"Xiaodie?"
"Why is Xiaodie here?" Wang narrowed her eyes and looked at her in surprise. After a moment's thought, she asked assumingly, "Oh, she must be here to congratulate Honglei! Where's Yipeng? Yipeng must be here too, right?"
Guo Honglei shook his head. It was inconvenient to explain in public, so he replied vaguely, "Brother Shi didn't come."
Wang, surrounded by the younger generation, continued walking forward and sighed, "That child must be too busy with official duties."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were unaware of the Gong family's misfortune. Wang Qiaozhen, too, had misunderstood, mistakenly believing the other party was there for a wedding. However, as she was currently outnumbered, she had no choice but to swallow her old grudges and new grudges. With a playful, surprised smile, she asked, "Oh? Isn't this the prefect's wife? We met in the prefectural capital a long time ago, and we're meeting today. It's been a long time since we last met. How have you been?"
"Oh, it's hard to put it into words. I haven't seen you for a long time, and my cousin's wife is still so funny and humorous."
When enemies meet, all the pent-up resentment and anger of the past surges back. But considering her husband's current danger, Liao Xiaodie can only suppress her old and new hatreds. She steels herself, puts on a smile, and quickly approaches, holding her daughter. She puts her daughter down, grits her teeth, and resolutely kneels and kowtows, saying excitedly, "Old Madam! Xiaodie greets you. Zhu'er, come and kowtow."
Wang was startled, then delighted. She bent down and helped her up personally. "She's not a stranger, so why bother with such formalities? Hurry up and get up." She helped Liao Xiaodie up, stroked the girl's cheek, and asked lovingly, "Are you Baozhu?"
Gong Baozhu had been seriously ill and had not yet recovered, so she was not very energetic. She looked like her mother, with almond-shaped eyes, a pointed chin, a pale face, and a timid expression. However, she bowed properly and said in a childish voice, "Zhu'er greets you."
"Oh, what a good child, so polite!" Wang praised him greatly, then changed the subject and asked with concern, "Is this child sick?"
Liao Xiaodie's brows immediately darkened. Going with the flow, she picked up her daughter and said distressedly, "She had a serious illness, but fortunately, she's gradually recovering. My daughter is unlucky. She's been born with many ailments, and she's been taking medicine almost all year round. It's really worrying for her as a parent! Alas, it's precisely because of my daughter that I can't get away. I really wanted to go to Changping to visit you, but she's been sick one after another, and it's been so frustrating that I haven't been able to go. I hope the old lady and sister-in-law won't blame me."
Wang patted the girl's head with pity. "You're being too polite! Although you're not free, Yipeng has visited us several times. We've heard from him that Baozhu is weak. How could we blame you?"
"Yes." Wang Qiaozhen half believed and half doubted, but she agreed with her mother-in-law, "Being a mother is not easy. We all know that and we never blame you."
Then, the group greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries.
Guo Honglei urged, "Let's go inside and talk."
In a short while, a group of people rushed into the guest house.
Guo Honglei felt obliged to do so, busying himself with his third brother as he explained, "Many of us are staying at the rear yamen, so we wouldn't want to burden the magistrate's family too much. We'll ask my mother and sister-in-law to stay for a few days. Once the house we bought is ready, we'll pick the nearest auspicious day to move in."
After days of traveling, Wang sat exhausted and said kindly, "I read the letter and saw all the good news. I was so happy that I couldn't sit still. I couldn't wait for you to make all the arrangements, so I packed my bags and rushed over. Now that you've chosen a house, anyway, we can all squeeze in and stay for a few days. It's no problem."
As soon as the elder spoke, the younger generations all echoed him.
Now that the relatives are here, we can only find ways to settle them down.
Guo Honglei glanced at the sky and arranged, "Mother, please go back to your room and rest for a while. We'll have lunch together later. After lunch, let's all rest for a while to relax. We can talk more in the evening. What do you think?"
Wang was old and her back ached. She stood up with great effort. "Okay, let's do it. Oh, my old bones are almost broken by the long journey. Yu'er, come back to your room and wash up."
