A life of ups and downs is pure joy

East Palace of Jinhan City.

The crown prince sat at the top, Xiao Fan, who had almost recovered, and his elder brother Xiao Yi sat at the lower left, Ning Sijue sat opposite them, and below them knelt several retainers and officials of the Eastern Palace.

"Fan'er has suffered a great crime this time, and your mother is worried about him in the palace. Tomorrow, when everything is fine, take your brother and sister-in-law to the palace to see her and tell her not to worry." Prince Ning Jinyang looked at Xiao Fan with concern and said.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Queen are worried about me. I only suffered some minor skin injuries and I have recovered now." Xiao Fan stood up and said. After all, there were foreign officials present, so they needed to be addressed in a polite manner.

"Sit down, sit down." Ning Jinyang raised his hand and gestured.

"Yier, you went to Yinan. What's the trend of the war on the front line and how is the morale of the army?" Ning Jinyang continued to ask.

"Reporting to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we have Duke Liehou and General Longhu in front of the battle line, as well as General Luo Feng and King Yinan as our support. Now General Bai's grandson Bai Duguang has also gone to support us. The army's morale is stable, the soldiers are passionate and fearless, and our military strength is far stronger than that of the Kingdom of Nanbang. When I went there, we won the first battle, and yesterday we received another victory report, which repelled the army of Nanbang for the second time." Xiao Yi stood up and bowed.

"Great! Our Dasheng not only has great generals like Gong Liehou, General Longhu, and General Bai Gang, but also young generals like Lin Ancai, Zhao Dafang, and Bai Duguang. God bless our Dasheng." Ning Jinyang said very happily, and then looked at Xiao Yi. The two looked at the civil officials who were discussing and nodded to each other.

After the outsiders left, Ning Jinyang continued to instruct Ning Sijue, "Now your two concubines are General Bai's granddaughter and Lord Yan's beloved daughter. You must treat them both well, especially Yan Ruyu."

Ning Sijue nodded, glanced at Xiao Yi and smiled thoughtfully, then said, "Brother Crown Prince, if everything is fine, I will return home to accompany the beauty."

"Aunt's speed is always unexpectedly fast." Xiao Yi said, looking at Ning Sijue's back.

"Just like when you married Changping, once mother made a decision, she would act decisively. If it weren't for mother's decisiveness, Changping might have promised either the third or fourth brother. The third brother has become close friends with Dong Yuange since Dong Yuange returned to Beijing. Father also rewarded him a few days ago for the integration of profits and taxes. Now the third brother is really proud of himself and his spirits are so high! Fortunately, you delivered the military supplies in time this time and captured all the bandits from Dayan. It's a pity that no one was left alive. However, father is also very happy about this matter. He said that he will reward you after you return home." Prince Ning Jinyang said.

Brothers Xiao Yi and Xiao Fan nodded, and the three of them walked towards the flower pond garden. Crown Princess Su Yuefei was leaning on the jade couch beside the flower pond, listening to the music played by the musicians who had just been sent from Le Yin Fang.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here." The maid next to her came forward and said.

Su Yuefei stretched out her hand and the maid helped her up.

"Crown Princess, what do you think of these musicians?" Ning Jinyang walked over and sat on the jade couch and asked.

"As expected of her from Le Yin Fang, her skills and appearance are both top-notch. Yi'er has always had good taste." Su Yuefei said as she sat next to Ning Jinyang.

"You are too kind, Sister-in-law Crown Princess." Xiao Yi nodded.

"How is Fan'er's injury? I see that his face looks a little rosier than when he just came back." Su Yuefei looked at Xiao Fan and asked again.

"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. I'm fine now." Xiao Fan replied.

Su Yuefei smiled and nodded.

"Yan Mo is a happy person, so we have to cater to her preferences. It was Nan'er who told the Queen Mother about her beloved daughter Xiao Yijue'er. It seems that although our eldest daughter is naughty, she is actually useful." Ning Jinyang said with a smile.

"Our Nan'er is very well-behaved now, and mother often praises her in front of me." Su Yuefei said with a smile.

"Nan'er should be sixteen years old. Do your uncle and aunt have any favorite family?" asked Prince Ning Jinyang.

"There's no need to rush about Nan'er's matter. She's been much more obedient now that she follows Huan'er every day. Father had previously favored Shen Xin, the eldest son of Duke Shen." Xiao Yi said, picking up the teacup on the table with his slender fingers, took a sip and placed it back on the table. The maidservant who was serving him knelt beside him and carefully added another sip for him, then secretly glanced at him and lowered her head with a blush.

"The Shen family has inherited the title for three generations. Shen Xin is a young but studious child, not a playboy. If he really marries into the Shen family, it will be a good destination for Nan'er. The Shen family is also a family relative of the Crown Princess's mother's family." Ning Jinyang glanced at Su Yuefei after he finished speaking.

"The grandfather of the Shen family and my grandfather are cousins, so I call him my great-grandfather." After Su Yuefei finished speaking, she looked at Xiao Yi thoughtfully, feeling a little confused. Didn't he know what Nan'er was thinking?

