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When Ruan Xi and Wen Ting Zhou’s line of sight interweaved, the guests in the middle seemed to become non-existent, and their eyes were unconsciously tinted with a few parts of joy.
Clad in dark-red brocade robe, Wen Ting Zhou’s tall stature looked handsome and elegant with an eminent temperament as he stood among a group of noble sons. From the womenfolk’s side, the young ladies at their prime would constantly, albeit unwittingly, steal a few looks at him.
Most people were fond of beautiful things, it had nothing to do with affection.
Wen Ting Zhou’s concubine-born younger brothers, paternal male cousins, and fellow brothers were equally handsome in appearance, and the gazes that landed on their persons were not few either.
Upon noticing the fact that Wen Ting Zhou’s line of sight had fallen on the womenfolk, the faces of the young ladies whose tables were closest to Ruan Xi became slightly red and they could not help but correct their sitting postures. When they finally realised that Wen Ting Zhou was looking at the luminous, magnificent and incomparably beautiful Ruan Xi who was in their midst, they could not resist secretly mocking themselves for imagining that their love was reciprocated.
Ruan Xi did not take heed of the small disturbances in her surroundings. After she and Wen Ting Zhou exchanged looks for a brief moment, they retracted their gazes simultaneously without prior agreement.
“Si mei, pay attention to the venue. This is a celebratory hall, don’t be improper and exchange gazes with other men.” Ruan san niang’s voice abruptly rang out, and the gaze she was using on Ruan Xi had a faint shred of jealousy.
“San niang is being excessive in her speech. Disregarding the fact that Ting Zhou da ge and I merely met each other’s gaze unintentionally, Ting Zhou da ge isn’t an outsider either. He’s my fiancĂ©, how am I exchanging gazes with other men?” Ruan Xi replied, neither fast nor slow.
Ruan san niang laughed coldly.
“Truly, si mei’s teeth and mouth are becoming sharper and fiercer.”
As she thought about how she had become her fourth sister’s foil, the hatred in Ruan san niang’s heart hit an extreme.
Ruan Xi stopped acknowledging Ruan san niang.
Meanwhile, Zhang shi fervently wished she could slap the counterfeit by her side to death. She could not resist shooting the counterfeit a furtive glare, but when she saw the jewellery on the counterfeit and si niang’s person, she felt a burst of joy in her heart.
At this moment, Wen furen, who was in-charge of welcoming the womenfolk, walked over, and she immediately apologised.
“Ruan furen, the guests are numerous. For the overlong neglect, one asks for your pardon.”
Zhang shi looked overwhelmed by the favour from a superior as she quickly stood up to reply:
“It’s alright, it’s alright, Wen furen, yĂ”u have been busy.”
“Ruan Xi has seen Wen furen.” Ruan Xi stood up elegantly and bowed with womanly obeisance.
Wen furen held her hands affectionately as she scrutinised her, her eyes filled with satisfaction. Smiling, she said teasingly, “We have not met for a period of time, but with your transformation, I nearly failed to recognise you. It appears that Mama Lin has taught you incredibly well.”
Ruan Xi was about to speak when there was a wave of disturbance from the crowd. It turns out Wen Ting Zhou had ambled over from the male guests’ section.
She felt helpless and sweet in her heart.
Wen furen immediately noticed her son’s movements upon turning her head and she could not help but become speechless. He must be terribly afraid that people were unaware of how highly he regarded Ruan Xi. Thus, she rebuked with a single line:
“Xiao Xi, I’m already here as his mother, and yet, what is that child, Ting Zhou, worrying about?”
Her tone of voice was grumbling, but her eyes were filled with laughter.
Ruan Xi smiled shyly.
In her heart, however, she had been stunned by the diminutive name that Wen furen had used. She still remembered that when she met Wen furen for the first time, Wen furen had called her Ruan si xiaojie, and with Wen Ting Zhou mediating the scene and enabling her to gain Wen furen’s recognition, she had called her si niang, but now it had turned into Xiao Xi.
The act of Wen furen and Wen Ting Zhou going over to see his fiancée landed in the eyes of everyone in the main hall. Earl Chengyi was exulted upon seeing this, some people disapproved, others joked with Rites Minister Wen, to which Rites Minister Wen gave a simple reply.
“The two juniors have good feelings for each other, as the older generation, I’m happy to see it too.”
One sentence was enough to express his attitude.
Even his wife approved of Ting Zhou’s fiancĂ©e, which proved that she was an outstanding individual. Apart from that, the truth was that when his furen went over, he had already guessed that they were the womenfolk from Earl Chengyi Residence, and the young lady within his furen’s grasp was his future eldest daughter-in-law.
Rites Minister Wen only took a few glances, but his impression towards his future eldest daughter-in-law was quite decent.
Hence his liberal declaration of his position.
At the present moment, Wen Ting Zhou had already walked over. Wen furen gave him a sidelong glance. “Why did you come over?”
Wen Ting Zhou’s reasoning deserved full marks. “Mother, Ruan Ruan is my fiancĂ©e, it goes without saying that I have to come over to see her elders.”
Wen furen’s mouth twitched.
In a respectful and proper manner, Wen Ting Zhou inquired after her well-being, and Zhang shi responded with a wide smile. Today was the day where she had received the most attention, and Zhang shi’s eyebrows relaxed slightly, like she was elated and had unburdened her resentment.
After Wen Ting Zhou was done with his greetings, he turned towards Ruan Xi and comforted her in a gentle tone.
“Ruan Ruan, I know that you’re feeling unwonted because this is the first time you’re attending a banquet at this type of venue. Don’t be nervous, you just need to act like you usually would.”
The so-called unease and nervousness, was because Wen Ting Zhou could not stop worrying about how Ruan Ruan was attending such a grand and ceremonious longevity banquet for the first time before he went to sleep last night, which led to him having a few consecutive dreams where people had made things difficult for Ruan Ruan because of a small mistake she made in her nervousness, and that had made his heart ache terribly.
Wen furen: “

