Greetings, Ninth Uncle

Chapters 117 - 118

Ch 117 – Visiting the Natal Home

The Grand Assembly on the first day of the New Year was the most important ceremony of the year. Cheng Yujin was taken by Li Chengjing until the middle of the night. The next morning, she had to wear the heavy nine pheasants and four phoenix crown and crown princess' diyi formal gown, then stood for the Grand Assembly for a full day.

When they returned to the palace in the evening, Li Chengjing seemed to know he was in the wrong and was very well-behaved. Cheng Yujin glared at him, too angry to speak to this sanctimonious man. Until the time to visit the in-laws the next day, Li Chengjing was very careful around Cheng Yujin and didn't even dare to make an extra smile.

It was customary for a married woman to visit her natal home on the second day of the New Year. Cheng Yujin was no exception, and she also needed to return to Yichun Marquis Manor. Li Chengjing, as her husband, naturally accompanied her.

The two first went to the Cinning Palace and Kunning Palace to pay respect to the elders, then boarded the carriage and departed. Today's Yichun Marquis Manor was very lively. The Cheng family had been notified early that the Crown Prince would accompany the Crown Princess visiting her natal family, and thus the whole manor was very busy with preparation. In addition to Cheng Yujin, the other married daughters of the Cheng family, Cheng Min and Cheng Yumo, also returned for a visit, bringing their husbands and family with them.

Old Madam Cheng had finished dressing early in the morning and now was sitting upright in the hall, waiting for the Crown Princess's arrival. Qingfu Junzhu and Ruan-shi were also the same, sitting with their mother-in-law in their most elegant and luxurious clothes. Being instructed by the Xu family, Cheng Min arrived early than usual, bringing many of Xu family's children with her. Old Madam Cheng was happy to see Cheng Min, as she rarely saw her daughter. As soon as Cheng Min entered the door, Old Madam Cheng quickly pulled her and Xu Nianchun to her side. However, even Cheng Min's arrival couldn't relax the atmosphere in the room, as everyone was busy paying attention to the situation outside.

Around the hour of the snake, a young servant boy suddenly ran into the hall. Before the servant could deliver the message, all the womenfolks in the room let out a sigh and stood up one after another.

Even though the servant hadn't said anything yet, everyone had already guessed that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were coming. Sure enough, the servant hurriedly announced in a loud voice: "Old Madam, Madam, Second Madam, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess' carriage have already left the palace gate. The Marquis wants you all to wait at the second gate to greet the Crown Princess."

Old Madam Cheng had been waiting for this sentence. Now that the waiting was finally over, she felt a big rock was lifted off her heart. After Cheng Yuanxian succeeded the title of Marquis Yichun, Old Madam Cheng had been promoted to dowager marchioness, and Qingfu Junzhu had become the new marchioness. The servants no longer called Qingfu Junzhu 'eldest madam' but simply 'madam.'

Old Madam Cheng led the crowd of women to wait at the second gate. After a while, the sound of a eunuch clapping hands came from outside, reminding passersby to give way to the imperial procession. Old Madam Cheng knelt down and led all the women to greet Cheng Yujin: "This subject's wife greets the Crown Princess."

After the carriage stopped, a group of palace maids came forward and helped Cheng Yujin to walk out of the carriage. After Cheng Yujin stood on the ground again, she looked at the kneeling Old Madam Cheng. She raised her hand and said, "It's cold on the ground. Grandmother, please get up."

Old Madam Cheng then stood up tremblingly with the help of her personal servant girl. Qingfu Junzhu was kneeling beside Old Madam Cheng, so she also helped her mother-in-law to get up. Cheng Yujin saw Qingfu and nodded gently: "Mother."