The wedding dress had been changed, and after Qi Wuze was dressed, he was busy cinching her waist. Chunxi came in with the toiletries, and after they washed up, they walked hand in hand to the main hall. On the way, Ye Nuan almost fell, and Qi Wuze carried her and ran for a long time, only putting her down when they were about a hundred meters away from the main hall.
Ye Nuan stood up and asked anxiously, "Look, is my hair messy?"
Qi Wuze chuckled: "Why do you see my dad so nervous?" He said as he helped her tidy up the satin hair behind her back.
"Of course I want to make a good impression on my father-in-law when I first meet him." She was from Dahuang Village. Her father-in-law must have hated the people of Dahuang Village back then. Now that he's suddenly sobered up, that hatred must still be there. Since she's married to Aze, she hopes her father-in-law will like her too.
Qi Wuze seemed to know what she was thinking and soothed her, "Don't worry, my father may be a little serious, but he's not confused about right and wrong. Let me tell you a secret, my mother is actually half a refugee."
"Half a refugee?" Ye Nuan was surprised.
Qi Wuze nodded. "Yes, my mother was exiled to Shentian Pass because of my grandfather's family. When my father entered the pass, he fell in love with her at first sight and was so shameless that he married her back."
"Why was he exiled to Shentian Pass instead of the wasteland?"
Qi Wuze explained, "Chentian Pass and the Wasteland are both places of exile. Chentian Pass is slightly better than the Wasteland. Most of the people exiled there have some connections in the court. The emperor uses it as a punishment, but he doesn't want to force them to death. Exiling them to the wasteland means they want a life worse than death!"
There is also this saying.
After a few words, they soon arrived at the main hall. With a solemn expression, they walked in. In the main hall, Qi Yan, with a head full of white hair, sat upright, his expression solemn, his brows furrowed, and he looked unhappy.
Ye Nuan glanced at Qi Wuze, and Qi Wuze took her hand, exerting a little force.
Qi Wuze spoke first: "Dad, I've brought you a daughter-in-law!"
Xichun quickly brought the freshly brewed tea, and Ye Nuan took it with both hands and handed it over respectfully, "Dad, have some tea."
Qi Yan kept a straight face and didn't respond for a long time: I really don't understand, how come when I woke up, my son has grown up so much and married a refugee from the interior.
Just as Qi Wuze was about to speak, he took the tea and drank a sip, then took out a red envelope from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Nuan.
Ye Nuan's eyes lit up slightly, "Thank you, Dad."
Qi Yan handed another one to Qi Wuze, who immediately stuffed the red envelope into Ye Nuan's pocket. He then heard his father cough in displeasure. He paused for a second before continuing. Ye Nuan approached him, reaching back and twisting his waist. He hissed inwardly, then smiled and said to his father, "My son doesn't like managing money. Just give it to my wife!"
Ye Nuan pinched him hard again, and the snake beads on her wrist swayed, reflecting colorful light. Qi Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and recognized the ruby.
This red phoenix had long been enshrined in the treasury, and Ah Ze was particularly fond of it. When he was five years old and began practicing swordsmanship, he clamored to have the red phoenix inlaid on it. Qi Yan naturally refused, and it was not until his eighth birthday, when they were forging a sword for him, that his mother finally decided to have the red phoenix inlaid on the handle.
The treasure of Luomucheng's generations was carried out openly by an eight-year-old boy. Qi Yan was afraid that he would lose it at first, but her mother said, "No matter how precious the thing is, it is useless if it is kept in the treasury. It is better to give it to Aze. This way, he will cherish his knife and know to hold it tightly at all times!"
Something that was so precious in the past was now taken out and made into a bracelet for the woman in front of him, which shows how much her son loves her.
Qi Yan, who had originally wanted to ask many questions, swallowed them all, but her expression remained sullen and she didn't smile. It was obvious that she was only trying to save face for her son and hadn't yet truly accepted her as a daughter-in-law.
Her father-in-law was silent, and as his daughter-in-law, she didn't feel comfortable approaching him to start a conversation. Fortunately, Qi Wuze noticed her embarrassment and, after greeting her, suggested taking her for a stroll around the city first, and then to the sacred lake at the foot of Luomu Mountain.
Ye Nuan was more than happy to be polite to her father-in-law the first time she met him. She didn't expect everyone to like her habits. They wouldn't live together anyway, so filial piety was the norm, but there was no need to be subservient and try to please him.
