Li Yuexi's condition is getting better day by day.
With her appetite restored and the torment of morning sickness gone, Li Yuexi's condition improved day by day, while Xu Di remained alert and alert even at night.
Zhou Junhong and her younger brother traveled from Liaodong to the capital. The siblings were going to stay in a small courtyard that their Zhou family had bought years ago.
The Zhou family's small courtyard is located on the east side of the city. It was originally rented out. After Zhou Junhong's marriage was arranged, Zhou Qing sent one of the family's stewards to the capital to take the house back, carefully repaint it, and prepare to marry off his daughter in this courtyard.
The Zhou family's small courtyard was mostly inhabited by soldiers of low rank and some yamen runners. Zhou Qing was able to buy this small courtyard after a great victory, when he received a reward from the imperial court and asked a fellow soldier in the capital to arrange it for him.
Zhou Qing came from a farming family. He joined the army shortly after getting married. Because he was literate, righteous, brave and resourceful, he had accumulated a considerable fortune after several battles. He used the money to buy houses and land. He bought this small courtyard in the capital and also bought dozens of acres of land in the suburbs. Since no one in his family lived in the capital, he rented out the land and houses.
Zhou Qing was a military officer, and military officers were not allowed to enter the capital without an imperial edict. He had no choice but to bid farewell to his daughter in Liaodong, and then bring his teenage son and two households of servants with him to the capital.
Zhou Junhong sat in the carriage heading to the capital, thinking about the words her father had said to her before they parted.
Since Zhou Junhong had agreed to the marriage, Zhou Qing could only do his best to help his daughter have a better life in her husband's family.
Zhou Qing said to Zhou Junhong, "Hong'er, when a woman gets married, her family, her father and brothers, are her support. It's just a pity that your father is far away in Liaodong, and your younger brother is too young. You just need to remember that you were formally married into the Zhao family. If the Zhao family looks down on you in any way, don't be sad. Stand tall, stand up for yourself, and scold them back. There's no reason for you to be bullied by them."
Zhou Qing initially had high hopes for his daughter, but unfortunately, the marriage was repeatedly delayed. He gradually felt that it was good to keep his daughter at home, raise her while he was alive, and let his brothers raise her after he was gone. He never expected that someone would arrange a marriage for her with such a high social standing.
Liaodong is far from the capital, and the highest-ranking official there is Xu Rao, a prefectural governor of the fifth rank. Zhou Qing, a garrison commander, is the only one whose daughter is to marry the eldest grandson of a marquis in the capital. To many people, this is an unbelievable thing.
Zhou Junhong's carriage arrived at the post station outside the capital, where Zhao Sixing and his men were already waiting.
Although Zhou Junyan was young, as the male heir of the Zhou family, he and Zhao Sixing greeted each other outside the post station.
The twelve-year-old boy, whose height had not yet begun to increase, bowed respectfully to Zhao Sixing, his prospective brother-in-law, with perfect manners and neither servile nor arrogant. Zhao Sixing actually developed a certain fondness for this future brother-in-law.
The two sides had already communicated through letters, and Zhao Sixing knew about the Zhou family's arrangements. After receiving the person, he took him directly to the Zhou family's courtyard in the east of the city.
The Zhou family steward was already waiting at the entrance of the alley. The alley where the courtyard was located was somewhat narrow, and the carriage hired by the Zhou family could barely squeeze in. After the group unloaded the luggage from the carriage, the carriage continued forward and circled around to the alley ahead.
Zhao Sixing followed them into the Zhou family's courtyard. The courtyard was small and square. After entering, there was a screen wall in front of the gate. Next to the gate was the back room. After turning past the screen wall, there were three main rooms, a west wing that served as the kitchen, and two east wing rooms.
There was a moon gate between the east wing and the main house, which led directly to the backyard. After turning past the screen wall, Zhao Sixing did not go any further and just stood in the courtyard.
The courtyard looked freshly tidied. Apart from a pomegranate tree in front of the east wing, there were no other flowers or plants. Every corner of the courtyard was cleaned up, and even the path paved with blue bricks was new. The areas where the blue bricks hadn't been paved were on softer ground. Zhao Sixing had lived in Tai'an for a few years and was no stranger to farming, so he naturally understood that the previous tenants must have grown a vegetable garden in the courtyard.
After watching Zhou Junhong enter the room, Zhou Junyan bowed to Zhao Sixing and said, "Brother Zhao, please sit in the east wing for a while. I have just returned home and there are many things to do at home. Please forgive me if I have not been hospitable enough."
Zhao Sixing returned the greeting and followed him to the east wing.
The east wing has been prepared as a place to receive guests. Teacups are already set on the table as soon as you enter. In the corner of the room, there is a small red clay stove with a tin kettle on it that has been boiling and is bubbling with steam.
Zhou Junyan brewed tea with hot water, and the steward brought two plates of pastries with a servant boy of about ten years old. Only then did Zhou Junyan sit down opposite Zhao Sixing.
After all, she is still young. Even though she tries her best to treat guests as the host of the house, she is still lacking in many ways of dealing with people. But for her age, she has already done a good enough job.
Zhao Sixing sighed inwardly, pushed the pastries toward Zhou Junyan, and said, "Junyan, you've had a long journey. Have some hot tea and a couple of pastries to tide you over. I've already ordered some dishes for you at a nearby restaurant, and they'll be delivered this evening. I can't stay here any longer, so I'll be leaving soon."
Zhou Junyan was unsure how to respond to Zhao Sixing. Zhao Sixing affectionately patted Zhou Junyan's head and said, "Tomorrow, your maternal grandfather will send two nannies to teach your sister and you some manners. You should learn from the nannies well, as well as the relationships between different families in the capital. Especially your sister, you must remember these things well. Don't be shy. If you don't understand anything, be sure to ask. The nannies that my maternal grandfather hired for you are all knowledgeable and gentle people."
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