When Yun Chang returned to the manor, she first went to see Xu Changhuan, who was just about to go out for a stroll.
He asked her what she had eaten for lunch and if she felt unwell. After confirming that she was alright, he felt relieved. He then accompanied her for a stroll around the mansion and recounted the events that had occurred at the wedding banquet in Nanling that day.
Xu Changhuan frowned and sighed, "This capital city is really terrible. There are just too many people who look down on others. That's why Xiaomai and I don't like living here."
Yun Chang sighed, "I don't like it either, but in order to protect the people we care about, everyone can only try their best to seize power and climb higher."
After saying that, he turned to look at her and said softly, "I guess the Emperor called me back this time to arrange something else for me. If I can't go to Qing Shi Town to guard it next year, you should go back with Xiaomai and your brother-in-law. With them protecting you, plus your master protecting you there, I can feel more at ease."
Xu Changhuan remained silent.
Yun Chang took her hand and said softly, "I'm worried that the Emperor will order me to lead troops to attack Chen. If I lead troops into battle, I won't be able to protect you if you're by my side. Even if I arrange the people I trust most to be by your side, it's because I'm worried that someone might harm you or our child, or use you to blackmail me."
“Huanhuan, this is why I never thought about getting married when I went to the battlefield. Having a family means having a weakness, but I will not leave you in the capital. It's too far away for me to take care of you.” Yun Chang held her hand tightly and gently analyzed the current situation for her.
Xu Changhuan's eyes were slightly red as she nodded, "I know, you don't need to worry, I will go back with Xiaomai and the others."
What saddened her was that if he were to go to war, he might not be by her side when she gave birth, and she wouldn't be able to see their child immediately.
"I'm sorry, Huanhuan. Give me a few years. I'll settle things down around here and train a team. Then I'll retire and live with you in Qingshi Town, where we can live a peaceful and quiet life together."
"I never thought I would ever have the thought of not wanting to be a great general. I never imagined that after having a wife and children, I would realize that a simple life and a stable life are the happiest."
"If you find living there too boring, you can also do business with your sister to pass the time. When I come back, we can do business together and give our children a good life."
Yun Chang had never really thought about life before; she just wanted to do everything in her power to protect every inch of Song's territory until the day she died in battle.
But now, he has more extravagant desires in his heart.
“Okay, don’t worry. I’ve thought about it and want to get the Xu family’s incense shop up and running again, but my father has given up on that idea. He gave me the incense manual and told me that if I want to do it, I can do it myself and it can also help supplement our family’s income.”
“I saw how good Xiaomai is at business, and I was thinking of partnering with her to run this incense shop business. With her there, I think we can definitely do well.”
Xu Changhuan originally wanted to bring this up with Li Mai in the summer, but Li Mai's baby was a month old and she was pregnant again, so he had to wait until she gave birth before talking about it.
"Okay, if you want to do it, then do it. I'll give you and Xiaomai some more manpower. You just need to look after the accounts and keep an eye on the quality of the incense. As for the sales, let Xiaomai handle that; she's good at negotiating business outside." Yun Chang gently instructed her.
In his mind, if his sister were a man, she would definitely become the number one merchant in the world. However, with her brother-in-law's help, even if she were a woman, she might eventually become famous in the business world.
"Okay!" Xu Changhuan smiled.
The two continued their walk, and Yun Chang brought up other things.
The next day, Yun Chang was summoned to the palace by imperial decree.
He spent a day discussing matters with the emperor in the palace. On the third day, he brought the head of the Xu family to the palace to pay his respects to the emperor. The head of the Xu family gave him the two sheep he had brought for the emperor and mentioned that he had raised these sheep outside and they had grown up eating grass.
The emperor was surprised that the head of the Xu family took his jest seriously. He smiled, thanked him, and bestowed many gifts upon the head of the Xu family and Xu Changhuan. When they left the palace to go home, three carriages from the palace transported their belongings back to them.
The head of the Xu family never expected that giving away two sheep would bring back so many things, worth a hundred sheep.
Yun Chang smiled as she looked at her father-in-law's dazed expression. "You know what, the Emperor has been on the throne for decades since he was born, and you're probably the first person to send him a sheep. The Emperor probably finds it quite novel."
"Hehe, hehehe, I never expected His Majesty to be so generous, even giving a commoner a gift in return." The head of the Xu family truly felt that this was the first time he had ever heard of such a good emperor.
Yun Chang smiled but did not respond.
Back at the manor, the head of the Xu family gave all of his gifts to Xu Changhuan. "You can have them all. I don't want them. You can give some to Lele when you get back. I only have the two of you. If I take these back, I won't be able to keep them for myself. It's better to give them to you now."
Xu Changhuan was incredulous when he heard that the Emperor had given his father so many gifts.
However, the Yun Prince's Mansion was already wealthy, and she didn't lack these things. She said, "Father, I'll keep one bolt of fabric. You can take the rest back. After my sister has chosen, you can keep what you want. We're not usually by your side, so these can be given as gifts to those who have helped you. After all, they are all gifts from the Emperor, and they are all good things."
The gifts bestowed by the Emperor were all everyday items, such as gold, silver, jewelry, jade, porcelain, cloth, and tea. There were no items that symbolized royal status. He knew that since the gifts were for an ordinary person, he couldn't give them anything too valuable, or it would bring them death. The Emperor was very clear about this.
This is also why Yun Chang didn't stop the Xu family head from accepting the gifts after hearing the list.
When the head of the Xu family saw that his daughter had only casually taken a piece of satin and left the rest for him, he sighed inwardly. Huanhuan was now a princess and indeed lacked nothing. This child had always been sensible; she was telling him to keep these things to take back with him in his old age!
He had no choice but to have someone help him move the rest back to his own yard, intending to distribute them to his grandchildren later.
As the year draws to a close, Yun Chang will be attending court and participating in government affairs every day after her return. Xu Changhuan, due to her large belly, cannot leave the mansion to go out for walks often, for fear of encountering danger.
Several ladies from various mansions came to pay their respects to her. After asking Yun Chang which families she could befriend, she received a few of them.
If it was inconvenient to visit, she would excuse herself by saying she was unwell and not receive them.
Li Mai would occasionally bring her children to visit her sister-in-law, and they even stayed for two days.
Chu Yan and Zhong Hui also had to do their work every day. After finishing their shifts, they would first go to see their master and the two little ones. However, they ran into Li Mai and the others who had gone to the Yun Prince's Mansion, so they also went to the Yun Prince's Mansion.
This made the Yunwang Mansion quite lively.
Nanling also went to see Limai every day or two. Knowing that Limai had gone to the Yunwang Mansion, she also took Chengcheng there.
Everyone spent a few days in this lively atmosphere, and then the New Year arrived.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
