Chapter 145 Chapter 145 The Hu people's leader died, someone claimed...

"Is this punishable?" Fang Ying asked.

Ji Yanlang nodded. "He was demoted one rank, but retained his original position. This was already a light release, but he still wasn't satisfied. He wrote to my father, requesting a transfer from Sanjiao. He said the court had no intention of sending troops to the north, and that Sanjiao wouldn't benefit from any good things, as the barbarians were invading first."

Fang Ying: "...If Fourth Uncle really thinks so, it would be better to transfer him back." Otherwise, with the army approaching, there is no guarantee that he will escape first.

"That's easy to say, but it's not something we can just transfer over if we want to." The imperial court wasn't surnamed Ji, Ji Yanlang muttered to himself, then continued, "He's just like my third brother. He just saw that my fifth brother got the post of Inspection Commissioner and is jealous of us living a good life in Luoyang."

Fang Ying found it amusing: "In the past, the third and fourth sisters-in-law often made sarcastic remarks, asking why the fifth sister-in-law didn't return to her parents' home and begging her in-laws to find a good job for the fifth uncle. Now that one has been found, they are shamelessly envious."

"Back then, my third and fourth brothers enjoyed every advantage under our father's command, so they naturally had no desire for assignments in the capital. Now that they realize there's no hope of achieving success on their own, they simply want to return to the capital to live a good life."

Ji Yanlang showed disdain. "How short-sighted! The emperor wants to march west first and then north. Can't you see that? Sooner or later, he will have to march north. Even if he finds it hard to defend the three borders, he should consider moving west. It's definitely not that big of a piece of fat meat."

Fang Ying was surprised: "Why? Are you going to use military force against Dingnan?"

"No, we should avoid using troops against Dingnan if possible, but the surrounding states have indeed increased their military forces in the past six months. You still remember General Hao who conquered Jiaozhi, right? He is currently stationed in Linzhou, northeast of Xiazhou, to prevent the Hu people from trying to win over the Dingnan army and collude with them."

"Then you still say they are fat meat. If they simply surrendered their land and joined the court, the soldiers from each state wouldn't have any merit to speak of, right?"

Ji Yanlang said, "It would be best if they could surrender their territory and not resort to war, but it would be difficult to have five states. If someone refuses to submit and rebels, we will still have to fight."

Fang Ying couldn't help but sigh: "I don't know when the world will be truly peaceful."

"It's not far." Ji Yanlang comforted her.

Fang Ying sighed casually, not really taking it to heart. Unexpectedly, a few days later, Ji Yanlang came home and told her: "The leader of the Hu people has died. Some people think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and should immediately send troops to recapture the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun."

"Why? Are the Hu people in civil strife?"

Ji Yanlang grabbed her hand and said, "I asked that too, but no one knows. They just keep saying this or that. They can't even explain whether the Hu people's leader just died or died last month, yet they dare to talk about sending troops."

Fang Ying comforted him, saying, "Some people may want to make a name for themselves, but since the government has decided to attack the west first and then the north, they will not easily waver and use military force against the north."

"But at this moment, one can't help but think that if one can accomplish everything in one fell swoop, then there's no need to worry about the enemy not coming to one's side."

"If it were that easy, why would the government bother planning to move the capital?"

Ji Yanlang thought about it and nodded, saying, "Indeed, the emperor only considered moving the capital after the defeat in Youzhou." He let out a long sigh, "The weather is getting colder, and it takes time to mobilize troops and food. If we send troops now, there's no guarantee we won't repeat the same mistakes."

Without the assurance of victory, the government would not listen to those people's advice.

Ji Yanlang felt a little relieved, but every day when he went to the camp, he heard that certain ministers were requesting to conquer Youzhou. He couldn't help but feel worried, fearing that the emperor would change his mind because of these ignorant people.

After a few days of such torment, Yizhou finally reported the latest news - the Hu people's king had died for more than a month, and his eldest son, who was just eleven years old, succeeded him. The queen mother was now governing the country, and there was no chaos.

"Youzhou's defenses are intact, and neither is Yunzhou's. The emperor has ordered us to stay in Luoyang for the New Year, and has also summoned the Dingnan Jiedushi to the court for an audience. Ah, my uncle and the others are among those summoned."

Fang Ying breathed a sigh of relief: "I can finally spend the New Year in peace."

