Transmigrating with a Five Million Dollar Retirement Life

Chapter 223 Lady Cheng'en

Just as Song Jiaojiao and her group entered the city, a soldier on horseback passed them by. "Orders have been issued that from this moment on, everyone entering the city must be thoroughly checked, including their household registration and identity."

"May I ask what has happened? Why is it suddenly so strict?" the soldier commander guarding the city gate asked cautiously.

"Just follow the orders from above, why all the fuss!" the man on horseback snapped, then left, as he still had to go to the other city gates to deliver the message.

This scene was witnessed by Song Jiaojiao and the others, who breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that they had arrived in time.

Song Jiaojiao originally planned to find an inn, as they needed a place to change their clothes. However, considering that they didn't know who was behind them and that they might not escape their fate if they were discovered, they eventually returned to the General's Mansion after being persuaded by Wang Chi.

As soon as Wang Yan received the person, he arranged for someone to go home and inform his wife. After losing their eldest son, General Wang's wife was heartbroken for a long time, which eventually damaged her health. It took her several years to recover, but she still couldn't conceive again for a long time. Because of this, Wang was also granted the title of First-Rank Lady and bestowed the title of Cheng'en.

From afar, they could see Lady Chengen standing at the entrance of the General's Mansion. Wang Ziyi supported her and comforted her, saying, "Mother, don't worry. Father sent word that my elder brother has arrived with my niece and the others. They should be here soon."

"Alright, alright, I wonder if my grandchildren will like their mother?" Madam Cheng'en was very worried, having heard that they hadn't been doing well these past few years.

"We've arrived, we've arrived. Madam, the general has returned," a servant said, seeing the troop in the distance.

Lady Cheng'en hurriedly went outside to greet them, and came to the carriage as soon as it stopped.

Wang Hefan came out first, followed by Wang Chi, and Song Jiaojiao came out last.

Upon seeing Song Jiaojiao and the others' attire, Madam Chengen couldn't stop her tears. She stepped forward, took Song Jiaojiao's hand, and said without any disgust, "Good child, you've suffered so much."

"Jiaojiao, this is my mother, the child's grandmother." Wang Chi said, afraid that Song Jiaojiao wouldn't know. He had been recuperating at the General's Mansion for more than half a year and had long since accepted this matter.

Song Jiaojiao simply smiled and nodded, without saying a word.

Madam Chengen didn't mind. She looked at the others and saw that Song Jiaojiao and the others had removed their makeup in the carriage, revealing their original appearance.

"You must be Mu Qing!" Madam Cheng'en looked at the graceful young woman in front of her. "Good child, I am your grandmother, your own grandmother."

The old man looked at Mu Qing with kind eyes, which made Mu Qing feel a little flustered. She had thought of countless possibilities for the meeting, but she did not expect it to end like this.

Seeing everyone's predicament, Wang Ziyi said, "Mother, my sister-in-law and the others are tired from their journey. Let's go back to the manor first and have the servants take them to wash up and get some rest."

"Yes, yes, that's how it should be. Come with me home." He pulled Song Jiaojiao's hand and walked into the house. One reason was to warn the servants that this was the master of the house and to establish authority for Song Jiaojiao and the others. The other reason was that he was genuinely heartbroken by what Song Jiaojiao and the others had suffered over the years. If they were in the General's Mansion, how could they have been so humiliated?

Song Jiaojiao was embarrassed and at a loss. She and Wang Chi had not truly reconciled yet. Although she had gained a general understanding of Wang Chi along the way, she still couldn't get over her inner turmoil, always feeling that she had stolen the original owner's husband and life.

Madam Chengen instructed someone to take them downstairs to wash up. Mu Qing and Mu Xue's courtyard had been prepared long ago when Wang Chi was found, but Mu Xue was unwilling to go by herself, so she went to the same courtyard with Mu Qing in the end.

"Young Madam, these are the clothes that Madam instructed us to prepare. Hot water is ready. Let me help you change," said Qinglian, the head maid of Haoyue Courtyard, to Song Jiaojiao.

The speaker was a girl about the same age as Mu Qing. Although her tone was respectful, her attitude showed no respect whatsoever, and she even looked directly at Song Jiaojiao when she spoke.

Although Song Jiaojiao didn't care about these things, if things were like this from the start, she was afraid that everyone would be able to bully her in the future, even though Song Jiaojiao didn't plan to stay in the General's Mansion permanently.

"What's your name?" Song Jiaojiao asked the girl in front of her.

“Replying to the young mistress, this servant is Qinglian, the young master’s personal maid.”

Qinglian still held her head high and looked directly at Song Jiaojiao as she spoke. Her mother was a head maidservant to Madam Chengen, and as soon as the eldest young master was recognized, she was assigned to be his personal maid.

Everyone knows that a personal maid is there to relieve the young master's discomfort. The disheveled woman in front of her is the young master's wife from the countryside. If it weren't for the fact that she gave birth to a son for the young master, she would have been kicked out long ago. How could she have become the young master's wife? Once she meets the young master and gives birth to a son for him, this old woman will be out of the picture. Thinking of this, Qinglian couldn't help but laugh.

Looking at the girl in front of her who seemed lost in thought, Song Jiaojiao knew what she was thinking and chuckled, "Qinglian, that's a nice name. Who named you that?"

"I chose it myself," Qinglian said proudly. She had heard that the young mistress was named Song Jiaojiao, a name that lacked any poetic quality and seemed to have been chosen casually.

"Hmm, it's a pity your name clashes with the master's. Let's call you Green Leaf from now on!"

As soon as Song Jiaojiao finished speaking, Qinglian's expression changed. Just as she was about to retort, Wang Chi walked in, and she instantly transformed into the innocent and naive Qinglian.

"Jiaojiao, why haven't you changed your clothes yet?" Wang Chi came in after changing his clothes, his handsome appearance made even more striking by the blue robe he was wearing.

"Young Master, I am your personal maid, Qinglian." Before Song Jiaojiao could speak, Qinglian spoke first, her eyes filled with affection as she looked directly at Wang Chi.

Seeing this, Song Jiaojiao calmly sipped her tea. This person was really bold, daring to do this in front of the person in question. They really didn't take her seriously at all.

Wang Chi ignored Qinglian, who was half-squatting, and went straight to Song Jiaojiao's side.

"Oh, it's nothing, I just feel a little tired and want to rest before going." Song Jiaojiao glanced at Qinglian, who was half-squatting, and found it quite amusing.

"Are you tired? Why don't you go inside and rest for a while? You've been on edge the whole way, it must be exhausting," Wang Chi said with concern.

"It's alright, I'll just sit for a while," Song Jiaojiao said, putting down her teacup. "You sit down too."

Wang Chi obediently sat down to the side, and only then did he notice Qinglian kneeling on the ground bowing. He asked in confusion, "Why hasn't this servant gotten up yet? Did she offend you somehow?"

Qinglian, whose legs were numb from squatting, thought that the young master had finally noticed her, but she was surprised to hear these words. Her face was instantly filled with fear, afraid that Song Jiaojiao would say something bad.

"Hehe, this has nothing to do with me. They are bowing to you!" Song Jiaojiao said with a light laugh.

"Oh, you there, get up!" Wang Chi said.

"Yes." Qinglian stood up and pretended to stumble, looking as if she was about to faint.

To everyone's surprise, Wang Chi didn't even look at her. Song Jiaojiao, who witnessed this scene, burst out laughing.