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Chapter 132: Initial Display of Affection (Part 1)

  Chapter 132: Initial Display of Affection (Part 1)

  Yao Hua politely greeted Xue Mingrui under everyone's gaze, then performed the family etiquette. Rong Hua smiled, Yao Hua was indeed elegant and poised in front of others.

  With this outfit on, it's no wonder people can't help but stare at her.

  Yao Hua was originally beautiful and knew how to use her beauty, no wonder the servant from Chang Ning Bo's house appeared in front of Tao Fu's gate that day. Yao Hua remembered when she went to Chang Ning Bo's mansion to offer condolences, Chang Ning Bo's son looked at her with a deeply meaningful gaze, his eyes made people feel extremely uncomfortable.

  Could it be really because... Yonghua looked at Yao Hua with a gaze that was suddenly intense.

  The old lady said: "Alright, let's all go now, later on Master Hou and Rong Hua will have to leave early."

  Everyone responded, and Xue Mingrui and Rong Hua still surrounded the old lady and walked first, while others followed behind.

  The little maidservants pointed and giggled at the colorful edges of Ronghua's clothes.

  "What's going on?"

  "There's nothing."

  Yao Hua heard Xiang Zhu and others gossiping, when she entered the seat, she deliberately looked at Rong Hua. The pattern on Rong Hua's clothes was very elegant and there was nothing wrong with it. She didn't know why the two little maids were secretly laughing. Just as she was thinking about this, she suddenly saw that the inner robe exposed by Wu Mu Houye had a pattern that was exactly the same as the edge of Rong Hua's clothes.

  Yao Hua saw this, and for some reason her eyes felt hot, and in her heart was a strange taste. Looking again at Rong Hua's head, where the colorful butterfly perched, fluttering its wings as if about to fly, she sensed an aura of vitality.

  Ronghua served dishes to Marquis Xue, seemingly all in line with the marquis's thoughts.

  Xue Mingrui ate a small piece of stir-fried meat, then picked up another piece from the plate and gave it to Rong Hua.

  Yao Hua had eaten this dish before, but now she can't remember if it was delicious or not.

  In a short while, the old lady asked for wine again. Ronghua usually didn't drink, but today she drank half a cup and her cheeks were slightly red.

  Yan Hua also took a sip of wine, but furrowed his brow, usually he didn't think the wine was so bitter.

  Liao poured wine for everyone, saw that there was still half a cup in front of Rong Hua, and also saw that Rong Hua's eyebrows were hazy, so he didn't fill it up. One by one, they came full, but when he wasn't paying attention, he filled the wine glass in front of Ya Hua to the brim. Only then did he realize and smiled at Ya Hua: "You try some too, the old lady's hidden wine is a bit sweet. Your eighth sister never drinks, but she drank half a cup."

  Everyone raised their cups again. Yao Hua took a light sip and the wine fumes rose, causing her to cough twice involuntarily.

  The old lady smiled and said: "Er Ya Tou used to never drink wine."

  Yao Hua glanced at the crowd, slightly pursed her lips and smiled but didn't speak. Almost everyone's gaze in the room fell on her, except for one pair of eyes that had never looked this way once.

  Yao Hua glanced at her own cuff and suddenly disliked the color of this dress for not being bright enough.

  The silver-red cheongsam is very eye-catching.

  After dinner, Tao Zheng'an rushed back from outside and saw Xue Mingrui looking a bit flustered, so he just called for someone to bring good tea.

  The old lady smiled and said: "Can't I even make a good cup of tea for His Excellency?"

  Tao Zheng'an's face flashed a smile, and he looked at Rong Hua again. He saw that Rong Hua was sitting next to Xue Mingrui, calm and composed, with his hands relaxed. Suddenly, he realized that he had clenched his fists tightly, and his whole body was stiffened. Xue Mingrui was his son-in-law; could he still be afraid of him? Thinking this way, Tao Zheng'an slightly relaxed while everyone was still unaware, but saw that Xue Mingrui's face remained cold, with some words that he didn't know how to bring up.

  Rong Hua glanced sideways at Xue Mingrui. Xue Mingrui's slender eyes were slightly closed, and he picked up his teacup to take a sip, sitting upright with an icy expression, making it difficult for others to look him straight in the eye.

  Tao Zheng'an was even more polite to Xue Mingrui than before.

  Xue Mingrui didn't speak, Tao Zheng'an also couldn't open his mouth. In the end, he found an excuse to call Rong Hua over. He could only hope that Rong Hua would tell Xue Mingrui what was going on. With a determined mind, Tao Zheng'an became extremely gentle when speaking with Rong Hua, "Has anyone from the Xue family asked about our family's affairs these past few days?"

  The worried expression on Tao Zhengan's face was all too familiar to her, with his thick black eyebrows and square face naturally revealing a straightforward character. He was especially good at writing, and his handwriting was bold and powerful. In her heart, Tao Zhengan had always been this way, until just before he died...

  It's impossible to say no to resentment. For the past few days, she has been thinking about whether to take revenge regardless of everything or to have an account for her future life.

  She had already lost one life, she wanted those who harmed her to get the retribution they deserved, but couldn't use the present to repay the past.

  Madam Xue sent someone over, no doubt to see what she was up to in her natal family. If she neglected the affairs of her natal family, Madam Xue would weigh her character.

  It's easy to vent one's grievances, but if it means sacrificing the future, then it's not worth it.

  Rong Hua's face showed concern, "The maternal family didn't ask about it, but I heard from grandmother that Shun Tian Fu has already found Father."

  Tao Zheng'an lowered his head and said, "The Prefecture of Shuntian is determined that it was your fifth sister who was dug up. I've been busy mediating these past few days."

