As the hottest season of the year approached, Lord Xiao asked his two granddaughters in surprise why they didn't want to go to the villa for vacation this year!
How could Xiao Yuan not want to? But having been warned so many times to obey her grandfather and go wherever he wanted, the little girl had no choice but to put aside her fantasies and play the role of a good granddaughter. Now that joy had arrived, she twisted and nuzzled into her grandfather's arms like a fat, white, soft cat. Xiao Yao felt that if she gave her sister a tail, she would definitely shake it right now.
"Where does grandpa want to go to escape the summer heat?" Xiao Yao asked while admiring her sister having fun.
"Grandpa will go wherever you want to go?" How could Old Marquis Xiao not understand his granddaughter's thoughts! They accompanied him for a month and coaxed him for a month, fearing that he would be depressed because his arm could not recover as before.
After so long, Old Marquis Xiao had figured it out. He was a man of open-mindedness and fortitude, so he certainly wouldn't dwell on this matter. He didn't want his family to see that he was completely fine because he was afraid his son and his family would come and snatch his granddaughter from him.
For the past month, Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan have been accompanying the elderly couple for meals, three times a day, without missing a single one. Besides studying during the day, they spend almost all their time in Ninghe Hall, or spending time with their grandfather, relaxing and entertaining him. It's been a while since Xiao Yao painted, made spices, or embroidered; it's safe to say the two sisters have devoted all their attention to accompanying their grandfather.
Xiao Jingkang's family can only take their daughter (sister) back when the old marquis is away or shows mercy to let their family reunite. In Xiao Jingkang's own words, fortunately the old man has not forgotten that Ping An is Yayuan's child, otherwise it would take a long time for the father and daughter, brother and sister to meet again, and everyone in Yayuan should thank him.
"Can we ask my cousin to come along?" Xiao Yuan was nostalgic. When the three of them separated, they had agreed to write to each other every ten days to share their lives. So far, they had exchanged three letters and small gifts. In her last letter, Yun Ruonan mentioned that life in the palace was boring. Of the four of them, she had the most free time and missed the days when they lived together in the other courtyard.
"Will the princess honor you by staying at our villa?" Qin asked with shining eyes.
"It's okay to ask, but I don't know if the prince and princess can rest assured. If the palace agrees, let the eldest daughter-in-law take the other girls to live there. Others can choose other places to escape the summer heat!"
"How can that be possible? The princess has such a noble status! If we don't send an elder to accompany her, it will seem that we don't value the princess enough." Qin disagreed with her husband's point of view. She also planned that if she could invite the princess, she must give her the feeling of being the center of attention and being cared for by everyone!
I made this arrangement just because I was afraid that you would scare them! The most prominent characteristic of my wife is that she is quite normal when she doesn't see the royal family, but when she sees the royal family, she doesn't know how to deal with them. This is really unbearable.
"We still don't know whether the princess will agree! Why are you so excited? If you act like this, the princess will be scared away if she comes." Old Marquis Xiao said dissatisfiedly.
"Isn't it right to be more enthusiastic towards the princess? It would be disrespectful to greet the princess with the same attitude as you would treat an ordinary relative or guest. How could the prince and princess be happy?" Qin was not prepared to compromise on this issue. The idea of the supremacy of imperial power that was deeply rooted in her mind did not allow her to give in.
"In short, if the princess agrees to Ping'an and Ruyi's invitation, you and I will stay to look after the house, and let the eldest daughter-in-law accompany the three children to relax. Over the years, the eldest daughter-in-law has been the most tired and hard-working person in the family. Just listen to me on this matter. Ping'an and Ruyi, go back to the house and write a letter." Old Marquis Xiao made arrangements before his wife opened her mouth. He said that he would not let Qin get involved. If the princess was disgusted by that, what would be the point of sending people and effort from his family!
Qin did not have the courage to fight her husband to the end. Even though she was unhappy a hundred or a thousand times, she had to give up under the intimidation of her husband.
Xiao Yao's letter was quickly delivered to Prince Jing's Mansion. Now a green channel has been opened for communication between the three children, and it can be quickly delivered to Yin Qianhua without going through layers of inspection in Prince Jing's Mansion.
"Mother, can I go?" Yun Ruonan looked at Yin Qianhua with hope. She had no friends before and was used to living alone, so she didn't notice anything wrong. After living and eating with the Xiao sisters for two months, she couldn't accept going back to her old life. Sometimes habits are really terrible things. They can affect people's lives and judgments unconsciously.
"Wait until your father comes back and ask him yourself!" Yin Qianhua had no objection to this. She believed that the Xiao family would take good care of her daughter and that the children would get along well. However, this matter required her husband's consent and she could not decide on her own.
At the dinner table, Yin Qianhua showed the letter to her husband. When she was about to take it back, Yun Yichen suddenly reached out and took the letter. After taking a look at it, he knew that it must have been written by the little girl Xiao Yao. In the letter, she described her own villa as beautiful and interesting. Her writing style and eloquence were no less than that of a teenage official lady.
