The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 730 - 692: Moat Gathering (21st Update)

Wen Wan couldn’t persuade Mrs. Xiao Liu to divorce, "There’s a saying, ’the unattainable is always the best’. In the past, you thought of him in everything, and no matter how cold he was to you, you still welcomed him with a smile. Just because your kindness was too cheap, too easy to get, it became taken for granted. He wanted you when he wanted and kicked you away when he didn’t. Why should that be right? This time, we need to turn passive into active, make him realize your worth when he begs, and you won’t look back."

Mrs. Xiao Liu’s voice was muffled, "That’s what they say, but what if he doesn’t come then?"

"Leave that to me. He will definitely come." Wen Wan smiled mysteriously.

——

The next day, on Dragon Boat Festival, the kitchen started steaming rice dumplings early in the morning. While wrapping the dumplings, Wen Wan mentioned that there should be no distinction between master and servant, and everyone got two. Therefore, several stoves were lit at the same time, and the fragrance of the dumplings wafted through several courtyards, making the servants impatient like flies rubbing their hands.

The lunch was to be eaten by the moat. Wen Wan got up early and only drank a bowl of porridge, then sent Jinbao back to change clothes, ordered the servants to prepare the carriages and horses, and brought the cooked dumplings. She also had someone inform the second house.

On the Dragon Boat Festival, all government offices, the Imperial College, and the Hongwen Academy were on holiday, so Song Wei, Song Erlang, Song Yuanbao, and Song Qi could all go.

Wen Wan specially took out a new set of clothes she had just had made for Song Wei, a purple dark bamboo-patterned Hangzhou silk cross-collar robe.

"I’ve never seen you wear this color before. Go try it on quickly."

Song Wei took it but didn’t rush behind the screen to change. He only asked her, "When did you make this?"

"A few days ago." Wen Wan said, "I was bored and went to check the storeroom and found that the few bolts of fabric Yuanbao brought back hadn’t been touched, so I picked one to make clothes for you first."

Song Wei smiled, went behind the screen to change, and when he came out, Wen Wan was momentarily dazzled. The man was tall, with jet-black hair tied into a white jade crown, gathered into an immaculate square knot. Under the slanted eyebrows, his eyes were deep, and they seemed especially gentle when looking at her. She used to see him often in light-colored casual clothes, but wearing purple this time, instead of looking youthful, it added a charm to his mature, handsome features.

Wen Wan went to the inner room, opened a lacquered box with phoenix and bird patterns, took out the sachet she had placed at the bottom, and personally helped him hang it on his waist.

Song Wei took the opportunity to pull her slender waist into his arms.

Wen Wan blushed, "It’s broad daylight, what if someone sees, let go!"

Song Wei rarefied a moment of impishness, and didn’t immediately obey and let her go, instead burying his face in her neck, gently nuzzling against her.

——

At the same moment, in the Duke Mansion, Old Mrs. Lu had just finished her breakfast, and asked Rongrong, "Did the Song Mansion say what time they were leaving?"

Rongrong replied, "The dragon boat race starts only after lunch. The Commandery Princess sent word that lunch would be at the restaurant, so we only need to have some breakfast to hold us over, and reckon leaving at 7:45 AM should be about right."

"That Wan girl will be there, so I imagine Shuyuan will also go." Old Mrs. Lu thought about how Lu Yanbin had been leaving the household in chaos these past days and felt a headache. "Go ask if Brother Bin is going."

Rongrong was about to leave when she changed her mind, "Forget it, don’t ask. Just tell him that no matter what, he must accompany me today."

When Rongrong reached the steward’s hall, Lu Yanbin had just sent away the steward’s wives, and his whole demeanor radiated an unspeakable fatigue.

Seeing someone from the old lady’s courtyard at the door, he asked, "What’s the matter?"

Rongrong said, "The old lady instructed for the young master to prepare, and go with us to the moat shortly."

"I have something to do this afternoon." Lu Yanbin was very reluctant.

Rongrong said, "The Commandery Princess will be there, so the Young Madam is definitely going too."

Lu Yanbin’s steps faltered, still unwilling, "They’re all women, what’s a big man like me doing mixing in?"

"Not all of them are women." The maid said, "I inquired yesterday, both families there are going, and Lord Pan from the Ministry of Justice is also invited."

Lu Yanbin knew this person. Before Liu Shuyuan got married, she admired him. Even though it’s been three years since he got married, he was still a bachelor. His intentions weren’t too hidden.

"Out of nowhere, why did Sister Wan invite him?" Lu Yanbin showed displeasure.

Mrs. Xiao Liu wasn’t in the Lu Family now. If she went out alone and met that man, rekindling their old romance, how would that be permissible!

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Lu Yanbin said, "Go tell the old lady that I understand."