"Oh." Guo Yu jumped and danced, leaning close to his grandmother.
"Please go slow." Guo Honglei supported his mother and turned to say, "You two should discuss it and go to the kitchen to help. Come back and report after lunch is served."
"Yes!" Zou Gui and Hu Gang took the order, put their money bags in their pockets, and went to the kitchen together to ask the cook to prepare the meal.
After a busy time and finishing the meal, the people who came from afar all looked tired, said goodbye one after another, and went back to their rooms to rest.
Jiang Yushu was in confinement after giving birth and did not need to entertain her mother-in-law and others, so she was leisurely.
When Guo Honglei finished his work and returned to his room, she was reading the Yongzhou Chronicles meticulously.
"What's the point of practicing during the confinement period? You should just rest and recuperate." Guo Honglei took off his outer robe and washed himself in front of the washstand, making the sound of water splashing.
Jiang Yushu raised her eyes, closed the book, sat up straight and stretched, "I've been resting all day and night, and the more I rest, the more tired I'm going to be. I have to find something to do to relieve my boredom."
"I'm afraid I'll be overwhelmed with official duties in a while. Where are the children?"
Jiang Yushu smiled and said, "He stays awake for less than a quarter of an hour each time and falls asleep after eating. He rarely cries and is very well behaved."
"Well, very good!"
Guo Honglei walked into the inner room, took away the kang table with the four treasures of the study and a pile of annals, lowered the curtains, and fell on the couch with his wife in his arms. "Rest for a while! I didn't expect mother and the others to come early. The situation has changed. Buying a house can't be delayed for a moment. Rest for half an hour. I will take my third brother out to buy that yard." Because of his shoulder injury, he lay flat on his back, holding his wife with one hand, and said seriously:
"We are not county officials. How can we, as a family, live in the back office? We must move out as soon as possible."
Jiang Yushu could only comfort him, "Although it's against the rules, there's nothing we can do. Mother-in-law and the others are already here. Don't worry, I've always paid for my own food and never burdened other families. So, you don't have to worry too much."
"In short, we must move out as soon as possible!" Guo Honglei said firmly. Born a noble son, he could not, no matter how hard or miserable he was, endure living under someone else's roof. Before the decisive battle with the Northern Qi, he had carefully considered the matter and, in desperation, solemnly entrusted his eight-month-pregnant wife to the care of others. On his triumphant return, he began planning his home.
Jiang Yushu naturally agreed, "Okay, I'll listen to you!"
"By the way," Guo Honglei said, closing his eyes, "Mother is curious about the imperial edict. Remember to take it out and show it to everyone tonight."
"Okay, I'll remember that. Go to sleep now, because I have to go out and do some work soon."
In mid-February, the weather was still cold, but the young couple hugged each other affectionately, feeling warm and cozy.
When Jiang Yushu woke up, she was the only one left in the bed. Guo Honglei tiptoed out in a hurry to buy a house.
at night
Wang rested for an afternoon, took a bath and had her meal. After she recovered, she went to visit her little grandson with great interest, and the others followed.
Guo Honglei took the lead, carefully pushing the door half open, inviting his relatives in one by one, then closing the door and ordering, "Bring the child out."
"Hey." Nanny Qiu held the baby and, following Nanny Pan's instructions, politely saluted Wang. "Old Madam—"
Wang hurriedly stopped him, "No need to bow! Sit down and hold it tight."
The wet nurse sat down and held the baby steadily.
Everyone came closer and bent down to take a closer look.
Wang narrowed her eyes, holding her breath as she gazed at the sleeping baby in the cradle. She frowned slightly, then suddenly became delighted and praised, "Good! Good!" She turned around and waved, cheerfully asking, "Come and see, this child looks exactly like Honglei back then!"
The trusted old servant did as she was told, approached, bowed, and took a few steps back, hands hanging low. She sighed, "Oh, what a resemblance, they could have been cast from the same mold! This old servant remembers it clearly. Back then, the Second Young Master was exactly like him, exactly like him—look carefully, even the way he sleeps is exactly the same."
