CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 289: WHO ARE YOU SHOWING THAT ATTITUDE TO?

On the day Mrs. Cao brought someone to the Capital, Wen Wan happened to be on a ten-day break at home.

A few days beforehand, she had already tidied up a room in the East Wing.

Originally, she wanted to find time to sew a few outfits for Da Ya in advance, but considering it had been too long since she returned, she was unclear about the little girl’s size and dimensions. Fearing they wouldn’t fit, Wen Wan instead bought some trendy fabrics to have on hand.

Before Mrs. Cao arrived, she went to pay respects to Princess Consort Duan.

Since moving into the Song family, she no longer needed to worry day and night about who might plot against her. Princess Consort Duan’s complexion improved significantly.

Upon learning Song Wei’s niece was coming, Princess Consort Duan expressed envy: "Your family is certainly lively."

Wen Wan replied, "The Xie family is related by marriage, the niece is family by blood, both are ties that can’t be severed. Bringing the eldest niece here is also meant for her to interact more with city dwellers and broaden her horizons."

Princess Consort Duan understood in her heart; the little girl was probably of an age to discuss marriage. Granny Song didn’t want her granddaughter to marry in the countryside, so she brought her to the Capital early for grooming.

Having been at the Song family for these days, although due to status seldom interacting with them, Princess Consort Duan could still sense a subtle warmth from the family’s daily life—Song Wei and his wife’s daily routine of attending school, going to and from the Lower Court. The family had only two servants, one in charge of odd jobs, the other responsible for the family’s meals. The old master enjoyed tending to flowers and teasing birds, the granny kept her eyes on the little grandson all day, either bathing and changing his clothes, feeding him, or helping him urinate.

A very ordinary small household’s life, almost every day followed this pattern, without major ups and downs.

Yet it was this seemingly ordinary "ordinariness" that made Princess Consort Duan, who had long resided in the deep palace, inexplicably yearn for it.

...

The carriage stopped outside the Song family gate, Mrs. Cao first lifted the curtain to disembark, then spoke to the person inside, "Miss, we’ve arrived."

Seeing no one come out and hearing no sound inside, Mrs. Cao repeated once more.

Inside the carriage, Da Ya sat on the cushioned seat. After Mrs. Cao got off, her lips were tightly pursed, hands on her lap clenching and releasing, her face full of conflict.

Just as Mrs. Cao was about to come up for a check, Da Ya bent down and lifted the curtain to get out.

Stepping down from the footstool, her eyes looked at the polished large door in front. Above the door hung a plaque. Da Ya didn’t recognize characters and didn’t know what the plaque said. However, she could feel that because of the plaque’s presence, the entire house seemed more imposing.

"Miss, please follow me."

Said Mrs. Cao, walking ahead to lead the way.

Yet, she had already stepped through the gate, while the person behind still showed no movement.

Mrs. Cao couldn’t help but turn around, only to see the little girl staring at the plaque in a daze, showing no intention to follow.

Mrs. Cao sighed helplessly.

From the beginning, she came rather unwillingly. Along the way, the little girl was very silent, hardly speaking to her.

Seeing Da Ya unwilling to come over, Mrs. Cao had to go inside to report first.

Wen Wan was holding Jinbao watching parrots. Upon hearing Da Ya had arrived, she smiled, "Quick, invite her in."

Mrs. Cao hesitated and said, "Madam, the girl won’t come in."

Wen Wan paused, "Why?"

"Servant can’t explain it clearly for the moment; it’s best you go out yourself and see."

Upon hearing this, Wen Wan put Jinbao down, held his soft little hand, and walked step by step outside.

From afar, she saw Da Ya standing by the carriage, head bowed, pondering something.

The little girl, having spent many years in the countryside, exposed to the wind and sun, had somewhat rough skin; even due to Ningzhou’s climate, her cheeks were each red.

When Wen Wan was young, her face also had such marks, especially in winter when they were most noticeable. Later, as she grew older, she learned to save money to buy skincare cream, gradually improving her condition.

Young girls all love beauty, even during those years when life at home was tough, Wen Wan paid extra attention to her appearance.

After all, she couldn’t speak. If even this face weren’t attractive, she truly would have no chance to marry.

...

Clearing her thoughts, Wen Wan gripped Jinbao’s little hand and taught him, "Jinbao, call her sister."

Jinbao looked at Da Ya beside the carriage and mimicked his mother’s teaching, "Ji Ji~"

"Not Ji Ji, it’s sister, sister~"

Unable to pronounce it correctly, Jinbao was unwilling to follow anymore, puckering his lips.

Wen Wan pinched his tiny chubby hand, amusedly shifting her gaze towards the little girl, "After such a long journey, you’ve got to be exhausted, Da Ya? Come inside quickly, I’ll have someone heat water for you to soak in a bath."

Upon hearing Wen Wan’s voice, Da Ya raised her head, her eyes complex.

