Chapter 348 Finally Arrived in the Capital

Chapter 348 Finally Arrived in the Capital

The howling wind was so strong it felt painful against their skin.

Xingxing quickly pulled down the carriage curtain, worried the fierce wind might hurt Grandfather Liu.

In the end, Huai Ge'er and the others, seeing the wind growing fiercer, decided not to argue further with the women of Xin Guo Duke's family and allowed the maid Hongling from Third Madam's (of Xin Guo Duke's family) side to borrow the two carriages.

The women of Xin Guo Duke's family were clearly picky and disdainful of the two carriages the Yujia family had provided.

However, with the fierce wind pressing upon them, they had no other choice. They couldn't squeeze into the only intact carriage with Third Madam and the two young masters of the third branch.

They grudgingly climbed into the two carriages the Yujia family had provided, and the Xin Guo Duke's caravan finally got moving.

As the majestic walls of the capital came into distant view, they happened to run into the An Yuan Marquis's family's caravan returning from an autumn outing. Third Madam's relatives from Xin Guo Duke's family hurriedly squeezed into their carriages, as if another second in the cramped Yujia carriages would be torture.

The steward returned the carriages with a haughty air, throwing down twenty taels of silver as if bestowing a reward.

Huai Ge'er sneered, grabbed the silver, and in the roaring wind, flung it at the steward's shoulders—one for each shoulder, fair and square.

The steward let out a cry of pain, knocked down by the silver coins. With the wind howling, he couldn't spot who'd done it.

The Yujia family didn't bother with them anymore. Huai Ge'er urged his horse forward and led the Yujia caravan on.

Xingxing peeked out from the curtain and pouted.

The Xin Guo Duke's family acted just as high-handed as the Lin Yang Marquis's estate, making it tough to like them.

Xingxing started to wonder—was everyone in the capital this awful?

She absentmindedly scratched her cheek.

Liu Ge'er looked over and said, "Xingxing, don't scratch your face."

Xingxing leaned over to show him her face, "Third Brother, it's all better now."

The scratches on her cheeks had healed up nicely. She had been using medicine diligently, leaving no scars. The new skin was just as soft and pink as the rest, blending right in.

But Liu Ge'er insisted, "The new skin is delicate, so be careful."

He was really worried she might end up with scars.

She might not care now, but when she's older, she could regret it.

Xingxing stuck out her tongue, "Alright, alright, I understand!"

Grandfather Liu smiled at the siblings, but thinking about the mess waiting for him in the capital made him frown.

He had written to his eldest son, instructing him to divorce Madam Cui, but his son had refused, citing that their youngest son was about to arrange a marriage. Divorcing Madam Cui at this time might affect the marriage prospects.

However, his eldest son also knew that not divorcing Madam Cui would not satisfy Grandfather Liu. If Grandfather Liu were truly angered, he might even send a letter directly to the emperor accusing him of filial impiety. Thus, in his letter, the eldest son earnestly stated that he had sent Madam Cui to the family temple to pray for the Liu family's blessings and would never bring her back.

At the time, Grandfather Liu had sneered and decided to wash his hands of the mess in the Liu household.

But not dealing with it didn't mean he was unaware.

The Liu family was teetering on the edge of ruin.

How does the Yujia family raise their kids so well, while he’s been such a failure at it?

Grandfather Liu couldn’t help but sigh silently.

The capital—he was back.

...

Not long after the Yujia family’s carriages left, the Anyuan Marquis’s family’s carriages—coincidentally the ones borrowed by the female relatives of the Third Madam of Xin Guo Duke’s family—also broke down on the road.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering why four carriages had broken down in a row, specifically the two that the relatives of Xin Guo Duke’s family were riding in.

This seems like bad luck...

Recalling some vague rumors circulating in the capital recently, the people of Anyuan Marquis’s family thought to themselves that they should stay away from the people of Xin Guo Duke’s family in the future!

Inside the Xin Guo Duke’s family carriage, the dignified and elegant Third Madam was so furious her face twisted.

...

The capital loomed ahead, its majestic walls standing solemnly, having weathered thousands of years, still guarding this ancient city.

A line formed at the city gate as the guards checked travel permits one by one.

The Yujia family stepped out of the carriage, mouths slightly agape, gazing up at the ancient city walls in awe.

Xingxing and the others had only ever been to the prefecture city, so this was their first time in a bustling place like the capital.

They’d never dared to imagine what the capital was like, but now, seeing the city walls, the Yujia family’s mental picture of it finally felt real.

They say you feel timid when close to home, but arriving in this unfamiliar, bustling place, most of the Yujia family felt a little nervous too.

Li Chunhua whispered, “Heavens, when I married Da Niu, I never imagined I’d one day come to the capital.”

Bai Xiaofeng was also emotional, “Yes, when I married into this family, I never thought we’d live so well! The boys have all turned out so capable... Just a few years ago, we were struggling to get by—all we wanted was enough to eat. Who’d have dreamed of such a good life?”

This made the sisters-in-law turn away, wiping their tears.

Wei Pozi’s eyes welled up as she thought of the past.

Huai Ge’er wrapped one arm around Wei Pozi’s shoulder and the other around Li Chunhua, saying, “Grandma, Mom, this is just the start. Wait and see—I’ll earn you the title of Lady!”

This made Li Chunhua and Wei Pozi laugh so hard they couldn’t stop.

Bai Xiaofeng was inspired too, nudging Liu Ge’er with her elbow, “I guess I can’t count on Gui Ge’er and Bang Ge’er. Mom’s counting on you to earn me the phoenix crown and ceremonial robes!”

Su Rouer glanced at Ju Ge’er beside her and let out a soft sigh.

Ju Ge’er: “Huh?”

“What do you mean, Mom?”

While in line, they saw several horses galloping up behind them. Judging by their attire, they were likely young nobles off to hunt in the mountains.

Sure enough, the young nobles flashed their waist tokens, and the guards quickly waved them through. They bypassed the line and rode straight into the city through a side gate.

“Must be nice—having power means you don’t have to wait in line,” Gui Ge’er muttered.

The Yujia family’s travel permits were all in order, so they were quickly checked and allowed into the city.

Grandfather Liu, of course, had to head to the Liu family.

He hadn’t been back to the Liu family in years, and he knew it’d be a mess. He told Ah Wu and Siyang to take Xu Ge’er and follow the Yujia family first while he went back to sort out the Liu family. Then he parted ways with everyone at the city gate.

The Yujia family gazed at the rows of red-tiled buildings, the clean bluestone streets, and the bustling vendors, momentarily speechless at the capital’s prosperity.

So this is the capital!