Chapter Fifty-Three New Attire

  Due to excessive plot, today's third update is late, sorry, please believe me, I didn't want to drag the story on.

  In front of the palace gate, people whispered to each other, familiarly chatting and laughing, making plans for a rare New Year's holiday outing.

  Madam Chen was also among them. Compared with the other ladies who were accompanied by their daughters-in-law and maidservants, she seemed a bit lonely with only one little maid following her.

  "This is a joyful event." A lady wearing a formal dress held Chen Shao's hand and said in a low voice, with some delight between her eyebrows.

  Madam Chen's expression was serious, but after hearing her words, she also showed a few points of joy.

  Her elder daughter-in-law was pregnant and naturally couldn't accompany her into the palace this time.

  The Chen family line was not prosperous, and there were originally four brothers. The eldest and second brothers died one after another, leaving only Chen Shao and the fourth master alive today.

  Chen Shao himself first came to a late marriage, secondly traveled extensively, and it wasn't until he was quite old that he had his eldest son. He also took in three concubines, resulting in the current three sons and four daughters.

  Now that the eldest son's wife and concubine are both pregnant, especially with Old Master Chen recovering from his illness, the whole family is overjoyed.

  But this kind of self-satisfaction may be hatred for outsiders, so it's better not to mention it to outsiders, except for a few close friends.

  "I heard that you've invited Dr. Li to treat your wives," a lady whispered, "Dr. Li is the imperial physician of the Prince of Jin'an, it's quite suitable for you to invite him."

  He then laughed softly.

  "If you can invite the Prince of Jin'an County to sit at home, maybe you can still..."

  Madam Chen's face turned red with anger and she pushed Mrs. Rao away.

  "Dong sister, you're getting more and more unreasonable!" she scolded.

  The lady covered her mouth and giggled.

  As they spoke, they walked forward, and soon they saw the carriages of various families waiting in the distance. Suddenly, there was a moment of silence in front, and Madame Chen Shao and Madame Dong also stopped their conversation to look over.

  Right before them, a young woman came running over with quick steps, and both of their eyes lit up at the same time.

  Outside the imperial palace on a winter's day, an increasingly solemn atmosphere prevailed. The women's ceremonial attire was mostly woven with gold thread, shining brightly in unison. Amidst this sea of splendor, a young woman wore a duck-egg-blue cloak with a large hood, which fluttered open as she moved, revealing the same dark blue robe underneath, adorned with slanted golden threads and wide silk sashes around her waist. Her wide sleeves fluttered and intersected in front of her, like a drop of ink spreading through water, instantly dyeing and unfolding.

  As she walked along, the women, regardless of age, all fixed their eyes on her, and even the men over there couldn't help but cast glances at her, as if unintentionally.

  Who is this lady, dignified and elegant in her solemnity, floating like an immortal.

  "Mother." The woman called out, seeing Madame Chen Shao, quickened her pace to come over, reached out to support her, and slightly tilted her head, revealing half of her face.

  "Eighteen girl." Madame Chen Shao was stunned for a moment before suddenly recognizing her own daughter. "You, how did you come?"

  "Aunt and sister-in-law are worried, let me come to pick you up." Chen Shiba Niang said, while handing over a hand warmer and exchanging it for the one in Madame Chen Shaofu's hands that had already gone cold.

  Madam Chen felt a warmth that reached her heart, and she seemed to have let out a sigh of relief as soon as she got near the stove.

  "Good." She said, looking at her daughter with a few points of pity.

  "Oh dear, Eighteen Girl, it's been a few days since we last met, and you've grown taller again." Madame Dong came back to her senses, released Chen Shao's wife, took Eighteen Girl's hand, and carefully looked her up and down.

  "It's because I'm wearing boots." Chen Shi Ba Niang smiled and said.

  Mrs. Dong just smiled, her eyes moving back and forth on her body, as if it was the first time she had seen Chen Shi-ba Niang.

  "That eighteen maiden has also grown taller, and she's only fourteen years old." She said with a smile.

