Is anyone home?

Pei Zhi got up and opened the door. It was Aunt Liu, who lived on the same street.

The aunt was carrying a basket of persimmons when she saw Pei Zhi opening the door.

"Aya, where's your man?"

Pei Zhi pointed to Lu Xiuyuan, who was fiddling with fabric in the courtyard, "He's over there."

Aunt Liu handed the persimmons to Pei Zhi, saying, "I've come to give you some persimmons, and I'd like to ask your top scholar for a favor: to write a piece of calligraphy."

Pei Zhi took the persimmon. "What words do you want me to write?"

Since Lu Xiuyuan moved to this street, he has written countless words for his neighbors.

They simply believed that Lu Xiuyuan was the top scholar in the imperial examination, and that the calligraphy written by a top scholar was auspicious.

I asked for one to hang for my own children, and a few more for my nephews and nieces.

Although Lu Xiuyuan had told Pei Zhi in private that this kind of thing was useless.

But when someone comes to your door and makes such a small request, it's really hard to refuse.

"You can write whatever you want, as long as the top scholar has good writing skills."

Pei Zhi put the persimmons in and took out the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone for Lu Xiuyuan.

Lu Xiuyuan took the paper and laid it out. "Auntie, who did you ask for this for? How old is the child?"

“My uncle’s child is twelve years old this year and has been going to school for several years.”

Lu Xiuyuan nodded, indicating that he understood.

Lu Xiuyuan rolled up his sleeves, dipped his brush in ink, and began to write.

Pei Zhi watched from the side, then read aloud, "The Way is perfected through learning and stored in books; learning progresses through vigor and is ruined by poverty."

Pei Zhi praised, "It's really well written."

Pei Zhi praised Lu Xiuyuan not because Lu Xiuyuan's calligraphy was particularly good.

Lu Xiuyuan knew that the recipient of this calligraphy was a child who had already attended school for a few years.

Instead of offering any plain words, Pei Zhi was subtly praising Lu Xiuyuan for his thoughtfulness.

Lu Xiuyuan smiled apologetically at Pei Zhi.

Aunt Liu put away the book and smiled, "No wonder Aunt Lu always wants to go out."

"A sweet and loving relationship is good. Let's hurry up and have a big, healthy baby boy so that the couple's relationship can be even better."

Lu Xiuyuan, fearing he might upset Pei Zhi, said, "Auntie, we're not in a hurry."

Aunt Liu was just saying it casually; whenever they see a married couple without children, they always like to say a few words about it.

After seeing Aunt Liu off, Pei Zhi looked at Lu Xiuyuan curiously, "Are you this serious about everyone who comes to ask for your calligraphy?"

No matter who came to ask for his calligraphy, Lu Xiuyuan never treated them perfunctorily.

Everyone receives a different sentence, one that fits their mood and age.

“They’ve come to us seeking our help, so we can’t just give them a perfunctory response. Otherwise, how could we live up to the status of a scholar?”

Pei Zhi gave Lu Xiuyuan a thumbs up, meaning to give Lu Xiuyuan a thumbs up.

Pei Zhi calculated the time and went to the kitchen to prepare a meal.

Lu Xiuyuan put down the fabric he was holding and came to help.

Lu Xiuyuan did not believe the saying that a gentleman does not cook.

Even after becoming the top scholar, it was still the same.

As long as Lu Xiuyuan is home, he does most of the work, while Pei Zhi just helps out and keeps him company.

Pei Zhi firmly believed in the saying that you can't judge a man by how he looks when he's down on his luck.

To see what this man was like when he was at the height of his power, you need to look at him.

Although Lu Xiuyuan is not as glorious as he used to be, he is certainly not what he used to be.

Pei Zhi couldn't help but sigh; her eye for people was truly sharp.

Pei Zhi and Lu Xiuyuan were all lovey-dovey here, while Pei Minxue in the north was freezing to death.