”
Which eye was her son using, such that he could see Ruan Xi being nervous?
Feeling cloyingly sweet in her heart, Ruan Xi said smilingly, “Ting Zhou da ge, you can set your mind at ease, I’m not nervous at all.”
Despite that, Wen Ting Zhou could not put his heart down, and he felt like Ruan Xi was forcing herself. Afraid of giving her even greater pressure, he quickly said: “It doesn’t matter if you’re nervous, it’s your first time attending a banquet at this type of location, it’s pardonable if you make a small mistake.”
If it were not for the qualms he had in front of numerous people in a large public space, he would have hugged Ruan Ruan and comforted her.
Wen furen: “

”
Did her son have such little faith in Xiao Xi?
On the other hand, Ruan san niang had been otherwise neglected apart from the courtesy greeting that Wen gongzi had given her, but under the thousand staring eyes, it was not polite for her to interrupt. Thus, she stood there with immense awkwardness, listening to Wen gongzi caring and comforting her fourth sister, while she felt her tooth ache with jealousy.
With helplessness and sweetness in her heart, Ruan Xi smiled. She really wasn’t nervous, but the worry in Wen Ting Zhou’s eyes was going to overspill soon, so she could only go along with his words and nod her head obediently.
“Mn, I understand, thanking Ting Zhou da ge. Ting Zhou da ge, you should go back, don’t neglect the guests.”
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Hence, Wen Ting Zhou could only suppress the worry in the bottom of her heart. He informed his mother and the others that he was taking his leave, then switched to a gentle smiling expression before he turned around and returned to the male guests’ section.
Li Jing Cheng and those of his ilk teased Wen Ting Zhou in low voices, with some of his younger and older paternal male cousins mixing in. Wen Ting Zhou allowed them to make fun of him, a gentle and mild smile hanging on his handsome face the entire time. Meanwhile, his side-lined, illegitimate younger brother Wen Ting Yi was disdainful and jealous. She was just a small and insignificant illegitimate daughter from an Earl Residence, what virtue or ability did she have, such that she could become the eldest sister-in-law in their branch? His oldest brother was actually giving her face.
His attempt to marry Wan Wan had been thwarted time and time again, and he was now engaged to the concubine-born daughter of Assistant Minister Mu.
How great would it be if he was of legitimate descent and had entered Lao Furen’s eyes? That way, he could marry Wan Wan as his wife.
For the longest of times, Wen Ting Yi had always hated himself for being born from a yiniang’s womb, instead of being Wen furen’s child.
Wen Ting Zhou tossed a careless look towards his illegitimate younger brother, not missing the disdain at the bottom of his eyes, and some coldness seeped into the smile dangling on his lips.
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After Wen Ting Zhou departed, Wen furen also had other matters to attend to, which she informed Zhang shi and Ruan Xi of before she continued to welcome the other womenfolk.
Ruan Xi sat back down, not minding the surrounding gazes. However, there was a pointed gaze that was far too scorching, and she could not ignore it even if she tried.
Looking over to search for the source, she met Mu Qing Ling’s jealous gaze which she could not conceal in time, and Mu Qing Ci’s envious gaze since she was seated beside her.
Ruan Xi: “

