This snow disaster inspired Xu Rao to establish a disaster relief emergency department, not only for snow disasters, but also for various disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and fires, so that they could respond in a timely manner whenever a disaster occurs.
The idea is good, but establishing such a department will cost money, a lot of money. Not only is the national treasury of Liang empty, but Emperor Liang Cheng's private treasury is also almost depleted. Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of using the money from the construction of the orphanage.
Xu Rao still didn't give up on this idea. Whenever he had free time, he would think back to those emergency plans and write them down, regardless of whether they would be useful or not. Maybe he could build them up when he had money in the future?
The heavy snow hampered Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan's journey. The snow in the city streets had been cleared, but they heard that the snow was still very thick on the way from the capital to Tongzhou, making it difficult for carriages to travel. Some people even had to turn back halfway. Xu Zhi didn't want to take that risk right now, so she simply stayed home with Zheng Yuanyuan or went to the Yongning Marquis's residence to play with the old lady. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, due to the snow disaster and Emperor Liang Cheng's bad mood, the annual lantern festival was not held. Some merchants simply hung a few red lanterns in front of their shops to make do with the occasion. Seeing that the snow had almost melted, Xu Zhi set off with Zheng Yuanyuan.
The journey was smooth sailing, and they soon arrived in Miaozhou. Before the New Year, Xu Di had already returned to Miaozhou with his wife, children, and Granny Lu. Xu Zhi disembarked in Miaozhou and went to Xu Di's residence in the city.
This time, Li Yuexi's morning sickness wasn't as severe as before. Although she was less than three months pregnant, she could eat and sleep well and looked radiant. She warmly welcomed Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan. Zheng Yuanyuan was eager to go to Luzhou to see her brother, and Xu Zhi didn't stay in Miaozhou for long either. She took a boat upstream and returned to Luzhou.
The young couple, naturally, felt a renewed sense of joy after their separation. After consummating their marriage, their tender affection made Zheng Yuanyuan's heart ache. She knew in her heart that without Zong Chengping, she would never meet another man who could move her heart again, and she would never experience the kind of relationship that existed between her brother and sister-in-law.
Xu Zhi wanted to tell Zheng Yuanyuan about Zong Chengping, but after receiving a letter from Zong Chengping, who was now called Lin Zhijing, he repeatedly explained that he was currently unsuccessful and living under someone else's identity, and he had no face to appear in front of Zheng Yuanyuan. Lin Zhijing had now sorted out the family's farmland and shops and was studying behind closed doors. If he could participate in the Deer Cry Banquet in next year's provincial examination, he would come to propose marriage to Xu Zhi.
What can Xu Zhi do? She can only respect her choice.
Zheng Boyuan had known of Zong Chengping's existence for a long time, and had even sent people to Gaoqing in the capital to investigate him in detail. Overall, he was a pretty good person. He would continue to live under the identity of Lin Zhijing. In fact, for Zheng Yuanyuan, it was quite good that Zong Chengping had this choice. After all, if they were in the capital, given Zheng Yuanyuan's status, marrying the eldest son of the Duke's family would not have been a good choice. The Zong family's situation was too complicated, and Zheng Boyuan really did not want his sister to marry into such a family and be mistreated.
The Lin family in Gaoqing is different. Although the Lin family is a large clan, Lin Zhining and Lin Zhijing are cousins within five degrees of kinship. If Lin Zhijing continues to take the imperial examinations, Zheng Yuanyuan will accompany him through a few years of hardship after marrying into the family. With so many relatives helping them, the two of them will eventually be able to live a good life.
With this idea in mind, Zheng Boyuan no longer had any opinions about the person who was going to marry his sister. He even discussed with Xu Zhi whether the two of them should get engaged first. Zheng Yuanyuan had not been engaged for a long time, which gave many people an opportunity to take advantage of her. The injury he suffered in the capital before the New Year was also because they wanted Zheng Yuanyuan to marry into the family. Xu Zhi thought of the letter Lin Zhijing sent and hesitated.
The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped. The two lay on the bed chatting. Zheng Boyuan brought up Lin Zhijing's matter again. Xu Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Yuanyuan doesn't know about Lin Zhijing yet. I'm afraid that if she knew, she would have some unresolved issues. Husband, what do you think is the best way to bring this up?"
Zheng Boyuan was also worried that his younger sister would get stuck on something, and after thinking about it for a long time, he couldn't come up with a good idea. Xu Zhi turned over and said with a smile, "How about letting Yuanyuan go to Gaoqing by herself and let her find out for herself? What do you think?"
Zheng Boyuan quickly stopped her, saying, "It's better not to. What if she gets frightened and causes trouble after seeing Lin Zhijing? Lin Zhijing's current identity must not be revealed. Otherwise, it will not only affect Lin Zhijing's future imperial examinations, but also the main family. If they hear any rumors and come looking for her, it could cause trouble for no reason."
Xu Zhi said with some distress, "No matter what we do, it won't work. We can't just let Yuanyuan continue like this, as if she's cultivating the Path of Ruthlessness. Husband, think about what kind of personality Yuanyuan used to have, and then look at what kind of personality she has now. I'm really afraid that one day she'll have a change of heart and do something that we can't undo."
Zheng Boyuan scratched his head and said, "Raising a girl is really a troublesome thing, Azhi. How about this, you write a letter to Lin Zhijing and ask him if he wants to come to our house. At least let Yuanyuan know that the person she cares about is still alive. Lin Zhijing will not participate in the provincial examination until next year. We can't afford to waste such a little time."
Xu Zhi agreed and wrote a letter the next day, sending it to Gaoqing County. It was not only for Lin Zhijing, but also for Xu Yao. After Xu Yao drank the abortion medicine in the twelfth lunar month, Bai Mi took a long time to recuperate. Before Xu Zhi left the capital, Xu Yao wrote a letter to the Marquis's mansion, which Xu Zhi read. In the letter, Xu Yao cursed the Lin clan and her mother-in-law, and said that Lin Zhining had the idea of splitting the clan. Seeing Xu Yao's growing anger in the letter, Xu Zhi was relieved.
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