The Blessed

After it was broad daylight outside, the whole family got busied up. Sister-in-law Song was responsible for things in the kitchen, and Lady Zhang, Lady Wu and Liu Xiaosui working as her assistants. Although it was a banquet of five tables, each dish was carefully chosen by Lady Wang and her younger sister. In case of any mistake, after the dishes were settled, after asking Yan Shengrui to go through with it, Lady Wang made the final decision.

Work in the yards inevitably included things like carrying heavy things, so Lady Wang asked Old Song and those rough men to take care of it. Ling Chenglong meant to lead them in person but got yelled at by his wife. Today, they were the hosts, who should be responsible for entertaining the guests, besides, they were wearing some expensive satin clothes. It’d be a trouble if they got it stained or what. After all, they had been used of living that kind of frugal life. So they only had one or two of those good-quality clothes.

For ling Yun had stayed in a family, under such circumstances, she was responsible for things in the central room, Shuiling as her assistant, things like serving tea for the guests and the decorations of the central room. As for Lady Wang and her younger sister, using Ling Jingxuan’s words, he totally didn’t know what they were being busy with. It was just that they just ran to the wedding room every few minutes, only afraid they might miss what. After people of the Wang family came, they even pulled Lady Sun and Lady Mu to check things out there, like they were the ones who were getting married. Compared with them, the real new couple was nearly bored to death.

"Mom, stop going here to check it out. Even if something was missed, just make it up later. No need to be so tense. If you really have nothing to do, go tell Sister-in-law Song to prepare an extra table of dishes and place it in the central room. I forgot yesterday. Magistrate Hu will also come today.”

As Ling Jingxuan saw that his mother was getting up again, he hurriedly stopped her. And while speaking, his eyes swept over at Lady Han and Wang Yunya standing behind her meaningfully. Since they came here, their eyes always peeped around here and there. Although Wang Yunya had been engaged with a scholar in their village and Liu Chunyu was keeping an eye on Lady Han, in case that anything went wrong, he’d better give them a warning in advance.

Hearing that, Lady Han and her daughter both had a shudder. Lady Wang snapped with her eyes wide open, “Why didn’t you say that yesterday? Lord Magistrate is coming? What do to? What if we fail to entertain Magistrate Hu and he gets mad at us? Oh my head! You silly kid, how could you forget about this? How could you even forget about such an important guest?”

Scolding him while touching her own head, Lady Wang was so nervous that she almost fainted. She had never dreamed that the magistrate would come to their place. It was a great honor for such a farmer’s family, and it was also a tremendous and terrible pressure. Could they who even trembled when meeting the yamen runners really entertain the magistrate well?

Everyone of the Wang Family who arrived early also looked both excited and scared. It was such a great honor to have a meal with the lord. And it was absolutely worth it for a day off! The whole family were here today! To Ling Jingxuan, every one of the Wang family now thought highly of Ling Jingxuan, and told themselves in the heart they should never get alienated with him. Meanwhile, Wang Jingui secretly pinched Lady Han and threw his daughter a warning look. And Liu Chun on the side also took it to the heart. After casting a glance at Ling Jingxuan, she lifted her spirits and focused all on Lady Han and her daughter. The master was good enough with Lord Magistrate that he even specially came for their wedding. She should never let that pair of mother and daughter embarrass the master!

"Mom, don’t be so nervous. Lord Hu is a good official, and he cares about his people. That’s what he asks for to share his happiness with us. How could he ever get mad at us? You only need to remember. You are the host of this family. Anyone who steps into this house is our guests. So just entertain him like a common one.”

Having received the expected effect, Ling Jingxuan said so. Of course it was not that he really forgot. The reason he didn’t tell them was not wanting them to feel so tense. The reason he picked such a time to speak it was that he noticed Lady Han and her daughter were up to something. To be honest, he thought that this time the Wang Family was kind of ill-considered this time. They knew that Lady Han was not welcomed and Wang Yunya tried every mean to marry Ling Jinghan, they still took them over, although he could understand their good intention, he really didn’t approve of it.

Lady Wang also felt so helpless. The civilians were born to be afraid of the officials. As a woman, how could she not get nervous at all?

"Hehe…Mom, if you can’t get used to it today, how about in the future? What if our Jinghan gets listed as a juren (lit. "recommended man", a qualified graduate who passed the triennial provincial exam)? He would be half an official then. And those who had contacts with us would all be those official families. What then? As the hostess, will you hide yourself and not see anyone?”

Seeing that, Ling Jingxuan smiled. Only a magistrate had scared them so like that. If they knew they got someone who once to be the empress, and the emperor’s son and younger brother at home, would they directly pass out?

"That's things in the future. I'm worried about what’s happening now. No, I have to go to the kitchen to take a look. Jinyu, give me a hand. My legs.”

Throwing her dagger eyes at her son, Lady Wang stretched a trembling hand to Wang Jinyu aside, but…

"Sister, my legs are weak too."

"Haha..."

Compared with Lady Wang, Wang Jinyu was no better, Ling Jingxuan and his brothers couldn't help laughing out. Only a magistrate! Come on! Besides, he hadn’t arrived yet. What were they gonna do when he really came in person?