cried for a long time.
Chen Fengshi offered words of comfort from time to time, which finally stopped her tears.
“Youniang was unlucky; she didn’t live to see her name cleared. How has my son-in-law been all these years?”
Chen Feng was still handling things, and Fang Nanzhi had never even met her sixth uncle.
She was lost in thought again.
Chen Feng's cousin is eighteen years old, and his sixth uncle is estimated to be around thirty.
He's older than the second wife, so how come she calls him "son-in-law" so smoothly?
"Then when your sixth uncle returns to Beijing, you must visit him. His father-in-law also wants to meet him."
The Second Madam wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief.
Turning back, his gaze fell on Fang Nanzhi, and he smiled kindly.
"Grandmother never had a daughter, and she thought that with You Niang's return, it would make up for her regret. But alas..."
"However, Grandmother seems to like Zhizhi very much. If Zhizhi has time, she should come to the Yuan residence more often."
Fang Nanzhi smiled sweetly.
“I also feel a sense of familiarity with my grandmother, but it’s almost the end of the year, and I need to go back to my hometown with my parents for the New Year, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to find the time.”
This was a polite refusal.
She wasn't that close to the Yuan family yet.
"Oh? Lord Fang is going back to his hometown? And General Fang is also leaving the capital?" Second Madam Yuan asked.
Fang Nanzhi shook her head, feigning innocence.
"I don't know, my second uncle is always busy with official duties."
Of course she wanted to go back, but her second uncle was different from her father.
Her father was a minor official whose whereabouts were not noticed, but her second uncle commanded troops and was deeply trusted by the emperor, so his every move was closely watched.
She won't say anything unless things go smoothly.
Madam Yuan nodded slightly and smiled, "Returning to the hometown to pay respects to our ancestors is also a big deal. After the New Year, it would be good for the branches to visit more often and keep Grandmother Yuan company."
Fang Nanzhi smiled, but did not answer.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the Second Madam Yuan took her leave.
The brother and sister saw her off and both breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Feng's smile vanished: "Zhizhi, she came for you."