On the last morning of the year, Jiang Wan stood in front of the dresser, looking at the golden hairpin on the table again. The nine blooming flowers were the most beautiful blessing in Ning Dynasty, which was usually given by relatives to each other. She had never received such a blessing before. (Please remember) Chu Xiao couple once wanted to give her this gift, but they were worried that it would bring trouble to her, so they could only change the blessing into three gifts from the palace.

  Jiang Wanru's hair was tied up with a jade leaf hairpin, and on top of her head, she wore a single branch of hollow gold hairpin with no leaves. She walked to the table, picked up the gold hairpin in her hand, thought for a moment, and then pinned it to the other side of her hair. Jiang Wanru woke up early in the morning, but Lian Hao was already not in the room. Lian Hao had a habit of getting up very early every day, which made him different from the young masters of aristocratic families in this one aspect. In all other aspects, he was just like them - especially in his intolerance for anyone going against his wishes.

  After Jiang Wan got up, she saw that he had cleaned up the bed and there was nothing left. Only then did she remember that this year had come to an end, and tomorrow would be a brand new day in a brand new year. After having breakfast, Jiang Wan took two maidservants and two young girls to the main hall. Because it was the last year in the Wang Fu, Jiang Wan didn't deliberately let Jiyuan hide behind her as she had done in previous years. This year, she specifically brought Jiyuan with her, thinking that after a woman has experienced the beauty of life, she would not be easily fooled by superficial appearances and would cherish ordinary days more.

  Jiang Wanru arrived at the hall, not being the last one to arrive. The second master and his wife had yet to arrive. As soon as Jiang Wanru appeared at the entrance of the hall, a woman who managed affairs for the crown prince's wife immediately came forward, smiling and saying: "Third madam, the master has something to say to you." Jiang Wanru raised her eyes to look at the four people on the main seat, chatting and laughing with each other, no one noticing the entrance. And below their main seat, in the first position next to them, the crown prince and his wife sat there, the crown prince smiling and looking at the crown prince's wife who was instructing someone behind her.

  Jiang Wanru hurried forward two steps and asked, "Madam, is everything all right? If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know." The prince had already stretched out his hand to support his wife as she stood up, and said in a low voice, "You've been busy all morning, why don't we just sit down and talk?" As soon as the prince finished speaking, a maid brought over a stool, and Jiang Wanru sat down obediently. The princess smiled and said to her, "Wanru, this morning we received some wonderful news - my younger sister is pregnant."

  Jiang Wanru suddenly understood the truth about the second master's wife being late. Lian Xuan and his wife had been married for some years, and their relationship was still good, but the second mistress had never been pregnant before. A woman having her own child is a big happy event, and it's natural that everyone would be delighted to hear the news. Jiang Wanru smiled and said: "Congratulations to the second mistress on your great joy." The young master's wife looked at her sincere expression, smiled and said: "Wanru, thank you for helping me with the kitchen matters during the New Year's festival with your brother and sister-in-law. This year I think I can only trouble you more, those things, after seeing off the guests, your brother and sister-in-law will tell you in detail."

  Jiang Wanru couldn't help but nod and take on the task. As she watched Guan Shi go forward to speak with the Young Master's wife, she retreated a few steps back. She walked over to Lian Hao's side and sat down, hearing him ask in a low voice, "Does Big Sister have something to discuss with you?" Jiang Wanru looked up at him and nodded, saying, "The Second Mistress is happy, but the kitchen matters are busy during the New Year's festival. The Young Master's wife said I'll temporarily help take care of things for a few days." Lian Hao glanced at Jiang Wanru a few times before turning to the two Guan Shi women and saying, "You two should help Madam keep an eye on things more often. I think she doesn't understand those trivial matters." The Guan Shi women naturally nodded in agreement.

  Lian Hao turned his head to Jiang Wanyu and said, "After you and Erniang took the token, find someone close to her to follow you for a few days. There are some things you can't control, let that person ask Dajie." Jiang Wanyu had originally planned to do so, she usually followed behind Erniang, it was just a matter of course as the wife of the eldest son. She also knew not to get involved in those matters. This time, she came because Erniang had good news and couldn't wait any longer, so she had no choice but to let Jiang Wanyu take her place. Jiang Wanyu thought this was a good opportunity, she could learn something along the way.

  Jiang Wanmu nodded with a humble expression, saying: "Yes, I will listen to Third Master's words. There are some things that cannot be decided, and I will ask the Young Master's wife for guidance." Lian Hao listened to Jiang Wanmu's words, feeling that there was something not quite right about them, but before he could think further, a servant came in to report: "Tongjiang Lian Shizi has arrived to pay his respects to his relatives." Lian Hao followed the others in looking towards the entrance of the hall, where Jiang Wanmu's gaze swept over Old Master Wang's emotional expression and then landed on Old Mistress Wang, who was wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

  The king and queen were as dignified and elegant as ever, while the crown prince and his wife exchanged a glance and smiled towards the entrance of the hall. Jiang Wanru scanned the crowd in the grand hall, with most people looking curious. At the entrance of the hall, a young couple dressed in bright red brocade appeared, beaming with joy. After entering the hall, they saw the person sitting on the main seat and rushed over like a pair of mandarin ducks, with the man kneeling down first, followed closely by the woman. The maids holding the cushions didn't even have time to put them down.

