The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!

Chapter 533 - 528: The Wei Family—Destined for Everlasting Prosperity

Conserving her strength was a subtle reminder, telling her to cease talking.

But just as the words fell, she heard Ning Suxuan ask Yu Tingwan.

"Thirsty?"

Yu Tingwan shook her head, "Not thirsty."

Ning Suxuan took a bag of snacks from Nanny Ru behind her.

"Chestnuts bought on the road, want some?"

Yu Tingwan asked, "Peeled?"

"Peeled."

Ning Suxuan said, "Then can you behave a little?"

Yu Tingwan obediently responded, "I always listen to my mother-in-law."

Ning Suxuan coldly laughed.

"You might as well pretend I believed you."

The women were bewildered: ???

Even the clan elder, who had been paying attention to the movements behind him, was particularly surprised.

He looked at the ever-changing Ning Suxuan, then at the ever-changing Wei Zhao.

And laughed.

The ancestral hall with its blue bricks and green tiles stood solemnly, its flying eaves and upturned corners like a phoenix spreading its wings.

A plaque was hanging on the beam, with the words "Ancestral Virtues Passed Down" in bold strokes, reflecting the family’s former glory.

Pushing open the heavy wooden doors of the ancestral hall, the vermilion-painted beams and pillars shone like new. The bronze candle holders on the offering table were polished to a shine, and ebony ancestral tablets were densely arrayed.

Here, people came to worship every day, incense smoke curling softly, and the fruits offered were as fresh as ever, with auspicious patterns stamped on the pastries.

Ning Suxuan stood in the center of the ancestral hall, her spine as straight as a pine. Holding incense in both hands, she gazed calmly at the rows of tablets, her voice low yet every word distinct.

"Wei Family ancestors above, Ning Suxuan returns home with her son and daughter-in-law."

She slightly turned her body, making way for Shen Jin behind her.

"This is the young uncle Jing Yuan mentioned in the genealogy, but was never able to welcome in."

"Ancestors, take a good look. She is the second lady of our Duke Shun Mansion."

Shen Jin received the incense, knelt on the mat, her skirt spreading like an ink lotus, lowering her head deeply. The jade pendant at her waist, identical to Ning Suxuan’s, lightly struck the ground, emitting a crisp sound.

Wei Zhao helped Yu Tingwan kneel on the mat specially prepared by the clan elder, and then lifted his robe to kneel beside her.

"Thanks to the blessings of the ancestors, the world has been reset, and the Wei Family has endured humiliation and heavy burdens to avenge great wrongs."

"Unworthy descendant Wei Zhao and new wife from the Yu Family, pay respects to the ancestors."

Yu Tingwan’s voice was clear and articulate, "New wife from the Yu Family, pays respects to the ancestors."

The clan elder didn’t enter the ancestral hall but sat outside on a stone bench, waiting, with a cane placed on the table.

After coming here, he asked all of Wei Zhao’s accompanying uncles, aunts, and cousins to leave; all the juniors were cleared away by him.

For a while, his ears were at peace.

The clan elder was aged, his limbs not agile.

He lifted his hand and poured two cups of tea, spilling quite a bit out.

"Everyone says my descendants are blessed, but those rascals bustling around under my nose really give me a headache just seeing them."

This statement was made to no particular person.

"But back then, I thought Feng Xing and Jing Yuan, the brothers, were too steady."

But what’s wrong with being steady?

The clan elder said, "Gui Zhi is like his father, also like his young uncle."

"But in my view, he’ll surpass them both."

"Ah, the Wei Family, destined to prosper forever."

With that, he flicked his wrist, pouring the amber-colored tea onto the bluestone beneath him from left to right.

One cup.

And then another.

"Try it, it’s the Junshan Yinzhen you brothers loved to drink."

----------

The fine sand in the hourglass fell silently, as days slipped by and seasons changed.

Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study Room.

Ying Fuyan, donned in a Dragon Robe, asked, "You’re requesting leave too?"

Xiao Huaian, wearing his official uniform, stated his reasons convincingly, "Wei Zhao can, so why can’t I?"