  "Alright, let's get on the car quickly, it's so cold." Madam Chen said with a smile, interrupting Madam Dong's admiration.

  The two of them walked forward, Chen Shi Ba Niang lagging behind a few steps, following the crowd's movement, until they got on the horse carriage. The subtle and ambiguous gaze from outside still hadn't dispersed, along with the low murmurs that faintly came through.

  "Is this Chen's daughter?"

  "You're getting on in years..."

  The carriage drove straight into the house, and the daughter-in-law, maidservants, and young girls all came rushing in, helping her change clothes and serving soup. Madame Chen shed off a whole body of fatigue.

  "Eighteen girl, who made this dress of yours?" She said after dinner, looking at her daughters gathered together chatting.

  Chen Shi Ba took off her cloak and stood up with a smile, wearing only her outer gown.

  "I had it made by a tailor, Mother, how does it look?" she asked.

  A maiden in her teens, amidst a sea of blooming flowers and lush greenery, wears a simple yet elegant dress that accentuates her unique charm.

  "It's just that, for New Year's, it's a bit too plain." Madam Chen said with a smile, but didn't say it was bad.

  "Eighteen girl, you are wearing the clothes of the young lady!" exclaimed Dan Niang as she followed the servant into the house.

  The people present were suddenly enlightened and finally knew where this familiar feeling came from.

  "Eighteen girl, you secretly did it without telling us."

  "Come on, just one thing or several?"

  The women surrounded Shiba Mei, and the room suddenly became more lively with the sound of birds chirping and people chattering, interspersed with Chen Dan Niang's quarrelsome noise.

  When Chen Jia laughed and made a noise, in the mansion of Cheng Jiao Niang located beside Yudai Bridge, it was still quiet.

  Since there were no parents, and no need to pay New Year's visits to relatives in the countryside, after the morning worship, Cheng Jiaoniang, Xu Maosheng and others rested separately, and when they woke up again, it was already after noon.

  Xu Maoshou and others all washed their faces again, put on new clothes, opened the street door, either chatting in the courtyard or watching the street scene at the gate.

  The sound of footsteps came from behind, and several people turned their heads to look back. Cheng Jiaoniang and her maid came out of the house, also dressed in new clothes.

  Several people in the hospital were stunned for a moment.

  "Sister, you're wearing new clothes, I can hardly recognize you!" Xu Bangzhu shouted first.

  The sound brought everyone back to their senses, and those in front of the door also turned around to look.

  Jiangniang is wearing a crimson red loose-sleeved robe with a white silk underskirt today, the sleeve and skirt edges are trimmed with gold braid, her long hair is combed into a low bun, on which there is no jade hairpin, only a small silver comb.

  Xu Maoshou shifted his gaze away from the silver comb.

  "My younger sister is still young, it's better to wear this and look good!" Xu Banggui said on the side, "This is good, this is good, wearing black every day makes people feel a bit scared."

  Fan Jianglin glared at him busily.

  "Don't talk nonsense, whatever you wear looks good on you." he said with a smile.

  The maid smiled and looked at Chong Jiuniang's clothes.

  "This is a new dress sent by Mrs. Chen," she said, looking at Xu Maosheng, "Thanks to Third Brother for bringing it back."

  Xu Maoshou smiled wryly and didn't know what to say, so he simply didn't speak.

  Jiangniang has already sat down in the house, and the maid went to serve the meal.

  Xu Maoshou hesitated for a moment and stood under the corridor.

  "Third Brother." Jingniang called out.

  Xu Maoshou hastily turned around.

  "Have you eaten yet?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "You've eaten, you've eaten." Xu Maoshou said with a hint of a smile.

  "Alright, I have something to ask for your help, brother," said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Xu Maoshou's eyes flickered slightly as he gazed at the woman sitting upright inside the house.

  Although she was dressed differently from usual, looking back, I still couldn't see the beautiful clothes on her body. What caught people's attention was still her wooden expression.

  Even if not wearing black, the momentum remains.