Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Our Princess is Pregnant
Fang Ying was startled and hurriedly handed Hong'er to the wet nurse to take away. She asked, "What disaster?"
Ji Yanlang dismissed the servants, then whispered, "He colluded with several captains to exchange the winter clothing distributed this winter and sell it privately for profit. The incident was discovered at the end of October, and he has been demoted to a commoner according to the law."
Fang Ying was stunned: "Have you...have you finished questioning me?"
Ji Yanlang nodded. "There are still eighty strokes of the cane. You can pay silver to redeem it. Father was furious and refused to pay the money. It was mother who persuaded him, saying that if he wanted to beat or scold me, he should go home and do it behind closed doors. If he caned me in the army, even if the executioner knew how to do it and didn't hurt me, it would still damage my father's reputation."
"..." This matter was too unbelievable, and Fang Ying didn't know what to say for a moment.
"When I received the reply, my third brother and his family had already arrived in Zhenzhou. My father ordered his men to carry out the execution to make up the eighty strokes of the cane. My third sister-in-law brought the children and begged for mercy. In the end, they were only given twenty strokes of the cane. The remaining strokes are recorded," Ji Yanlang continued.
"Is he short of money? If he steals winter clothes, it will become a big deal..." Fang Ying didn't dare to think further.
Ji Yanlang said, "Fortunately, they didn't exchange many items. I asked the person who delivered the letter, and he said it was less than a thousand. They were being clever, thinking that since the number of items exchanged was small, it would be difficult to detect."
"But the exchange is small, is it really necessary to take such a big risk? There are only a few people, how much money can each person get?"
"The letter didn't go into detail, but my second and fifth brothers and I speculated that either they were caught just as they were starting this business, or these people offered benefits to my third brother to recruit him, and they have other plans."
Ji Yanlang sighed as he spoke, "Fortunately, the commander of Cangzhou was a diligent and cautious man. He was afraid that the barbarians would come again this winter, so he mobilized troops to reinforce them and sent people to patrol each camp. He discovered this matter early and dealt with it quietly, so that my father would not be implicated."
Fang Ying held his hand to comfort him.
"Is Third Uncle possessed by a ghost? Or is he just being fearless, thinking that even if they find out about him, others won't do anything to him for the sake of my father?" Fang Ying really couldn't understand.
"In the letter, Father only told us to take it as a warning, but he didn't mention what Third Brother said."
Fang Ying said: "But you must have asked someone who has experienced this."
Ji Yanlang squeezed her hand. "That's why I got angry. Third brother said he was demoted to Cangzhou, where he spent all day planting trees and digging canals. It wasn't their turn to fight in the battlefield, and naturally they had no chance to receive any rewards for their achievements. Their salary was low, and there were many children in the family. He didn't want to always ask his parents for money, so he had no choice but to do this."
"..." Fang Ying was silent for a moment, then said thankfully, "Luckily, Mom gave me the money back then, otherwise wouldn't this be blamed on Mom?"
Ji Yanlang was stunned: "You mean..."
"Have you forgotten? When they first arrived in Cangzhou, they wrote back and you advised me not to give it to them, but I didn't want to be criticized, so I gave it to them anyway."
Ji Yanlang hadn't forgotten, he just realized it: "So that's how it is."
Fang Ying sighed, "Mother is indeed foresighted." Then she asked, "So the third branch will stay in Zhenzhou?"
"Yeah." Ji Yanlang's thoughts were still on the previous sentence, and he only responded.
Seeing that he was distracted, Fang Ying did not ask any more questions. After all, things had already come to this point, and other details were no longer important.
Ji Yanlang came to his senses and remembered to tell her: "Mom also wrote a letter back to you and gave it to my second sister-in-law."
Fang Ying glanced at the sky and said, "It's late today, I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow."
It was the shortest time of the year, with only a thin ray of sunlight outside, and it was cold. Gao was pregnant, so it would be best to watch it together tomorrow.
She asked someone to serve food, and she and Ji Yanlang had dinner early. They played with Hong'er for a while, talked for a while, and then went to bed early.
The next day, after seeing Ji Yanlang off, Fang Ying met Yue Qing'e and learned that Li not only replied to the letter, but also sent back a cart of high-quality furs.
"Mom has asked someone to mark out the gifts for others." Yue Qing'e handed the list to Fang Ying, "Put it aside later, and it will be perfect for sending out together with the New Year gifts."
Fang Ying looked down and heard Yue Qing'e sigh, "It's almost the New Year, and I've lost my official position."
"I think it would be better if he lost his official position." Fang Ying knew she was talking about her third uncle Ji Yanchang, and answered without raising her head.
Yue Qing'e couldn't help herself, so she took up her handkerchief to cover her face and laughed for a while before saying to her, "You, it's okay for us to talk about this, but don't say it in front of Liu Lang."
"He also said that if you don't become an official, the trouble you get into will be smaller and you won't bring trouble to your family."
Yue Qing'e was surprised: "Really?" After thinking for a moment, she nodded, "It's Liu Lang's temper, unlike your second uncle."
She didn't say anything further, so Fang Ying naturally didn't ask. She put the list back on the table and sighed, "It's been hard on my third sister-in-law and the children. They've been running around all year and haven't had much peace."
"Yes, I was so frightened when it happened. Even though I had a bad relationship with her, I still feel sorry for her when I think about it."
The two of them were talking while the maids put away the items that needed to be stored and the lists of gifts that needed to be given. After checking the lists, they went together to find Gao to read the letter.
Li did not mention Ji Yanchang in her letter. She only said that she and the Duke were very happy to read about Gao's pregnancy and the interesting stories about her grandchildren in the letter. Zhenzhou was indeed colder and windier than the capital, but the houses were warm and there was nothing unpleasant about living there.
She also mentioned Silang and Cheng's recent situation, saying that everything was fine with them. Now Sanlang's family had also arrived in Zhenzhou, and with An and the children as their companions, they would not be lonely, and asked her three daughters-in-law not to worry about them.
"Mother is so considerate. Even though he was dismissed from office, she could say that they were visiting her family to enjoy the company of her parents." After coming out of Gao's room, Yue Qing'e couldn't help but say to Fang Ying.
"It's the only good thing about this disaster."
At least it can be more lively when we stay up all night during the New Year.
After finishing their work, the two went back to their rooms. Fang Ying had just sat down to rest when Zhou Congshan sent someone to see her and asked her if she was free the next day. He wanted to take her to his house for a chat.
They haven't seen each other since the full moon banquet, and there is nothing busy in the mansion now, so Fang Ying agreed to wait for Ji Yanlang to come home and tell him about this first.
"Go ahead. There's nothing to do at home. But it's been very cold outside these past two days, so you should wear more clothes."
Fang Ying agreed and asked the maid to prepare clothes for going out tomorrow.
Seeing her high spirits and happiness, Ji Yanlang laughed at her, "Why are you so happy? Have you been bored at home these days? No, didn't you and your second sister-in-law go out to attend a wedding a few days ago?"
"How are they the same?" Fang Ying had a lot to say to Zhou Congshan.
She sent someone to inform Yue Qing'e first, and the next morning she briefly instructed on the housework. Then the car sent by Zhou Congshan to pick her up arrived.
Fang Ying went out of the second door and got on the car. She was very surprised to see Chu Yin among the people who came to pick her up. After getting on the car, she asked her about her recent situation. Chu Yin said that everything was fine. Fang Ying then told her about Fang Quan and Xiang'er.
"Xiang'er stayed with me for half a month. After she went back, no one dared to bully her openly. Aunt Gai has displeased my father and can't go back for a while. Fang Quan now studies and practices calligraphy in the mornings, and learns needlework in the afternoons. She has quite a lot of free time."
Chu Yin was relieved: "I knew that as long as Madam Fang took action, she would be able to protect Second Madam."
Fang Ying smiled and said, "Second Mother, I wonder how happy she must be to know that Sister misses her so much."