Don't get me wrong, it's not physical coldness, it's emotional coldness.

The coldness in your body will pass if you just tough it out.

If all else fails, just stand up and run a couple of laps to warm up.

After the meal, the three of them sat together and talked about the recent unusual activities of the Xiongnu.

As they were chatting, for some reason, the two of them started arguing again.

The reason for this argument had nothing to do with Pei Zhi, but rather with military pay.

Shang Huai pointed out that the annual military pay, as well as the grain, quilts, and uniforms sent by the imperial court, were insufficient.

"Your Highness has been in a high position for far too long. Now that you've personally come to the north, you can open your eyes and see how the soldiers can possibly feed themselves in such harsh conditions."

Shang Huai sneered, "Why doesn't Your Highness go outside and try? What can grow in this freezing weather?"

Xiao Chengci tapped the table, "You asked for 50,000 sets of cotton-padded clothes, military shoes, and 30,000 knives right off the bat."

"How could I recall that you never submitted a memorial regarding the large increase in the Zhenbei Army this year?"

Shang Huai pressed, "In this freezing weather, unless there's no other choice, who would be willing to send their son to join the army?"

"The soldiers are in the army every day, where swords and spears have no eyes. Their clothes are torn beyond repair. Are we supposed to make them wear those clothes?"

"As for shoes, you can easily step into a hole if you're not careful. Is there a problem with how many pairs of military shoes a soldier has to dry in the sun?"

"Don't try to fool me." Xiao Chengci wasn't going to argue with Shang Huai.

“Every spring, the Zhenbei Army would plant fruit trees, medicinal herbs, and various soybeans, etc.”

Xiao Chengci has served in the court for so many years, and he is not just a figurehead.

"If I remember correctly, among all the armies, the Zhenbei Army has the best clothing, food, and treatment."

Xiao Chengci is currently in the Ministry of War, and naturally he has heard a lot of gossip from his subordinates.

The North doesn't often see wars.

Normally, when there's no war, hundreds of thousands of troops can't just sit around waiting to eat.

The surrounding fertile fields were all developed by the military in the past.

"Not to mention anything else, the money you make from selling the medicinal herbs you grow every year is enough to cover the army's expenses. Do you think I don't know that?"

Shang Huai slammed his hand on the table. "These are all the hard-earned money of the soldiers. What's more, after they're sold and the profits are split layer by layer, how much actually ends up in the hands of the soldiers?"

"Or does His Highness the Crown Prince mean that since the Zhenbei Army can be self-sufficient, it doesn't need the court to pay its salaries?"

Shang Huai became more and more agitated as he spoke: "If that's the case, then does the Zhenbei Army still need to pledge allegiance to the imperial court?"

Xiao Chengci warned, "Shang Huai, out of consideration for you being my cousin, I will pretend I didn't hear some of what you said this time."

Shang Huai sneered, "What, cousin, you're getting old, so your hearing isn't working well anymore?"

"No wonder Zhizhi didn't choose her cousin."

Pei Minxue frowned as he listened. How did the conversation end up circling back to Pei Zhi?

"Just talk about military pay, why are you bringing her up?"

"Is my cousin angry?" Shang Huai feigned surprise. "Did I touch a sore spot on your mind?"

Xiao Chengci lowered his voice and asked, "Shang Huai, are you looking for death?"

"Ha." Shang Huai laughed sarcastically. "Xiao Chengci, I'll pretend I didn't hear some of what you said this time because you're my cousin."

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Pei Minxue got up to try to stop it.

Xiao Chengci bluntly asked, "Shang Huai, are you planning a rebellion?"

After uttering those words, Pei Minxue closed his eyes.

This is really going to be a disaster. How are we going to salvage this situation now that these words have been spoken?

Shang Huai was also taken aback for a moment, then looked at Xiao Chengci and said solemnly, word by word, "If you want me to be loyal to your Xiao family father and son, then I am unwilling!"