The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 772 - 734: Doubts in the Air (Part 1)

The group walked towards the Rong’an Hall in the inner courtyard.

On the way, Zhao Xunyin asked Wen Wan, "Has this year’s annual gift been sent to Ningzhou?"

Hearing that she was asking about her adoptive father, Wen Wan replied, "Not yet. Too many things have happened recently, and I haven’t had a moment to deal with it."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xunyin sighed softly, "We’re about to go to war with Bei Yan. The future is unpredictable. If you have time, spare a moment to go back and see him."

"War?" Wen Wan was startled. How had she never heard of this?

Zhao Xunyin nodded, "We only found out after seeing your Emperor Uncle."

Judging from the tone, the scale of this battle was not small.

Wen Wan felt a bit panicky, "Then I should indeed go back and visit." She added, "It’s almost the New Year. I’ve agreed with Third Son that after Yuanbao completes the exams, we’ll take the family back to the hometown to pay respects to our ancestors, using the occasion to pay a special visit." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Zhao Xunyin awkwardly said, "In my position, it’s not convenient for me to meet with him, but I’ve privately inquired a lot about their family. Your brother has some talent in business. Now their shop has expanded beyond the county to the Prefecture. The county shop is run by your adoptive father, while the one in the Prefecture is entirely managed by Wen Shun. The county shop sells grains and groceries, while the Prefecture shop sells cosmetics, and the profits are quite good."

Wen Wan almost choked, "Cosmetics? Mom, did you say Wen Shun went to sell cosmetics?"

The brat who always seemed so immature in her memory, when did he transform?

"Unbelievable, right?" Zhao Xunyin looked at the surprised expression on Wen Wan’s face. "I also found it inconceivable. Later, I had someone check it out. It was your adoptive father who suggested opening a shop in the Prefecture. His nature is quite conservative; he originally intended to open another grocery store. Wen Shun disagreed and insisted on going to the Prefecture himself. He stayed there for a while and spent every day at the market. Finally, he decided to open a cosmetics shop, saying that women are willing to spend money in this area and it’s the easiest way to earn money.

The cost of doing this business was too high. Your adoptive father wouldn’t agree, and the father and son had a cold war for several days. Eventually, your adoptive mother secretly gave him two hundred taels of silver. The boy was quite impressive and managed to make something out of those two hundred taels in the Prefecture."

Wen Wan felt a surge of emotion, "In the letter to me, my adoptive father didn’t mention any of this. Hearing from you, Mom, I really believe that Wen Shun has a knack for business. After the New Year, I’ll visit the Prefecture."

...

In Rong’an Hall, Granny Song hadn’t yet digested the news that Third Son wasn’t dead when she heard Yun Xia say the in-laws had arrived.

"What?" Granny Song rolled off the warm bed, her eyes widening, "When did they come?"

Yun Xia smiled and said, "Just arrived, and the cleaning lady said they’re heading this way!"

"These are honored guests; we mustn’t neglect them." Granny Song glanced at her attire, found it inappropriate, rummaged through the wardrobe for a suitable set to change into, and then looked at Yun Xia, "Don’t just stand there; hurry and invite Old Song."

Yun Xia responded and hurried to the outer courtyard to fetch Old Song.

Upon hearing about the visit from the in-laws, Old Song came quickly and happened to arrive just before Wen Wan and the others entered.

Granny Song was already sitting upright. Seeing him, she glanced at him, "Didn’t Yun Xia tell you who arrived?"

Old Song countered, "Isn’t it the in-laws?"

Granny Song snorted lightly, "Knowing that, you still dressed so poorly. Who are you trying to upset?"

Before Old Song could reply, Zhao Xunyin’s voice sounded by the door, "We’re all family here; there’s no need for such formality, is there?"

With the voice’s fall, several people stepped over the threshold, one after another.

Granny Song hurried to stand up and wanted to salute Zhao Xunyin but was held back by Zhao Xunyin, "I just said we’re family, and you’re pushing me away again. If you really go through with this, I’ll turn around and never visit your home again."

Granny Song, usually sharp-tongued, was left speechless by her words, embarrassment written all over her aging face. She then invited, "Sit, please sit, Yun Xia, serve tea."

Zhao Xunyin and Lu Xingzhou sat down beside her, while Granny Song also settled back into her seat.

Song Wei and his wife stood in the hall and saluted Granny Song and Old Song, "Father, Mother."

Song Wei said, "Your son has returned."

Upon hearing her son’s voice, Granny Song’s eyes immediately reddened, "You little rascal, how could you not send word home so we wouldn’t worry for nothing?"

"The situation was urgent," Song Wei slowly explained, "If the family learned in advance that my death was faked, it wouldn’t fool the spies, and it would create more trouble."

