The second and third wives set out together. They needed to reach the capital as quickly as possible and avoid any unnecessary travel. They didn't have much to carry with them, so they only took banknotes if possible; there was no need to carry so much cash.
Each room had a carriage with some items in the back.
Feng Guanjing sat in the carriage, looking at Liu Yanyuan. Even after selling everything they had, they still didn't have enough money. When they returned to the capital, they probably wouldn't even be able to buy a shop; they would have to rent one.
But their skills are not that good, so it is not certain how much money they can make, and they may even suffer losses.
It wasn't that Feng Guanjing didn't want to return to Beijing; she wanted to, too. They still had to think about their future lives, and Feng Guanjing didn't think they could go to the Marquis of Jingning's mansion. They had already separated from the eldest wife's family long ago, so they couldn't ask for money from her again.
"Just wait until we get to the capital." Aunt Chai knew what Feng Guanjing was thinking. "What future can we achieve if we stay in the northwest forever?"
Aunt Chai didn't want to stay in the dusty northwest. The strong wind and sand here made her skin look worse. If she didn't return to Beijing, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
"Even if you don't think about yourselves, you should at least think about your children," Aunt Chai said. "If you don't have children now, you will have to have them in the future."
"Yeah." Feng Guanjing nodded slightly. She really had to consider future generations.
If they could stay in the capital, their children would have a better future. There was still a big difference between the capital and the northwest, and Feng Guanjing also thought about the good things in the capital.
When she arrived in the capital, Feng Guanjing thought she could go back to her parents' home and there would always be a way to make a living.
In the capital, at the Marquis of Jingning's mansion, Liu Yulian made a few corn cakes. She felt the corn wasn't tender enough, and the husks were a bit thick, but this type of corn with thick husks was more durable and suitable for transportation.
Ordinary people used corn as a grain, but wealthy families rarely ate it. Corn is a coarse grain, not a refined grain, and wealthy families prefer to eat refined grains.
Liu Yulian made corn tortillas because she thought that the combination of coarse grains and fine grains was good for digestion and the body.
"This is the tortilla I just made." Liu Yulian took the tortilla to find Princess Zhaoyang.
Liu Yulian had the corn ground into flour, meaning it was ground into a very fine powder, which was not too coarse and was easier to chew. The tortillas made from this cornmeal were also softer, and when combined with other seasonings, they tasted very good.
"Cooking again?" Princess Zhaoyang said with a smile.
"Cook something to eat when you have time," Liu Yulian said. "I'm losing my hair reading those books and studying those things all day long."
Liu Yulian didn't like staying at the research institute all the time, as it made her feel stressed. She rarely stayed there all day, and sometimes she didn't go there for several days. She was thinking about developing steam engines and trains.
But these things are not that simple. It’s just to let those people know some simple theoretical knowledge and then study them together.
Liu Yulian would go over and take a look when she was free. The researchers at the institute were all conducting separate research.
The institute has few administrative staff, and the work is mainly done by Princess Zhaoyang, the Crown Princess, and some of their staff.
When someone wanted to be an administrative staff member at the research institute, the emperor didn't just randomly assign anyone to the position. He was worried that if he did, they wouldn't understand research and might just give orders blindly.
The emperor had asked Liu Yulian to prepare for the academy's examinations, which would be held next year. The emperor had not held any special examinations this year, nor had he planned to hold additional spring exams, intending to first stabilize the academy.
The glass and telescopes developed by the institute are all very good things.
The emperor wished the institute could produce more, as he was old and didn't know when he would die. He summoned the crown prince, whom he had long ago told that the institute's officials wouldn't be involved in other matters at court. They wouldn't attend court or manage local government.
Even so, some people still want to join the research institute, some want to control the institute. Some people simply think that the research institute is a good place, that it is the place for development and that they have great opportunities.
"Is the exam going to start?" asked the prince.
"Let's do it next year. Next year's spring exam will be conducted exclusively for the Institute." The emperor said, "The people who created the exam papers are from the Institute. Just because someone from the Institute created the papers doesn't mean the questions can be leaked at will."
