Chapter 217 [VIP]
The next morning, as soon as the city gates opened, Chen Qingsong went to find someone to provide his elder brother and two servants with the necessary documents to enter the city.
Ms. Li was worried about her son and came to the backyard early to check on him. She was really frightened last night and couldn't sleep until dawn.
"How is Yan'er?"
Chen Qingyan had already stood up. Apart from being a little pale, she seemed to be in good spirits. "Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Li reached out and touched his forehead, relieved that he wasn't frightened or feverish. "In the early years, when you couldn't take the imperial examinations, I was always worried about you, hoping that one day you could overturn the verdict and take the exams again. Later, when you were finally able to take the exams again, I was still worried that you wouldn't pass. When you finally passed, we were forced to separate and couldn't be together anymore. I'll never stop worrying about you in this lifetime."
Chen Qingyan's nose tingled with emotion. "I'm sorry to have worried you."
"What mother wouldn't worry? I just hope you can be transferred back this time and settle down as an official, instead of running around all over the country."
"Why."
"Is Dad awake?" Yuanbao called out from outside the door.
"Come in."
Yuanbao pushed open the door and saw his grandmother there. He excitedly ran over and hugged Chen Qingyan, "Father said you were back. I thought he was joking. I didn't expect you to really be back!"
Chen Qingyan ruffled her son's hair. "When I got home last night, I saw you were asleep, so I didn't wake you up."
"Didn't you say you wouldn't be back until after the New Year?"
"I took a shortcut and came back early." Chen Qingyan didn't tell his son what happened on the way, afraid of scaring him.
"Great! Now you can come with me to the county exam!"
"Okay, Dad will go with you." The two of them played happily together, and the gloom in their hearts dissipated a lot.
On the other side, in the study, Wang Ying looked at Chen Zhandong and Chen Ju kneeling below.
Last night, due to the emergency, Chen Qingyan teleported them back from the experimental field, which completely exposed the secret of the experimental field to the two of them. If the two of them were to reveal this matter, they would probably invite trouble.
Knowing what his master was thinking, Chen Zhandong kowtowed first and said, "Back then, my husband saved my life and took me from Chenjiazhuang to the prefectural city and then to the capital. I saw the world and gained skills. Now, my master has saved my life again. My life was given to me by both of you. I am willing to sign a death contract and serve you for the rest of my life."
Signing a death contract meant becoming a slave. Although Chen Zhandong and Chen Ju had changed their surnames, they were not slaves, so they were still free.
Once a death contract is signed, one's life is in the master's hands. Naturally, Wang Ying will trust him more and treat him as her right-hand man.
Chen Ju also kowtowed, "I have no other skills. Over the years, I have been well-fed and well-clothed by the master and young master, and I can get so much bonus every month. Even if you chase me away, I won't leave. I will sign!"
Wang Ying said, "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that this matter cannot be known to outsiders."
"I understand."
"Then let's sign it. You two have been by my side all these years, and I'll need your help with business matters in the future. As for Chen Ju, Uncle Chen is getting old, and Chen Xi will stay in his hometown to take over his job. Kyoto is still short of a housekeeper, so you'd better grow up well."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ju's eyes lit up immediately. "I understand. I will definitely learn from Uncle Chen during this time!"
The two men excitedly kowtowed to express their gratitude. Wang Ying raised her hand to let them up and gave each of them fifty taels of silver. "You two have also been frightened on this trip. When you go back to your hometown in a while, buy whatever you want to bring back for your family in advance."
"yes."
After the two left, Wang Ying carefully put away the death pact with their handprints on it, finally feeling relieved.
You can't blame him for being cautious; better safe than sorry. Although the two of them had followed them for many years, if the secret of the experimental field were to be leaked, it could be fatal.
*
On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, my fourth uncle's family arrived.
Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt came with Qingying and Qinglan. After not seeing them for several years, Qingying had grown into a graceful young woman, and Qinglan was also quite presentable.
It's a pity that Old Liang couldn't come. I heard from my fourth uncle that his son took him away before the New Year. But this time when I go back, I can go and visit him on the way.
The family had so much to talk about when they got together. In a while, Fourth Uncle would also be going to Kyoto to report on his work. His three-year term in Yanzhou was coming to an end, and no one knew where he would be transferred this time.
In recent years, as he has gotten older and his son's career has improved, the fourth uncle's obsession with taking a position in Kyoto has faded considerably.
To paraphrase Mr. Liang, "An old donkey can't pull a millstone anymore." The words may be a bit crude, but the principle is sound.
However, Chen Jing had high hopes for his nephew's career, saying, "I heard that you lifted the siege of Liangzhou?"
"I dare not accept such praise. I am not capable of such a feat. It was only thanks to the Marquis of Zhenbian leading his troops in a desperate resistance that Liangzhou was saved."
"You delivered life-saving provisions to them, which is a great achievement. I heard that the Emperor wants to transfer you back to the capital, but I don't know where you will be assigned."
"It's alright, just do as His Majesty commands."
Chen Jing patted him on the shoulder, "You've really become more mature and composed. Before you came, you wrote to me and Qinghuai. He said he'd be back soon. Let's wait a few more days and then go back to our hometown together."
"good!"
It wasn't until the 20th day of the first lunar month that Chen Qinghuai returned with his wife, Bai, and their youngest daughter, Yingying.
The little girl is two and a half years old, which is a lovely age. She looks like her parents, and she is a really beautiful little girl. She is so pretty and delicate that it is hard not to love her.
She's just timid and a bit shy around strangers. She gets so scared when she sees so many strangers that she cries loudly and no one can comfort her.
