A life of ups and downs is pure joy

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, Jinhan City was very lively. General Xiao and Grand Secretary Dong led hundreds of officials to perform a triumphal ceremony on the outskirts of the city, blowing trumpets and beating flower drums along the way, playing triumphal music.

All the soldiers sang the triumphal song in unison. The army returned victoriously and welcomed Lin Mutang back in triumph on the orders of the king. It was a pity that Lin Mufeng had to stay in Yinan, and Zheng Linfeng came with his father-in-law.

Lin Qinghuan was also waiting in the carriage with her sisters from her mother's family. She couldn't be there to welcome her father back like all the officials, but she also wanted to see him at first sight.

He Su was wearing the court robes she wore when she was crowned Lady Gonglie, and she stood very proudly with General Xiao. There was a gentle light of hope in her eyes as she kept looking at the majestic Lin Mutang who was riding a horse and wearing armor.

The mighty general stopped his horse and came to receive the imperial edict.

"Daddy is so handsome." Lin Qingwan said beside Lin Qinghuan.

Lin Qinghuan chuckled and glanced back at Lin Qingwan, "I also think that Daddy is the most powerful and domineering man in the world."

Lin Qingwan glanced at her and smiled slightly. Lin Qinghuan turned around and continued to look at the excitement in the distance. Lin Qingwan looked at Lin Qinghuan's profile, frowned, and the hand hidden in the sleeve tightened the cuff. It can be seen that she was very embarrassed.

"We're going to the Taimiao soon." Lin Qingyi said beside him.

"What are you going to do in the Taimiao?" Lin Qinghuan asked curiously.

"We should pay tribute to the ancestors of heaven and earth, and perform the ceremony of offering victory and captives. We should offer victory and report the news of the victory. The most important thing is to thank them for their protection." Lin Qingyao explained to the two weak women, and Lin Qingwan nodded after listening.

"I have to go to the palace to report again, and then His Majesty will deal with the prisoners of war. Finally, there will be rewards. Daddy is already a duke, and I don't know what other rewards he can get." Lin Qingyi muttered.

"Then my brother-in-law and An Cai should also receive great rewards this time." Lin Qingwan said.

"Well, I hope there won't be any more wars. Daddy should have some rest. Looking at the look in mother's eyes, I can tell that Daddy is injured." Lin Qingyao looked at He Su in the distance with eyes full of heartache, and guessed that Lin Muchang did not look as he seemed.

"Huh? How come I didn't notice it?" Lin Qingyi said, squinting her eyes again.

"Okay, let's go back. It's time to go home and prepare for the family dinner tonight. It's going to be very lively tonight." Lin Qingyao said to her sisters.

"Well, let's go. Sister Mo is probably very busy in the mansion right now, so it's a good time for us to have some free time." Lin Qinghuan said with a secret smile.

After all, He Su is in the court, and Lin Qingyao is pregnant, so the only one who can go back to her parents' home to prepare matters is this meticulous woman.

Lin Qingwan glanced at Xiao Yi in the official team in the distance, then looked at Lin Qinghuan who was playing cat's tangle with Lin Qingru, and slowly put down the carriage curtain in her hand.

When the noise outside died down, the Lin Mansion became lively again. The whole family came to the celebration banquet for Lin Mutang. Taiwei Xiao and his wife Liu Ji, Imperial Censor Jia Ying and his wife Wu, and Minister of Rites Wang Sheng and his wife Li also came to attend the family banquet.

Lin Yuzhi and Ning Xiaoqi were holding the Lin family's eldest grandson Lin Xianyun and Lin Mo, Jia Xu's beloved son Jia Zhengran, and were competing to see who had the bigger arms and legs.

"Bao'er's hands and feet will definitely be very big in the future. He is half a year younger than Ran'er, but his hands and feet will almost catch up with his brother's." Lin Mo couldn't stop smiling, and Ning Xiaoqi was also shaking with joy.

Lin Qinghuan stood by with Lin Qingwan arm in arm, watching the fun. Lin Qingyao was sitting there watching Lin Zhichuan teaching his son Zheng Xushen to recite a poem. Lin Zhichuan looked at his still confused nephew anxiously.

"Your eldest nephew is not yet capable enough to learn and recite such a long poem from you. You can find some simple and short ones to teach him." Lin Qingyao touched Shen'er's round little head and said with a smile.

"So that's how it is. No wonder he's been looking at me in confusion." Lin Zhichuan acted like an adult, laughing at the nanny next to him.

"Little Pig, eat less cakes. We have a table full of delicious food soon." Xiao Qiannan asked someone to remove the cakes in front of Lin Qingru. "If I had known earlier, I should have bought you more tomorrow."

Although Xiao Qiannan has not married into the Lin family yet, she has already regarded Lin Ancai's most beloved sister as her own sister. She dotes on her immensely and gives this cute little pig sister delicious cakes, fruits, jewelry and clothes every day.

"Huan'er, are you tired of standing all the time? Do you want to take a break?" Xiao Yi walked to Lin Qinghuan and asked softly.