”
Mu Qing Ling had followed her legitimate mother here, and Mu Qing Ci and some others had followed along. Their seats were nearer to front, and Mu Qing Ling had noticed them when Zhang shi had brought Ruan Xi and Ruan san niang inside. She did not think that Wen furen would go over to greet them just as they were settled in their seats, enquiring solicitously about their well-being, and even Wen gongzi was not an exception.
She was a future daughter-in-law of Rites Minister Wen too, and yet the Wen Family only greeted her legitimate mother.
Furthermore, her fiancé Wen Ting Yi did not even spare her look from the moment she stepped in, which made Mu Qing Ling angry and aggrieved.
Ruan Xi shifted her eyes away like nothing had occurred, quietly sitting there with an upright posture, completely composed. She welcomed all kinds of scrutinising and probing looks in a natural and relaxed manner, not having the slightest bit of stage fright.
Although Zhang shi and Earl Chengyi were not seated at optimal places, both of them were similarly high-spirited as they chatted with the surrounding guests in full swing.
After a cup of tea, the imperial family and royal clan arrived. Ruan Xi saw the male protagonist the Fourth Prince, and Ruan san niang also caught sight of him, her eyes brightening.
She had to hug the Fourth Prince’s thick gold thighs this time around.
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At this moment, the master of ceremonies announced that the auspicious time had arrived. Firecrackers whined and music rang out, while the bustling main hall quietened down instantaneously. All the sons and grandsons of the Wen Family had to leave the main hall to go to the celebratory hall to offer birthday felicitations, and Wen Ting Zhou gave Ruan Xi a slight smile before he left.
Ruan Xi also responded with a resplendent smile.
Then, the silver-haired and yet hale and hearty in spirit Wen lao-furen was supported to the main seat by the arm.
Under the direction of the masters of ceremonies, Duke An lit a longevity lamp for Wen lao-furen as her eldest son. The longevity lamp had a red candle, with one pillar representing ten full years, and Duke An lit up a total of seven pillars.
Afterwards, everyone in the main hall offered birthday congratulations to Wen lao-furen one after another.
The master of ceremonies sang out the congratulatory gifts from each residence loudly.
Everything from treasures, antiques, paintings, calligraphy, and standalone books were present.
Ruan Xi was secretly speechless.
Earl Chengyi Residence’s congratulatory gift was a precious calligraphy painting and an ancient jadeite decorative item to wish her longevity.
The congratulatory gift that Ruan Xi prepared was still with her and it was being held by Su Yu. She would be personally presenting it to Wen lao-furen when she was greeting her after the longevity banquet.
Once all the celebratory gifts were sung, the main show of the sons and grandsons offering their celebratory gifts had arrived. It was the favourite show that all the guests loved watching, the celebrated elderly person included.
With a red swoon on his face, the master of ceremonies presided over the offering of birthday felicitations through a given order: first being the sons and daughters-in-law, then the daughters and sons-in-law. Hence, it opened with Duke An and Duke An Furen stepping up to kowtow, followed by Rites Minster Wen and Wen furen
 Wen lao-furen’s daughter and son-in-law