This is the first time the institute is holding an examination, which is a very important matter.
The Royal Family must maintain a firm grasp of the limits and not allow the Institute to become a place where those people fight for power and profit. The Institute is a place for research and should not be involved in such messy things.
"Can women participate?" the prince asked again.
The imperial examinations were open to men, not women. Women who wanted to become officials had to rely on recommendations or other means, or they could enter the palace as court ladies. Few women became high-ranking officials, and few even served in the imperial court.
"Of course they must participate." The emperor nodded. "The research institute is still short of people. They are short of manpower."
The emperor had a conversation with Liu Yulian, who had mentioned that agricultural research and mechanical research, while seemingly interchangeable, were fundamentally different. For example, the Imperial Water Conservancy Bureau and the Ministry of Industry, while seemingly interchangeable, were vastly different.
That's true. It's impossible that everything in those departments is the same. If they were the same, the court wouldn't have to divide them into these departments.
"Yes." The prince responded.
"Your concubine is about to come in." said the emperor.
"In two days." said the prince.
The prince had no particular feelings for the Qin family girl. He married the emperor because he was told to. He didn't care if there was one more woman in his backyard, one less, or more. It made no difference to him. He was the prince, not an ordinary man. He couldn't act arbitrarily.
As a crown prince, it is difficult for him to marry only one woman. His marriage is not a simple matter and involves other people and things.
"I allow you to marry her, but you can't favor your concubine over your wife," said the emperor.
The emperor had once tried to test the eldest master Qin, but he refused to let his daughter enter the palace. But the second master Qin wanted his daughter to enter the palace, and the emperor issued an imperial decree to marry the daughter of the second master Qin.
The emperor had regrets about the late queen, Qin, but that didn't mean he had to let the crown prince treat Qin's daughter well. Qin's daughter was the crown prince's concubine, and she wasn't the principal wife like the late queen, so a concubine should behave like a concubine.
"Of course it is," the Crown Prince replied. How could he possibly favor his concubines? Concubines were also concubines. Even though his concubines were more or less of high status, so what? He still had to respect the Empress.
At the Duke Chengguo Mansion, Madam He has been feeling something is not right lately. Why has He Xiyuan been staying at home these days without going out?
"Did you have a fight with Rongning?" Old Madam He asked, "A man should be more tolerant of his fiancée. She works so hard and has to do so many things, and you..."
"No." He Xiyuan frowned. He and Sister Lian hadn't quarreled. "Sister Lian went to the farm a few days ago. She was busy for a few days. I didn't go over to disturb her and let her rest."
"It's not like Rongning rests all day long," Old Madam He said. "You should go there more often, lest someone else does when you're not."
“…” He Xiyuan thought of the young master of the Duan family who had picked up the kite before.
"Previously, your mother's niece, who is also your cousin, wanted your cousin to marry you." Old Madam He said, "Rongning should also have a cousin."
"Cousins shouldn't be together," He Xiyuan explained. "Sister Lian said that if the blood relationship is too close, cousins are just like cousins and can't get married. If they get married, the children they have might not be good. They might die young, be miscarried before they're born, or even have mental retardation. There are all kinds of deformities. It's not good."
"You're still right?" Old Madam He said, "Do you think she only has cousins? There are also relatives several generations apart, so there must be some connection."
"Why don't you just let your grandson stop studying and let him go to Sister Lian's place." He Xiyuan said.
"If you want to be a good wife, that's not impossible." Madam He looked at He Xiyuan, "It's enough for one of you to be an official."
"I was picked up, right?" He Xiyuan's mouth curled slightly.
"No, if you were adopted, I would definitely ask you to cancel your engagement and make room for someone in the mansion." said Old Madam He.
“…” He Xiyuan thought it was a good thing that he was still his parents’ biological child.
