klisemfg Chapter 256 The Mad Couple 20
Chapter 256 The Mad Couple 20
The people's discussion did not affect Ji Xiaosong at all. She looked at the boxes that were almost overflowing in the courtyard and asked Ji Dan to count them one by one.
Just as the last box was being counted, Wu Chufeng walked in.
“Songsong, how about that? Aren’t I clever? I moved most of the warehouse here.”
Ji Xiaosong raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile playing on her lips. Her gaze swept over the mountain of boxes piled up in the courtyard, and she feigned reproach, saying:
"Oh, is Lord Wu planning to move the entire Wu Mansion here? Most of the storerooms are here. What will happen to the Wu Mansion after this? Will it be completely empty?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Chufeng showed no embarrassment whatsoever. Instead, he puffed out his chest, leaned forward with a smug look on his face, and said with a grin:
“Songsong is right. As long as you are happy, what does it matter if we move half a warehouse or even the entire Wu family mansion? From now on, the Wu family and the Ji family are one family, so why should we distinguish between them?”
As he spoke, he reached out and gently smoothed his hair ornament, as if he were talking about something perfectly natural.
At this moment, Ji Xiaohua, Ji Dan, and Xiao He, who had been standing to the side, saw Wu Chufeng enter and quickly stepped forward, respectfully bowed, and said in unison:
"Greetings, Lord Wu."
"I've met my brother-in-law."
Wu Chufeng then came to his senses, a smile on his face, and quickly waved his hand: "Oh, no need for formalities, we're all family from now on."
Seeing Wu Chufeng's expression, Ji Xiaosong couldn't help but chuckle. She gently tapped his chest and said:
"You're such a smooth talker. But today's commotion has almost filled my yard; all the neighbors are watching."
Her eyes were full of tenderness and reproach. Then, she turned slightly to the side, made an elegant gesture of invitation, and said softly:
“Lord Wu, since you’re here, why don’t we move to the study and have a proper discussion about the wedding? We can’t just empty the storeroom with your enthusiasm and call it a day; there are many details that need to be carefully considered.”
After saying that, she looked at Wu Chufeng with a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Wu Chufeng's smile widened, and he nodded hurriedly, "Alright, Songsong, I was just about to have a good discussion with you."
As he spoke, he straightened his clothes and walked briskly side by side with Ji Xiaosong toward the study.
Stepping into the study, Ji Xiaosong walked gently to the desk, where a thick book of wedding ceremonies was already laid out.
She picked up a calligraphy brush, dipped it in ink, and turned to Wu Chufeng, saying, "Look, this wedding ceremony is very elaborate, from the process of welcoming the bride to the seating arrangement at the banquet, and even the attire and etiquette of the newlyweds. Just take the wedding day for example, how many people do you plan to bring? What fun wedding entertainment have you prepared? You can't let me get on the bridal sedan chair too easily."
Wu Chufeng walked to the desk, leaned over to look at the wedding ceremony manual, frowned slightly and thought for a moment, then said:
"For the wedding procession, I plan to bring my most capable servants and invite a few friends to come along. It will be a grand affair, so that the whole capital will know about my grand wedding. As for the entertainment, I've already thought of a few things that will make you and Xiaohua laugh heartily and ensure that I can successfully marry you."
Ji Xiaosong nodded slightly, then shifted her gaze to the seating arrangement at the wedding banquet. "The seating arrangement at the wedding banquet is a matter of family reputation and etiquette for guests, so it cannot be taken lightly. The seating order of the various officials in the court, as well as the seating order of the elders in the family, must all be carefully considered. And what are your thoughts on the dishes for the wedding banquet?"
After a moment's thought, Wu Chufeng said, "Regarding the dishes, I have consulted with the head chef of Zuixianlou and prepared a table of delicacies, including auspicious dishes like the Dragon and Phoenix, as well as lotus seed soup symbolizing sweetness. I guarantee that our guests will be satisfied."
The two of them chatted away in the study, discussing every detail of the wedding. Sometimes they would laugh at a funny idea, and other times they would seriously consider an important part of the ceremony.
When the discussion was almost over, Ji Xiaosong asked about Wu Daniu and Wang Cuihua.
"It seems your father didn't receive a severe punishment after his trip to the palace."
"He voluntarily resigned from his post and returned to his hometown. I then went to ask for a marriage decree. The emperor saw that our Wu family descendants were just like that and that the impact was not significant, so he dealt with a group of people but did nothing else."
"So, it turns out your father used his official position to protect Xiao Mumu?"
"Yes, he is extremely biased towards Wu Wanqing, so it doesn't surprise me that he did something like this. It's just that you've been wronged. After you marry me, you might have to live in a separate household."
"For me, this is not a grievance, but rather a good thing. With a separate residence, we can live according to our own wishes, without being bound by the many rules of the Wu family's old residence, and without getting involved in those complicated family disputes."
Ji Xiaosong tilted her head slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "Moreover, this way, our little home can be completely managed by ourselves. Just thinking about it makes me happy."
Upon hearing this, Wu Chufeng's eyes filled with surprise and approval. He reached out and gently grasped Ji Xiaosong's hand, saying:
“Songsong, I am very pleased that you think this way. I have long had this plan as well. I have already purchased a spacious mansion in the eastern suburbs of the capital. The environment there is quiet and the courtyard is spacious. In the future, when we move in, we can enjoy the garden full of flowers in spring, cool off by the pond in summer, watch the falling leaves in autumn, and have a fireside chat in winter.”
"It sounds good, but buying a house and furnishing a new home will probably take a lot of effort. However, it is a joint effort of the two of us, so it is worth it."
"If you don't feel comfortable living there, as the Vice Minister of War, I also have a house near the General's Mansion. It's just that the house is a bit small, with only two courtyards."
"We can talk about where to live after the wedding. Now tell me, where is your father going after he resigned from his official post? If I remember correctly, he has two sons who are not yet of age, right?"
"Yes, Consort Wang has two sons, who are said to be legitimate sons. One is sixteen and the other is thirteen, and they are both still studying at the Royal Academy. Now that their father has resigned from his official post, they can no longer continue their studies at the academy."
"Won't Aunt Wang cause trouble?" Ji Xiaosong asked curiously.
"How could she not make a scene? As soon as she heard that her father was going to resign from his official post and that the two children would have to drop out of the Royal Academy, it was like stirring up a hornet's nest. First, she cried and made a scene in front of her father, saying that he didn't care about her and her children and was watching their futures be ruined. Then she threatened to commit suicide, saying that my father was biased towards Wu Wanqing, which made my father make such a decision."
“These past few days, the entire Wu household has been thrown into turmoil by her, with the servants gossiping behind her back. She even brought her two children and knelt in front of Father’s study, crying and wailing, saying that Father couldn’t be so heartless as to ruin their children’s careers. But Father’s mind is made up, and how can her crying and fuss change it?” Wu Chufeng’s tone was tinged with annoyance.
"Her father told her that the current situation in the court was complicated, and his resignation was the best outcome, ensuring the safety of the whole family. As for the children, although they could not continue studying at the Royal Academy, a private tutor could be found for them to be taught at home. But Aunt Wang wouldn't listen at all and continued to insist, saying that she would not give up until the children's problem was resolved."
Wu Chufeng helplessly spread his hands, his expression revealing the unreasonable behavior of Aunt Wang.
"However, no matter how much she makes a fuss, she can't change the established facts. How can she control her father's decision? For now, she can only quiet down for the time being, but I suspect that she will probably cause trouble again in the future."