Chapter 217

Chapter 217

Early the next morning, as soon as the city gates opened, Chen Qingsong arranged for his elder brother and two servants to obtain entry permits.

Li Shi, worried about her son, arrived in the rear courtyard early to check on him. The previous night had truly frightened her, leaving her sleepless until dawn.

"How is Chen Qingyan?"

Chen Qingyan was already up. Aside from looking slightly pale, he was in good spirits. "Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry."

Li Shi reached out to feel his forehead. Relieved that he wasn't feverish from fright, she said, "In earlier years, when you couldn't take the civil service examinations, I worried alongside you, always hoping that one day your name would be cleared and you could retake them. Later, when you were finally able to take the exams again, I fretted that you might not pass. After you managed to pass, we were forced to separate and couldn't be together. I’ve spent a lifetime worrying over you."

Chen Qingyan’s nose tingled with emotion. "I’ve made you worry."

"What mother doesn’t worry? I just hope this time you can be transferred back here, so you can serve as an official peacefully and not have to travel to distant postings."

"Yes."

"Is Father awake?" Little Yuanbao called from outside the door.

"Come in."

Little Yuanbao pushed the door open and, seeing his grandmother there too, excitedly ran over and hugged Chen Qingyan. "Father said you were back, and I thought he was joking! I didn’t expect you to really be back!"

Chen Qingyan ruffled his hair. "I arrived home last night, but you were asleep, so I didn’t wake you."

"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 about what had happened on the road, afraid it would scare him.

"Great! So you can come with me to the county exam!"

"Yes, Father will go with you." Father and son played around joyfully, the gloom in their hearts dissipating considerably.

Meanwhile, in the study, Wang Ying looked down at Chen Zhandong and Chen Ju, who were kneeling.

The previous night’s events had been urgent. Chen Qingyan had brought them back through the experimental field, completely exposing its secret to them. If they were to reveal this, it could bring disaster.

Chen Zhandong knew what the master was thinking and kowtowed first. "Years ago, the young master saved my life, bringing me from Chen Village to the prefectural city and then to the capital. I’ve seen the world and gained skills. Now the master has saved my life again. My life belongs to both of you. I am willing to sign a bondservant contract and serve you for life."

Signing a bondservant contract meant entering into indentured servitude. Although Chen Zhandong and Chen Ju had changed their surnames before, they had not entered servitude and were still free persons.

Once a bondservant contract was signed, their lives would be in their master’s hands. Of course, Wang Ying would also trust them more and treat them as his trusted aides.

Chen Ju also kowtowed. "I don’t have any special skills, but all these years I’ve eaten well, dressed warmly, and received handsome monthly bonuses from the master and young master. Even if you tried to send me away, I wouldn’t go. I’ll sign too!"

Wang Ying said, "It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just that this matter must not reach outsiders' ears."

"I understand."

"Very well, then sign. You’ve both been capable all these years. From now on, Chen Zhandong will help with business affairs. As for Chen Ju, Uncle Chen is getting old. Chen Xi has stayed in the hometown to take over his duties, but the capital still needs a steward. You must work hard to grow into the role."

Chen Ju’s eyes lit up. "I understand! I will learn well from Uncle Chen during this time!"

The two excitedly kowtowed in gratitude. Wang Ying raised his hand for them to rise and rewarded each with fifty taels of silver. "You’ve also been through a fright on this trip. When we return to the hometown later, buy whatever you want to bring to your families in advance."

"Yes."

After the two left, Wang Ying carefully stored their bondservant contracts, complete with handprints, and finally felt at ease.

It wasn’t that he was overly cautious—better safe than sorry. Although the two had been with them for many years, if the secret of the experimental field were leaked, it could cost lives.

*

On the twelfth day of the first month, the fourth uncle’s family arrived.

Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt came with Qing Ying and Qing Lan. After several years apart, Qing Ying had grown into a graceful young woman, and Qing Lan was also coming into his own.

It was a pity Old Liang couldn’t come. According to Fourth Uncle, he had been taken in by his son before New Year's. But they could visit him on their way back.

The family gathered with endless things to talk about. Soon, Fourth Uncle would also go to the capital to report his service. His three-year tour of duty in Yanzhou had ended, and it was still unknown where he would be transferred next.

As he grew older and his son’s career prospects improved, Fourth Uncle’s eagerness to serve in the capital had faded considerably.

As Old Master Liang put it: "The old donkey can’t turn the millstone anymore." The words were crude, but the reasoning was sound.

However, Chen Jing had high hopes for his nephew’s career. "I heard it was you who broke the siege of Liangzhou?"

"I wouldn’t dare take credit. How could someone of my ability accomplish such a feat? It was Border Marquis who led the troops and resisted to the death to defend Liangzhou."

"You arranged for them to receive critical provisions, which is no small merit. I heard the emperor intends to reassign you to the capital. It’s just unclear which position you’ll be assigned."

"It doesn’t matter. I will serve wherever the emperor commands."

Chen Jing patted him on the shoulder. "You’ve truly grown steady and reliable. Before coming, I also wrote to Qing Huai. He said he would return soon. Let’s wait a few more days for him, then we can all return to the hometown together."

"Excellent!"

They waited until the twentieth day of the first month for Chen Qinghuai to return with his wife, Bai Shi, and their young daughter, Yingying.

The little girl was two and a half years old—an adorable age. She had inherited the best features of both parents and was a truly beautiful child, delicate and fair, a sight to cherish.

She was just a bit timid and shy around strangers. Seeing so many unfamiliar faces, she burst into tears and couldn’t be comforted by anyone.