"I'm not tired. The weight of my body is leaning on my third sister. I should ask her if she is tired." Lin Qinghuan looked at Lin Qingwan with a smile, and reached out to tidy up the loose hair on her forehead.

Xiao Yi smiled at Lin Qingwan and nodded, then reached out and pinched Lin Qinghuan's face, "Then you take care of yourself. I'm going to talk to my father and father-in-law about something."

"Go ahead, go ahead, Jin Han is the busiest man." Lin Qinghuan waved at Xiao Yi playfully, and then continued to talk to Lin Qingwan about the colorful silk and beaded satin long dress that she had taken a fancy to a few days ago.

"Huan'er, is he treating you well now?" Lin Qingwan helped Lin Qinghuan to sit on the couch next to the small soft stove at the door.

"Well, we have a good relationship now, and he treats me very well, which I never thought of before."

Lin Qinghuan has been studying piano with Lin Qingwan every day recently, and their relationship has become much better than before. They have endless things to talk about every day. Now, he has become closer to his rather aloof third sister and several of his sisters from his mother's side.

Lin Qingyi would now sit in Suheju and listen to the two of them playing the piano when she had nothing to do. A few days ago, she even picked up the zither that she used to hate the most.

"That's good." Lin Qingwan said in a low voice.

"Third sister, are you still so estranged from your third brother-in-law?" Lin Qinghuan looked up at Wang Xin who was talking to Jia Xu and Lin Ancai. In fact, he was a very handsome and elegant young man with graceful manners and speech.

"It's enough for him and I to be husband and wife. As long as it's acceptable for both families, that's enough." Lin Qingwan didn't even look at her husband from beginning to end. Instead, she looked at Xiao Yi, who was listening to Lin Mutang's words attentively behind Wang Xin's group.

"Third sister, Huan'er doesn't want you to live like this for the rest of your life. If you really don't like him, just tell daddy. Daddy has loved you the most since you were a child and will definitely help you." Lin Qinghuan said.

Ever since Chang Xinrui died, Lin Mutang treated Lin Qingwan even more dotingly than before. After all, she was well-behaved and sensible, and she had never mentioned Chang Xinrui at all.

"Huan'er, Daddy is busy with work, how can I bother him with such a thing? Besides, isn't it the same who I live with?" Lin Qingwan said with a sense of despair. She looked at Lin Qinghuan, feeling very conflicted inside.

"Third sister, if you have something to make you unhappy, just tell Huan'er. Don't keep it in your heart." Lin Qinghuan said, holding Lin Qingwan's hand.

"Well, I know you're considerate." Lin Qingwan smiled softly and said, "Have you learned the song I taught you the other day?"

"I can already play it completely. After all, my third sister's piano skill is the best in Jinhan, so naturally the students she teaches can't be too bad. Humph, next time I won't be afraid of Tao Baiwan anymore." Lin Qinghuan said with a puffed face.

"What are you afraid of her doing? Next time she bullies you, I will teach her a lesson." Ning Xiaoqi and Lin Mo walked over and said.

"Sister-in-law, Nan'er said that you are the only one who can suppress Dasheng. It seems to be true." Lin Qinghuan flattered her quickly.

"I don't know how many times I've fought with her since we were little. She always made me cry. I still remember when I was seven, she even dragged the Crown Prince over. Your good husband was there, as were my third and fourth brothers. But it didn't stop me from beating her up and making her cry. Although my father punished me later and made me starve, my mother went to my father to get angry, and then she sent me some delicious food."

After Ning Xiaoqi finished speaking, Lin Qinghuan and Lin Qingwan looked at her in surprise, and Lin Mo covered his face and laughed.

"But my good sister-in-law is going to such a faraway fiefdom in the spring. Who will protect me in the future?" Lin Qinghuan said dejectedly.

"Let's postpone this matter. Father has been getting better lately, and especially with Daddy's victory this time, he's even more delighted. He's not going to mention us going to the fiefdom for now. A few days ago, he even said he'd hold a palace banquet to celebrate when Baoer turns one."

After Ning Xiaoqi finished speaking, she suddenly remembered that she seemed to have said something she shouldn't have said, and then she looked around.

"When did His Majesty become ill?" Lin Qingwan asked curiously.

"Hmm... hmm... I just caught a cold, but I'm feeling better now." Ning Xiaoqi didn't want to talk about this anymore, so she changed the subject, "Third sister, why is your stomach still quiet? Do you want to take some medicine like Huan'er? I think the prescription is very effective."

"I... I'm not in a hurry. Let's just let things take their course." Lin Qingwan said somewhat embarrassedly. She and Wang Xing were a couple in name only because she had always kept him away.

Since Lin Qingwan entered the Wang family, Wang Xing's concubines have increased from one maid to two maids and three concubines. One of them is Jinbi, the maid who was transferred to the Wang family by Lin Qingwan. She was recently promoted from a maid to Jin concubine, and is now the one that Wang Xing visits the most.

"Sister Wan is now concentrating on her music school. Once the school is established, she will naturally consider the matter of children again." Lin Qinghuan quickly spoke for Lin Qingwan.

