Chapter 164: The Xu Family Enters Shengdu City

In the 17th year of Renhe, the Wen family, after colluding with the enemy and committing treason, rebelled and forced the emperor to abdicate, resulting in his death.

A month later, the crown prince succeeded to the throne and changed the reign title to Changhe. The first decree issued by Emperor Changhe was to execute the nine clans of the Wen family.

During that period, the people of Shengdu city were reveling wildly, but the officials in the court were all in danger.

Following the Wen family, all the people in the Lin family were beheaded, and none of their three generations could be appointed as officials in the court. Even Princess Changle was punished and sent to the Qingxin Temple in the imperial mausoleum to confess her sins to Emperor Renhe.

The Wen family, which had been stirring up trouble in the court for decades, was finally uprooted. In order to prevent the birth of the next Wen family member, Emperor Changhe issued an edict that only the daughter of a minor official with a humble family background could be chosen as the empress.

Winter of the first year of Renhe

A convoy of carriages was slowly coming towards Shengdu City, and a group of people were already waiting at the city gate.

Yan Fu draped the fox flag over her young lady and could not help but said in a hurry: "Young lady, no matter how anxious you are to see the old lady and the madam, you must not ignore your own health. If His Majesty knew about this, he would have to leave the palace overnight."

Xu Nian pulled up the fox flag on his body and said softly to Yanfu and others, "Okay Yanfu, don't nag me anymore today. I have recovered a long time ago. Didn't Doctor Wang also say that my body has been restored to health?"

Although Yanfu closed her mouth, her cheeks were puffed up, and it was obvious that Xu Nian failed to convince her.

Since Xu Nian was injured, although the wound has healed, he is more afraid of the cold than before for some reason. Because of this, Xu Nian had to drink bitter medicine soup for three more months.

Luo Jinan and the people around her were even more exaggerated, feeling that she was a fragile doll who could not withstand the wind or rain.

At this moment, Niuniu pulled Xu Nian's sleeve and said, "Sister, another convoy is coming into the city."

Xu Nian looked up and saw her uncle Xu Weian sitting in the front of the car. She ran forward without caring about her manners. Xu Weian also saw Xu Nian running over and jumped out of the car.

"Uncle—"

"Nian'er, run slower."

There were more than a dozen carriages in the Xu family's convoy. Xu Nian looked behind with sparkling eyes. Xu Weian knew that Xu Nian must miss her family very much since they hadn't seen each other for almost two years, so he led her to the carriage of Old Man Xu and his wife.

"Grandpa, Grandma"

When Mr. and Mrs. Xu Ren heard Xinxin Nian's voice, they hurriedly opened the car window. When they saw Xu Nian, they couldn't help but shed tears.

"My dear little girl, you are such a cruel girl. You have been gone for two years, but you don't want to see an old woman like me anymore?"

Xu Nian sobbed and wiped her grandmother's tears, "Grandma, I think of you in my dreams, how could I not want to see you?"

Old Man Xu pushed Wang away and said to his eldest granddaughter with red eyes, "Don't listen to your grandma's nonsense. You are doing a big thing, what does she know? Go and tell your parents, it's not right for us to block the city gate."

Xu Nian agreed and comforted Wang with a few words before running towards his parents' carriage.

Xu Yaozu's brothers and Tian Qiao'er's sisters-in-law got off the carriage when they heard the noise. When Tian Qiao saw her daughter running towards them, she hugged her and cried uncontrollably.

"You cruel girl, you only know how to tear your mother's heart out," Tian Qiao patted Xu Nian's back but was reluctant to let go.

Zheng and Xiao Wang also followed suit and shed tears silently.

In the end, it was Xu Yaozu who stepped forward to persuade Tian Qiao to stop, and the group got in the car and headed for Xu's residence.

After Luo Jin'an ascended the throne, a number of officials in the court were punished, and many of their homes were confiscated, leaving some mansions vacant.

These mansions were very popular among officials because they were close to the imperial city. Xu Nian bought one as the Xu family's residence because of Luo Jin'an's relationship.

Although she would be willing to give her any amount as long as Luo Jinan gave her a generous gift, she still hoped to pay for the Xu family's residence herself. After all, she was not short of money.

What's more, Luo Jinan had already given her a better place, which was adjacent to Princess Changsheng's Mansion.

This Princess Changsheng was conferred the title after Luo Jin'an ascended the throne. She was the second princess Luo Xihe who had been disfavored before. However, everyone in Shengdu City now knows that Princess Changsheng is very much in the heart of the new emperor. After all, she is the only princess who was conferred the title of the country since the founding of the country.

In the carriage, Xu Nian snuggled in Tian Qiao's arms and told her mother everything that happened after she left Northern Xinjiang, but she automatically omitted the fact that she was injured.

Tian Qiao looked at her daughter sitting beside her and finally felt relieved. Although her daughter had been sending letters to her since she left home, cold handwriting could not make her feel at ease like a real person.

Tian Qiao looked at her daughter who was becoming more and more noble, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. The Xu family could be what it is today thanks to their eldest daughter, but she was always afraid that her daughter would meet the wrong person, after all, that person was now the emperor.

Throughout the dynasties, although there have been examples of loving emperors and empresses, which emperor did not have three thousand beauties in his harem? But how could she not understand her daughter? She was afraid that her daughter would not tolerate her husband taking a concubine.

Seeing that her daughter was speaking with great interest, Tian Qiao forced herself to cheer herself up and told her a few important things that happened in the Xu family.

The three Xu Ji brothers had already passed the imperial examinations and became scholars. Although Xu Jian sat on the red chair, he was also a scholar at the bottom.

Xu Weian married Su Qiaohui three months ago, and the Su family only has one daughter, so he decided to settle down in Shengdu after selling his family business.

Yanxiu also married the manager of the manor two months ago. Tian Qiao decided to release her indenture, and knowing that Xu Nian valued this girl, she gave her six loads of dowry. The young couple stayed in Northern Xinjiang to manage the two manors under Xu Nian's name.

This time when Xu Yaozu was transferred to Shengdu City, the Xu family disposed of all the farms in the northern border, leaving only the small farm in Helingshan County under the name of Xu Nian.

The small farm was entrusted to Wang the Hunter, and the produce was used to send the children of Wanying Village to school.

As for Jingxin Pavilion, Old Man Xu handed it over to the owner, and 20% of the Jingxin Pavilion's annual income was used as the owner's remuneration.

Tian Qiao told Xu Nian about these things and also listened to her opinion. If there was anything wrong with the arrangement, she could write to her brother-in-law and father-in-law and ask them to help make adjustments while they were still in Northern Xinjiang.

Xu Nian didn't have any opinion on this. They were all trustworthy people. Moreover, as the Xu family prospered, these people would not make any mistakes. After all, only when the Xu family was doing well would they be well.

At this time, the carriage stopped and Mo Bai's voice came over.

"Old lady, please be careful. I will help you get out of the car."

As soon as Xu Nian came down, he saw Mo Bai acting like a filial son and a good grandson, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Mo Bai heard the laughter and came to Xu Nian's side, "Your subordinate greets the young lady. His Majesty said that it is not convenient for him to come, so he specially asked me to express his gratitude on his behalf."

"Oh? Really? Let me guess, Commander Mo is working so hard, is it because your Majesty has given you some benefits?"