"Not going to town?" Lin Xiaowan put down the wooden basin and came over from the river after washing clothes.
There was a well in the yard next door, and Lin Xiaowan would usually go there to fetch water for cooking. She preferred to wash clothes by the river, where the water flowed freely, so she didn't have to fetch water from the well all the time.
When Lin Xiaowan came back and saw Concubine Chai at home, she thought she was talking nonsense again. Concubine Chai liked to go to them and say bad things about the eldest wife, hoping to make them all hate the enemy and make trouble for the eldest wife.
Haha, that’s ridiculous.
Lin Xiaowan couldn't possibly go to the eldest wife's side. Her husband was a concubine's son and ranked lower in the family. If they really wanted to take advantage, it wouldn't be theirs, so they shouldn't think too much about it.
"No, not today." Aunt Chai said angrily, "I have something to do at home, so I'll go back first."
Aunt Chai immediately slipped away, fearing that Lin Xiaowan would be unhappy.
Seeing Aunt Chai leave, Lin Xiaowan sneered, "Do you think others are fools?"
"She is your elder after all, so be careful with her," said Aunt Zhao.
"How can a concubine be considered an elder?" Lin Xiaowan asked, "Or does mother think that since you two have separated, you can be considered old ladies in your respective families?"
"..." Aunt Zhao was silent. Lin Xiaowan's temper was getting worse and worse. Lin Xiaowan was talking back to Liu Yanqing and her mother-in-law.
What Lin Xiaowan said was not wrong. Aunt Zhao, Aunt Chai and Aunt Qing were all aunts, concubines. They only became prouder after they separated from the family.
"If the first wife had been a little more ruthless, how could you three concubines have been able to get a share with your son?" Lin Xiaowan asked, "Or are there a few strong men who can beat the first wife's people into consenting?"
"Don't talk about this." Aunt Zhao didn't want to hear any more of this.
With such a daughter-in-law around, Aunt Zhao didn't dare to say anything bad about Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan was strong and fierce, so Aunt Zhao could only remain silent and didn't dare to cause trouble for this daughter-in-law.
When Aunt Chai returned home, she continued to complain about Lin Xiaowan.
"Mother." Liu Fang looked at Aunt Chai and thought about her own marriage, which had not yet been decided. She wanted to settle it as soon as possible. "What should I do about my marriage?"
"Wait a minute." Aunt Chai said, "Are you willing to accept those people? The prefect's relatives, they don't even live under the same roof. They're so distant from each other."
Aunt Chai thought that her daughter was the Marquis's daughter after all, so how could she let her daughter marry so casually?
"How long do we have to wait?" Liu Fang asked.
"Why are you asking me? If you have the guts, go ask your father," Aunt Chai said. "If you marry someone so easily, you'll really have to stay here. Are you willing to stay in this place covered in yellow sand?"
Aunt Chai thought that if nothing worked, she could just wait for the eldest wife of the Liu family to return to Beijing... No, why should they wait until the eldest wife returned to Beijing? They could just return to Beijing first.
There is a Jingning Marquis Mansion in the capital. If the people in the capital don't know that they have split up, even if they have split up, they can still say that they have returned to look after the house for the eldest wife.
Aunt Chai was making plans quickly, thinking of returning to Beijing as soon as possible and moving into the Marquis of Jingning's Mansion.
But this is also a matter of probability. If the eldest wife asks the servants of the Jingning Marquis Mansion in the capital not to let them in, then their survival in the capital will also be a problem.
Never mind, most of them can’t live there.
Even if they move in, they can move out of the big house.
Those people in the capital could still write to the eldest wife, and even if they concealed the truth, they couldn't keep it a secret for long, at most a month or two. Unless Liu Fang married into a wealthy family in that month or two, which would be too difficult.
"Forget it, let's not go back to the capital," Aunt Chai muttered. When they were in the northwest, Liu Yanyuan and his wife could still work at the second wife's shop. If they returned to the capital, they couldn't live in the Jingning Marquis Mansion, and without a source of income, then their life would definitely not be as comfortable as it is now.
Not to mention that they would have to spend a lot of money on the journey back to Beijing, and the journey was long. It would be even worse if they encountered bandits.
