After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Chapter 183 Birthday Banquet

Wen Jiayue was slightly taken aback. Shen Fuhan would actually ask about this?

She had initially thought he was indifferent to everything, but she hadn't expected him to care so much about her birthday.

However, in the four years since their marriage, his birthday banquet has never been held in a grand manner; the family simply sits down together for a meal and that's it.

How did I change my personality in this lifetime?

Wen Jiayue looked at him suspiciously, which appeared as confusion to Shen Fuhan.

He asked in a low voice, "Forgot?"

Wen Jiayue shook her head: "Of course I remember. The birthday gift has already been prepared for the Marquis."

Shen Fuhan's expression softened slightly, and he asked, "When were you preparing this?"

When he asked Ruyi last night, he saw her puzzled and assumed that Wen Jiayue had also forgotten about it.

Wen Jiayue mumbled, "A few days ago."

Shen Fuhan didn't ask any further questions, and nodded slightly: "Let's go have a meal."

Wen Jiayue responded and picked up Zhao Zhao, who was playing with the safety buckle.

After dinner, the three of them rested.

No one mentioned the chance encounter today, as if it never happened.

Wen Jiayue kept it firmly in her heart and dared not forget it for a moment.

The next day happened to be a day off. When Wen Jiayue woke up, Zhao Zhao had already been taken away by the wet nurse, and Shen Fuhan was still sitting to the side.

He was reading a book, and the warm sunlight shone on him, casting a warm glow that dispelled some of the chill.

Seeing that she was awake, he glanced at her with his eyes down.

Wen Jiayue sat up and said softly, "My lord, happy birthday."

Shen Fuhan asked, "Should we still address you as 'Lord Marquis' at this time?"

She paused for a moment, then wondered what she should shout.

Suddenly, she remembered that she used to call him "husband," and she pursed her lips but didn't say it aloud.

She took out the birthday gift she had prepared for him.

Shen Fuhan took it, opened the box, and found a sky-blue jade pendant with openwork carvings of auspicious clouds.

Although the color is beautiful, the quality of the jade is only average, and the pattern is simple.

Compared to the embroidered twin lotus flowers she gave me last year, this is really just average.

Whether someone is attentive or not is immediately apparent.

Shen Fuhan stared at the jade pendant for a moment, then nodded and said, "Thank you."

After presenting the congratulatory gift, Wen Jiayue got out of bed. The family was going to have lunch together at noon, and she had to keep an eye on the servants to make the arrangements.

Shen Fuhan stared at her retreating figure, gripping the jade pendant tightly.

After having breakfast, Wen Jiayue went to the front yard and directed the servants to arrange the items in various places.

After she reviewed the meal plan, the kitchen would begin preparations.

Today, many dignitaries and nobles have sent birthday gifts, which must also be recorded and placed in the storeroom.

It had been a long time since she had been this busy, so Wen Jiayue pulled Shen Funian in as a laborer.

She wouldn't have done this in her past life, but since she and Shen Funian have become close in this life, she didn't hesitate to bring her along.

Shen Funian sighed: "You're quite the boss. I should have gone out to slack off."

Wen Jiayue smiled and said, "You accepted my gift yesterday, so you have to help me with something today."

As she spoke, she glanced at Yao'er's hand; the silver bracelet was already on, and the size was just right.

Shen Funian also showed off her agate jade bracelet: "You have good taste."

Wen Jiayue blinked: "What's with all this talk about taste? I just picked the most expensive one."

Hearing Wen Jiayue say this, Shen Funian felt that her elder brother's strange expression last night was probably because of this matter.

Seeing that no one was around, Shen Funian asked in a low voice, "Is it too expensive? I felt that my older brother was not very happy last night?"

"Who knows?" Wen Jiayue said indifferently. "He has more money than he can spend. If we don't fleece him now, when will we?"

Shen Funian deeply agreed. Of course, money is meant to be spent. Why wait until you die to spend it?

After a moment of busyness, Shen Funian remembered something and asked, "By the way, when is your birthday?"

Wen Jiayue casually replied, "January."

"Why didn't you remind me?" Shen Funian clicked her tongue. "It's been three months already!"

“You didn’t even ask,” Wen Jiayue glanced at her sideways. “It would be like I’m asking for a gift if I told you on my own initiative.”

“Okay, okay, it’s my fault,” Shen Funian asked again, “I will definitely remember the exact date next year.”

"The tenth day of the first lunar month."

Shen Funian turned around and pulled Shen Chengyao, who was running around in the flower hall, and instructed him, "Your aunt's birthday is the tenth day of the first lunar month. Remember to remind me then."

Shen Chengyao nodded and repeated, "The tenth day of the first lunar month! I'll remember that!"

Shen Funian suddenly slapped him on the head.

Shen Chengyao covered his head in disbelief and asked, feeling wronged, "Mom, why did you hit me?"

"If you could remember things this quickly when you were studying, you would already be the top scholar!"

Shen Chengyao: "..."

Wen Jiayue: "..."

At noon, after all preparations were completed and gifts were presented, the family took their seats.

The old lady frowned as she looked at the empty seat and said, "Where has Fuyou run off to again? He's never home."

Shen Fuhan explained, "My fourth brother went to Yuezhou."

"Why didn't you stop him?" the old lady complained. "He didn't even come back on your birthday."

Shen Fuhan said calmly, "Birthdays come every year, it's not a big deal."

Wen Jiayue looked at him in surprise, but wasn't he quite concerned about it last night?

The old lady stopped talking about it and instead asked, "Why is Zhaozhao nowhere to be seen? Today is her father's birthday, she should have come to congratulate him."

Wen Jiayue silently grumbled to herself, "How can I congratulate a child who's only six months old? Should I just cry on the spot?"

She thought this to herself, but didn't show it. Instead, she said, "I've already sent someone to bring her over."

She already knew Shen Fuhan's thoughts, so she wasn't afraid of the old lady suggesting taking Zhaozhao away to raise in Ninghui Hall.

The old lady's expression softened: "This is a family dinner; it looks better when the whole family is together."

Before long, the wet nurse brought Zhao Zhao in and bowed.

The old lady clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction: "Why are you so thin? Your bones are practically protruding. How do you take care of yourself?"

Wen Jiayue frowned. Zhao Zhao's body was all soft flesh, how could she have become so thin?

Shen Funian chuckled: "Would Grandmother be satisfied if you got as fat as Yao'er?"

The old lady looked back and forth between the two children: "It would be best if they were as plump as dolls; they are blessed."

Originally, Wen Jiayue was too lazy to pay attention, but upon hearing this, she put some food on Shen Fuhan's plate.

"My lord, eat more and try to grow up to be a beautiful painting doll. Grandmother will like that."

Shen Fuhan: "..."

Shen Funian imagined what her older brother would look like when he was fat and had become a doll, and although she tried to hold back, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Shen Fuhan glanced at her. The pressure from her older brother was so strong that Shen Funian, who was about to burst out laughing, immediately sat up straight.

“Grandmother, one should not speak while eating or sleeping,” Shen Fuhan said calmly. “Let’s focus on our meal first.”