CHAPTER 1561: CHAPTER 1561: ENTERING THE CAPITAL

After a few days, Song Lan brought a letter from Wu Ming, along with quite a bit of beef and lamb.

Zhulan did not look at the letter, "You brought too much meat, did you keep some for your own residence?"

Beef is a good thing, she already planned to have the kitchen make beef jerky.

Song Lan smiled, "We kept some. The ranch encountered a wolf pack, and quite a few livestock died. My master spent silver to buy a lot, so we don’t need the estate to send any meat for the New Year."

Zhulan felt distressed, "It took a lot of effort to raise them, such a significant loss."

"Indeed, it was quite severe. There’s nothing we can do, there are many wolves and bears, the prairie is quite dangerous."

Zhulan nodded in agreement, next year her eldest grandson would also be heading to the grassland.

Song Lan sat for a while inquiring, "Madame, Chang Xhong is of age to be betrothed, do you have a preferred candidate?"

Zhulan immediately became vigilant, "Did someone say something to you?"

"As the madame has guessed, so I’ll just say it. My cousin came to see me a few days ago, mentioning her youngest daughter, and asked me to inquire."

Zhulan relaxed, it wasn’t from the Zhung family. The daughters of the Song family married well, the family conduct was good, and the daughters had a good reputation, "Then let me tell you, Chang Xhong’s marriage isn’t urgent."

Song Lan smiled and changed the subject. It was only because of the close ties between the two families that she spoke so plainly, and now having received assurance, she need not worry.

At the Lin Residence, Ming Rui brought fruits and a pelt, "Madame, my mother remembers you like these fruits, freshly sent to the capital for you to try."

The Lin Residence’s elderly madame looked at her granddaughter, her eyes almost overflowing with laughter. Her granddaughter liked what she liked, showing how attentive Zhao’s daughter-in-law was towards her granddaughter, "Please thank your mother for me."

Mr. Lin stood up and said, "Mother, I’ll take Ming Rui to the front courtyard."

The Lin Residence’s elderly madame was at a loss for words, she had wanted Ming Rui and her granddaughter to take a walk, but with her son speaking, she could only say, "Okay, I’ll have the kitchen prepare a meal, have a drink or two today."

Mr. Lin was thoroughly satisfied with his future son-in-law, smiling, "Good."

Ming Rui was not nervous facing his father-in-law, he was confident in himself.

Yudie also came along today, Ming Rui glanced at his sister before following his future father-in-law away.

The elderly madame of the Lin Residence was getting old, after chatting for a while, everyone in the room dispersed. Lin Qing’s mother said, "Qinger, you entertain Yudie, I have to go tend to some matters."

Lin Qing held Yudie’s hand, "Mhm."

Yudie was no stranger to the Lin Residence. Since the betrothal between the two families, she visited frequently. With no elders present, Yudie dropped the pretense, "Come on, let me see the screen you mentioned."

Lin Qing was cheerful due to her fiancé’s visit, the smile never left her face, "Alright, let me show you."

Yudie was stunned upon seeing the screen, "It seems alive from afar, it’s amazing."

Lin Qing said, "Grandma Li rarely embroiders, if not for my mother’s birthday, she would not have taken up the needle."

Yudie wanted to request an embroidery but couldn’t bring herself to say it, "Grandma Li was the dowry maid of your mother?"

"Yes, my mother is kind-hearted. When Grandma Li got married, my mother gave her a dowry. All these years with my mother’s care, Grandma Li’s life is good, she is very grateful to my mother."

At this moment, a maid came in, "Miss, a lady from the Zhung family has arrived."

Lin Qing frowned, "Why didn’t she inform us ahead of time?"

The maid asked, "Miss, what do you think?"

Lin Qing was displeased but could not send the lady of the Zhung family back. The relationship between the Lin and Zhung families wasn’t to the extent that such actions could be taken; holding back her impatience, "Please invite the lady from the Zhung family over."