After they left, Butler Chen escorted Qi Ya to Lanting Courtyard. Qi Yan's eyes reddened as he looked at his youngest son, who had grown to the height of his chest. He patted his head and chuckled softly, "Our A-Ya has grown up and is becoming more and more like your mother."
Qi Ya was not used to his touch and wanted to hide, but she held herself back when she remembered what her elder brother had told her before he left.
"Sister-in-law is more like mother!"
Qi Yan was slightly stunned: "Why does your sister-in-law look like my mother?"
Qi Ya is much more lively than before, and can at least answer questions asked by others.
"My elder sister-in-law is like a mother. She is very good to me!" Gao Zangfeng did not lie to him.
Qi Yan wanted to know more, so he asked again, "How is your sister-in-law?"
Qi Ya tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Sister-in-law can cook, grow vegetables, take me horseback riding, pull weeds, and tell stories. In short, she's great!"
After waking up, Qi Yan also asked the servants at the mansion about Ye Nuan, and they all praised her. In less than a year in the wilderness, she had already managed to destroy the Creation Pavilion, subdue the bandits, and build such a large farm. His daughter-in-law seemed quite capable, with a good reputation and good character.
If his eldest son could have married a daughter-in-law like this in the past, he would have been happy. But the events of that year seemed to be happening right before his eyes, and he still felt a grudge.
Qi Yan asked again: "Why don't you go play with your elder brother?"
When Qi Ya mentioned this, his face turned bitter. He also wanted to go, but...
"My eldest brother said that as long as I stay out of the way, I'll have a nephew to play with soon!"
Qi Yan sneered: Your temper is the same as when you were a child!
Seeing that his father quickly became silent again, Qi Ya sat opposite him with no expression and suddenly asked, "Do you miss your mother?"
Since he woke up, no one dared to mention Ruier in front of him. The youngest son was ignorant of the ways of the world and was fearless.
"Well, Dad misses your mom."
Qi Ya blinked his eyelashes and comforted him awkwardly in the most ordinary tone: "Sister-in-law said that people should look forward. Being alive is more important than anything else. Whether you are happy or not, it's all one day. Why not be happy?"
Being alive is more important than anything else?
"Your sister-in-law said that?"
Qi Ya nodded.
Qi Yan's eyes lit up with a smile. After decades of living in a daze, it was time to wake up. He still had two sons and would have grandchildren in the future. He saw what Rui'er couldn't see, smiled for her, and took care of the family for her.
"Aya, help dad plant some flowers."
Qi Ya had no idea how to plant flowers, so he followed his father with a dull face, doing whatever his father told him to do. When the sun set, he was already impatient and wanted to run. Just as he stood up, a bright color appeared at the gate of the courtyard.
His dull face suddenly came alive, and he shouted excitedly, "Sister-in-law!"
Ye Nuan smiled at him, followed by several servants carrying water jars and Qi Wuze who was giving orders.
Qi Yan stood up and asked, "What are you doing carrying the water jar?"
Qi Wuze didn't say anything, but Ye Nuan replied: "This is rootless water. Dad will plant flowers with this every day and they will definitely sprout and bloom."
Ye Nuan took the kettle from Qi Wuze's hand and squatted down to water the flowerpot at her feet. The water in the kettle was the spiritual spring water she had dripped in. After it covered the soil, the roots of the flowers in the soil sprouted instantly.
Qi Yan opened his eyes wide in surprise, then watched Ye Nuan water the flowers one by one, and said as he watered, "You don't have to water them every day. Once every three or four days will be enough." The roots of the flowers in the pots sprouted one after another, waving in the spring breeze, full of vitality.
"You..." Qi Yan opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
Qi Wuze explained: "Dad, whatever A Nuan sows will come back to life."
"Whatever you plant grows." Qi Yan was a little stunned. Rui'er used to be very good at growing flowers.
Qi Yan squatted down and helped her loosen the soil for the flowers and trees, then listened to her talk about seeds and flowers. Qi Ya followed beside her, shoveling occasionally, while Qi Wuze moved the flower pots back and forth for him.
Qi Yan only came to his senses when the servants came to call for dinner. Ye Nuan took Qi Ya and left first, while Qi Wuze and his father fell behind.
