I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 5

Spring arrives later in the capital than in Jiangnan. On the day Wei Hanzhang returned, a light drizzle added to the chill.

The main gate of the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence opened early to welcome back the granddaughter who had been fostered elsewhere for fifteen years. Servants waited outside.

As soon as Wei Hanzhang stepped out of the carriage, she was ushered into the main hall. The Marquis of Zhongyong and his wife sat at the head, with members of the six households, legitimate and illegitimate, standing or sitting, making the spacious hall appear crowded.

All eyes focused on Wei Hanzhang, or more accurately, on her face. The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wei Hanzhang stood with her back straight, looking neither left nor right, maintaining the demeanor of a noble lady. She formally bowed to her grandparents.

The Marquis of Zhongyong, Wei Ping, was a military man with exceptional skills in both military and household management. Despite his age, his eyes were bright and spirited, exuding an impressive aura.

He glanced at his kneeling granddaughter, his expression softening slightly as he nodded and said, "Now that you are home, settle in. Have your mother take you to meet our relatives."

A hereditary marquisate passed down for a century, the complex web of connections in the capital meant they had countless relatives everywhere.

Wei Hanzhang nodded humbly.

The Marquis gave a few more words of advice before rising to leave.

Once he departed, the tense atmosphere in the hall relaxed. The Marchioness, Liu Shi, smiled and beckoned, "Little Ninth, come here and let Grandmother have a good look at you."

"To think we had such a fairy-like granddaughter raised elsewhere," said a middle-aged woman behind Liu Shi with a kind smile. "I am your eldest aunt. I hear our Little Ninth is called Ranran?"

With her hands held by Liu Shi, it was hard to salute, so Wei Hanzhang nodded and greeted, "Yes, Ranran, like the graceful willow branches."

"A fine child," Liu Shi said warmly, examining her granddaughter closely and praising her. "Go see your parents. Your father has missed you dearly all these years."

Wei Hanzhang followed her gaze and saw a pale, tearful beautiful woman looking at her. Beside her sat a distinguished man, who, despite being past his thirties, looked to be in his late twenties.

That must be the male lead—indeed handsome and graceful.

The couple's eyes were filled with the longing of seeing their youngest daughter for the first time.

Wei Hanzhang took a few steps closer and knelt to pay her respects. Before she could bow her head, she was lifted by two pairs of hands and pulled into a soft, medicinally scented embrace.

This was her mother, Madam Jiang.

She looked truly unwell, hugging Wei Hanzhang, tears falling before she could speak. Wei Heng stood beside them, softly comforting her to no avail.

The hall was silent, even the Marchioness Liu Shi watched her daughter-in-law cry, making the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

Wei Hanzhang sighed inwardly, gently wiping her mother's tears, "Mother, please don't cry."

"Yes, Little Ninth's return is a joyous occasion." Eldest Aunt Qian Shi smiled, stepping forward to ease the tension. She patted Jiang Shi's shoulder, "Let her meet all her uncles and aunts first."

The Marquis of Zhongyong's household had six branches, but only the eldest and second were legitimate full brothers. Jiang Shi, married into the household for twenty years, got along well with her sister-in-law Qian Shi, who felt her pain over her eldest daughter's ordeal.

Jiang Shi finally stopped crying. She gently touched her youngest daughter's face, her voice hoarse, "Today is a happy day with Ranran's return. I shouldn't cry, I'm just too happy."

"I understand, Mother." Wei Hanzhang nodded.

She then rose to formally greet her parents and, with Qian Shi's introduction, paid her respects to the gathered elders.

The eldest uncle, the heir to the Marquis, was on official business and absent. Eldest Aunt Qian Shi, the eldest daughter of Marquis Yongchang's household, had three sons and one daughter. The daughter, Wei Hanshuang, was sixteen.

Meeting for the first time, Wei Hanshuang smiled gently at Wei Hanzhang, her face serene and lovely.

The remaining branches were illegitimate, so Qian Shi only introduced them briefly.

She specifically called out the seventh girl of the second branch, Wei Hansu, and the eighth girl of the fourth branch, Wei Hanyu, saying they could spend time together, being close in age.

Wei Hanzhang specifically glanced at her half-sister, Wei Hansu, the daughter of the original novel's protagonist. She was evidently dressed with care, her skirt ornate and her features delicate and attractive.

Noticing her gaze, Wei Hansu slightly curtsied. Wei Hanzhang smiled and helped her up, calling her "Seventh Sister," before moving on.

The Marquis of Zhongyong's family indeed had many branches, with even the fourth generation already born. After Wei Hanzhang barely managed to recognize everyone, Liu Shi called her over, "When we took you away, you weren't even a year old, as weak as a little kitten. Now you've grown into a fine young lady. How has your health been over the years?"

Wei Hanzhang smiled and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Ranran hasn't had any serious illnesses since I was three."

Liu Shi was greatly relieved, "That's good. Your parents should be at ease now."

She was very fond of her granddaughter, praising her for a while until she began to look tired, then kindly said, "You've just reunited with your parents, so I won't keep you for dinner. After the long journey, go back and rest early."

She then addressed Wei Hanshuang, Wei Hansu, and Wei Hanyu, "You girls come to me tomorrow to get acquainted. You are all sisters and should not be strangers."

The four girls agreed in unison.

The Marquis's residence was vast. The three of them exited the main hall, each taking a sedan chair back to the second branch's courtyard.

The servants inside, along with several of Wei Heng's concubines, knelt on the ground, welcoming the legitimate daughter back.

This was Wei Hanzhang's first time seeing such a grand scene. Although the Jiang family was also wealthy, it wasn't as strictly regulated as the Marquis's residence. Kneeling servants like this would only appear at the Jiang house if a major offense had been committed.

She gathered her spirits, wanting to see which one was Concubine Shen Yue, the protagonist of the book who eventually replaced her mother as the second branch's mistress.

The original novel's protagonist, Shen Shi, was the daughter of a minor official. When Wei Heng was stationed outside, she was gifted to him by a local official. After a three-year term, Wei Heng returned to the capital with the family's arrangements, and Shen Shi had already given birth to Wei Hansu, earning Wei Heng's deep affection.

Madam Jiang managed the household with a firm hand. As the legitimate wife, she only had one daughter, Wei Hanyue, while Wei Heng's concubines were still taking birth control. Shen Shi entered the household already with a child, fortunately a daughter. Had it been a son, even the most magnanimous woman would have been infuriated.

Regardless of her true feelings, Madam Jiang publicly accepted the concubine with a smile, then turned around and arranged for Shen Shi to take birth control, as was expected of the concubines.