Granny Song wanted to say more but was interrupted by Old Song, "Enough, you know what Third Son is like. He’s always stable in his actions. Though this time was a bit risky, he’s still returned safe and sound. Let’s not dwell on it."

Granny Song choked a bit.

Wen Wan said at the right moment, "Father, Mother, please sit down first, I’ll go to inform the kitchen to prepare the meal."

Granny Song said, "By the way, let a maid go to the West Courtyard to let them know, your parents are here, they should come and see."

Wen Wan agreed and went out, asking Yun Cai to take the message to the West Courtyard.

She hadn’t walked far when she heard footsteps behind her. Wen Wan turned back and saw it was Zhao Xunyin. She paused, "Mother, why did you come out?"

Zhao Xunyin looked at her and smiled, "I was cooped up in the carriage on the way here, came out to get some fresh air."

Wen Wan reached out, affectionately entwining Zhao Xunyin’s arm, "Mother, do you have something bothering you? Talk to me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xunyin immediately fell silent.

Seeing this, Wen Wan stopped speaking and didn’t press further, the mother and daughter quietly walked forward.

After a while, Zhao Xunyin finally asked her, "Wanwan, have you met your uncle?"

Wen Wan nodded and said she had seen him, usually at palace banquets.

"Your uncle, this time things don’t look good." Zhao Xunyin slowed her pace, her voice was deep and slow.

Previously in Qianqing Palace, Emperor Guangxi hadn’t spoken many words before he started coughing blood. She suggested letting the Imperial Physician see him, but Emperor Guangxi said he had grown accustomed to it recently; his heart was getting weaker, a sign that the end is near. Even if the Imperial Physician came, it would be useless.

Wen Wan’s eyelids twitched, "Not good?"

Third Son and the Crown Prince are merely acting, isn’t the Emperor doing the same?

"He’s ill, seriously ill," Zhao Xunyin said. "Even speaking takes effort for him."

Mother’s expression was very solemn, making Wen Wan realize they weren’t joking. She asked urgently, "Doesn’t the Imperial Hospital have many physicians? Are they all helpless?"

"If there were a way, it wouldn’t have dragged on until today without treatment."

As she spoke, Zhao Xunyin looked at Wen Wan, "After a few days, you should go and see him!"

"Okay." After all, he’s her uncle, and he’s been taking care of Song Wei. Wen Wan had no reason not to go.

The second branch of the family got the message and rushed over, Second Lang’s wife had long known that Wen Wan was the biological daughter of the Eldest Princess, but it was the first time she saw her in person. After performing the courtesy, she directly praised the Eldest Princess for maintaining well, saying the third brother’s wife looked exactly like her birth mother, both rare beauties.

Second Lang’s wife had praised Wen Wan’s looks many times before, but only today, her compliments truly touched Wen Wan. She smiled throughout, constantly serving dishes to Zhao Xunyin beside her. The whole family enjoyed a lively meal.

After the meal, the younger children were taken to the garden by Song Yuanbao to play. Lu Xingzhou went to the outer yard to talk with Old Song, Song Erlang, and Song Wei.

Zhao Xunyin stayed in the inner courtyard, chatting with Granny Song and Wen Wan’s sisters-in-law.

They hadn’t seen each other for years, and the mother and daughter had too much to talk about, but seeing Granny Song’s eyelids drooping, Zhao Xunyin suggested they each return to their rooms to rest.

Back at Qingteng Residence, Wen Wan kept yawning as she sat before the mirror to remove her makeup. Not long after, she saw through the bronze mirror the graceful silhouette of Song Wei standing behind her, suddenly remembering the scene she saw the day the coffin was opened. Though she knew it wasn’t Song Wei himself lying in the coffin, the visual impact at first sight still cast a shadow over her.

Feeling a cold shiver, Wen Wan murmured, "You’re sneaking behind me silently to scare me again?"

Song Wei leaned forward, hugged her from behind, looked at the small wife’s resentful face in the bronze mirror, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, "I promised you, I’d return safely."

"But the person in the coffin looked too much like you." Even after so many days, Wen Wan couldn’t help but think.

"Yun Liulang arranged it," Song Wei said. "Afraid they’d open the coffin to inspect, it had to be done."

Wen Wan questioned, "Yun Liulang saved you?"

Song Wei nodded.

"Then what about Yuanbao stabbing you? You don’t know, the day he returned with the funeral procession, he was detained by the Ministry of Justice for intentionally murdering a court official. Fortunately, Miss Dong personally went to the Ministry of Justice to get him released."

Song Wei was truly unaware of this matter, the Crown Prince hadn’t mentioned it either, he felt something wasn’t quite right, "Since it was the Ministry of Justice detaining him, why could Miss Dong get him released?"