The green plum blossoms in early winter are very beautiful. The fragrance is everywhere in the plum garden next to Chen Yuyuan in the Xiao Mansion. Lin Qinghuan and several maids are busy picking flower petals with baskets. Shuyin is supporting Lin Qinghuan, fearing that the young lady will fall.

"Shuyin, how are you doing in Luoyi Pavilion? How does Mother Luo treat you?" Lin Qinghuan asked.

"The young lady has greeted me. Mother Luo treats me very well. I am also free on weekdays, so I follow Mother Luo to learn the rules set by the young lady." Shuyin said.

"That's good. You won't have to go to Luoyi Pavilion in a few days." Lin Qinghuan said casually. Shuyin looked at Lin Qinghuan in shock, then knelt down and kowtowed to Lin Qinghuan.

"Young Madam, did Shuyin do something wrong?"

"What are you doing? If you don't want to go to Luoyi Pavilion, you must have somewhere else to go. Don't you want to follow me and serve me?" Lin Qinghuan stretched out her hand, and Chuxia and Shuyin, who were kneeling on the ground, quickly stood up and helped her down from the big stone.

"Why are you still standing there like an idiot? The young lady has agreed to let you work in Qingboyuan." Chuxia said to Shuyin who was still a little dazed.

"Young Madam..." Shuyin looked at Lin Qinghuan with tears in her eyes and choked up for a moment.

"Shuyin, how can we let our mother know about the baby in Hutao Niang's room?" Lin Qinghuan sat down and asked her.

"Young Madam, let Shuyin handle this matter." Shuyin said, wiping the tears from her face.

"Hmm..." Lin Qinghuan nodded, and Shuyin lowered his head as he looked at her beautiful face.

In Qingbo Courtyard, the couple was sitting on the couch playing chess comfortably. Although Xiao Yi had given her five pieces, she was still forced into a corner by the man and had no idea where to start.

Lin Qinghuan looked at Xiao Yi with resentment, and unhappily threw the chess piece in his hand into the chess box.

"Husband, I don't want to play chess with you anymore."

"How about I make you regret three more moves?" Xiao Yi said lovingly.

"It's boring. There's no way I can beat my husband. I've racked my brains, but I'm completely defeated and feel extremely uncomfortable." Lin Qinghuan said with her head in her hands and a pout.

"How could I torture you like this just by playing a game of chess? It's my fault. I am so happy for Huan'er." Xiao Yi found the woman's frustrated look very cute, so he admitted his mistake.

Lin Qinghuan leaned over the chess couch with her hands supporting her chin and looked at Xiao Yi.

"Husband, Huan'er wants to ask you a question."

"What?" Xiao Yi asked.

"How could such a talented person like you like a talentless and stupid girl like Huan'er?" Lin Qinghuan thought of the women who were selected as concubines, each of them was talented and could play the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.

"Huan'er is the cutest fool among all the beautiful women in the world, the prettiest fool among all the cute women, and the prettiest and cutest among all the foolish women. You are so special, how can I not love you as your husband?" Xiao Yi knew that his little wife's head was a mess, so he deliberately beat around the bush to tease her.

As expected, Lin Qinghuan frowned, her brain spinning in confusion as she kept muttering, "Pretty, cute, and stupid. Husband, what are you talking about? Is Huan'er pretty, cute, or stupid?"

"Hahaha...silly girl, come here, I want to talk to you." Xiao Yi stretched out his hand, helped Lin Qinghuan step directly from the chess couch and fell into his arms.

"Husband... stop teasing me. Starting tomorrow, I will read all the poetry and books on the bookshelf in your study, and I will also learn to write. Even the Sixth Prince's concubines are all talented, and Huan'er is a little mediocre." Lin Qinghuan vowed.

"How can they be compared with you? You are the best woman in this world. However, it would be a good thing if you really want to read and write, so that your little head won't be stuck in confusion." Xiao Yi whispered while holding his little wife in his arms.

"By the way, someone gave me an inkstone a few days ago. The person said it was a gift for Madam Xiao to use for painting. I see the inkstone is quite old, and I have forgotten about it these days." Lin Qinghuan's mind was blank for a while, and he suddenly stood up and said, and his head lightly knocked against Xiao Yi's chin, and he quickly reached out to rub it for him.

"Huan'er, didn't you get anything from the famous painting gallery last time?" Xiao Yi thought it was related to the matter of sending paintings. If Ning Sijue was the one sending it, he would definitely choose the most valuable one.

"No, but I saw a few of my mother's childhood paintings, and they are indeed much better than mine." Lin Qinghuan said.

"Your talent and attainments are no worse than your mother-in-law's. If you really want to further your studies, I can find a good teacher for you." Xiao Yi said.

"Really? Huan'er has never been to school. Even Sister Yi has been copying big characters in the girls' school for several years. My only master is my big brother." Lin Qinghuan said with some regret.