  The young man, after kowtowing three times to Old Master Wang and Old Mistress Wang, lifted his slightly red forehead and said in a loud voice: "Zhenjiang Lian's son Lian Duan and his wife Lian Zhang pay their respects to the two ancestors. Wishing the two ancestors good health and longevity." The woman also followed suit and kowtowed six times, fortunately without making a sound. When she lifted her head, her forehead was also red all over. Old Master Wang and Old Mistress Wang were so moved that they repeatedly said: "Don't hurt your heads, quickly get up!" The servants and servant women beside them naturally hurried to help the newlyweds up.

  The man shook his head and refused, saying: "My nephew and niece have never met their uncle and aunt, how can they get up." He moved his body directly, bowing to the king and queen who were sitting sideways, earning the king and queen repeatedly saying: "Anger, you two quickly help your younger brother and sister-in-law get up." The couple thought that they must be quick-witted people, when the crown prince and princess came over, they quickly got up and bowed deeply to the crown prince and princess, saying: "Younger brother and sister-in-law, how dare we let the crown prince and princess help us up?"

  The Marquis's wife was chatting with the man, asking about his life and family, while the Marquis himself was getting close to the woman as if they were old friends. Meanwhile, Lian Xuan and his wife quietly entered the hall and sat down at an empty table in front of Lian Hua. Lian Xuan's eyes sparkled with joy, and his wife had a happy yet shy expression on her face. The Marquis and his wife returned to their seats, while Lian Duan and his wife were summoned by Old Master Wang and his wife to ask about the news. Some of the uncles who arrived early also stood up and gathered around to inquire about the latest developments.

  The steward beside Old Master Wang instructed the maids to add a table below where Old Master Wang and his wife were sitting, and then sat down with them to drink tea. Lian Hao introduced the new arrival, Lian Jia's younger brother, in a low voice. The second madam smiled brightly as she sat on the side. Jiang Wan felt that the couple, Lian Duan, was so clever and sociable at such a young age. She thought that even if she had lived two lifetimes, she wouldn't have half of their social skills. Their ability to interact with others like fish in water made her feel admiration for them.

  Everyone in the hall looked at the newlyweds, while the newlyweds focused on the four people at the main seat. When the maids placed two cushions in front of the main seat, the people in the hall quieted down, and this was the beginning of the climax. Mr. and Mrs. Duan left their seats, knelt on the cushions, and gently kowtowed to Old Master Wang and his wife at the main seat. The couple accepted the tea offered by the maids and respectfully presented it: "Please have some tea from the newlyweds."

  Old Master Wang took the cup of tea from Lian Duan's hand, drank a mouthful and smiled: "Good." He picked up a box from the table and handed it to Lian Duan, saying: "Your grandfather said you have some literary talent, I'll give you an inkstone, hoping you'll make further progress." Old Mistress Wang took the tea from Lian Duan's wife, drank a mouthful, then removed a bracelet from her wrist and put it in the box on the side, saying: "Adding joy, adding joy, may you soon give birth to a noble son." Master and Mistress Wang each gave rewards to Lian Duan and his wife, and the two maids who followed them smiled as they accepted the gifts from their masters.

  Jiang Wanru watched the couple listen to the introduction of Old Master Wang's attendant, bowing one by one to the seated uncle and aunt couples, offering tea and receiving congratulations. The two of them smiled and followed the old attendant, turning around to face the Crown Prince and his wife, who handed over their gifts to the newlyweds. Jiang Wanru looked at the gifts given separately by Liang Xuan and his wife, her hand touching the nine-budded golden hairpin on her head, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes before she suddenly came to a realization.

  It turned out that this blessing was not for herself, but a gift to be used to borrow flowers and offer Buddha. She almost overthought it, mistakenly thinking that Lian Hao had feelings for her.

  When the newlyweds walked up to them, Jiang Wanru's expression was calm and serene. She took over the tea from the new couple, then removed the golden hairpin from her head and placed it in the bride's delicate hand, smiling as she said: "May you grow old together, may you have children soon." The new bride accepted her gift, listened to these words of blessing, turned around and exchanged a smile with her husband. They smiled as they walked down to their seats.

  In the midst of a room filled with laughter and chatter, Jiang Wanru sat as if watching a play, her mouth slightly curved upwards, her eyebrows and eyes softly lowered. Lian Hao gazed at the woman in front of him, his eyes flashing with obvious annoyance as she handed out the gifts he had bought for her. He quickly concealed his emotions and joined in the laughter with the others. The four people sitting in the main seats couldn't help but notice Jiang Wanru's generosity, and for the first time, they felt that this woman was worthy of praise. They exchanged glances, nodding to each other in agreement.

  Jiang Wanru listened to the joyful voices in the hall, looked up and saw two maids holding two basins behind the newlyweds, piled high with gifts. She remembered that she had left this hall empty-handed for the first time, thinking that the Wang family didn't have a habit of giving gifts to newcomers. It turned out it wasn't so, the people in the Wang family naturally wouldn't bother to put on a show for outsiders who didn't need to be treated with courtesy. Listening to the laughter and chatter in the hall, she recalled her first visit when the whole room was silent, watching her with cold eyes. Jiang Wanru let out a soft sigh, but it was instantly drowned out by the joyful atmosphere, only Lian Hui vaguely heard her sigh, turned around but saw her indifferent smile.

  Thank you: Hu came and cast a pink vote, Yu Zhang gave away gifts OC starting currency, thank you book friends for your support.