Qi Yan deliberately walked slowly, and soon he had distanced himself from the two people in front of him. When he was sure that the people in front of him couldn't hear him, he lowered his voice and asked, "Does she really like you?"
"Of course." Qi Wuze was very confident about this. If she didn't like him, she could marry him.
"Then why doesn't she come to live in the City Lord's Mansion?"
"Dad, you're so old-fashioned. Who says you have to live in the City Lord's Mansion after getting married? I want to live with her. It's free!"
Qi Yan was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "You little brat, you still want to marry into my family?"
Qi Wuze really wanted to say that he almost married into the wife's family, but he didn't dare to say it, for fear that he would be furious again if he wasn't careful!
Qi Yan sighed, and after a while he said, "Since you've married me, treat me well. If you dare to be unfaithful, I'll make you suffer!"
Qi Wuze felt relieved, but he deliberately said, "Dad, why are you siding with her? I am your son."
"That girl has made a great decision to marry you. Why would you marry her if you can't treat her well?"
Qi Wuze suppressed his laughter and nodded: "I understand, Dad. I will definitely treat Mom like you do, wholeheartedly!"
A smile finally appeared on Qi Yan's face.
The next morning, Ye Nuan set off for the farm, and Qi Wuze took her to say goodbye to Qi Yan. The flowers in Lanting Courtyard had already sprouted, and Qi Yan nodded as he stood among the lush green seedlings. He then pulled out a brocade box and handed it to her.
"This is from my mother. She said she would pass it on to your wife later."
Qi Wuze took it and stuffed it into Ye Nuan's arms. Ye Nuan quickly said, "Thank you, Dad."
"Well, be careful on the road." He paused, then added: "Come to the City Lord's Mansion often when you have time."
"Okay, come when you're free."
Qi Ya originally wanted to go, but after Qi Wuze persuaded him, he agreed to stay and accompany Qi Yan.
It was still quite cold in early spring, and the sky was high and the clouds were vast as we walked. The greenery became increasingly lush as we approached the farm. From a distance, we could already see rows of man-sized trees and small wooden houses.
Spring plowing had begun. Farmhands were turning the soil, weeding, and planting. Su was busy taking out clothes and quilts to dry in the sun. But Xiaohu, with his sharp eyes, spotted the approaching convoy and shouted at the top of his voice, "Mom, my sister and brother-in-law are back!"
Everyone dismounted and entered the house. Su pulled Ye Nuan aside. Seeing that the mother and daughter had something personal to say, Qi Wuze took Gao Zangfeng and his group to survey the terrain around the farm to see how to expand it.
When Su saw the people walking away, she lowered her voice and asked, "Ah Nuan, do the people in the City Lord's Mansion still like you? Have you seen City Lord Qi's father? Does he like you?"
"Yes, they all like me very much. Aze's father recovered from his madness, and he likes me very much too. Look, this is the gift he gave me." Ye Nuan showed her the jade pendant around her neck. "This is what Aze's mother left for his wife, and his father gave it to me."
Su was relieved. "That's good. When a woman marries, she doesn't just look at the man's character. His family is also very important. If his father is a good person, you can go back and visit him often when you have time."
"Yeah, I understand, mom."
Su asked again: "Why did City Lord Qi bring so many people here?"
"He said he wanted to build more houses nearby and some defensive trenches. He also wanted to build a road from the farm to Luomu City, so travel would be fast and convenient."
Su smiled and said, "That's a good idea. Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to expand the farm and plant trees? He Xin and Jin Qiu have both asked several times what trees to plant."
She'd already prepared the saplings. Hearing her say that planting trees could change the weather, the people of the wasteland were enthusiastic, frequently asking if they had any, even offering jade to buy them. The thought of the wasteland being covered in greenery in a few years, with distinct seasons like the interior, and flowers blooming in spring, energized the people.
The people of the wasteland were united as never before. They planted trees, built roads, and constructed houses, working without a break for two months straight. As summer arrived, the farm's lotus pond flourished with lush green, its pink and white lotuses graceful and graceful. Qi Ya and Ye Xiaohu hid in the shade, eating lotus pods. The official road connecting the farm and Luomu City had been repaired, making travel there and back incredibly fast.
Qi Ya often came early in the morning and left before dark.
Qi Wuze, on the other hand, stayed at the farm most of the time. In his father's words, he had forgotten his mother after getting a wife. Ye Nuan would go there to stay for a while in the middle and end of the month.
