Don't come back without a wife...
He really was his cousin.
Zhao Qingcheng was very dejected. Wife, where are you? Please don't be hiding in a corner, please let me find you right away.
Amur was a man of action. Having decided to help his cousin, he hurried off to find Qi Xuanxuan.
"My cousin is very pitiful!" After a long rundown of Zhao Qingcheng's situation, Amur concluded with this sentence.
Qi Xuanxuan also felt Zhao Qingcheng was a bit pitiful. The esteemed heir of a princely estate had been driven out by his own father.
However, she couldn't entirely blame the Prince; the heir was no longer young and should be married.
"Don't worry, I'll prepare some things that won't spoil easily. Do you have enough money? If not, I have some too. It's hard to get by without money when you're traveling." Qi Xuanxuan was very generous.
"I have one hundred and twenty taels on me now, which isn't much. A meal at a large restaurant would consume half of it. How about you lend me some, and I'll repay you when I return to the estate?" Amur said after some thought.
"I've only saved fifty taels from my monthly allowance. I'll ask my second sister for some." Qi Xuanxuan felt a little embarrassed. She only received three taels a month, and a significant portion of the fifty taels was from Madam Yun's private gifts.
Only fifty taels. Amur looked at Qi Xuanxuan with immediate pity. At the same time, he began to calculate how much money he had and how much he should give to Qi Xuanxuan upon their return.
His mother had always said that the woman manages the household, and the man handles affairs outside. All the family's money should be managed by the woman.
So, he would count his money and give it all to Xuanxuan to hold.
Qi Xuanxuan had no idea that Amur had drawn so many conclusions from fifty taels, nor that she would become suddenly wealthy upon their return.
After hearing about Zhao Qingcheng's predicament, Qi Zhenzhen also expressed sympathy and generously lent him two hundred taels.
She never imagined that the seemingly elegant and dashing Zhao Qingcheng would be under pressure to get married in private.
Indeed, at twenty, he should be married.
An Nian was also twenty, and he was about to become a father.
Zhao Qingcheng looked at the banknotes and silver ingots sent by Amur, feeling very grateful. His young cousin was quite wealthy.
"I borrowed fifty taels from Xuanxuan, Second Sister gave two hundred, and I have one hundred and twenty taels myself," Amur said, counting on his fingers. "Cousin, when you find a wife and return, don't forget to repay me."
Zhao Qingcheng's gratitude froze before it could even begin to ferment.
So, in such a short time, everyone knew he had been kicked out by his father to find a wife?
Didn't he have any pride?
He really wanted to cry.
Zhao Qingcheng silently added a tally for his yet-unmet wife.
Someone in a large mountain stronghold to the southeast shivered unexpectedly. The sun was high in the sky, yet she felt a chill. Was she falling ill? It seemed necessary to capture a doctor and bring them to the mountain.
The next day, Zhao Qingcheng descended the mountain, carrying a large bag of dried provisions and meat, along with his original travel pack, under the expectant gazes of everyone.
Zhao Jin stated that the mountains were cool and there was nothing pressing back at the estate, so he would stay in the mountains temporarily.
Qi Xuanxuan, whose daily cooking duties now included one more person, felt a tiny bit tired.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed. Zhao Jin looked at his once-lean physique having rounded out and decided he couldn't stay there any longer. Otherwise, upon returning to the estate, he feared the household staff wouldn't recognize him. The hottest part of summer was almost over, and it was time to return to the estate.
As for Qi Zhenzhen, she continued to stay in the mountains. This was because Gu Sinian had written to say that something might happen in the capital, and returning to the estate would be less safe than being at Taihe Temple. He also mentioned arranging for some people through Qian Yuanbao to be stationed around Taihe Temple as a precaution.