Wang smiled, "That's right."
"There's a new baby in the house, congratulations, old lady."
"Congratulations, second brother."
"Congratulations, second brother, there is someone to take over your career."
…
For a moment, congratulations and auspicious words were heard everywhere, and Wang was in high spirits and smiling.
Tsk, so skinny? Could he be like my third brother, born with a congenital deficiency? Wang Qiaozhen wondered.
The adults were tactful and only spoke auspicious words, but the little boy was full of childish words. Guo Yu looked at him for a long time, then asked in surprise, "Grandma, why is my brother so thin? His face is so red? We clearly called him a 'fat boy' on the street. Oh, he's too young, how can he play with me?"
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a dead silence and all the adults were stunned.
Guo Honglei was the first to come back to his senses. He laughed and replied, "You want him to play with you? Then you'll have to wait patiently for a while."
Wang Qiaozhen suppressed her laughter, pinched her son's cheek, and said angrily, "Your younger brother isn't even a month old yet, of course he's small! You're the older brother, so you have to be nice to him from now on, okay?"
"I understand." Guo Yu noticed that the adult's expression had changed, and he looked embarrassed.
As long as it was a grandson, the old woman was content. Mrs. Wang said kindly, "Babies under a month old are all like this. They'll grow up plump and white in a while!"
"What's your brother's name?" Guo Yu couldn't hold back his words.
Guo Honglei answered loudly: "Guo Ye."
"Has it been named?" Wang turned her head in surprise.
Guo Honglei explained, "I've consulted with the abbot of a famous local temple. I'll be staying for a few more days before returning to camp, so I'm rushing to finish my chores."
"Well, that's fine." Wang nodded and told the nurse, "Take good care of the child."
"Yes." Seeing the old man walking out, Mrs. Qiu quickly stood up and watched him go.
Wang turned around and said, "Let's go and see Yushu."
A moment later
The outer room was crowded with people. Jiang Yushu was wrapped tightly by Nanny Pan. She bowed properly and said with her head bowed, "I haven't been able to visit you for two or three years. Please forgive me, old lady."
Wang took her second daughter-in-law by the arm and said kindly, "No need to be polite! We're a family and there's no need for formalities. You're in confinement after childbirth, so it's hard for you to come out and about. Please sit down, please sit down."
"It's my duty. It's extremely rude that I failed to greet the elders today." Jiang Yushu didn't want to be praised or criticized, so she insisted on bowing and paying her respects to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
After a long separation, Guo Hongxuan bowed and shyly called out, "Second sister-in-law."
Wang Qiaozhen pushed him, and Guo Yu took small steps forward, looking up at the unfamiliar relative wearing a woolen hat, "Second Aunt."
Jiang Yushu answered them one by one, and finally bent down to stare at her nephew, "It's been so long since we last met, Yu'er doesn't even remember me."
Guo Yu was stunned and couldn't help asking, "It's warm in the room. Auntie, you're wearing a big fur hat. Aren't you hot?"
"Madame Pan meant that," Jiang Yushu replied briskly, "I've been feeling cold lately." She straightened up, raised her hand, and said, "Madam, please sit down. Sister-in-law, third brother, fourth brother, all of you, sit down. Let's have a good chat."
After a while, the family sat around the round table, holding the imperial edict and discussing it for a long time before starting to discuss household affairs.
Wang asked seriously, "Do you want to buy land in Yuehu Town?"
Guo Honglei nodded, and Jiang Yushu said slowly, "Heqinwei is in Yuehu, very close to Liu Village. The houses and farmland in the village are very cheap. We have lived here for two or three years and are familiar with the place. We might as well buy some land and build a small farm. It will provide a place for our family members to live and a job, and we can also provide a place for everyone to stay occasionally. What do you think?"
"Yuehu Town? It's at the northernmost tip of Xicang." Wang frowned in thought.
