Chapter 484: Worry
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling got someone to move the things into the carriage, all gifts that she had brought for her family. Bowen and Xiuhong were reluctant to part with her. Mu Yangling patted their shoulders and said, “Alright, get into the carriage quickly. If you don’t set off soon, you won’t be able to make it to your accommodation tonight. The trade caravan is still waiting.”
Zhu Liang got someone to carry the three bags of rice seeds over and placed them at the innermost side of the carriage under Mu Yangling’s instructions. Zhu Liang said, “Fourth Madam, I’ve already wrapped them in a layer of oilcloth. As long as the bags aren’t damaged on the way, they will be fine.”
Mu Yangling asked Bowen to pay more attention to these three packets. “When you reach Xingzhou Prefecture, hand them over to Uncle and the others. Let them cleave out a piece of land for another experiment. I’ve already written the exact method in the letter.”
“Sister, Uncle’s experiment last year didn’t seem to go too well. That piece of land even failed to produce any harvest.” Bowen looked at Mu Yangling worriedly.
However, Mu Yangling smiled and said, “There are naturally successes and failures when it comes to experiments. There’s nothing bad about this. Sometimes, the experience of failure is more precious than success. When you go back, pay more attention to their experimental fields. Give them all the money they need for the experimental fields.”
Bowen nodded thoughtfully.
As Teacher Liu did not have many things, he only had a letter and a small package for Bowen to bring back. “When you go back, ask your father to choose a new teacher for you. Don’t slack off on your studies.”
Teacher Liu had failed to pass the Spring Quarter Examinations. Initially, he wanted to wait for another three years before retaking it, but the news he received from his classmates was not optimistic.
Last time, the Imperial Court pushed the Spring Quarter Examinations to last year because of various disasters. Did that mean they would do the same next time? They might even cancel the Imperial Examination.
After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, Teacher Liu finally decided to stay in Lin’an Prefecture and see if he could obtain an official position. A juren1 already had the right to become an official.
Of course, it was impossible for him to obtain it on his own. After all, such opportunities were limited, so he could only rely on the Qi family. This was his only way out.
After successfully passing the Spring Quarter Examinations and becoming one of the many jinshis, Fan Zijin went to the small courtyard to look for Teacher Liu after observing for a few days. The two of them locked themselves in the study room and discussed for a long time. When they came out, they looked very satisfied.
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Fan Zijin asked Yanmo to send some things to Mu Yangling and said, “Fourth Madam, our Young Master said that he has already settled Teacher Liu’s matter. You don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Mu Yangling nodded and dismissed Yanmo.
Spring smiled and said, “Fourth Madam, you can rest assured now. I suppose Young Master Zijin has already found a job for Teacher Liu.”
“How can it be so easy to find a job? Let’s write to Bowen and the others only after the matter is settled so that they won’t be happy for nothing. By the way, where are they now?”
Spring calculated the itinerary in her heart and replied with a smile, “They should reach Xingyuan Prefecture in two days.”
Spring had just finished speaking when she saw Fourth Madam in a daze. She immediately sighed slightly. Ever since Fourth Master left, Fourth Madam had often been in a daze like this. Previously, with Young Master Bowen and the others around, she could still divert her attention, but in the past ten days, her condition had worsened day by day. Sometimes, she would sit by the window alone for most of the day.
Secretly anxious, Spring looked at Rain, who said with a smile, “Fourth Madam, let’s go see Second Young Master. Wen Cui said that Second Young Master could walk two steps yesterday.”
Mu Yangling’s eyes lit up and she revealed a sincere smile. “So soon? Let’s go and take a look.”
Li Jinghua was placing her son on the couch. She held his small hand and let him walk forward slowly. Facing the door, when he saw his aunt enter, he stretched out his hand and wanted her to carry him. Li Jinghua gently patted his butt. “Your mother dotes on you so much. Why do you only pester your aunt?”
