Zhang Zhaoci never expected that before he even returned to the capital, he would already have a hot spring resort that he had longed for for so long.

Xu Di gently touched Zhang Zhaoci's belly and said, "I asked Wei's eldest sister's nanny brother, and he said that the estate originally belonged to a wealthy family in the capital. The young master of the family was good-for-nothing and caused trouble. They needed money to settle things, so they sold the estate. Wei's eldest sister happened to inquire about buying it, so they bought it for her."

Zhang Zhaoci looked at the land deed and said, "Five thousand taels! You've really incurred a huge favor by doing this."

Xu Di said nonchalantly, "How much do you think the greenhouse farm I helped build can earn for Sister Wei in a year? At least ten thousand taels of silver. Not only does the hot pot restaurant need it, but some restaurants also need to buy vegetables from that farm. Do you think it's still like it was back then? The government is trying to stabilize vegetable prices for the people's food supply. With such low productivity and virtually no industrial base, where are we going to get so many greenhouse vegetables? Even a winter greenhouse like mine isn't something everyone can build. In the dead of winter, leafy green vegetables are incredibly expensive."

Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "This pristine environment is actually the healthiest for people, but it's just too inconvenient. I don't know how it will develop in the future."

Xu Di said, "Even if it develops further, it won't develop into the 21st century. Mom, shouldn't we send someone to take a look at the estate, and then repair or tidy it up as needed? Now that it's ours, we should do it according to our own ideas."

Zhang Zhaoci sighed and said, "I'd like to too, but we don't have enough manpower right now. You can think of someone suitable to send."

Xu Di sighed and said, "I don't think it's appropriate to send anyone. I don't even know when my third uncle will come. I heard that my eldest uncle has already sent some old servants back to the capital to prepare for the renovation of the Zhang family's old house. Why don't we just leave this matter to my eldest uncle and his men?"

Zhang Zhaoci said, "How can you always bother your maternal grandparents' family?"

Xu Di argued vehemently, "Those are my maternal grandmother and maternal uncle. If I don't trouble them, who else can I trouble? Those people in the Marquis's mansion? I don't know how jealous they'll be if they find out we have an estate."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "How about this? You write a letter to the old lady first, saying that we don't have enough manpower here. Ask her what all the elderly women who came with her dowry are doing now. I remember the old lady mentioning before that the estate she brought with her dowry has already accommodated quite a few people, and if we accommodate any more, we won't be able to find enough. Go and ask if there are any elderly people who are difficult to accommodate, and send them to us. We'll help take care of them in their old age. What do you think?"

Xu Di stroked his chin and said, "That's an idea. Now the Crown Prince's wife is in charge. She not only wants to exclude the old lady's people, but also the Marquis's people. If we go to the old lady, she might be quite grateful that we can help her take care of those old servants."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "We don't expect them to do any work when we hire them. We just hope they can help take care of the village. If there's any work to be done, we'll hire people from nearby villages. It's best if they come from the same family, so it's easier to settle them down."

Xu Di hurriedly went to write a letter. Granny Lu brought Zhang Zhaoci a bowl of soup. When she saw the land deed, she exclaimed in surprise, "Did you buy an estate? Di-ge'er is really capable!"

Zhang Zhaoci smiled and told the story of the estate's origins, then recounted the discussion between the mother and son to Granny Lu. Granny Lu smiled and said, "This is a good thing. I shouldn't have said these things, but since you and Di'er have done this, I'll tell you."

Zhang Zhaoci smiled and made a chair for Granny Lu. Granny Lu sat down and said, "The old lady of the Yongning Marquis's mansion is from the Zhongyong Marquis's mansion. Our old lady was very famous in her younger days. Not only was she good at riding and archery, but she also practiced martial arts from a young age. She even went to the battlefield with the Zhongyong Marquis at that time. After she got married, the old lady stayed at home to take care of her husband and raise her children."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhaoci exclaimed in surprise, "I never expected that my grandmother was such a remarkable person back then."

Granny Lu smiled and said, "The reason why the old lady has a good relationship with the late Empress Dowager is because the late Empress Dowager and the old lady are cousins. However, not many people know this. It seems that the late Empress Dowager's mother did not grow up in the old lady's maternal home, but was fostered elsewhere."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhaoci said, "I doubt there are many people in the entire capital who know about this now, right?"

Granny Lu nodded and said, "That's right. I later became a maid in the Empress Dowager's service. It was because of my good relationship with the old lady that I learned about this by chance. After the Empress Dowager passed away, the men of the Marquis of Zhongyong's family died on the battlefield. The old Marquis was left with only the old lady as his descendant. The old lady took it upon herself to return the imperial edict to the late emperor. The late emperor was grateful for the merits of the Marquis of Zhongyong's family and invited the memorial tablets of the Marquises of Zhongyong from generation to generation to the Martyrs' Shrine."

The Martyrs' Shrine is a memorial hall established by the imperial court to enshrine the tablets of people who have made significant contributions to the country throughout history. When it is necessary to worship ancestors during festivals, the current emperor personally presides over the ceremony, which is of a very high standard.

Granny Lu said, "After the Empress Dowager passed away, the old lady had much less contact with the palace. Later, as she got older, she would only go back to the palace for very important matters. In this way, she lived a secluded life, and the once illustrious Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion was gradually forgotten in the capital."

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