"Let's wait and see what happens in the eldest wife's house. If they return to Beijing, we will return to Beijing too." Aunt Chai said.
"I don't know when they will return." Liu Fang was a little worried. "What if we have to wait for several years?"
"I've looked at it. If it doesn't work out, you can marry that relative of the prefectural governor's. He's still a scholar after all." Aunt Chai said, "After passing the examination, you have to continue to take higher exams. Choosing a military officer is not a good idea. Who knows, he might go to the battlefield and die accidentally."
The most important thing is that the military officer mentioned by the matchmaker was also of a very low rank, such as a thousand-household head.
Aunt Chai was unwilling to accept this and refused to let her daughter marry a captain. These people had no connections, and it was uncertain whether they would be promoted in the future. If that person always became a captain, then there would be no hope.
At this moment, Liu Qingyun had already gone to his classmate's place and asked him to take down all the things he had brought. Liu Qingyun's classmate's family was relatively poor, but there were many people in the family who had studied. However, the others were either not good at studying or unwilling to study, so this classmate was encouraged to study more.
"Why did you bring so many things?" Liu Qingyun's classmates did not expect that Liu Qingyun would bring so many things.
"I just want you to look better so that we can discuss homework together." Liu Qingyun joked.
Liu Qingyun spent a decent afternoon at a classmate's house. His classmate had already told his family that the people who came today were a little different. Even though they looked only seven or eight years old, they still needed to be treated with care and not neglected.
The family cooked the food and served it to Liu Qingyun and the others. They also prepared some other vegetables. It couldn't be that there were only meat dishes. It was just that the family's cooking skills were not that good, so the dishes they made tasted average.
After lunch, Liu Qingyun stayed for a while before leaving. His classmate's family asked him to bring back some things, and Liu Qingyun didn't hesitate to bring back some, but didn't take anything more.
There are only a few masters in the house, and they can't eat so much.
When Liu Qingyun returned home, he ran to Liu Yulian and chattered about what he had seen and heard that day.
"That village is even worse than Shiyuan Village where we stayed before," Liu Qingyun said. "The houses there are more dilapidated, and there are fewer crops to grow. I heard that the land is not as good."
"It will get better slowly." Liu Yulian said.
"Yes, someone in their village bought the culture medium." Liu Qingyun nodded. "They have less water there...someone said so over there."
"Yes, some places don't have enough water. If there's no water, the culture medium alone is useless." Liu Yulian didn't expect her nephew to understand this. She just said it, if he could understand a little, then that's enough. "Those crop straw and other things should also be left. They can be turned into fertilizer."
"It's so difficult." Liu Qingyun didn't know how to farm, so he thought it was a very difficult thing.
"Studying is difficult, and nothing is easy." Liu Yulian said, "But some people are talented, and for them, some things are much easier."
For example, some people are very talented in writing, so the novels they write will easily become popular. However, some people do not have such good talent, and even if they work hard to write many novels, they may still just be a small flop.
Liu Yulian didn't say anything else. Her nephew did have some talent in studying.
"Talent is important, but you also need to be diligent. If you're not diligent, you won't succeed." Liu Yulian said, "In the tortoise and the hare race, if the hare doesn't work hard, the tortoise may catch up."
At this moment, Liu's mother came over and said, "What are you guys talking about? It's time for dinner soon."
"Mother." Ever since Liu's father regained his title of marquis, Liu Yulian no longer called them dad and mom, but father and mother.
This is basically the case for all wealthy families.
Liu Yulian changed it so that she wouldn't get used to it when she returned to the capital and it would be difficult to change it.
"Qingyun said what he saw." Liu Yulian said, "Let's talk about it."
"Come to think of it, you've been staying at home for a while and haven't gone out for a walk." said Liu's mother.
The people in the town are of relatively low status. It’s not that the rich girls don’t want to invite Liu Yulian out, but their status is low and they are not qualified to invite Liu Yulian.
As for the prefectural capital, this town wasn't that close, and Liu Yulian wouldn't have gone all the way to the prefectural capital to attend a flower viewing banquet. The daughters of officials in the prefectural capital weren't likely to send invitations to the small town either, as they generally invited people from the same city.
