Chapter 705 Direction (Part 1)

As soon as Jian'er left, Shiyi Niang suddenly felt as if she had lost something and suddenly became lazy. Xu Sizhen invited a goldsmith to come home to make jewelry, but she just made two red gold bracelets with Ruyi patterns for fun. Yingniang was the bride, and the jewelry she brought as a dowry was not only new, but also the latest Su style. However, Shiyi Niang still used her own money to make two red gold rings and two pairs of red gold earrings for her. On the day of the wedding, she took Jiang and Yingniang with her.

Jiang was familiar with everyone and was chatting with them with a smile. However, Yingniang was the first to do so. She held Shiyi Niang's hand and followed closely behind. She was nervous at first, but calmed down after meeting a few people. When Shiyi Niang was invited by the former Grandmother Lin, now Madam Lin of Weibei, to sit in the east chamber of the main courtyard, she was there to help serve tea and water.

Huang Sanniang looked out the window at Jiang Shi who was talking to the wife of the son of the Duke of Zhongqin and the eldest young lady of the Tang family, the Marquis of Zhongshan. She smiled and pointed at Shiyi Niang and said, "Does it look like our time?"

Everyone in the room looked in the direction her hand was pointing.

The wife of the Prince of Zhongqin wore a light green plain face makeup, a floral jacket, and a pearl headpiece, which made her look indescribably elegant and simple.

"I didn't see you." Mrs. Tang smiled, "I think you look a bit like Mrs. Xu back then."

Eleventh Lady smiled slightly.

Grandma Huang San said with emotion: "Times have changed. We used to stand under the roof and talk, but now we all sit inside!"

Mrs. Gan laughed: "I have never stood in front of the house, so don't make your business ours."

The room was filled with laughter.

When I got home, Xu Lingyi was sitting by the bed reading a letter.

"It's from Jian'er." He raised the letter in his hand. Shiyi Niang had no choice but to sit down beside the bed. "What does it say?" She quickly snatched the letter.

Xu Lingyi laughed. Shiyi Niang didn't care to say anything to him and started reading the letter at a glance.

The letter was sent from Xuantong. Although it was short, it gave a clear account of the food, clothing, housing and transportation along the way.

Knowing that Jian'er had a safe journey, Shiyi Niang felt relieved, but she still looked again and again before letting it go.

"Don't worry." Xu Lingyi stood up and hugged Lou Shiyi Niang, "Jian'er is fine.

In ten days we will reach Jiayuguan!"

Eleventh Lady nodded.

Ten days later, Jianger received another letter, which described how he visited the general of Jiayuguan when he arrived at Jiayuguan, what he said at Jiayuguan, where he lived, how big the place was, and which guard post he was assigned to. He wrote down every detail.

Because she was injured, Shiyi Niang wrote a letter to Jiang'er and sent someone to report her safety to Binju.

A few days later, Jianger not only wrote back, but also had someone bring back a set of Hu people's clothes and some dried grapes, saying that the clothes were a birthday gift for Shiyi Niang, and the dried grapes were for everyone to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.

Shiyi Niang was very happy. She wore Hu clothing in private to show Xu Lingyi and Yingniang. She packed the grapes in a beautiful paper box and sent some to various places. Mrs. Gan returned the shoes and socks, and Cao E made a set of clothes: "Someone is going to Jiayuguan, take them with you." Shiyi Niang was very interested in writing letters to Jiange'er. Before the Dragon Boat Festival, she wrote to Jiange'er to tell him how his family was preparing to celebrate the festival, and after the Dragon Boat Festival, she told him how his family celebrated the festival. She wrote a letter every five days, and no matter whether Jiange'er came back or not, she would send someone to Jiayuguan without fail.

Jianger wrote back every ten days. At first, he just simply reported that he was safe, but as time went by, he also began to tell Shiyi Niang about some training or things at the guardhouse.

In mid-June, Yingniang was diagnosed with pregnancy.

The whole family was overjoyed. At this time, Luo Zhenxing was able to govern the county well and was promoted to the governor of Jiuyang Prefecture.

...Although the flood did not cause a disaster and the people were very poor, at least he was a prefect of the fifth rank."

Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "As long as nothing goes wrong, I can be transferred to a more prosperous state in a few years, and it won't be long before I am promoted to the position of Vice Governor or Governor."

Shiyi Niang was naturally happy for Luo Zhenxing.

The people in the mansion looked at Yingniang differently. She seemed to be unfazed by honor or disgrace.

Every morning, after greeting Shiyi Niang, she would go to the greenhouse in the back garden to tend to the flowers and plants with Ji Ting's wife and daughter-in-law. When Shiyi Niang finished her nap, she would come to talk to her, do needlework, or accompany her to go around. In the evening, she would stay at Shiyi Niang's place for dinner, and then go to greet the lady-in-law together, and after sending Shiyi Niang back to her room, she would go back to her own residence.

Eleventh Lady originally wanted to exempt Yingniang from the morning and evening visits, but when she saw that Xu Siyi accompanied Yingniang every morning and went back every evening, she swallowed her words.

Jianger knew that he was going to be an uncle again soon, so he sent a piece of fine Hetian jade engraved with the words "everything goes well" and even guessed in the letter whether it was a niece or a nephew, and if it was a niece, what name would be good, and if it was a nephew, what name would be good.

Seeing that he was cheerful in his words, Shiyi Niang knew that he had passed the initial adaptation period, and she was very happy. She and Ying Niang laughed at him for a while and sent him winter clothes.

But this joyful atmosphere did not last long. In October, several small-scale wars broke out in Jiayuguan. Jianger did not mention it in the letter, but since Jianger was in Jiayuguan, everyone was naturally paying special attention to Jiayuguan. As soon as the news came from the Huichu, Shiyi Niang knew about it.

