Chapter 5390 Family Reunion

Chapter 5390 Family Reunion
Fang Jun found it somewhat amusing; of the dozens of people in the Fang family, it was his mother, Madam Lu, who suffered the most severe "discrimination" against outsiders...

Born into a prominent family, the Lu family studied from a young age and always believed that the knowledge passed down by ancient sages could only be inherited by the Chinese people. It was precisely this knowledge that enabled the Chinese people to always stand at the top of the world. What if it were spread out and learned by other ethnic groups, and one day they rebelled against the Heavenly Gang?
Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry. When I set off from Luoyang, I received news from Huating Town that my uncle had arrived safely. Because many scholars who were going to Japan to teach were traveling with me, and many of them would never set foot in Japan again and would return to their hometowns, it would be very difficult for them to meet again in the future. So we agreed to have a gathering in Huating Town. The return to the capital will be a few days later."

Tang Dynasty scholars going to overseas vassal states to "support education" was a voluntary act. Although the court would provide some subsidies, it would never restrict their behavior. They could return to China whenever they wanted, so these people had a high degree of mobility.

Madam Lu was overjoyed and asked Fang Jun, "What did your sister say? She's definitely going to give a dowry when my little sister gets married!"

Fang Jun laughed and said, "Mother must not say this when the King of Han comes. My eldest sister had a very unpleasant argument with the King of Han over my younger sister's dowry."

Lady Lu was surprised and said, "Is it that the King of Han is unwilling? We cannot force him. The reason I repeatedly instructed them to provide a dowry is because my younger sister will go to sea to her fief after her marriage, and it will be difficult to see her again. With such a dowry by her side, she can remember her and still have some kinship ties. Otherwise, if we don't visit each other for a long time, even sisters will become estranged. Wouldn't the next generation be like strangers? It's not that I'm greedy for that little bit of wealth."

Wu Meiniang nodded and agreed, "Mother's concerns are very reasonable. Even the closest relationships need to be maintained through regular visits."

All relationships require management and maintenance. Even blood relatives will gradually become estranged if they do not contact or visit each other for a long time.

That's why there's the saying, "A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative."

Fang Jun was somewhat worried: "My eldest sister thought the same way, so the dowry she prepared for her younger sister didn't include fertile land or money, but instead emptied the royal treasury of all its treasures."

Fang Xuanling, who hadn't spoken until now, asked curiously, "The Prince of Han has never liked those kinds of things, but is it something extraordinary that your elder sister is going to give to her younger sister?"

Fang Jun smiled wryly: "There are a few relics left by Consort Yuwen in the storeroom. My eldest sister took a liking to them and insisted on adding them to her dowry, but the Prince of Han was not happy about it."

Fang Xuanling frowned: "Your eldest sister has gone too far. When you have some free time, go and persuade her not to be so willful."

Fang Jun nodded and said, "I had the same idea. I'll go to the Prince of Han's residence tomorrow to deliver the New Year's gifts and talk to my elder sister about it."

Han King Li Yuanjia's mother was Consort Yuwen, a concubine of Emperor Gaozu. Consort Yuwen's father was Yuwen Shu, the former Duke of Xu of the Sui Dynasty, who held the titles of Grand Pillar of State and Left Guard General. Yuwen Shu had three sons and one daughter, the eldest of whom was Yuwen Huaji...

In the fourteenth year of the Daye era, Yuwen Huaji strangled Emperor Yang of Sui in Jiangdu.

When the news reached Luoyang, the entire city was outraged. The Yuwen family suffered a blow, and their property in the storeroom was secretly sent to Yuwen Zhaoyi, a concubine of Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang.

The reason Li Yuanjia was unwilling to let the princess take the treasures from the storeroom to add to her dowry must be because some of them contained extremely important heirlooms of the Yuwen family...

Madam Lu understood this principle and rarely criticized her eldest daughter: "Your eldest sister is too domineering. You should try to persuade her. Being assertive is fine, but being domineering without any bottom line is not advisable."

Fang Jun looked at his elderly mother speechlessly.

As the saying goes, "If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too." You've always been domineering at home. Even our father, a man of great stature, is kept in your control. What right do you have to criticize your elder sister?
He glanced at his younger sister and said earnestly, "Did you hear what your mother said? From now on, when you live with Prince Jiang, you must leave room for maneuver in everything you do."

Fang Xiaomei blushed slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but said, "But we still need to manage him, right? We can't just let him run wild."

Fang Jun's lips twitched, and he looked at his father: "Oh no, the family values ​​are not right! This is all your fault, Father."

Fang Xuanling was also puzzled: "What does this have to do with me?"

"If Father hadn't spoiled Mother so much that her word was law and those who obeyed her prospered while those who defied her perished, how could my elder sister and younger sister have followed suit?"

Fang Xuanling coughed lightly, glared at his son, and then lowered his head to drink his tea without saying a word.

Madam Lu laughed and spat, "If it's true that those who obey prosper and those who oppose perish, I'll give you a hundred lashes first! You're always causing trouble and creating chaos, and only Gao Yang and Meiniang spoil you and let you do whatever you want. If it were me, I would never forgive you!"

"Ah ha ha!"

Fang Jun chuckled and stood up, saying, "Mei Niang has had a long journey and is tired. I'll take her back to bathe, change, and get some rest."