"You are an ambitious woman, unlike most women. But third sister, your husband has many concubines, and even your eldest brother is very unhappy. He just gave Wang Xin a cold shoulder. Your eldest brother still loves you very much."

After Ning Xiaoqi finished speaking, Lin Qingwan was a little surprised, but after a moment she smiled knowingly, "Well, Wan'er knows."

"Sister Wan'er, you should ask Sister Mo for advice on how to deal with the concubine issue. I can't learn it, so I can only throw a tantrum." Lin Qinghuan said, looking at Lin Mo who was sitting next to him and taking his pulse.

"You are throwing a tantrum because he loves you. If he doesn't love you, rolling around is useless." Lin Mo said, then looked at Lin Qingwan and said, "Third sister, what the eldest sister-in-law said makes sense. Even if you don't want to have a child, you can't let someone get pregnant before you. A illegitimate son is still the eldest son." Lin Mo said in a low voice.

"Well, Wan'er understands the instructions from my sisters." Lin Qingwan nodded and said no more. Lin Qinghuan felt a little distressed when he saw her frowning face.

"The old lady is here." The maid's voice came from the yard outside, and several grandchildren also stood up and went out to greet her.

The elders sat at the upper table, and the younger generations sat at another table. Xiao Yi reached out and helped Lin Qinghuan sit down next to him, and Lin Mo sat down next to Lin Qinghuan.

"I'm starving." Lin Qinghuan muttered, and as he was about to stretch out his arm to pick up some food, he saw an extra chicken leg in his bowl. He looked up and saw that Lin Ancai had already started to eat another one.

"For so many years, as long as Qinghuan and Ancai are around, I have never tasted this chicken leg. Ancai, when can you give me the first chicken leg?" Lin Qingyi said deliberately.

"Your favorite food is fish, and chicken legs are not a delicacy to you." Lin Ancai said.

"Then wouldn't it be unsatisfactory for you to only eat one chicken leg each time?" Xiao Qiannan asked while smiling at the brother and sister.

"Everything has its limits. Exceeding the limit will lead to death, and the same goes for eating chicken legs," said Lin Qinghuan.

"Do you still understand this principle?" Xiao Yi looked at her and asked.

"Husband, Huan'er is very smart." Lin Qinghuan whispered in Xiao Yi's ear.

"Is there any secret that we can't hear?" Ning Xiaoqi said, looking at the whispering couple.

"Since it's a private conversation, how can I let you overhear it?" Lin Yuzhi said, "You guys come with me to toast." After that, several brothers-in-law also stood up and went to the elders' table.

"Oh, this is the first time I've seen such an obedient husband." Lin Qinghuan muttered as she looked at Xiao Yi's back and nodded.

Lin Qingwan followed Lin Qinghuan's gaze and saw Xiao Yi pick up the wine pot and pour wine for Lin Mutang and Xiao Taiwei, and then several sons-in-law toasted together.

"Why are you still sitting here?" Lin Qinghuan realized that Lin Ancai was still eating, and Xiao Qiannan was beside him, picking up food for him.

"I'm not married yet, so there's no need for me to toast you with wine. I just need to eat my fill." Lin Ancai said, and then took a sip of the tea beside him.

"Have you ever thought about when to get married?" Lin Qingyao glanced at Xiao Qiannan next to her and asked her silly brother.

"It will be whenever Daddy and Grandma arrange it." Lin Ancai said.

"Then do you have a lover in your heart?" After Lin Qingyao finished speaking, Xiao Qiannan's face turned red, and then she lowered her head and glanced at Lin Ancai next to her with great curiosity.

"Sweetheart?" Lin An glanced at Xiao Qiannan beside him, "As long as it's not her."

Lin An had just finished speaking when everyone was very surprised. Xiao Qiannan looked at him angrily and asked, "Why do you insist that it can't be me?"

"If you sit next to me, I can't even taste a sip of cold wine. I can only drink hot tea." Lin Ancai said dissatisfiedly, shaking the teacup in his hand.

"You silly boy, Nan'er didn't let you drink cold wine because she saw you were injured." Lin Qingyao shook her head helplessly as she looked at her brother who had not yet come to her senses.

"Hmph, I don't want to pay attention to you." Xiao Qiannan turned her head away angrily.

Seeing this, Lin Ancai took the braised lamb pieces from Xiao Qiannan's bowl.

"That's mine." Xiao Qiannan turned her head and looked at him.

"Didn't you ignore me?" Lin Ancai said with a smile, "I was wrong, Miss Xiao."

Seeing him like this, Xiao Qiannan chuckled again, then slapped him hard on the back.

Lin Qinghuan looked at Lin Ancai and suddenly found that he seemed different from before. Lin Qingru looked up at the two people who were fighting and playing, and smiled.

"Ru'er, how is your study recently?" Lin Qingyao asked.

"Well, that gentleman's lectures are very interesting." Lin Qingru said.

"Qinghe Academy is quite good. I remember my aunt said that she also went to study there when she was a child."

After Lin Qingyao finished speaking, Lin Qinghuan looked at her with interest.