After the maid left, Yudie said, "Cough, cough, did I ever tell you I once snubbed that lady from the Zhung family?"

Lin Qing’s eyes widened, "No."

In the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was puzzled seeing his second son coming over, "Why are you here?"

Chang Yi saw his father rub his shoulders, stood up to help, "Father, there’s been inquiries about you among the ambassadors recently."

Zhou Shuren was unconcerned, "What did they inquire about me?"

"They inquired about your achievements, anything they could find out."

Zhou Shuren raised an eyebrow, "I thought they were inquiring about my interests."

Chang Yi pressed his lips, "Father, given the current situation of the Imperial court, your achievements are significant, could their inquiries potentially harm you?"

Zhou Shuren laughed dismissively, "Your father is a key minister; they wouldn’t dare harm me lightly."

Chang Yi was not at ease, hence he came to see his father, and upon reflection, realized unless the two countries went to war, no one would dare target his father.

Zhou Shuren was confident about his safety. The royal family had twice decreed him as a pillar of the state, he believed there were people secretly protecting him, given his importance to the stability of the nation, tut tut, he was indispensable to the royal family.

Zhou Shuren also remarked, all his sons were attentive, "Your younger brother went to the Treasure Pavilion, you heard about it."

Chang Yi smiled, "It’s been circulating throughout the capital, saying our younger brother is lucky."

Zhou Shuren chuckled, "See the inkstone on the table? Your brother bought it."

Chang Yi twitched his mouth, it was displayed so obviously when the inkstone from the Ministry of Revenue was perfectly fine, yet the old man insisted on having his brother’s one there, just to show off, "Younger brother is filial."

Zhou Shuren laughed heartily, "You are all filial, having you all is my greatest blessing."

Chang Yi felt a sudden warmth in his nose, "Being able to be your sons, that’s our blessing."

At the Lin Residence, that lady from the Zhung family really dislikes Zhou Yudie, stiffening her mouth, "Miss Zhou is joking, I sincerely wish to be friends with Miss Lin."

Yudie didn’t believe her, she held a low opinion of the lady from the Zhung family, "I’ve seen the type of friends Miss Zhung associates with, better not mention it."

Zhung Rao, "!!"

She really detested straightforward people, often leaving her at a loss for words.

Lin Qing hid her face with a fan, she wanted to laugh, indeed, she spoke too gently, which is why the lady from the Zhung family would show up unannounced, feigning disturbance, yet it was meticulously planned.

Inside, Zhung Rao was vexed, not anticipating that Miss Zhou was present, had she known, she wouldn’t have come. Now, uncertain of how Miss Zhou would speak of her upon returning, making her chances of going to the Marquis Zhou’s residence slimmer, she clutched her handkerchief, her eyes tearing up.

Yudie stood up and took a step back, "I haven’t touched you, don’t try to fake a fall."

Lin Qing chuckled, Yudie was quite cunning, the lady from the Zhung family couldn’t bear it, bowed her head and stood up, "I’ll take my leave now."

Lin Qing also stood up, "Let me see you out."

Zhung Rao took a deep breath, suppressing her anger and left.

Lin Qing returned, Yudie was eating pine nuts, "Does bullying people make you so happy?"

"Indeed it does. For someone like her, don’t hold back, after all, the one embarrassed in the end is her. Still, she’s smart enough to leave directly."

Lin Qing contemplated, "She keeps seeking me out, aiming for your Marquis Residence."

Yudie widened her eyes, "Quite ambitious."

Her instinct told her this lady was targeting their family’s youngest uncle, Grandpa and Grandma’s younger son, many kept an eye on him.

At the government office’s closing time, Zhou Shuren was extremely surprised to see Wong Ju, "You didn’t head back home after work, why wait for me at the office gate?"

"To inform you, Zhao Bo’s reassignment has been issued, he will be arriving in the capital next year."

Zhou Shuren, "??"

Alright, he hadn’t been paying attention, it wasn’t unexpected that Zhao would be coming to the capital.