The news quickly reached Mingzhao Prefecture, and the entire Li family was overjoyed.
Only Yan Qingqing did not seem particularly happy.
Seeing this, Yuan Huiniang asked, "Mother, Third Brother has done a great service, aren't you happy?"
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Happy, of course I'm happy."
However, the fact that they were able to capture three cities in Beiliang in such a short time shows that they didn't even have a chance to catch their breath.
Injuries are inevitable, but your third brother is a very honest person, and I'm afraid he'll be too eager to succeed and won't take care of his health.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Huiniang also expressed her concern, saying, "What should we do then? Third Brother has always been an impatient person."
"Or perhaps Mother should write a letter and send it to the border, giving him some serious instructions."
Yan Qingqing laughed upon hearing this, "Never mind, you've all grown up and have your own ideas now."
A mother can't follow you around and give you advice for the rest of your life.
Besides, your third brother is now a lieutenant general in the army; he certainly has his own methods of doing things. I'd better not disturb the morale of the troops.”
Although Yan Qingqing was somewhat worried about Li Xiangjian, she was always clear-headed and would not interfere in important military affairs unless she was personally involved.
Regardless, Li Xiangjian's courage and resourcefulness are still something the Li family should celebrate.
Many officials in the court, hearing the news, began sending gifts to the Mingzhao Prefecture under various pretexts.
Who could blame Lady Mingzhao for being so capable? Not only did she become the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, but her son also turned out to be very successful.
Although the eldest son lives in the hometown, he is a seventh-rank agricultural official. I heard that he is researching some high-yield technology, and once he succeeds, his future will be limitless.
The second son is now a prominent figure in Beijing's business world, with shops opening one after another. And every business he runs is incredibly successful.
The third son is now a lieutenant general in the army and has captured three cities in Beiliang in succession. His momentum is rapid and unstoppable. His future prospects are self-evident.
The fourth son entered the Imperial Academy and was said to be greatly favored by the teachers, excelling in every subject in the examinations. The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy even wanted to take him under his wing.
Needless to say, the eldest daughter suffered a lot of mistreatment when she married into the Wu family.
However, with his mother, Lady Mingzhao, backing him up, Wu Jingzhi took the initiative to separate from the Wu family and establish his own independent household, which was quite sincere.
The emperor betrothed his second daughter to Han Yu, the top scholar in the imperial examination. Han Yu had been in court for less than a year when he was promoted to the sixth-rank position of Attendant Reader, making him a close advisor to the emperor.
The only remaining daughter is four years old. I heard that she is beautiful and lovely, and is very much loved by His Highness the Crown Prince. It is certain that she will be made a county princess or a county princess in the future.
So, for a time, Yan Qingqing became an enviable widow.
While the atmosphere in Mingzhao Prefecture was joyous, it didn't mean that everyone was happy.
The eldest prince had been brooding for some time, his face terribly gloomy. Ever since Xiao Mochen was made crown prince, he had been confined to his residence by the emperor, which made him even more tyrannical.
The servants in the mansion were terrified.
Moreover, he received news that the soldiers of Great Yan had captured three cities in Northern Liang in succession, and the one leading the troops this time was the son of that old woman Yan Qingqing, who was undoubtedly also one of Xiao Mochen's men.
He would be somewhat more at ease if Marshal Huang were in charge of the army, since Marshal Huang was only loyal to the emperor, but Li Xiangjian was different.
Thinking of this, the eldest prince became extremely anxious.
It's all that bitch Qian Yingying's fault. If it weren't for her, why would her father have kept him locked up in the mansion, allowing Xiao Mochen to dominate?
Xiao Moyan grew angrier the more he thought about it, so he grabbed a riding whip and headed towards the backyard.
Qian Yingying sat on the bed with a blank look in her eyes, while her dowry maid was carefully applying medicine to her.
Qian Yingying really couldn't understand how things had turned out this way, given how well her mother had planned everything for her before her marriage.
If the eldest prince can't become the crown prince, how can she possibly become the empress dowager in the future?
Even at this point, Qian Yingying is still dreaming of leaving her son behind and becoming the Empress Dowager in the future.
The old woman applied the medicine a little too hard, and Qian Yingying winced in pain. She then yelled at the old woman, "At your age, how can you be so careless? Don't you want me to have a good time?"
I know you all look down on me, but once I rise to power, none of you will have an easy time.
This nanny was originally Qian Yingying's wet nurse, who had raised her from a young age and treated her with utmost care.
She had voluntarily accompanied Qian Yingying to the First Prince's residence as part of her dowry, so that she could serve Qian Yingying well and have someone to rely on when she got old.
But she can't count on Qian Yingying anymore, and hearing her say these words is even more disheartening.
But she was just a servant in the Qian family, what could she do?
Just as the old woman was about to say a few more words of comfort to Qian Yingying, Xiao Moyan pushed open the door with a gloomy expression.
Seeing the eldest prince holding a riding whip startled Qian Yingying and the old woman, especially Qian Yingying, who had been beaten every few days since marrying Xiao Moyan.
She has been traumatized by the beatings, and sometimes she even suspects that if she weren't the daughter of the Qian family, the eldest prince would have killed her without hesitation.
The eldest prince coldly addressed the old woman, "Old hag, why aren't you getting out of here? Do you have a death wish?"
Upon hearing this, the old woman was so frightened that she tried to run away, but Qian Yingying grabbed her hem.
The old woman glanced at Qian Yingying, then at Xiao Moyan, before slowly prying Qian Yingying's hands open and walking out.
Before leaving, they closed the door for them.
Qian Yingying looked at the closed door with a sense of despair.
Seeing this, Xiao Moyan snorted coldly, stepped forward, grabbed Qian Yingying's hair, and cursed, "You bitch, you jinx! Ever since you entered this house, I haven't had a single good day. It's really bad luck."
Upon hearing this, Qian Yingying stubbornly looked at Xiao Moyan and said fiercely, "Xiao Moyan, if you have the guts, then kill me. If my parents find out how you treated me, they will definitely not let you off!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Moyan slapped Qian Yingying across the face and said mockingly, "You bitch, how dare you threaten me?"
Do you think the Qian family still cares about your life or death? They're too busy taking care of themselves. Xiao Mochen is investigating them right now.
You should know your parents better than anyone. Your father sells official positions and smuggles military horses, and your mother lends money at exorbitant interest rates and accepts bribes in your father's name. If these things are found out, your Qian family will be in big trouble.
It's possible that their property will be confiscated, they will be exiled, and their entire family will be executed.
They'd never even remember a daughter as disgraceful as you.
After Xiao Moyan finished speaking, Qian Yingying felt even more desperate. She knew that what the eldest prince said was probably true.
She wrote several letters to the Qian family asking for help, but no one in the Qian family paid any attention to her, and she didn't even receive a single reply.
Soon, the sound of a whip striking flesh came from the room, accompanied by Qian Yingying's pitiful screams, but the servants of the First Prince's residence were already used to it.
The eldest prince, seeing Qian Yingying covered in blood, became more and more excited as he smoked.
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