Chongfei Manual [Completed]

ch 20

|| from this point on, it's a different translator translating the novel. * 

Empress Chen celebrated her birthday on this day, the 8th of May.

In recent years, the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor was getting increasingly worse, coming to a deadlock. Everyone, without exception, was aware of the situation. Even the banquet this time couldn't compare to the splendor of the past. The birthday banquet was set up in Wild Goose house and Riverside house, beside the great lake in the Imperial palace. These two buildings were situated at the foot of a hill and beside a stream. They were richly decorated. Dazzling glazed tiles on a red roof, raised eaves, and two gaping hornless dragon sculptures lying on both ends at the very top. Looking from afar, the view was like a fairyland from a drawing, out of reach. Coming closer, one was able to see the auspicious colorful carvings of a dragon and phoenix on the two buildings, the dragon on top, and the phoenix below, twisting and turning, mounting the clouds and riding the mist.

The two houses separately received the Imperial court's ministers and officials. Wei Kun personally saw off the several children to Wild Goose house, handing them over uneasily to the fourth madam Qin: "I'll trouble you to watch over these few children, fourth sister-in-law... If you can't handle them, you can also request for a servant to look after them."

Madam Qin already had three sons, adding in Wei Luo, Wei Zheng, and Wei Changhong, it was really too much of a stretch. To begin with, Madam Du would have normally been brought to attend this sort of occasion. However, she had just committed a huge blunder. No one could convince Wei Kun to take her along, thus she remained home. Wei Zheng was without her mother, and she was still young. Arriving at the Imperial palace, she got timid, and followed blindly behind Wei Kun. She even spoke less than usual.

Madam Qin took over the group of children, and teased with a smile: "What is fifth brother-in-law saying? This isn't such a difficult thing, you can rest assured and just leave them to me."

Duke Ying's family had arrived early. At this moment, there was still nobody in front of the two buildings except for the eunuchs and servant girls bustling about, bringing fruits and pastries inside. Wei Kun saw that Madam Qin had brought three servants along, and the three children each had their Nurse with them. He was confident it was unlikely for some major event to happen, thus he nodded his head and turned around to head to the Riverside house.

Watching Wei Kun walk away, Madam Qin sighed softly.

Madam Du wasn't a good match for him. Though he was surrounded by children for so many years, his heart was missing one person, letting him feel lonely the whole time. If Jiang Miaolan was still around, Madam Du wouldn't stand a chance.

She led the children into the building while she was thinking. It looked really lively around her. With six children in total, each one speaking could drown out a person's voice. The eldest madam watched from the side, and asked with a smile: "Will you manage to take care of them all? If not, why don't you give Ah Luo and Changhong to me?"

The eldest madam only had a son, the eldest young master Wei Changyin. She didn't have a daughter, so she was very fond of the residence's young ladies.

Madam Qin pursed her lips in a smile, tactfully declining: "It's usually me looking after Ah Luo and Changhong. Most likely, there won't be any issues now."

Her voice barely fell, when Wei Zheng broke free from Madam Qin's hand and ran to the third madam Liu, "I want third aunt!"

Madam Liu was suddenly pulled by her. Surprised, she turned around to take a look, and quickly understanding what happened, smiled at Madam Qin, then brought Wei Zheng upstairs. Madam Liu had always been close to Madam Du, and she was also more affectionate with Wei Zheng. Thus, Wei Zheng would rather be close to third aunt than fourth aunt.