18
Shen Xuefei withdrew her hand from her son’s arm, which had been assisting her as they walked to the grand entrance of the General Li mansion.
With a smile on her face, she stepped forward to stand beside her husband and gracefully curtsied to the elder General Li and elder Furen Li, showing her elegance and composure.
“Your daughter-in-law greets Father and Mother,” she said politely.
“This is our eldest son, Zhengqing.
Hurry and pay your respects to your grandparents.”
Li Zhengqing clasped his hands together in a formal salute.
“Grandson greets Grandfather and Grandmother.”
He said, though he was a bit nervous.
He stood tall and broad-shouldered, not slender like the noble sons in the capital.
His frame was strong and well-built, his face rugged and handsome with sharp features resembling his father.
His complexion wasn’t fair, but the more one looked, the more his masculinity stood out.
His eyes gleamed with sincerity, devoid of any deceit or cunning.
“Well, well, excellent,” Elder General Li praised with satisfaction.
“Li Lu, bring the Xuanqi dagger to the young master at the manor.”
The steward, Li Lu, bowed and turned to walk toward the mansion’s storeroom, under the envious gaze of the other relatives.
“Thank you, Grandfather,” Li Zhengqing said, aware of several unfriendly stares but remaining unaffected.
When he looked around, he only saw smiling faces, as if they were a close-knit, loving family.
Li Zhengqing might not be the cleverest, straightforward and simple as he was, but he understood that they were putting on a show.
And it wasn’t hard to guess for whom.
The gathered townspeople who had come to watch were perfect witnesses.
If the Li family failed to warmly welcome them, malicious gossip would soon spread far and wide.
“There’s still a granddaughter, isn’t there?
Why haven’t we seen her yet?”
Second Furen He Shi asked with a gentle smile, her tone soft and melodic, though her eyes sparkled with mocking amusement.
“My Lingran is around the same age as your second daughter.
She’s been eager to meet her younger sister for a long time.
When she heard you were returning, she was absolutely thrilled.”
Beside He Shi stood a young girl with an elegant face, dressed in a soft pink gown embroidered with red plum blossoms at the hem.
Her hair was tied with matching ribbons.
She appeared to be a sweet, graceful beauty, and when her mother mentioned her, she blushed shyly, a picture of innocence.
Old Furen Li gave He Shi a look that was somewhere between a smile and a non-smile, but said nothing to stop or reprimand her.
“Ying Ying is on her way.
Please wait a moment, Second Furen,” Shen Xuefei replied, casting a warning glance at her son, who looked like he was about to retort.
He Shi’s words seemed casual, but they were clearly a veiled criticism of her daughter, while simultaneously praising her own.
Bringing out Li Lingran was not done with good intentions.
Her purpose was obvious: to create a comparison between the two girls.
Growing up in a distant, rural area, Ying Ying’s skin was likely not as fair, and her clothes couldn’t compare to Li Lingran’s silk gown embroidered by a master artisan.
Her hair was probably rough, her demeanor less polished than Li Lingran’s.
Shen Xuefei could see through their thoughts and intentions, but she wasn’t troubled by such petty matters.
She glanced briefly at her husband and son.
Did they really think they could belittle their Ying Ying so easily?
How pitiful.