"You should also pay more attention. Don't just stay at home and study all day. Go visit Rongning when you need to. Don't let those ignorant people outside think that she is always out and about in public." Madam He said, "How many powerful people would be so particular about small details?"
"Yes, yes, yes." He Xiyuan was helpless. He didn't dislike Sister Lian at all. He was even afraid that Sister Lian disliked him.
Every time He Xiyuan heard Mrs. He say these words, he felt that he might be abandoned by Sister Lian at any time.
Why are so many people thinking about his sister Lian?
He Xiyuan thought that those people should take a closer look at their own fiancées. They could let their fiancées take the entrance exam for graduate school or let their fiancées become female officials.
"Don't always say yes and yes," said Madam He. "You should take some action and go over there more often. Don't think you're incompetent, don't think you're not a high-ranking official. These aren't the most important things. What's important is that you can live a good life. If others say you're incompetent or that Rong Ning is more powerful, it's just because they're jealous of you. Don't be fooled."
"I know." He Xiyuan said that he understood everything.
He and Sister Lian haven't gotten married yet, so how many times will his grandmother remind him?
Ever since He Xiyuan returned to the Duke of Chengguo's mansion from the northwest, he had heard Madam He say these words more than once or twice. Madam He would talk to him about them every few days, giving him examples of men who divorced women because they thought they were too strong, only to have them marry better men, and no matter how much the men regretted it, it was useless.
"Do you feel calluses on your ears?" asked Mrs. He.
“…” He Xiyuan wanted to say yes.
"Don't take these words lightly. If you can't even hold back now, you'll have more troubles when you and Rongning get married," said Madam He. "Living together as a couple is never that simple."
'Yes.' He Xiyuan nodded.
At the Marquis of Jingning's mansion, Liu Yulian was unaware of Madam He's actions. If she had known, she would have been speechless.
Xiao Liujia came to Princess Zhaoyang. She wanted to eat tortillas with Princess Zhaoyang and didn't want to eat alone.
"How many words have you learned recently?" Liu Yulian asked.
"I've recognized quite a few of them." Liu Jia held a tortilla in one hand.
"Just take one," Liu Yulian said. Although it was fine for them at home, Liu Jia still had to be more careful when she went out. No one at home would fight with Liu Jia, so Liu Jia would have one hand free.
Liu Yulian did not force Liu Jia to do anything, but she still had to pay attention to the things she should pay attention to and observe some etiquette and rules.
"Auntie's tortillas are delicious," Liu Jia said. "I love them."
"As long as you like to eat it." Liu Yulian found that Liu Jia still said some things that were often said in the Northwest.
They didn't pay much attention to this before, after all, they didn't have much contact with so many powerful people at the time.
Liu Yulian looked at Princess Zhaoyang and thought she didn't need to worry. Princess Zhaoyang had found a female tutor to teach Liu Jia, and after the spring, Liu Jia would go to school. This was also to give Liu Jia a transition, rather than letting her come into contact with those people all at once.
When Liu Jia left the capital, she was still very young. She barely remembered anything about the capital, and her behavior was somewhat northwestern. To ensure that little Liu Jia wouldn't be unable to blend in with the other children, Princess Zhaoyang made some preparations.
"Slow down, don't choke." Princess Zhaoyang asked someone to bring goat milk to Xiao Liujia.
Ever since Princess Zhaoyang knew the benefits of cow's milk and goat's milk, she asked people to learn how to make them and prepared them for Liu Qingyun, Liu Jia and others.
Princess Zhaoyang was in charge of the Marquis of Jingning's residence. The people from the Marquis of Jingning's residence had been back in Beijing for several months, but they hadn't attended many banquets, and the residence hadn't held any yet. This was mainly because the family didn't have the money, and Liu Yulian had to go to the research institute, so Liu Yanjing had returned to the patrol camp, so there was no rush to hold a banquet.
In fact, Princess Zhaoyang had money and a princess mansion, but she still felt that she could wait for a while.
In a few days, the Jingning Marquis Mansion will hold a banquet, which will be the first time to formally entertain those people since he came back.