Ying Fuyan glanced at Wei Zhao, who was tidying up documents, preparing to return home, "Your sister-in-law is about to give birth, and he can’t feel at ease."

"Why would you compare with him? Why not look at Ning Yunling? He’s always punctual at the Imperial Censorate, very well-behaved."

"Could he be anything but well-behaved?"

Xiao Huaian laughed sarcastically.

"You assigned the Lu Family’s second son to the Imperial Censorate too. He just made some progress with the Lu Family’s daughter. Nothing is settled yet, but the Marquis Ning Mansion and the Lu Family will eventually become in-laws. Can he create trouble in front of his brother-in-law?"

Sly indeed!

Ying Fuyan coughed a few times, leaning back, "You can’t blame me. The Lu Family’s son and Old Master Lu are both impeccable. He wanted to go to the Imperial Censorate, could I stop him?"

Xiao Huaian knew very well this arrangement was excellent.

He cleared his throat, joyfully announcing, "Forgot to mention, my wife is pregnant."

"Forget what? You’ve mentioned it three times already."

"Just emphasizing, in case you forget."

Ying Fuyan: ...

Confused, unable to comprehend, "You’re taking leave to stay home and ensure her stable pregnancy?"

"Could Wei Zhao possibly give birth for his sister-in-law?"

Wei Zhao slowly lifted his gaze, "Don’t argue."

Xiao Huaian was about to retort.

Wei Zhao, "When I’m not around, there are those eager to cover my duties. But if you’re absent, who will replace you?"

Xiao Huaian paused.

After Wei Zhao left, he immediately sought someone out.

"He Xuran!"

He Xuran was engrossed in paperwork, barely lifting his head.

"I have a favor to ask you."

Xiao Huaian suggested, "I think you quite enjoy taking over others’ tasks. How about handling mine too?"

It was rare to see such shamelessness.

He Xuran looked up, startled.

"You think I’m crazy?"

Xiao Huaian, "You can be a little crazy."

Xiao Huaian remembered something, "How did you find the girl the Empress Dowager and Princess Jiasan selected for you yesterday?"

"Not bad,"

He Xuran was quite satisfied.

Keen to engage further.

Xiao Huaian, "Not bad? You’ve become the Minister, yet you haven’t forgotten your old habit of reporting her father for rushing to court with crooked buttons?"

"Isn’t this contradictory? Impropriety before the throne is a grave offense."

Xiao Huaian couldn’t believe his ears, "But you reported her father, then turned around and reported her!"

He Xuran still felt nothing wrong.

"That’s because I learned her father changed into his official uniform in the carriage, rushing because he gave their best carriage to her. When the wheel of the replacement carriage broke, fearing delay, he ran all the way."

He Xuran, businesslike, "Matters of the morning court are significant, had she not accepted it wouldn’t have happened. Is it wrong to reprimand her for not understanding her father’s difficulties?"

Xiao Huaian’s expression turned strange.

He suspected the Court’s trivial matters had driven He Xuran to madness.

Do you still wish to marry her like this?

It’s fortunate the girl didn’t rush over and give you a slap.

Duke Shun Mansion.

Wei Zhao had long arranged for three experienced midwives and medical girls. The adjacent room was specifically prepared for labor, yet he was always uneasy.

The heavy belly pressed down, making each step feel like treading on cotton. Yu Tingwan, burdened with her weight, found everything inconvenient.

If not for Elder Ge’s advice that a mother should move more to facilitate childbirth, Yu Tingwan wouldn’t even want to leave the house.

Yu Tingwan could sense his tension.

At night, if she so much as turned over, Wei Zhao would awaken, let alone if she got up.

Recently, the fetal movements were apparent.

But their little one was considerate, always gentle, afraid of causing her pain.

She nestled in Wei Zhao’s arms, taking a midday nap, and upon waking, seemed thoughtful.

"A bit full."

The nourishment for the little one.

She pursed her lips, softly said, "Perhaps it’s nearing the time, my little clothes occasionally getting slightly damp."