Ji Yanlang smiled and agreed: "Yes, I can finally spend the New Year in peace."

It was almost the twelfth lunar month, and the garden landscape at Ci Di had been basically completed, with only some flowers and trees left to be planted in the spring. The two couples picked a warm day and went there together for a tour.

This house is about the same size as the one in Bian Jing, but because it has two gardens, one large and one small, the distribution of the houses is somewhat different from that in Bian Jing.

After returning home from the viewing, Ji Yanlang asked Fang Ying, "Is there any yard you like?"

"We are the youngest, how can we choose?"

"Why not? Fourth brother can't come back, and fifth brother won't compete with us. As for third brother, he doesn't have the nerve to compete with us now."

Fang Ying smiled and said, "I think both are good. There is a large garden on the west side, which is close to the main house. The garden on the east side is small, but with a small bridge and flowing water, it has a unique charm."

"Then let's go east. I'll tell you I want to live next to my second brother, and ask you brothers to let me live next to you."

Fang Ying couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, I'm counting on you."

Li planned to wait until next spring, when all the flowers and trees were planted, and then bring her three wives to Luoyang and move into their new home. However, a lot of things from the Bian Jing government had already been shipped in over the past few months.

Including the rockery stones, pavilions, etc. in the new house, all were dismantled from the house in Bian Jing and transported here one by one - these were originally old items from the house in Yangzhou. Not to mention that the powerful people in Luoyang are all renovating their houses now, it is difficult to buy them all at once. Even if this did not happen, the rockery stones in the Ji Mansion were not something that could be bought just by buying them.

The belongings that Fang Ying and the others had left in the mansion were also transported here. Ji Yanlang thought of this at this moment and said, "Why don't we move the things we don't need over there first?"

"...Why is it that serious?" Fang Ying laughed. "They haven't come yet, and we're the only two families in Luoyang. If you move, what will your uncle and aunt think?"

"Then I'll let Fifth Brother pick a yard and put the things in it."

Fang Ying shook her head: "Fifth Uncle won't agree to that."

Although Ji Yanhui stood on the side of his mother and elder brother when the third and fourth houses were fighting for power with the legitimate branch, neither he nor Gao would take the initiative to fight for anything when facing the third and fourth houses, because Li would not treat them unfairly.

Ji Yanlang was not obsessed with one courtyard. He just disliked his third and fourth brothers and wanted to use this matter to cause trouble for them.

Fang Ying guessed what he was thinking and said, "Just ask the brothers to give way to us, that would be great. We are the youngest anyway."

"But Third Brother will definitely ask why he only wants to be close to Second Brother and not to him."

"There are three courtyards to the east. If he wants to be close, he can stay next to us."

Ji Yanlang thought about it and couldn't help laughing: "That's right, he lives in front of us, so we can be close to each other."

A few days after the two of them said this, Bian Jing sent the last batch of items before the New Year, and Fang Ying received two letters, one from Zhou Congshan and the other from Fang Quan.

Fang Ying took this opportunity to bring Zhou Congshan's greetings and New Year gifts to the Feng family.

After several months of seeking advice, Wang and Feng had treated her as a close junior and called her Yingniang. After obtaining Wang's consent, she also called her aunt and met Wang's eldest daughter Huiniang.

Hui Niang is fifteen years old this year. Before Feng Tao became seriously ill, he promised her to the son of his best friend. The marriage will be held next year after the Feng family is free from mourning.

When Fang Ying first met Hui Niang, she mentioned that she also had a younger sister, whom Chu Yin had taught her to read. This time, after conveying Zhou Congshan's greetings, she mentioned the letter from Fang Quan and sighed, "Although her handwriting is only decent, at least she can write a complete letter. I couldn't do that when I was her age."

"Just write more and practice more." Wang said.

"You still need someone to teach you. Like me, before Aunt Feng taught me, I could write things down, but it was always stiff and rigid."

Feng smiled and said, "That's because you were thoughtful enough to ask someone to teach your sister how to read."

Fang Ying said, "I learned everything from our wife. Now we have hired a tutor in Bianjing Prefecture, and my nieces and nephews are learning to read and study together. It's a pity that the tutor is a man, and he pays more attention to the nephews when teaching. When my nieces grow up, it's not appropriate for them to study with their brothers."