The birthday felicitations proceeded in an orderly manner. Nonetheless, the heartfelt intentions were more than ample.
There was a myriad of birthday gifts from the grandsons and great-grandson generation, and whether it was creative or repetitive, they would incite heartfelt smiles from people. Of course, there were extremely precious ones too.
When Wen Ting Zhou stepped in, Ruan Xi could not suppress the upward curl of her lips.
“Grandson Wen Ting Zhou wishes zu mu a healthy and long life, to have this day every year, may you have today’s glory forever!”
ćčŽćčŽæœ‰ä»Šæ—„ćȁćČæœ‰ä»Šæœ – A celebratory phrase for elderly people, wishing that they can be as jubilant, blessed, and fortunate every day like today, and have good fortune every year.
When Wen lao-furen saw her favourite grandson, the smile on her face became even wider.
“Good, good!”
The older and younger paternal male cousins that gave their birthday congratulations felt sourness emerge in their hearts upon seeing that.
Pride coloured Wen furen’s visage.
After Wen Ting Zhou offered his birthday felicitations, he presented his congratulatory gift, which was a mechanical, longevity-congratulating decoration:
Shou Xing Gong giving a peach of immortality.
ćŻżæ˜Ÿć…Ź (pinyin: shou xing gong) – the God of Longevity, who is often represented as a bearded old man with a crooked staff in one hand, and a peach of immortality in another.
The woodwork was delicate and peerless; the carvings of Shou Xing Gong and the peach of immortality were true to life, and it made people gasp in awe when gazing upon it.
When they saw the carved decoration, the guests could not help but remember the fact that Wen gongzi had sent his fiancée a small wooden loft a few days ago, and their eyes drifted towards Ruan Xi unconsciously.
Ruan Xi maintained her composure.
“Zu mu, the decorative item that this grandson made can also give you a peach of immortality.”
After Wen Ting Zhou uttered those words, he pinched a small gear on the decorative item. A burst of noise rang out, and the balding and white-bearded old immortal man moved, his mouth parting to reveal a smile while his hands offered up the peach of immortality within his grasp.
“It’s a mechanical wooden carving.”
“Skies above, I’m not blind, I actually saw the old immortal man smile.”
“Your eyes didn’t fail you; the old immortal man did smile.”
“Wen gongzi actually knows how to carve mechanical woodworks, it is truly hard to believe.”
“

”
Once this congratulatory gift appeared, it shocked the people present, and even the princes, wangye, princesses, and junzhu from the imperial family and royal clan were shocked.
王爷 (pinyin: wang ye) – essentially referring to titled imperial male clan members, and they can either be qinwang (äșČ王) or junwang (搛王), with the former being higher ranking than the latter.
Undisguised shock was apparent in Wen furen and Rite Minister Wen’s eyes as well.
As Li Jing Cheng surveyed the awed and shocked gazes of the people around him, he noted that even his parents were the same. Secretly, he felt pleased with himself; he had already known that Zi Run knew how to carve mechanical pieces early on.
But he did not expect that he would expose it during Wen lao-furen’s longevity feast.
Ruan Xi, Ruan san niang, and Mu Qing Ci had their fair share of surprises as well.
Ruan Xi was alright, since she had already witnessed Wen Ting Zhou’s mechanised small wooden loft, and she would trigger the small mechanisms during her leisure time. Hence, she was the earliest to come back to senses after being shocked.
Ruan san niang was different. She never heard that Wen gongzi knew to carve in her previous lifetime, to say nothing of mechanical pieces.
And yet, an unexpected situation occurred in this lifetime.
Ruan san niang was slightly panicked. When she thought of Qi Yue An who was different from her previous lifetime, she started worrying if her rebirth had caused a butterfly effect.
Mu Qing Ci was purely shocked from the ancients’ ingenuity, and her eyes were brimming with worship and admiration.
Upon seeing this congratulatory gift, Wen lao-furen was full of smiles, and she expressed her fondness and adoration in front of everyone.
Wen Ting Zhou’s paternal male cousins: “

”
This was especially so for the younger brothers and nephews behind Wen Ting Zhou; each and every one of them fully experienced a blow.
With Wen Ting Zhou’s mechanised, longevity-congratulating wooden carving, no matter how good the following gifts were, especially the colourful clothes that the great-grandsons were attired in for their kin’s amusement, it could not cover-up the cutting edge of the mechanised and carved decorative item.
It was unknown if Wen Ting Zhou had pulled the hatred towards him too successfully and stole all the limelight from his generation and the younger generation, Wen lao-furen’s daughter suddenly stopped the master of ceremonies from entering the next segment.
“Mother, not only is the gift prepared by Ting Zhou the most remarkable, the heartfelt wishes and sincerity could not be more pronounced. I’m a little curious what kind of congratulatory gift Ting Zhou’s fiancĂ©e had prepared for yĂ”u?”
Wen lao-furen’s daughter’s voice was particularly loud when she was uttering those words, and all the guests in the main hall heard her.
Wen lao-furen’s smiling expression dimmed instantaneously.
Wen Ting Zhou furrowed his eyebrows slightly, looking towards Ruan Xi with a smear of worry in his eyes.
Ruan Xi: “

”