CHAPTER 425: CHAPTER 422: DISTRIBUTING MONEY

The Chen Family Village lit up its lamps, and only then did Song Xian and Xie Liangchen return to the Song Family by carriage.

Xie Liangchen lowered the carriage curtain: "It seems we haven’t really talked much. Hearing a bit from this one, a line from that one, and before we knew it, it was dark."

Song Xian said, "Don’t worry, once the house is built, we’ll move here."

Xie Liangchen laughed, "There’s no rush. Being busy in the village every day, it never felt like anything until we left, and then I realized how quickly time passes."

"It wasn’t quick," Song Xian gently kneaded Xie Liangchen’s hand, "Before marriage, I would count the days. Now that we’re finally married, I actually wanted to stay longer in the new home, just the two of us."

Xie Liangchen pursed her lips, thinking about the last two nights, afraid that Song Xian might disregard: "There’s also grandmother."

Song Xian said, "Chang An reported that when we came to the Chen Family Village, grandmother went back. She prefers staying at the old house and asked us to visit her in a few days."

Xie Liangchen was taken aback, doesn’t this mean... the house was just for the two of them?

"Madam," Song Xian said, "is that alright?"

Xie Liangchen asked, "What do you mean by alright or not?"

Song Xian reached an arm around Xie Liangchen’s waist: "Just the two of us."

"If I say it’s not alright," Xie Liangchen said, "are you going to bring grandmother back with me?"

Song Xian said softly, "It’s too late now, grandmother is already asleep. Let’s not disturb her."

Xie Liangchen said, "Then why do you ask me?"

Song Xian smiled, his arm tightened a bit: "If you don’t agree, then I have to think of other ways to persuade you."

Xie Liangchen didn’t understand why she spoke such words with Song Xian. Thinking carefully, she realized how foolish it sounded; she had never been like this in her previous life or before being with Song Xian.

This meaningless dialogue, strangely, did not bore her. Instead, she enjoyed it, with a sweet sensation flowing through her heart.

Xie Liangchen leaned on Song Xian’s shoulder again.

Song Xian asked, "Did father mention mother to you?"

Song Xian did not use the terms father-in-law or mother-in-law, making it sound more intimate.

Xie Liangchen was a little surprised: "You guessed it?"

After talking with Xie Shao Yuan, Xie Liangchen’s face showed a worried yet solemn expression. With Song Xian’s understanding of Xie Liangchen, he naturally had an inkling of what happened.

Xie Liangchen shared the matter concerning Liu Xi.

Just as she finished speaking, the carriage arrived at the new residence. Song Xian and Xie Liangchen returned inside, dismissed the attendants, and Xie Liangchen spoke without concern: "In the previous life, younger brother found out that Ji Yuan had large ships at sea. Now, knowing that Ji Yuan’s uncle’s family is loyal to Prince Lu, Ji Yuan must be Prince Lu’s ally."

"I asked father to take more people to the sea, fearing encountering Prince Lu."

Xie Liangchen paused for a moment, her mind racing: "After younger brother died, I just wanted to avenge him without investigating the details. Nor did I know what Ji Yuan and his people did at sea."

Song Xian said, "I know Prince Lu is raising troops at sea, keeping an eye on the coastal garrisons when he marches south. If Ji Yuan is Prince Lu’s man, the situation of the previous life becomes clearer."

"At that time, Prince Qi entered the capital and held the Emperor hostage. I headed south, and Prince Qi ordered Ji Yuan to confront me, not knowing Ji Yuan was actually Prince Lu’s pawn. Ji Yuan feigned defeat, forcing Prince Qi to confront me head-on, while Prince Lu watched from the shadows, waiting to exploit the situation."

Xie Liangchen nodded, realizing it must be so. After the experiences of the previous life, the current situation became more apparent; Prince Lu feigns weakness, not revealing the extent of his preparations.

Song Xian said, "I’ll have someone keep an eye on the happenings at sea, and it’s best to uncover everything Prince Lu does in secret."

Getting rid of Prince Lu sooner would mean one less venomous snake lurking in the dark.

Xie Liangchen held Song Xian’s hand: "Don’t rush, Prince Lu isn’t as easy to deal with as Gao Yu." One who hides until the end shows the depth of his scheming.

"I don’t dare."

Song Xian led Xie Liangchen to the couch, sat down, and embraced Xie Liangchen in his arms again.

Xie Liangchen sat on Song Xian’s lap, her cheeks instantly burning and flushed.

Song Xian whispered in Xie Liangchen’s ear: "Now that I have a family, I dare not risk recklessly as before." Having someone to care for softens the heart, instills caution—not making one weaker but rather a desire to become stronger and invincible.

Xie Liangchen nestled in Song Xian’s embrace, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat: "As long as you know."

After saying this, she felt Song Xian move to lift her up again.

Song Xian said, "It’s late, let me help the lady wash up."

"It’s still early," Xie Liangchen hurriedly replied, "Usually at this time, I’m still looking at the accounts."

"It’s late," Song Xian bent slightly to blow out a lamp, "The house doesn’t have much lamp oil left, we should save it."

...

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of March, and the Tian Family Trading Team’s mule carts were filled with thread tassels, soon leaving Dai State.

Hu Zi stood on the official road, watching until the trading team disappeared from his view.

"Hu Zi brother," one of the Wang Family Village children said, "the village chief is calling us back to receive the silver coins."

Hu Zi stood there dazed, as if he hadn’t understood the meaning of those words.

The Wang Family Village child ran over and began pulling Hu Zi to go back: "What are you standing there for? The village chief said today is the day to distribute the silver coins, and tomorrow we can buy grain at the market."

Hu Zi blinked: "We also get silver coins?"

San Jin said, "Yes, I heard it directly from the village chief’s elder uncle. He said we’ve been helping with moving wool, delivering messages, running back and forth every day without being idle—each day, we earn three copper coins. Just don’t know from when these three copper coins are counted."

San Jin, wiping the sweat from his forehead, tugged on his tattered pants, calculating whether to buy food first or let his mother make him a new pair of pants once he got the silver coins. He had been very careful lately, not daring to take large strides while walking, fearing he might tear his pants in an instant.

Hu Zi finally came to his senses and grabbed San Jin’s hand: "What are we waiting for? Let’s go." The Commandery Princess was right; as long as the thread tassels were done well, there would be silver coins to buy grain, and no one would have to go hungry again.

But he decided not to spend the silver coins immediately. He wanted to save all the money and show it to the Commandery Princess later. Hu Zi planned joyfully as he ran back to the village.

A few children entered the village and found everyone crowded in Village Chief Wang’s courtyard.

"How much silver coin is there?"

"Hard to say, it looks like the entire box is full. The Tian Family Trading Team exchanged it all into copper coins, so it’s easier for the village chief to distribute to us."

"Isn’t everyone supposed to get at least one cash string?"

Village Chief Wang suddenly opened the account book in his hand, instantly causing silence in the courtyard.

Village Chief Wang took a deep breath, wanting to say something, but before he opened his mouth, his nose felt sour. He had been a village chief for so many years, always forced by the court to hand over grain. He never expected a day when he could distribute silver coins to everyone.