From south of Shentian Pass to north of the desert, you can see emerald green saplings everywhere. The summer in the desert is not as hot as in previous years. The earth is no longer dry, and small animals can be seen running around from time to time.
Under Ye Nuan's care, Chujia Village has reclaimed a piece of farmland. When they saw the official road in Luomu City, they also became interested and worked together to build a road.
The villagers of Dahuang Village saw that something was wrong and started to build the road under the leadership of Jinbao.
The wasteland is busier than ever.
The deserts were busy, and so were the interior, busy dealing with the frequent droughts. Beichen had suffered a snowstorm last year, followed by a spring flood that broke the levees, and another drought in the summer. The people were short of food, and the court was even more short of food. It was inappropriate to offer relief anywhere.
Jiang Ji was doing well in the interior of the country, and she wrote a letter to Ye Nuan as soon as the drought struck.
On the day Ye Nuan received the letter, she was making lotus seed and lily water for the workers to cool down. She read the letter carefully several times before handing it to Qi Wuze next to her.
"Jiang Ji said the court was short of food, and someone suggested borrowing food from the wilderness. The imperial edict has already been sent to Shentian Pass, and the general of Shentian Pass will be in the wilderness soon."
Qi Wuze frowned: "Zhou Shou, the general of Shentian Pass?"
Ye Nuan asked: "Do you know him?"
Qi Wuze nodded: "We've met a few times. He's a tough guy with a hard face and a cold heart. I'll be guarding here for the next few days!"
Ye Nuan chuckled: "What are we guarding? Aren't there many horse bandits in the wilderness? I'll lead some men to ambush them tomorrow and then run away after defeating them."
Her expression was very serious. Qi Wuze raised his brows and came closer to her and laughed: "Madam is so smart. Don't worry, I will never let him get to the farm!" The two looked at each other and smiled.
Shentian Pass is having a rough year, with food shortages and numerous disaster victims. Zhou Shou was a bit confused when he received the imperial edict. "Going to the desert to borrow grain? The current emperor must have been so obsessed with the pleasures of life that he's lost his mind." How could there be food in such a remote and desolate place?
He first sent people to inquire, but none of them returned. In desperation, he had to go to the wilderness himself, but every time he was ambushed by bandits, he almost died once.
He went three times, but was forced to retreat before even getting past the Red Rocks. After being wounded the fourth time, Zhou Shou was completely enraged. He decided to drive all the exiled criminals from the interior of the country into the wilderness. He wanted to see what the bandits could do to him under the protection of thousands of criminals.
Qi Wuze and his men were lying in ambush at the Red Rock Field when a dark horse galloped towards them from a distance. The man dismounted and headed straight for his hiding place. Before he even got close, he urgently asked, "City Lord, what should we do about Zhou Shou, who brought thousands of refugees with him as cover?"
They could kill officers and soldiers, but they never killed refugees.
Qi Wuze spat out the grass residue in his mouth and said with a smile: "According to the original plan, since he doesn't care about the lives of the refugees, why should we care?"
"yes!"
He said so, but when the fight actually broke out, he still avoided the fleeing refugees. Zhou Shou and his four companions broke through the encirclement and headed straight for Crescent Lake. Qi Wuze cursed inwardly and ordered Gao Zangfeng to deal with the remaining officers and soldiers. He led his men in pursuit.
The falcon circled in the sky and flew towards Yunjian Farm, but Ye Nuan was not at the farm at this time. She was rushing back from Luomu City with her two children.
Qi Ya rode alone, while Ye Nuan followed behind with Xiao Hu. The sky was vast and cloudless, and the saplings on both sides of the official road stood upright. Suddenly, someone shouted in the distance. Ye Nuan took a look and suddenly felt that these people were strangely familiar. Wasn't this how they looked when they first came to the wasteland?
Shen Tianguan let in refugees again?
Ye Nuan frowned: Although she was also exiled, she did not want Beichen to treat the wasteland as a garbage dump forever.
What should I do?
She patrolled the space and suddenly came up with a good idea. Why not plant a lot of vines and carnivorous plants near Shentian Pass and build a defense tower.
I have to go back and discuss it with him.
While he was thinking, the group of refugees had already approached, and suddenly a surprised shout came from among them.
"Ye Nuan, Xiaohu!"
