Send a message to Jian Ning that she can consider it. Ding Youtian has a three-month term to take up his post, and it will take about two months to return. She and Ding Youtian had already planned to go back to Dingxian Village first.
I went back to take a look at my fellow villagers, and they had prepared a lot of northern specialties including ginkgo paste.
"We've handed the winery over to the village. Your parents and brothers are doing well now, so you don't have to worry about them too much. I can send them a message, but I won't tell them you're here. It won't do them any good if they know. Do you understand?"
Jane Ning asked her.
"I...I understand." Ding Zhu hesitated for a moment, "Then, can I ask Fourth Aunt to bring something to my mother?"
"Of course. If you want to have someone to rely on for the rest of your life, take good care of yourself and give Master Yang a child. Just remember what I said and respect your wife. I don't think she is intolerant. As long as you can stay out of trouble, you will have a comfortable and peaceful life until your old age."
"When you're established and have a child, and in a few years the child grows up and really misses your parents, I'll find a reason to take you back to your hometown to stay for a few days."
When Ding Zhu heard this, tears started flowing again.
In the front yard yamen, Lord Yang received a report that Princess An Ning recognized his concubine as her niece on behalf of Ding Youtian. He just said "Oh" and did not seem surprised. Then he bowed to Ding Youtian with a smile on his face.
Lord Yang was able to reach the position of prefect. When he first arrived in the North, he was able to survive in the cracks when Prince Rui and Judge Jiang colluded with each other to control the situation in the North. He is definitely not an ordinary person!
How could Ding Zhu's lies be hidden from him?
However, because she was just a tool he kept by his side, he didn't bother to investigate further. After he recovered from his hidden illness, he wanted to expel Ding Zhu, but to be safe, he sent someone to investigate Ding Zhu. After all, she had the same surname as Ding Youtian and the same name as Ding Youtian's niece. How could such a coincidence happen in the world?
He sent people to investigate Ding Youtian, and sent people to Dingxian Village to learn about Ding Zhu's affairs, so he kept Ding Zhu by his side.
Ding Youtian could tell from his reaction that he already knew everything, but he didn't point it out at the moment. After having lunch at the government office, he went to Dingzihao for a stroll. After saying goodbye and getting on the carriage, he told Jian Ning that Lord Yang already knew the true relationship between Ding Zhu and them.
"If you know, then you know. Since he's pretending to be ignorant, we should just pretend we don't know. I saw that Ding Zhu is now more sensible and not as frivolous and ignorant as before. After all, she is still young and alone here with no relatives to rely on. That's why I recognized her without your consent. You won't blame me, right?"
Ding Youtian squinted at her and said, "Is there any use blaming you? If there's no use blaming you, why bother? I'm just trying to make you feel uncomfortable by causing a quarrel with me."
Jian Ning punched him. "You're obviously smiling and happy, but can't you just say thank you? But then again, I'm not expecting you to thank me. Didn't Mrs. Liu send us some fish? Even though it was caught from our own pond, it's hard for her to go through the trouble of frying it and sending it all the way here. I don't want to owe them a favor."
The two were talking in low voices in the carriage. Tong Bajin whipped the horse outside the carriage, and the horse spread its four hooves and galloped forward. Xu Dali and Erlangzi, who were driving the carriages behind, also whipped the horse one after another. The three carriages on the official road ran forward and gradually became small black dots.
It was summer when Jian Ning and his friends came here three years ago, and it was also summer when they left. The further south they went, the hotter the weather became. They talked and laughed all the way. When they arrived outside Zhuling County that day, Jian Ning felt that the journey back was much faster than the journey there.
When the carriage entered the city, they first went to the Qin Mansion for a stroll. Old Qin was overjoyed to hear that they were coming, and came back from outside with the yamen runner who brought the news. When asked why Blind Liu didn't come, he threw his sleeves, glared at Ding Youtian, and went back to the bookstore outside to listen to stories in a huff.
"Xiao Yu'er greets Uncle Ding and Aunt Princess." The four-and-a-half-year-old Xiao Yu'er performed the greetings in a very proper manner. He had red lips and white teeth, and his little appearance was very adorable.
She bowed and stood beside Mei Niang, her eyes flickering towards Erniu and Sanniu. Seeing this, Erniu and Sanniu ran up to her and each took her hand, "Little Yu'er, come here. Let me take you out to play."
Xiao Yuer turned her head to look at Mei Niang. She was waiting for Mei Niang's instructions.
"Go ahead. They're all your sisters. It's good to play together and get closer. Just don't go out in the sun." Mei Niang said softly.
Then she went with Erniu and Sanniu.
"Yes, she looks like a young lady from an official family." Jian Ning praised her after Erniu and Sanniu took her out.
"Unlike the two little ones in my family, they refuse to study hard and only love to play with swords and sticks. They have no interest in chess, piano, calligraphy or painting. But Shu'er is amazing now." When mentioning the eldest girl, Jian Ning smiled.
"Of course," Mei Niang said with a smile, "Your mother is originally a daughter of an official family. How can Shu'er not have a bright future if she follows your mother? She will definitely be an outstanding lady from a noble family in the future. Who knows how many princes and nobles will line up to marry her!"
Jian Ning also smiled and said, "Sister, I won't argue with you when you say that. Shu'er deserves your praise. Not only is she good at chess, music, calligraphy, and painting, she's also good at martial arts. She's learning martial arts with my aunt, and Bao'er is learning from his uncle and Ah Man's father. We don't have to worry about the above two, but the following two are a headache."
"Are they still fighting now?" Mei Niang asked with a smile. Thinking of how much they loved to fight, she couldn't help but pursed her lips and smiled softly.
"They fight less than before. In the past year, we've only had one serious fight. Most of the time, they just argue. Jiajia is sharp-tongued, and Yaoyao can't win an argument with her. If she's scolded harshly, she'll just swing her fists. After the fight, I don't need to tell them what to do. They just kneel down on the corridor on their own."
"Listen to me, sister. Being a ruthless girl has its advantages. At least when she gets married, she won't be bullied so easily."
"My sister also said that I regretted teaching them martial arts. In the past few years, they not only learned from me, but also from Brother Tong and the other three. They also pestered their master to learn some immortal cultivation techniques. The two of them are only interested in these things and are unwilling to learn anything else. Even now, they haven't learned many words."
"How can you let your four kids take care of everything? Be content. Besides, I think the two kids below are doing well too. They're only a little over eight years old. Why rush? Take your time."
Xiao Jiuer held his one and a half year old brother's hand, and the two brothers came over accompanied by their wet nurse. He let go of his brother's hand and bowed to Jian Ning, "Nephew greets the princess aunt."
His younger brother looked up at him, then at Jian Ning, and also bowed. He said in a baby voice, "Nephew, I greet the Princess Aunt."
"Is this Xiaodong'er? He speaks so clearly. Come, let auntie hug you." Jian Ning stretched out her hand to him.
Dong'er was not shy and threw himself into her arms.
Jian Ning and his friends stayed at the Qin Mansion for one night. Early the next morning, they said goodbye to Mei Niang and her family and drove to the dock in a carriage.
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