Chapter 291: Day Off
A day off.
Finally, a break.
This was only after starting work in the latter part of the month.
Having experienced one imperial court session, and then reaching the day off, it still felt quite tiring.
The main reason was that there was less time to spend with family.
Jiang Changtian was a bit unhappy.
He worked hard and strived for progress precisely because he hoped his family could live better and he could spend more time with them.
If he couldn’t even spend time with his family, and instead spent every day whiling away his time at the government office, it always felt like putting the cart before the horse.
Moreover, the day off was only one day long.
Thus, today’s schedule was arranged a bit busily.
In the morning, the whole family had to go to the temple to hold a Dharma Ritual for Great Marshal Zi, as it had been mentioned previously.
Jiang Yu would also be going there, bringing the two little ones along.
This meant there would be many people—two big families.
Then, after coming down the mountain, in the afternoon, they would have Meng Qingshe accompany them to the Dong Mansion to propose marriage.
The deceased are to be respected above all else.
Since the time for the visit had been agreed upon in advance, Minister Dong would surely understand.
Not only did he understand, but he also felt that the Jiang Family was a family with true loyalty and righteousness.
Although Great Marshal Zi’s status was sensitive, Jiang Changtian had, after all, started his career following Great Marshal Zi.
Now that he was gone, holding a Dharma Ritual for him and adopting his child was only fitting.
Although most people, after entering the imperial court as officials, would be desperate to sever ties with the past to demonstrate their loyalty, that kind of loyalty had the form but lacked sincerity.
On the day off, early in the morning, it actually started to snow.
Pushing open the door, there was a thick layer of snow.
The heavens were not cooperative; whenever it was work time, the weather was clear and fine.
Whenever it was a break, it was either windy or snowy.
The wind and snow were quite heavy.
Large, goose-feather snowflakes were falling in torrents.
The ground looked as if it had been covered with a thick layer of frosting.
Mianmian was very excited.
At heart, she was a southerner and loved snow.
Seeing the snow, she couldn’t wait to dress warmly and throw herself onto the snowy ground.
She had originally thought it wouldn’t snow in the capital, as it had been quite warm these past few days, but she hadn’t expected it to start just like that.
This snow came quite suddenly and pleasantly.
Encountering heavy snow so unexpectedly.
I’m afraid many people who had originally planned outings would cancel their trips.
Qin Luoxia sent someone to deliver a message to the Meng Mansion, telling Jiang Yu not to take the babies out, as the roads were difficult to travel.
However, she didn’t expect that the Meng Family had already set out.
In the words of Old Madam Meng, “As children of a military family, what is there to fear from a snowstorm? Children need to experience the wind and snow to grow up faster.”
Although the entire Meng Mansion doted on the two children daily, and no amount of pampering was considered too much—the old master guarding the border sent a letter almost every few days with various gifts—
the Meng Family’s house rules forbade spoiling children.
Meng Shaoxia was an only son, and he had been thrown into the army for training from a young age without any special treatment.
Therefore, even in the heavy wind and snow, early in the morning, the Meng Family still set out with their two precious grandsons and Jiang Yu, the whole family.
This cause and effect was a bit laughable.
Those who suppressed bandits were going to perform a Dharma Ritual for a bandit.
Anyway, that was just how things were.
The Meng Family’s persona was one of loyalty and righteousness, so this did not contradict their character.
Over here, the Jiang Family had already made arrangements.
Because there were two things to do today, they got up very early.
It was still dark.
Mianmian was dragged out of bed.
No wonder her Little Tree had been lazy and unwilling to move these past two days; it had apparently foreseen the weather and knew it was going to snow.
Mianmian had even made a beast-taming bag specifically for Little Tree, and sometimes for Little Tree’s wives? Or perhaps subordinates.
Usually, she would let Little Tree out to play, but when it snowed, Mianmian would put Little Tree in the bag and carry it with her.
Judging by the ant’s age, she didn’t know if it was in its prime or old age.
It was likely in its prime, as it was now growing very robust.
It had quite a bit of heft to it.
Dark and black, they braved the snow and headed out.
However, they had a carriage.
