As the sun set, they rode back on their Akhal-Teke horses, which were neatly tied up in a row under the stable, creating a spectacular sight.

After staying for half a month, Qiao Lian'er and Qiao Yunni went to Yuezhou again.

The current Old Master Chu holds the position of Prefectural Governor, the second-in-command of the prefecture.

Qiao Lian'er asked, "Grandpa, do you want to go to the capital?"

Old Master Chu was taken aback for a moment, then understood what Qiao Lian'er meant. He thought about it carefully and looked at Old Madam Chu. The two seemed to have reached a consensus.

He said earnestly, "Lian'er, we're not going. Grandpa and Grandma aren't going either."

Why?

“We’ve been so tired all these years,” Old Master Chu sighed. “We’ve exhausted all our energy to find your mother. Now that we’ve finally found her, all we want is to enjoy our old age in our hometown. Your mother was born here, and we reunited with you in Yuezhou. Our feelings for Yuezhou are immeasurable.”

“I once had youthful ambitions, wanting to achieve great things and bring prosperity to my family. But now I am old and no longer have much ambition or drive. After so many years of searching, I have realized that the most important and irreplaceable thing is the gathering of the family.”

“Lian’er, if you couldn’t come to us so quickly, this old man would have tried again to go to the capital. Wherever you are, we will be there. But now you see, it’s so easy for us to reunite. So, Grandpa and Grandma’s wish can be fulfilled.”

"Yes, it's the same everywhere. We can see Lian'er here soon, and we're very content," said Madam Chu.

The two elders' faces were filled with relief and peace.

Their current happiness is beyond words.

Moreover, there was another reason for their choice: they didn't want to erode Lian'er's reputation with the Pei family and the Emperor, or put her in a difficult position.

If the Emperor were to think that she was using his favor to advance her own family's career, it would likely leave a bad impression.

"I only hope that the Qiao family can have a smooth journey in the capital and establish a firm foothold," Old Master Chu added.

Having confirmed the elders' wishes, Qiao Lian'er stopped trying to persuade them. There was nothing wrong with Yuezhou City, but the capital city was more suitable for greater ambitions.

If one doesn't have that kind of mindset, it's actually better to stay in a quiet place like Yuezhou.

After three months of recuperation, Qiao Xi'er's health has finally recovered to almost full strength.

She, Qiao Lian'er, Qiao Zhizhi, and Pei Qingrong rode horses across their fiefdom. Facing the vast plains and boundless天地 (heaven and earth), their minds became increasingly open.

Finally, his expression relaxed, and he chatted and laughed with his family.

Six months after her miscarriage, she became pregnant again, and was already almost two months along.

The new life gave her renewed hope, and she stopped thinking about the past, her face radiating warmth and tenderness.

Mu Xinghe performed well in the Hanlin Academy and, after passing the assessment and selection, directly became a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel. The Minister of Personnel was none other than Lu Changhua's uncle, Lord Lu.

This means the Qiao family now has someone in the imperial court. Although they are below the fourth rank and cannot meet the emperor, as long as they maintain good performance, promotion is only a matter of time.

The day before Mu Xinghe officially joined the Ministry of Personnel, Qiao Lian'er brought the Qiao family from Datian Village, the Qiao family from the fiefdom, and the Chu family from Yuezhou to the capital. She also invited the Pei family, Lord Lu, and Mu Xinghe's teacher, Mr. Wu, to a banquet.

The Qiao family from Datian Village hadn't been to the capital for a long time. Judging by the time, Qiao Xi'er's child must have been born by now.

So when they saw that her abdomen was flat, they were not surprised. They were just wondering why she didn't need to rest during her postpartum period and why she was so agile, not like someone who had just given birth.

Grandma Qiao searched around but couldn't find Qiao Xi'er's child.

She pulled Qiao Lian'er aside: "Lian'er, where are Xi'er and Xinghe's child? I've looked all over and can't find them."