Qin continued, "The Zhou family deceived Lan Zhou, so why are you still letting him recuperate at the Zhou family? Find him a private school in the future."

Xu Qingyan said, "The man who tricked Lanzhou, Zhou Twelve, is a relative of the Zhou family. He tricked Lanzhou out for fifty taels of silver. Zhou Twelve was beaten with twenty whips and put in solitary confinement for a month. Lanzhou was stupid and forgot my instructions, falling for the trick. Lanzhou is simply inexperienced. He needs to train there, not only to judge people, but also to learn how to interact with different people."

Xu Qingyan was very persistent, and Qin Shi no longer objected. She felt that she had failed in raising her children. She had not raised her eldest son well, and her daughter had mostly raised her second son.

Xu Qingyan explained his plans. He would take Xu Lanting back to Xiaozao Village tomorrow. Although he was angry at Old Man Xu's behavior, he couldn't be unfilial to his parents. He would explain Qin's true identity to them and stay with them for a few days. He would return on March 20th and depart for Beijing on the 22nd. Qin, Xu Lanting, and Xu Lanyue would go together.

It would be better if Xu Lanyin and Zhao Wuneng went.

Xu Lanyin wanted to go with him, but it depended on whether Zhao Wu could get leave. If Min Hu was there, it would definitely be fine, but that wasn't always the case with Lord Li.

Xu Lanting whispered to Xu Lanyin, "Sister, what if Master wants to go to the capital with us and scolds Mother again?"

Xu Lanyin said, "My father knows my mother's true identity. Now he doesn't even dare to see her, let alone go with her. After a while, he won't be so scared anymore, and maybe he won't go again."

Xu Lanting breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't go now.

As they were talking, Qin Che and Li Luo who had just left the yamen came again.

Qin Che was also very satisfied after hearing what had happened.

In the evening, Qin Che was sent away.

Xu Lanting said, "Now that Dad is back, we don't have to live at my brother-in-law's house anymore, right?"

Xu Qingyan glanced at Qin and said, "Dad is back, you don't need to go anywhere."

Qin looked away with a red face, as if she didn't hear their conversation.

It seems that she has made a choice.

It would be good to take advantage of this favorable situation to reconcile the couple. Xu Lanyin smiled and pulled Zhao Wu back home.

Xu Lanyin was still a little disappointed when the small wooden plaque was taken back by the Zhou family because of this incident. It was not because of the small wooden plaque, but because of the good impression she had of the Zhou family.

The behavior of Old Grand Tutor Zhou was far less humane than that of Princess Nanyang.

Princess Nanyang's efforts to help were largely due to Xu Lanyin's help to Chai Zixiao. Regardless of the reason, they remembered the favor and helped to the best of their ability.

The help that Xu Qingyan and Zhao Wu provided to the Zhou family was incomparable. Not only did they defeat the second and third princes, allowing the once deposed prince to become the prince again, but they also made the Zhou family even more powerful.

When Xu Qingyan took the small wooden plaque to ask for help from Grand Tutor Zhou, he actually took it back. He didn't offer any extra help for Xu Qingyan and Zhao Wu's previous efforts, not even a hint of courtesy. Perhaps he felt that since he had given Xu Qingyan what he owed, this time he should exchange equal value...

The Zhou family is a family of politicians.

There is no doubt that powerful officials are all politicians. However, the description of the Zhou family in the book once gave Xu Lanyin a very good impression of them. This preconceived impression prevented Xu Lanyin from completely viewing Old Master Zhou as a cold politician.

In the previous book, the author portrayed the Zhou family as loyal ministers and capable generals, their fame stemming from the will of the first empress and their ancestors, who prohibited descendants from interfering with the succession or taking sides, and prohibited women from entering the imperial palace as empresses. Generations of Zhou family leaders had followed this path, while the current empress's entry into the palace as empress was entirely accidental. A prince with Zhou blood became crown prince once again, but was deposed for his disability, leaving the Zhou family stricken with tragedy.

Now Xu Lanyin no longer believed it was all a coincidence. The princes had fought to the death, leaving only the Sixth Prince, the Zhou family's son-in-law, to inherit the throne. Perhaps the Zhou family had played a role.

After returning to the house, Xu Lanyin told Zhao Wu her thoughts. Of course, she didn't mention the book she read, but rather the real historical event, asking Zhao Wu not to blindly follow the Zhou family in the future.

Zhao Wu pondered for a moment and then said, "I understand. Regardless of whether those things were done by them or not, the Zhou family is now superior to us. Whether in the eyes of the Zhou family or in the eyes of others, my father-in-law and I are people who work hard for the Zhou family. We share a common interest. In the future, I will consider what they ask me to do..."

Xu Lanyin nodded. As long as Zhao Wu had his own ideas, that was fine. But she couldn't say these words to Xu Qingyan yet. Xu Qingyan had been a secret guard for the Zhou family for so long that the Zhou family was his master. Even though he was now an official, this idea was still deeply rooted in his mind.

The next morning after breakfast, Xu Qingyan took Xu Lanting to the countryside. Xu Lanyue, wanting to spend more time with her father, also insisted on going with them.

To be on the safe side, Qin Zhe sent four more constables to live in Zhao's house. He Dong did not go to the yamen with Zhao, but stayed at home.

Qin came to stay at the Zhao family at night, and during the day she took Xu Lanyin to pack things from home to be taken to the capital. She also had to personally make a pair of shoes for Princess Nanyang and Prince Consort Chai. The clothes were already ready.

It started to drizzle on the 19th. Xu Lan was sleeping soundly during her lunch break when she was woken up by the chess master.

"Second Madam, it's already 3 p.m. If you don't get up now, you won't be able to sleep tonight."

Xu Lanyin opened her eyes and listened to the sound of rain outside, but she didn't want to get up.

She closed her eyes drowsily, wanting to sleep a little longer.

Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open again. Her period had come on February 11th, and eight days had passed.

I've been so busy these days, and I've been so emotionally unstable because of Qin's situation, so it's normal to think that postponing the date is normal. But she's been particularly sleepy these past two days, which is not normal... Could she be pregnant?

Xu Lanyin touched her belly and was overjoyed. After two lives, not only did she get married in this life, but she was also going to be a mother?

She said to Zhangqi, "Go to Qianjin Hall and ask for a gynecologist."

Zhangqi now understood many things. After hearing this, he calculated Xu Lanyin's life time and asked happily, "Second Madam is pregnant?"

Xu Lanyin said, "I'm not sure yet. Don't tell anyone yet. Wait until the doctor takes your pulse."

The chess master quickly asked Uncle Jia to harness the carriage and go to Qianjin Hall.

More than half an hour later, Doctor Zhang checked Xu Lanyin's pulse and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Second Madam Zhao, it's a slippery pulse."

Zhangqi smiled and gave the doctor the consultation fee, then hurried to Xu's house to tell Qin the good news.

Mrs. Qin and Qin Hongyu were playing at Xu's house. After hearing this, they happily came to Zhao's house.

Xu Lanyin pulled Qin's sleeve and said, "Mother, I can't accompany you to the capital like this."

Zhao Wu had already taken fifteen days off, and they had agreed to send Qin and the others to Beijing together.