Chapter 462: Chapter 463: About to Return

Zhou Shixiong’s secret memorial had also been delivered to the Imperial Palace by express courier.

Hua Shunming dismissed his attendants. After a long moment, he began tapping on his desk in his study, repeatedly exclaiming his approval.

’These are the true soldiers of the Rong Dynasty. If I really had to hand this country over to those weak-kneed fools to mess things up, I don’t even know how much frustration I, the Emperor, would have to endure.’

Now that military authority was in the hands of his trusted confidants, these civil servants could, at most, show off their verbal skills in the imperial court. If the entire court didn’t need to function, he wouldn’t even bother to engage in verbal sparring with them.

Thinking of these people, he suddenly let out a cold laugh. "I truly hope they still advocate for peace this time."

Opening the second memorial, Hua Shunming couldn’t help but stroke his chin. The newly grown stubble felt a bit prickly.

’This Ancient Wen Heng really seems to have some skill. He’s quite different from those other scholars.’

The more Hua Shunming read, the more pleasantly surprised he became. He hadn’t expected this Ancient Wen Heng to be so unassuming yet so capable, having stabilized Lu City so quickly.

’Especially these blueprints for agricultural tools. For this alone, I, as the Emperor, should reward him handsomely.’

’What the Rong Dynasty lacks most right now is grain. If the common people can cultivate more land, with surplus grain everywhere, my heart won’t be in a panic.’

Clutching the memorial in his hand, Hua Shunming paced back and forth in his study, filled with excitement. He felt that the moment to change the nation’s destiny might have arrived.

＆

This winter, Jin Qianqian had earned a fortune.

Looking at the recent account entries she had just received, Jin Qianqian suppressed her inner flutter of joy. At least this winter hadn’t been wasted.

The soap workshop alone, just from the sulfur soap, had brought her over twenty thousand taels in income. The several Tianfu Restaurants had contributed nearly thirty thousand taels.

These two sums alone were enough to cover her previous expenses for purchasing the Tianfu Restaurants.

Adding to that the income from glass and mirrors that Bai Jinglie had sent her before the new year, a whole 50,000 taels in silver notes made her finances suddenly very comfortable.

"Madam, I’ve asked several escort agencies. No one is heading to Lu City recently."

Jin Qianqian sighed. This was pretty much the only thing troubling her lately.

It had been a long time since any news had come from Lu City, and everyone was on edge. Even the merchant caravans that usually made the trip were now unwilling to take the risk.

"Then we’ll wait a bit longer. I expect news from my husband will be arriving soon."

Jin Qianqian’s prediction was correct. As soon as the roads thawed, Ancient Wen Heng had already sent someone with a family letter. Even using the official post houses, such a long journey would still take some time.

She forced herself to cheer up. "It’s been a long time since we’ve been back to the village. The sun is out today, so let’s go back for a visit."

Lichun heard this and immediately went to make arrangements. After so many consecutive days of overcast, rainy weather, it was about time for Madam to get out and clear her head.

Gaoling Village was particularly busy today. A few days ago, they had received a letter brought by Gu Yi. Calculating the journey, the arrival should be in a few more days.

When Jin Qianqian arrived in the village, she learned that the old madam was helping out at the ancestral hall.

She looked at the two young girls standing before her, at a complete loss, and felt a wave of speechlessness.

’I’m not particularly fond of Li Chuncao and Li Chunya, the girls Li Cuicui is raising, but I don’t dislike them either!’

’But every time they see me, they have this timid, fearful look that makes it impossible to warm up to them.’

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Seeing them like this, she lost the desire to go inside and simply led her people directly to the village’s ancestral hall.

Thanks to the tofu workshop, the villagers now had some silver in their pockets. Besides buying land, they were also renovating their houses to be better.

Walking along the path, she saw the entire village was clean and tidy, and the rows of brick-and-tile houses were a pleasant sight.

When her party appeared in the village, everyone greeted them enthusiastically.

Jin Qianqian could accurately address everyone she met by name. She didn’t realize that this small gesture made everyone feel even more comfortable and respected.

"Seventh Wife, what brings you here today?" Liu Liu, who was standing by and watching the excitement, immediately came over.

Jin Qianqian said, "It’s been a while. Fourth Sister-in-law, you seem to have put on some weight."

"Right?" Liu Liu happily spun in a circle. "I never thought I’d see the day in my life when I’d put on weight! Look at me, don’t I look a bit more prosperous?"

Jin Qianqian said, "...You look much better this way."

’At least she doesn’t look as gaunt as before. She must have recovered well over the winter.’

"I knew it! My cheeks are all chubby, even I think I look festive." Liu Liu added with a proud laugh, "This whole winter, your Fourth Brother wouldn’t let me do any work in the kitchen. He even hired an old woman who’s a great cook. Once I was idle and my appetite improved, wasn’t it only natural that I got fat?"

Jin Qianqian detected the show-off tone in her words, and her expression immediately became a little awkward.

’I seem to recall Fourth Brother complaining in private more than once that Fourth Sister-in-law’s cooking skills were truly not up to par.’

’I never thought he’d be so clever, quietly arranging such a nice benefit for himself. I just wonder, if Fourth Sister-in-law has gotten a whole size bigger, what does Fourth Brother look like now?’

When she saw the Gu Family members again, she almost couldn’t stop herself from bursting out laughing.

After one winter, they had all become fair and plump. It seemed they’d kept very busy this winter.

"Seventh Wife, you’re here." Li Cuicui, having heard the news, also came out of the ancestral hall.

It was thanks to Ancient Wen Heng’s official position that Li Cuicui was permitted to enter and leave the ancestral hall to help out. To her, this was a form of recognition, an honor, so Li Cuicui had been visiting with exceptional diligence these days.

Jin Qianqian was about to walk over and support her, but Li Cuicui sidestepped her. "I’m covered in dust, don’t come near me."

"You haven’t been back in a while. It’s a good day for our family to get together."

’Is Seventh Wife’s trip back this time to say goodbye?’ she wondered.

’After all, the snow has melted, and she said before that she was going to Lu City.’

Jin Qianqian naturally had no objection. "Is the work here finished? Why don’t we go back and wash up?"

Li Cuicui replied, "It’s all done. It was just sweeping up some dust. The rest can be left for them to clean up.

"Why didn’t the two children come with you today?"

"How could I leave them behind? The two rascals were rowdy the whole way here and are tired now. I let them rest for a bit at the house." As Jin Qianqian answered the old madam, she didn’t forget to nod and greet the people nearby.

"Gu Yi sent someone with a letter," Li Cuicui said in a low voice to Jin Qianqian once there were no outsiders around. "If you find an escort agency, you should set off as soon as possible. Otherwise, take the children and go live in the Prefecture City for a while."

Jin Qianqian looked at her, confused.

Only then did Li Cuicui explain in a hushed tone, "They might arrive in a few days, but then there will be a long period of ritual services. As descendants, Luo Luo and the others will have to follow behind, kowtowing and kneeling.

"Even though it’s spring now, the weather is still so cold. How can the two children endure that?"

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