Construction in Tianxiang County is in full swing. Zheng Gaoyi is currently busy recruiting people, and Song Ning has handed over the delivery work to Song Dahai and Zhu Shun. She is now busy supervising the construction and drawing plans.

Xie Linzhou also returned to the capital. As soon as news arrives from the capital, construction can begin in Tianxiang County.

When Xie Linzhou returned this time, he brought several cartloads of cotton, but they were intercepted as soon as he entered the city.

He was given only half of the cotton that was in the carts behind him; the rest was taken into the palace.

Princess Jianing heard that her son had returned, so she hurried to the door to greet him. This time, she found everything about her son pleasing to the eye.

She only has this one precious son, and no matter what, she spoils him. However, the mother and son have had many conflicts in the past because of his marriage.

Now that her son has found a girl he likes, the knot in her heart has been untied.

"You must be tired from the journey. Go back and rest."

Xie Linzhou returned to his own courtyard, and Princess Jianing asked her maid, Granny Qi, to go and see if there was anything she could help with.

When Granny Qi returned in the evening, she was beaming with joy.

"Princess, this is wonderful news!"

Princess Jianing was resting on the couch with her eyes closed, while a maid was massaging her legs. Upon hearing Qi Mama's words, she waved her hand to dismiss the maid.

"But what about Linzhou?"

Granny Qi nodded: "When I was tidying up the young master's clothes just now, I found a woman's hair ornament in his pocket."

"Really?" Princess Jianing's face lit up with joy, and she couldn't help but raise her voice.

Granny Qi laughed so hard her eyes almost disappeared: "Absolutely true, judging from the way it looks, it must be something she carries with her at all times."

Princess Jianing was overjoyed; her son had finally learned how to please a young lady.

You know, in the past, whenever I saw a girl, I would keep my distance. Forget about giving her gifts, I would get impatient if we even exchanged a few words.

"Oh dear, I really want to meet this girl, to see what kind of person she is, that she could not only enlighten my son, but also teach him all these things."

"I heard that the girl has just turned thirteen. When she gets a little older, the princess will summon her to the capital. At that time, good things will be just around the corner," said Granny Qi with a smile.

"I'll be thirteen this year and fourteen next year. Once things are settled, I'll feel at ease."

Princess Jianing has already started envisioning the future and has even thought of names for her children.

But in reality, Xie Linzhou couldn't even give away a hair accessory.

When Xie Linzhou's two older sisters heard that their brother had returned, they immediately came back from their husband's house and went to Xie Linzhou's courtyard.

As soon as she entered, she began to shower her younger brother with concern.

Then the conversation turned to cotton.

"Linzhou, I heard you brought cotton back again this time?"

Xie Linzhou nodded: "I brought them, but His Majesty took half of them on the way."

Xie Fu asked with a smile, "Then... could you give some to my sister?"

Xie Rong, who was standing next to her, immediately exclaimed, "I want one too!"

Those things were meant to be used anyway, so Xie Linzhou didn't refuse: "They're all in the backyard, take as many as you want."

The two older sisters hadn't seen their younger brother in a long time, so they stayed and chatted for a while.

Xie Rong had sharp eyes; she turned her head and spotted the small box not far away. She went over, opened it, and her eyes lit up.

"Linzhou, where did this come from? It's so beautiful."

Xie Linzhou glanced at it, then quickly snatched the item back, his ears turning red instantly: "It's nothing."

Xie Rong gave her a knowing look: "It's not a gift for a young girl, is it?"

Xie Linzhou's face darkened, and his tone became somewhat stiff: "How could that be? I bought this as a gift for my second sister."

Xie Fu walked over with a smile: "You're only sending off your second sister, but not your eldest sister?"

"I just wanted to bring it back so you could see it first. If you like it, I can have someone buy it for you."

Xie Fu chuckled lightly: "If this is really a gift from you, we don't want it."

Xie Linzhou couldn't stand such words and directly stuffed the item into Xie Rong's hand.

"I bought it because it looked nice, thinking you guys would like it."

Xie Rong married into the Zheng family, which is now a royal merchant family. Zheng Gaoping deals with business all day long, and Xie Rong has heard about it to some extent, especially about women's products.

"I know most of the jewelry shops in the capital, but I've never seen this style before?"

Xie Fu was also somewhat tempted: "This hair flower is indeed quite nice. I think it's different from the ones from the Internal Affairs Department and the Linlang Pavilion, and even prettier."

Xie Rong liked it more and more as she looked at it: "Lin Zhou, you really didn't give this to someone else?"

"no."

"In that case, shall I accept it?"

Xie Linzhou glanced at the hair accessory in Xie Rong's hand and gave a faint "hmm".

As soon as Xie Rong came out of Xie Linzhou's courtyard, she had already put the flower in her hair.

Upon entering the main courtyard, Granny Qi immediately noticed the headdress Xie Rong was wearing—it was the same one Xie Linzhou wore in his room.

However, she didn't dare to say anything at the time, and only after Xie Fu and Xie Rong left did she quietly tell Princess Jianing.

Princess Jianing, who had been in high spirits during the day, immediately became unhappy upon hearing this.

She thought her son had finally come to his senses, but after talking for a while, he said it was for his sister!

She had just complimented the flower in her hair, and now she regretted it.

How could she have given birth to such a blockhead?

"Princess, don't be angry. Things always have to be done slowly," Granny Chang comforted her from the side.

Princess Jianing didn't want to get angry, but what if her daughter-in-law ran away if things continued like this?

After twenty years, she finally has a girl like this, so she has to take good care of her.

No, she needs to go to Tianxiang County.

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