The reason why Xiao Yao did this was simply because she hoped Yun Ruonan would accept her invitation so that her mother, who almost never had the chance to take a vacation, could enjoy the vacation and relax.
"This child is making great progress. Not only does he write neatly, but he also has good literary talent. I really don't know who will marry him in a few years. But I heard that the Xiao family wants to help the two girls find a husband. Those families who want to marry into the Xiao family may be disappointed." King Jing didn't know whether he was gloating or feeling a little regretful. Anyway, the smile on his face was so weird, so weird that it made people feel sour grapes.
"No way!" Yin Qianhua was stunned. The two children of the Xiao family had no chronic diseases and no defects, so why would they do this? You know, families with sons would not find a son-in-law for their daughters, as that would be a very shameful thing.
Yun Yichen was no less shocked than Yin Qianhua. The Xiao family was too strange. It wasn't like they only had granddaughters and no grandsons. Only the old man could come up with such an idea. He only cared about his granddaughter and never cared about other people's opinions. Anyway, what they did had nothing to do with him, right? Yes, it had nothing to do with him at all.
"I have never met a man like Mr. Xiao. I have been too busy recently and forgot to tell you that he even exchanged a chance to get a plaque written by the emperor's brother for an imperial decree." King Jing seemed to think the news was not explosive enough and added more.
"What's the decree?" Yin Qianhua, her mother and her two children all looked at him in unison.
"The Xiao family's girls have their own autonomy in choosing their marriages, and no one has the right to interfere."
The room was silent for a long time as everyone was digesting this unexpected news.
"If Ruonan wants to escape the summer heat with her sisters, then go ahead!" King Jing had already gotten over his surprise. He was more concerned about his daughter's affairs now. With Xiao Jingkang's wife taking care of her and friends to play with, there was nothing to worry about. At most, he could send more guards and secret guards, and those ignorant people would not dare to cause trouble.
Yun Yichen suddenly lost his appetite when he looked at the food in front of him. He almost counted the rice grains one by one with chopsticks and put them into his mouth. As for what dishes he had eaten or how much he had eaten, he didn't care at all.
When Yun Ruonan knew that it was Xiao Yao's mother who accompanied the three people to the villa, she was still a little hesitant: "Why not my aunt to accompany us!"
"Your aunt doesn't live in Kyoto. She has gone back home." Yin Qianhua explained.
"Their family should be back soon. After what happened with the Han family, there will be major adjustments in the appointment of officials. Xiao Jingmin should also return to Beijing after being away for many years." King Jing further explained.
"Will the emperor allow the Xiao family, father and son, to serve as officials at the same time?" Yin Qianhua asked curiously.
"How could five fathers and sons serve in the court together? Xiao Hu is now a marquis. Unless there are celebrations or important events, he does not need to attend court. Xiao Jingkang had the hope of being promoted to Minister of Works this year, but unfortunately, as a future prince, he can only continue to be content with the position of Vice Minister.
Xiao Jingtai will be transferred to the camp outside the capital and appointed as a general. This is the reward he deserves, while Xiao Jingyan's official position is just an idle one, dispensable. Therefore, the emperor has decided to transfer Xiao Jingmin back to the capital to serve, and the officials will have no objection.
After King Jing gave a long explanation, Yin Qianhua understood the key point. To put it bluntly, the emperor could promote or use anyone he wanted, as long as he was happy and willing, other people's opinions would only be used as a reference.
"When my cousin returns to Kyoto in the future, I must invite her and her husband to celebrate. Where should I choose?" Yin Qianhua has already started thinking about where to hold the welcoming banquet for her cousin.
"Let's have a banquet at the palace. We can invite not only the couple, but also the Xiao family, the Yuan family, my subordinates and friends. Let's invite them all to come and have a great time."
"This is not good!" There are also Concubine Han and her daughter in this mansion! They will be willing to watch me fall out of favor and do nothing. Concubine Han is a cruel person. What if she takes the opportunity to retaliate against Jinhuayuan or deliberately cause trouble?
"You don't have to worry about the people in Jinxiuyuan. Unless they don't want to continue living in the palace and want to go back to the Han family, they will definitely behave themselves." After so many years of forbearance, he finally dared to say with a proud heart that he didn't need to care about them. This road has lasted for more than ten years and is finally coming to an end. Although it will take some time to completely overthrow the Han family, the dawn is just ahead, isn't it?
"Tomorrow, when Achen goes to the Xiao family to deliver a letter, tell them that Ruonan will be there. It's still the same old rule. The palace will be responsible for the food, clothing and other expenses of the three of them. You just need to send your sister there, and they don't have to come to pick her up." Yin Qianhua instructed.
"Yeah." Yun Yichen responded sullenly. No one could tell whether he agreed or heard it.
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