Princess Zhaoyang was not that concerned about face. She was remarrying and there was no need for her to be so particular about this and that.
"It's okay." Liu Jia said, "I'm very slow."
Liu Yulian made a lot of corn cakes and some jam. She put some food in a food box and asked someone to send it to the Duke of Chengguo's mansion so that He Xiyuan could taste it.
When those things were delivered to the Chengguo Mansion, Madam He and He Xiyuan were still talking. They had been talking for a while, and for the first time, He Xiyuan felt that the old lady was so talkative. He felt that he was going to become a master of house fighting.
However, He Xiyuan did not feel too annoyed. What if someone really wanted to snatch his wife away? He absolutely could not let those people have this opportunity. He had to maintain his position.
Some women use their gentleness to seduce men, and men can also seduce others with their gentle and elegant side.
He Xiyuan thought that the young master of the Duan family was the same. There were many bad men, and those who destroyed the relationship between engaged couples were simply bad.
"Did Rongning send this?" asked Old Lady He.
"Yes." He Xiyuan nodded. The visitor had already said it.
Although no one from the Jingning Marquis Mansion came in and they just had someone pass things to them, He Xiyuan felt that this was already very good and that Sister Lian had not forgotten him.
"Let me take a look." Old Madam He smelled some fragrance. She heard that Princess Rongning was a good cook.
When Princess Zhaoyang and the Prince of Jingning's mansion were getting married, Princess Rongning had come up with a lot of tricks. Old Madam He wasn't in the northwest at the time, so she just heard about it from others.
"Tortilla?" Old Madam He saw the tortilla on top, and there was mutton soup and jam underneath the food box.
The quantity of those things is quite large, not small.
When He Xiyuan saw that Old Madam He was here, he simply asked someone to serve some for her to try.
"It tastes good." Madam He didn't hesitate to be polite with her grandson. She sat aside and tasted the corn cake. "Yuan'er, you can't always wait for Rongning to cook for you. To capture someone's heart, you have to capture their stomach. You should learn that."
"I need to learn, but I can't compare to what Sister Lian does." He Xiyuan said.
"You think the cooking skills of the young masters and young ladies of noble families are that good? It's just a token of my appreciation." Madam He said, "It's okay to cook it occasionally. If you cook it all the time and the food is so unpalatable, it's just torture."
“…” He Xiyuan didn’t say anything, as he was ridiculed by his grandmother again.
"But Rongning is a good cook. She cooks more for people, and they enjoy it." Old Madam He sighed, "It's hard to win her stomach with your cooking skills."
"I just can't catch her stomach." He Xiyuan knew that if he cooked more meals himself, he would be cheating her. "How can you be so pessimistic about your grandson?"
"Tell me what your strengths are. You and Rongning share a childhood friendship, and you abandoned literature to pursue a military career," Old Lady He said. "Besides that, what else makes you different? You're not considered a man of status or dignity. Every time you take the imperial examination, there's more than just a young scholar."
“…” He Xiyuan understood that his grandmother just disliked him very much now.
"Eat." Madam He said, "It's because Rongning still cares about you. If it were someone else, they might think I wanted to break off your engagement and not want you anymore."
"Isn't that your fault?" He Xiyuan said.
"Yes, did I say it wasn't my fault?" Madam He said affirmatively, "It was my fault. Don't I have to make it up to her?"
"You make it up to me." What else could He Xiyuan say? He felt like he was picked up anyway.
Two days later, the news of the institute's spring recruitment spread. The institute's recruitment was open to both men and women, with no age or gender restrictions.
After Miss Qin San from the Qin family heard the news, she thought about taking the entrance exam for the research institute. Regardless of whether she could pass or not, she was determined to give it a try.
"Go give it a try." Master Qin was willing to let his daughter try. Just because he didn't want her to go to the Eastern Palace didn't mean he didn't want her to go to the research institute. He couldn't control his niece, but he could always let his daughter try hard.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
