Zeng Weiyang's antics cast a shadow over Ban Shi's pleasant mood, yet she maintained a perfectly measured smile. As soon as she entered, she was startled by the person standing by the door to greet guests.
Yan Qing, acting every bit the competent steward, smiled faintly at Ban Shi. "Madam, please come in. The Princess Consort is waiting for you in the warm chamber."
Ban Shi nearly stammered, but Qiangwei spoke first, "Yan... Steward, what are you doing here?"
"The estate is hosting guests today, and I worried the Princess Consort might be overwhelmed, so I volunteered to come and help."
"I see."
"Allow me to escort you."
Ban Shi found his constant self-deprecation rather awkward, but this was hardly the place for a reunion. She could only follow him forward.
Zeng Weiyang's gaze flickered between the three of them, sensing an unusual dynamic. Qiangwei, however, couldn't help but feel happy for Ban Shi. With so many servants in the estate, there was no way the Princess Consort would be overwhelmed. Clearly, Mr. Yan had come to see Madam.
The Great Yin Dynasty encouraged widows to remarry. Otherwise, with so many men perishing on the battlefield, if the remaining women all remained widows, who would replenish the population of Great Yin?
Although Marquis Pingning was still alive, in Qiangwei's heart, he was but a step away from death.
The main hall was occupied by Situ Yan, where he entertained the male guests.
The warm chamber's doors and windows were wide open, but with the underfloor heating, it wasn't cold. Lu Nianfu sat in a chair draped with a Persian rug, conversing with several ladies who had arrived earlier.
"Marquis Pingning's wife has arrived." Yan Qing led them to the entrance and announced, then added, "Madam, please go in. I shall take my leave."
Ban Shi nodded distractedly before stepping over the threshold.
Lu Nianfu heard the familiar voice and looked up in surprise, catching sight of Yan Qing's retreating back. He looked every bit the capable servant ushering in guests for his master. Lu Nianfu felt a pang of amusement; Uncle Yan was clearly lovesick, using this excuse to see her.
To guard a woman hopelessly for over a decade – such a good man existed only in storybooks.
She stood up to greet her and, after a word lingered on her tongue, finally managed to call out somewhat awkwardly, "Mother, why didn't you inform me earlier? I could have come to the door to meet you."
Ban Shi froze.
What had she just heard? Xixi called her mother?
She was so overcome with emotion that her hands trembled. It took all her effort not to burst into tears on the spot.
Qiangwei tugged at her sleeve, bringing her back to her senses.
"It's such cold weather, and you're pregnant. How could I possibly come out to the wind? Besides, wasn't someone guiding me? Were you worried I wouldn't find my way?" Having said that, she walked over and sat beside Lu Nianfu.
Zeng Weiyang presented a brocade box and said brightly, "Weiyang offers her congratulations to sister."
Lu Nianfu's gaze turned cold. She didn't utter the words that she hadn't invited her, but her attitude became significantly distant. "Sit down, please don't be a stranger."
Zeng Weiyang breathed a sigh of relief. She had genuinely feared Lu Nianfu would kick her out the moment she spoke.
That would have been a complete loss of face for her.
"Miss Cheng Si has arrived." Not long after, Cheng Jiaojiao walked in.
Lu Nianfu quickly beckoned her to sit beside her, her demeanor far warmer than when she had received Zeng Weiyang, her own sister.
As a distant cousin from the Assistant Minister's estate, the ladies' impression of her was singular: the merchant relative from Assistant Minister Cheng's family who sought to climb the social ladder. The Cheng family had long since split. To put it kindly, she was a noble's cousin. To put it bluntly, wasn't she just a merchant's daughter?
In these times, it seemed anyone dared to dream of marrying into a prominent family.
The ladies' gazes subtly swept over Lu Nianfu. Tsk, no wonder she was so close to Cheng Jiaojiao; proximity to ink blackens. However, Prince Rui was currently in favor, and the Princess Consort was pregnant. If she bore a son, her position would be secured. If Miss Cheng Si truly caught the Princess Consort's eye, perhaps she could be considered as a daughter-in-law.