The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Chapter 132: It isn't easy being the matriarch of this family

Ning Mingjie silently looked at Wen Wan, but he didn't make any move towards carrying her. He only asked, "How about I tell the carriage driver to call over your servant girls?"

Wen Wan's eyes dimmed. She said in a low voice, "Wan-er is just a servant girl herself. How can I be that fragile and pampered? I'll just walk by myself."

After saying this, she stood up. As she was passing by Ning Mingjie to get off the carriage, she was in too much pain and fell on top of him. Her pretty face turned red. Biting her lip, she seemed as if she was angry with herself for behaving so stupidly.

Ning Mingjie stretched his hand out to help her up and out of the carriage, but he did this in a very proper manner; he only lent an arm to support her.

"Thank you... Wan-er is so useless..." There were tears in Wen Wan's eyes as she quietly said, "No wonder Yuxuan has been giving me the cold shoulder lately. If only I could be as clever and witty as Madam..."

Ning Mingjie paused before chuckling. "Everyone is different. Someone like Sangyu, there can only be one."

Wen Wan's expression became somewhat ugly.

Noticing that he had been indiscreet, Ning Mingjie added, "Miss Wen, you have your good points too."

"Young Master, you don't need to praise Wan-er. Wan-er knows that she's not praiseworthy." Wen Wan leaned her entire body weight onto Ning Mingjie's hand and moved one foot forward. In order to keep her from falling, he could only follow her forward.

Wen Wan entered the estate through the back gate. The sky was gloomy, and a moment later, it started snowing as Ning Mingjie had predicted earlier. By the time the two of them had walked to Qiangwei Courtyard, their shoulders had already become wet from the snow that had melted.

"Young Master, you should stay over in one of the southern courtyards," Wen Wan quietly said, "The snow is getting heavier, and your home is far from here. Wan-er will have someone tidy up a place for you to stay."

Ning Mingjie was used to staying in the marquis's estate. Looking at the weather, he pursed his lips and nodded.

Tanxiang went to the southern part of the estate and tidied up a place for him to stay the night.

---

Ji Man had just finished eating dinner and was continuing her embroidery for a picture that depicted Wan Zhaojun's journey.

(T/N: Wang Zhaojun is known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was sent to the northwest by Emperor Yuan to marry the leader of Xiongnu's ruling clan.)

Dengxin scurried into the room and quietly said, "Master, there a dispute in the kitchen. Chunfeng took Mistress Zheng's swallow's nest soup, and a fight broke out between her and Luqiao. This servant passed by and lectured them, but this servant didn't know that Chunfeng would go back and tell Xia-shi this matter. That Xia-shi is always lacking in manners. She went to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and flipped over the simmering swallow's nest soup."

Dengxin's words painted a vivid scene and Ji Man couldn't resist laughing. Xia-shi was outspoken and had a peasant woman's shrewish spirit. It was amusing to hear that she would actually knock over the swallow's nest soup.

"Master, how can you be laughing about this?" Dengxin lightly stamped her feet. "They looked like they're about to start a fight when this servant left."

Putting down her embroidery, Ji Man stood up and said, "It's cold outside. Bring me a hand warmer before we go out. What's the big deal? It's just a bowl of swallow's nest soup. Let's walk slowly. There's no need to feel anxious."