After Zhao Sixing and Zhou Junhong had lunch and returned home, Marquis Yongning was alone in his study with a headache. He felt that the Marquis of Yongping's mansion would come to him sooner or later because of Xu Shao. Now he regretted having Marquis Yongping sign and fingerprint that note.

Xu Di had already learned through certain channels that his appointment would be issued soon, so he stepped up his preparations for departure. When officials take office, they can go first and their families can follow behind. However, Xu Di did not want to do that. He wanted to bring his mother and wife with him on the way. Therefore, he had a lot to prepare.

First, there's the carriage. Due to technical issues, the current carriage lacks shock absorption, making the journey uncomfortable. Fortunately, the weather is cold, so the carriage is covered with thick blankets, which makes it more comfortable.

Secondly, there are some medicinal herbs. Now, not only Chen Zhaoci needs to prepare medicinal herbs, but Xu Di also needs to prepare them. It is said that this time the Japanese invaders attacked directly from the sea to the road and massacred several villages along the coast. If the situation had not been so serious, it is estimated that they would not have been placed on Emperor Liang Cheng's desk in the Imperial Study.

After Zhao Sixing returned home, the newlyweds went to Xu Shao's courtyard together.

Xu Shao was sitting on the daybed reading something when she saw the two people come in. She asked, "Have you told your maternal grandfather about our trip to the estate?"

Zhao Sixing nodded and said, "Mother, I have already spoken to my maternal grandfather, but he said we still have to come back for the New Year."

Xu Shao sneered twice and said, "Come back? Why should I come back? They've never treated me like family, so why should I come back? Xing'er, you're married now, so you have to shoulder your responsibilities and work hard. If you want to take the imperial examinations, then make a name for yourself so you can give your wife and children a stable and secure home in the future. As for me..."

Xu Shao glanced at a booklet in her hand and said, "Right now, all I want to do is raise Shen Ge'er to adulthood, and then I'll live on the estate, where it's peaceful and carefree. I'm so tired of living in this Marquis's mansion; I don't want to stay here for even a moment longer."

Zhao Sixing had known since childhood that his mother was a willful and capricious person, but he never expected her to be this willful. She was the eldest daughter-in-law in the family. If she really stayed on the estate during the New Year and didn't come back, what would people in the capital think of her?

Seeing the troubled look on Zhao Sixing's face, Xu Shao smiled and said, "Brother Xing, you're supposed to be a man, but look at you, you're not as calm as your wife."

Zhou Junhong had heard about her mother-in-law's glorious deeds and knew that she was married into the family so that she could help her mother-in-law fight against her great-grandmother. Who knew that before they even had a chance to fight, her mother-in-law was already retreating? Zhou Junhong was a little confused about what her mother-in-law was thinking.

Regardless of her thoughts, Zhou Junhong and her mother-in-law were now in the same boat. Zhou Junhong bowed to Xu Shao and said, "May I ask, Mother, is there anything I can help you with?"

Xu Shao nodded and said, "Since you asked, then I'll tell you both. I've been married into this family for over twenty years. For these past twenty years, I've always thought that since I'm married into this family, I'm a part of it, and I have to maintain it. Besides, I'm the eldest daughter-in-law and the future matriarch. But how has this family treated me? Xing Ge's wife, you've probably heard that I'm a willful and capricious person. Well, I'll just go with my own way. Anyway, I already have the Marquis's note, so no one can say anything about what I do. If all else fails, even a divorce is acceptable."

Hearing that even Li Heli had come out, Zhao Sixing and Zhou Junhong looked at each other in bewilderment. Xu Shao laughed twice and said, "Those things that I used to care about so much now seem to be nothing special. Since they are nothing special, there is no point in staying. From now on, I will just live well in this Marquis's mansion for the sake of you three siblings. But it is impossible for me to continue to think about maintaining the face of the Marquis's mansion at all times, just like before."

Xu Shao thought for a moment and said to Zhao Sixing very seriously, "Brother Xing, I now feel that living a good life is more important than anything else."

When Zhao Sixing came out of Xu Shao's courtyard, he looked sad. Zhou Junhong comforted him, saying, "Mother has had a hard life for the past twenty years. It's good that you've come to terms with it now. Isn't it better to make yourself feel better than anything else?"

Zhao Sixing was a gentle person. He was not angry because his new wife, Zhou Junhong, was talking about his mother behind his back. Instead, he sighed and said, "Of course I know that it is better for my mother to be doing well than anything else. But I just feel that my mother has sacrificed so much for this Marquis's mansion for more than 20 years. In the end, she still has to live alone on the estate. The more I think about it, the sadder I get."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Junhong smiled and said, "How can you be so sure that Mother will be all alone on the estate? If that happens, we can just bring her back. For now, we should just let Mother do whatever she wants. There's still a long road ahead."

Zhao Sixing sighed but didn't say anything more. Zhou Junhong turned to look at her husband. After marrying him, she realized that he was indeed a gentleman. Although he could be a little melancholy at times, he was generally someone she could live a good life with.

Zhou Junhong walked with Zhao Sixing. Thinking of this, she smiled and took Zhao Sixing's hand, which made Zhao Sixing startled. He looked around like a thief, and seeing that there was no one nearby, he blushed and looked down at their clasped hands. Seeing this, Zhou Junhong smiled and said, "Husband, we are husband and wife. Are you afraid that others will laugh at you?"

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