After coming out of the palace, He Xuran went to the Taifu Mansion for lunch.

There is a courtyard specially prepared for him here.

He was exhausted and tired after traveling for many days. Jiashan did not pull him to talk, and sent him to rest.

When He Xuran came out after getting enough sleep, it was getting dark. After getting enough rest, he was much more awake.

He Xuran was just about to pay a visit to Jiashan.

The two siblings have not spoken to each other since they came back. But before entering the main courtyard, she heard voices inside.

"Is the Lu family really going to move back to Shangjing?"

It was Jiashan's surprised voice.

It's no wonder that she was surprised, because the Gu family and the Lu family had a good relationship in the early years.

Master Lu and Gu Fuju are of similar age. They served as officials in the court together in the early years and were also figures.

But he took off his official robes a few years ago, knelt outside the Yangxin Palace in a plain white middle coat, with an ivory plate placed neatly in front of him, Xuan Ce's official hat placed on the right, and asked to leave the palace.

——"I wanted to repay the grace of heaven with all my loyalty and determination, but my talent is limited and my nature is not suitable for the times. I feel ashamed every time I think about this. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to resign from my court post and return to my hometown to atone for my stupidity."

There was no sign.

Everyone thought that Lord Lu was crazy.

Just because Emperor Ying Qian was determined to promote Yang Changzheng, who was far less capable than him, and appointed him as the Minister of the Chancellery? Is he dissatisfied with this?

Gu Fuju's eyes lingered on the archway outside the courtyard, pretending that he could not see the corner of He Xuran's clothes over there: "Yes."

"But Lu Huaizhang should come first, and the women in the family should stay in their hometown for the time being."

"Although he has a mansion in Shangjing, it is not good to make a big fuss about his whereabouts, so as not to be targeted. I intend to let him stay in the mansion for a while."

Jiashan was happy and agreed.

"I will have someone prepare the wing room now."

As she said that, she thought of something.

"I remember that the girl from the Lu family is very nice. I wonder if she is married? Xu Ran's marriage is still unsettled. This person who knows everything about her..."

He Xu Ran had a headache and couldn't listen any more.

Turn around and leave to avoid being scolded again.

Jia Shan didn't know anyone had come. She wondered: "But, he left so resolutely at the beginning. Was he planning to return to the officialdom or..."

Gu Fuju said gently: "I have been exchanging letters with him over the years."

"You know Huai Zhang's temperament. It is impossible for him to leave just because he was angry. The emperor actually liked him more at the beginning, but he is not greedy, has no distractions, and is difficult to control."

Those shameful and dirty things are impossible to do for Emperor Ying Qian.

"It can be said that he has been frustrated for a long time. He has been an official in the court for many years, but he is clean and has no regrets. He did not do it for the purpose of displaying his talents."

It is pure - the official robe is not stained with the heart and courage from the people.

But after being in a high position for a long time, all you see is the smoke and miasma.

The Prince of Yan's Mansion was exiled.

The old man of the Lu family was beaten to death.

Duke Shun died of a cold.

...

Too many.

"When Brother Lu left, I went to see him off. He left a message."

Jiashan asked, "What did he say?"

Gu Fuju looked at his wife and said word by word.

"The Great Jin is hopeless."

He was the one who called the man back.

At the same time, it was Wei Zhao who spoke first.

"The Lu family is also from an aristocratic family. Lu Huaizhang's father was once a man close to the late emperor. I'm afraid he has something that Wei Zhao wants."

Jiashan was shocked.

She knew better than anyone how busy Gu Fuju had been these days.

"Then he came back..."

She stood up and stuttered, "Yes..."

Gu Fuju nodded, "It's what you think."

He smiled, "It shouldn't be far away."

He held Jiashan's hand tightly, "Wait a little longer, it will be soon."

Duke Shun's Mansion.

Wei Zhao held the pen with frowning eyebrows, writing quickly at the desk, the wolf hair hanging on the rice paper, sketching quickly, the ink was almost dry.

"General."

Chi Yu conveyed: "The news came from the Grand Tutor that Lu Huaizhang will arrive in Shangjing in three days."

Wei Zhao was not surprised, he did not raise his eyes, and continued to deal with the letter.

Chi Yu paused for a moment.

"The Grand Tutor meant to let Lu Huaizhang stay at Gu's house."

Wei Zhao paused slightly in his writing.

He pulled the corner of his mouth and snorted.

"Old fox."

He wanted to meet Lu Huaizhang. Gu Fuju obviously asked him to meet him at Gu's house.

Wei Zhao put down the pen and rubbed his sore wrist.

Calculated the days.

Indifferent voice.

"Tell Rong Di that the secret agents should take the opportunity to act."

The secret agents under Wei Zhao's name were contacted and managed by Rong Di.

Most of them were distributed in various places in the form of blacksmith shops. The dense distribution was near the border, such as Ze County and other places. And these... Most of them were severely affected by floods and remote places.

Nearby, such as Shangjing, Jiangnan, and other prosperous areas. Wei Zhao does not need to intervene. Gu Fuju and Ying Fuyan have power under them, and they know what to do.

Chi Yu understood the meaning of this sentence and hurriedly said respectfully.

"Yes."

————

Lanyuan.

Yu Tingwan was lying on the pure gold rocking chair in the courtyard, with a white handkerchief embroidered with crabapple flowers covering her head.

With her shallow breathing, the petals rose and fell slightly with the handkerchief.

The servants passing by subconsciously lowered their footsteps, for fear of disturbing the young lady's nap.

Tan Jiang came over with the account book taken from Ning Suchan. Hearing a servant coming out from afar, he spoke in a low voice.

"I think the young lady is pregnant."

The old woman who spoke was old, and Tan Jiang knew that she was from the kitchen.

At this time, they should come to deliver honey-stained carved flowers and milk room jade core soup. The former is candied fruits carved into flowers and birds, and the latter is a sweet soup made from cheese and almonds.

The general and the mistress don't care much about food, and the kitchen has always been troubled by not being able to do much.

Since the lady returned to the mansion, the cooks have been very active. The food they sent over is rarely repeated.

But wait?

Tan Jiang: ? ?

? The lady is pregnant?

What are you talking about?

The old woman thought no one heard it, so she lowered her voice and said to the person beside her: "I'm not lying to you, the lady's belly is slightly bulging, I'm afraid it's not three months, the masters are afraid of breaking taboos, so they didn't tell the public."

Tan Jiang: ...

That's because the lady ate all the dishes you sent at noon!

The old woman: "The lady is still sleepy! Look, she's still asleep now."

She motioned to the maid who came to deliver dessert to turn around and take a look.

"Although the general is in poor health, the kitchen stews supplements every day, and he will recover slowly. Look. The young lady's hand is still on her lower abdomen now, there's no doubt about it."

She was too full because she ate too much, and she didn't want to walk to digest the food, so she lay there too lazy to move.

Tan Jiang: ...

The tonics you stewed have all gone into Madam's stomach.

Every time the kitchen prepares tonics for Wei Zhao, Yu Tingwan's portion will not be missing.

At first, the couple had one bowl each.

In the following days, Yu Tingwan got up very late, and her legs were trembling when she climbed down from the couch. From then on, she ate alone.

Tan Jiang didn't understand.

But the general is in good health and really doesn't need to be nourished.

It's hard to say for Madam. She

is obviously very strong and won't complain of being tired even when climbing a mountain. Sometimes, for some reason, she feels weak all over.

(End of this chapter)