Mu Yangling picked him up with a beam and kissed him. “Because you’re close to Little Aunt, right?”
Little Treasure also went to bite Mu Yangling wetly. After a while, her face was covered in saliva, making her laugh loudly.
Smiling, Li Jinghua shook her head. “Geez, quickly put him down. You’re already pregnant. What if he kicks you?”
Mu Yangling placed Little Treasure on the couch. He lowered his head to look at the toy between his legs, then looked up at Mu Yangling’s stomach. In the end, he reached out his tiny hand to touch her stomach in fear before retracting it immediately. Finding it funny, Mu Yangling let him be and let him explore carefully.
“Sister-in-law, did Big Brother give Little Treasure a name?”
Li Jinghua shook her head. “He said to wait until the child is three years old before giving him a proper name. We’ll call him by his nickname for now. That way, the child is easier to raise.” Li Jinghua stroked his head and said, “I also think it’s better to give him a name when he’s a little older.”
Recalling the situation that Spring had mentioned in the past two days, she waved her hand to get the servants in the room to leave. In an instant, only the sisters-in-law and Little Treasure were left in the room. “Ah Ling, you’ve been a little absent-minded these few days. Are you worried about Fourth Brother?”
Mu Yangling lowered her head and did not speak.
“He’s been to the battlefields so many times. The rebels in Jinghu are mostly a rebel group that was formed at the last minute, far inferior to the Hus. Don’t worry.”
Mu Yangling leaned against the pillow behind her and said, “I’m not worried about the war. As long as he has sufficient men under him, he’ll definitely be able to survive. However, Jinghu’s situation is complicated. All kinds of forces are conflicted. I’m just afraid…”
Jinghu had been peaceful for the past two days, but it seemed abnormal precisely because it was peaceful.
Qi Haoran had already been gone for more than three months. How could there not be any news from there? With his personality, she was worried that he would cause a ruckus, thus she had instructed him to take it easy before leaving.
Fan Zijin had specially run down the mountain to give him a crash course on the ways of officialdom.
She wondered if their instructions had achieved the counter-effect, or if something had happened in Hengzhou. But in any case, after he arrived there, there was no commotion at all. This was really not his style.
If not for the fact that Mu Yangling received a letter from him every few days, she would have thought that he had gone missing.
She was worried about Qi Haoran, yet she couldn’t ask him directly, “Why didn’t you cause trouble over there?”
She didn’t know if their letters were being monitored by the Emperor. If they were, the Emperor might think that she wanted to see the world in chaos.
Li Jinghua didn’t know much about Qi Haoran. She asked in confusion, “Isn’t it good that Fourth Brother didn’t cause trouble?”
“It’s our ideal for him not to get into trouble, but if he really doesn’t get into trouble anymore, that’s a disaster in itself.”
Seeing that Ah Ling didn’t trust him at all, Li Jinghua instantly felt some sympathy for Fourth Brother. She said in a low voice, “It’s okay to confide in me, but don’t say such things in front of Fourth Brother. He’ll be sad.”
Mu Yangling pursed her lips, knowing he wouldn’t be sad. Instead, he would only jump up and refute.
Obviously, there were many people who had the same thoughts as Mu Yangling. Not only Fan Zijin, but even Qi Xiuyuan, who was watching from afar in Jingzhao Prefecture, could not help but worry and ask people to pay more attention to the situation in Jinghu.
Many people in the Imperial Court were also secretly watching. Everyone knew that the Jinghu area was under Minister Qin’s sphere of influence. In the past few months, the Emperor had suddenly reprimanded Minister Qin and replaced the assistant commander of Hengzhou. Not only was Minister Qin worried, but even Grand Tutor Yan’s side was worried.
However, Qi Haoran only went there to eliminate the bandits obediently for three months and did not do anything unnecessary. As of now, the Palace Examinations had just ended, he had been there for four months, and the spring plowing had ended. Just as everyone was relieved, an urgent document flew into the palace from Jinghu.