"What’s wrong?" Wen Wan inquired kindly.

Da Ya remained silent, seemingly not intending to say anything to Wen Wan.

Wen Wan was puzzled and looked at Mrs. Cao.

Mrs. Cao whispered, "The eldest girl didn’t want to come. The second wife was so upset with her that it affected her pregnancy, so the eldest girl had no choice but to agree."

Wen Wan suddenly understood. When she looked at Da Ya again, her gaze became even softer, "You’ve just arrived and might not be used to it yet. Spend more time with your grandparents, and you’ll get accustomed to it. Apart from not seeing your parents, this place is just like home."

After Wen Wan finished speaking, she gestured to Mrs. Cao to invite her over.

Before Mrs. Cao could move, Da Ya had already walked up to Wen Wan, stiffly calling out, "Third Aunt."

Wen Wan automatically ignored that slight awkwardness in her eyes and asked if she was hungry.

Da Ya stiffly nodded.

"Then come on in!" Wen Wan said, "Though spring has started, it’s still cold outside. I see you’re dressed a bit thinly; don’t catch a chill."

As she spoke, she extended her free hand to pull her in.

Da Ya automatically avoided Wen Wan’s touch and took two steps forward.

Mrs. Cao’s face did not look pleased.

When they were in the countryside, her antics were a non-issue since it was her own home.

But now they were in the Capital; being rude to elders was one thing, but why put on airs and throw a tantrum?

"Madam..."

Watching Da Ya’s retreating figure, Mrs. Cao looked at Wen Wan.

Wen Wan smiled, "It’s normal for a young girl to be not used to things at first. She’ll adjust in a while."

Seeing Mrs. Cao still wanting to speak, Wen Wan added, "We brought her here to teach her properly; if anything is wrong, we’ll teach her to change."

Mrs. Cao gave an apologetic smile, "Madam is absolutely right."

...

Main hall.

Granny Song looked up and down at her granddaughter she hadn’t seen in over a year and asked, "Why are you pulling a long face as soon as you arrive? Are you unhappy or something?"

Da Ya bit her lip tight and looked down without speaking.

Unable to get an answer, Granny Song had to look at Mrs. Cao.

Mrs. Cao recounted everything that happened in Ningzhou.

After hearing, Granny Song directly said to her, "If you’re not happy, I’ll arrange for you to be sent back tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Da Ya’s face turned slightly pale, and she shook her head vigorously, "Grandma, I don’t want to go back."

She couldn’t just return like that, or it would make her mother upset.

"You aren’t happy at your Third Uncle’s house, so why not go back?"

Da Ya couldn’t answer.

Granny Song added, "I won’t stop you if you want to leave, but if you stay, you need to have the right attitude. Has your Third Aunt hit or scolded you?"

"No," Da Ya’s voice was somewhat weak.

"If she hasn’t beaten or scolded you, why are you giving her a hard time? It’s your mother who begged your Third Uncle and Third Aunt to bring you to the Capital. It wasn’t them who had nothing better to do and tied you up to bring you here. They’ll care for you as their own daughter and spend money and effort; what, do they have to light incense for you every day before you’ll show a smile?"

Granny Song was never the warm and gentle type, and when she scolded, she spared no one.

Da Ya’s eyes turned red immediately.

Wen Wan advised, "Mother, Da Ya just arrived, and it’s normal for her not to adjust immediately. Please say a bit less. I’ve already asked Mrs. Jin to heat some water; she’ll have a bath, a warm meal, and a good sleep. She must be quite tired from the journey."

Granny Song didn’t feel she was wrong, "I know Da Ya’s temper better as her grandma than you do as her aunt. If we don’t correct her at this point, and she develops a habit in your home, since you can’t hit or scold her, she’ll just do as she pleases. How will she learn anything? We might as well send her back to be a village girl; that way, she won’t be unhappy, and she won’t be a burden to you either."

...

In front of her grandma, Da Ya forced her tears back, and when she followed Wen Wan to the room prepared for her, stripped her clothes, and sank into the bath bucket, her tears began to fall freely.

Wen Wan rummaged through the wardrobe for her own clothes to give to her, and as she entered, she heard sobbing from behind the screen, so she lightened her steps.

Hearing movement, Da Ya wiped her tears with her hand, "I’m fine, Third Aunt, you can come in!"

Wen Wan walked to the side of the bath bucket, hung a clean set of clothes on the screen, and said gently, "Your grandma is straightforward, and she’s always spoken like this back in our hometown. Don’t take it to heart. After you finish your bath and have some food, lie down on the bed for a while. Talk about anything once you’ve settled in."

Da Ya looked up at Wen Wan.

The Third Aunt in front of her didn’t look much different from back in Ningzhou, but her demeanor showed an extraordinary grace different from before. She was knowledgeable and elegant, poised and confident, and even after becoming an official’s wife, she didn’t easily put on airs. Being alone with her, there was a warm and simple naturalness.