The person driving the carriage would be cold, but sitting inside the carriage was fine.
They could even put a charcoal stove inside the carriage, and with the thick curtains covering it, it was like a large private room; it wasn’t cold at all.
If one wasn’t afraid of the bumps, they could actually have hot pot inside.
Early in the morning, Zi Congheng was also dressed up like a ball, very thickly.
Over his cotton robe, he was wrapped in a cloak that reached his ankles.
Once they arrived in the carriage, the pile of cloaks they took off was huge.
Jiang Feng was in the same carriage as his younger brother and sister.
Mianmian was very excited that her Elder Brother was also going to have a partner, chatting non-stop along the way and even attempting to give her Elder Brother advice on dating.
“Gifts. You must give them, send them separately to Miss Dong; that way, it shows sincerity. Also, Madam Dong—you must please your mother-in-law. Once the mother-in-law is pleased, you are more than halfway to success. In front of your father-in-law, just be obedient. Learn from Brother-in-law; Brother-in-law does very well in our family.”
It was rare to have no training, and with the family together, listening to his younger sister’s mature nagging, Jiang Feng couldn’t help but laugh or cry.
He had been slightly nervous, but now he wasn’t that nervous anymore.
“I know, I know, don’t nag anymore.”
Jiang Feng’s ears were calloused from his sister’s talk.
He hadn’t seen his sister for a long time, and seeing her face again, Jiang Feng was a bit stunned.
Her beauty was city-toppling and state-overturning; she was truly too beautiful, getting better looking as she grew up.
But as soon as she opened her mouth to speak, chattering, chirping, and tweeting, Jiang Feng found that familiar feeling again.
She was still the sister whose head he wanted to pat.
He patted Zi Congheng’s shoulder. “It’s been hard on you. When I’m not here, and Jiang Yu is not here, you’re the only one who plays with her. She’s someone who never rests from morning till night.”
Zi Congheng received the message from Brother Feng and showed a helpless smile.
He actually knew; he had known since he was very small.
He was a very, very quiet person who could spend all day in a daze.
But she was a very lively person; she could talk all day long.
Being with her, he easily forgot all sorts of bad things.
The time he spent with headaches was becoming shorter and shorter, and it seemed he was becoming more and more normal.
He felt that the world still had a preference for him.
He liked this lively Mianmian.
Getting up in the cold wind, with the wind and snow blowing onto his face, he didn’t feel cold.
Because there would be someone bouncing over, waving her arms and shouting loudly, “Brother, Brother, good morning.”
She would shout until he responded.
The carriage wheels rolled over the snow, moving step by step towards Taia Temple.
Because of the snow, they had to go a bit slower.
Slowly, it became light.
With the snow, there was actually sunlight, and the whole world changed at once.
Yesterday, the trees were full of red leaves; today, the branches were bare.
The red leaves had fallen to the ground and were covered by the snow, with only the tips showing.
The carriage tracks left long marks.
Inside Taia Temple.
Learning that today was the last day of the Dharma Ritual for the Crown Prince’s nephew, Princess Huiyun felt as if she were about to be liberated.
She had escaped from the jaws of death.
These past few days, the child had come to report every day.
The boy was quite good, sitting obediently to read books and write, which matched her impression of the Crown Prince’s nephew; he was like that when he was young too.
The girl, however, was not; she was everywhere.
Building a wall was useless.
Even with a wall built, she could climb to the top of the wall to greet her.
She even rummaged through her clothes, curiously wanting to try them on.
She was naturally incredibly clingy towards her.
Although Princess Huiyun didn’t seem to be that repulsed.
But thinking that she wouldn’t be disturbed anymore and would return to peace and quiet, she felt it was quite good.
If this continued, she might live ten years less.
Every day spent with that little girl made her heart beat too fast, and she wanted to hit someone.
It was the last day.
Just thinking about it made her happy.
Although it was snowing.
Once that little one left, she could go skiing tomorrow.
Princess Huiyun was eager to try.
Today, she had already had people prepare her snow-playing equipment.
However, after thinking about it, she had them prepare two small sets as well, just in case the little one wanted to play too.
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