How do they know their own names?
Ye Nuan snapped back to look, only to find herself blocked by the refugees rushing out. She stopped her horse and took a closer look at the man before her. He was a thin, straight-backed middle-aged man with a pale face and a few wisps of beard. Though haggard, he had been quite handsome in his youth. Behind him was a delicate woman, who looked at her with a mixture of surprise and panic.
Obviously recognized her.
"Who are you?"
The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then he said angrily: "I am your father!"
Is this an insult?
Ye Nuan sneered: "I'm still your mother!"
The person opposite choked, then calmed down and said slowly, "Ah Nuan, I know you still blame Dad, but there was nothing we could do back then. The emperor's decree is without mercy!"
The woman behind him also poked her head out, looking at her timidly, lowering her eyes and crying, "Ah Nuan, blame me if you want to. It's my fault. You can't blame your father or Ru'er. No matter how angry you are, you can't ignore your father at this moment."
Ye Nuan listened for a while and finally understood what was going on.
So the man in front of her is her scumbag father, and the crying woman is Ye Ling’s original wife from the countryside, Xu?
Ha! What's going on now? Why are they here?
This vicious female supporting character was killed the moment she came here. The book should have ended here, so why did the heroine's parents run away to the wilderness?
Exiled? The heroine doesn't care?
Ye Xiaohu peeked out from behind her. Ye Ling immediately called out to him, but he glared back, cursing, "Where did you come from, bad guy? Get out of here! My mother said my father is dead. Who the hell are you?"
Ye Ling was shaking with anger. Su Shi had a violent temper and was always unyielding. Even if she hated him, she couldn't tell the child that he was dead!
Ye Nuan remained calm. She leaned over and asked tentatively, "I really don't know you. How about you tell me why you were exiled here so I can remember?"
Ye Nuan's face darkened a little, "You really don't know him?" He just kept saying this over and over again, as if he had heard a huge joke.
Never mind, she's not curious anymore.
"Get out of the way! A good dog doesn't block the road!" Ye Nuan whipped the horse whip and the horse rushed out, knocking Ye Ling and Xu who were blocking the way to the ground.
Ye Ling was furious behind him. After years of dealing in ink, he still had to curse at someone at this time. Xu Shi kept trying to calm him down, seemingly trying to comfort him, but every word was like adding fuel to the fire.
Ye Nuan sneered: He is indeed a sour scholar, showing off all his knowledge.
The three of them were walking quickly to the farm when they met another group of people. Ye Nuan stopped Qi Ya and he retreated alertly.
There were five people on the right side, all wearing blood-stained clothing, the uniforms of Shentian Pass officers and soldiers. The leader had a cold and fierce look on his face, and Ye Nuan vaguely guessed his identity.
Na Wu also saw her and rode closer, his attitude quite respectful. He asked, "Excuse me, young lady, are you going to Yunjian Farm? Do you know the owner Ye?"
Ye Nuan's eyes turned slightly, and she bowed to him and said gently: "Everyone in the wasteland knows Master Ye. We just came from the farm and are heading to Dahuang Village."
Zhou Shou's eyes were sharp as he looked at her rudely. He suddenly said, "Is the farm in the direction of Luomu City? But as far as I know, Yunjian Farm is close to Crescent Moon Lake, which is not the direction you are coming from."
Although he had never been to the wasteland, he still knew something about its terrain. Moreover, the imperial edict came with a secret letter, which clearly described the current situation of the wasteland and attached a map of the entire wasteland.
Ye Nuan chuckled: "Really?" Her eyes suddenly became sharp, and a whistle sounded. A large number of wolves suddenly appeared and surrounded the five people.
The wolves bared their teeth and seemed ready to pounce in the next second.
The war horses inside the pass had never seen such a posture before. They retreated repeatedly, raising their hooves and neighing, obviously frightened.
Zhou Shou, who was surrounded in the middle, stared at Ye Nuan and said coldly, "Who are you?"
In the distance, another horse galloped towards this side. Taxue took the lead and rushed through the wolf pack. Qi Wuze shouted anxiously: "A Nuan, are you all okay?"
Ye Xiaohu was very excited to see him, and waved and shouted, "Brother-in-law, we are fine!"
Zhou Shou was shocked and looked at Ye Nuan: "Are you the owner of Yunjian Farm—Ye Nuan?"
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