Halfway through the banquet, a small servant suddenly walked in and said to Old Madam Shen, "Old Madam, the palace is here." ”

Old Madam Shen was startled, and hurriedly put down the dishes and chopsticks, and asked people to push her to hurry to the gate to greet her.

The guests also got up.

When I arrived at the gate, I saw a group of people who looked like chamberlains and palace maids, holding all kinds of gifts in their hands, lined up neatly under the leadership of the chief eunuch Cao Gonggong.

This Gonggong Cao is a great eunuch who is specially responsible for conveying the will of the emperor to various ministers' palaces, and he has a lot of face in Kyoto.

Although Mrs. Shen has not been out for many years, she is no stranger to Grandpa Cao. Because the emperor would send him to the Dingguo Mansion from time to time to deliver things, he was also an acquaintance.

As soon as Gonggong Cao saw Old Madam Shen, he bent down and saluted: "I've seen Duchess Guo." ”

Old Madam Shen smiled and said, "Father-in-law Cao is too polite, come in and sit down and drink a glass of our Shen family's family recognition wine together." ”

Gonggong Cao smiled and his eyes narrowed: "The miscellaneous family is really sent by the emperor, the queen mother and the queen mother to be happy today." The three of them heard that the Dingguo Mansion had found the long-lost Fuyou County Lord, and sent the miscellaneous family to give gifts to congratulate the Dingguo Mansion and the Fuyou County Lord. ”

After that, let those chamberlains and palace maids bring the gifts to the house, and each end is the same, and there will be chamberlains singing salutes.

Everyone present listened to the names of those gifts, and they were all very envious. It's not that these things are worth much, but these people present are not bad owners. Rather, it is envy of the meaning behind these gifts.

The three most honorable people in the world all came to congratulate the Shen family and Lin Ruan, what a face.

This Dingguo Mansion is afraid that it can be honored for many years.

After the gift was displayed, Old Madam Shen wanted to pull Lin Ruan to kneel down and thank her.

Gonggong Cao hurriedly stopped: "Hurry up, the emperor specially explained, the Duchess is inconvenient, so there is no need to be formal." ”

Lin Ruan said: "The emperor is kind and generous, and it is inconvenient for my grandmother to salute, so the courtiers will kneel on her behalf to thank the emperor, the queen mother and the queen mother for their grace." ”

After saying that, Lin Ruan knelt down upright and made a big salute.

After Gonggong Cao finished her salute, he hurriedly stepped forward to help her up in person: "Lord Fuyou, please get up quickly." ”

Old Madam Shen smiled and said, "Father-in-law Cao, please take a seat inside." ”

Gonggong Cao was also not polite, and said with a smile: "Duchess Guo, please first." ”

So a large group of people returned to the table one after another, and the Tong family hurriedly went to ask the subordinates to add the table and arrange the chamberlains and palace maids.

After the banquet was over, Gonggong Cao led a group of palace maids to leave, and the people from all the provinces said goodbye one after another.

Before leaving, those ladies warmly invited Lin Ruan to the house as a guest, and a few daughters said that they wanted Lin Ruan to go on a spring flower viewing together, and Lin Ruan smiled and politely agreed. As for whether he will go, this is another two words.

After sending everyone away, Lin Ruan took care of his own breath and hurriedly asked Old Madam Shen: "Grandmother, are you tired, is it okay for your granddaughter to send you back to the room?" ”

Old Madam Shen still looked a little tired, but she was in a good mood: "The Gu family hasn't left yet?" ”

Lin Ruan nodded: "Wait in the side hall." ”

Old Madam Shen said, "I'll accompany you over to meet them first." ”

Lin Ruan shook his head with a smile: "You are an elder, since you are tired, go and rest first, and I'll go by myself." ”

Tong Shi also said: "Yes, mother, your body is important, and the people around you are not important." I will personally accompany Ah Ruan over in a while, and I will handle this matter properly. ”

"Okay then, I've always been relieved of your errands."

So Lin Ruan personally sent Mrs. Shen back to the courtyard, went back to her courtyard to change her clothes, sat down and rested for a while, and then took Yahuan to the side hall.

The Gu family waited in the side hall for almost an hour, drank several cups of tea, and finally waited for Lin Ruan and Tong, who came in a row.

As soon as the two sat down, Gu Qian spoke: "Sister-in-law, Ah Ruan has been living in the Shen family for so many days, it's time for her to review her home." Her grandfather and grandmother had to ask about it many times a day, and she was really worried. ”

Tong smiled faintly: "I've been thinking about it for ten years, so naturally I don't care about these two days." Besides, whether Ah Ruan can review his family or not, I have to wait for me to send someone to make a dowry list for Mengjun. ”

Several members of the Gu family were very unhappy in their hearts, but it was not easy to show it.

Gu Qian said: "It is precisely because I have been thinking about it for ten years that I don't want to wait any longer. Ah Ruan's grandfather and grandmother were already in poor health, and because they missed her too much these days, they were even more anxious to think about tea and dinner. I also asked my sister-in-law to be sympathetic to the second elder and send someone to check earlier. ”

With all that said, Tong Shi couldn't continue to do Tai Chi, so he turned his head and asked Lin Ruan: "Ah Ruan, what do you think?" ”

Lin Ruan said lightly: "Since this is the case, then send someone over tomorrow to count." ”

Tong nodded: "Then it's decided." Is there anything else you can do? ”

The Gu family naturally had nothing else to do, so they had to get up and say goodbye.

Lin Ruan said again: "I have something to say. ”

Gu Lian looked at her with a loving face: "You say, Dad, listen." ”

Lin Ruan smiled faintly: "Although I am a descendant of the Gu family, I grew up in the Lin family, and although I returned to the Gu family, I can't forget the nurturing grace of the Lin family." So I think I should keep this Lin character in my name to express my gratitude to the Lin family. In addition, the word Ruan was given by my mother for me, and I don't want to hear other irrelevant people in the Gu family use this Ruan. ”

The Gu family glanced at each other, and the things behind this were not a big deal. It's just that the front one is a bit troublesome.

After the Shen family gave birth to a child that year, the name Gu Ruan was written into the family tree. Now Lin Ruan asked to add the word Lin, then he had to change the family tree. And the children of their family's generation have two word names. Lin Ruan did this deliberately to distinguish herself from the other children and grandchildren of the Gu family. Obviously, Lin Ruan did not really accept the Gu family.

But they couldn't refuse.

Lin Ruan's excuse is very reasonable, if he refuses, he is afraid that some people will say that they are ungrateful. No matter what the Lin family did to Lin Ruan, it is an indisputable fact that they raised Lin Ruan.

So the matter was decided.

Early the next morning, Lin Ruan, accompanied by the Tong family, took the maid-in-law and a group of guards to the Gu family.

The door of the Gu family was open, and firecrackers and other things were placed in front of the door, except for the old uncle and Mrs. Gu, all the people in the house arrived at the door. Gu Ruan, no, Gu Xin'er, who has now changed back to her real name, is naturally among them.

The Gu family is a big family, and the three sons and daughters of Gu Qian's generation each have a group of wives and concubines, plus several concubines of the old uncle, adding up to hundreds of people.

And that's not even counting the married concubines.

Lin Ruan glanced at the huge team, and a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes.