Chapter 343 Mating
The three elders couldn't bear to part with their children, which is why they traveled a long distance to Beijing to reunite with them.
After spending more than a year in Beijing, they gradually adapted to life there and got along well with their neighbors.
However, they are all hardworking and capable people. It's fine for a short time, but if they don't do something to pass the time over a long period of time, they will find the days boring.
Even with Zhuozhuo constantly in their sight, they couldn't soothe the growing emptiness in their hearts.
He opened a small food stall, working from morning till night like before, and then sat at the table, contentedly counting his coins.
Sheng An had no reason to object to the three elders' decision. As long as they were healthy and in good spirits, he would let them do whatever they wanted.
Looking at the expectant faces of his elderly father and grandparents, Xu Jinnian felt a pang of guilt: "Then let's open one. There are so many people in the mansion, just tell them what you need."
Xu Chenglin glanced at his son's face: "Your status is different now. If we open a small food stall, won't your colleagues laugh at you and damage your reputation?"
Xu Jinnian felt a warmth in her heart and replied with absolute certainty, "No."
Most officials, mindful of their status, are unwilling to let their families engage in business in the public eye, but he is not among these officials.
He didn't care whether people laughed at him or not. Once the shop opened, if business wasn't good, he would bring a few colleagues over every day to boost the business and avoid disappointing his father and grandparents.
but……
Recalling Princess Pingyuan's reaction upon leaving the tea room, Xu Jinnian suppressed the coldness in his eyes and instructed the three elders:
"After all, we're getting on in years, and with the weather being so hot lately, we'll just rent the shop for now and not rush to open for business. Besides, Zhuozhuo is at the age where she can walk and run, so we'll need you to take good care of her."
Princess Pingyuan is no pushover; I have humiliated her today, and she will likely hold a grudge.
Opening a small food stall at this time might lead her to secretly cause trouble for your family, so it's best to avoid this period for now.
Xu Chenglin and the two elders of the Sheng family did not doubt Xu Jinnian's intentions. They thought what he said made a lot of sense, so they decided to wait until the weather cooled down before choosing an auspicious day to open the business.
Back in the main room, the couple bathed their daughter while chatting casually.
"You probably won't be sent out for the next few years. When Zhuozhuo gets a little older, I plan to open a restaurant in the capital. After a while, I'll buy a few talented girls and teach them cooking skills."
Sheng An revealed his plan, his eyes sparkling with a different kind of light: "Wherever you are assigned in the future, my restaurants will open there, and I'll open several to help Zhuozhuo build up her wealth."
After saying that, she gently pinched her daughter's cheek: "What if we don't have the fate to have a second child and only have Zhuozhuo as our child? We can't afford not to save up some money for her to rely on."
It's not enough to just accumulate wealth; you also have to be wary of someone squandering your entire fortune.
Therefore, we must raise our daughter well so that she grows into a strong and independent person who will not be manipulated by anyone who tries to take advantage of her.
Xu Jinnian heard Sheng An's encouragement and looked at his daughter with loving eyes: "Yes, I will also try my best to create a bright future for her."
The little one couldn't understand her parents' words, but she could feel the deep love emanating from them. She grinned and giggled, innocent, cute, and carefree.
Sheng An's heart softened at the sight, and he ruffled her hair twice: "Silly girl."
"Mother~"
Zhuozhuo acted cute and charming, rubbing her head against her palm, making her pink face even softer and cuter.
Xu Jinnian watched the mother and daughter interact affectionately, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.
Zhuozhuo didn't show favoritism. Seeing that her father didn't react, she took his hand, blinked her big, dark eyes, and rubbed her head against his palm, saying, "Daddy~"
The baby's soft, childlike voice made the word "Daddy" sound like it was coming from several different angles.
Xu Jinnian's smile deepened, and he deliberately rubbed his chin against her soft little face.
"oops!"
Zhuozhuo exclaimed in surprise, quickly letting go of her father's hand, her little eyes looking at him with a pitiful expression: "Bad, bad, boohoo~"
Xu Jinnian did not grow a beard. Every morning when he washed up, he would shave off the stubble that had grown overnight in front of a bronze mirror.
At his age, his stubble wasn't very thick, and his tender skin felt prickly.
Normally, the little guy especially likes to stick close to Sheng An, but he firmly maintains a certain distance from Xu Jinnian.
The couple burst into laughter at their daughter's reaction and couldn't resist nuzzling her little face again.
Zhuozhuo couldn't dodge in time and screamed in panic, spilling bathwater all over the floor.
Fortunately, the weather is hot, so I'm not worried about the little one catching a cold from all this commotion.
The family of three played for a long time until Zhuozhuo was so tired that she buried her head in Xu Jinnian's arms and fell asleep.
A few days later, Xu Jinnian received a secret letter from the princess's residence, learning of Princess Pingyuan's purpose in planting Mu Yuanzhen in his place.
He set the secret letter on fire, watching the flames engulf it completely, his face, illuminated by the firelight, was utterly cold.
How dare she covet the power under the Master's command? Has this woman, after pretending for so long, forgotten that she has a blood feud with the Master for killing her son?
Back then, due to the political situation at court, the Master was unable to avenge his own child. So let him avenge the Master and comfort his senior brother's spirit in heaven.
At this moment, Princess Pingyuan was comforting Mu Yuanzhen, who was on a hunger strike. Little did she know that the Jiang clan's power, which she was eyeing, had been secretly handed over to Xu Jinnian by Master Jiang after he was promoted to Imperial Diarist at the beginning of the year.
If she knew, she would definitely regret not taking action against Sheng An herself, and instead, at the moment Xu Jinnian became the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination, she would have gone to the palace to ask Emperor Jinghe to issue an imperial decree to grant them a marriage.
It's too late to say anything now.
Seeing Mu Yuanzhen clenching her teeth and refusing to open her mouth to eat, Princess Pingyuan lost her patience and coldly ordered her maid, "Pry open her mouth and feed her the soup!"
Mu Yuanzhen's eyes widened, clearly not expecting her biological mother to treat her so roughly.
Princess Pingyuan sneered: "You're not satisfied with the man I arranged for you, so you're going on a hunger strike to threaten me? Do you think that will make me soften and tie Xu Mingyu up and force him to consummate your marriage? You'd better give up that idea!"
Mu Yuanzhen's eyes widened even more, filled with dissatisfaction, anxiety, and even more pleading.
Mother, I don't want to be a tool for giving birth!
If you need the continuation of the Princess's lineage and the glory of the Princess's Mansion, I am only willing to give birth to Xu Mingyu's child. No other man is worthy of letting me have a child!
Princess Pingyuan could guess Mu Yuanzhen's thoughts, and her expression grew even colder:
"He can't have a child with you, and I can't force him to come here. Since you don't want to have a child with another man, I can only choose an auspicious day and select a husband for you to marry."
The sons of prominent families in the capital would not marry into Yuan Zhen's family, nor would the sons of minor officials with little future prospects.
She wouldn't mind giving some favors as long as the child could be born with a clean background.
Mu Yuanzhen heard it clearly, and a deep despair and resentment towards Princess Pingyuan appeared on his face.
In her mother's eyes, she was no different from those animals who bred indiscriminately!
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