  Rong Hua said: "What did they say from Shun Tian Fu?"

  Tao Zheng'an said, "The autopsy was originally witnessed by many people, and it's not easy to just let it go. We can't help but have an explanation. You go back and ask Master Hou what to do."

  Rong Hua replied, "Since it's not the remains of Fifth Sister, Father will point out where Fifth Sister was buried that year and let Shun Tian Fu investigate carefully."

  Tao Zheng'an's face involuntarily turned flustered upon hearing this, "But ask Master Hou if it can be settled privately."

  Having come this far and still unwilling to tell her the truth, Rong Hua smiled to herself. As long as she was in charge of this matter, she would naturally have a way to ensure Tao Zheng's safety.

  "What if we can't privately settle with Father beforehand? Was there anyone who could confirm what illness Eldest Sister actually had?"

  Tao Zheng'an said: "However, there is a doctor who has seen your fifth sister's illness."

  Rong Hua nodded, "Father will find Lang Zhong soon, and if necessary, he will let Lang Zhong be a witness. The family members may also need to find two reliable ones."

  Tao Zheng thought carefully and said: "The Chen family next to your mother's side is clear."

  Mrs. Chen beside Madam Wang participated in the whole thing that night.

  Ronghua said: "I don't know if there's anyone else at Chen Mama's house."

  Tao Zheng'an thought for a moment, "I heard your mother say that Chen Gui's family has two more grandsons. The younger one is about the same age as your brother Hong Ge."

  Ronghua nodded and naturally brought up Hong's matter.

  As soon as Mr. Tao mentioned his name, Zheng An's face lit up with joy, "If Master Hou is willing to let Hong go, we will naturally not refuse."

  It seems Xue Mingrui was right, this Mr. Wu's reputation is indeed loud.

  Tao Zheng'an said, "You don't know that Wu Duanfan was specially permitted by the Emperor to not take office. This man failed in the imperial examination of the second year of the Yongzheng reign, but someone said he was the unnamed zhuangyuan appointed by the Emperor."

  Ronghua didn't expect Mr. Wu to have such an experience.

  Tao Zheng'an said, "These days, there are many things at home, thanks to you," and then sighed, "After a while, I plan to move the seventh aunt to a place with slightly better feng shui for reburial."

  Even if she was no longer the Eighth Miss born to Seventh Aunt, without Seventh Aunt, she wouldn't know if she could be reborn as a human. So in any case, Tao Zheng An burying Seventh Aunt could also be considered as giving her some repayment.

  Rong Hua nodded, Tao Zheng'an was going to use the concubine's daughter and give her some benefits, but it also counted as doing a good deed.

  Two people sat for a while, Tao Zheng'an said: "Since the last time I returned to Zhao's house, my sister has not had any news at all. Until today, Yicheng Houfu sent someone to say that your brother-in-law is ill." As he spoke, his face showed a hint of ridicule.

  Rong Hua's heart sank involuntarily.

  Is Zhao Xuan Huan sick? Is it because of this matter? Is the illness true or false?

  "Your mother is ill and your third aunt still has to help with the household chores, so if you have time, go visit your older sister and see how things are going over there."

  Is it to let her go to the Zhao family to test the wind and incidentally tell her sister about this matter? If she can tell her sister about the Xue family's affairs, perhaps the Zhao family will add flowers to the brocade. Even if the Zhao family is unmoved, they must be made aware that the Tao family has more than one noble relative.

  Tao Zheng'an's plan is good.

  Should she go or not?

  Zhao Xuan Huan... had a faint hesitation in his heart amidst his elegant appearance.

  Ronghua and Tao Zheng'an came out of the house, and Chen Mama was already waiting at the door.

  Madam Chen bowed to Tao Zheng'an and Rong Hua, smiling: "The Eldest Lady invites Eighth Miss over."

  Tao Zheng'an said: "Don't talk for too long, Master Hou is still waiting."

  Mrs. Chen agreed.

  Ronghua followed Chen Mama forward, Ronghua seemed to say unintentionally, "I heard from my father that Chen Mama has a little grandson who is about the same age as Hong Ge."

  Chen's mother was taken aback for a moment, how did the conversation turn to this topic. Chen's mother looked at Ronghua's expression again carefully, and it seemed that Ba Gu Niang (Eight Aunt) had some unusual look when she saw her.

  Didn't Old Master and Eighth Granny say something?

  Ronghua entered the mistress's room, Yanhua had just finished serving the mistress lunch and was holding water for the mistress to rinse her mouth. Seeing Ronghua arrive, Yanhua quickly glanced at the mistress, who didn't say anything. Yanhua said: "I'll go outside to see how mother's medicine is boiling."

  Mrs. Tai nodded, and Jen-hua took Hsiang-ch`uan out of the house.

  Yan Hua left, and the madam patted the bed, letting Rong Hua sit down. "How was today's meal? Was it to Master Hou's liking?"

  Ronghua nodded, "There are dishes from both north and south at home, San Shu arranged it well."

  The old lady smiled and said: "Come back often in the future, after a while when I'm better, it will be more convenient."

  After beating around the bush for a while, the lady asked what the old man had said.

  Ronghua repeated what he had just said, making the matter of Chen Mama even clearer. "Father said that on Mother's side, the most trustworthy person is Chen Mama. If she handles this matter, it should be alright."

  Madam said: "Aunt Chen has been by my side for many years, and there are some things she knows that are much clearer than others."

  What happened that night, Chen's mother should remember more clearly.

  Rong Hua deliberately glanced in the direction of the outer room, someone had to break the silence first.

  Tomorrow I'm going with the whole family to look at houses, and we might even make a down payment. As long as most of us are satisfied... by the way, the current house doesn't even provide floor heating, they want us to install it ourselves...

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