Ding Zhu had been quite well behaved in recent years, so Jian Ning was willing to give her a few more instructions. Knowing that she would go straight to the capital after leaving Ding Xiancun, she said to her, "You now have a son. For the sake of your child, you must learn to stand on your own feet. As long as you behave uprightly and don't stir up trouble for no reason, no one will dare to look down on you or embarrass you."

"No matter where you go, as long as you know your place, stick to your duties and don't cause trouble, you will live a peaceful life. From now on, focus on raising your child and set a good example for him. This time, Lord Yang and his wife asked you to bring the child back with you. I believe Lord Yang knows the true relationship between you and us, but he just hasn't said it out loud. But don't take advantage of our power and ignore Madam Yang. If you cause trouble, the only ones who will suffer are you and your child."

"Always remember that words can cause disaster. Once you arrive in the capital, you must restrain yourself even more. Don't say things you shouldn't say, and don't accept gifts you shouldn't accept. Remember that your master holds a high position, and there's no guarantee there won't be jealousy. If you're short-sighted and secretly accept something good, once there's a slight disturbance, everyone will turn against you. At best, you'll be exiled, at worst, your entire family will be executed. For the sake of your child, you must not make any rash decisions. If you're unsure about anything, always consult your wife. Is this a note?"

Ding Zhu had been sold by Wu Fengfu's wife and had ended up working as a prostitute on a boat, suffering immensely. This time, after Lord Yang's promotion, she returned home with her son, intending to bring misfortune upon Wu Fengfu's wife. But after hearing Jian Ning's words, especially the threat of the entire family being executed, she was taken aback.

She had finally gotten pregnant, and now that she had a place to settle down, she quickly put aside any thoughts of causing trouble. She bowed to Jian Ningyingying and respectfully replied, "Remember, I will not cause any trouble for my master and mistress. Don't worry, Fourth Aunt, the master often teaches me to read and write in his free time, and the mistress occasionally teaches me how to treat people when she is in a good mood. Zhu'er is no longer the confused person she used to be."

"Progress is a good thing. Use your brain more and think carefully about everything. I've told you everything I need to tell you. As long as you behave yourself, if you have any difficulties in the future, just come and find your fourth aunt."

Ding Youtian said, then waved his hand, "It's getting late. You can go now. We'll go to the capital the day after tomorrow. If you want to come with us, you can go. If you want to spend a few more days with your parents, that's up to you. It's up to you."

"Zhu'er rarely comes back, so please spend more time with your parents and set off a few days later. Uncle and Aunt, please go to bed early. Zhu'er is taking her leave." She bowed sideways, took two steps back, and turned away.

After she left, Ding Youtian sat down in front of the guqin and was about to play it again. Jian Ning frowned and said, "Take it to Uncle Liu and play it. It's too noisy."

Ding Youtian plucked the strings twice, seemingly very vigorously, and then glanced at Jian Ning, "Madam."

"What?" Jane Ning raised her chin.

"He's not dead yet, he can still respond. That shows my husband's playing isn't too noisy." Ding Youtian gently stroked the strings again. "Jinyu told me that these seven strings represent rivers. The circular arch is called heaven, the bottom plate is called earth, and the two sound holes below are the Dragon Pond and the Phoenix Marsh. The body of the zither is three feet six inches and a half long, representing the 365 days of a year. And these thirteen small dots represent the thirteen months of a year, including the leap month. This small zither encompasses the heaven and earth, dragons and phoenixes, rivers, lakes, and seas. I think what my master played back then wasn't just a zither. He was clearly using this piece of heaven and earth to express his inner depression."

Ding Youtian pointed at the guqin and explained it to Jian Ning, then shook his head. "It's a shame that I was so ignorant when I was young. I occasionally heard my master playing the guqin and thought it was unpleasant and annoying. Now I think about it and feel ashamed."

Jane Ning sneered, "Alright, just play your music and I won't say anything, okay? Don't think I don't know you're making fun of me. I don't bother to pay attention to you."

Ding Youtian grinned, "This is truly unfair. I, your husband, was speaking from my heart, and I really didn't mean to criticize your wife. It's okay if your wife doesn't understand music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, as long as I do."

"Just wait and see. Within a year, I, your husband, will present you with a magnificent piece of music. When you and I enjoy our leisure time together, won't we be happy?"

After he finished speaking, he saw Jian Ning lifting the curtain to go to the inner room, so he called her again, "I need to burn incense to feel at ease when playing the zither. Madam, please burn a stick of incense for me to calm my mind. Thank you!"

"I don't have any tranquilizing incense, but do you want some sleeping incense?" Jian Ning glared at him. "You're putting up the music before you've even learned the instrument. How annoying."

Having said that, she still prepared some calming incense for him and burned it.

Ding Youtian had just played for a while when Duan Xinyan came running over, rolling up her sleeves and trying to chase him away. "Stop, stop, this is terrible. I'll teach you. I can be your teacher. Watch me."

"Mother Chun'er!" Erlangzi chased after her and said, "Don't be rude to adults. Speak politely."

"He's your master, not mine. I only recognize him as my eldest brother-in-law. Leave me alone." Duan Xinyan saw Ding Youtian standing up with a smile. She sat down and glared at the fool again. "How many times have I told you not to call me Chun'er mother Chun'er mother? It's so unpleasant. Why don't you learn to call me Madam like my eldest brother-in-law calls me eldest sister?"

The fool scratched the back of his neck, looking confused. He was not an official, so how could Duan Xinyan become his wife?

Duan Xinyan knew what he was thinking from his silly look and couldn't help but burst out laughing, "You're so stupid! Stand aside and watch me show you my skills. Although I'm not as good as you in martial arts, I'm many times better than you in other aspects. I know a lot more."

She played a piece called "Listening to the Rain in Front of the Curtain". It was a good piece of music, but Jian Ning and Ding Youtian had both heard Qin Yifan play the piano. After comparing the two, they naturally knew that she was not as good as she boasted. However, she could still scare those who couldn't play, such as Erlangzi.

Erlangzi didn't understand music and couldn't tell good from bad, but at least he could play the song, which was good enough. He thought Duan Xinyan was amazing, and his face was full of admiration and affirmation for her, which made Duan Xinyan very happy.

Concubine Li once murmured to Jian Ning privately, wondering if Duan Xinyan was a little wronged by being paired with Erlangzi. Jian Ning didn't think so. What a couple needs is complementarity, and what they need is for the other party to appreciate your strengths and tolerate your shortcomings. At this moment, seeing Duan Xinyan's smile blooming like a flower, she also smiled.

Happiness is actually very simple.

People often become distressed when they want too much.

Min was a strong-willed person. In order to help her daughters marry into wealthy families, she spent a lot of money to hire famous teachers to tutor her two daughters in piano. Although Duan Xinyan was only half-hearted in everything she learned, she was more than capable of teaching Ding Youtian some small techniques in exerting force and correcting his movements.

Three days later, Jian Ning and his companions were about to set off for the capital. No one had expected that Old Ding and Meng would both lie down under the plaque at the entrance of the village, threatening that Ding Youtian would not recognize them and would not take them to the capital to enjoy a peaceful life. Unless they were run over by a carriage, they would rather die!