Wang nodded and said, "Your family has many children. You should hire another teacher to teach the young ladies."

"Yes, Hong'er now has two younger sisters." In addition to the daughter of the third concubine, there was more good news in the newly received family letter. Cheng from the fourth concubine also gave birth to a daughter at the end of October.

Fang Ying brought Hong'er to Feng's house once. Feng liked Hong'er very much and said with a smile, "Hong'er, you can teach him yourself in the future."

"I'm afraid she doesn't have the time," Wang continued. "They're a young couple, loving each other so much. Who knows, there might be good news soon."

Ji Yanlang had sent Fang Ying here more than once, and both his aunt and sister-in-law knew about it. Feng smiled and said, "That's right."

Fang Ying felt a little embarrassed, but in order to turn the conversation around to inviting Feng to come to the Ji Mansion to teach the children, she still said shamelessly: "It's hard to talk about happy events, but next year when we welcome my mother-in-law and move into a new house, there will be a lot of household chores, and I'm afraid it will delay Hong'er."

Afraid that the two elders would change the subject again, she continued, "I think it would be best to hire a female tutor, like we did in Shu. If she could be as knowledgeable, patient, and meticulous as Aunt Feng, that would be even better."

Wang understood the hidden meaning of Fang Ying's words, looked at her sister-in-law, and said nothing.

Feng thought Fang Ying was just repeating the same old tune and shook her head, saying, "You've never seen a truly learned and talented woman, so you think I'm qualified to be a teacher."

"Then aunt, please recommend a talented woman to me. I will go back and report to my mother-in-law to see if I can invite her." Fang Ying said with a smile.

Feng had never left the house, so how could she know? She couldn't help but look at her sister-in-law, but Wang smiled and said, "Don't look at me, I don't recognize her either."

He then made an excuse that he had family matters to attend to and had to leave for a while, and said, "You guys talk," and left.

Seeing this, Feng asked Fang Ying to sit in her room.

Fang Ying had come to seek advice before and had been to Feng's room, so he didn't mind the formalities. When he entered the room, he saw a half-made piece of clothing under the window, so he walked over to pick it up and have a look.

"Is this for Hui Niang?"

The fabric was brightly colored, and it was obvious that it was not for a widow.

Feng nodded and said, "I am a widow with nothing. I can only make some clothes for Hui Niang."

Fang Ying saw the fine stitching and advised, "Isn't it still several months before the end of mourning? If we set the wedding date, it will have to be next winter at the latest. Winter days are short and the house is dark, so it's better to do less needlework."

"Just do it for a while in the morning when the sun is strong." Feng said as she turned around and took out a small bundle from the box. "It's just right that you are here. Take this underwear back and let Hong'er try it on."

Fang Ying was shocked: "Why did you do it for Hong'er?"

Feng smiled and said, "It's not difficult to make an undergarment. Besides, we didn't give the child a gift that day, and it's almost Chinese New Year."

Fang Ying looked at the small dress in Feng's hand and couldn't help but tear up. "Why didn't you give it to her? Didn't you make up a song for her to learn how to read?"

"What kind of a gift is that?" Feng handed Fang Ying the clothes and the bundle. "I know your family doesn't need this, it's just a small token of my appreciation."

Fang Ying took Feng's hand and checked her fingertips to see if there were any needle holes. Feng let her look and said with a smile, "It's really not a big deal. Such a small dress can be finished in one day after it's cut."

"But your hands are used to writing, how can you do needlework every day?" Fang Ying was very sad and said her purpose in one breath, "Aunt, please come to our house to be a female teacher. I will ask her, and her husband will definitely agree."

Feng was stunned: "Why are you..."

"If you think the title of Master or Sir is too heavy, you don't have to call me that. My young ladies are only nine years old, and your knowledge is more than enough to teach them."

He mentioned Yue Qing'e's letter again, saying that since the third wife returned home and the eldest son Huai Chong also went to school, Mr. Zhu was not very willing to teach the young ladies. Even though Huai Chong was not as good as his sisters in memorizing and recognizing words, Mr. Zhu still accommodated his progress and perfunctorily treated the girls.

Fang Ying finally said, "Let's not talk about anything else. Just because I truly love the young ladies, I am a hundred times better than those so-called gentlemen."

-----------------------

The author has something to say: I finally see the light of the end [scatter flowers]