"You can also invite someone to come over and play." said Liu's mother.
"Forget it." Liu Yulian shook her head. "If I have this much time, I'd rather do some embroidery and take care of the flowers and plants. So many families want to marry their daughters to my brother."
When Liu Yulian went out a few days ago, her neighbors were very enthusiastic towards her. They were just asking about Liu Yanjing indirectly. Liu Yulian was an unmarried girl, so how could she talk about her brother?
With her brother in the military camp and her nephew and niece still so young, Liu Yulian really didn't know what Liu Yanjing was planning.
But Liu Yulian knew that Liu Yanjing would inevitably marry. Sooner or later, Liu Yanjing would become the crown prince and inherit the Marquisate. The Marquisate could not be without a mistress, and it all depended on when Liu Yanjing would marry.
"There's no need to rush about your eldest brother's affairs," said Mother Liu. Her grandson was educated and sensible. In two years, when he was older, even if her son married by then, the impact on him wouldn't be as significant.
Mother Liu disliked the Huo family and felt that her judgment was poor. Why had she chosen to marry her son to the Huo family in the first place? She didn't vent her anger on Liu Qingyun and Liu Jia. She had raised both of them with her love, and Liu Qingyun was Liu Yanjing's heir.
"Wait two years," said Liu's mother. "If anyone asks you, just tell them so."
"There should be very few people asking me this." Liu Yulian laughed.
"No one asked me." Liu Qingyun sighed, "Wait two years to get a stepmother? That's fine, I can take care of my sister."
Liu Qingyun was very sensible at a young age. He also knew that his father would not remarry, so he had to study hard so that he could take better care of his sister in the future.
If there is a stepmother, there may be a stepfather. Liu Qingyun thought so, and he had to work hard.
"I will definitely find you a stepmother who will treat your sister well." Mother Liu said, "But you also have to study hard. When you grow up, you will be able to support your sister."
"Well, I also support my aunt." Liu Qingyun nodded.
In the capital, the emperor received the invulnerable silk threads that Prince Su helped the Liu family deliver. The brown silk threads were really ugly in color.
"This piece of armor was worn by my son." When Prince Su entered the palace, he also brought the armor he had worn into the palace and told the emperor about the assassination attempt on his way. "The color is not good, but it is indeed useful."
"Let someone bring me the knife and try it." The emperor did not break the silk thread, but wondered if the knife could cut it.
The emperor really didn't think that any sister could be so capable before. The sister of the Liu family worked really hard for her brother. She developed an ointment to heal her brother's leg injury and made these invulnerable silk threads.
The emperor casually flipped through the books that described how to make the threads. He saw the instructions, including that the temperature of the potion couldn't be too low or too high, and that there were reference objects.
The guard with the sword entered the imperial study and used the sword to check the silk thread. The silk thread was not broken. The guard used the sword to cut the armor, but the armor was still intact.
"That's really good." The emperor sighed.
"Princess Rongning hadn't researched dyeing techniques, and wasn't sure if the threads would remain strong after dyeing," Prince Su said. "So she asked me to bring them back to you, Father. While I was in the northwest, I also had them made. I spent over a thousand taels of silver, but the resulting threads weren't even enough to make a single piece of armor."
"Such a fine thing should be like this," the emperor said. He reached out and rubbed the armor. The material was very soft and comfortable. "Whether it is dyed or not is indeed secondary."
"They don't have that much money," Prince Su added with a smile. "When I went there, they were doing embroidery and growing strawberries to sell. They were worried about Liu Yanjing getting into trouble on the battlefield, so they spent all their money on silk thread. I felt embarrassed to accept a piece of armor from them for free."
"This is life-saving armor." The emperor looked at the brown armor. The color of this armor was indeed not very attractive, but it was very practical. "Didn't you leave some money for them?"
"I guess they've already spent all the money that the emperor gave them." Prince Su said, "I bought them a house. Even if they spend all the money, at least they still have a place to live."
"Yes." The emperor nodded. After all, there was still a place to live. "Marquis Jingning's Mansion is also considered loyal."