Wang Qiaozhen curled her lips. "It's a bit remote and poor, isn't it?"
Jiang Yushu smiled. "In Western Cang, Yuehu is indeed the northernmost part, but looking at the border, Yuehu has a good terrain, especially Liucun. Liucun is located on the bank of the Cang River, very close to the ferry. Now that Yongzhou has been recovered, with time, the devastation will be healed one by one, and trade will gradually flourish. Yuehu will slowly become prosperous."
"This, this sounds reasonable." Wang took a sip of tea.
Guo Honglei chimed in, saying seriously, "Back then, the imperial decree ordered the soldiers to be exiled to the fields. According to the law, once enlisted, one could not leave the military household. Fortunately, thanks to the emperor's mercy, the Guo family has been pardoned from exile. From now on, all those exiled will receive military pay, and all the able-bodied men in Changping and Heqin will have no worries about food and clothing. The remaining servants in the fields, the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children, are all hereditary servants of the Jingyang Marquis's mansion. They have always shared the joys and sorrows, and they deserve to be accommodated."
Wang sighed and warned, "If we don't take care of them, they'll probably end up on the streets. Since Yuehu is a good place, let's buy some farmland there. Honglei, pick a few experienced managers to take care of the farm."
Guo Honglei replied, "Yes." Then, the young couple looked at each other and told the details of the Gong family's affairs.
"What?"
"Gong Yipeng was investigated by the imperial envoy?" Wang Qiaozhen stood up suddenly, her face changing suddenly.
Wang was shocked and incredulous. "How, how is this possible? Yipeng has been honest and upright since he was a child. He would never embezzle or accept bribes. He doesn't have the guts to do that!"
"Hmph, Yipeng is a dutiful man. It's a pity he married such a restless wife." Wang Qiaozhen suddenly understood and couldn't help gloating. She sneered and said, "So, Xiaodie didn't come to celebrate the full moon, but to beg for help."
Guo Hongxuan, clutching a half-peeled chestnut, asked in confusion, "Cousin Liao was colluding with the corrupt official's wife? Then, how much did she embezzle behind her husband's back?"
Guo Honglei's expression was solemn. "I don't know the details. But I've been trying to find out recently. Cousin Liao and Wan Bin's wife were very close, so close that they privately called her 'godmother.' The imperial envoy was ordered to conduct a thorough investigation. Wan Bin was dismissed from his post, his property was confiscated, and he was imprisoned. He also revealed a group of accomplices, including Brother Gong Shi."
"The Wan guy is clearly trying to make trouble!" Wang said angrily.
Wang Qiaozhen, however, burst out laughing, her face filled with amusement, and sarcastically said, "Hahaha, tsk tsk, Xiaodie took my aunt as her godmother back then, visiting her every morning and evening, she was extremely filial. Now that the Marquis's Mansion has fallen, she's taken in the corrupt official's wife as her dry food. She's truly 'whoever gives her milk is her mother'!"
Wang's face darkened, and she glanced displeasedly at her eldest daughter-in-law. Wang Qiaozhen sat down, her disdainful smile subsided, and she cleared her throat, making it clear, "I don't approve of rashly interceding for someone! Liao Xiaodie has brought this upon herself; it's not worth the risk."
Jiang Yushu sighed, "Don't look at Cousin Liao, just look at Brother Gong."
"Yipeng, Yipeng he--ah." Wang frowned, feeling extremely embarrassed.
"The imperial envoy is handling the case, and if the Guo family gets involved, what should we do if we're dragged into a lawsuit?" Wang Qiaozhen frankly asked anxiously, "We've just been pardoned from exile and just come out of our hard times. If we don't behave ourselves, and instead get involved in a major court case, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
Guo Honglei slowly replied, "A drop of water should be repaid with a spring. Back then, the Guo family was in trouble, and we traveled all the way from the capital to Xicang, experiencing the coldness of the world. Although we didn't get to stay in the suburbs of the city to farm, we received a lot of care from my brother. Although he was busy with official duties, he took time off several times to visit Changping and provide assistance. I will never forget our deep friendship." After a pause, he said solemnly:
"Brother Shi is in trouble, and his wife has come to us for help. If we just stand by and watch, what kind of people would we be? If the news gets back to the capital, what will become of the Guo family's reputation and dignity? This happened so suddenly that there's no time for discussion. I've already written a letter to Uncle Mu—"
"ah?"