Kaifeng Prefecture was not far from Ji Prefecture. As the two were talking, the carriage had already entered through the back door.
When the car stopped, Chu Yin and others got off first, then helped Fang Ying down, and took a sedan chair for a while before getting off at a courtyard.
Fang Ying got out of the sedan chair and saw the layout of the house. She realized that this was the main house where Zhou Congshan lived, and she was quite surprised.
But Zhou Congshan's personal maid had already come out of the room and invited her in.
Fang Ying hurriedly climbed the steps and followed her into the house. She looked up and saw Zhou Congshan standing there waiting for her. She asked with concern, "Princess, why are you waiting here? Be careful of the cold wind."
As he spoke, he took a step forward and bowed to salute, but Zhou Congshan pulled him back and said, "There's no outsider here, so forget it. Come in and sit down."
Fang Ying went hand in hand with her into the inner room, where they saw a table and a couch, with the table screen she had given her placed on the table. Knowing that this was where her friend lived, she didn't look any further and sat down next to Zhou Congshan.
"What have you been busy with at home all this time?" Zhou Congshan observed Fang Ying's expression. "You look thinner than when she was one month old."
Fang Ying laughed and said, "I was just too fat then." She then said that she had nothing to do at home and was very free. "I only went out to attend two weddings."
At this moment, the maid brought tea. Fang Ying also looked at her friend and said, "Why does the princess seem so happy? Is there any good news?"
Zhou Congshan couldn't help but raise his hand and touch his face: "Happy? Really?"
The maids all laughed. Fang Ying looked at them and smiled as well, "It seems I guessed right."
Zhou Congshan wanted to say something but stopped himself, seeming a little embarrassed. He turned around and glanced at the maid standing beside him.
The maid stepped forward and said with a smile, "Madam Fang has a keen eye. There is indeed great news. Our princess is pregnant."
Fang Ying had already guessed what was going on when she saw the master and servant's expressions, but she was still pleasantly surprised to hear her actually say it. "This is truly great news!" She grabbed Zhou Congshan's hand. "But you knew about it a long time ago? Why didn't you tell me when you sent someone yesterday?"
"I brought you here because I wanted to talk to you in person." Zhou Congshan replied with a smile.
Fang Ying then asked how long she had been pregnant, when the imperial physician had come to see her, and whether she had any discomfort.
"Two months. We just invited the imperial physician yesterday. We don't want to alarm others and want to wait a while before making a decision. But I also want to tell you that His Highness said that he would just bring you here so that we can talk." Zhou Congshan said with a smile on his lips.
Fang Ying was happy for her friend and said, "Your Highness is thoughtful."
Zhou Congshan also said that apart from being more tired than before, he had no other discomfort. "My appetite is fine, and I haven't vomited. When did you start vomiting?"
"I started vomiting within two months and had a poor appetite. I couldn't even smell the food I used to love during those months. They all said it must be a boy, as that would cause my mother so much trouble." Fang Ying said while shaking her head.
Zhou Congshan said: "They can all say it's a boy. I haven't made any movement. They say the child is not spoiled and must be a steady little grandson of the emperor."
Fang Ying couldn't help but laugh: "That makes sense."
"I've come to terms with it now. Let them decide. If it's a girl, I'll be very happy. If it's a boy," Zhou Congshan said with a smile, looking at his friend. "Maybe we can really become in-laws."
Fang Ying laughed: "You still remember it?"
"Not only do I remember this, His Highness even did some calculations yesterday and said that this child will be only eleven months younger than Hong'er when he is born, so they are a perfect match in terms of age."
Fang Ying didn't know how to respond for a moment - after all, this was in Kaifeng Prefecture, not Ji Mansion Garden.
Zhou Congshan himself continued, "But I guess he said that because he was afraid that he would do what others did, saying something about the little emperor's grandson, and I would be unhappy, so he used this matter to appease me."
Fang Ying felt relieved. The fact that King Qin was willing to spend this effort to coax Zhou Congshan was better than those who only wanted a son.
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