“What’s wrong, daughter?” Old Man Yun asked, holding his pipe.
Madam Gu brushed some dust off the fire wall with a feather duster and glanced back at her daughter…
“Daddy, Mommy, we actually picked up an older sister on the road!” little Xi Tiantian mumbled.
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu exchanged a look with Old Man Yun and asked curiously, “Another young lady? Where, where is she?”
“That sister is called Murong Qing. She went to the academy with eldest nephew to study. They rented a house in the county seat, and from now on, she will take care of eldest nephew’s food and drink…” little Xi Tiantian explained.
“What?” Old Man Yun blinked. “What kind of situation is this? Suddenly picking up someone on the road, and then she starts taking care of Jin He’s daily needs? Isn’t that like a maid? Besides, what’s that girl’s background? Where is her home? Do you even know?”
Madam Gu also looked worried. This matter was indeed handled a bit too hastily…
Little Xi Tiantian pursed her lips and smiled, “Daddy, Mommy, don’t worry, Sister Murong is not a bad person, I promise!”
After speaking, she ran to Madam Gu and Old Man Yun, giggled, and whispered a few words. Only then did she say, “Are you relieved now!”
Old Man Yun listened and became even more confused. “Really… really? So, Miss Shangguan is from the Chen Kingdom…”
“Mhm!” little Xi Tiantian nodded emphatically. “It’s enough that we know about this, don’t tell anyone else, okay!”
Old Man Yun grunted and began to puff on his pipe.
Madam Gu pondered for a moment, then asked, “Is Jin He doing well at Bocai Academy? Is he lacking anything? How much is the tuition per month, does the rented house leak? Is the kang warm?”
A string of questions poured out, and little Xi Tiantian didn’t know which one to answer first…
“Mommy, eldest nephew is fine. Young Master Xiao helped pay the rent, and the tuition has been paid for three months. Mommy doesn’t need to worry!” little Xi Tiantian said.
“How can we let Young Master Xiao pay for the rent?” Madam Gu put down the feather duster and walked into the inner room, asking as she walked, “How much is the rent? I’ll send it to Young Master Xiao later…”
“Mommy, the rent is two taels of silver per month. Young Master Xiao paid for a whole quarter at once, a total of six taels of silver!”
Madam Gu stopped in her tracks upon hearing this.
Six taels of silver?
Were houses near Bocai Academy that expensive?
Six taels of silver could build several houses in Dashui Village…
Actually, little Xi Tiantian wanted to say that the brat also gave her carriage to eldest nephew, but she was afraid Mommy would get angry, so she didn’t say it.
“Six taels it is, daughter. Send the money to Young Master Xiao later, okay? Our family owes him too much, we can’t always take advantage of Young Master Xiao…” Madam Gu said, took out her money pouch from under the pillow, rummaged out a few pieces of broken silver, and stuffed them into little Xi Tiantian’s hand.
Yun Sanman and Yun Siman stood by the pigsty, staring intently at a fat sheep and a fat pig…
“Third brother, what do you think of this pig and sheep? Tomorrow is second brother’s wedding, we’ll slaughter the pig and sheep. I’ll go and invite the yangge troupe later, and our family will have a good celebration!” Yun Siman said with a smile.
It had to be said that the pig Yun Siman bought was big and fat, even sturdier than their own old sow.
If it were slaughtered for meat, who knew how much lard would be rendered…
Yun Sanman leaned on the pigsty fence, took out his tobacco pouch, rolled a plain cigarette, lit it, and began to puff.
Seeing his worried look, Yun Siman asked, “Third brother, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing! *Pfft!*” He spat out the tobacco stem from his mouth.
“If you have something to say, just say it, don’t keep it to yourself!” Yun Siman snatched his plain cigarette and put it in his mouth. “Is it about Miss Shangguan? Tell me, what is that girl’s background? Also, is her mind a bit… you know…”
The brothers never held back when they spoke; they said whatever was on their minds.
Everyone could clearly see that Shangguan Fang’er had problems with her mind, so there was nothing to hide.
“She said she fled from the Chen Kingdom. I don’t know her specific identity!” Yun Sanman murmured.
Yun Siman narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. “Chen Kingdom?”
“Yes, I thought she was too pitiful, so… so I brought her back…” Yun Sanman sighed.
“Then what do you mean, third brother?” Yun Siman threw away the cigarette butt and crushed it with his foot. “You brought the girl to Dashui Village, do you want to take care of her temporarily for a few days, or do you want to marry her?”
Kong Xingzhuo was sitting by the well gnawing on a pig’s trotter and glanced over when he heard the brothers’ conversation.
Yun Sanman said, “My sister said that even if I marry her, I have to cure her madness first. Otherwise, if she marries me in a daze, what kind of person would that make me?”
“I don’t think this illness is easy to deal with…” Yun Siman interrupted him. “Do you remember when we were in Feiyan Village, Granny Wu was always acting crazy and eventually hanged herself? You know how much her husband looked for doctors and prescribed medicine!”
“Then you mean I should drive her away?” Yun Sanman’s eyes widened.
Kong Xingzhuo stopped gnawing on the pig’s trotter upon hearing this and pricked up his ears to listen carefully.
“That’s up to you. I don’t know what to do either…” Yun Sanman shrugged and glanced towards the west courtyard. “Oh, right, did Young Master Xiao’s family have guests?”
A large group of guards with swords stood outside the gate, along with Xiao Xinling’s guards, coachmen, and so on. The Yun family’s front, back, left, and right were all tightly sealed, more secure than the imperial palace…
Yun Sanman smiled and said, “We met Young Master Xiao’s father on the way. His father insisted on coming to Dashui Village to have a look, so we came together!”
“Young Master Xiao’s father?” Yun Siman raised his eyebrows.
He glanced at the guards outside the gate. Seeing that these people all stood with their backs straight and exuded a murderous aura, he asked, “What does his father do?”
“Young Master Xiao said he is a merchant!”
“Merchant, you can stop it…” Yun Siman couldn’t help but laugh.
What kind of merchant would bring imperial guards with them when they went out?
He suddenly wanted to meet this ‘ordinary merchant.’
Inside the west courtyard.
Xiao Jinheng changed his clothes and ordered Granny Jin to bring a cotton quilt to drape over the Emperor, fearing he would catch a cold…
“Father Emperor, since you are here, stay for a few more days. When you have time, your son will go to the county town to buy you some game!” Xiao Jinheng said with a smile.
The Emperor waved his hand. “Don’t bother with these useless things, I don’t like eating them!”
He was a person who couldn’t stay idle. His foot injury had almost healed, so he wanted to go for a walk.
“Father Emperor, where are you going?” Seeing the Emperor stand up and walk out with his hands behind his back, Xiao Jinheng quickly followed.
The Emperor glanced at the east courtyard. “I’m going to visit the old Yun family…”