She was extremely anxious: "It is said that there are times of victory and times of defeat, and the times of defeat are more than the times of victory!"

"It's okay, it's okay." Xu Lingyi comforted her, "Whether we win or lose, the guard post where Jiange'er is located is relatively far back and remote. Unless it's a large-scale attack, it won't reach him. And I've already sent people to the Ministry of War to ask, and there's nothing wrong in his area." He assured, "If there's anything wrong with him, someone will report it to me."

Eleventh Lady still felt uneasy.

Brother Jian's letter has arrived.

The letter to Shiyi Niang was still about reporting safety. The letter to Xu Lingyi, however, talked about the war. Not only that, he also talked about the use of troops by the general of Jiayuguan. He did not comment on the victories, but cited the failures one by one in the letter.

Eleventh Lady frowned, "When did Jin'er become so extreme? Fortunately, you are at home. If you were in the Five Military Commandery and heard such gossip, I'm afraid you would lose your position in Jiayu Pass."

"It's normal for a child to have such a reaction." Xu Lingyi smiled, "If people only praise others, I'll be worried." Then he smiled, "However, his words are not completely unreasonable. The general of Jiayuguan was in charge of grain and grass during the Western Expedition. Because of his stable temperament, he was appointed as the general of Jiayuguan. Although what Jian'er said is not appropriate and childish, it is not completely unreasonable." As he spoke, his expression revealed a hint of pride. He did not return to the study, but wrote back to Jian'er in the east room where Shiyi Niang was studying.

Eleven was grinding ink on the side.

Xu Lingyi told Jiange'er his views on the war and suggested that Jiange'er learn about the major battles in Jiayuguan over the past century and then explain why they won or lost.

Although Jiangeer still wrote to Shiyi Niang every ten days as before, he didn't reply to Xu Lingyi until almost two months later. In the letter, he detailed the century-long war in Jiayuguan and expressed his own views. The letter was more than forty pages long and contained several letters.

Xu Lingyi expressed his opinion on his letter.

The father and son stayed at my place and discussed military tactics. Often, I would receive a letter from my brother the day before and another the next day.

People in the mansion didn't know what Xu Lingyi and Jian Ge'er were talking about, they only knew that the letters came and went so frequently that they happened almost every two or three days. Some people couldn't help but exclaim: "How much money would it cost to expedite just these six hundred li!"

"It's not your money!" Someone laughed, "The Marquis doesn't feel bad, but you should. It's really the Emperor who is not anxious, but the eunuch is anxious to death."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Manager Zhao from the Huichu Office walked past those people without looking at them, and asked to see Xu Lingyi with a stern expression.

Eleventh Lady immediately thought of Jiang'er... She hurried to the study in the outer courtyard and met Manager Zhao.

Manager Zhao bowed to her respectfully and hurried out of the academy.

"Don't be impatient!" Before Shiyi Niang could speak, Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "It's not about Jian'er." Then he took a few steps forward and whispered in her ear, "It's about Changshun..."

"Changshun?" Shiyi Niang's face turned pale. "What happened to Changshun?"

When Li Ji was nominated for the position of Tongzhi of Fujian Command, someone mentioned his father Li Zhong, saying that Li Zhong had committed "heavy crimes". The emperor was furious. If it weren't for Chen Ge Lao's intervention, Li Ji would have lost his position.

Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang went to the warm room behind the study and talked: "The Wang family sent someone to take Changshun to Liaoning."

Eleventh Lady was stunned: "Is there anyone else in their family? Could the person who wants to take Changshun away be a fake?"

"It's not fake!" Xu Lingyi said, "Only the Wang family and I know about this, and I know the person who came to pick up Changshun, and he also took the token from that year." Then he sighed, "Although I haven't contacted the Wang family in the past few years, I have been paying attention to the Wang family's affairs. They were exiled to Liaodong. There is a sea in Liaodong. Wang Jiubao's cousin is also a figure. In the past two years, he has hooked up with the Wei people. He went to Liaodong to collect pearls and helped the people of the Kawei Station to smuggle goods. Not only did he make a lot of money, but he also opened up the situation. It's just that they came from Fujian to Liaodong suddenly, and it was hard all the way. After arriving in Liaodong, they were not able to adapt. Several children died. Changshun is now the only living child of the Wang family. Now that the Wang family is stable, it is natural for them to want Changshun to go back and recognize his ancestors."

"Of course it would be good to go back." Shiyi Niang pondered, "Following Binju, Changshun would be better off being like Chang'an. I'm just worried whether the Wang family has really established a firm foothold in Liaoning? Will the affairs of the Wang family be mentioned again in a few years? At least his safety must be guaranteed."

"I'm not completely sure about this matter." Xu Lingyi said, "But I think the Wang family is going to take Changshun back now, so they must be somewhat sure that they can protect Changshun's safety. Otherwise, if Changshun were to die, wouldn't the Wang family be extinct?"

Not having an heir is a big deal!

Shiyi Niang nodded slightly. Despite this, Xu Lingyi still did some research, and then he took the Wang family to Jiayuguan to pick up the child under the pretext of delivering something to Jiange'er... At the time of the winter solstice, news came from Jiayuguan that Changshun was not used to the local climate and suddenly fell ill and died.

Although Binju already knew the whole story, she was still very sad.

“I wonder if he will remember me?”

"Yes!" Eleventh Lady held her hand. "You are so good to him, he will remember it."

"I don't want him to remember it." Bin Ju smiled with tears in her eyes, "I'm just worried that he won't live a good life. Poverty has its advantages, and wealth has its dangers."

That makes sense.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but nodded.

Supplement for the extra update on October 3rd!