"A good teacher will teach you personally. Also, regarding your mother's matter, I think you can go to the Zhang Mansion. Maybe there will be some unknown stories or clues." Xiao Yi reminded Lin Qinghuan.

"I have been to my uncle Zhang's house once. At that time, my grandmother was still in Jinhan. Now she has gone to her hometown in Qingyang to spend her retirement. I have not been there since then." For Yu Lin Qinghuan, this uncle Zhang Rui, the Minister of War, is too unfamiliar to her. He is not as familiar as her aunt Zhou Ying. Her two cousins are really boring, one is shyer than herself and the other is a piano fanatic.

"Your uncle's birthday is coming soon. As his niece, it's only right for you to go and visit him. When you go there and take a look around the mansion, perhaps some old friends will come looking for you." Xiao Yi looked at Lin Qinghuan, then at the embroidered picture of a beauty hanging in the room and said, the two faces are too similar, so he guessed that the person who sent the painting and inkstone that day might go to Zhang's mansion.

"Okay, I understand. My husband is more opinionated." Lin Qinghuan nodded approvingly.

"I'll take you out to play and eat delicious food in the spring." Xiao Yi frowned when she thought of the salt tax issue in Cen Yao County that had been delayed. Lin Qinghuan in her arms could not see her husband's expression at this time, but she looked longing and nodded happily.

"Husband, let's play another game. You have to give me more." Lin Qinghuan stretched out her hand to separate the chess pieces on the chess couch, then stood up and returned to the seat opposite and said.

"Okay." Xiao Yi smiled slightly.

Mother Luo is also very busy now. Although Lin Qinghuan does not live in Luoyi Pavilion, the head nanny Chen of Qingbo Courtyard has been unable to take care of things due to health reasons a few days ago, so Lin Qinghuan asked Luo Yun to take charge of Qingbo Courtyard together. After all, Lin Qinghuan trusts her more in the Xiao Mansion. So it was late at night, and Luo Yun had just walked to his room in Luoyi Pavilion, but he didn't expect that Shuyin was waiting outside the door.

"Girl, what are you doing here so late instead of sleeping?" Luo Yun asked curiously.

"Mother Luo, the young lady told me today that I will go to Qingboyuan to work tomorrow. Do you know about this?" Shuyin walked forward and asked Mother Luo while holding her arm.

"Well, the young lady told me earlier, but there is one thing I want to remind you. The young lady has done you a favor, so you should serve her well and never have any bad thoughts. Do your job well in Qingbo Courtyard. You are smart and clever, and you came from the old lady's room. As long as you are loyal to the young lady, you will have a bright future in the future." Luo Yun looked at Shu Yin seriously and said, this girl would be a good seedling if she could turn her mind to it. She also knew the etiquette and was the oldest among the group of maids.

"Shuyin understands. From now on, I will obey the orders of the young lady wholeheartedly." Shuyin looked up at Luo Yun and said frankly.

"Well, go back and pack up and go to bed early. Come with me to Qingbo Courtyard tomorrow morning." Luo Yun nodded and patted her hand.

The couple in Qingbo Courtyard finished a game of chess. Lin Qinghuan won a game against Xiao Yi despite all the regrets and cheating, and he clapped his hands happily.

Xiao Yi stood up and picked up the beauty on the couch. Lin Qinghuan smiled and put her arms around the man's neck, clamped her legs around the man's waist, and sucked on the man like an octopus.

"Husband, don't call Huan'er a fool anymore, otherwise you will be a fool even dumber than a fool." Lin Qinghuan said proudly.

"Go to sleep, my little fool." Xiao Yi said lovingly.

"Hehehe..." Lin Qinghuan happily kissed the man hard on the face.

The man blew out the candle, and the woman's slender wrist stretched out from the curtain. Xiao Yi smiled faintly and reached out to hold her.

"Husband." Lin Qinghuan climbed on top of Xiao Yi and kissed him actively. The man's big hands gently grasped the woman's slender waist, and then slid to the inside of her thighs.

Several royal pink plum trees in the yard are blooming hard, unafraid of the baptism of the cold winter. The pink and shy buds are opening freely, emitting bursts of fragrance that are touching, just like Lin Qinghuan's joyful and unrestrained heart at this moment.

The two people who had tossed and turned all night last night were still sleeping soundly. Xiao Yi took a rest today, so he stayed in bed with his lazy little wife. The maids outside had already started their busy day. Yun Xiang and Chu Xia glanced at the room with the closed door from time to time and shook their heads at each other. Luo Yun was walking towards Qingbo Courtyard with Shuyin and several maids. Shuyin had not slept all night, and although she looked tired, she was particularly happy.

"The eldest master and the young mistress haven't gotten up yet?" Luo Yun asked when he entered the yard and saw the closed door.

Yun Xiang and Chu Xia nodded helplessly, then hushed her, signaling Mother Luo to lower her voice.

"The eldest young master is really full of youthful vigor!" Luo Yun muttered. The maids beside him understood his meaning and lowered their heads with shy smiles.

Yun Xiang glanced at Shu Yin without saying anything, then went to follow Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Yi's breakfast.