Chapter 267
After returning, Chief Mu and his companions gathered the others to discuss Yan Shujin's words, but not everyone agreed, as there were many issues involved.
Some have even suggested that Princess Yongfu might have been using a strategic retreat as a pretext, since no one would complain about having too little territory.
Chief Duo, who had remained silent until now, said, "It's possible that they're retreating to advance. And generally speaking, no one would complain about having too little territory. But I think Princess Yongfu is telling the truth; she doesn't want Nanzhong."
"Why?"
The chieftain of Duo Village said, "Because she was a Han Chinese woman, she was forced to separate from her child when the child was just a month old."
The people present were stunned for a moment, but then they all understood. In the end, Han Chinese women care a lot about their families, and many of them like to stay at home to support their husbands and raise their children.
Chief Duo said, "So I think she is telling the truth. Moreover, the price of books, and even the price of writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, is fine if it is only supplied to one or two people. But if it is supplied to all of us, we simply cannot go out. According to the approximate expenses, I think it would cost at least 10,000 taels of silver per year. Besides that, we cannot afford to hire a teacher."
Hiding them is not enough; too few of them are literate.
Chief Jin said, "The princess said she would leave in three days? Then we should leave some people behind to wait for the court officials. Why don't we wait and see?"
"Should we send those mountain products over?"
The chieftain said, "I'm going to give it to you, it's not like I'm not going to pay."
If they don't give her money or give her the wrong kind of money, they can see Princess Yongfu's character clearly beforehand, and then they won't have to expect anything from her later.
In fact, the mountain people are mostly self-sufficient. They are not poor, but they are not rich either. Every household has its own stock of mountain products, as well as various kinds of dried meat. Since they didn't know if Princess Yongfu wanted any, they prepared some, registered them together, and had them delivered to her.
Yan Shujin entrusted these matters to Pang Bin, and the price was set according to the price Yan Shujin had initially agreed upon. Moreover, he had already inquired about the market price beforehand, so as not to let anyone take advantage of him.
Moreover, the post station had already begun to organize its belongings, which showed that Yan Shujin's threat to leave was not just a bluff. This news immediately reached the ears of the mountain tribe chiefs.
Even after Yan Shujin and her group left Nanzhong, they still hadn't come up with a solution.
When Yan Shujin returned to Fuzhou, her daughter was already five months old. She was chubby and looked exceptionally cute. However, the child was nestled in her aunt's arms and looked at Yan Shujin without recognizing her. She wouldn't let Yan Shujin hold her, and would even cry loudly if Yan Shujin got close.
Aunt Yu and Yuzhu were both anxious and helpless, especially since the child was holding onto Aunt Yu tightly and wouldn't let go.
Yan Shujin said with red eyes, "It's okay, Aunt Yu, take care of the child first, don't let her cry and ruin her voice."
Aunt Yu felt sorry for Yan Shujin when she saw her appearance and said, "Princess..."
Yu Run also came today and said, "Princess, it will be fine in a few days."
Seeing that the child had stopped crying after being soothed, Yan Shujin said, "I know."
Mr. Du sighed upon seeing this and comforted her, saying, "When the child is older, you can take her with you when you go out, and this kind of thing won't happen again."
Yan Shujin responded and said, "Yuzhu, divide up the mountain goods I brought back."
"yes."
Yan Shujin looked at Mr. Du and said, "Let's go to the study."
Mr. Du was somewhat worried about Yan Shujin's health and asked, "Would the princess like to rest for a while?"
Yan Shujin said, "It's nothing."
Mr. Du did not try to persuade her further, and Yu Xing stayed behind to pack her luggage.
Yan Shujin first changed into casual clothes, then looked at her daughter before going to the study. At this time, not only Mr. Du, but also Mr. Pang and others had arrived.
Pang Bin gave a general account of what happened in the south, especially the attitude of the mountain people.
Mr. Du sneered and said, "Want to get something for nothing? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Yan Shujin actually thought the same way. No matter how sincere the hermit was, it was essentially what Mr. Du meant. Moreover, they wanted to gain an advantage and stay out of it. When the court investigated, it would be Yan Shujin's problem, and it would have nothing to do with them.
Pang Bin frowned and said, "In that case, should we still interfere?"
“We’ll manage,” Yan Shujin said. “But let them suffer a few losses first; we’re not in a hurry.”
Pang Bin also realized what was going on.
Mr. Pang glanced at his son and said, "You didn't understand on the way here why the princess left the prince consort behind but brought you back?"
Pang Bin really hadn't expected these things. He had always thought he understood those mountain people very well, but he never expected them to have such intentions. After all, whether it was business or anything else, he hadn't let the mountain people gain any advantage, and he thought he had handled things very well.
Yan Shujin said, "You'll understand after you encounter them a few more times. No matter what their personalities are like, they all have to think about themselves."
This wasn't meant to excuse them; after all, in the eyes of the mountain people, their clan leader was a good person, because their scheming against Yan Shujin was all for the benefit of their own people.
Pang Bin nodded, feeling somewhat defeated. His initial pride had vanished this time. He realized he could no longer be complacent and had to be more cautious in dealing with anyone and anything.
The matter in Nanzhong was settled in just a few words.
Yan Shujin said, "Find out who the imperial court sent to the south, and what that person's temperament and preferences are."
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