"You, you've already intervened?" Wang Qiaozhen was horrified. She stood up again, interrupting and scolding: "Honglei, you are so reckless. This is a serious matter, and you dare to make the decision on your own? The prince's mistake has implicated the entire family. Could it be that you are also—"
Wang was furious and scolded her eldest daughter-in-law: "Shut up! Why are you bringing up Hongyao for no reason? You're disturbing his soul."
Wang Qiaozhen opened her mouth, then lowered her head and said, "Madam, calm down. I was anxious and said something wrong."
"Sit down and calm down." Wang's face was long, and she wouldn't tolerate any further comment. She had doted on her eldest son the most in her life, and normally, hearing her beloved son being criticized would instantly fill her with grief and anger.
"Yes." Wang Qiaozhen looked unhappy.
Jiang Yushu cheered up and explained, "It's not that I don't want to discuss it, but it's really too late. Because we can't be sure when the imperial envoy will make a ruling, we have no choice but to act as soon as possible. Once the case is decided, I guess I won't be able to help you at all."
"This is a serious matter. I've tried my best to be cautious. Uncle Mu is also willing to help us, as we're close friends. It shouldn't bring disaster to our entire family." Guo Honglei's eyes were calm as he consoled her, "Even if there's an accident, it's only my fault. Sister-in-law, don't worry too much."
"Second brother..." Guo Hongzhe and Guo Hongxuan said in unison, inevitably feeling worried and uneasy.
"Alas, one shouldn't be ungrateful. It's only right and proper that we help Yipeng." Wang heard that her second son had already intervened, and it was irreversible. She worriedly warned, "Honglei, be careful."
Guo Honglei nodded and replied "yes".
Wang Qiaozhen's face turned pale. She stood up abruptly for the third time and angrily said, "Okay! Okay! You guys must repay a favor, and I'm heartless and ungrateful, right? But please think carefully about the principle of 'sharing honor and disgrace'. Yu'er is only six years old, and his cousin was just born. I'm not only thinking about my own safety, but also the children's! How can I be wrong?"
Jiang Yushu was in confinement and felt uncomfortable sitting for a long time. She stood up by the table and tried to persuade her: "Sister-in-law, you are right..."
"Well, you've already gotten involved. Well, I'll just help."
Wang Qiaozhen gritted her teeth and smiled, secretly dissatisfied with her mother-in-law for publicly humiliating her, unwilling to accept her brother's wife getting an official position, and unwilling to help Liao Xiaodie... She suppressed her anger and said stiffly: "It's very late, I have to go back to the room to coax Yu'er to sleep, you guys can chat slowly. You have been traveling for days, please rest early, old lady." After speaking, she left angrily with a stern face.
Wang was so angry that she had a headache, "Qiaozhen!" The old woman seemed to be hesitant to speak. She had been with her niece day and night for many years, and she had never blamed her niece in her heart, but always tolerated her silently.
Meanwhile, Guest Room
Liao Xiaodie ordered: "Zhu'er is asleep, let her sleep with me tonight."
"Yes." The maid and the wet nurse lowered the curtains and left the inner room.
In a blink of an eye, the servant blew out the lights, and the dim light from the lanterns in the corridor shone through the window paper, making the bed dim and dark.
The girl was sleeping soundly in the warm bed, breathing steadily.
Liao Xiaodie sat cross-legged, expressionless. Suddenly, she reached out, gently opened the quilt, and pulled it away bit by bit... In a moment, the girl, thinly dressed, curled up in the cold on the February night, was sleeping soundly, not awake at all.
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Today it's thicker and longer, and a little later...
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