Chapter 144: Female Housewife Ye Qingwei and Xu Nian coax the child
As expected, Luo Jin'an left the mansion at night, but before leaving, he left his secret guards with Xu Nian. Although Mo Bai disagreed with this, he had no choice but to disobey his master's orders.
However, Xu Nian knew nothing about the fact that Yu Luo Jin'an left behind secret guards. In the early morning, a green cloth carriage quietly left Fengyang City and headed for Benyang City.
A little girl in a light blue dress sat next to Xu Nian in the carriage and looked out the window curiously.
"Sister Nian, are we leaving here?" It was Niu Niu who asked the question. Her current name is Ye Qingwei, which was given by Xu Nian, after her mother's surname Ye. The word "Qingwei" represents Xu Nian's expectation for her. He hopes that she will grow up to be a sunny and optimistic girl.
Xu Nian touched the little girl's yellow hair and said with a smile, "Sister Nian will take you to a fun place."
Ye Qing nodded obediently, but she still felt a little reluctant in her heart. She didn't want to leave where her mother was.
Xu Nian looked at the depressed girl and comforted her: "Niuniu is still young, you have to live with your sister now, but when you grow up and have the ability to support yourself, if you still want to come back here, you can always come back to live here."
"Really?"
Xu Nian nodded and said with a smile: "Sister has registered a female household for you, and your household registration will be in Fengyang City. You can come back anytime when you grow up."
Because they, mother and daughter, were originally military slaves of the Yanyang Army, their household registration documents had long been lost, so Luo Jinan re-registered the girl.
Xu Nian's proposal fell on Fengyang City, after all, Niu Niu's mother was buried here.
After hearing what Xu Nian said, Ye Qingwei wiped away her previous frustration and smiled happily, although she was still young and didn't know what this female household represented.
It was not easy to establish a female household in the prosperous dynasty. Not only were there many restrictions, but only women who inherited part of the property could become a female household under certain conditions.
As long as a woman becomes a female household, her property is protected by the laws of the prosperous dynasty. For example, if an ordinary woman's dowry is taken away by her husband's family, the husband's family will be condemned by the secular world. However, it is different for a female household, as she can recover her property through legal means.
Xu Nian purchased a two-story house and a small farm of 100 acres in Ye Qingwei's name, so that even if the girl returned to Fengyang City in the future, she would have a place to stay and a business to support herself.
Xu Nian felt relieved from the bottom of his heart as he saw that the little girl was obviously more lively than the previous two days.
The group arrived at the Border Guard's Mansion before noon. When Xu Nian saw Guan Minghui, she couldn't help but sigh at the wonder of fate. She never thought that the lady of the Border Guard's Mansion was actually Wang Pinting's cousin.
Guan Minghui was also very surprised to see Xu Nian. This was the first time she had met an acquaintance from Northern Xinjiang since she married into Yangcheng. Although they had met only a limited number of times before, they admired each other very much.
After Xu Nian explained his purpose, Guan Minghui nodded in understanding. However, when she learned that Xu Nian's trip was to collect food and fodder for the front line, she was shocked.
Although she had always felt that Xu Nian was not an ordinary housekeeper, she never expected her to be so extraordinary.
The two were talking happily when they heard some noise in the courtyard. When Xu Nian heard Guan Minghui call the people in the courtyard "Princess Xihe", she knew that she must be the cousin that Luo Jinan mentioned.
She then walked out and took a look at the second princess of the dynasty. She saw that the girl was wearing a very simple training suit.
A small oval face, a pair of sharp eyes, and a cherry-shaped mouth slightly opened, looking at her in surprise.
She stepped forward, bowed, and said with a smile, "Your servant Xu Nian greets Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Xu Nian had thought of many possibilities for her meeting with Luo Xihe along the way, but she never expected that the princess would ask her if she wanted to get married right away.
Although she was stunned by the question for a moment, after she came to her senses, Xu Nian felt a little closer to the princess in front of her. At least this Xi and the princess were not difficult to get along with.
After some understanding, Xu Nian found out that Luo Xihe was only fourteen years old this year and was the only daughter of his family.
But since she was sent to marry, she knew without asking that this princess was not favored, and even the successor in the palace was not in power.
Ever since Xu Nian came to the Border Guard's Mansion, the mansion has been bustling every day. Not only because there is the child Niuniu who occasionally adds fun, but mainly because Xu Nian can always come up with new ideas.
Following the bookmarks and handbags a few days ago, today I brought everyone to do the rolling lantern thing.
Qingwei squatted in front of a pile of bamboo strips, holding her chin and asked curiously: "Sister Nian, can the lamp also roll?"
Luo Xi, who was also squatting on the ground with his chin in his hand, asked the same question as Qing Wei.
Xu Nian picked up the bamboo pieces and formed a circle, and said with a smile: "Not only can this lamp roll up, but the candle flame will not go out."
Xu Nian's words caused the two, one big and one small, to open their mouths in surprise. Luo Xihe even picked up a bamboo stick and was ready to help.
"Nian'er, let me help you. I'm so curious... Ouch—"
Because Luo Xihe was not paying attention, her finger was scratched by the burrs of the bamboo. Xu Nian was frightened and quickly grabbed her finger to check it.
Fortunately, there was no cut, but Xu Nian still couldn't help but mutter: "These bamboo pieces have not been treated, it's easy to hurt people, go sit with Qingwei, don't touch these things anymore."
Luo Xihe stuck out his tongue embarrassedly, then walked over obediently and sat down with Ye Qingwei.
Qingwei came over and blew on Luo Xihe's fingers carefully, "Sister Xihe, you are not behaving well. Sister Nian said that you can't touch dangerous things."
Luo Xihe pulled the little girl's hair and said in feigned anger, "You are just like your sister Nian, a little housekeeper."
Ye Qing pouted her lips slightly and snorted, "Xi and Sister said bad things about Sister. Qingwei doesn't want to play with Xi and Sister anymore."
"Oh, you little heartless boy, I know you miss your sister, I send you delicious cakes every day..."
Xu Nian looked at the big and small ones quarreling again and shook his head helplessly.
When Guan Minghui came in, what she saw was Mo Yu who was like a bamboo-splitting machine, Xu Nian who was doing something unknown, and Luo Xi and Niuniu who were playing as usual.
She shook her head with laughter. Xu Nian really came up with different ways of playing with the two children every day, even though she was one year younger than Xi and the princess.
"Sister Xu, what new thing are you making?"
Looking at Guan Minghui approaching, Xu Nian smiled and raised the bamboo lantern in her hand. "Sister Guan, I'm trying to make a rolling lantern. I read in ancient books that rolling lanterns have the meaning of praying for blessings and avoiding disasters. It happens that New Year's Day is coming soon, so I'll make a few to liven up the atmosphere for everyone."