The court could also make money by preparing nutrient solution and selling it. If there was a good harvest of grain, the court would be able to stabilize itself if a war really broke out.
"Tell me, why aren't your sisters as powerful?" the emperor joked. "If you were a prisoner, would they be able to be as powerful?"
"I'm afraid not," Prince Su replied. "My son has been imprisoned, so he must have committed a serious crime. There's no need for them to rescue me. They are still princesses, waiting to marry into a good family or stay in their husband's family."
Prince Su was telling the truth. There was no need for the royal princess to bother with these things.
"Well, you princes are the best at fighting each other," said the emperor.
"..." Prince Su didn't want to fight too hard, but the emperor had no legitimate son, and all the princes wanted to fight for the throne. If he didn't fight, then death might be waiting for him.
At the Duke Chengguo Mansion, the old lady asked the Duke Chengguo Mansion to make a list and personally saw the things that were to be sent to the northwest.
"The rouge in the capital is better than in the northwest, so we should buy some." The old lady checked the list and looked at the items. She thought that it would be difficult for Liu Yulian to buy some things in the capital while staying in the northwest, so they could just send them over. "Those cakes are not easy to carry, so there is no need to bring them. As for other things, we can take two more pieces of silk."
"Yes." Lady Chengguo thought that the old lady could really change her face. It was obvious that the old lady wanted He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian to cancel their engagement before.
When the Liu family regained their title of Marquis, the old lady changed her attitude once. At that time, the old lady's attitude towards the Liu family was not as good as it is now. When He Xichen returned to Beijing and his legs were healed by Liu Yulian, the old lady's attitude changed drastically, and she almost treated Liu Yulian as her own granddaughter.
No, the old lady isn't even this nice to her own granddaughter.
Lady Chengguo had long known how snobbish her mother-in-law was, but she was still shocked when she saw such a big change in her mother-in-law.
"Think about it, if it weren't for their family, Brother Chen's leg wouldn't have been healed. It's really stingy of our family to send such a small gift." said the old lady.
"Then add some more?" asked the wife of Duke Chengguo.
"That's not necessary. They still have to return to the capital," the old lady said. "For now, just these things. We'll have time to send more after they return."
"Yes." Lady Chengguo responded.
"It's time to settle Chen'er's marriage." The old lady thought of a close friend of hers. When He Xichen went to the northwest, that close friend came specially without knowing whether He Xichen's leg could be healed.
The handkerchief friend came mainly for her granddaughter, who was the daughter of a fourth-rank general and was determined to marry He Xichen.
"General Mo's daughter is a bit older," the old lady said, "but even though her parents didn't want her to marry Chen Ge'er, she was still so stubborn. She's not bad either. I think she's pretty good."
"From the family of General Mo, who is a fourth-rank official?" asked Lady Chengguo.
"Yes," the old lady said, "Her father's official rank is relatively low, but her mother comes from a family of scholars, and she herself is not bad either. If you think she's a good match, then we can decide."
Lady Chengguo was shocked. Did the old lady have a sex change? She was actually willing to marry He Xichen to a girl from such a lowly family?
"Her family background isn't that high, so she'll definitely treat County Master Rongning well in the future," the old lady said. "Besides, this is fate. The other girls didn't insist, but she did, and she almost had a falling out with her parents. Her grandmother and I have some friendship, so she's a sincere person."
The old lady naturally hoped her grandson would marry someone from a well-off family, and she wasn't doing this just to make things easier for Liu Yulian and He Xiyuan. It was mainly because the girl had insisted on it even before her grandson's legs were healed, and even when her grandson was away in the northwest, her grandmother had come to her specifically to talk about it.
In the past few years, the girl had gone out to learn medicine from a doctor and to pick herbs. To avoid her parents finding a partner for her, she even stayed away from home and refused to go home.
"She also knows some medical skills..." said the old lady.
When Miss Mo learned that He Xichen's legs had healed, she gave up on marrying him. She knew her status wasn't high enough, and that the people in the Duke of Cheng's mansion might not see her efforts, so she finally relented to her parents and agreed to marry someone else.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com