Who would have thought that this little girl would get along so well with Lin Qiu? She wouldn't cry when he held her, and would even pout and call him "uncle," which amused everyone.
After a short two-day rest, we prepared our carriages and horses and set off back to our hometown in Qingshui Town.
This was the first time they had all gathered together like this; the whole family, along with dozens of servants, marched out of the city in a grand procession.
Several elderly people sat in a car, including Li Shi, Chen Rong, and Fang Ling. The three of them couldn't stop smiling as they looked at their grandchildren.
Chen Rong, in particular, benefited from the influence of Li Mu and Lin Sui, and has now become an old feudal lord.
Li Mu made great contributions in the border war, and the emperor granted him the title of First-Class Marquis and concurrently the title of Yunqiwei. Except for not having a fief, his treatment was basically the same as that of the imperial relatives.
Lin Sui was granted the title of First-Rank Gentleman and was bestowed with many gold, silver, jewels, silks and satins. The day the gifts were delivered, it was quite a grand affair in Jizhou Prefecture. More than thirty loads of goods were carried into the mansion in a grand procession, arousing the envy of the onlookers.
Fortunately, the matriarch of the Li family had already passed away, otherwise, seeing these rewards would have made her furious enough to vomit blood even if she didn't die.
However, there was one person who was extremely angry: Qing'er's birth mother, the merchant woman who was divorced by Li Mu.
This woman's name was Ge Ping'er. She was unwilling to marry Li Mu back then, and when she was divorced, she was secretly relieved to finally be away from this demon-faced devil. Sleeping in the same bed with him gave her nightmares every night, and she felt that even going back to marry a commoner would be better than him.
Later, her wish came true. Her father, disgusted by her appearance, married her off to a straw sandal vendor. Every day, she had to get up before dawn to weave straw sandals, which made her dizzy and her fingers blistered.
The once glamorous young lady from a wealthy family gradually deteriorated into a slovenly old woman.
Who would have thought that fortunes could change so drastically in a decade? Li Mu is no longer the lone marquis he once was. Countless people try to curry favor with him, and the gifts sent to his mansion overflow the storerooms.
On the day the imperial court bestowed honors upon her, she was buying vegetables on the street when she looked up and saw Lin Sui, dressed in a brocade robe, and the charming and lovely Qing'er sitting beside her in the sedan chair.
Ge Ping'er chased after him like a madwoman; that was the life she was supposed to live... but instead, she was dragged away by the yamen runners and beaten with a rod.
"Let me go! Do you know who I am? I am the mother of the Marquis's daughter! Let me go! Ah!!!"
Hearing the cries, Lin Sui lifted the sedan curtain and saw a face that resembled Qing'er's. She raised her hand to disperse the yamen runners and turned to ask Qing'er, "Do you want to see her?"
Qing'er shook her head and reached out to hug Lin Sui's arm. "Qing'er only recognizes her father in this life."
Later, this woman surnamed Ge came to the Marquis's residence several times to see Qing'er, but was turned away by the gatekeeper each time. Lin Sui was soft-hearted and couldn't bring herself to kill her, especially since this woman was Qing'er's birth mother. Although she hadn't raised Qing'er, she had given him the best child, and they were protected by bodyguards. It seemed that this woman couldn't do anything.
That said, Chen Rong has now been taken in by Lin Sui to live with her, and will return to Kyoto with her after the New Year.
The Emperor bestowed a house upon Li Mu, and he will live there permanently from now on. Lin Qiu's two children are also grown up and no longer need her help to take care of them. Third Aunt is also preparing to retire in peace.
Li said, "Yesterday, Aying came to me and said she would take me with her when she goes to Kyoto this time, but the third son's wife will give birth in a few months, and I really can't rest easy."
Chen Rong patted her arm and said, "The Qin family is a large family, with more people than ours. If you stay, you won't be able to help."
Fang Ling chimed in, "That's right! It's more convenient to have my mother-in-law take care of things, and it'll save us from trouble."
"What do you mean?" Li asked, puzzled.
Fang Ling sighed, "Qinghuai's mother-in-law is not easy to deal with. She only has one daughter, and she dotes on her like the apple of her eye. Even though she married into our family, we can't say a word to her. When Bai was in confinement, because I said a few words that the baby was dressed too warmly and might get too hot, my mother-in-law didn't speak to me for more than half a month."
Li and Chen Rong were astonished. They had thought that the Bai family, a family of scholars, would be well-mannered and knowledgeable, but they never expected them to be like this.
Chen Rong said, "Forget it, don't get angry with them over such a small matter. After all, they married into our family, and it's not easy for them to have children."
“I’m careful, so I’ve rarely gone to Kyoto these past few years. It’s more convenient to have my mother-in-law by my side to take care of things.”
Fang Ling then mentioned Qingsong's husband, "That boy is quite lively and cheerful, and he looks a little taller than Qingsong."
Madam Li clapped her hands and said, "That's a bit of a simpleton. The other day, while he was pregnant, he secretly went out riding and hunting with his father. When he came back, he let it slip and scared me half to death. I immediately went to his house and told his mother everything. General Qin is also unreliable, and he even helped him keep it a secret. Doesn't he think that if he fell off the horse, the adults and the child would not survive?"
Chen Rong and Fang Ling laughed so hard they almost fell over. Every family has its own troubles, but fortunately, life is getting better day by day, and there is hope for the future.
Finally, returning to Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan, Fang Ling said, "These two children are the most capable in this family. I heard from Brother Jing that Qingyan has gained the Emperor's favor, and he's likely to rise rapidly in rank after we return."
While happy, Li was also a little worried. "I don't care how successful he becomes. I'll be content as long as he's safe and sound."
A note from the author:
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