Rongrong glanced at Lu Yanqing’s reaction and secretly found it amusing.

Lord Pan, someone Wen Wan doesn’t know at all. She just asked Rongrong to help stir Lu Yanbin to go to the moat.

——

7:45 AM, Old Mrs. Lu, leaning on a cane, exited the Hanging Flower Gate, where two soft sedans awaited outside. One was for the old lady, and the other was prepared for Lu Yanbin.

With Su Yi sent away, Mrs. Xiao Liu gone to the Song family, and Aunt Wen being a concubine without much presence, the old lady’s outing saw no daughter-in-law accompanying her, leaving her with just two maids and a nanny.

Wen Wan and her group set off at almost the same hour. Today, those going included Granny Song, Song Wei, Song Erlang, Wen Wan, Mrs. Xiao Liu, Second Lang’s wife, Song Qi, Yuanbao, Jinbao, and Duobao. With the accompanying maids and servitors, they used four carriages and another four small green sedan chairs. The grandeur of the procession was astonishing.

Fortunately, the moat wasn’t far from here, so their family arrived early.

The private room was large, divided into an inner and outer room, with a green gauze cabinet separating a small hall and an adjacent room. Since Wen Wan had informed in advance, the restaurant’s servitors had already moved in two extra Eight Immortals Tables.

At this moment, the children were playing on one side. Wen Wan, Second Lang’s wife, Song Qi, and Mrs. Xiao Liu sat beside Granny Song, accompanying her in the adjacent room, while Song Wei, Song Erlang, and Song Yuanbao were seated in the small hall.

Lu Yanbin assisted Old Mrs. Lu upstairs, and after pushing open the door and passing the screen, he immediately spotted Mrs. Xiao Liu beside Wen Wan.

Perhaps it was a delusion, but she seemed to have lost some weight in the past two days.

Upon hearing the commotion, Song Wei and the others came over to pay their respects, and Wen Wan, her two sisters-in-law, and Mrs. Xiao Liu quickly stood to greet the old lady, then helped her to a seat in the adjacent room.

Looking at Mrs. Xiao Liu, the old lady’s face beamed with wrinkles, "Shuyuan, are you getting accustomed to staying at the Song family these past two days?"

Mrs. Xiao Liu replied with a smile, "Sister Wan is quite kind to me."

"Even if they treat you kindly, you shouldn’t be so content as to not want to return." The old lady added, "You still must return home when it’s time."

As soon as the old lady finished speaking, Lu Yanbin instinctively glanced at Mrs. Xiao Liu.

Mrs. Xiao Liu’s reaction was indifferent, as if returning home was inconsequential to her.

Whether it was her lack of response that displeased him, or his own feelings of being ignored that made him unhappy, Lu Yanbin’s mood soured, his gaze became suddenly dark and heavy.

After sitting down, the old lady turned to Granny Song, "I heard the old relative went to help at the manor again this year. You surely are robust!"

Granny Song said, "It’s what I’m used to doing at home."

Old Mrs. Lu greatly admired, "If I had your physique, I’d go too."

"Oh no, you mustn’t," Granny Song replied with a smile. "If you went down to the fields, the others would follow suit."

Old Mrs. Lu waved her hand and looked at Wen Wan with a smile, "The servants say that Wan Girl brought some excellent wine today. Shall we play some drinking games and enjoy a few hearty cups?"

"Since Grandmother says so, I shall accompany you fully," Wen Wan agreed with a smile.

"I can’t. I’ve been unwell these past two days and can’t drink alcohol," Mrs. Xiao Liu stated.

"Then use tea instead of wine." Being a woman herself, the old lady understood Mrs. Xiao Liu.

"Tea won’t do either," Wen Wan added, "as drinking too much is harmful. Let’s go with plain water, just fill it up, she can drink a few large pots of this."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanbin sneered, "If you can’t handle it, don’t come. You can’t drink wine, can’t drink tea — what kind of bad habit is this!"

The cheerful chatter at the table abruptly stopped.

The old lady glared, "If you stay silent, no one will take you for a mute."

Wen Wan’s eyes flickered, "When did Brother Bin arrive?"

Lu Yanbin quickly clarified, "If not for the old lady asking me to come, I wouldn’t have had the time to join your fun."

"Don’t say things to disgust people." The old lady glanced at him, "Even your brother-in-law and nephews are sitting outside; they can join the fun, but you’re special? What kind of untouched celestial being are you?"

"Grandmother..." Lu Yanbin called helplessly, "What are you saying?"

The old lady was exasperated yet fond, "Who here doesn’t know the deplorable things you’ve done? Since you’re here to take your wife home, don’t go outside to join them. Just sit here."

With that, she pointed to the seat next to Mrs. Xiao Liu.

Lu Yanbin reluctantly sat down.