"Miss, the message has been sent back to the capital. Please wait a few days, and you will receive news soon," Xue Yan reported to Xue Zining after delivering the message.
Xue Zining nodded. She was not in such a hurry that it mattered. Hua Rong had also guaranteed that Hua Yunjin would be safe for another half a month.
"Madame Wu has given birth to a son?" Xue Zining asked, glancing at an invitation on the table. She picked it up and opened it, a look of surprise on her face.
Xue Yan patted her forehead. "Someone from General Wu's mansion delivered it yesterday."
Dongling Pass was not far from Binzhou. When Xue Zining and Xue Yan arrived at General Wu's mansion, the area outside was bustling with people.
Xue Yan presented the invitation, and Xue Zining entered General Wu's mansion.
The mansion was filled with festive decorations everywhere.
"Miss, you look unfamiliar to me," a maidservant approached them.
"My lady is an old acquaintance of your madame," Xue Yan replied.
"Does the young lady wish to see our madame?" the maidservant asked.
Xue Yan nodded. "Yes, please lead the way."
"Miss, please follow me."
The General's mansion was vast. After walking for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, they arrived at a large courtyard.
"Miss, please wait here while I inform the madame," the maidservant said, bowing before entering the courtyard.
Soon, the maidservant emerged and bowed again. "Miss, please come in. My madame requests your presence."
Xue Zining nodded lightly and stepped into the room. Her eyes immediately fell upon Li Fanghua, who was lying on the bed. Li Fanghua looked up and saw her as well.
Her entire body trembled. After a moment of stunned silence, she quickly got out of bed. Xue Zining stepped forward and placed a hand on her, whispering, "No need for such formality."
Li Fanghua was not foolish. She saw that Xue Zining had only brought Xue Yan with her and understood that the Empress did not wish for her identity to be known to outsiders.
"I am very happy that you could come," Li Fanghua said, her voice filled with emotion.
"As I have nothing to do in Binzhou, I saw your invitation and thought I would come to see him."
Upon hearing this, Li Fanghua quickly said, "Quickly, bring Dao'er here."
Soon, a maidservant carried over a baby covered with a blanket, who was fast asleep. Li Fanghua held the baby in her arms, and Xue Zining leaned in.
She blinked her eyes. Why was he so ugly?
Li Fanghua seemed to sense her thoughts. "They all look like this when they are just born. He will grow into his looks after some time."
"Have you named him?" Xue Zining asked.
Li Fanghua smiled. "Have you forgotten? You gave him the name."
"Wu Zhengdao?"
Li Fanghua nodded. "The General and I believe this name is very good. We hope that one day he can contribute to this country and to you."
"It's enough for him to grow up well," Xue Zining said.
Li Fanghua gazed at the infant in her arms, her eyes softening. "He will."
"Madam, the madame is meeting guests. You should wait a moment..."
"Meeting guests? What guests? Are they more important than me? Hurry and have her come out to cook..."
Xue Zining frowned. Li Fanghua's expression turned somewhat awkward at the words. She handed the baby to a wet nurse and was about to get out of bed.
Xue Zining stepped forward and held her back. "You just gave birth less than three days ago, how can you expose yourself to the wind?"
Li Fanghua replied, "I am afraid the Old Madam might offend you..."
Before Li Fanghua could finish speaking, the curtain was lifted, and a figure walked in, bringing a chill with her. Dongling Pass was the closest to the Snow Country, and thus, autumn had already arrived in Dongling Pass.
The curtain was thrown wide open, and a cold wind blew in. Xue Zining couldn't help but shiver. She instinctively looked at Li Fanghua, who was already starting to tremble.
"Xue Yan..." Xue Zining said.
Xue Yan stepped forward and pushed the servant who had lifted the curtain with a palm. The servant stumbled back several steps, and the curtain was lowered.
Seeing this, Old Madam Wu's already displeased expression turned even uglier. She pointed at Xue Yan and began to curse loudly, "Where did you little b*tch come from? How dare you lay a hand on my person? Li Fanghua, did you instigate this?"
"Old Madam, I have a guest here. If you have anything to say, please come back later," Li Fanghua said helplessly.
Old Madam Wu plopped herself down on a chair and sneered, "I can't wait. My old friends are waiting for the sweet soup you made!"
"Madame Wu has just given birth to a son, and she needs to rest and recuperate. Can someone else be asked to make the sweet soup?" Xue Zining interjected.
Old Madam Wu heard this and looked up at Xue Zining, frowning. "In that case, you can make it?"
"Old Madam, this is a guest from the capital. Please go out first, and I will come out to make the sweet soup later," Li Fanghua urged anxiously.
"The capital? Don't tell me it's your family? Li Fanghua, I'm telling you, apart from your elder sister and elder brother, you are not to help anyone else. Don't think I don't know that you send money to your concubine mother every month," Old Madam Wu said angrily.
Upon hearing this, Li Fanghua bit her lower lip and replied, "Fanghua understands."
Old Madam Wu snorted coldly and began to size up Xue Zining. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she stepped forward to take Xue Zining's hand. "This girl is quite good-looking. How old are you?"
Li Fanghua was so startled that she almost fell off the bed and quickly said, "Old Madam, you..."
Xue Zining shook her head at Li Fanghua, signaling that she was fine.
Li Fanghua, however, was sweating profusely with anxiety. She felt that Old Madam was finding her and the General to be living too long.
"Thirteen," Xue Zining replied.
Old Madam Wu's eyes brightened. "You come with me."
"Old Madam, this is my guest," Li Fanghua said, completely flustered now. While her usual antics were bearable, dragging the Empress out now was simply asking for the entire General Wu's mansion to be wiped out.
"Madame Wu is fine. You rest well, I'll go out and see," Xue Zining comforted Li Fanghua.
After they left, Li Fanghua quickly called her personal maid. "Go tell the General that a distinguished guest from Binzhou has arrived and is currently with Old Madam."
Li Fanghua was sweating profusely, hoping that Old Madam would not go too far.
Xue Zining was led by Old Madam Wu into a cluster of old ladies.
Upon seeing Xue Zining's appearance, all the old ladies' eyes lit up. One of them even asked Old Madam Wu, "Whose daughter is this? She's so beautiful! Just a bit young."
Old Madam Wu snorted coldly. "This is a relative of my daughter-in-law. She's only thirteen this year and is not yet engaged."
One of the old ladies' eyes sparkled. "Not engaged? That's great! My little grandson is also not engaged. How about..."
Old Madam Wu shook her head. "Your grandson is such a rake. It would be a disservice to anyone."
The old lady was displeased. "What do you mean a disservice? My grandson, although a bit of a rake, has never indulged in debauchery."
Old Madam Wu shook her head. "No, no..."
"My grandson is here..." The old lady spotted a young man walking over in the distance and waved him over.
A tall, slender figure approached. His face was rather handsome, but his eyes were too vacant.
"Grandmother, you were looking for me?" the young man asked respectfully.
The old lady pointed to the young lady beside Old Madam Wu. "Grandson, what do you think of this girl?"