Unexpectedly, the little girl took a liking to Lin Qiu. He was the only one who could hold her without her crying. She would even pout and call him "Uncle," amusing everyone with her adorable mannerisms.

After a short two-day rest, they prepared carriages and horses and departed for their hometown, Qingshui Town.

It was the first time they had all gathered so completely. The large family, along with dozens of servants, set out from the city in a large procession.

The elders rode together in one carriage: Li Shi, Chen Rong, and Fang Ling. The three women couldn’t stop smiling as they looked at their grandchildren.

Chen Rong, in particular, had benefited from Li Mu and Lin Sui’s achievements and was now an honored dowager.

Li Mu had performed great deeds in the border wars, and the emperor had granted him the title of First-Class Marquis and Cloud Rider Captain. Though he wasn’t granted land, his treatment was nearly on par with that of imperial relatives.

Lin Sui was granted the title of First Rank Gentleman and rewarded with gold, silver, jewels, silks, and satins. The day the rewards arrived in Jizhou Prefecture was truly glorious—over thirty loads carried grandly into the residence, drawing admiring gazes from the onlookers.

Fortunately, the Li family head wife had already passed away. Otherwise, seeing these rewards would have been enough to make her choke with rage.

There was one person, however, who was thoroughly angered: Qing Er’s birth mother, the merchant woman whom Li Mu had repudiated.

Her name was Ge Ping’er. She had been unwilling when she married Li Mu, and when she was repudiated, she felt relieved to finally be free of that ghost-faced tormentor. Sharing a bed with him had given her nightmares every night. She would have been better off marrying a common laborer or street vendor.

Later, she got her wish. Her father, ashamed of her, married her off to a straw-shoe peddler. She had to rise before dawn every day to weave straw shoes, exhausting herself until dizzy, her fingers covered in blisters.

The once-elegant young lady from a wealthy family gradually became a disheveled older woman.

Who could have predicted how times change? The Li Mu of today was no longer the isolated marquis of before. Countless people sought to seek connection with him, and gifts to the marquis’s residence overflowed the storerooms.

On the day of the imperial rewards, she was out shopping on the street when she looked up and saw Lin Sui in the palanquin, dressed in a brocade gown, with the charming and lovely Qing Er seated beside him.

Ge Ping'er chased after them as if possessed—that should have been her life... but she was dragged back by the bailiffs and beaten with the intimidation staff.

"Let go of me! Do you know who I am? I am the birth mother of the Marquis's daughter! Let go of me, ah!!!"

Lin Sui heard the cries and lifted the carriage curtain. Seeing the face somewhat resembling Qing Er's, she waved the bailiffs away and turned to ask Qing Er, "Do you want to see her?"

Qing Er shook her head, wrapping her arms around 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 asking to see Qing Er, but each time she was turned away by the gatekeepers. Lin Sui was soft-hearted and couldn't bring herself to harm her, especially since she was Qing Er's birth mother. Though she hadn't raised Qing Er, she had given him the best child. With elite guards protecting them, it was unlikely this woman could cause any real trouble.

Speaking of which, Chen Rong was now living with Lin Sui and would follow him back to the capital after the New Year.

The Emperor had bestowed a residence upon Li Mu, and they would be living there permanently from now on. Lin Qiu's children were older and no longer needed her help, so Third Aunt was preparing to retire peacefully.

Li Shi said, "Yesterday, A Ying came to me and said she wants to take me to the capital this time, but your third daughter-in-law is due in a few months. I really can't rest easy leaving her."

Chen Rong patted her arm and said, "The Qin family is a wealthy, prominent household—they have even more people than we do. Even if you stayed, you wouldn't be able to help much."

Fang Ling chimed in, "Exactly! It's more convenient to let the in-laws take care of things, so as not to cause trouble."

"What do you mean by that?" Li Shi asked, puzzled.

Fang Ling sighed. "Qing Huai's mother-in-law is not easy to deal with. They only have this one daughter, and they dote on her like she's the apple of their eye. Even though she married into our family, we can't say a word about her. When Bai Shi was in postpartum confinement, I mentioned that the baby was dressed too warmly and might overheat. Her mother-in-law gave me the cold shoulder for over half a month."

Li Shi and Chen Rong clicked their tongues in surprise. They had thought the Bai family, being a scholarly household, would be reasonable and polite, never expecting such a temperament.

Chen Rong said, "Forget it, don’t let such small matters upset you. After all, she married into our family, and bearing children isn’t easy."

"I understand. That’s why I rarely go to the capital these years. It’s more convenient to let the in-laws handle things."

Fang Ling brought up Qing Song's husband. "That young man is quite lively and cheerful. He even seems a bit taller than Qing Song."

Li Shi clapped her hands and said, "He’s a bit of a reckless one! A while back, while she was pregnant, he secretly went horseback riding and hunting with his father. He let it slip later, and it gave me quite a scare. I went straight to their house and had a word with his mother. Old General Qin is also irresponsible—he even helped cover it up! What if he had fallen off the horse? Neither the mother nor the child would have survived!"

Chen Rong and Fang Ling couldn't help laughing upon hearing this. Every family has its own difficulties, but thankfully, life is improving day by day, and there is hope ahead.

Finally, speaking of A Ying and Chen Qingyan, Fang Ling said, "These two are the most capable in the family. I heard from Brother Jing that Chen Qingyan has caught the Emperor's eye. Once they return, he’s likely to rise rapidly."

Li Shi felt both happy and worried. "I don’t care about how successful he becomes—as long as everyone is safe and sound, I’ll be content."