Lady Lu ignored him and took Wu Meiniang's hand, giving her a "teaching by example": "His Highness spoils him terribly and won't say a single bad word about him. You have a strong personality, so you need to keep a close eye on him to prevent him from acting recklessly. If he doesn't listen to you, come to me and I'll stand up for you!"

Wu Meiniang, with her bright eyes and white teeth, smiled gently: "Although Erlang is a bit mischievous, compared to those noble sons and pampered playboys, he is much better. Your daughter-in-law is very satisfied."

Madam Lu was clearly disappointed, and quite exasperated: "You seem to have exceptional intelligence and skill, but who knew you were so incompetent!"

Wu Meiniang glanced at her husband, then smiled without saying a word.

Fang Jun couldn't take it anymore and waved his hand, saying, "Let's go, let's go! If Mother keeps lecturing us, what will become of us? I don't want to be as afraid of my wife as Father!"

Wu Meiniang was startled and quickly looked at Fang Xuanling.

Unexpectedly, Fang Xuanling not only ignored his son's "mockery," but even took a sip of tea and slowly said, "You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?"

Wu Meiniang stared wide-eyed at her mother-in-law, her heart filled with admiration.

……

The inner quarters.

Compared to the lively and active Fang Shu, Fang You was very calm. Upon hearing that Wu Meiniang had returned from Luoyang, Fang Shu jumped around in the hall, and every now and then he would run to the door to look outside, muttering that he wanted the gifts that Aunt Wu had brought back.

On the contrary, Fang You, the biological son, remained calm. Although he occasionally glanced outside the door, he stood steadily beside Princess Gaoyang.

Princess Gaoyang affectionately patted his head, then put her arm around the well-behaved Fang Jing on the other side, and said to Xiao Shuer, Jin Shengman, Qiao'er and the others, "This child has a calm mind. He will surely remain unfazed even if Mount Tai collapses before him in the future. He is capable of great things!"

Xiao Shuer sat to the side, stroking her belly with one hand: "Dalang is lively, Erlang is steady. If the one in my belly can be like my two older brothers, I will be content."

Princess Gaoyang chuckled and rolled her eyes: "You were once of royal blood and a lady of high birth, so why are you so prejudiced against girls? Jing'er is so smart and well-behaved, yet you don't like her. Your heart is only set on the one in your belly. What will you do if it's another girl?"

Jin Shengman was also curious: "Sister Shu'er is the most knowledgeable, polite, gentle and virtuous, so why is she so eager for a son?"

Xiao Shu'er paused for a moment, stroking her belly while looking lovingly at her eager daughter. She sighed softly, "You all think I'm of Southern Liang blood, noble and reserved, but how could you know the suffering I've endured in the Xiao family all these years? Just because my bloodline is extinct and there's no more lineage, I've been treated like merchandise, waiting to be sold. Now, I'm fortunate enough to marry into the Fang family, where I have loving parents-in-law, harmonious sisters, and a doting husband... If I had married into another family, I'd probably be a skeleton in a grave by now."

Although the Lanling Xiao family was a continuation of the Southern Liang royal family, it was considered a collateral branch. The home she lived in since childhood was devoid of warmth; instead, she was a dependent. She was sensible at a young age and knew that her significance in the home was merely that of a "commodity." Sooner or later, the home would "sell" her for a good price. As for whether she would have a good home... who cared?
All of this stemmed from the fact that this branch of the Southern Liang royal family had become extinct, with no male descendants remaining.

If there were a man to support the family, things wouldn't have come to this.

Although everything is fine with the Fang family, what if something happens?
If something were to happen to her, her son would not only be her support, but also prevent her daughter from experiencing the same desolate and lonely childhood she had...

Silence fell over the hall.

Fortunately, a maidservant came in to announce that Erlang and Meiniang had returned hand in hand...

The whole family then got up and went to the door to greet them.

Fang Shu ran out the door like a wild horse, heading towards his father and Aunt Wu, shouting from afar, "Father! Aunt Wu!"

Fang Jun sighed and squatted down to hug his son who was running towards him, but Fang Shu suddenly turned a corner and jumped into Wu Meiniang's arms.

Fang Jun: "..."

"Ouch!"

Wu Meiniang smiled radiantly, squatted down and hugged Fang Shu tightly. She reached out and touched the child's forehead, kissed him affectionately, and said with delight, "Good child!"

Then, looking up, he saw Fang Youan standing quietly at the door, so he waved and said, "You'er, come here!"

Fang You hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over and was embraced by Wu Meiniang.

However, it was clear that she preferred the lively and outgoing Fang Shu to her somewhat dull and overly quiet biological son.

……

Inside the hall, the whole family gathered happily.

Upon learning that Wu Meiniang was about to return to the mansion, the family did not eat dinner, but waited to welcome her back. After bathing and changing clothes, they sat in the hall, where maids and servants placed various dishes on a round table with unique Fang family characteristics.

Inside the hall, candles were lit, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere, while outside, a cold wind howled and snowflakes fluttered down.

The couple and their family members had all had a few drinks, talking about the novel and happy things that happened on a daily basis, the children's noise, the baby's crying, the fine wine and delicious food, and the family gathering.

After the banquet ended, Fang Jun was also a little drunk. Seeing Wu Meiniang holding the hands of Fang Shu and Fang You, her bright face and gentle smile under the candlelight, his heart was filled with passion, and he got up and followed her.

Wu Meiniang glanced back, her bright eyes and white teeth revealing her beauty: "I will sleep with both of them tonight, my lord, you may go elsewhere."

Fang Jun: "..."